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Risk vs Reward

“We should go back, show those jerks who we really are!”

“Please, keep going! We need to get away while we have the chance!”

“We need time to think, somewhere to catch our breath. We need quiet!”

The poorly lit backstreets of Starhaven’s Draffsnarl district are interrupted by a lone silhouette limping through them, cradling an injured arm against their chest. Anyone not minding their own business in the less than reputable section of the refugee center that Starhaven was becoming would hear three distinct voices arguing in hushed tones, though the sight of a single individual would then leave them confused. The shadowed figure pauses for a moment, seemingly assessing their situation. The sound of several heavy footfalls bounce off the strange buildings making up the labyrinth of this section, making it impossible to tell how close they are. A moment longer and the figure darts off down another alleyway, away from the approaching footsteps.

“No, not away! Back towards them! We can beat them! Let us have control!”

“Keep going, keep going! Let us have control, we’ll make sure we get somewhere safe!”

The shadowed figure lurches in different directions for a moment, arms and legs spasming as though they were pulled by invisible forces apart from the center. A slight whimper echoes off the close walls of the alleyway as the injured arm flails, and the figure stops, clutching the arm once again.

“Stop! We are not giving up. We don’t have what we came for, and we are not leaving without it. We need to work together for a change, instead of bickering! Else we may as well do those thugs jobs for them.”

A moment of silence hangs in the air, as the lights flickers on above the figure, outlining a feminine form clad in utilitarian clothes. Fox-like ears sit atop their head, a mane of reddish brown hair with highlights of yellow and purple frame their face. Three tails swish back and forth seemingly in annoyance, before the light flickers out once again.

“….Fine.”

“….ok.”

“Good.”

Moving again, the figure heads towards the only lit doorway in the alley. Testing the door and finding it unlocked, they push their way inside, the door closing behind them silently. Inside, the room is shadowed, the only light coming from the streets outside. Debris from a makeshift camp, long abandoned, litters the room. They move into the mess, grabbing pieces of tarpaulin and long pieces of broken supply crates as they head towards a rickety looking discarded chair. Slowly they sit down, testing the chairs integrity, and when it holds they begin to set their injured arm as best they can, clawed fingers easily ripping through the tarpaulin to create strips to tie the sling together. The process is slow and seemingly painful, as the figure winces several times during the process. Ears perk up halfway through as the heavy footfalls get closer, and they freeze, breath stuck in their lungs for what seems forever before the footfalls depart. A long sigh escapes into the night, and the last few knots are tied on the makeshift sling as time passes once again.

“Hmmph, idiots. Didn’t even check the door.”

“That’s a good thing though, right?”

“Yes, and now, we have the advantage. Let’s hunt, sisters.”

“FINALLY!”

The doorway opens, the darkened interior broken only by a slight flash of light, as a mirror reflects the scene outside of it. The figure steps out into the alley once again, their stride, before limping and afraid, now full of confidence (if not also limping slightly still). No footfalls are heard as they retrace their steps through the alleys, even as they move quickly back towards the point of their previous confrontation. Slowing their pace, anyone watching would see the figure take on a predatory gait, almost disappearing amongst the shadows. Finally, their gaze settles on their target; another worn looking building, but this one guarded at its lone entrance.

“Only two? We are disappointed.”

“We must have drawn off a fair number of them….that’s helpful.”

“Let’s make this quick then, shall we?”

For guards, the two at the doorway are not good at their jobs. Neither one notices the figure move up behind the one to the left, just as he leans over to light a cigarette, the one on the right scanning through a magazine with scantily clad human females on it. The figure’s look of concentration as they strike changes to a feral grin, the guard’s cigarette falling from his mouth as his muscles seize, dropping him unceremoniously to the ground, momentarily paralyzed. Moving quickly, the figure dances to the right, the feral grin snapping back into rigid determination as they catch the guard’s chin in a powerful uppercut, knocking him unconscious. Standing amongst their downed foes, a look of concern crosses the figure’s face before they turn to the door.

“Sorry, we’re in a bit of a hurry. You’ll be able to move, just not until we’re done.”

“Oh don’t pity them. Wasn’t even a good fight!”

“Come on, let’s not waste time, or we’ll still be here when the others return.”

Inside, the warehouse is a mess of goods and sundries strewn about, almost as though they were in various stages of sorting at some point earlier in the day. The figure walks among the tables strewn with various goods and, grabbing a bag, begins filling it with items. The items going into the bag are a bit eclectic; clothes, knick knacks, various dried foodstuffs, no multiples of the same thing. As they work through the tables, they stop, noticing a humanoid figure slumped against a wall, it’s grey skin almost blending in. Small Preserver robots surround the humanoid, attempting to move the humanoid from it’s location. Casting their gaze back to the door, they quickly move over to the individual, shooing the small robots away from it placing a hand on it’s shoulder. It’s eyes open, and it looks up at the figure.

