by L. Fergus
As Kita walked among the corpses, the injuries changed. They no longer had bullet or slash marks. They looked untouched. Kita knelt next to a corpse and took his helmet off. She found a burn mark on his temple. Inspecting his gloves and boots, she found burn marks.
“Everyone be on your guard,” said Kita. “There’s someone around who can wield lightning.”
Kita moved deeper into the affected area. The damage to the bodies increased. Some were chard corpses, others were wet.
“By the Crushing Depths,” Kita gasped. On the ground was a skeleton with burnt black clothing and seafoam feathers. She fell to her knees beside it. “Talli?” Kita whispered. “Jane,” Kita called unable to keep the sorrow from her voice.
“Babe?” Sarin called as she rushed over to Kita. “Neptune’s rings,” she whispered. “What…what happened?”
“I don’t know,” said Kita as she wiped a tear from her eye. “We have to find the others.”
Kita and Sarin helped each other to their feet. They walked around a planter. A lump swelled in Kita’s throat. Two more skeletons were on the floor. One was a Diamock, the other was human with cinnamon colored feathers.
“Kristi,” cried Sarin.
Kita grabbed Sarin and hugged her as she burst into tears. Kita gulped hard, imagining what else they were going to find. Sarin lifted her head.
“Whatever did this is so dead,” she growled as she wiped her eyes.
They continued to search hand in hand and found Valor and Starlight’s skeletons huddled together.
“Jess, Hali…” Kita wiped at the tears overflowing her eyes. Her heart hurt, and her knees felt shaky. She clutched Sarin’s hand. Numb and cold filled her chest and spread to her limbs. It’s too much. I can’t.
Not far away, they found another skeleton with barn owl feathers.
“Neptune’s rings, Scarlett.” Sarin choked up as fresh tears streaked her cheeks.
Kita held Sarin. We haven’t found Leaf yet. Maybe she got away. When Sarin was ready, Kita led her around searching for the last missing Angel. They found the tiny skeleton in the center of the concourse, Dusk and Dawn still in her grasp.
“But, she was a god,” said Sarin. “She should be around.”
A pinprick of light floated down from the ceiling. It flew around the room, before entering the ribcage of the dead Angel. The light multiplied, engulfing the skeleton. After a bright flash, the Angel was whole.
Kita and Sarin dropped to their knees next to Aspen. Placing a hand on her shoulder, Kita spoke softly, “Leaf? Are you ok?”
Aspen pushed herself to her knees. “I’ll be fine. I just retreated in case they were trying to catch me.”
Kita gave her a possessive hug. “I’m glad you’re alright.”
“What of the others?”
Kita looked at the ground and wiped at fresh tears.
“They’re gone,” said Sarin.
Aspen hung her head. “He came out of nowhere. I tried to kill him, but the lightning was everywhere. It swirled, and he controlled it—like…like Lina did.”
Kita and Sarin exchanged a look. “There’s no way Galina could have broken Lina,” said Kita.
Sarin didn’t look so sure. “She has Megan working for her. If anyone can do it, Megan can.”
“Where did you hear this?” said Kita surprised.
“From Galina. She was bragging after capturing me.”
Flames flickered in Kita’s eyes. “If she’s hurt my baby I will skin her alive.”
“First things first,” said Sarin. “We need to kill whatever this thing is. I think our best weapon will be Snowy.”
“And me,” said Kita.
“Isn’t lightning one of your weaknesses?”
“Not after my last fight with Snowy. I decided I was done playing that game. I’m going to pull this thing apart one chunk at a time.”
“You’re not the only one,” said Sarin as she holstered her pistols and assembled her sniper rifle. “He’s not the only one who can reach out and touch someone.”
Kita glided over to one of the large windows. She heated her hand and cut out a circle.
“What are you doing?” said Aspen.
“Going to make sure they can’t attack our rear,” said Kita as she pushed the circle into space.
The rush of decompressing air pulled Kita toward the hole. Other items that weren’t attached flew into space. Two loud bangs announced the emergency decompression doors closing.
“That should do it,” said Kita. “Let’s get back to the others, and I’ll warn Kerri.”
