“Getting those Earth terms down,” I said with a grin, then took a step back as Hadrian’s face appeared as if hovering there in the middle of the portal.

  “How…?” He glanced around, eyeing each of us in turn, then nodded. “Never mind. Don’t need to ask. I see you brought company.” He eyed Leticia. “Is she ready to be on the Citadel?”

  “She can go wherever she wants,” Charm shot back.

  Hadrian shook his head. “Not what I meant.”

  “She’s connected,” I said. “And we think that, through her, we can find the supervillain Ragnor. He might have been behind the group that took my son.”

  “The Order of the Fox,” Charm chimed in, then glanced my way with an apologetic, guilty purse of her lips.

  I knew it wasn’t her fault, but this wasn’t the time.

  “They’re making moves to get Ragnor the Cosmic Connector,” Leticia added.

  “Be on the lookout for Ragnor,” Hadrian said. “But it’s this Cosmic Connector that really worries me. Until now, I thought it to be a myth.”

  “Until now?”

  “If the Shadow Runner—”

  “Leticia,” Charm interjected. “She goes by Leticia now.”

  “Ah. If Leticia believes it to be true, I trust her judgment. It’s as simple as that.”

  “She also said they probably have a reason for taking my son,” I said. “That somehow he has to be part of the plan.”

  “Kai has no powers,” Hadrian said. “But we are dealing with forces beyond our understanding. It’s entirely possible there’s a way of unlocking his powers that even we aren’t aware of.”

  “We need to find those who took him,” I said. “Take them out and rescue Kai.”

  “Charm thinks she knows where and been there, recently,” Andromida chimed in. “But the other side is somehow blocking our access, so we thought if we could intercept Ragnor in his hunt for the Cosmic Connector.”

  “Leticia?” Hadrian asked.

  “I don’t know where he would be.”

  “But you could find him, couldn’t you?”

  Leticia looked away, frowning. “It would take too much away from me, risk me going back to my old ways. That’s why we needed to come to you, first.”

  “If only Xin were still around,” Hadrian said. “I believe he would know a way to aid you.”

  “Wait, we know someone who used to work directly with Xin,” Charm spoke up, excitedly. “Death Girl!”

  “What, the one who travels with the succubus and that ‘Bubblegum’ chick?” Gale asked, shivering. “Please tell me we don’t have to pay her a visit for this.”

  “Actually, they’re on the Citadel with Drew’s team,” Hadrian admitted. “Came up here shortly after the attack on Earth to help research the invaders while you all were off… doing what, exactly?”

  “Finding me,” Leticia grunted in response, then motioned for him to get on with it. “Well then, let’s go pay this ‘Death Girl’ a visit. Why do they call her that?”

  “Because she died,” I replied. “And kinda looks like death.”

  Leticia tipped her head. “Wait, as in actually died? It’s not just part of her costume?”

  “We call them outfits, not costumes,” Hadrian chided with an amused grin. “And she did indeed die. It’s a bit of a story, one you’ll have to ask her about. As for me, I better get back to it.”

  The image flickered and lights shot out, then Hadrian gave us a nod and disappeared.

  We turned to each other to discuss, but half the team opted for getting cleaned up and fed rather than visiting Death Girl. That left me, Twitch, Charm, Gale, and Muerta.

  Using my scanning power, I was able to find the woman in black with her glowing skull. She stood at the edge of the Citadel, looking out at a distant planet that appeared as a violet dot.

  “That out there was the first planet I went to on a mission,” she said, not even looking my way. “Back before I found my team, back before I understood all of this?” She lifted her metal arms and made long spikes emerge from her palms, then retracted them to turn our way. “Good seeing you all up here. My team’s sleeping—guess that’s one more part of being normal that I miss.”

  “You miss your old self?” Charm asked.

  “Sometimes.” She sighed. “You didn’t come to me to talk about nostalgia.”

  “How, if you don’t mind me asking, that is… how’d it happen?”