“Curious. Most of my memories appear to be missing. I do not know how I came to be in this place, and I am unsure as to who you are. Have we met?” the grey humanoid states, slowly rising to it’s feet.

“We are Ailynn, and no, we don’t believe we have. Are you alright?”

The grey humanoid rolls its neck and shoulders. “No permanent damage to my being is detected, though I detect I am not operating at one hundred percent capacity. I am Chimera, though I am unsure how I recall that designation. Query; what is this place?”

Ailynn shrugs her shoulders. “Drop off point for some of the gangs of Starhaven. Things they “collect” as taxes or “protection money” are brought here. We are just taking a few things off of their hands.”

Chimera looks to the bag, and then back at her. “I do not believe I am payment for these gangs.”

A wide grin spread across Ailynn’s face, showcasing her fangs, and she gave a short laugh. “No, we don’t think so either. Want to help us get what we came for?”

The emotionless grey face considered Ailynn for a moment, then nodded.

As the two spread out among the tables, filling bags with items taken from their rightful owners, those that had once chased Ailynn return, finding their comrades on the ground unconscious. Shouts and calls over comms commenced, before several individuals stand before the door, kicking it in.

“Shit, looks like they’re quicker than we thought.”

“We’re in trouble again, aren’t we?”

“Stow it, and help us figure a way out of here.”

Chimera drops the ration pack he is holding, as the thugs swarm into the room. They number about ten, and most of them spread out to surround the pair, a few staying back to guard the exit.

“Mistress Ailynn, it appears we have company. How should we handle this?” Chimera asked, no trace of fear in his voice.

“Mistress? Hmmm….looks like we need to fight our way out. Can you assist us with that?”

“Affirmative.”

Chimera doubles in size, startling both the thugs and Ailynn. The thugs hesitate for a moment, before one rushes forward, swinging a large rod at Chimera. It bounces off his chest and the thug looks at him agape, before Chimera’s fist is the last thing he remembers for quite some time. The room devolves into a rather one sided brawl, Chimera acting as a shield as Ailynn moves around the room utilizing hit and run tactics. Soon, the fight is finishd, all of the thugs either downed or fleeing.

“Oh, we like him.”

“We think so too…we should help him. We think he’s a bit like us; he doesn’t have anyone else.”

“Well Chimera, what do you say? Do you want to come with us?”

Chimera looks to Ailynn, then grabs the bags they had filled. “I find that agreeable. After you, Mistress Ailynn.”

The two leave the warehouse, stepping over the bodies of the unconscious thugs on their way out of the Draffsnarl and back to Ailynn’s home. There, they check the items against the requests on Ailynn’s data pad, sorting the goods into various piles to be delivered after a good night’s rest.

A Captain’s Sacrifice, Part 2

by Calvin

(This is a continuation of last week’s vignette. If you haven’t read it already, do so here and then come back.)

Elara sat on the edge of her bed with her fingers tented, leaning forward with her eyes staring at the floor in front of her. She calculated and recalculated, trying to come up with a way out of the new prison she and her sister found themselves in. Despite the situation, her mind couldn’t help but consider the spaciousness of the room, the softness of the bed and even the window that offered a view of the gleaming blue orb that was their neighboring planet.

It was all far better than the cold cruelty of the cryo chambers.

A shiver went up her spine, unrelated to the regulated warmth of their palace room. Elara glanced up to watch Ersa, her twin sister, pacing back and forth, feeling just as tense if not more. Their jailer and controller, Lady Lunar, had allowed them a semblance of freedom for longer than expected. Usually, their aunt would only allow them to be unfrozen for short periods of time. Long enough to put down any unrest stirring against the monarch’s reign, to ward off curious Earth heroes or to be subjected to experiments involving the ancient Moonstone. For whatever reason, likely paranoia, Lady Lunar had kept the Twins unfrozen for longer, allowing them to rest in their old room while handling the occasional security issue. Something had their aunt concerned that she would need her favorite weapons at the ready and it left the Twins time to think and to make new allies in the palace.

Elara’s brow furrowed at a knock at their door after a short conversation with her sister. In truth, Ersa was the one who had made those allies. Elara wasn’t a match for her sister when it came to making connections. One example of that had just entered the room. Erik, Captain of The Royal Guard and deeply in love, if his repeated proclamations were any indication. Elara didn’t trust him, and made that known. She couldn’t trust anyone working with Lady Lunar, regardless of what she saw in their heads. Still, Erik had a plan and it was far better than having nothing at all.

The plan itself was simple. A lieutenant loyal to Erik would stand guard at their door while the captain himself would sneak them out. Once in the courtyard, it would only take a short jump to escape. Elara had tried to probe the mind of the lieutenant named Mayar, but was only able to glean his surface thoughts. His mental defences were surprisingly strong but she didn’t have the time to dig further. She had to put aside her nervous feelings to focus on the job at hand. Looking forward, she could see Ersa looking at Erik. She didn’t need a mental link to know what was happening in her sister’s head. Elara’s eyes narrowed as she told her sister to focus, ignoring her own hypocrisy.

