by L. Fergus
“Did you find them?” Sarin asked Kita.
“Yeah, I have them. You said they’ve used this gas before?”
“Yes, when we were trying to take back the fleet. They gassed us. Galina killed me using it.”
“Any idea where it came from?” said Kita.
“Galina said it came from Megan.”
“Megan? But why?”
“Galina said Megan harbored deep animosity over what happened with the Arconians.”
Kita landed next to Sarin and put Babydoll and Anthrax down.
“Would she hate me enough to turn on me?” said Kita.
Sarin shrugged. “I don’t know. You didn’t leave on good terms with her.”
“But enough hate to develop weapons specifically for us and rip Lina’s secrets from her? If she has a problem, it should be with me, not with the rest of you.”
“I don’t know, babe. All I know is what’s in front of me and what I’ve been told.” Sarin tapped Anthrax. The Angel turned to her god form and stood up.
“Jane, what happened?” said Anthrax.
“Just some nasty gas. You’ll need to scrub it from your system before you turn back.”
“Ok.”
Sarin touched Babydoll, and the Angel turned to her god form.
“Ugh, what happened?” groaned Babydoll.
“Anti-Angel gas,” said Kita. “You’re going to need to detox yourself before you turn back.”
“I knew this was going too well.”
Kita sighed. “Yeah. Can the rest of you come here?”
The Angels gathered around Kita.
“You weren’t the only ones hit. The other group ran into a man with abilities like Lina and killed them. Only Leaf survived.”
“Neptune’s rings,” exclaimed Anthrax.
“I’m sorry, big sister.” Tina flittered over and gave Kita a hug.
“There’s more,” whispered Kita. “Snowy’s gone, too.”
“What?” cried Tina.
Tears welled up in Kita’s eyes. “A driller killed Sahara. Snowy picked her up and…and just stood there. It was over before I could get to her. All I see is Snowy standing there and the blast incinerating her. Why would she do that?”
Tina hugged Kita with her own tears in her eyes. “I don’t know. She and Sahara have been inseparable since I got here.”
Sarin put her arms around both Angels.
“Maybe Snowy felt she loved Sahara so much that living without her was unbearable,” whispered Tina.
Kita rested her cheek on Tina’s shoulder, feeling the tears run down her face.
“Now come on, all y’all,” said Ryder. “We’re not out to pasture yet. We still have a station to clear. We can mourn the dead later.”
Kita sighed and wiped her eyes. Ryder was right. They still had a mission, and her friends were in danger. She needed to pull herself together. Kita balled up her pain and rage and stuck it with the rest she harbored. She would unleash it when the time was right.
“How’s everyone feeling?” said Kita. “Physically, I mean. Can everyone fight?”
“I want to fight more than ever,” said Anthrax.
The other Angels nodded in agreement.
“Good,” said Kita. “But when we do find this lightning man, he’s mine.”
Kita and the other Angels appeared in the middle of a large group of Mexorks. Their appearance confused the Mexorks, and the Angels fell on them without any instruction.
I hope they don’t get carried away.
Kita dodged the blasts of a pair of Mexorks. She flung herself forward, skidding on her knees between the pair, slashing through their legs. As the pair toppled, Kita sprang to her feet and stabbed her swords into the pair’s brain cases.
From the flank, Defiance and Sheppard appeared. On the other flank, Aspen was briefly visible as she made a silent kill. The rest of the Angels were putting the Mexorks down with ruthless efficiency. If we can’t cry, we’ll make the enemy.
Kita gathered the Angels around her when it was over.
“Good job everyone, but let’s not let our emotions run wild. We need to remain disciplined and focused. We’ll all get time to cry.”
She received quiet resolve from the rest, but she felt their emotions shift as the other Angels refocused themselves.
Kita led the others through the concourse to the intersection. A group of Marines made a stand here. Their bodies lay strewn about. Some had bullet holes, while others burn marks. None had the signature of lightning.
