Tunnel Base

"Are the drones up and running?" Deakin eyed the guard like he was nothing but an insect.

The guard bowed. "They're ready to fly, Sir."

 "And the Ridden?"

"The Zomb… um, the Ridden are being dragged as we speak." The guard confirmed.

"Good, make sure they get a clear view when those… creatures… go in for the kill," Deakin replied thoughtfully. "If those failures, only real value, are unstoppable killing machines, let's sell them to anyone willing to pay."

"Yes, sir," The guard's eyes looked conflicted. "But we haven't found Miss. Castie just…"

"And how exactly is that my problem?" Deakin interrupted abruptly.

"No, um."

"Do I have to…listen…The shields are up, aren't they?" Deakin growled, grabbed the guard and pushed him to the door. "Then they will show up eventually, understand?" The guard nodded. "Good, now get the hell out of here." And pushed him out the door.

Deakin turned around, making sure that the door was shut behind him. "Morans all of them. Like I need such an insignificant…."

The door opened once again. "Didn't I tell you not to…." He rounded on the person who had the gall to interrupt him, then stopped. "What are you doing here?"

"Reporting in, like promised." A man with strawberry hair and bronze skin bowed elegantly. "But sir, can you afford to stand around ideally? You haven't given me Stella Spencer yet?"

"Vance." Deakin gritted her teeth. "Like I said, you will get her as soon as you get rid of those Lumeye."

"With all due respect," Vance said, scoffing. I've heard that Stella has barricaded herself within one of your operator's rooms with your brother and that uncooperative scientist. They're making a mess of your systems; half the base is shut down. So, can you afford to play around with your failed experiment? Some even escaped into the Wastelands." He clicked his tongue.

Deakin clenched his fist. That arrogant little… "If you want that girl so much, why don't you help get her?"

Vance sigh. "I would, but I'm afraid I'll cook them alive."

Deakin cursed. He didn't care about that girl or his useless brother but Dr.Remarez. She was the only one capable of helping with his experiment. He still believed that the Ripples were the only way humanity could advance into the next evolutionary stage, and his Artificial Ripples were the way to do it. He didn't care how many sacrifices would be made if it worked on one person, just one person….

"And the other Lumeye."

"All are otherwise indisposed. You seemed so concerned about taking care of those Lumeye wannabes of yours. I'm sorry for the inconvenience," Vance dismissed.

Deakin sighed. "If we can't get that door, all we can do is wait them out. They can't stay in there forever."

Vance gave Deakin a look. "Can you afford to do that?"

It pained him to admit Vance was right. Half of the systems were shut down. Nothing significant was affected, but who knew what damage they could manage if given enough time? So yes, he needed them out, but unfortunately, that room happened to be built like a bomb shelter.

 "Yes, It's quite inconvenient, "The man's eyes brightened as he stepped closer. "Since Stella was part of our deal."

Deakin sneered, his hand moving toward his necktie, reaching for the tiny stone resting at its center. "Careful, Vance, don't come any closer. I hold your leash, remember?"

Zane just gave him a pitying look before stepping back. "I apologized for the disrespect…. But fair warning. You and my Lord have a long-standing relationship, so I hope you don't do anything to jeopardize that." He paused. "Hopefully, your failed experiment will turn into a benefit," he chuckled. But, of course, you need us to control them to impress your buyers."

Deakin glared at Lumey's retreating back, wishing he had never gotten in bed with those Lumeye bastards in the first place. Even if he took over the police, taking out his greatest rival and then the Cities Council itself, all his plans would come to nothing if the Lumeye decided to make their move. Who can stop an army of superpowered freaks?

Even those collars around their neck weren't enough to stop them.

"Just one, I just need one," He whispered. "I'm so close. I can't stop now."

***

Tunnels

"Talon?" Bryson asked.

"Hell!" Statson cursed as he tried to grab the falling Jared. However, they both tumbled over the edge.

"Statson." Druid cried out, but before she could do anything, another Talon grabbed her and threw Druid with a gush of wind. Druid could only watch as Bryson sliced through one Talon, but two more showed up while Bryson used ice to slide down to the ground below. Druid teleported beside him.

"Bryson?" Druid asked as the tunnels filled with fog and dozens of Talons curled up from underneath. Druid's flames took out a couple, and ice spikes shot out from the ground, piercing several more. "It's useless if we can't find the real one…."

