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Chapter -19- Building to the Climax

Sunday, February 4, 2024 - 7:30pm EST Coastguard Cutter Hold ...

"Lance? Oh my God, I can't believe you came here." Karla smiled brightly. Kuda leapt down from her shoulder and dropped to the deck. He ran to Lance Patterson and sniffed at the man's ankles.

His eyes dropped to the ferret-sized fox then he pursed his lips.

"Yes, I still have Kuda. Turns out he belongs to Sinopa. I'm impressed, though. This is the first time you've put yourself in harm's way. I've always thought you were the pussy who plans from afar." Her tone abruptly changed, adding, "You still haven't earned my trust. For all I know you could be on Falcon's side. But between the computer classes and showing up here, well, that's a step in the right direction. And furthermore, how'd you get clearance to come out here?"

Lance folded his arms, looking across the assembled group of people. He leaned down and picked Kuda up with both hands then held him in his right arm, petting the fox with his right.

Karla tilted her head. "Hey. Does he know you?"

"I met him when Sinopa was withdrawn from this plane in 2014, to fight in the Celestial uprising. Sinopa created him before leaving. He's been watching over the Parker twins for ten years. He was instructed not to intervene, only to watch and report as necessary. She trained him to report to Sinopa's sensei. I've learned that he broke protocol when Sinopa was returned to Earth a few months ago. He's quite sentient."

Karla snorted. "I could have told you he's smart."

Eric furrowed a brow. "He's an animal, Karla. He's smart for an animal. Maybe a trained dog or a crow, but he's still an animal."

"He's a spirit familiar of a deity," said Lance. "He's smarter than any dog or crow. He is capable of reasoning and aware of his existence. I'll prove it." Lance used his left index to lift the animal's chin, then looked down, making eye contact. "Kuda, bark the answer for the square root of nine."

The little fox opened his muzzle and his tongue lolled out."

"See?" said Eric.

Kuda barked three times then wiggled free and leapt down to the deck. He sat down in front of Eric, facing away.

Karla smirked. "He's presenting his backside to you, Eric. See? And you made fun of me for talking to him. I hope you feel like a total 'derp' now." She looked back to Lance and asked, "Will you explain a 'spirit familiar' to my boyfriend, please?"

"A fairy," said Lance in a matter-of-fact tone. "I suspect he's also quite apt at traveling through mirrors like Sinopa. He even rescued one of my agents who found herself tied up. And don't feed him the fake treats. Beggin' Strips, things like that. It makes him sick. He has a sensitive stomach. I've kept an eye on him as I was able in Sinopa's absence. How do you think he knew to find you, Karla? I put him on your scent trail months ago."

Karla nodded then leaned down and picked up Kuda and held him in her arms. "Oh. I see." She turned to Eric and stuck her tongue out at her boyfriend. "Fairy fox. Just incase you didn't hear him."

Lance cleared his throat and turned to the rest of the group. "Many of you may not make it back. There are other ways of attacking Falcon. Trying to catch him off guard before he'll have learned that Sire is dead ... that's not exactly the best way."

"How'd you know we killed Sire?" asked Karla, assuming the role of leader. Kuda moved up onto her shoulder. She folded her arms, mirroring Lance's posture.

"He was the Justiciar's brother. Law required Watson, per Protocol Four, to report the death of a high ranking esoteric or their immediate family. He still knows his job. I'm the planner, he's the agent."

Karla glanced back at the group then forward to Lance once more. "Okay, so wait ... how can I know for sure that you're looking out for this group's best interest? I need to know you can be trusted."

Lance sighed and dropped his hands to his sides. "Karla, last August you were on your way to a meeting, where you met Donovan. One of our spies suggested that the sect might come under attack. No one had any idea that it would be all supernaturals across the globe. You were invited to go to that meeting with very important sect members."

"I remember. I posted on my Facebook fan-page, and you called me seconds later."

"I was only partially honest. I did, in fact, call because I was concerned for your safety. We had history and I know you're a powerful ally if you can be reasoned with on a situation. I delayed you to the meeting, so that you wouldn't be murdered. I did this out of respect for your father."

"Wait, what? How did you delay me?"

Lance unfolded his arms then used his hands to make gestures of reasoning. "I found a rapist who was being released from jail. I bribed him to find you. I told him to wait near the meeting location, and told him to make you 'late' for the meeting. Apparently he enlisted someone to help him keep an eye out for you. I knew you'd protect yourself. By arriving late at the meeting, you survived the attack. I had hoped you'd save more than just one supernatural but I knew you had to be late to the initial attack. The thing is..."

Karla reached her left hand out and smacked Lance across his face. "That's for sending a rapist to my proverbial doorstep, knowing how I feel about scum like that. I shot the man with his own gun and left him face down in the alley with his pecker hanging out."

Patterson brought his hand up to the side of his face where he'd been struck rather hard. He stood there, shocked, cupping his jaw.

She then drew Lance into an embrace. "And this is for taking a chance to ensure I'd be safe. If you'd been honest with me months ago, I'd have been more cooperative." Kuda jumped from her shoulder, back to the deck, so as not to be in the way of the hug.

Reno blinked. "Last August in San Francisco?"

The succubus relinquished the hug and turned back to Nevada with a nod. "Yes. Why?"

"I was assigned that case. The gun wasn't registered to him but his thumbprint was on every round in the magazine. The gun was in pieces in the alley - he was a rapist, freshly released from jail. We found him shot with the gun that was nearby, with his junk hanging out of his pants, zipper down. We assumed that he tried to rape but was killed in self defense. We concluded that he was left behind by a woman attacker who didn't want to turn herself in."

"Good job," Karla chuckled, "You solved the case, Inspector."

"Technically, it's a coldcase, now. And to be fair, I didn't solve it; you confessed." He glanced back at Lance and said, "You seem to know every-damn-thing; where'd my powers come from?"

"Nathaniel Carrington." Lance moved around Karla and approached the bald man. They shook hands. "How are you adapting to your abilities?"

The succubus grinned and cut in. "Did you know kissing is more hygienic and healthier than shaking hands?"

Nevada completely ignored her off-cuff comment and released Lance's hand. "I've grown to like having powers. I saved children at that school. I like the feeling of not being helpless anymore. The only thing I miss is my hair."

Lance lifted his brows. "That's such an easy thing to fix." He rubbed his hands together. "Stimulation of the hair follicle needs to happen on the molecular level."

"Okay, well ... I can't go calling Bosley, man. I don't have many options, here. I don't know anyone who can ... do whatever to my 'molecular level,' so... And there aren't many supernaturals left alive to ask."

"So ask this one." Lance went back to the door and opened it. Standing in the doorway, Johann Foster waved to the group.

Evan sat up, wide eyed and moved across the deck to his friend. They hugged each other with a firm pat on the back.

Karla, feeling ornery, said, "Kissing is more hygienic than hugging, too."

Ignoring Karla's playful joshing, Evan stepped back from Johann then looked down at the logo on his friend's t-shirt and laughed. "You're wearing our old design!"

"Yeah, I thought it'd be good luck."

Karla grinned at Johann and waggled her brows in a playfully suggestive manner.

Foster blushed, somewhat, in reply then walked around her and approached Patience and took her hand. "As my best friend's girl, I just wanted to say hi to you first."

Patty drew Johann into a light hug and he smiled.

"Evan thinks very highly of you."

Johann smiled again. He made his rounds, shaking hands and hugging everyone in the room then approached Karla. "Hey there. I don't want anything to be awkward between myself and Eric so..."

"It's fine," Eric said, coming to his feet. "I was upset at the time but I'm over it. Besides, it technically happened before her and I decided to become exclusive. No harm, no foul. Besides, I'm more focused on finding my uncle."

"I uh ... look, if you live through this," said Johann, "I'll introduce you to your grandfather - Justus. He's been showing me the ropes of being a Justiciar. Now, everyone, I want to talk and hang out and everything but I'm being told that Sinopa was stabbed with a knife. I'm going to go and do my molecular skin repair thing. That way we can take her with us to fight Falcon"

"Oh, good," said Karla. "I'm glad you're going to help her, because she's in pain, although she doesn't show it. But ... there's no point in taking her to fight Falcon."

"Why?" asked Foster, alarm in his tone. "We need her to win."

"She just transferred up to sickbay, she's in pain, Sweetheart."

