by L. Fergus
Brushing off the bothersome attacks, Kita bombarded Galina with a steady dose of primal emotions. Drawing from her shock, outrage, and sorrow of losing Snowy, Lina, and the other Angels, she pumped it into Galina. The white cloud pulsed.
Galina responded with a series of logic and rational attacks. From the strength, Galina was plugged into everyone in the building and beyond. But, reason and logic were no match for pure rage, sorrow, and hate.
Withdrawing from Babydoll and Sarin, Galina concentrated on Kita. Meeting tendrils with tendrils, they wove themselves into a knot. Now free, Babydoll and Sarin launched their own attacks. Galina pulsed faster.
Sensing Galina’s resolve failing, Kita swallowed her and attacked everywhere at once. Galina screamed and fell out the bottom of Kita’s cloud as a human. Kita, Babydoll, and Sarin returned to their Angelic form and stood around her.
Kita grabbed Galina by the throat. She held the woman at arm’s length and sneered in contempt. With a scream of unbridled rage, Kita slammed Galina into the floor. She continued to scream and flung Galina side to side smashing her against the floor until Babydoll and Sarin restrained her.
“Don’t kill her,” yelled Babydoll. “At least not until I get my turn.”
Sarin pried Kita’s fingers from Galina’s neck. The former Angel collapsed to her knees coughing.
“Why?” Kita screamed. “Why did you have to kill them? What did they ever do to you? If you had a problem, you should have brought it to me. I would have found an answer. I would have given you whatever you wanted.”
Even with a damaged throat, Galina’s harsh Russian accent remained unchanged. “What was I to do when the person I love refused to love me back?”
“I told you it was over because you refused to take no for an answer. I never stopped loving you, and I gave you what you wanted.”
“You broke my heart when you chose that vapid, stupid party girl over me.”
“I was with Jane long before I was with you,” said Kita angrily.
Galina chuckled. “Not Jane, Vee.”
“I don’t know what you want,” Kita yelled. “I gave you everything you asked for.”
“You refused to include me!”
“I told you there had to be boundaries. I understand that now more than ever. I was paired with a white cloud. I know how they think. We would have ended up destroying each other. I didn’t want to fight someone I loved. I gave you everything I could within those boundaries. Why was that not good enough?”
“Because I believed it could have worked. You didn’t give it a chance.”
“I did give it a chance. I gave you everything—once.”
“And it made me so happy,” said Galina.
“And look what happened. You betrayed me then. That’s when I knew it would never work. You would always covet what was mine and try to destroy me.”
“You squander everything you build. You could do such good in the world.”
“I do what’s best for me,” said Kita.
“I know, raven. You are nothing without a light to guide your path.”
“I haven’t had a light to guide my path since Jane.”
“Unlike Jane, I’m incorruptible. I couldn’t fall to your evil influence.”
Kita sighed. “No. You fell to a tale as old as time. Why not just me? I’m an assassin—you’re an assassin. We could have settled this easily.”
Galina looked up into Kita’s eyes. “Because, raven, you had to hurt as much as I. My heart is broken. I needed to break yours.”
“Do I look like I hurt as much as you do?” Flames burst in Kita’s eyes as her lip curled.
“Anger is a product of pain,” whispered Galina.
“At my core, there is nothing but pain. What you have done is nothing but a drop in the bucket. You will never experience my level of pain. But let me give you a taste…”
A black tendril crawled from Kita’s finger to Galina’s forehead. Galina thrashed, trying to fight it, but the tendril entered, and her eyes went black. Galina screamed as she clawed at her face with her mechanical hands.
Kita withdrew the tendril. “That is what I felt over losing Quill, Spike, Nina, and Lina—my innocent daughters you so cruelly murdered. I can forgive you—” Galina’s eyes opened. Through the pain was a look of hope. “—for what you did to me, but I’ll never forgive you for what you did to them or my friends.”
Galina closed her eyes and winced. “I’m sorry, raven. I had to make you understand. To see how I saw it—”
“To prove you were better than everyone else?”
“I am better than everyone else.”