  “The quick version?” Death Girl’s glow faded slightly. “I grow sick of telling this story, to be honest. But it started with cancer, ended with me getting a second chance.” For a brief instant, there was a woman standing there instead of this terrifying warrior. “I’ll never forget what Xin did for me that day, and every fight since his passing is in tribute to him.”

  I knew what she meant. Xin had sacrificed himself so that we could be here fighting and representing the Citadel, and for that I’d give my all to my last breath.

  Death Girl’s warrior form returned and her voice took on a serious, down-to-business tone. “I have heard of this item—the Cosmic Connector.” Her glow magnified, and for a brief instant her human face reappeared behind that glass, then faded again. “But in order to obtain it, you must first die.”

  “Excuse me?” I coughed, then shook my head. “We’re no use to anyone if we’re dead.”

  “Ah, but that’s only if you don’t come back.”

  I opened my mouth as if to say there was no coming back from death, then remembered who I was speaking with, so nodded instead.

  “You’re not there yet, and I’d bet neither is he. In the meantime, I know about this Ragnor character, and I know how to get you to him. In fact,” she stepped toward us, skull glowing bright, “I’d enjoy the chance to help teach him a lesson if you’d be open to one more fighter joining the mission.”

  “You’re serious?” Charm asked. “Of course!”

  Twitch looked at me with a smile. “Why not, huh?”

  “Hell yeah,” I replied. “We need all the help we can get.”

  “Then it’s settled,” Death Girl said, leading us back toward the portals. “Time for a reunion.”

  “Reunion?” I asked.

  “Who do you think I fought on that first mission?” Death Girl indicated the violet dot she’d been staring at. “That, plus the little bit of what I got from Xin… It’s the only reason this is all going to work. I understand the Shadow Runner is with you?”

  “Yes, but she goes by Leticia now.”

  “Great, we’ll need her on board.”

  “She mentioned something about this process testing her, calling back to her old ways?” Twitch asked.

  Death Girl nodded. “Honestly, by the end of this adventure we’ll all have been tested, not just individually, but as a group. If I lose myself… feel free to do whatever it takes to stop me.”

  “And your group doesn’t need you?” Charm asked.

  “They will…” She considered, then added, “When the time comes, if we’re not done yet, I’ll just have to weigh the situation and see where I’m needed most.”

  Following her and sharing looks of hope with my team as Twitch signaled for the others to join us, I sure as hell hoped she was right but knew there might be failures along the way. But somehow, we’d figure it out.

  When we were all gathered at the portals again, Death Girl and Leticia compared notes. Then, before the rest of us understood what was happening, Death Girl thrust her arm forward and slammed her metal fist right through Leticia’s’ chest. What emerged wasn’t blood, but darkness that enveloped us all.

  “Hope you all are prepared for a trip,” Death Girl said, and then she actually laughed!

  I had no idea what sort of twisted individual we had just signed up to join us, but I knew without a doubt that her words about being tested were certainly going to prove true.

  CHAPTER 18: KAI

  Alien Planet

  “Here’s how it is,” Destiny said, leading me along rows of armor.

  We had found a way up behind some equipment that reminded me of high-tech, metal sarcophagi, then snuck into this room where she insisted we would find the gear needed to explore a new planet where the air might not be breathable and who-knows-what other issues we could face.

  Past the armor was a half-wall with a long window above it, and beyond it I could just make out what appeared to be a factory that had various pipes and large, kiln-like facilities.

  “What are they making here?” I asked.

  “An army,” she replied. “Which is why we need to get out of here, and I have to hope that Charm finds a way through.”

  I nodded, craning my neck to get a look. A sniffing sound drew my attention back to Destiny. She was… sniffing me.

  “What the hell?” I asked.

  “You smell like… campfire?” She scrunched her nose and stepped away, hand at her chin. She shook her head. “Not good. Easy to get caught when you have such a strong scent.”