"If she could win this thing for us," Eric cut in, "we wouldn't need your help. No offense, of course. But we would have just sent her in alone or with volunteers as backup. But she can't win this for us for a number of reasons."

"Johann glanced back at Eric. "Pardon?"

Loupe frowned. "Falcon has been immune to fire for some time, now. Karla and I learned about it when we first met him ... sort of. He was some sort of psychic projection, through one of his little buddies - these people weren't beyond bragging. And we confirmed, from Vincent, that Sire isn't his only supernatural friend."

Johann frowned. "I see. So her abilities are useless against Falcon. Other than chopping him into bits. A sword may not be the element we need in fighting him. And it will be up to her to retrieve us if we're in trouble or captured."

"Yes. Yes, exactly right." Eric nodded and said, "She could use your help, though."

"Thanks for the information." Johann licked his lips, swallowed, then, in a softer voice, said, "I'll go and see her in sickbay now. Uhm ... according to the guys up top, we should be ready to head down in a few hours."

Loupe approached Johann. "I'll show you the way. Follow me." They left together. As they did, Karla could hear her boyfriend's voice, fading down the hall, "So, tell me about Justus. Do you think he can pick up where Donovan left off in training me? And why isn't he here to help us fight Falcon...?"

X

---

X

February 4, 10:45pm EST Surface of the Atlantic Ocean ...

** "I'll call you back when this mess blows over."** Agent Gregory Watson gazed out over the choppy waves to the distant glow of lights from another Coast Guard ship. His head tilted back and he looked up at the cables that connected the two ships. "They're about to lower the Bathysphere into the drink, now. They're using several boats to hold the platform stable. I want you to keep your head down until after everything is over, okay?" The USPRI agent wore a vest with gold letters that, quite simply, read, "US Federal Agent" on the back with no indication of department. After a moment, he smiled, albeit slightly, and said, "I love you, too. And yes, I'll try to say it more often. It's never been my thing. But one thing I've learned after all these years of doing what I do ... I'm trainable. So ... I'll say it again, just to prove my point: I love you."

Watson listened to the woman's voice on the other end for a moment then added, "I promise, after this, we can be together again. Full time. All the time. I'll take a desk job. Heck, I won't really have a choice in that matter, either. Then we won't have to keep our relationship a secret anymore. And if something goes wrong, well, then, I'll just disappear from the rest of the world so I can spend the rest of my life with you, okay? So far as I'm concerned, I'm content with the rest of the world thinking I'm dead. Protocol Zero."

He saw someone approaching from the corner of his eye. "Hon, I have to go. Fox just came up top. I, uh, it's mission time." He quickly ended the call and pushed his cellphone into his pocket then turned about.

"Satellite phone?" asked Fox Parker on approach.

Watson looked him over as if sizing up the young man. "You weren't even ten years old when you stole those artifacts from me back in 2011. Until last night, I let it go because I thought you'd have forgotten that by now. But you brought it up and I've been stewing over it. Those artifacts were crucial as a safety procedure. They were necessary to remove the power cores in those dig sites beneath Denver and Richmond. Because your father used you and your sister to steal them from me, my fiancée died trying to pull the power core from its place beneath Richmond. Her sister died in Denver. And it's your entire fault. But even more so, it's your father's fault for setting it all up. So I just wanted you to know that I still resent you and I blame Jon Parker for the death of the real Krys Monroe. There's something you need to understand, Fox. I can take care of myself. I enlisted Topaz's help to get closer to you two. The truth is ... I hated you kids. But things have changed over the last few months. So. I'm just going to say, fuck you both and drop it. The issue is over now, so far as I'm concerned."

"So you've been following us?"

"For a long time. You're not easy to follow," Watson said. "I once injected Karla with a radio isotope then faked my death for a while by blowing up my field office in J-Berg, Africa. Then I tracked Karla to find you and your sister. You two aren't easy to catch. But times are different now. We're all in this together and I wanted to make that clear. You two were just child thieves. You didn't know better. So. I still resent your father. However, with all due respect, he's dead now. There's no point in harboring ill will. We're a team. We're on the same side."

Fox eyed him then reached out and took the man's hand. They shook. Fox turned about and headed back into the ship.

Once inside, Parker nodded to his sister and said, "You were right, Paz. That guy said 'I love you' to someone on the phone. It might have been Krys Monroe. He's hiding something. But he also said he hates our father."

"How'd it end?" she asked.

"I'm just going to keep watching him. He's not coming down with us, so I'm going to let it go for right now. Have you spoken to Vincent?"

"Of course." Topaz grinned. "That fake artifact we let Anne Monroe steal is going to lead us right to them. From there, Vincent will help us get into the dome. So you were right - your idea worked and you're as clever as your name."

"What? That was Lance and Karla's idea. Not mine."

"You were saying something to the effect of, 'if we only had a way to trick them into taking something that will lead us right to their doorstep.' Don't you remember? I told Karla. Karla told Lance. Lance made it happen."

Fox laughed and hugged her. They shared a kiss. Then he asked, "What happens to the relationship now that you're dating Vincent?"

Topaz put a finger on her brother's lips. "We keep it going the way it has been. No one has to know we're all dating one another - so far as I'm concerned, this romance can stay between the three of us. Vincent has told Falcon that he's going on an extended vacation to spend time with me. Falcon approved it, but told Vincent that he thinks the three of us should stay close in order to stay safe. Not that I give a shit about what that man wants, but even Falcon seems to be hip on the idea of the three of us being close together. So, yeah, Vincent will be coming home with us after this mission. You like him too, don't you?"

Fox offered a wan smile. "Vince is a good guy. He's welcome in our bed so long as he continues to treat you with the same respect he's shown both of us thusfar."

Paz grinned. "Remember last Sunday night? God. Watching you two make out was amazing. I might give up on women if I get to see that more often." She saw her brother blush; it caused her to grin brightly. After a moment, Paz kissed him again then said, "Reno has something for you down in the hold. I'll keep an eye on Watson. We descend at midnight."

"Alright." Fox turned from her and headed back to the stairs then took them two at a time. Once in the hold, he approached Karla and Reno and opened his arms. "T-dah! You guys wanted to see me?"

"Just me, actually," said Reno.

"I'll leave you boys alone to play. Johann should be finished doing his healing trick on Sinopa's knife wound by now. I want to check on her." Karla reached for the hem of her skirt, offered a quick curtsy then disappeared.

Fox turned back to Reno. Nevada pulled a container from his inner coat pocket. "I don't know how I've forgotten about this, considering it was a huge lump in my jacket for the last few days. My mind has been elsewhere after seeing those kids in the school. Anyways, I found this while exploring Falcon's old lab beneath that nightclub. It was just a few days ago, before I left San Fran. You're the electronics guy - I thought maybe it's something you could play with." He handed the container over.

Parker turned it over then eyed the label. "Nanobots? For real?" He opened the lid then blinked.

Reno peered forward and looked into the seemingly empty container then shook his head. "Nevermind. That was dumb as hell. I should have made sure there was something in there first, huh? God, now I feel like a tool."

"Reno..." Fox backed away with the jar then put the container on the deck and held his hands out. "You wouldn't be able to see them. 'Nano' is pretty small. Jesus. They tingle."

Nevada furrowed his brow, glanced down at the jar then back at Fox. "Are you screwing with me?"

Fox held his hands out before himself. "Oh my God, they're incredible. We could have probably saved that island with these. They apparently have databases and memory interfaces. And ... Jesus, Reno, they can communicate."

The ex-inspector put his hands on his hips, shook his head then crossed the hold. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I didn't look into the jar - I deserve that. Good joke, Fox. I'm going to go grab something to eat before we head down to that dome. It's going to be a long night."

"No, Reno, they're real. Microscopic robotic bugs that can enhance my ability to interface with electronics. This is incredible, man."

Reno laughed, opened the door and shook his head. "Well, then, Merry Christmas - late. Or very merry un-birthday, if you will." He stepped out of the hold and shut the door behind himself.

Meanwhile Fox furrowed his brows. "I wasn't joking. But okay." He turned back to the hold and approached an outboard motor for one of the small motorboats. The casing was off and it appeared to have been gutted for parts.

Fox's eyes appeared distant, staring straight through the motor then he nodded towards it. "Let's work together to see if we can repair this. I want to see what you guys can do."

A pole and a metal chain nearby on the deck began to erode before his eyes as the nanobots chewed down the raw elements. They recycled the material and began to form new parts for the outboard motor in a rapid fashion.