Suddenly a roar echoed, "Garth, goddamnit." Bryson groaned. "That's all I need." He looked conflicted for a second. Then, "Druid, you must find Statson. Talon might finish the job."

"it could be just one of her doubles," Druid supplied as her whip grabbed one Talon and threw fire at another.

"Believe me, Talon likes to get… personal," Bryson sliced through another Talon. Druid wanted to ask how Bryson knew that, but the ground started to tremble, and a wolfman came in, claws scraping the tracks. "Go. I'll take care of him!" Bryson skated around the Talon clones to meet Garth's galloping form.

Druid stood there for a second, frustrated. "Bryson, what are you doing?" But could only sigh and n her back. Her eyes searched everywhere, but all the fog was hard to see through. "They couldn't have fallen far." Druid teleported from one corner to the next. "Where are you? Where are you." Finally, spotting Statson's hat buried underneath some rumble.

As she touched the hat, a vision flashed. Statson's hands were coated in blood, looking down at Jared's too-pale face. Then, a voice, her voice, whispered, "Look up," She looked up, and there was Statson, barely visible, shoved into a crevice a couple of feet above her head.

Druid climbed up and touched Statson's shoulder; Statson jumped and went for his gun, "No worries, it's me."

He relaxed. "Fire Princess." He was busy putting pressure on Jared's wound. There was blood everywhere.

"We can't stay here!"

"I know, but…." Statson eyes moved to Jared. He didn't look good. "There's too much blood. I can't…." He let out a shuttering breath.

Druid paused. She knew what a dying man looked like, staring right at him. But, at this point, she didn't think Terran could save him. "Statson…"

There was desperation in Statson's eyes. "We have to do something. I don't care what he did. But we have to try. Please! He's my friend."

Druid sighed. "I could cauterize the wound, but I don't think he'll…."

"Please," Statson pleaded.

She gave Statson a long look before flames formed in her hand; she was about to press down when Jared's hand shot out, stopping her. "Don't," Jared gasped.

"Tat-man…"

“I’m done for…just please…save him…my nephew…they kidnapped…holding him…I didn't want to…." His body stilled.

"Goddamnit," Statson cursed as he slammed his fist into his legs.

There was no time to grieve as a voice chimed in. "Too bad. I don't think you need this, though." Talon had Statson's gun and threw it away.

Statson sneered. "You bitch." He tackled her out of the crevice, and as they landed, he tried to swing at her, but Talon kicked him away.

Druid tried to dropkick her, but a wall of Talons caught her foot. Then all of them left their arms, and that was when a wind channel hit Druid point blank, shooting her up in the air, making her tumble head over foot and land hard on her back.

Druid groaned, struggling to get up. Then Bryson jumped past, and he got his sword up just as that wolfman Garth slammed into him, pushing him back. Garth was biting down on Bryson's sword, and Bryson had an ice shield in his other hand, attempting to push him off, but it was useless. Garth gathered his strength, rammed Bryson into the wall, and broke through. They both disappeared, and the wall collapsed behind them.

"Bryson!!" Druid cried out. Then she heard moaning and shouting. "What now?" She looked up to find guards pouring into the tunnels. They seemed to be shooting at something—a cat creature? It was hard to see and say for sure. Then beings with pulsing Vine markings stumbled in. "Great, just great!"

***

Tunnel Base

Shadow pulled his shadows close as the Zombies slashed at him. He knocked them down in one wave, but the Zombies are slowly stumbling back up. Shadow ignored them; his eyes never left the white-hair youth. That's when he heard a dinging sound. Shadow moved just slightly, and something whirled past his head. Blood tingled down his neck; Shadow watched as the object bounced off a door before settling into the youth's hands.

 "A boomerang, huh?" Shadow mused, but the youth didn't move an inch and threw the boomerang again. The dinging sound commenced. "So the Zombies were just a distraction, interesting."

Shadow got low. Just as the boomerang zipped by, the speed was even quicker as it hit another wall. Zombies fell on top of him, clawing and tearing, but they only caught one of his Phantoms. Another, then another, joined that Phantom.

Phantom and Zombies clashed as Shadow used the chaos to melt into shadows.

Shadow's eyes never left the motionless youth. "Hide and seek, huh? I'm game," His smile turned predatory. Beyond the sounds of the fighting, the dining sound continued.

The youth smiled back.