  “Okay…” I glanced around, not sure if there was a bathroom nearby where I could wash up or what, but froze at the sight of her eyeing me intently. I was about to ask if I had something in my teeth or why she was staring like that, when she suddenly leaned in.

  Her lips parted, pink tongue slowly emerging. Was she about to kiss me? My cock shifted in anticipation, my tongue wetting my lips to be ready, and then… she leaned down and licked my neck! Then again, and she took my face in her hands, adjusted my head, and went to the other side.

  I stood there in shock, not sure what to think. Maybe this was how her people made out? A strange version of foreplay? Considering that they were so obsessed with foxes, judging by the armor, I assumed that was it. Still, understanding didn’t make it any less weird.

  As she licked my right side a fourth time, I decided to go for it and reach up, hands moving along her sides, cupping the underside of her breast, and then… She shoved me away!

  “What do you think you’re doing?” she asked.

  “I—huh?”

  “I’m in the middle of helping you erase the scent so we don’t get caught, and you start copping a feel?”

  My eyes went wide. “Oh, you—you were bathing me? I thought…”

  Now her eyes went wide and she blushed. “No-no-no. Sorry. It didn’t register to me that you’d take that the wrong way, but of course you did. I am so sorry. Still, moving on so we can get out of here—you’ll need a change of clothes, and your gear. Should be able to find both right through here, come on.”

  I had to adjust my crotch first and try to get the image of her and that tongue out of my mind. No luck! I couldn’t stop myself from glancing down at her ass as we entered the next room, and I imagined her waiting there, taking out my cock and licking it as she had my neck.

  Damnit, what was wrong with me? If I didn’t get my mind out of the gutter, I was going to get us both killed.

  Focus, Kai.

  I followed her in and saw her with an outfit and armor ready.

  “Your turn,” she said, and held out the clothes. “Quickly, change. And please get over yourself, would you? We really don’t have time for… well, you know.”

  My mind knew, but my body wasn’t so sure. The thought of her in the room with me as I changed led me to a whole new set of fantasies, but I knew she was right so quickly accepted the clothes and turned, starting to strip. Only, as soon as I pulled off my pants and boxers, I looked up to realize there was a mirror right there—and she was watching!

  I cleared my throat, but she shrugged and kept watching. When my erect cock was exposed, she took a quick breath and seemed to hold it longer than was natural. Next came my shirt, and I looked to see that she was still watching hungrily. Was it possible she wanted me as badly as I wanted her?

  As she had reminded me, it didn’t matter at the moment. Not until we were safe anyway. Still, I felt better about myself knowing she was enjoying the show.

  Quickly finishing dressing, I turned to her and accepted a fox helmet like the one I’d stolen before and left in the body of the woman I’d saved Destiny from. She helped me with the armor next, eyes glinting with her inability to hold back whatever she was clearly wanting to say.

  “What?” I finally asked.

  “You didn’t have to change your undergarments,” she said, then bit back a laugh. “But that’s all right, since now we’re even.”

  “You mean because I’ve seen you and you’ve seen me?” I asked.

  “Exactly. No more awkward wondering.”

  I cocked my head at that. She had been wondering? Imagining me naked and wondering what I’d look like?

  My turn to look away and blush. She adjusted the helmet on me and then the armor. This set was made for a man, I noted, so had to ask.

  “I’ve only seen women with the fox armor. Any reason?”

  “There are men, but… gone. Older. Many of them were shipped off to other planets for slave labor. Not by us, but by those who control us. The enemy.”

  “And those I met are the enemy?”

  “Not unless you’ve met others I’m unaware of. The others are a group that follow the group you all call the Nihilists.”

  I’d heard that term before, and hearing it now made my head spin. My dad and uncle had both been part of many battles and wars, but my understanding was that all of it led to one massive war that was ultimately going to be against the Nihilists and those they served.

  “This should do it,” Destiny said as she finished filling a bag with equipment. “We can suit up the rest of the way once we’re out of here.”