Under Fox's direction and control, the outboard motor began to repair itself with new spare parts forming out of the recycled metal from the objects on the deck. "This," he whispered to himself, "is unlike anything I've ever..." he trailed off, watching as the engine finished rebuilding itself from out of a thin vapor of robotic bugs and raw element dust. He licked his lips then said, "Amazing."

X

---

X

11:30pm EST...

** "Well, well, well,"** Greg Watson announced to the group of women with a grin. "Seems as though everyone is in good spirits. I'm letting Reno use my satellite phone to call his friend Wilfred - oh, and he just found out that Johann can help him grow his hair back. And here I find you three ladies, the Blonde, the Ginger and the Brunette. It's almost game time. Everyone else is packing their gear into the bathysphere."

Karla, Sinopa and Topaz looked up. With Sinopa in the middle, lying on a sickbay bed, Karla and Topaz appeared somewhat protective, flanking their friend.

"Mine is more auburn, don't you think?" Paz cleared her throat sharply, with a measure of purpose, and said, "I know you've been talking to a lover on your sat-phone. We need to know that we can trust ourselves in your hands. Are you working things out with Krys Monroe's clone? I need to know if you're dating one of Falcon's lackeys before we can work with you."

Greg folded his arms then licked his lips. "Who I date is none of your business, Topaz. You're dating one of Falcon's lackeys - Vincent Nevada, incase you've forgotten."

"I'm serious," said Paz. "Vincent is our inside man. Are you back with Krys? She attacked Karla and tried having Reno killed. She's not an ally."

"It's not Krys. That girl, the doppelganger if you will, is a lesbian - she has no interest in me. Plus, she's too young for me. She looks younger than twenty-five. I'm pushing into my forties. Stop prying into my business."

Karla vanished then reappeared, arms folded, nose-to-nose with Watson. "You're, like, a triple agent or something. How do we know you didn't try having us killed back in August? You could have been behind it. Answer her question - who is your special someone? Because we know you lied about being gay. You're not. We know you lied about being CIA - you're Homeland Security. We know you lied about being helpful because you're a douche."

Watson took a deep breath and sighed. "If I tell you, it will cause a great deal of drama and we don't need that kind of distraction tonight. Lance didn't want you people going down there so soon. However, in light of these waves, we have to assume Falcon is a serious threat. Our intel suggests earthquakes may follow ... so Lance and I have come here to show our support for you. Isn't that enough?"

Sinopa glared at Greg. "I have ways of finding out. It is easier to trust you if you trust us."

The agent rubbed his face for a moment, took another deep breath, then said, "Topaz, I don't want to hear any flack. I don't want to hear any resentment or drama or anything."

"You hired me to protect you, jackass. And I didn't do it for your money, obviously. I did it to keep an eye on you. You owe me the truth; it's my prerogative as a woman to be upset with you if I feel like it. Now spill it."

Watson grimaced. He looked at the trio of eyes then back to Topaz and said, "I've been dating your stepmother, Fara, for quite some time now. Yes, the baby belongs to Jonathan. They were trying to rekindle what they had when they married. But she knew she couldn't fill the shoes of his first wife, and she couldn't get Jonathan to open up, emotionally."

Topaz tilted her head. "...What?"

Gregory continued. "He might not have been able to remember because he'd had those memories quashed by some supernatural with that ability. However, he was able to feel the existential void and the loss on some sort of ... I don't know, some subconscious level, and she knew she couldn't fill it. So I've been seeing Fara since the end of her second trimester."

Sinopa and Topaz looked at one another then back at Watson.

Karla sighed in relief.

The agent remained on edge, waiting for either one of them to say anything.

The kitsune shook her head with a wan smile. "I do not remember my husband, and I am only just beginning to remember my children. Jonathan's memories were removed by Tamamo-no-Mae under instruction from a higher rank in the court. Jon has passed and I have come to love Jules Guillot deeply. But I still have my children. They have come to show Jules respect because I love him. But none of us have really cared much for Fara."

"Excuse me?"

Sinopa lifted a hand to calm the agent. "Fara Parker has done nothing wrong, but she was an outsider to our family. I am very glad she will not be lonely if you plan to be at her side. Also, I certainly hope you will be an active male role model for the twins' half-sibling. Again, to be clear, I certainly do not begrudge you a relationship with her."

Topaz picked up where her mother left off, adding, "Yeah, agent, no offense but that's a huge weight off my shoulders. You can date Fara all you want. Hell, marry her. I'm happy for you. But you'd better treat that little boy with the utmost respect. Furthermore, he'll need to be trained by my brother and I, if he has abilities. If he's like Aunt Nicky, and is without the family signature ability, that's fine - no harm, no foul. Fara gave me the estate, and she has the money from daddy's passing. Stock portfolios, all cash assets, accounts, insurance money ... everything. She'll live comfortably for the rest of her life. And, believe me, my brother and I don't need that money. So congratulations, Greg, you're dating a widow worth two billion in legally attained money. I hope you retire after tonight."

Watson shook his head and rubbed his face. He chuckled at the awkwardness of the conversation. "If I knew it was good news to you, I'd have told you earlier. She was nervous that you and your brother would judge her for cheating on your father."

Topaz shrugged. "He was cheating on Fara, emotionally, with mom and didn't even know it. He all but ignored Fara sometimes. I resented her because I didn't want her to be my mother's replacement ... but she didn't deserve to feel like an outcast, either. I'm glad she's happy. She is happy, right?"

"Yes. I'm reprograming myself to be more ... I don't know. Open, I guess, is the word - I need to be more affectionate with her. More available. But she's used to it from Jon. And she says I give her more emotional support than he did, even though I'm halfway across the world right now. And after this mission, I'm taking a desk job. So. I came down here to ask you guys if you're all ready, and to ask if Sinopa is going?"

Karla glanced back at Topaz and her mother. "I, uhm, ... we were just discussing that. Justus is still in 'play,' now that we know for sure he's alive. And Sinopa, here, is extremely powerful, even though she's not supposed to interfere in the overall drama of 'mortals.' So, we've come to an agreement."

"Which is?"

The succubus shrugged. "If we all die or disappear or just plain never come back, she and Justus will be tasked with rescuing us or, at the very least, making sure that Falcon's city is destroyed for good. You'll help with that since you're not going. Steven, too. And if I die down there, fighting my ass off, then I'll have made up for all the really crappy stuff I did in my youth."

"Karla..."

She smiled. "But I don't want to go out like Richard the Third, and have my reputation trashed after death. That guy was a lot nicer than the Tudor house gave'em credit for. I want to be remembered as an awesome person who kicked ass while chewing bubblegum in the name of righteousness." A grin found the demoness' pink-painted lips.

"I see. Well." Watson turned to Sinopa. "Miss Crevan, if you'll say your goodbyes, I need to take these two and get them loaded into the bathysphere. It's nearly midnight."

"Hai." Sinopa reached for Topaz and they embraced. She leaned up from the sickbay bed and whispered into Parker's ear. She then turned to Karla and said, "Even Tamamo-sama has said that it is extremely rare for a succubus to find someone with whom she is compatible for procreation. Do not lead the charge into battle. Protect that baby. Lance Patterson would give you a numerical value to prove that it is quite rare. I understand the incubi have similarly low odds. Please, just take my word for it and keep the baby safe. This may possibly be your only chance at having one."

Karla leaned down and kissed Sinopa's forehead then stepped back and offered a bow, palms together. "Watashi wa anata no yokyu o soncho shimasu. Doumo arigato." Without another word, Karla disappeared from the room.

Topaz looked back at Watson then towards her mother. "I really need to practice. I only got some of that. Something about honoring you, and thanking you."

Sinopa lifted her hand and touched her daughter's face with a smile. "She said she will respect my request, then thanked me for giving her advice and information. Hmm. All this time - I had no idea Karla spoke Japanese."

Topaz rubbed her face. "Was it fluent?"

"It was a bit stiff, but her enunciation and dialect were good."

"Learn something new every day," Watson mused softly. "She's been around for a very, very long time. It seems reasonable that she would pick up a few languages other than English."

"I've never seen her speak anything but English," Topaz replied with a slight grin. "Watson, do you speak any Japanese?"

"I'm limited to a few phrases, one of which describes how I feel about bringing up Fara at a time like this. Domou sumimasen. I'm usually more professional than that. I'd have rather brought it up once all of us are home safe and Falcon is dead. Anyhow, I'm headed up top. Topaz, don't be long." He opened the door and left the sickbay then shut it behind him.