“How did Galina know we would be here?” said Babydoll.
“Even in the middle of a war, this place makes money,” said Sarin. “It helps finance our operations. Galina knows we have to defend it.”
“It looks like she’s throwing everything at this place to get it,” said Ryder. “I don’t think she planned on the whole flock being here, just those of us in the Sol system.”
“Lot of good having so many of us here did,” said Toxic.
Stormy gave her a hug. “Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to the rest of us.”
Kita’s eyebrow ticked up slightly, but she didn’t say anything. The others needed to stay confident.
The sound of electricity crackling drew everyone’s attention to concourse A. Through the portal came the silver man, a man burning like a pyre, and a man made of water.
Kita sighed. “Great.”
Sarin raised her rifle and fired, putting a bullet through the head of the water man. It exploded, and reformed.
“I’ve got him,” said Defiance.
“No one goes near them until I deal with the silver man,” said Kita.
“You’re going to need help.”
“Water and fire are my specialties. I bet they think they have me with the electricity. It’s time to show them how wrong they are. Shooters, snipe and keep them off balance. Everyone else, if you’re not a god, stay close to one so you can teleport if you have too.”
“Don’t fool around with them,” ordered Sarin. “Put them down as fast as possible.”
“As you wish.”
Sarin wrinkled her nose. “That is not a romantic movie. Now is not the time for that crap. We’ve got dead to attend to.”
Kita nodded and phased in front of the silver man. “Hello, looking for me?”
An electrical storm erupted. Bolts of lightning struck around the room. Several struck Kita and passed through her.
“Oh, that tickles.”
The fire man and water man blasted her with their elements.
Kita stuck out her hands at each. “My turn.” She gathered their attacks into balls and pulled the rest of the fire and water from the men. Bullets struck the pair, and they collapsed.
Kita pushed the fire and water balls together, causing the water to boil.
“Here, catch.” Kita tossed the boiling water toward the silver man.
The ball splashed off his chest as he flailed his arms. When the water made contact with the floor, there was a giant flash. The electrical storm died. Kita lunged forward and grabbed the silver man by the throat.
“Water and electricity don’t mix. Let’s see how much of you is mine.”
Silver beads of sweat gathered on the man’s skin and ran to Kita’s hand. When it was over, he was naked.
“Megan’s not as good as I thought,” said Kita with a vicious grin. “Now, my fine sir, you have some punishment coming.”
Kita turned the man’s head in her hand. She lunged forward, bit off his ear, and spit it out. She licked the blood dribbling down the side of his face.
“Hey, leave some of that for me,” said Babydoll as she led the others to Kita.
Kita held the man out as Babydoll ran a finger through his blood.
“Hmmm, yummy,” said Babydoll as she licked her finger clean.
“That’s enough,” said Sheppard as she took control of the man from Kita. “Tina, can you help?”
“I’m not sure I want to.”
“I will,” said
Aspen. She put her hand over the wound and closed it.
“What are you going to do with him?” said Babydoll.
“He’s a prisoner. He might have the information we need.” Sheppard looked at the man. “Are you going to talk or do I turn you back over to my girlfriend?”
“Girlfriend?” exclaimed Babydoll. “Are—are you for real?”
Sheppard chuckled. “Yes, even after displays like that.”
“Yeah!” Babydoll gave Sheppard an awkward hug around the man.
“Where’s Megan’s lab?” said Kita to the man.
“I don’t know any Megan,” he replied visibly shaken.
“She gave you your nanites. Megan looks like me, except brown hair and red wings.”
“You do look like her. She gave us injections in Rio and Rome.”
Kita tapped her nail against her teeth. “Lina could be in either of those two places.”
“We can’t go there,” said Ryder. “It’ll be crawling with Political Bureau thugs.”
“Just more to kill,” said Sarin.
“What if we hit one and it’s the wrong one?” said Stormy. “They’ll fortify the other place or move her—or worse.”
“Then we hit all three together,” said Kita.
