by L. Fergus
“Rene, finish him,” ordered Kita.
Sheppard jumped into the air, a blue glow forming at her elbow. She drew her fist back as she flew, and struck Dino’s face when she landed. The blue glow shot down Sheppard’s arm and exploded in a flash that sent Dino flying backward, hitting the far wall. Dino slumped to the ground and didn’t move.
“Is it dead?” said Sarin.
Dino’s chest expanded as a response.
“I think he’s out for a while,” said Kita. “Watch him as I get us through this door.”
Kita stuck her finger into the biometric reader but found it encrypted. Ok. That’s taking paranoid to a whole new level. Grumbling, Kita opened her hacking programs and went to work.
“Hey, Kita,” said Babydoll.
“Yeah? What?”
“The dinosaur’s stirring.”
“Then go punch him in the head and knock him back out.”
Babydoll muttered but flew over to Dino. She punched him several times in the nose and Dino went quiet.
“Did it work?” said Kita to Babydoll when she returned.
“Yeah. He’s kind of cute. Maybe we can give him a better home than this.”
“He might be dangerous,” said Sheppard.
“I’m sure we could tame him.”
“I’d want to see what Megan’s done to him first,” said Kita.
Dino spasmed, kicking his feet into the air, he rolled onto them and snorted. Spinning, he spotted the Angels and charged.
“Kita, look out,” said Sarin. She grabbed Kita’s arm and pulled her away from the door.
Annoyed, Kita shook Sarin loose, drew her swords, and joined them at the hilt. Holding the sword parallel to the floor, Kita pointed it at Dino.
“Reap,” Kita whispered.
A blue ghost appeared next to Dino. The ghost evaporated, and the dinosaur collapsed. Kita split her sword and sheathed them. She went back to the door and stuck her finger into the biometric reader.
“Now I have to start all over,” she grumbled.
“So who was she to you?” Defiance asked Kita.
“That was my great-grandmother, Megan Mackay. She was the chief science officer aboard the colony ship and served in the Shadow Fleet. Apparently, I can save the equation and not make everyone happy.”
“Cantankerous old bitch is what she is,” said Sarin.
“And what did you do exactly?” said Defiance.
“I usurped her little Arconian kingdom. I needed their resources, and her mind is an asset. I wasn’t even around for the final fight. I don’t see how that’s my fault. Maybe I wasn’t there to stop it.”
“I’m sure you did what you had to. You have my full support. You saved the Empire. You’ll go down as a hero.”
“I didn’t do it for the glory,” said Kita. Sarin snickered. “Oh, shut up. I did it because no one else could, and I’m not about to lose my favorite sandbox.”
“You didn’t do it for me?” said Sarin, playfully batting her lashes.
“You’re all part of the favorite sandbox. But if I failed, I would have figured out a way to save you.”
“Aw, thanks, babe.”
“What’s in these rooms?” said Babydoll.
“Genetic experiments?” Defiance shrugged. “I know the human genomes we use to populate planets are stored here.”
“Someone was working on dinosaurs,” said Sheppard.
“Probably Megan tinkering with Cowboy’s research,” muttered Kita.
“He did produce a lot.”
Kita nodded. “He was a genius, I’ll give him that.”
“I have missed a lot on this little world,” said Defiance.
“It wasn’t big enough for Kita and Cowboy,” said Sarin with a giggle.
“It wasn’t big enough for Kita,” said Sheppard.
“I was bound to leave,” said Kita, annoyed at the others for picking on her. “I didn’t expect to be led off in chains.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
Kita shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. I’m being sensitive when I shouldn’t be. I’m annoyed over Megan. She should have talked to me. At the time, I’m sure I looked ungrateful for what she did for me, but…I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t lose, and the destroyers were brilliant bits of engineering. They smashed through the Machines with ease. I couldn’t pass that up. What came out of her lab was gold. I gave her the option. She was stubborn and didn’t leave me a choice.”
Defiance put her arm around Kita’s shoulders. “It’s ok, darlin’. You did what you had to. When we catch her, we’ll work it out. I promise. I won’t throw her in the dungeon unless you say so.”