"Very sorry?" asked Topaz with a soft laugh. "I'm glad. Like, I'm _really, really _glad she's with him. I didn't like the thought of her with our father, especially now that we know you're our mother. I only wish you could have seen him, or even rekindled with him before he got sick. Why did you two get divorced when we were little, anyhow?"

Sinopa sighed and leaned back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. "I wish I could explain it gracefully, especially since it is only starting to come back to me, Topaz. But your father and I were still in love. We learned that Aris Falcon, while working with your father's band-of-thieves, decades ago, was performing genetic experiments on us. When I conceived, he intervened somehow. I am still ... what is the term ... fuzzy? I'm still fuzzy on that situation. He managed to perform an experiment on you and your brother around the time of conception. I cannot be sure his role in the matter. Somehow, your father and I learned that he was trying to breed you two to become something we could not understand at the time. So we separated you at a young age to keep the both of you safe. Now that the two of you are older and mature, you can look out for yourselves without being manipulated by Falcon."

"Fox and I know what he wants from us. And we have a plan on how to manipulate Falcon. We're discussing me having a child with Vincent but forging evidence to the contrary. We'll claim the child belongs to Fox. Falcon will think his plan worked." Parker fidgeted then asked, "So, um, that was all? There was no disagreements or fights between the two of you?"

"Mm, every relationship has emotionally-conflicted disagreements." Sinopa frowned thoughtfully. "I do not remember many but I do remember one in particular. Jon had just taken the two of you to steal from a Government Agent. I was against it and he did it behind my back. So I was very angry. As it turns out, it was Watson and it was done to attempt to keep Falcon from obtaining artifacts that he had no business having. It didn't stop Falcon but it slowed him down. Your father had the right idea, but ... at the time, I was very upset that he did it against my wishes. We'd only recently found out that the two of you shouldn't be together; the fact that he snuck out with the two without me knowing..."

"Yeah, I can imagine you felt betrayed and angry."

"Hai, Topaz. I was already scared about keeping the two of together. I let Jon's actions upset me beyond ration or reasoning. I took you and moved out the following night."

Topaz nodded with a sigh. "Right. And years later, Tamamo was ordered to recall you. We were all made to forget the truth, and I was told you died. What if Falcon has planned for Fox and I to come down to that dome together? What if we're playing right into his hands?"

"I am not convinced that such is the case," said Sinopa. "He has had ample opportunities. Last year he captured you two separately did he not? He surely knows that you are dating Reno's brother. He has shown that he is capable of capturing the two greatest master thieves, yet he has left you alone since that time."

Topaz shrugged and looked down. "Yeah. That will never happen again. Rookie mistake. I'm better than that, now. I've had extensive experience in the last few months."

"Hai. And in that time, you have come out of your shell, Topaz. You went from being cold and distant to becoming open and warm - even when Fox is not around. You, Topaz, have made positive strides."

"Yeah ... I still feel more comfortable, in general, when I have my boys around. Look, there's something I need to tell you about myself ... and Vincent ... and Fox. With an emphasis on the boys."

Sinopa closed her eyes and shook her head. "I already know. Never harbor shame. Either change it or embrace it. Bottling shame can become a weight on your shoulders. If there is a..." The kitsune paused and snapped her fingers, trying to think of the term.

"Love triangle?" Topaz paused then, in a quieter voice, murmured, "Ménage à trios?"

"Hai, that is the phrase. If such is the case, then that is your business. Not everyone can have a perfect relationship that matches fairytales and story romances. Make your own way. If the three of you are in love with each other equally, then you have my blessing. Everyone else be damned to think differently of you. Ignore the judgment of those who do not understand." She reached up and tucked a lock of her daughter's hair behind the girl's ear. "Read up on mythology. Gods and demigods have rather complex love-webs. Humans do, as well. I find it fascinating that humans often act ashamed of themselves over their life choices. I am mystified that they hide it and judge one another. Do not be like that."

Topaz pursed her lips together and looked at the floor in silence. After a moment she whispered, "Thanks for the encouragement."

"Topaz. Sit, please. Why does this bother you so much?"

Parker settled on the end of the sickbay bed. "I was a lesbian. And proud of it. I was a flag-waver at the gay parade. And then suddenly I'm dating two men at once - one of which is my twin. I feel like I'm emotionally broken. Like something must be wrong with me to change things so suddenly."

"Iie. Nothing is wrong with you. You are smart, you are healthy, you are passionate, and now you, Topaz, are learning how to become compassionate. I am proud of you."

Topaz swallowed her emotions down. Tears welled up in her eyes but she held her feelings down. In a soft, reverent tone, she said, "Thank you ... mom." She leaned forward and hugged her mother. She sighed into the embrace. "Sorry I shut you out before now."

"Thank you for letting me in. I am proud of you, my strong, beautiful, intelligent little girl." Sinopa offered her daughter a soft smile then added, "They will be waiting for you. Please. Please come home safe. I cannot lose the two of you again. I have felt empty for so long, even after Jules filled my heart with love again. And, now, finally ... I feel complete."

"I promise I'll make it home. See you soon." Topaz leaned down and kissed the side of her mother's face then left the sickbay.

Out in the hallway, Parker saw Jules leaning against the bulkhead. "I didn't approve of Fara as my stepmother. But ... I approve of you as my stepfather." Topaz opened her arms and gently hugged Jules. "If I don't make it back, you'd better take care of her and love her until you die an old man."

Jules laughed and returned the hug. "Oui, m'petit. Bring home yer brother 'n yer boyfriend."

"Yeah," she chuckled offhandedly. "Yeah, I'll do that."

"You better bring'em both back," Jules said matter-of-factly. "I think I know yer problem, darlin'. People who always think they's cold always turn out to be the ones with the biggest hearts. Yer heart so big that you have enough love to give to both them boys. If ya dun' bring'em both home, you'll always feel a little empty inside."

"You know?"

Jules laughed and nodded. He slid his fingers through her hair and pulled her forward then kissed her forehead. "Oui, I figured it out b'fore yer mother."

"You did?" She offered a thin smile at the kiss on her forehead.

"Mm, Fox 'n I had a man-to-man about it. He admitted that you two had a relationship and he said he was afraid to lose you to Vincent but felt it was unfair to stand in yer way with the Nevada boy, 'cause he's yer brother 'n such."

"What did you say?"

"Topaz, I asked Fox if you seemed to show favoritism to him or Vincent ... he said you seemed genuinely interested in both, equally. I told him that was okay. I explained that maybe you'd be even more comfortable with both boys in your life. Fox said the three of you had already consummated a relationship as a group. So Fox talked to Vincent discretely and they agreed this triangle romance is healthy."

"Really?"

"Oui, that's why there's a French term, 'household of three.' Everyone has heard the term. It's more normal than most people admit. Now, go bring'em boys back safe 'n sound, m'petit. Then y'all can be one big happy family, n'est-ce pas?"

Topaz nodded, hugged him then said, "She's ready to see you now," and nodded towards sickbay. Parker turned about, took a deep breath, and headed down the deck.

Moments later, Topaz made her way topside and looked around. One of the enlisted men said, "We'll have a boat right out to take you out to the..."

Topaz offered a cocky grin, getting back into her element. "I'm the last one, I think. And I don't need a stupid boat." She reached for the man's hands and brought them together, palms up, and said, "Give me a boost." She put her foot up onto his palms, at hip height, then put her other foot onto his shoulder and backflipped off of him. She landed on one of the cables connected to the platform for the bathysphere.

"Ma'am! There's a lot of chop! You're going to fall into the...!"

"Supernatural grace! I've denied my heritage all my life; it's time to finally embrace it!" Topaz stood up on the swaying line, turned sideways and folded her hands behind her back.

She performed a handless cartwheel and came back into her feet, further down the line. "See? This is what I do; this is who I am." She turned away from the enlisted man on the deck and sprinted up the cable towards the bathysphere platform.

Empowered by the encouragement from her mother and Jules, Topaz performed two elegant somersaults halfway down the line. She came to the platform and gracefully dismounted by stepping off the cable.

Showing off, she caught the cable in her hands at a dead drop, then swung her legs forward, up over the line, and released it. Topaz flew through the night air and tucked her legs in a forward flip. With the grace of an Olympian gymnast, Parker landed on the deck of the platform.