“Three?”
“Galina’s headquarters. If we hit her headquarters, she’ll be too busy being worried about it to worry about the labs.”
“And you get to take down Galina,” said Ryder.
“If she’s got the guts to face me,” said Kita. “I’ll do more than savage her face this time.”
“We could end up chasing her all over the world,” said Defiance.
“If we break her hold on power, we can put you back on the throne. The most important thing is to get Lina back.” Kita took Athena’s ball from her belt and tossed into the air. “Hey, Athena. Can you tap into the station’s network and bring us up all the information you have on labs in Rio, Rome, and Political Bureau Headquarters in Moscow?”
“Of course, Mom. Give me a moment.”
Kita looked at the man. “I think he’s outlived his usefulness.”
“I think you’re right. Here.” Sheppard handed the man to Babydoll. “Just make sure you are clean when you come back.”
Babydoll’s eyes lit with delight.
“Go,” said Sheppard to Kita, “before I change my mind.”
“Are you sure you don’t need us to help plan?”
“This is my way of getting revenge.”
The shuttle shuddered and shook. Kita looked up from staring at the floor. Outside the window, a storm raged.
“What’s the matter, babe?” asked Sarin.
“I’m trying to reach Kami, but I’m not getting any response.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know. She didn’t tell me where they were going. She’s never ignored me before. I’m worried she’s mad at me.”
“Why would she be mad at you?” said Sarin.
“I don’t know. Maybe the others convinced her I was wrong.”
Sarin took Kita’s hand. “She wouldn’t turn against you. She's faithful to her partner, but that doesn’t mean she’ll stop being loyal to you.”
“I just worry something is wrong.”
“There’s nothing out there that can harm them.”
Kita didn’t feel so sure. Maybe I’m just being a mom, seeing boogiemen in every corner. I’m sure she’s fine. I hope she’s out doing something fun and she’s with Tenshi, Valentine, and Panther. I trained them, and they’ve been gods longer than anyone. Kami’s safe.
“Snow in Moscow, what a surprise,” said Sheppard from the shuttle’s cockpit.
“Does that happen often?” said Kita.
“It was snowing the last time I was here. Russia’s known for its long, harsh winters. Even in the summertime, the people are frosty.”
“They aren’t like the Chinese or Indians, who took their defeat with grace,” said Defiance. “They still hold a grudge, no matter what the Imperium does.”
“And you let them serve in your military and Political Bureau?” said Kita.
“Most of them aren’t dangerous. They just don’t like outsiders, especially those of American descent. We get some terrorist cells, but nothing serious. We find out before they do anything.”
“I know what that’s like.” Kita sighed. “You can’t make everyone happy—no matter how hard you try.”
“They scream for independence. I don’t think they have a plan if it was granted. They just like the idea.”
Kita nodded. “People will cling to ideas no matter how unrealistic if only to preserve their pride.”
“Coming in now,” said Sheppard.
Kita glanced out the window. Ghostly lights were visible through the giant snowflakes. She scratched Sarge’s ears. He meowed happily, then rolled over and offered his underside. Kita chuckled and rubbed his chest and stomach. Next to him, Jupiter looked hopeful. Sarin obliged.
“Sorry about Norway,” said Kita.
Sarin shook her head. “I don’t know what happened to him, other than Galina’s thugs took him. I hope he didn’t suffer.”
“Jupiter needs a new mistress,” said Kita as tears fell down her cheeks. Valor’s skeleton flashed before her eyes.
Sarin scratched Jupiter’s chin. “How about it, boy? Do you feel like you can keep up with me?”
Jupiter responded by licking Sarin’s fingers, then jumping into her lap and licking her face.
“Ok, ok, ok,” said Sarin playfully. “You’re going to take my makeup off.” She pushed the cat down and scratched his ears.
“They want to know under whose authority I have to land?” said Sheppard.
“Send them my code,” said Defiance. She was dressed in her full parade uniform with an added pistol on her belt. “We’ll let them know I’m here.”