Kita crossed her arms. “That’s debatable. Jane has made you look like a fool for years. Casey is a better dictator and Kerri is a better fighter.”
“I’m still better than an alley cat,” hissed Galina.
“Maybe, but Vee has untapped potential. You’d reached the pinnacle of yours. Speaking of cats, I think you should say goodbye to someone.” Kita whistled, and Sarge and Jupiter came over.
Jupiter sniffed at Galina.
“Jupiter. Hello, my old friend,” said Galina. She raised a hand to pet him.
Jupiter jumped aside and hissed. He retreated behind Sarin’s legs.
Tears fell from the corner of Galina’s eyes. “That was cruel, raven.”
Kita hummed. “I know, but maybe it’s time for you to feel how I feel.”
“No. Jupiter is mine. I will fight for him.” Galina rolled to her feet and leaped at Sarin.
Sarin blinked out of existence. When she reappeared, she was holding her sniper rifle. She fired twice, once into each of Galina’s shoulders. Galina landed in a heap, her augmented arms unable to support her.
“I think he’s happy with his new mistress,” said Sarin. She scratched Jupiter’s chin. “Yeah, good boy.” She dug a treat from her belt and tossed it to him.
Sarge looked at Kita hopefully. Rolling her eyes, Kita dug into her belt and gave Sarge a treat. “Cats,” she muttered.
“What do we do now?” said Defiance.
“Get Galina to call off the dogs and get you back on your throne.”
“The best way to do that will be to get back to the fleet. Without their leader, the Political Bureau will be in chaos. Once the rest of the fleet arrives, we can land in Dallas with a sizable force and dethrone the usurper.”
Kita nodded. “You’re the emperor. We’ll follow your—”
Babydoll stepped in front of Galina and backflipped, kicking her under the chin and sending her toward the ceiling. Babydoll landed and caught Galina by the throat. “Why?” she screamed. “Why did you have to kill her? What did she do to you? She was only doing her duty.”
“What do you care, dog?” Galina snarled. “Admiral Sheppard betrayed her duty and her emperor.”
“I say differently,” said Defiance. Her voice didn’t convey the anger Kita felt, but her eyes did. “She served with distinction and was exemplary. She recognized she made a mistake, accepted responsibility, and made up for it. She was a fine officer that deserved a better death.”
Galina’s head rolled up to look at Babydoll. “The stoic legionnaire has feelings for the Marine, da? That is a laugh. Rene never would have lowered herself to someone like you.”
Babydoll struck Galina on the android side of her face, tearing through the prosthetic skin and denting the metal casing.
“Kerri, I need her in one piece to get us out of here,” said Kita.
“I can get us out of here. Rene didn’t deserve to die like that.”
“She died doing her duty. There’s no greater honor for a Marine.”
“You don’t believe that,” said Babydoll.
“But she did,” said Kita forcefully. “Get Rene’s body. We won’t leave her here. I’ll take Galina.”
“I knew you couldn’t kill me, raven,” Galina chided.
“Let’s see what happens when your usefulness runs out.” Kita tapped the side of her head. “I still have
Mengele squirreled away.”
“You wouldn’t do that to me.”
“I watched your creations kill Snowy. The universe is running out of people who can talk me down. And, the Angel of Mercy doesn’t have the influence she used to.”
“You’re not a monster.” A tiny smile came to Galina’s lips like she expected a reaction.
Sorry. Not today. “No. I’m much worse. But, I need you coherent, not screaming. We’ll have plenty of time to get reacquainted, after those that have a claim to you get their fill.” Kita motioned to Sarin, Defiance, and Babydoll. “I’m sure an evil angel and two fallen angels can think of something creative to do. I promise you they won’t kill you. Though, you’ll wish for death. Now, get up.”
Kita grabbed Galina by the back of her shirt and pulled her to her feet. She looked at the scientists gathered in the room. “Stay put until someone comes for you.”
Pushing Galina ahead of the group, they exited the room and followed the hallway until they were back in Dino’s room. The dead dinosaur hadn’t moved.
“At least something stays dead,” said Sarin.
