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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jZ1XzkH00
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLRLvjl4iE
What are they doing down here?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNX3bj0E1XD
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jIs5YGth8
“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?!” 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2YqvUm42M
No response this time. I hope he’s okay...23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhb2RdGJG8A
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhke0lWDD6
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!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jntgr6ZIs
Abyss shook himself and looked up at Volt. “Huh?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6nUehTpsy
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?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdVFX7iVB1
“Before or after the second wave?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwvPmsXMZZ
“Second wave of what?” Volt asked, feeling flustered.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bdaIpKHG0
“That girl... she had some sort of toxic power...”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsFCOVSYY4
“What girl? Alexandra? Sol, this isn’t funny,” Volt said, fuming. “Your brain didn’t get scrambled, right? Why aren’t you making sense.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sJBwvJg3O
“No, someone else entirely. She’s the one who knocked you out.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq0cp0x1mw
“What? She... okay? Did she try and abduct you or something?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdNnIGkmr6
“I mean, she kind of did?” Abyss answered.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOD5hBuazPQ
Volt groaned, “helpful. Look, I think we need to make an agreement. No more separating. I’m lucky I found you.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP5kRFsCZr
“I agree,” Abyss pressed. “Seriously. It’s not like I could do much to prevent it.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VClBrmCW6
Volt sighed. “Fine. Fine. But don’t you see? This is what happens when you go off looking for danger.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzmNvvC56l
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKu0pQgtv5
“Regardless, it could have been a lot worse,” Volt lectured.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrUE9WHDTZ
“I know that! Believe me, I do! You don’t even know the half of it.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPuzb4RpAX
Volt felt his breath catch in shock. “What? What’s that supposed to mean?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQyZGBSV6g
Abyss didn’t respond.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpC3GMqhCwa
Volt shook his brother, “Abyss, talk to me! Come on, man, you’re scaring me!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WsfLen9dL
“Sorry! Sorry! Is that what you want?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTBtcXh0TW
Volt clenched his teeth. “I want to know what’s going on with you lately,” Volt growled.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspL31agQVG
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEK9yxAF3t
He didn’t want to admit to himself that Abyss had been growing more detached and distant.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9P9KXM39a
Volt was starting to worry that they were growing apart.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2nRxTo4Fp
“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...”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFOaRxe7tL
No response.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUhDaQTjmF
Neither brother expected this would be their last chance to talk to each other.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkszN3kg58g
* * *
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOS737JgQyX
“Advancements have been made concerning the fate of the world, and it comes with troubling news. I hope you both are ready.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx9DVI7oNd
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdAH984o3m
“Fate is not kind. Have you boys ever killed before?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQh4nGcB54
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTmYnNHEKC
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcq9h01MPV
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEOyBpSOzU
The commander just nodded. “I heard of yesterday’s incidents; you and your brother went to the bottom floor and were attacked.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvVQba6XQh
“That’s right.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcN4ktjXmsG
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40yEMdj6Tm
“Yes, sir. Where do I go? What do I need to know?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcQcDmFXoQ
With that, the commander led Volt away, leaving Abyss behind.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx19Kb8MByM
* * *
“This is difficult for me to ask,” the commander explained in the confines of his office.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK3tC4UZfq
Volt stood stiff, arms pinned to his sides as he looked straight ahead. His first mission.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN1bUJTF3c
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzYwfk3eff
Umbrakinesis.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZYbyC0gB2
The manipulation of shadows and abilities that can be used in darkness.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaDxIBok7a
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. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaiPfk73F1
The truth was, there was no way to know for certain what she would be able to do with this power.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdND1x2967
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1rs0T3BP3
* * *
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2LksBof9L
A similar lead took him to a well-known fast-food chain restaurant.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRQpa28tix
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39RoGoXXyV
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoEL3M7J98
Three more restaurant blackouts occurred in the area.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPiblfPBMy
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPAypY6swc
He slowly but quickly followed it and found a dark mass clinging to the exterior of the base before climbing into a window.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEs9oVfySX
Alarms sounded in the back of Volt’s mind.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJdo8fOtmC
She re-entered the base.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzbxBc1RQc
He began to panic and try to think of ways to get up to that level quickly, but he came up blank.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLUfZ9Lpl8
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURNfQ6y27v
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu22eLhW8uS
Volt’s eyes widened when he realized this was his room, and she was leaving a note for Abyss.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPhQaYglhg
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExjTgvYOam
The wind was knocked out of Volt, and he could tell multiple ribs were broken, but somehow, he survived the damage he sustained.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWumJcWWjyc
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGqSTf8dJY
* * *
Three days later, he finally caught up with her.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUZ7AcjBYn
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgSYpImHH9
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQGXB41ZFe
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm64XQOT7T
This woman was dangerous, and Volt was the only one who could stop her.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXwHsEnCDv
Volt charged a direct blast. A lightning spear should do the job. Volt smiled. After this, he could rest easy.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZud5VQ0UC
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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