With her heart racing and her spirits lifted, she approached the entrance to the bathysphere and swung the hatch open. The entire group looked up at her from their benches. Fox grinned, sitting near a window. "Show off."

"I'm learning, Foxie, if you got it ... flaunt it."

Karla laughed. "That's my girl!"

Topaz looked around at the cramped benches lining the walls. She saw Patience sitting on Evan's lap and moved to Fox then settled on his thighs. "Okay. Looks like the gang's all here. Johann, you're going?"

Foster nodded. "Yeah. Lance and Watson were hopping that I was going to stay. They only brought me to help out and 'act like a Justiciar.' They wanted me to heal Sinopa because they wanted her to fight Falcon but if Falcon is fireproof ... oh well. I've been practicing this new technique of freezing water vapor. Let's see if he can stand up against us if he's encased in a block of ice..."

Evan chimed in, "Surrounded by ballistic glass..."

Reno cut in with a smirk, "While stunned from a million volts."

Fox whispered into Paz's ear from behind her. "...While nanobots chew out his eyes. I need to show you a new trick I've learned when we get out of here. It's amazing."

Reno coughed, sitting adjacent to the twins. "C'mon, I'm sorry I didn't look in the jar to see that it was empty."

Fox laughed. "I'm not messing with you, man. They're real."

Karla turned to Johann and said, "Okay, do your trick to make us go straight to the bottom." She turned to Rufus and Eric, adding, "You boys are being awful quiet." She hooked a thumb at Patience and said, "I expect that from her, because she's tactful and only speaks when she has something clever and witty to say. But you two used to be a lot more talkative than this."

"Should I have added, wrapped up in shadow to the dialogue a moment earlier?" asked Eric with a thin smile.

Rufus shrugged and folded his hands. "I'm just stayin' focused, devil-girl. My best friend is down there. Eric wants his uncle. I want my sidekick. Sorry I'm not bein' so chipper. I'm jus' tryin' to keep my head in that there game."

Reno rubbed his nose then said, "I don't mean any disrespect guys, but why is Patience going with us?"

She gave Evan's leg a gentle squeeze so that he wouldn't answer for her. She gave Reno a smile then said, "There may be the need for a scientist. I have been studying your kind based on records provided by USPRI and his contacts. I've been studying your weaknesses and how to avoid them. I've also been studying the weaknesses of others that we may encounter down there. Aris Falcon has been trying to recruit me for some reason and he only recently gave up when he went to the bottom of the Atlantic. There's also the possibility that I may be able to distract him."

Reno tilted his head and thought back to the gypsy girl, Abby Chase. He remembered how afraid she was of handling a handgun. A grimace found his lips. He sighed then asked, "Can you handle fire arms?"

"I grew up between Russia and Africa. I have seen more guns in my life than you have, as a police officer. Entire crates by the truckload." She paused for effect, smiled, and added, "I have good groupings."

A smile spread across Nevada's lips. "Good enough for me. But do you have the nerve to shoot someone?"

Karla reached across and gave Reno's left knee a firm pat. "She does. I saw her in action in J-berg. She handled a revolver, she had no problem pointing it at me, and Jasper Cunningham. God, I hope I see that dickbag down there."

"Dickbag?" asked Rufus, somewhat amused.

"Yeah," Karla said with a firm nod. "I've learned sometimes making up insults isn't all that bad. Especially ones that make no sense. Like snatchcastle."

Foster rubbed his hands and sat down, cross-legged, in the middle of the floor. "Okay. Everyone, Patience isn't able to protect herself. This isn't really even her fight. But Falcon needed her for some reason, so she must have something to bring to the table. We need to make sure we protect her because she's risking her life without the abilities we have. Can we all agree? Instead of everyone talking at once, how about head nods?"

Johann waited until everyone offered the gesture, then he picked up where he left off in an attempt to get a feel for leadership. "Lance and I talked about governance and strategy. Reno and Karla are running this thing. Evan, if we have any questions regarding humanity decisions - killing, destroying the city, rescuing civilians, anything of that nature ... then the ball will be in your court. I trust you to make good decisions. Everyone else ... you're not in charge. Do not try to act like it. When we're inside, we'll assess the situation and decide if we need to stay together or split up as teams. Safety is the big focus here. If we start dropping like flies, then we'll fall back, lick our wounds and try again later. We have other options, like getting help from the Government if necessary. Any questions?" He waved his hand and the Bathysphere dropped into the ocean and began to sink.

Eric cleared his throat. "Yeah. How do we communicate with one another while we're down there? I feel like I missed on that detail."

Topaz slid off Fox's lap and knelt on the floor. She retrieved his bag from between his ankles then opened it. "These headsets are bone-conduction. They don't cover your ears. You'll need your ears to hear what's going on around you. They sit on your jawbone directly in front of that tab in front of your earhole. The noise travels through your skull bone and you'll hear it."

Fox watched as his sister handed out all the headsets then took one for himself and put it onto his head. "Like this, everyone," he demonstrated. "Reno, those nanobots came in handy. I modified every single headset. The range is twenty miles in an open field. But I put a transceiver up there," he pointed to the egg-shaped ceiling above their heads. "So it will increase the range to cover the whole dome; walls won't be an issue anymore. I've not tested it very much. We hid a few of them behind lead and they still worked fairly well between the ships. I'm satisfied."

Reno folded his arms with a grin, eyeing Fox. "Nanobots. Right. Those things. Anyhow, if your battery is getting low, come find me."

"Don't go melting the batteries," Fox replied with a nervous chuckle. "And I'm not joking with you. They're real, man."

"Yeah, I hear ya'. I deserve that."

Fox shook his head with a chuckle. "Geeze."

Rufus took his headset and moved it to his head then fixed his long dark hair over it. "Well damn. Impressive. I'll be able to use this whether I transform or not. Clever, kid."

"Well, I didn't make them," Fox said. "I just modified them."

"How much further?" Karla knelt adjacent to Johann and asked, "Are we there yet?"

Eric put a foot against her shoulder and pushed her back from Johann. "Hon, please, let him focus so we don't go smashing through the top of the dome."

Johann looked up at Eric and asked, "Can you cloak us in shadows? They're just barely physical enough to absorb radar and sonar and absorb the waves."

"Don't we need light to cast a shadow?" asked Fox.

Eric shook his head. "Everything is a shadow in the absence of light."

Rufus glanced out a porthole. "Maybe tha's why there's an innate fear of darkness installed in us."

Eric cleared his throat and put his hands on the bulkhead. "I've never been afraid of the dark at any age. I was more afraid of stepping on a rake in the garage, or on a Lego in my bedroom because I couldn't see it. But I always felt otherwise comfortable in the dark."

"Must be ingrained in shadow masters to feel comfortable in th' dark," Rufus murmured with a grin.

"Aren't wolves nocturnal? Can't they see in the dark?" asked Topaz.

"Naw. We gawt round pupils. Yer thinkin' of foxes and cats. Maybe I cin' see a little better in my other form, sure, but naw. No such luck, gang." Rufus glanced back from the porthole to a display on the bulkhead adjacent to the hatch. "Never seen somethin' drop so fast. How's it possible we're goin' this fast?"

"Johann," said Evan. "He's changing the water, beneath us, to water vapor briefly, so that we drop straight to the bottom. And he's creating an air pressure bubble around us. That's why we need to let him focus. It's going to get harder with the pressure differential as we go lower, so how about we give him a minute to do his thing...?"

Rufus nodded in reply. He glanced back out the porthole again with a contemplative look on his face. "I hope everyone's still alive," he whispered on a sigh. His eyes held a look of hope.

Reno moved around Evan and Patience, approaching one of the portholes. He put his hands on the sides and narrowed his gaze. "Hey. I had a thought. Didn't Johann reinforce this thing with metal? What if there are magnetic mines out there? Should I degauss this thing?"

"Better safe than sorry," Evan replied.

Reno nodded and focused while keeping his eyes on the dim illumination in the darkness beyond the porthole. "I can kinda' see through Eric's shadow thing. I think I see the dome."

Loupe looked up. "I've made them so you can see out, but they cannot see in," Eric mused, focusing on his ability.

"God the anticipation is killing me," Karla murmured.

Topaz reached up and gave Karla's hand a gentle squeeze. "It won't be too much longer." Her brother went to one of the portholes, looking out on the same side as Reno. She gave him a gentle pat on the rump. "Sit down. You'll see it soon enough. Just stay relaxed so you don't distract everyone else."