Moving through the halls of their home, Elara was struck by how much of it changed since their youth. The same old walls and rooms that were once draped in the emblems and history of the royal family were now dressed in Lady Lunar’s symbols. Each door held another hidden potential for treachery. Ersa was busy locking the doors to prevent anyone inside from exiting, or at least slowing them down. Which left Elara to deal with the minds inside.

Elara couldn’t expand her reach too far, out of fear of making Lady Lunar aware of her presence. She was still able to catch the minds of the occasional guard or member of the castle staff busy at work on the other side of those doors. Should any have a thought or a task that required leaving their rooms, Elara would give them a nudge to consider otherwise. There was feedback from surface thoughts as she walked on. Bits and pieces of the lives of the workers of the castle, ever loyal to their ruler. Elara sneered in contempt, wishing she could take every cruelty her aunt showed onto them and apply it to these people tenfold. Perhaps then they would see the tyrant for what she truly is. But doing so would lead their aunt right to them, and everything would be over.

Erik interrupted her thoughts, turning to address the Twins but focused on Ersa. Elara allowed herself an eyeroll but kept silent. After everything she heard, the telepath thought it impossible to trust any guard, much less one so highly ranked. And yet, he made Ersa happy. Happier than Elara had seen her in years, perhaps ever. His charms were obvious, as were his looks, but there was more to it than that. Elara could see it on both of them.

Part of Elara knew what it was that really bothered her about the Captain of the Royal Guard. Beneath the disdain and distrust. For so long it had just been Elara and her sister. And now that Ersa had Erik, she felt that she would have to share her sister’s attention. Elara found that she had one more thing to fear. The possibility of being completely alone.

Erik interrupted again, giving the agreed-upon signal. Elara exhaled, clearing her thoughts before establishing mental communication. He slipped out of a door, moving towards the courtyard as the Twins watched.

Have you seen anything yet? Elara asked across the psychic connection, only a few seconds after Erik left.

Nothing yet, Erik replied, moving stiffly in his route.

Well, make sure to say something if you see anyone. I don’t want to be caught by surprise.

I…Yes, I know. You can trust me, Elara.

Oh, I’m sure I can, Elara said across their connection, with much sneering sarcasm. Just like all the others in the palace that have been here working for our aunt while we’ve been on ice. I’m sure you all have a secret desire to disobey her. A chance to rebel is all you need, right? Don’t make me laugh…

Most of them don’t know any better. Lady Lunar has been the ruler for as long as many of us have been alive…but some of us know our history.

A simple history lesson for you. The worst day of our lives for us.

I know…and I’m sorry. I can’t change the past but I can do whatever it takes to save your sister, and you as well. Even if you don’t want me to help.

Is it that obvious? Elara’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, her hands balling into fists.

You might not be as subtle as you think…For what it’s worth, I really do care about your sister. I meant everything I’ve said about her. But I understand I need to earn your trust. Maybe I can do that after we get out of here…Speaking of, it looks like the coast is clear.

Elara avoided giving herself a moment to consider his words by telling her sister that the way ahead was clear. They stepped into the courtyard, moving towards one of the walls. Elara looked upwards, thinking of old memories of this place and how the tall walls made her feel safe. Now, she was jealous of her sister’s mastery of telekinesis as she would love nothing more than to tear this place down and bury everything in it. If it couldn’t be hers then it certainly shouldn’t belong to their aunt. Elara caught herself mid-thought, reminding herself that it should belong to her and her sister. That moment almost distracted her as she heard a door open. She roughly yanked Ersa into the closest cover she could find as someone else entered the courtyard. The last person she wanted to see.

Aunt Selene. Lady Lunar.

A horrid shiver ran up Elara’s spine again. In an instant she felt helpless. Her fantasies of vengeance and destruction shattered upon seeing the real thing only a few meters away. Moving with ethereal elegance, she approached Erik, who was already in the process of making up a story. She didn’t dare maintain a mental connection with him in this moment, but she could see a conviction and calmness on his face. One she couldn’t have held in the same situation. Just as she thought she might change her opinion about him, Lieutenant Mayar entered the courtyard.

They had been betrayed.

Lady Lunar was giving orders. A smug grin played along the face of the newly promoted Mayar. Erik was being detained by a cadre of guards that spilled into the courtyard. Lady Lunar left them to their work, not even bothering to capture the Twins herself. Elara tried her best not to panic but could hear the fear in her sister’s breathing. Ersa’s telekinetic powers were about to reach a boiling point.

Elara gave a warning a moment too late. Ersa let out a beam that tore through the courtyard, knocking down the guards caught in its force. The telekinetic twin fell with exhaustion. Elara felt terror, her head in her hands as she tried to think. She wasn’t a fighter like her sister, she couldn’t get them both out with force. A mental attack might work, but not against this many people in so large a space. Attacking one at a time would be too slow. She could take control of one and…

No. Elara shook off the thought. Even now, she wouldn’t commit the worst transgression that a telepath could make. To steal the free will of another, especially while she had lost so much of her own. Still, when Captain Mayar stood over them, she felt a sensation unlike anything she had felt before wash over her. Much like the palace around her, if she wasn’t going to rule Mayar’s mind, then she would just tear it down.