“Darlin’, what happened?” said Defiance when Kita, Sarin, and Aspen appeared. “Where’s everyone else?”
Kita swallowed hard. “They didn’t make it.”
“What happened?” demanded Sheppard.
“We were attacked by a silver man that wielded lightning like Lina,” said Aspen.
“By the emperor,” whispered Sheppard. She gave Defiance an apologetic look.
“Do you know something?” said Sarin to Sheppard.
“I knew Galina was working on it, but that’s all I knew.”
Defiance gave Kita, Sarin, and Aspen a hug. “I’m sorry.”
Kita shook her head. “It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I should have killed Galina a long time ago.”
“You couldn’t have known this was going to happen,” said Defiance.
“Doesn’t matter. I went against my better judgment. I knew she was dangerous.”
Snowy moved in front of Kita. “I—you’re taking this well.”
Kita grimaced. “I’m numb—probably in shock. It’s been a long time since this many Angels have died.”
Snowy hugged Kita. “You’re not alone.”
Kita nodded. “I know. I’m sure the tears and rage will come later.”
“Then I’m putting you back in the forward observation room,” said Defiance with a tentative smile.
Kita smiled back, understanding her girlfriend’s attempt at humor. “Let’s not wait around. I don’t want Kerri’s group running into that thing. When we do find it, let Snowy and I handle it. Jane and Rene can snipe at range. The rest of you retreat.”
“There must be something we can do,” said Defiance.
“You won’t be able to get close enough to do anything. Stay safe. That goes for you too, Sahara.”
Sahara sneered but didn’t say anything.
Snowy went to her. “Don’t take offense. Kita is not trying to diminish your honor. She’s trying to give us the best advantage for victory. There will be plenty of enemies to gain glory.”
Kita rolled her eyes. Sahara would throw herself at an enemy she had no hope of defeating because of honor and glory. Two of the dumbest ideas ever forged in the hearts of those who needed to justify losing. Winners didn’t need honor or glory, they won. There was no need to justify winning.
Kita waved at the others, and they moved up the shop-lined concourse. From the signs, you could buy anything you wanted to make your journey more comfortable. They passed the bodies of Marines and a few Political Bureau soldiers.
A loud grinding noise came from the shops on their right. The sound of tearing metal preceded a storefront exploding outward.
“Driller!” yelled Sarin. She snapped her rifle up and shot into the center of three giant tentacles twisted together.
The driller shrugged off the shot and charged.
Sheppard fired into the creature’s side. “This guy’s a little tougher than the old ones,” she yelled.
Another driller burst from a neighboring storefront and two more from the opposite side of the concourse. Aspen charged a driller on the far side. A driller opened its tentacles and fired a three-foot beam at Kita. She expanded her heat shield to block. Another driller glided behind Sahara and grabbed her in its hard, bumpy tentacles.
“No!” yelled Snowy. She leaped onto the driller with Sahara and attacked its back with her claws while the driller ground Sahara between its tentacles.
She backflipped and landed next to the driller with Sahara. She attacked the tentacles with Dead and Buried. The tentacles were tougher than previous drillers she’d encountered. Changing tactics, she slammed Dead into the creature’s eye. The driller spun wildly. Kita heated her sword and pulled down slicing open a large gash. Growing a purplish-black ball, she shoved it into the wound.
“Snowy, look out!” Kita yelled.
Snowy phased off the driller to the ground. Kita snapped her fingers, and the driller exploded, showering the area with pieces of metal and meat.
“Sahara!” Snowy cried desperately. She ran to the driller and pulled at the tentacles.
“Kita, we need some help,” yelled Sheppard.
A driller had Defiance trapped between two planters as Sarin and Sheppard fired at it. Deciding Snowy was ok to rescue Sahara and Aspen had the other driller’s attention, Kita phased above Defiance. She fired a purplish-black beam into the driller’s forehead leaving a long gash. The driller retreated and lunged at Kita, landing on the planters protecting Defiance, crushing them.
