He couldn’t believe it. Volt had fallen unconscious twice, and he didn’t even know what hit him. He just knew he had to find Abyss.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQCvNWVhT4
Volt threw caution to the wind and began to run through this massive underground structure. All sort of machines, top secret weapons and strange liquids, not to mention a life support monitor.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4y428Dn6T
What are they doing down here?26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqXfxgCF8Y
Volt shook off the curiosity. He couldn’t help but feel like it was his fault Abyss was missing in this place, and that terrified him.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupMITd8NzM
“I should have stopped him,” Volt growled. He swore under his breath in his first language, but then, realizing no one would understand, hear, or care around here, he shouted it at the top of his lungs before calling out. “ABYSS, WHERE ARE YOU?!” 26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnieWjh3Swx
No response this time. I hope he’s okay...26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlvCKegJ6M
Volt continued to search for what felt like another hour. He grew continuously more panicked as he found spots where it looked like wires were ripped out of the various machines. Volt worried about all these high-voltage machines and the live wires protruding from them. He wouldn’t be affected by them, but if Abyss wasn’t actively trying to absorb their power as he made contact, Volt swallowed back a lump in his throat as he called out again.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9PgWutzOV
Eventually, Volt found Abyss sitting, dazed against a machine. Destroyed wires sat around the dark-haired twin, and Volt felt a surge of devastation strike. Did he get electrocuted? Why is he zoning out? If he’s been awake, why didn’t he respond? “Abyss!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBHmrM8flx
Abyss shook himself and looked up at Volt. “Huh?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSR88XLjAY
Volt ran over to his brother and grabbed his shoulders tightly, shouting at Abyss in their first language. “You almost gave me a heart attack! And you don’t have enough control of my power to bring me back! What were you thinking? Didn’t you hear me calling for you?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN59gwdqCb
“Before or after the second wave?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjj0I5cL6HH
“Second wave of what?” Volt asked, feeling flustered.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphLf8NnhOT
“That girl... she had some sort of toxic power...”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvse9ex3rBi
“What girl? Alexandra? Sol, this isn’t funny,” Volt said, fuming. “Your brain didn’t get scrambled, right? Why aren’t you making sense.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMOqgskqbw
“No, someone else entirely. She’s the one who knocked you out.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLnMGqDOH7
“What? She... okay? Did she try and abduct you or something?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEen4f6QCtp
“I mean, she kind of did?” Abyss answered.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLaDR3oKnl
Volt groaned, “helpful. Look, I think we need to make an agreement. No more separating. I’m lucky I found you.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUanQ9TdrGk
“I agree,” Abyss pressed. “Seriously. It’s not like I could do much to prevent it.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNI0vhnS91
Volt sighed. “Fine. Fine. But don’t you see? This is what happens when you go off looking for danger.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeywxIEUgp
“This is the worst trouble I’ve gotten us in up to date,” Abyss argued, “I’d say we’re even after your skydiving stunt.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MlPgadc67
“Regardless, it could have been a lot worse,” Volt lectured.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1uWFOPoFL
“I know that! Believe me, I do! You don’t even know the half of it.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApR3RT3Cr9
Volt felt his breath catch in shock. “What? What’s that supposed to mean?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl0ouFHN5Z
Abyss didn’t respond.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp728c8iO45
Volt shook his brother, “Abyss, talk to me! Come on, man, you’re scaring me!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1lYmkQNeb
“Sorry! Sorry! Is that what you want?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1wy5xFnMw
Volt clenched his teeth. “I want to know what’s going on with you lately,” Volt growled.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wVahMqLhJ
Abyss balled his fists. “Alright. Alright! You want to know what’s going on? I’ll tell you! I didn’t want to come here! I don’t like all these people staring at us like we’re aliens just because we were raised by them. I hate knowing Kronos just wants to use us to hurt people, and you don’t seem to care!” Abyss got up and stormed off in the direction of the exit, grabbing his own arm, nails digging into his flesh. Volt stared helplessly back at Abyss.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJLXNuyZ2E
He didn’t want to admit to himself that Abyss had been growing more detached and distant.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KtpYBubRX
Volt was starting to worry that they were growing apart.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICGmvFGjER
“You’re right, let’s go,” Volt muttered to himself. “I wasn’t even supposed to come down here to look for you, but do I get any thanks? Of course, not...”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV07cyBLT7q
No response.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMrIP54Vjz
Neither brother expected this would be their last chance to talk to each other.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9dAciizpX
* * *
The next day, the commander met up with Abyss and Volt after their training with Alexandra. The older man had grim expression on his face. Volt could tell something was off. This wasn’t the man he was talking to in the elevator yesterday.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnY0jGMwWa
“Advancements have been made concerning the fate of the world, and it comes with troubling news. I hope you both are ready.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlXhhkHnpY
“Ready?” Volt asked. He looked behind himself to make sure Abyss was there, but the dark-haired brother had lagged to speak with Alexandra. Volt wished he could know what Abyss was talking about, but at the same time, her worried it might be about their dispute from yesterday. Abyss hadn’t said another word to Volt since.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HnRsOsv7P
“Fate is not kind. Have you boys ever killed before?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl4G87UC5o
Volt’s eyes widened in surprise. “No,” he said simply. He swallowed and hardened his expression. He couldn’t let himself be thrown off by this topic. He was part of a war against humanity, he knew there would be death at some point.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbxnU81zqA
“I need one of you for an essential task. I have trained my soldier to fight against those with supernatural abilities, but this opponent seems outs of reach for even the best of us.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjY6tfNlBJ
“I’ll go,” Volt answered, without hesitation. If going himself meant Abyss would stay here, if he could know for certain that Abyss would be safe, he would do anything, even kill himself.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTykT3XUSNB
The commander just nodded. “I heard of yesterday’s incidents; you and your brother went to the bottom floor and were attacked.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUpReCX5dT