Elara reached into Mayar’s head, piercing through the mental protections he had shown before. It seemed that in his arrogance, he had let his guard down. That would be his last mistake. Mayar’s entire life was laid out before Elara. The vain ambition, scrambling to make a name for himself, climbing the ranks of the Royal Guard, betraying Erik and proving his loyalty to lady Lunar.

The telepath held it all in her hand and squeezed.

Captain Mayar fell to his knees as Elara stood, gazing down at him. She watched as the last of his defenses was destroyed, shattering his mind with a painful crunch. Ersa said something to her in concern that she could hardly hear with the thudding of her own heartbeat in her ears. All Elara could manage to say was that it was deserved.

She didn’t dare to mention how much she enjoyed it.

Elara was in a haze as they were returned to their room to await being imprisoned within the ice again. She replayed Mayer’s last moments over and over, trying to understand what came over her. A tapping at the door made her more alert. Another guard entered, an older one this time. Elara was ready to pounce upon his mind, expecting to have to fight, despite her exhaustion. Instead, the guard handed something to Ersa. A coat. It looked like the one Erik wore just moments ago.

As the guard left, Elara could catch stray memories of his. Being a young, new recruit to the Royal Guard, the whispers of a coup, the day that everything changed and the decision to try and stay out of trouble long enough to survive and the knowledge of who rightfully deserved the throne. Elara let the guard go as Ersa sat beside her. Elara held her sister as she cried. Soon, the exhaustion of the failed escape overcame her and she couldn’t hold back her own tears.

Still, there was something new brewing in Elara. She realized that Erik was right. Some of the people of Farside still knew who the Twins were and what Lady Lunar had done. That they had more right to rule the Selunites of the Last Refuge than she did and could be useful during another escape attempt. Elara had also discovered something about herself. That she could be merciless to her enemies, even without her aunt’s influence. Elara let the tears flow but held onto that in her heart.

She would be as cold and cruel as the ice itself until she got what she deserved.

A Captain’s Sacrifice

by Kat

Ersa paced back and forth in front of Elara, who was sitting on her bed. “We can’t let her do it again. I can’t take it again.” She stopped and looked pleadingly into Elara’s eyes. “We need to come up with a plan. An escape plan.”

Elara regarded her sister with curiosity. “Yes, but what? We have no clue as to who would be on our side and who would be on hers. I want to escape as bad as you do, but we have no resources.”

“We have one,” said Ersa quietly just as a knock sounded at the door. They heard the turning of a key and in walked Erik, the Captain of the Royal Guard. He had long black hair and bright blue eyes. Those eyes took Ersa in as she stood.

“I have news.” He closed the door behind him and walked urgently toward them kneeling in front of the twins. “Lieutenant Mayar has agreed to guard your door tonight in my stead. That leaves my hands free to help you. We could get you out. Tonight.”

Elara’s eyes widened as she looked at her sister. “And how do we know that we can trust you? You could just be selling us out to our aunt for your own gain.”

“I would never do anything to hurt you sister. I would go to the ends of the universe and sacrifice my life for her. And if I’m caught, you will be the only one left to take care of her once you are on the outside. I will give everything I have to see this mission through.”

Elara narrowed her eyes, but nodded. “Fine. What is the plan?”

Lieutenant Mayar opened the door and ushered the twins out. “I’ll hold here as long as I can. Hopefully no one will come to see you until morning.”

Ersa gave him a wide smile and a peck on the cheek. “We will come back for you. We will get you out.” Elara nodded and shook his hand with a small smile.

Lieutenant Mayar dipped into a low bow in response. “Good luck to you both. Take care of them Erik.”

Erik nodded and peeked around the edge of the grand door that lead into a long corridor. “Okay. It’s clear”.

Ersa, Elara and Erik tiptoed out the door and down the hall. They had to be silent. It was the only way their plan would work.

Ersa and Elara’s aunt had left them out of the cryo chamber around 6 months this time, instead of the usual 1-2 month bursts. That was her mistake. It gave them time to form relationships and acquire help, like the Captain of the Guard. Ersa spared him a glance. He was so handsome and kind. Unlike most of the other people in the palace.

Focus, said Elara’s voice in her head. If we mess this up, we are all dead.

Ersa shook off her thoughts of Erik and focused back on the plan at hand. They were almost outside. All they had to do once they got there was cross the courtyard at the guard’s shift change, and then Ersa could lift them over the high wall surrounding the castle and they were free. They were so close. Closer than they had ever been.