Kita fired her beam again, aiming across the top tentacle. She sliced partially through it, making the tentacle limp, but it fell down over the sensory organ. The driller rose rapidly into the air, reaching out for Kita. She dodged left, blasting the driller in the eye. It spun, slamming its tentacles into her. She rolled off the tentacles, trying to regain her balance. The driller rushed forward, with its two good tentacles open. Kita somersaulted over the tentacles, landing on the injured one. She swept her swords back and sliced through the tentacle, cutting along the gash. With her feet, she pushed the tentacle aside and slammed Dead into the sensory organ. The driller crashed to the ground, sending Kita tumbling forward into a group of tables set out for a coffee shop.
Kita shook her head trying to reorient herself. She was dizzy from the strike by the driller’s tentacles.
“Kita! Snowy!” cried Aspen.
All Kita could see was the dead driller. She floated over the creature to see. On the far side of the concourse, Aspen was attacking the last driller. Its tentacles were open, ready to fire its beam. Snowy stood facing the driller holding Sahara’s broken and bloody body. There was no expression on Snowy’s face, just wet lines in the fur on her cheeks. “No! Sno—”
The driller fired and the beam engulfed Snowy.
Kita’s vision turned red. She streaked toward the driller, slamming into a tentacle pushing it into the beam. Kita’s heat shield expanded as she plunged into the beam. She thrust Buried into the sensory organ. The driller collapsed as Kita raced to Snowy arriving in time to catch her skull. Time caught up as Kita collapsed to her knees, clutching the skull. It still had patches of fur attached on the back.
Tears filled Kita’s eyes. Her heart collapsed as the air escaped her lungs. Kita didn’t know what to do. Her head spun. The others knelt around her, but she couldn’t understand them. They sounded a thousand miles away. She looked into the hollow eyes of the skull. I’ll never see those eyes again. Why? What happened? Why would she?
A violent shaking of her shoulder caused her to look up. Sarin was talking to her. Kita strained to hear. Sarin’s perfect lips moved, but she couldn’t understand. An orgasmic feeling washed over her. It seemed the wrong sensation for the moment.
“Worried. Babe?” said Sarin in a monotone voice.
A part of Kita’s brain remembered what was happening and reacted. It was a cloud connection. She opened her emotions and let out her pain, sorrow, and confusion. When it was over, she felt better. Kita received Sarin’s own pain and grief along with love and happiness.
“Sorrow and confused. Why? Why did she do it?” said Kita.
“Unsure. I don’t know. I don’t know what happened to Sahara,” said Sarin.
“I left Snowy to help you after I killed the driller. Sahara looked dead.”
“Curious. How close were they?” said Sarin.
“I know Snowy loved her, but I don’t know what she meant to Sahara. You don’t suppose she killed herself because Sahara died?”
“Unsettled. Maybe,” said Sarin. “It wouldn’t be the first time Snowy has tried to kill herself over losing someone she loved.”
Kita released an uncontrolled emotional outburst of pain and rage. “Shocked. Are you saying this is my fault?”
“Appalled. Of course not. I’m saying Snowy has a history of jumping to dramatic displays when she gets upset. We just couldn’t stop her this time.”
“Disdain. If only I’d been faster or seen her sooner. I could have saved her,” said Kita.
“Unhappy. Don’t you dare start that game. It leads nowhere good. You were saving Casey.”
“But, I should—”
“You know your limitations,” said Sarin. “You’re fast, but no one, not even the gods, is that fast. None of us could have predicted this. It wasn’t premeditated.”
“What are we going to do?”
“Confident. We’re going to go find this silver man and kick his ass. Then we’re going home. We can bury Snowy, Scarlett, and the others among the stars.”
“Depressed. This is my fault,” said Kita.
“Concerned. No, it’s not. We made a mistake and came in overconfident, and we underestimated our opponent. We won’t make that mistake again. Galina is going to pay for this. I hope you don’t kill her quickly. I want her to suffer. I’ll have Daddy build you a new Advanced Research Wing if I have to.”
“Laughter. That opens a whole new realm of possibilities,” said Kita.
“Affectionate. She can’t beat us, only we can beat ourselves.”