“That’s right.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosFRblppkx
“You released one of the most dangerous threats this world has ever faced. If we don’t end this now, there will be no one left to save. Achlys. I made a mistake in locking her away instead of.... executing a threat. I’m relying on you to fix my mistake.” Volt could tell this topic was difficult for Commander H.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o10BYVgh5
“Yes, sir. Where do I go? What do I need to know?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0e6ery76T
With that, the commander led Volt away, leaving Abyss behind.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIWDtWKGWF
* * *
“This is difficult for me to ask,” the commander explained in the confines of his office.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrUfZaDZpY
Volt stood stiff, arms pinned to his sides as he looked straight ahead. His first mission.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrlvKhsVBi
The commander told Volt all about Achlys’ abilities to create chemicals and gasses on a whim. Volt learned about the tell in her hair. If it glowed, she was using this ability. However, he also warned of a threat that even the commander didn’t know much about. He only knew about the potentials of this second ability.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtn1SO23DDj
Umbrakinesis.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pe7dMFS1m
The manipulation of shadows and abilities that can be used in darkness.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxjwbM8n6x
He said she could have teleportation, gain temporary physical transparency, the ability to summon creatures of darkness, summon weapons from the shadows, enhanced strength and agility, regeneration, and a variety of other potential abilities. 26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUVG5h8gkx
The truth was, there was no way to know for certain what she would be able to do with this power.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjV2ML9jbsF
Volt never considered the possibility of multiple powers before now. Did she have multiple cartridges in her heart? It didn’t seem possible. One was already a dangerous procedure. Or was she one of these “Inhuman” threats that PISTOL swore against? Whichever one, she was the target, and one Volt would have to take down in a controlled environment.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HgQioXp90
* * *
Before Volt left, he wrote a note for Abyss and left it on his brother’s pillow. He couldn’t explain much. The mission was top-secret. Not even Alexandra knew according to H. Still, he explained that he would be back in a few weeks after he did an important job for the commander and explained that they wouldn’t give him time to say goodbye in person.
* * *
The first few nights were detective work. Volt got a lead on a power outage at a Samsung tech store a couple towns over. During this time, only a holo-watch was stolen.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPMfqzB1H1
A similar lead took him to a well-known fast-food chain restaurant.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCO3TNoVCm
It was strange. The restaurant was closer to PISTOL HQ than the tech store, but the incident at the restaurant happened after the store. That’s when Volt realized she was might be going back to HQ.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq9Ax539eB
Commander H told Volt to trust his instincts and be cautious. She was dangerous and could try anything. Volt knew he had to be on edge. It was near midnight the next day by the time he arrived back at HQ, but he didn’t make his presence known to anyone.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6s2DMRv7L
Three more restaurant blackouts occurred in the area.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNZpepnRWo
“Must be hard to find a job for lunch money after escaping an underground rebel prison,” Volt muttered. He paused a moment. He tried to think of a better way to word that but gave up as he heard movement.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AIeRMS4uF
He slowly but quickly followed it and found a dark mass clinging to the exterior of the base before climbing into a window.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A76vmnryA
Alarms sounded in the back of Volt’s mind.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXPrQRHWQO
She re-entered the base.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8p8BmKxqo
He began to panic and try to think of ways to get up to that level quickly, but he came up blank.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5PL1Z5T8H
That’s when he heard thunder in the distance as a drizzle came down. He saw a flash of lightning and got an idea. He concentrated his energy in the feet causing multiple blasts of electricity to launch him up. As he began to fall, he created another blast. It sounded like a terrible storm.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNs4nltT62
The shockwaves propelled Volt upwards, but his legs were in agony near the end. He barely caught himself on the windowsill and pulled himself up with only his fingertips. He looked inside and saw Achlys leave a note by the bottom bunk. The top bunk of this room was empty.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksS3wRgoeS
Volt’s eyes widened when he realized this was his room, and she was leaving a note for Abyss.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5ih7kI2Wa
Suddenly, Volt’s hands slipped. From this height, a normal person would have died, but using multiple blasts from his hands, Volt was able to slow his ascent to minimize damage when he collided with the ground.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHyRF7HGlk
The wind was knocked out of Volt, and he could tell multiple ribs were broken, but somehow, he survived the damage he sustained.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEjvT0za02
That’s when he saw the figure fly out of the window at high speeds. Volt forced himself up as soon as possible to follow at light speed as his legs screamed at him to stop.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrnwgz7jzt
* * *
Three days later, he finally caught up with her.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3OZl3uBLF
It was broad daylight as she wandered the streets outside Queen Ember’s castle. She seemed to be examining the layout, exterior, and guard posts. She was planning something, but she would never be able to pull it off.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mnDhJDUmL
Volt thought about the fear that gripped his heart when Abyss went missing in that place. At the time, he had no idea if his brother was alive. He didn’t know how he let Abyss get taken. But now he did know. Based on what Abyss said, based on everything H told him, Volt knew that if this woman was alive, Abyss was in danger.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezIdYiTgW0
He pictured her standing over Abyss in his sleep, the dark, deadly form. He remembered how everything could have gone wrong that night if she spotted Volt.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk58Xsi0p0l
This woman was dangerous, and Volt was the only one who could stop her.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vmn4hmCkp
Volt charged a direct blast. A lightning spear should do the job. Volt smiled. After this, he could rest easy.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUeV0pm7Z8
But she heard the high-pitched scream of electricity and spun around to face him. Her hair glowed green, and Volt knew to hold his breath, but without a constant flow of breath, his own electricity blew up in his face, knocking him back several paces. Everything went black.
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