“I wish some things didn’t,” said Babydoll as she clutched Sheppard.
Kita sighed to herself. Her heart went out to Babydoll. It didn’t seem fair. Sheppard hadn’t even reacted. It was like she’d wanted it. Did Rene still feel something for Galina? Or that she failed her? I will miss her. It’s beginning to feel lonely.
Two pinpricks of light floated down from the ceiling.
“Kami?” said Kita.
The two points of lights expanded forming Kylee and a grim reaper holding a scythe.
“Sorry, Mother. Kami’s no longer with us,” said Kylee with wicked glee.
“What does that mean? Where is she?” demanded Kita.
“Deleted. Never existed. She’s not the only one. You’re all that’s left.”
“Left of what?” said Sarin.
“The Angels. I’ve had some good father-daughter bonding time deleting them.”
“What have you done?” gasped Kita. As she waited for what she was sure would be an obnoxious reply she tried to contact the other Angels via the comm, but she received no answer. Not even the other gods responded when she tried to contact them through the equation.
“I got even,” said Kylee with a sick smile. “Isn’t that what you always told me to do, Mother?”
“E’fil and Y’grene will hear of this, Ht’aed,” said Sarin.
“They will side with me once they receive my report,” said Ht’aed in an eerie baritone voice. “You have been corrupted by this pathetic equation—” He pointed at Kita. “—Enticed into doing its bidding.”
“You destroyed Re’drum, Ra’w, and Ecit’suj?” said Kita, naming Ht’aed’s three daughters that had paired with the Angels Panther, Tenshi, and Valentine. “What happened to Denver, Kylee?”
“They could not be stripped of the polluting equation they melded with and were deleted,” said Ht’aed.
“Val got what was coming to her for betraying me,” said Kylee.
She has gone off the deep end. Denver loved her. It must have been a shock for her to learn how Kylee felt. “Kylee, Ht’aed is using you. In his eyes, you’re not a god because you’re a combination of him and me. He’ll destroy you as soon as he’s done with us.”
“Shut up. You can’t talk your way out of this. There’s no way out. I win. I told you I was better than you.”
“It’s not possible,” said Sarin. “Deleting a god requires all the elders.”
“With my help, we figured it out,” Kylee said proudly.
“You’re a fool,” said Kita.
“You’re jealous you didn’t do it first,” yelled Kylee.
“It is time to correct the origin of our mistake,” said Ht’aed. He raised his scythe and pointed it at Kita.
Kita stood firm drawing Dead and Buried, not showing any fear or weakness. I won’t go without a fight.
“No!” cried Sarin. She jumped in front of Kita as a blue beam erupted from the tip of the scythe and hit her in the chest.
The blue beam punctured Sarin. She changed to her god form, and all the points of light exploded outward.
“Jane!” screamed Kita. The loss of Sarin struck her in the head and then in the heart. Time stood still as Kita collapsed to her knees, her head fell to her chest and tears filled her eyes. Dead and Buried clattered to the floor. Kylee’s wicked laughter sounded a thousand miles away as Ht’aed deleted Defiance and Galina as they attacked him. Babydoll collapsed into a point of light and vanished with Sheppard’s body.
Kita tried in vain to reach Sarin in every way she could. She couldn’t feel her cloud and there was no answer when she called over the comm. An inescapable truth hit her: Sarin was gone. There was nothing she could do. The one person she cared for more than anything was gone. Her whole reason for being, why she fought so hard, why she did what she did, was no more. There was no bringing her back. Another truth hit her. She was suddenly alone in a place she hated.
Without Sarin, there was no reason to be here, or anywhere. The joy had been sucked out of the sandbox she cared so much for. The hatred swelled in her. It flashed across her mind like a raging wildfire, pushing aside her heartbreak. Her purpose shrank to a single idea. The time had come to fulfill her destiny. If Kita couldn’t have Sarin, then nothing deserved to exist, and she would destroy it all, starting with Death.