"Right, sorry." Fox eased back to the bench. "Reno's right, you can see it. It cuts through the darkness of the water really well down this far."

Patience eased off of Evan's lap and peered through the porthole that had Fox's nose print. "Oh my. I thought it would be some ways away. We're awful close."

"Yeah," Reno murmured. "Less than a football field away. We're too close for comfort. I hope they don't see us."

"They won't," Eric said in a firm tone. As if to punctuate his statement, the bathysphere settled down on a hard surface.

"Okay, this is going to be the hard part," Johann said. "Everyone sit down and stay out of my way. No offense. I'm going to need to see through all the windows because I'm going to use water pressure to steer this thing into a docking port. I don't want to run into anything, so I'm going to need to see out all sides."

Everyone settled on a bench, with Patty on Evan's lap and Topaz on Fox's.

Johann stood up and put his hands on the ceiling and peered out of each porthole then tensed his jaw. "Okay. Easy does it. I wish I could see above us, not just the sides and beneath us. Okay. I can parallel park a car ... how hard can this be, right? Reno. Listen, man, once I get us into the docking port, you're going to have to repulse or magnetize us to keep us from hitting the sides."

"So that's why you added metal element, huh?"

"Guilty as charged." Foster offered a wan smile. "Okay, we're going in through a sewer exhaust. I don't know how twisty these tunnels are going to be but ... I have a feeling an X-Wing would have an easier time navigating the trenches of the DeathStar at this point. We gotta work together. Eric, keep us in the cloud." His tech joke caused Evan to smile. Johann took a deep breath and sighed. "Okay. We can do this."

The bathysphere moved into position in front of a round port. Evan reached for a panel and turned a lever that read, "Disconnect," on the panel. "Everyone remember where we parked our oxygen hose and cables."

"I thought we were stealing a sub like last time," said Rufus.

Evan chuckled somewhat nervously. "Yeah, of course, I just ... I was ... sorry, dumb joke." He put his hand on the top of the round vessel and turned the top section to glass. "Okay, now you should be able to have unobstructed..." The sphere shuddered hard. Suddenly it began to roll in the sewer tunnel like an enormous pinball. "Shazbot!" Everyone began to fall about one another until Karla grasped the group with telekinesis.

"Hold on to one another," Karla told them, "It's easier," she added through gritted teeth with a grunt. The bathysphere rolled around them. Karla held the group together at the center to keep the benches from striking anyone. She shouted, "This must be an intake for sea water!"

"You think?!" exclaimed Reno.

Everyone huddled together at the center.

Karla's arms glowed in a bright pink layering of glyphs. Her palms incandesced. The upper portion of her torso glowed through her clothes, faintly. She ground her molars together, trying not to blink.

The lengthy ride through the sewer tunnel became too long for her to hold on. Suddenly the group found themselves thrown against the walls, pinned by centrifugal force. The sphere rolled wildly through the sewer tunnel, pushed by water pressure from outside of the dome.

Evan held Patience in his arms to keep her safe, but the weight of her body crushed him against the bulkhead with intense pressure. He grimaced at first then groaned in pain and, finally, cried out in displeasure following a soft pop, which came from his lower torso.

As soon as it began, the chaotic ride ended. The bathysphere broke the surface on its side, with the hatch door face down. It brushed into a sewer walkway adjacent to the pool of incoming ocean water. The group slouched down against the hatch door, crumpled together.

Johann crawled overtop of Topaz, adding, "Sorry," and moved to Evan. "Was that you?"

"Yeah," Evan groaned. "I think I broke a rib. Never done that before. It hurts. Can you do your healing thing?"

"I've never rearranged the molecules of bone before. I could try but I can't see what I'm working with. I might make it worse if I'm working blind."

"Can't you open him up," asked Karla, "then close'em back up when you're done?"

"Without a local?" Johann responded with an incredulous tone. "He'd need some sort of anesthetic. You don't just rip someone open, fix a bone, then close them up without numbing them!"

"Okay, okay," Karla murmured. "There's morphine in the first aid kit, boys." She got up and pushed hair from her face, lying strewn across Fox and Patience. "You can flush it back out of his blood stream afterwards and he won't be groggy right?"

Johann glanced back over his shoulder at her, only to notice his leg was across Reno. He shifted himself then said, "I've never tried that sort of thing. I've never practiced it. I don't want to do more harm than good else I'd just freeze the tissue with ice. He's my best friend, I don't want to accidentally make things way worse."

Evan offered a weak smile. "You're repeating yourself. Relax. I'll be okay. It just hurts. It's not going to kill me."

"Okay," Eric said, pulling himself from beneath the pile. "First thing we need to do is get this thing righted so we can get out of this damned thing. Karla, teleport us up there onto the maintenance walk." He lifted his hand, pointing up through one of the portholes. "They may use this area to filter debris and send the water to a hydroelectric turbine or possibly they filter it into drinkable water. Just be ready, because they may have surveillance. Or they might have people down here."

"Send me 'n Reno first," Rufus said, "I'll sniff the area for guards. Reno'll sense electronic systems and short out any cameras."

Karla rubbed her face, already exhausted from over-exerting herself. She waved her hands, sending both Reno and Rufus out of the sphere. They appeared on the maintenance walk just inside of Eric's shadow globe.

Reno appeared on his feet then stumbled. Rufus was quick to help the ex-inspector find his equilibrium. "Careful there, brutha. Open yer stance for balance."

Reno recovered quickly. He rubbed his bald head then reached a hand out and waved at the thin veil of smoke. "So this is what it looks like to peer out of a shadow from inside it?"

"Of course," Rufus chuckled. "Ain't you ever stood in an alley just beyond the streetlight? Y'know? And looked out at the main road? Okay." He sniffed at the air then Reno's shoulder then at the room again. "Someone other 'n you is near. Just one. Maybe walkin' patrol-rounds or a worker of some sort. Definitely male."

Reno nodded and glanced around the area then clenched his hand into a fist. All the lights in the main area went out. "Well. Okay then. I intended to kill power to this section. Guess that would effect the lighting, too, huh?"

Rufus laughed in a good-natured way. "Amateur. Well ... while it's dark, I'mma change." He began taking his clothes off. "Dun' get weird'ed out, son, but I'm nekkid now."

"Dude."

Rufus laughed again, but his voice began to change to something more visceral and guttural. Something throaty. By the end of his laugh, Reno could tell that the man had transitioned into the werewolf.

The pitch of Rue's voice became deeper, followed by the sound of grunting, bones realigning and tendons popping.

Finally, there was a sigh of relief. "May have t' change back later. Need clothes that aren't ripped to shit. B'sides. This's my lucky shirt."

Reno grimaced and held his hand aloft. A soft glow of electricity emanated from his palm, illuminating the area. "It's a green shirt with a four-leaf clover on it that says, 'this is my lucky shirt.' I wouldn't call that a real lucky shirt."

"S' good enough for me, copper." Rufus grinned. His gleaming white fangs glowed in the electric lighting of the spherical spark that hovered above Reno's right hand.

"God, that's freaky. Put those away, Cheshire Wolf, damn."

Rufus chortled in delight. "Ayup. S'why I do it." He opened and closed his elongated canid maw several times, adding, "Rawr. It's time to go hunting. That guy is coming closer."

"Don't eat him, man. Evan would have a fit."

Rufus sighed. "Damn, yer' right. Can y' stun the ba'jesus out of him?"

"Of course." Reno rolled the glowing sphere to the backside of his hand as if balancing it on his knuckles then he held out both hands, index fingers extended. "I'll just taze him." He turned towards Rufus, waggling his fingers.

"Dun' taze me, bro."

Reno eyed him for a moment. "Was that a quote?"

"Yeah. Some college kid. See, John Kerry, 'afore he was the secretary of state, was at this ... aw hell, you were a kid when that happened. N'er mind."

"Secretary of State huh?"

"Ayup. During the Obama years the Dems liked to hire their rejected presidential nominees as Secretary of State. Me? I'm a tried 'n true country boy, though."

Reno looked around the dimly illuminated room, above the water. "Yeah, let's not talk politics right now - where's the guy?"

Rufus sniffed the air. "Much clearer wit' this nose." He waved for Reno to follow. They left the shadow bubble around the bathysphere and crossed the maintenance walkway to a hallway that led into another area. "He's coming straight towards us," Rufus whispered. "Up ahead, tha' intersection. Any second..."