“I can’t believe she’d do that to Lina.” Kita wiped a set of tears away. “I miss my little lightning bug. I couldn’t save her, and there was nothing I could do. She’s gone, and I never got to say goodbye.”
Sarin put her arms around Kita. “Sorry, babe. You’re not alone. I could have done something. Instead, I went quietly.”
“It’s not your fault. You did like I told you.”
“Some days I regret listening.”
“And Galina would have killed you,” said Sheppard.
“You mean you would have killed me?”
“That’s not fair,” said Defiance.
Sheppard held up a hand. “No, she’s right. At the time, I would have happily pulled the trigger. Jane didn’t make life easy for anyone.”
“I guess we’ve both come a long way since then,” said Sarin.
Kita sat down hard, wrapped her wings around her, and cried. The others knelt around her.
“Babe,” said Sarin softly as she stroked Kita’s hair.
“Darlin’,” whispered Defiance from the other side. She took Kita’s hand.
“They’re all gone,” Kita sobbed, “or they hate me. It’s not fair. They shouldn’t have to answer for my sins.”
“Kami, I need you,” said Sarin. She sat down next to Kita and put her arm around her, guiding Kita’s head onto her shoulder. “Kami’s still out there, babe. I promise she doesn’t hate you.”
Kita cried louder.
Sarin looked over her shoulder to Babydoll. “See if you can find Kami.”
“Right. Come on,” she said to Sheppard. Taking her hand, Babydoll collapsed into a point of light and vanished.
Kita’s sobs diminished to a quiet cry. She put her arms around Sarin and hugged her, then gave Defiance a squeeze to let them both know she was feeling better.
“Sorry,” said Kita to the others.
“It’s alright, babe. I miss them, too,” said Sarin.
“I know. I shouldn’t be so selfish.”
“You were their mom. You have every right to be selfish.”
“So were you,” said Kita.
“Not like you. You were the real mom. I just filled in when needed.”
“You were a great mom.” Kita kissed Sarin on the cheek.
The three Angels helped each other to their feet.
Babydoll floated down from the ceiling and transformed back into her and Sheppard.
“Wow,” said Sheppard. “The universe is amazing.”
“Did you find Kami?” asked Sarin.
Babydoll shook her head. “She wasn’t in the usual places, nor did I detect her anywhere.”
Kita frowned. “Let’s find Galina, and then we’ll worry about finding Kami. Maybe they went into another equation.”
“I hope she’s ok,” said Sarin.
“She’s with Tenshi and Panther. They’ll be fine,” said Kita with more certainty than she felt. “Let’s go find Galina.”
Kita and the other Angels entered a room with a dozen thick cables littering the floor. A large bank of computer terminals sat along the far wall operated by Political Bureau personnel. Galina stood next to a pod. She wore a t-shirt, exposing her robotic arms, and her formal uniform bottoms with daggers strapped to her thighs. Her uniform top hung on a rail that went around the work area dividing the room.
“Hurry up, fools. They’ll be here any minute,” yelled Galina.
Sarin raised a pistol and fired. A woman’s head exploded. Her body slumped against the terminal and collapsed on the floor. The work stopped and everyone turned to the Angels.
“Keep working, you idiots,” snarled Galina as she walked to the rail. She folded her arms. The human half of her face contorted in rage. “You moron!” she roared and pointed at Sheppard. “You were supposed to kill them, not join them. I thought you knew better than to let Kita speak.”
“Hey, don’t talk to her like that,” said Babydoll.
Sheppard put her hand on Babydoll’s arm. “Galina, it’s over. My loyalty lies with Kita. She’s forgiven me for what I’ve done and has been compassionate, loyal, and honest. I’ve done my best to return in kind. Kita is no danger to the Empire. She is a friend to it and the emperor. It’s time to answer for what you’ve done. Put down your daggers and come peacefully. I promise no harm will come to you.”
Kita raised an eyebrow but kept her mouth shut. Harm could have several meanings.