Ht’aed stood over Kita and lifted his scythe to deliver the killing blow. The scythe fell, and Kita opened her eyes. A blue shockwave erupted from her and pinned Ht’aed and Kylee to the wall. Kita stood, hate blazing in her eyes as she collected Dead and Buried. Walking toward Ht’aed, her foot touched his scythe. With a snarl, Kita brought her boot down on the blade, shattering it.
Kita stopped in front of Ht’aed. “I’ve always been curious,” she said in a menacing tone. She grabbed the hood that covered the reaper’s head. With a jerk, she pulled it back exposing the skull of a creature Kita didn’t recognize. It had bumps, horns, tusks, and teeth. Kita guessed whatever it came from was ugly.
She drew back Dead and Buried—the edges glowing blue—and sliced through Ht’aed’s bony neck. He exploded into pinpricks of light that slowly went out. Kita moved next to Kylee, who struggled to get free. Kita leaned against the wall next to her.
“You think I’m a fool? I’ve known how to delete someone since fighting the Harbingers. I’ve known there’s more beyond Infinity since I became a god. It’s nothing I didn’t think you’d figure out on your own. But, your own pettiness and impatience is your downfall. All you had to do was follow my lead, and you would have had it all. You were my favorite. I guess we’re always betrayed by the ones we love the most. Your mistake was deleting Jane, the one person in Infinity that I cared for more than you. And that’s a mistake that’s going to cost you everything.”
Kita slammed Dead into Kylee’s chest. “Goodbye, Kylee.” The sword flashed blue, and Kylee exploded into pinpricks of light. The lights twinkled and went out, vanishing into the ether.
The room was empty except for Dino. There was nothing left for Kita. It was time to go to Infinity. She collapsed into a point of dark light and drifted through the ceiling.
Kita changed into her angelic form. She wasn’t in Infinity, but the White. Something had impeded her journey.
“Who’s out there? Show yourself,” Kita demanded.
A pinprick of multicolored light appeared and changed into Babydoll, holding Sheppard’s body.
“What in the Crushing Depths happened to you?” snarled Kita.
“I left to get help.”
“Help? From who?”
“E’fil and Y’grene, and anyone else I could find.”
“It’s over,” Kita said tersely.
“What happened?”
“I deleted Ht’aed.”
Babydoll’s eyes widened. “You deleted him? The elders won’t like that.”
“It was him or me, and he delete
d the god angels. He made his case for deletion.”
“You shouldn’t know how to delete anyone. It takes all the elders.”
“Ht’aed and Kylee learned how. I’ve known since before I knew you.”
“So where are you going?” Babydoll asked cocking her head to one side with a curious look.
“To Infinity, to finish this.”
“Finish what—Wait. You don’t mean to destroy Infinity?”
“I have nothing left. It’s time.”
“I’m still here,” said Babydoll.
“And you left me when I needed you the most.”
“But…can’t you just conquer Infinity?”
Kita laughed. “Why would I want to do that? Ruling over a bunch of whiney gods sounds like a horrible idea.”
“You might destroy yourself.”
“So be it.”
Babydoll gulped. “I won’t let you, but I don’t want to fight you.”
“We all have to go sometime. Why don’t you find a quiet spot and spend some time with Rene? You won’t even know when it’s over.”
“No. Infinity is my home. I may not like it much, but it’s still home, and I will defend it.”
The White changed to a rocky platform hovering above a raging sea. Sheets of rain beat down and the wind screamed overhead.
Babydoll set Sheppard’s body down and took up a fighting stance. Her crystal spider legs extended from her back and her braids swayed back and forth. “If you want Infinity, you’ll have to go through me.”
Kita shrugged. “Don’t say I didn’t give you the option to walk away.”
“You haven’t won yet.”
“The outcome is foretold—only the cost is to be decided. Please, Kerri. Walk away.”
“It’s my home—our way of life. I love you, but I’ll defend Infinity to the last. I don’t have many principles, but this is one.”
“You pick a lousy time to stand by your principles.”
“I stuck by you for all those years.”
Kita bowed her head. “And you have my thanks. You were the best friend a girl could want.”
“It was my privilege to be your left hand.”
Kita drew her swords and flourished them, water flying off the spinning blades.