As they snuck down the hall Ersa reached out with her telekinesis, locking all the doors in the hall to prevent anyone from catching them. As she heard the quiet click, click, click of each lock, she knew her sister was simultaneously checking the area behind the doors for any minds that she could reach into and throw off their trail.

They reached the door to the courtyard and looked out the tall window. Just as they had planned, the guards were nowhere in sight. Probably laughing in the barracks before heading to their posts. They were going to regret that. As Ersa thought about all the times they forced her and her sister into the ice chambers to stay for days, months or years at a time, she couldn’t bring herself to feel bad for whatever punishment her aunt would inflict on them.

“Let me go first,” Erik said, with a glance at Ersa. “I can explain my presence in the gardens easier than either of you.”

“Okay but be careful. We are all getting out together. All three of us.” Ersa stared deeply into Erik’s eyes. “I cannot stand to lose you so close to freedom.”

Ersa saw her sister roll her eyes, but she turned around to give them a moment of privacy. She launched herself into Erik’s arms and buried her face in his chest.

“Its OK, love. I’ll just be a couple minutes ahead of you.” He turned his attention to Elara and gestured to his temple. “Wait for my signal.” He turned then, heading out the door quietly, transforming into the professional guard he was when Ersa had first met him. She watched as he rigidly walked around the courtyard as if on patrol.

A few minutes after he left, Elara turned to her. “He says the coast is clear. Let’s move.”

They both slipped out the door and down the beautiful stone path that Ersa had once admired as a child. Before the coup, before the cryo chambers, before their parents were dead. She squeezed her eyes shut as she pushed the memories from her head. As they reached the tall brick wall at the edge of the yard they heard a door open behind her. Elara pulled Ersa into a crouching position behind a bush that was cut in the silhouette of the same person who was walking toward them now.

“Captain Hesper, what are you doing in the courtyard at this hour?” Lady Lunar stated as she glided down the path. “Weren’t you to be guarding the twins tonight?”

“Oh yes ma’am, I apologize. I was feeling under the weather, so I got Lieutenant Mayar to take my shift. I just came out here for a bit of fresh air.”

Ersa’s aunt regarded him suspiciously. “You know how important the twins are to our cause, don’t you Captain? We can’t just have any old guard in charge of keeping an eye on them.” She took a couple steps closer.

“Lieutenant Mayar is very responsible. He is one of the only people I would trust with such an important task, your highness. In my opinion as Captain of the guard, he is one of our very best guardsmen. Very responsible lad.”

“Yes, I have had good experiences with him and I am so pleased to hear you think so highly of him.” She paused, as if she was thinking long and hard about something. “I had a very special position in mind for him.”

As she took another step towards Erik, the door behind her opened again. Lieutenant Mayar strode out confidently and stood slightly behind and to the side of Lady Lunar. “Your Majesty,” he said bowing deep.

Ersa saw Erik’s mouth drop open slightly as her aunt said “Captain Mayar seems a good title, does it not? Seize him. And find my nieces as well, I can sense that they are here.”

Ersa’s eyes widened as she heard a stampede of feet entering the courtyard. She looked to Elara. She was always the one with good ideas. Always the one with a plan. All she saw in Elara’s eyes was fear.

“Remove his jacket!” Lady Lunar was commanding. “He is no longer your Captain of the guard. He is now a traitor to the crown. He no longer deserves to don our colors.”

The soldiers tore Erik’s jacket off and threw it on the ground. Erik screamed in frustration as they dragged him away. “They are the rightful heirs to the throne. You are nothing.”

“Yes, I’m sure that’s what they have been filling your heads with. Take him to the dungeons. I will deal with him tomorrow.” She turned to look at the rest of the guards behind her. “As for the rest of you; find my nieces and return them to their rooms. They have a very cold day ahead of them tomorrow.” She turned away, smirking, as she headed back into the palace.

Ersa started panicking. She was not going back into the ice. She couldn’t do it again. This was supposed to be it, they were all supposed to be free. Her breaths were becoming more and more shallow with every thought.

“Sister. Stop. Please stop, you know what can happen when you-“

Elara was cut off as a psychic beam burst from Ersa shoving into everyone in the courtyard. She heard snippets of everyone’s inner thoughts and she sunk to the ground with exhaustion.

…waste of time…
…I can’t believe Erik would…
…wish I could help them…
…where are those little bitches hiding…

Elara dropped her head to her hands in defeat as the guards zeroed in on where the blast came from. Ersa watched as Lieutenant – no, Captain Mayar came around the corner with a malicious smile on his face. “Good old Erik always was a gullible one. Just a couple affirmations that I agreed with his opinions and his position was as good as mine. Now you two are coming with me.”

Ersa got up to move when Captain Mayar started screaming and clutching his head. He fell to his knees as Elara slowly stood up. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Mayar. “Too bad you won’t get to spend a day in that position.”

“Make it stop!” Mayar screamed as he started pounding on his head. “Get out of my head! Get out of my-“ His scream was cut off as his body jerked. He swayed on his knees for just a moment before falling flat on his face in front of the sisters.