“They may not like that idea,” said Kita.
“That’s why I have you here.”
“We’ll get you back on the throne. Don’t worry,” said Kita.
“I’m not. You just better live up to your reputation,” said Defiance with a smile.
“I’ll kill everyone in the building if I have to.”
“Good. I doubt with Galina’s death the rest of the Political Bureau will stand down. I hope I don’t have to drop a bomb on every Bureau headquarters on the planet.”
“We could clean them out,” said Sarin.
“I bet that would strike fear in their hearts,” said Babydoll from the copilot’s seat.
“We’ll set up a live feed of you doing it,” said Defiance.
“They say you don’t have authority to land,” announced Sheppard. “And now they’re defense systems have lit us up.”
“Time to go,” said Kita as she stood up, tucking Sarge under her arm.
Defiance opened the shuttle door. Snow and icy wind blew in.
“Just like the mountains, hey, boy?” Kita cooed to Sarge.
Sarge returned a dubious look and kicked his feet.
“I’ll set you down when we’re on the ground.” Kita jumped out the door into the storm. She opened her wings and fought the air currents to gain lift. “Be careful coming out the door. The air is rough.” Below her, the landing lights of the shuttlepad on top of the Political Bureau Headquarters building were visible through the snow. Switching her eyes to the electromagnetic lens, the three defense turrets lit like bright lights. “I’m taking the furthest turret. Jane, take the one on the edge of the pad. Casey, you get the one on the corner.”
Kita flew toward her turret and dropped Sarge. The turret came alive. The twin Gatling guns spun as Kita landed in front of it. She brought Dead and Buried down on the arms of the turret, separating the guns from the frame.
A bright light flashed—the storm dampened the sound of an explosion. It was to Kita’s right, so it must have been Sarin. “Are you ok, Jane?”
Sarin laughed. “I found the magazine.”
“Casey?”
>
“It’s frozen solid.”
“Rene, it’s clear to land.”
Kita glided over the six inches of snow toward the landing area. Behind her, Sarge playfully ran, rolled, and dove through the fresh powder. The landing lights of the shuttle appeared above them. It lowered out of the sky, blowing and melting snow as it settled in to land. Out of the storm, Sarin and Defiance appeared. Jupiter tiptoed through the snow. He didn’t seem to share the love of it that Sarge did.
Babydoll and Sheppard appeared in the shuttle’s door. Sheppard had her assault rifle ready.
“How do we get in?” said Babydoll.
Kita motioned to the large bunker-style door to the group’s right. “We just have to get it open.”
The door opened.
“That’s convenient,” quipped Babydoll.
“Those aren’t,” said Sheppard as six Mexorks with missile pods on their shoulders stepped out into the snow and fired a salvo.
Kita and the other Angels leaped in different directions. Sarge and Jupiter transformed as they ran. Jupiter released a ball of lightning from his mouth. Sarge jumped through a Mexork, freezing him solid. The ball of lightning struck three of the Mexorks and exploded. Sarin fired her pistols into the abdomens of two more Mexorks. Sheppard dropped to a knee and fired two three-round bursts into a Mexork’s pelvis area. Babydoll cut a Mexork in half lengthwise with a purplish-black beam as Defiance encased the last Mexork in ice. A strong wind pushed it over the edge of the building.
“So much for the welcoming committee,” said Babydoll.
Kita jumped between the doors as they closed, holding them open. The other Angels dove around Kita as the cats went between her legs. Sarin turned, grabbed Kita by her belt, and yanked her inside. The doors closed with a bang.
Kita kissed Sarin. “Thanks, love.”
“I’m always saving your cute butt.”
Kita wiggled her butt at Sarin. She slapped it in response.
“If you two are done,” said Defiance from the elevator controls on the opposite side of the room. “We have to find Galina.”
Kita and Sarin looked at each other. “That’s easy,” Sarin said with a giggle. “She’s below us.”