Galina laughed. “Do you think I will toss away the utopia I am building because Kita arrives? Soon, I will be everywhere and see everything. I will lift the Empire from the dregs of civilization to a golden age that will last for a millennium.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” Kita said to the others.
“What is she talking about?” said Defiance.
“It’s her white cloud. When I had one that’s what it wanted—to build a utopia perfect for it. The people are docile sheep, there to feed on.”
“So she can be redeemed?”
Kita laughed. “There’s more going on than that, but we’ll see if she comes quietly.”
“That’s not your choice to make. That is mine,” said Defiance.
“The wayward Emperor returns. You’re too late. Your cousin sits on the throne doing exactly what I tell him.”
“No male is allowed on the throne,” retorted Defiance.
“With the strength of the Political Bureau it was easy. You will simply disappear.”
“You’ll have to go through me first,” said Sheppard stepping in front of Defiance.
Babydoll moved next to Sheppard.
With speed Kita had only seen in herself, Galina drew her daggers and threw them. One came at Kita’s nose. She clapped her hands together and caught the blade.
“Rene!” cried Babydoll.
Sheppard slumped into Babydoll’s arms, a large pool of blood gathering on the floor from the dagger in her throat.
“Put her down,” ordered Defiance.
Babydoll laid Sheppard on her back. Defiance placed her hand on Sheppard’s throat and tried to freeze the blood.
“Let me see that blade,” said Sarin to Defiance.
From her upper arms, Galina pulled a pair of long daggers.
“Love, I think I’m going to need you,” said Kita.
“Are you saying you can’t keep her busy?”
“It’ll be easier with two.”
“And let Rene die?”
From the size of the pool of blood, more of it was outside Sheppard than inside. Sarin’s blood could heal wounds, but she couldn’t replace the blood. “There’s nothing you can do, even if you spilled all your blood.”
Galina jumped the rail and charged Defiance and Babydoll. Sarin fired both her pistols. Galina blocked the bullets and then threw her blades into Sarin’s pistols, splitting the barrels.
Sarin held up her pistols and looked at the damage. “Now I’m mad.”
Galina pulled another set of blades from her upper arms and jumped at Sarin. Kita blocked Galina with Dead and Buried and threw her sideways into the wall. Sarin drew Razorsplitter, and the two Angels faced Galina.
“I’m not without tricks,” hissed Galina. She blinked, and six Galina clones surrounded Kita and Sarin and attacked.
Kita dropped to a knee and slashed at the legs of two of her attackers. They jumped over Kita’s strike, but Kita dropped and rolled backward into a third attacker, plunging Dead into the clone’s midsection. Rolling to her feet, Kita parried a series of strikes from the remaining clones. Kita pushed them away to get some separation.
The clones were as fast and strong as Kita. Sarin had a series of cuts on her arms and torso but kept attacking with powerful swings of Razorsplitter. Kita needed a new strategy, and fast.
Kita pointed her fist at a clone and fired a purplish-black beam into its head. The head melted, but the clone leaped at her. Kita met it in midair. Spinning, she parried a strike and struck with Buried into the clone’s chest. The other clone seized the opportunity and attacked, striking Kita in the lower back. Kita hit the floor and rolled to her feet. Facing the remaining clone, she beckoned it to her. The clone charged. Kita leaped into the air. The clone followed. With a powerful flap of her wings, Kita dropped to the floor and slid on her knees under the clone. Reaching up, she cut through its legs. Backflipping, Kita struck it in the back with her feet and drove the torso into the floor. She plunged her swords into its back.
Sarin brandished her sword, trying to keep the three clones attacking her at bay. She was bleeding profusely from multiple cuts and stab wounds.
Kita yelled and charged the nearest clone. It turned, and Kita slammed into it, driving it into a second clone. Seeing the third clone distracted, Sarin struck, cutting her target in half. Kita twirled, throwing the first clone into a wall. With a corkscrew spin, she landed behind the second clone and cut off its right arm. The clone spun and struck, stabbing Kita in the ribs.
The air left Kita’s lungs. Every time she went to draw a breath, it came back bloody. Enraged, she spat blood at the clone and dropkicked it in the chest. The clone landed at Sarin’s feet, and she plunged her sword into its throat.