Ersa stared at the lifeless body laying inches away from her and then gazed up at her twin. “Sister?”

Guards came rushing over as Elara coldly assessed the body. “He deserved what he got,” she mumbled so only Ersa could hear.

Ersa braced herself and grabbed Elara’s hand as the guards ran up to them.

“They killed him! They killed Captain Mayar!”

They were both grabbed roughly and half escorted, half dragged back to their rooms. They quietly sat on their beds staring at the wall. How could everything have gone so wrong? They sat contemplating their failure when they heard a quiet knock at the door.

“Mistress Ersa? Mistress Elara?”

Ersa walked to the door as a portly guard peeked his head in. “Hello, miss. I found this in the courtyard. He would have wanted you to have it, miss.” He bowed his head as he handed over Erik’s Captain of the Guard jacket that had been left on the ground. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for you out there, but I know the truth.” He returned Ersa’s serious gaze before bowing his head and stepping back out the door.

Ersa clutched the jacket close to her chest and turned back to Elara. She sat down on her sister’s bed and they put their arms around each other as they both cried themselves to sleep.

A Tale of Two Bolts

Jason Harper skidded across the ground like a stone bounced over calm water. Pain flashed through his joints as he crashed through a pile of ruined bricks and slammed to a stop against the far wall. He groaned and pulled himself up so his back sat against the wall. Nothing seemed to be broken, but he was bleeding from several open scrapes, and his swimming eyesight spoke to a possible concussion. The crossbow had landed a few feet away on a black and white tile floor, beneath the shattered splinters of a diner table.

Great, I’m going to die in a Denny’s.

His head was too heavy to hold up, so he let it droop. Just to count his bolts, at least that’s what he told himself. His right arm screamed as he hoisted it onto his hipside quiver. Jason fumbled through the shafts with numb fingers.

Two standard bolts. One explosive. One paint. One USB.

It wasn’t a lot of firepower, but it was going to have to do. Southside was counting on him. Shoot, all of Freedom City was counting on him.

The demon that had thrown him into the Denny’s was still outside. A big, toothy bastard, with necrotic gray flesh, and magenta bat wings. It didn’t have a head, at least not in the traditional sense. Instead, two orange, segmented eyes peered out from where its nipples should be, and it had a mouth that oozed cream-white pus instead of a belly button. The monster wielded a trident, although it had five prongs so technically it was a quinquident.

Jason chuckled at himself being pedantic. It’s not like it mattered, the weapon was going to kill him all the same.

The monster smashed through the final bits of the Denny’s doorway like a toddler destroying their sister’s sandcastle. It gargled, a noise that rattled Jason’s concussed brain.

“I’d be pissed off too if that’s what I sounded like when I laughed.” Jason slumped over and reached for the crossbow. His fingers scraped at the stock, but it was just out of reach.

The demon lurched forward, taking time to smash a table in its path. Jason swore as he strained. This cat and mouse display was degrading. The ground shook as the demon picked up its pace. Its taloned feet clicked against the dusty tile.

He finally got purchase on the handle and scooted it into his grip. There was no time to pause for the pain. Jason flexed his core and threw himself upright, aimed the crossbow with one hand as the other slid the bolt into place. He pulled the trigger.

The missile whistled through the air. It beeped in rapid succession and exploded in the demon’s face. Exploded with mustard yellow paint.

Shit.

The demon staggered a step and squealed from within its bellymouth. It dropped the quinquident and raked at the eyes on its chest. Good to know it didn’t have nipple eyelids to go with the crazy bug eyes.

Jason inhaled and drew the next bolt from his quiver. He double checked that it was the explosive. His wrist screamed from the strain and he let the crossbow fall to his side.

Unfortunately, the blindness didn’t slow the demon much. It sank its claws in around the eye on its right breast and pulled it free from the socket. Wiry tendrils wriggled out of the wound, grasping for the removed organ. The demon flipped the eye around and plunged the painted side into its chest, leaving the unpainted half facing outward. It furrowed its clavicles and sprang forward.

Jason wasn’t proud of the shriek that escaped his lips, but the mortal terror pushed his body into action. With one fluid motion he raised the crossbow and fired the explosive bolt into its belly.

The bolt flew into the dark center of the demon. Its blinking light illuminated the maw, revealing circular rows of teeth and dripping orange ichor. Jason’s breath caught in his chest as the warhead detonated. The explosion tore through the demon’s midsection, sending its torso flying apart in a shower of viscera. Chunks of spasming gore splattered the rest of the Denny’s, including Jason.

“You’ve got to be the grossest thing that ever lived.” Jason wiped his face with both hands. Vomit tickled the back of his throat, but he held it down for now. He put most of his weight on a toppled chair, and pulled himself to his feet. The room spun a little as he swayed in place, trying to orient himself. Now he just had to figure out how to stop the rest of the demon invasion with two crossbow bolts and a glorified flash drive on a stick.