Reno moved around Rufus, quickened his pace then saw the man in work clothes. "Hey, pal," he said, then pointed both fingers forward. Two bolts lanced from his index fingers, striking the man in his overalls. The worker flailed back, struck a concrete wall then slumped to the ground.

Rufus passed Reno and picked up the convulsing, unconscious man and draped the body over his large, furred shoulder. "Let's take him back and maybe Evan can build'em a glass prison er' sumfin. Damn. I left m' clothes back near the whatchamacallit. Cain't forget'em." He pulled the man's work satchel off his hip, dumped the tools on the floor then said, "This'll work to carry'em."

The two headed back towards the bathysphere where Karla had evacuated everyone onto the maintenance platform. Rue laid the unconscious man down near Evan and Johann then picked up his clothes, just as Eric dissolved the shadow orb.

"Sorry about the lights," Reno told them. "I got a little excited, I guess. We need to look around and get our bearings. Then we need to use this area as basecamp, or find something equally secure or better. What's the plan, gang?"

Johann looked up at the group then sighed. "Evan has a broken rib. He's in too much pain to walk. It wasn't exactly supposed to happen this way. We can still find a sub and leave. Maybe we can just make this a rescue operation for Collobulous and get the hell out of here...? Donovan, too, if we can find him."

"Can you fix the rib?" asked Eric.

Johann frowned. "It won't be fast. I have to go very slowly so I can feel my way around, on a molecular level. I'd be doing a blind exploratory and I'm not a doctor. I think you get my meaning. If I take my time, I can fix it. But it's not a quick thing."

"I get it," Reno said. "You did your mojo on my hair, but now I have to wait for it to grow back. Okay, bad example, but we understand this isn't an instant fix."

"I'd be useless while operating on the molecular level." Johann licked his lips then bit his lower one. "We need to find out if they know we're here. We need to assess our situation, get some food and supplies and hole up. No use rushing. If they don't know we're here, then an hour or two to do a perfect healing job won't be problematic. We should start exploring and see if we can't find out where Donovan and Collobulous are being held."

"That's where I come in," Fox said. "We need to find a computer terminal. Being that everything down here is closed off from the rest of the world, it's a good bet that most of these computers will be networked together in some fashion. Maybe I can domain-hop, and use one terminal to access the rest of the intranet. If so, I can start searching for our pals."

"I didn't know you were a computer nerd," Evan said in a soft tone from where he lay on the ground.

"I can interface with them without knowing crap about coding or all that stuff. It's like swimming. Different current, different temperature, different viscosity ... but it is still swimming and I can still navigate it."

"Can't swim through jello," Rufus said, "Yer ass'll just sink. Jus' sayin'. So be careful." Rufus tilted his head and sniffed at the air. "A'ite, well... I cin smell incoming people. I should stay down here with Johann and Evan so no one sneaks up on'em while they's busy."

Fox popped his knuckles. "Who wants to go with me to find a terminal?"

Topaz shoved Karla towards her brother. "Keep him alive. Then you're going to find Falcon and beat his ass. Take Reno with you. Patience, Eric and I will find supplies, medical stuff, food, and locate a safehouse. Eric, here, can keep us shrouded, which will keep Patience safe." She turned back to Johann and Evan. "Rufus won't cuss around you, Evan. Or I'll be wearing his fangs on a necklace tomorrow."

"Aw, sh...sheooot."

Topaz grinned at him, then silently mouthed, "Hah, fucker," so that Evan couldn't see it.

Rue smirked in the dim illumination from lights over by the enormous intake pipe behind the bathysphere.

Paz turned to Patty and Eric. "You ready to start exploring, gang? Maybe we'll find Donovan and Collobulous the old fashioned way. I'm ready to get started."

"Be good," Karla told them. "If you can't, then at least be good at it."

Topaz smiled at the succubus. She reached into a pocket on her sneaking suit and withdrew a pair of what appeared to be sunglasses. She put them on, despite the fact that the main source of light came from Reno. "Always."

Karla smiled. "That's my girl."

Parker stretched then pulled out what looked like a flashlight from another pocket on her sneaking suit. She thumbed the button and pointed it forward. "Infrared light. Invisible to the eye. These glasses let me see that spectrum. It's like having a flashlight in the dark that normal people can't see."

"Except me," Rufus murmured, "Don't flash tha' thing in m' face. Dog eyes, 'member?" He grinned, adding, "Kiddin'. I see ever'thing. Seriously, though, dun' shine it at me, darlin'."

"Yeah, yeah," she said with a chuckle. Just to be playful, Topaz waved it in his direction quickly then turned away. "Patience, Eric ... let's move out." The trio headed into a hallway off to the left and disappeared down the hall.

Rufus sniffed the air then nodded firmly. "A'ite. Reno, shine tha' hand-lamp this'a way. I'mma get one'a them emergency light things out'a the supply box we brought."

Karla waved her hand and caused the small crate to appear at Rufus' feet. "There ya go, wulfie. You keep those boys alive, understand?"

"Reckon so, darlin'. Don't get'cher selves killed."

Karla smiled, approaching Rufus. Their gaze met. "I'm sorry you and I didn't hook up. You're a good guy, and if Eric hadn't gotten be pregnant, maybe things could have been different."

She felt the velveteen-padded palms of his hands move to either side of his face. She afforded him a sad sort of smile. Then she felt his soft muzzle brush against her lips.

"Tha's fer luck. And I'm not upset. I wear muh heart on my sleeve. Er, pelt, I guess. We cool, girl. Dun' get weepy now. We's almost done with all'a this mess. Then, if you want, we can do tears over beers."

Karla nodded quietly, her sad smile joined by glistening eyes. She reached up, patted his furry snout on the left side then kissed his moist nose. "I'm glad you still care, Rue-bear."

"Ayup. Now off ya' go. Find Falcon 'n collapse th' room; drive spikes into his forehead then telekinetically amp up yer fist 'n punch'a hole in his skull for me. I'm a lil' jealous ya get ta' fight'em, just saying."

Karla reached up and firmly scritched her nails behind his right ear. "Keep my boys alive. And don't get yerself killed or captured, else ... you, uh, will be missing out on the beers. I'm buying."

"Sounds like a plan. Stay safe."

Karla turned to Fox and Reno. She took their hands. Reno's light went out, leaving Rufus to fumble in the dark to get the emergency lantern on. The second trio disappeared and reappeared high above the city, beneath the dome ceiling. They vanished again, only to reappear atop of the nearest tall building.

Fox peered over the side of the tall structure and grinned. "I've never been this high up on a building without any wind. It almost feels weird."

Faux sunlight began to illuminate the far end of the city, emulating sunrise.

Reno folded his arms, watching as soft orange luminescence encompass the eastern sector. He glanced over at Fox and reached for the thief's left wrist, looking at the young man's wristwatch. "It's not even one in the morning yet. What time zone are these people on?"

Karla moved behind Fox and spoke over his shoulder, into his ear. "Look, Simba, everything the light touches is our kingdom."

Parker gently elbowed her. "You're a hot mess." He couldn't help but grin.

Howard offered a soft giggle. "Don't poke me in the baby. We don't know what kind of abilities she'll have. She might create a blackhole under your ass if you poke her like that."

Fox quirked his brows, glancing back at Karla. "She, huh? Well she isn't even old enough to kick, yet."

"Yeah?" Karla smirked then said, "Watch this." Fox and Reno's shadows lifted up from the building and changed shape then returned to the gravel rooftop of the tall skyscraper. "Eric's ability. Albeit not a very powerful version of it, but still. That kinda' proves his DNA is in there, after all. So ... what's the plan? Tallest building in the city, see if Falcon is there?"

Reno folded his arms. "Eh. I've noticed the guy likes underground labs. Fox, what do you think?"

Fox poked his shoe against his shadow. "I think having a new power is pretty cool. And yes, on a serious level, Reno, those nanobots are legit. Anyhow. Tall buildings may not all have penthouses for people who want to be in charge - that is true. But they often have purpose. Else why make them tall? Purpose means importance, and importance requires connectivity. So, let's cross the city, make our way into one of those big buildings over there, and find a computer terminal."

"What about the one we're standing on?" asked Karla.

Reno and Fox looked at one another then turned to her. Reno spoke first. "Have you noticed what it looks like?"

Fox offered a grin. "Take a look, Karla."