The last clone faced down both Angels. It lunged at Sarin, slashing her arm. Kita took the advantage and struck. The clone parried the attack of Dead, but not of Buried. The sword stabbed the clone in the shoulder. Wielding Razorsplitter one-handed, Sarin swung at the clone, who blocked the attack but couldn’t arrest the blade’s forward momentum. Razorsplitter cut through the clone’s arm and chest. The last clone collapsed, and Sarin fell to her knees.
“Jane,” said Kita alarmed.
“I’ll be alright, just some deep ones. Give me a moment.” Sarin shifted to her god form. When she reappeared, she was healed. “Kita, what about you?”
“I’ll be fine. She punctured a lung and got me in the back.”
“Where did she go?”
Kita opened her vision. Galina was in the strange pod. “Whatever she’s doing we’ve got to get her out.” Kita took Sarin’s hand and phased them across the room.
Sarin grabbed a man and placed Razorsplitter against his throat. “Any of you move, and he gets more efficient at breathing.”
“What’s she doing?” demanded Kita.
“S—she’s copying herself to the computer,” said the man dressed in a lab coat.
“By the Crushing Depths no,” roared Kita. “I will not have another Angus. Shut it down.”
“I—I can’t. It’ll kill her. She’s in the process of moving.”
“Then move her back or cancel it,” ordered Sarin.
“I can try, but if she gets to the network, she’ll be impossible to stop,” said the man.
Kita changed her vision to see the electromagnetic spectrum. The computer equipment glowed brightly, but what she wanted was in the walls. Finding a ribbon running through the wall, she struck with Dead and severed it. The electromagnetic signal died.
“She’s not going anywhere. Force her back into her body,” Kita ordered the man.
“I—I’ll do my best.”
“Your lives depend on it.”
The man gulped and conferred with the other members of his team.
Kita slumped to a knee and pressed her hand against the wound in her side. She gritted her teeth, heated her hand, and cauterized it.
; “Are you ok?” said Sarin.
“I’ll be fine, I’m breathing with only one lung.”
“Come on.” Sarin helped Kita over to the others. Defiance and Babydoll were holding Sheppard’s throat as icy blood seeped through their fingers.
Kita frowned at the amount of blood on the floor. “She’s gone.”
“But…” said Defiance.
“Her heart has stopped.”
“If I freeze her—”
“We’ll never get her help in time,” said Kita.
“This facility has a medical center.”
“And we’re the enemy, even if we remove Galina.”
Defiance hung her head.
“I’m sorry.” Kita hugged both Defiance and Babydoll, and then sat down hard.
“Are you ok?” said Babydoll as she wiped her tears away.
“I got stabbed in the lung. I’ll be fine.” Kita laid back and closed her eyes. The overwhelming urge to fall asleep came over her.
“Kita!” Sarin yelled shaking Kita’s shoulder.
“Huh, what?”
“No falling asleep when you’re injured.”
Kita sat up and coughed up some blood. “Damn.” She got to her feet. “Come on. Let’s go see if they’ve brought Galina back.” Kita led the others to the scientists.
“Where are we at?” demanded Kita.
“We—We’re moving her back. It’s nearly complete.” He pointed to a screen with a progress wheel. It was at ninety-nine percent.
In the pod, Galina’s eyes opened. She turned her head and said, “Doctor Gorbach, what happened? Did I transfer?”
“No, General. I—”
“There is no way I’m letting you become the next Angus,” said Kita in a harsh tone.
Galina’s eyes went wide when she saw Dead above her.
“Kita! I—” Galina dissolved into her cloud and drifted toward the ceiling.
“Oh, you are not getting away that easy,” snarled Kita.
Kita, Babydoll, and Sarin changed into their clouds. Kita expanded, taking up most of the room.
White tendrils from Galina stabbed into Babydoll and Sarin. Kita swirled around the others, engulfing them. She sent tendrils to Babydoll and Sarin to strengthen them while sending more to attack Galina. The white cloud responded by sending tendrils to attack Kita.