  Both of us started for the door, awkwardly finding our shoulders colliding. She grinned and motioned for me to go ahead, but I stepped back and did the same.

  “Ladies first.”

  “What kind of stupid saying is that?”

  I scratched my chin. “Earth saying. I dunno.”

  She shrugged and took a step toward the door, but suddenly voices came from that direction, followed by the screeching sound of metal on metal.

  “Fuck, control that shit,” a voice said.

  “It’s a prototype, what do you expect?”

  “You to not destroy my ears, for one.”

  Destiny motioned back at me, eyes wide with worry. We returned to the way we had entered, going back toward the sarcophagus-looking machine to duck behind it. As I crouched down, I whispered, “What is that thing, anyway?”

  “That’s one way to purge powers from supers,” she explained. “The other, quicker way is the case you found me in.”

  I blushed as the image of her nude body flashed back through my mind, but dropped down the rest of the way so that she didn’t notice. We needed to be moving anyway. Except, when she landed at my side, she held me in place.

  “Don’t move—they might hear,” she hissed.

  My hands shook and I tried to control my breathing, but I nodded. When she tapped my shoulder and then pointed from my eyes to hers, I held her gaze and found myself able to calm. She gave me a comforting smile, but it didn’t reach her mouth.

  “This poor sucker’s been in the tube how long?” a voice above asked. “Six months?”

  “Going on close to a year,” the other replied.

  “No shit? Sometimes they just keep giving, huh?”

  “We got ourselves a regenerator here.”

  I gulped, trying not to imagine myself in an enclosed space like that for so long. All so they could steal someone’s powers to use as their own? I met Destiny’s gaze again, but this time I couldn’t help but think of the power she had and how she had someone else’s powers in her. Someone much like my mom, considering it was a portal power.

  That thought left a bad taste in my mouth.

  Footsteps sounded, growing distant, and then Destiny tugged on my sleeve and nodded sideways. Time to go.

  We followed more tunnels out of there and were nearly at an exit when someone shouted, “I’ve got something!” and a clanging sounded behind us.

  “Shit, they’re in the tunnels,” Destiny hissed.

  We broke into an all-out sprint. Each turn came as a blur, so that by the time we barely managed to escape, I couldn’t have found my way back if my life depended on it. Not that it mattered yet, because we weren’t exactly in the clear. Throwing ourselves to the ground, we rolled out of sight and listened as they approached.

  Three figures in robes passed, their purple eyes showing from the darkness beneath. My hands were clenched into fists, knowing I wouldn’t stand a chance but ready to fight if necessary. It wasn’t until they were long gone that I was able to relax and try to get my breathing back to normal.

  I turned to watch Destiny, her chest rising and falling as she, too, tried to catch her breath. Our eyes met and we shared a “that was too damn close” look. We would have to be more careful going forward.

  She opened her mouth, then closed it and pursed her lips.

  “I can tell when you have something you want to say,” I admitted. “Out with it.”

  “You had so many opportunities to use your powers, but you didn’t. Is this just strong self-control, or…?”

  My gut clenched at the idea of admitting to this beautiful, powerful woman that I didn’t have any superpowers. But she had asked, and had a right to know.

  “In spite of being born to two supers,” I started. “No… I don’t have any powers.”

  “How’s that possible? I—I don’t understand.”

  I shrugged. “Wish I did, but… nope. And this,” I held up my wrist with the tattoo device, “was a gift from a super who used to be able to grant powerups and advancement to supers. She hoped it would awaken some latent ones within me. No such luck.”

  My shame was taking hold, but to my surprise she scooted closer, grinning. “Want to know a secret? None of us have powers, either.”

  “That’s not funny, mocking me…”

  “No, I mean it!” She gesture back to the fortress. “Something the enemy did with pyramids, and those of us who agreed to fight on the enemy’s side benefited from—it gave us powers. But none of us have them naturally.”