Jason stooped and grabbed the quinquident. He wasn’t great in hand-to-hand, but a polearm would at least keep the monsters out of arm’s reach. Plus it doubled as a nifty crutch. He leaned on his new, infernal walking stick and hobbled to the hole in the wall of the Denny’s.

Eight of the same demons were waiting for him out front.

The horde gargle-laughed as one and stepped forward in unison. Their spears gleamed in stark contrast to the purple-green sky.

Looks like this is where I clock out. Sorry Fletch.

Jason sighed and raised his crossbow for one last defiant shot. He pulled the trigger and a crash of thunder answered. Pale blue lightning arced from the sky. It struck the first demon on the top of the head, boring straight through. When the lightning hit the ground it spread out like a sort of electricity snowflake. Each dendrite surged into the legs of the remaining demons and cooked them from the inside out. Jason looked at his crossbow in disbelief.

“Are you okay, kid?” A buzzing voice snapped Jason out of his wonder. The voice belonged to Thunderbolt, a member of the Freedom League, and occasional punching bag of the Freedom League Dark. Thunderbolt landed in front of Jason and placed a hand on his shoulder. He was taller than Jason imagined, dressed in his white and blue containment suit. The smooth armor was featureless, except for a stylized lightning bolt on the chest. Energy hummed from Thunderbolt’s palm into Jason’s body. His mask covered his face as a blank, white void.

Jason nodded, remembering that Thunderbolt had asked a question. “Yeah, totally. Thanks for the assist.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.” Thunderbolt stepped back and turned to survey Freedom City. “But I recognize a bow kid when I see one. Are you the new Arrow?”

“Bolt, actually.” Jason puffed his chest out in the best superhero pose he could muster in his current injured state.

Thunderbolt looked back over his shoulder at Jason. He didn’t have eyes, but somehow Jason could feel the arching of a brow. “Really? Bolt?”

“Well, crossbows don’t fire arrows. I guess I could be Quarrel, but I feel like that’s just inviting conflict.” Jason shrugged his good shoulder.

“No, it’s a good name.” Thunderbolt stepped back to Jason. “I used to be called Bolt myself, before the accident.”

“Yeah, I heard about that. Sorry I didn’t run it by you first.” Jason curled his lip inward. “You don’t exactly have a number to call. I did…nevermind it’s stupid.”

“What’s stupid?” Thunderbolt’s vacant expression was hard to get a read on.

“I may have tried to ask you by whispering into an outlet at the Quiver.” Jason’s face flushed.

“That’s hilarious.” Thunderbolt’s buzzing voice had no inflection.

“I told you it was stupid.”

“No, really. If I could laugh, I’d be laughing. I promise I’m amused.” Thunderbolt gave a thumbs up. “Anyway, are you okay to keep going? You look a little beat up and it looks like you’re low on ammo.”

“I’ve got a couple more bolts in the um…Bowmobile, but honestly playing whack-a-demon feels like a losing game.” Jason pushed a button on his gauntlet computer to activate the car’s autopilot. “We need to focus on evacuating civilians. My friend Nick has a bunch holed up in a bar over in Lantern Hill.”

“Sounds like a plan…Bolt.” Thunderbolt began to hover a few feet off the ground. “Mount up, I’ll cover you.”

Conversations

by Brandon and Jo

As they were finishing up their shopping, Peter realized he finally had a moment to talk with Dr. Irons about what had been working around in the back of his brain for a while now.

“Carol, did you say you were an expert on metahuman abilities?”

“I have a PhD in Metahuman biology. Not quite the same thing, but that’s also why Cyrus and I worked so well together.”

Fortunately, Peter had just put on a pair of sunglasses, so Carol couldn’t see him roll his eyes at the mention of Prof. C’s name.  He began rummaging through the pile of clothes he had set aside for her to try on, and tossed her a bright pink top.  “Ok, I think you might still be able to help me out.  I noticed while we were in that pocket dimension for the vampire. Oh wait, you weren’t there for that.”

“Nope, I wasn’t with you all. I was killing anything that was trying to get me or Seven in the Nether realm.”

Peter set down the sequined pants he was admiring, and looked over to her.  He wasn’t sure how to react to this.  He didn’t really have much of a grasp on who Seven really is, or what any of the Nether realm stuff was all about.  “Oh, that’s ok, cause I noticed it when we met you and worked with Freedom League Dark in those other pocket dimensions, too.  Anyway, I noticed that opening up my portals felt…I dunno…different?  Like I was trying to do something left-handed or something.”

“Are you referencing every time you opened a portal in a pocket dimension, or just the final big one with Seven’s assistance?”

“Hmmm…yes?  It seemed like any time we weren’t ‘here,’ my powers felt a little ‘off.’ They still worked fine, but it was just…different.  I’ve never really given much thought to how my powers work, but that’s made me curious.”  Peter pursed his lips ever so slightly.  He was uncomfortable with asking for help like this, and hoped she wouldn’t draw out much more.