She walked to the edge and looked down then furrowed her brows. "Scaffolding and..." She disappeared. A moment later, she reappeared, facing them. "Okay. No windows. I didn't realize it was under construction. Okay, I get it - there's nothing in it yet. No computers."

"No duh," Reno replied.

"No arguing," Fox said with a grin. "Also, Vincent is here somewhere. And, you guys remember that artifact we let Anne Monroe steal?"

"Let?" asked Reno.

"Yeah, man. That wasn't a real artifact, just a really old piece of olive wood. We had it hollowed out and Karla installed a transponder in it. We fooled the badguys. They thought it might be important because we had it. We let her escape, knowing she'd steal it. It's just a tracking beacon; it'll take us right to wherever Falcon keeps artifacts ... maybe it'll even take us to Falcon, himself."

Reno laughed and shook his head. "Man, I got so upset about that stupid piece of wood and it was a trick?"

"We didn't know who we could trust yet, so we wanted to make sure everyone else's responses were legitimate and realistic. Karla and my sister were in on it. Lance did the rest."

Nevada shook his head with a grin. "Ain't that some bullshit - world's second greatest detective ... fooled by a fake."

"Batman you aren't." Karla folded her arms beneath the swell of her breast. "I feel like you should have known this by now. Where's your head been?"

"Kicking the shit out of school shooters. How the hell can you point a gun at kids anyhow? Those are the people who have no soul, hate children, hate superheroes, and like Hitler."

"Yeah," said Fox, "I bet they really hate superheroes after meeting you two. Anyways, listen, Evan isn't around. I'm not trying to make a trail of witnesses. Can we agree that we'll just dispose of anyone we have to fight? It's for the greater good."

"Let's just do what we have to do, you two." Reno glanced back towards the east as the faux sunlight continued to spread slowly across the city. "I'm satisfied to render people unconscious. But you're right, we can't contain them and we know they'll sound the alarm if we..."

Karla shook her head and gave both boys a firm slap on their backs. "They brought people down here to work. People and their families. Why don't we just try and blend in. Stop by a coffee shop and order coffee and blend. And Reno, don't worry about money; Fox here is going to pickpocket some for us."

"Coffee and blend, huh?" Reno chuckled. His question of her pun caused Karla to shrug. Nevada offered a wan grin, only partially entertaining the idea. "What if they use a credit-only system?"

"Maybe they use the barter system. Everything we bring into the city is contraband and black market. We could trade stuff like my iPod or a fifth of whiskey, which I also have on me for good luck. With a little negotiating, we can get whatever we want."

"Maybe." Karla turned back to Fox and asked, "Do you have the transponder?"

"Yeah, so does Paz. You guys ready to find out where this guy keeps all his goodies?"

"Point the way and I'll get us there in a snap," Karla replied with a dazzling grin. "You really keep a fifth of whiskey in a flask in one of those pockets?"

"Of course. Dad used to say alcohol is your enemy. Jesus says love your enemy. Case closed." Fox offered a lame grin.

"God they have everything a normal surface city has," Reno said, peering off the side of the building. "I see a clothing store down on street level. I bet they even have vending machines."

"Vending machines, Reno?" Karla smirked. "Really? Vending machines?"

"Hell yeah. I was a cop. I love vending machines. It's like a wishing well with results. Now. Are we doing this or what? Time to get our game faces on, you two. Eliminate emotion and you eliminate a weakness. I learned that on the drive across the country. You put on your game face and everyone lives."

"Are you serious?"

Reno smiled somewhat. "No. The only thing I learned is how hard it is not to cuss. And how much I like having the freedom of doing it. And I learned that 'fucking' is one of those fucking words you can fucking put any-fucking-where in a sentence and it still makes fucking sense. So are we ready to do this or what?"

"If we survive this," Karla murmured softly, "The first round of drinks is on me. Now you have something to look forward to, boys. We can even play those stupid drinking games if you want. Just ... let's go."

"Yeah. How about we just blow this whole place up?"

Reno glanced back at Fox and shook his head. "Isn't that a little overkill? Kinda' like curing dandruff with decapitation? There are kids and families here. Let's be a little more open-minded, bud."

"Yeah, sorry. You're right. A mind is like a parachute. It works best when it's open, right? See? I know some pop culture references."

"Are you two finished quoting Frank Zappa?" Karla smoothed a wrinkle on the side of her skirt. "Seriously. God. If you're going to quote anyone, quote me: Life is like a box of chocolates that your wife polished off and you were hiding for yourself. Say, do you guys think I should merry Eric? I mean, we are having a baby."

Fox eyed her for a moment. "Do you love him?"

"I fell for his passionate side."

"He has one of those?" Reno said with a chuckle.

"He only shows it to me," she replied with a smirk. "God. Marriage. I'm just not sure if a handful of Xanax can count as my 'something blue,' you know? But first thing is first. I have to find Falcon."

"Yeah?" asked Fox. "You can't do the family thing until he's dead?"

"No. He has pills that can make me not need sex anymore. I'll take them to Johann and he can figure out what's in them."

Reno nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I guess with the ability to work on a molecular level, he could be your mass spectrometer. But those things work by using electrons. You'd need me, too."

"Not necessarily," said Fox. "I could just buy one of those things."

Karla shrugged and unfolded then refolded her arms. "Then I'll have the formula to make'em myself. I not saying I hate Falcon. I'm just saying if he got hit by a bus, I would be the one driving it."

A door leading to the rooftop swung open and a group of men in black uniforms poured out with odd-looking weapons. They moved into position, surrounding the group on all sides. The men flipped switches on the weapons, causing the futuristic rifles to glow. Another man stepped out behind the group with his hands behind his back.

Karla's eyes widened, recognizing him as the Grand Justiciar for whom Johann once worked. "You. You were a crispy corpse."

He kept his hands folded behind his back, moving out onto the rooftop with a relaxed gait. "No. Falcon used my DNA to help me fake my death. I've been apart of this since long before my brother. As you know, like Sire, I can be very persuasive. We started in the sewer and took Johann and Evan. Johann was very shocked to see me alive. He was very upset that I'm down here and that I helped to arrange the deaths of the rest of my kind. Then we moved to street level and took Eric prisoner."

"You're going to stop me with guns?" Karla asked with a firm, angry tone.

"They don't fire bullets," said the Reinhardt. "You can stop very fast objects, Karla. It's quite impressive. But you're worthless against the speed of light, my dear. I may not be as powerful as Sire, when forcing people to do as I demand ... but we both have the same ability."

"How about you shove the ability up your ass," she said, adding, "And tell me what the hell you want."

"I will give your friends back, Karla, when you bring me my brother."

Karla glared at him then said, "I have something very serious to ask you. It requires a very, very serious answer."

"What is it, demon whore?"

"No, Reinhardt. Stop with the insults for a moment. I have a question that is extremely serious in nature to ask you."

He eyed the succubus for a moment. "Fine. I've never seen you serious about anything. I can't help but be somewhat concerned. What is your question?"

"Do ... you ... know ... the muffin man?"

"Karla, you stupid whore, where is my brother?!"

"He's dead." Karla folded her arms. "Very dead. Killed by a woman who cannot be affected by his ability. Yours, however, is much weaker. Your other abilities were much more impressive. So. You have my man and my boys. How about this ... if you give them back to me, I'll let you live. You can suggest things but you cannot control emotional people like he could..."

"I've planned this with Falcon and my brother since the beginning. Losing Justus was a small hiccup. And I'm sure I can control you, Ms. Howard. I'm not sure how you managed to survive this long but that's all in the past now. You don't seem all that emotional to me right now. The only thing that could keep you from being able to fall prey to my ability is hormonal imbalance, else you're just as susceptible to my ability as Eric and Evan. Johann on the other hand, well ... he was a little upset, but we subdued him after a fight. I must say, though. I was impressed. You've trained him well. He used to be scared of everything. However, he stood up to me with gusto, today. He encased some of my men in blocks of ice. It was quite remarkable."

Karla smirked. "Hormonal imbalance or emotional huh?"

"Exactly. Now, kneel down, Karla."

The succubus sneered with disgust. "Honey, you're going to see your brother again real soon. Because guess what? I'm pregnant. Oh ... and you've got my baby's daddy." She clapped her palms together, interlaced her fingers, and then pushed her palms apart, cracking her knuckles.

X

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Final chapter of Book 6: https://www.sofurry.com/view/673249