“Understanding. I know—but Snowy.”
“Consoling. Snowy chose her time to go. She wanted to be with Sahara,” said Sarin.
“I wish I knew if she was going to be happy.”
“She thought she would be happy. That’s all that matters.”
“What am I going to do without her?” said Kita.
“Upset. You’ll always have me.”
“Loving. I know. You’re better anyway. Dismay. I’ve got to tell Kami,” said Kita.
“Supportive. I’ll be there for you.”
“Thanks.”
Sarin closed the connection, and Kita opened her eyes. She looked at the skull she held and sighed. “Goodbye, old friend. I hope the next life is kinder to you than this one was.” She kissed the skull and set it down with the other bones.
“Darlin’, you ok?” asked Defiance.
Kita shook her head. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be ok. Snowy’s been with me since nearly the beginning. She was a good friend, but I feel like I’ve lost a parent.”
Defiance gave Kita a hug and kiss.
“She was a hard, crusty girl. I’m going to miss her,” said Sheppard.
“Same could be said of you,” said Kita. “Casey, when it’s time, Snowy gets full Legion honors, and whatever a scholar gets. She’s made a number of scientific breakthroughs in her career.”
“Of course. She’ll get more than that. All the Angels will have state funerals.”
Kita wiped a tear away. She wasn’t feeling numb anymore. “Come on. We should try and catch this lightning man.”
“Darling Jane, Kita,” called The Rider.
“Yeah?” said Kita as she tried to keep the pain from her voice.
“We got hit with some of that anti-Angel gas they used on us a while back.”
“Did they get everyone? How are you not affected?” said Sarin.
“I think it’s the flame, but if you could spare a second it’s getting hot over here…and I don’t mean me.”
“I’m coming,” said Kita.
“Not without me you’re not,” said Sarin. “They’ve hit us with this crap before. I know how to clean it out.”
Kita nodd
ed. “The rest of you hunker down here. If the lightning man comes, Leaf, get them out of here.”
“No problem.”
“Are you sure you’re not going to need our help?” said Defiance.
“I want to limit exposure as much as possible. It does us no good if we go and you join the others.”
“What happens if you succumb?” said Sheppard.
“Then you get to play the hero,” Kita said with a twisted grin.
“I always have to watch your ass.”
“At least it’s a nice ass,” said Defiance. “It could be a lot worse, Rene.”
“That ass belongs to me,” said Sarin as she put her hand on Kita’s shoulder. The world went dark, when it reappeared, Kita and Sarin were on concourse A. Ahead of them was a billowing green cloud. Flashes of gunfire came from inside the cloud.
“Looks like Ryder’s still at it,” said Sarin.
“We need to clear the air,” said Kita. She burst into flame. “I’ll open a window. You cover Ryder.”
Sarin unslung her sniper rifle, put it together, shouldered it, and scanned the gas for targets.
Kita flew to a series of windows in a seating area. She put her hand on the window, melted through, and cut out a hole. The rush of air tried to suck Kita out. Rolling to one side, Kita watched the emergency decompression door close behind Sarin. The vacuum pulled the gas from the concourse and vented it into space.
“Ryder, how you doing?” called Kita.
“Don’t that beat all. I burn even in a vacuum.”
Kita chuckled. She still burned, too. She doused her flames and met Sarin on her way to The Rider as she changed into Ryder.
“We need to detox the girls of that stuff,” said Sarin. “The gas contains a nanite that can cause pain and death if they activate it.”
“If you can detox them, we’ll find them,” said Ryder. “The legionnaire and toothy were over by the coffee stand. The rest were over by the shops.”
“I’ll grab Kerri and Nell,” said Kita.
“I’ll go with Ryder to the others,” said Sarin.
Kita glided to the overturned coffee cart. Babydoll was lying unconscious next to it. Kita picked her up and slung her friend over her shoulder. Anthrax lay in a seating area. Kita threaded through the seats to her friend. How did this happen? How did I underestimate Galina’s ability? She couldn’t have cracked Lina this fast or Angel physiology to make a gas that affects just us. I can’t believe Megan is helping her.