“Ah. So maybe you should spend time with your powers and ‘feel them out’ per say? I can take a blood sample and see if anything shows up? Possibly compare it to previous results, if anyone has done that here?”

Peter paused.  He worked hard to maintain his expression.  He pretended to be studying the waist of the pair of glittery jeans he had just pulled out of his pile of “maybes.”  He needed her help, but this wasn’t exactly what he had in mind.  “I dunno.  Maybe?  Like I said, I’ve never really examined the how of my powers.  I’ve practiced with them and developed them, sure.  But I’ve never really questioned them.  One day I just had them, and haven’t really looked back. All of that is really just to say I have no idea where to get started?  I just assumed there would be some kind of fancy sensors and machines that go ‘bing’ that super nerds have to figure this stuff out?”  He chuckled, hoping to lighten up the mood a little.

“But yeah, a blood sample sounds good.  No stranger to those! Heh, all the other samples were done at a Planned Parenthood though, so I don’t think you’ll be able to get any for comparison.”

Carol put her hand to her face and sighed deeply.  “Well, it will be helpful if you aren’t rude to the current ‘Super Nerd’ you’re trying to get advice from.”

When she looked back at Peter, she saw he was unusually flustered.  The sunglasses had slipped down his nose to show his eyes.  “What are you talking about?  Nerds are awesome!  I’m dating a super nerd!  Well, I am until he dumps me, which I give about another week, maybe?  Eh, that’s a whole other thing.”

“Ah, well… wait, why do you think you’re going to be dumped by your…… um…. what do you have?”

Peter blushed.  Crap, this was NOT the direction I wanted this going!  “I dunno.  I think I have a boyfriend?  We haven’t really put labels on it.”

“AH! Boyfriend! Wonderful!”

Peter wasn’t really sure how to gauge that particular response.  He desperately wanted to find a way to change the topic.  “Yes, for now.  He’s probably super pissed about us being gone for a week without warning though.  He never messaged me.  Oh well, that’s how it goes.”  He held up a pair of strappy sandals for her to consider.

“I won’t pester you with a lot of the questions… but why do you think he will break up with you?”

Shit, he thought.  “I mean, cause he’s probably pissed off…I would be.”

“Communication is always #1 in all relationships…. I’m sorry you’re afraid. I’ve, obviously, never met him, but I’m sure a simple conversation will help smooth out any ruffled feathers. Does he know you’re a super?”

“Oh yeah.  He’s Ethan’s best friend, and basically an honorary Storm Breaker.”

“He knows you’re a Storm Breaker, he’s best friends with Ethan, and you BOTH disappeared for a week? I’m sure the boy is smart enough to figure out you were both saving the city/world/multiverse. But if you want to be a negative Nancy about it all, go right ahead. I still think you should talk to him and let him know how you feel.”

“I’m sure he’ll reach out if he wants to.”

“Or… you know, because communication is a two way street, you could reach out first.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”  Why isn’t she getting the hint?  Let’s move on, please, he wondered.

“But I’m guessing you’re scared to do that?”

“Psh, no.  Like I said, he can talk to me any time he wants to.  I’m not the pushy type.”

“Mmmmmm…. that’s not what this sounds like. But it’s what you are telling yourself. The relationship isn’t just on his shoulders. You have to share that weight too…”

Peter grimaced at the top he was holding up to himself and tossed it to the side.  “So, where do you want to get started with these tests?  And when?  Tonight’s no good because we’ve got that Longbowz concert some of us are going to, but I don’t really have plans this weekend.”

“I’ll take time to pull your files and read up on your biology first. I can get blood samples anytime, it doesn’t have to be tonight.  When we get back to the tower, let me pull your records and see what might already be in there. Have you practiced in the big ‘Danger Room’ thing at the tower?”  

Finally, he thought with relief.  “If you call repelling that invasion on our first day practicing in the danger room, then yes.  Oh wait, you weren’t there for that, either.”

“Yes yes. Always assume, for now, that I wasn’t around and I don’t know much of anything.”

“Some folks wanted us to feel welcome in the tower when we first moved in.  Not a big deal.”  He shrugged.

“Oh goodness. There’s so much more that needs to be done then. You should start at the basics and not just fly off into the deep end…. or portal to the bottom of the ocean.”

“Cool!  Thanks, Doc!”  Peter slid the sunglasses back up his face, and slung the glittery jeans over his shoulder.

“I REALLY like this suit. I think I’ll get it. I’ll wear it out next week for work.”

“Oh, good taste.  That’s delicious,” he said while making a chef’s kiss gesture.  Then, with a grin that was both sincere and mischievous, he said, “Prof. C will love it, too.”

Carol blushed fiercely.  “I didn’t think about that… I’m not used to having him back.”  She knew Portal could see the tears beginning to well up in her eyes.

“Please excuse me for a minute,” she said as she ran back into the dressing room.

Well, shit, Portal thought to himself.  I wanted her to feel awkward or annoyed, not cry.