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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITE1X3Iy4U
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFguXqroW8
What are they doing down here?34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNTDmlZp1f
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu1Zu2xK1f
“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?!” 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Hbs22QmSl
No response this time. I hope he’s okay...34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCage7ee9m6
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L4pzEMFl8
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!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIk8infVNLT
Abyss shook himself and looked up at Volt. “Huh?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y0YFbF2Mi
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?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdWuqwj6yV
“Before or after the second wave?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ7dFDJNHY
“Second wave of what?” Volt asked, feeling flustered.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCkbEFMky5
“That girl... she had some sort of toxic power...”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbOWbU88DF
“What girl? Alexandra? Sol, this isn’t funny,” Volt said, fuming. “Your brain didn’t get scrambled, right? Why aren’t you making sense.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNdiePt5H4
“No, someone else entirely. She’s the one who knocked you out.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8mvaLSOvh
“What? She... okay? Did she try and abduct you or something?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYe4Wv4lwA
“I mean, she kind of did?” Abyss answered.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliS13B1TEw
Volt groaned, “helpful. Look, I think we need to make an agreement. No more separating. I’m lucky I found you.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2yz1gf6aQ
“I agree,” Abyss pressed. “Seriously. It’s not like I could do much to prevent it.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkg9w9aZHG
Volt sighed. “Fine. Fine. But don’t you see? This is what happens when you go off looking for danger.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jl8WG4mw7
“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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0P7hnNsJeT
“Regardless, it could have been a lot worse,” Volt lectured.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsIXVSciuq
“I know that! Believe me, I do! You don’t even know the half of it.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnoW98A1rS
Volt felt his breath catch in shock. “What? What’s that supposed to mean?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrjQMDuLOa
Abyss didn’t respond.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wbukvnpdJ
Volt shook his brother, “Abyss, talk to me! Come on, man, you’re scaring me!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gdbyFRTyO
“Sorry! Sorry! Is that what you want?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qBhoJcEMv
Volt clenched his teeth. “I want to know what’s going on with you lately,” Volt growled.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BbkrgH17y
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NKYdXZ1az
He didn’t want to admit to himself that Abyss had been growing more detached and distant.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBA5NfncIm
Volt was starting to worry that they were growing apart.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunQmYGxRfc
“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...”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkWvh6uYGV
No response.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFrkNwuEgt
Neither brother expected this would be their last chance to talk to each other.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEMPFVwYrV
* * *
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NfKvJlKdD
“Advancements have been made concerning the fate of the world, and it comes with troubling news. I hope you both are ready.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YFDVXmZ0D
“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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Cq6DjVOTm
“Fate is not kind. Have you boys ever killed before?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2d74mxWOF
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWN4TuymAv
“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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wDU35xbKF
“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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUZIJnXMiv
The commander just nodded. “I heard of yesterday’s incidents; you and your brother went to the bottom floor and were attacked.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl7OYICQMf
“That’s right.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2naGb3HHE
“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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkskrHvFZm
“Yes, sir. Where do I go? What do I need to know?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllOXusuPuK
With that, the commander led Volt away, leaving Abyss behind.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZljwlYIgZ
* * *
“This is difficult for me to ask,” the commander explained in the confines of his office.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYaBc5J670
Volt stood stiff, arms pinned to his sides as he looked straight ahead. His first mission.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexVugwIfQx
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEXiVH6PJu
Umbrakinesis.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLpIQcoyHw
The manipulation of shadows and abilities that can be used in darkness.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEudlH2y1rf
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. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3hL4EOa6b
The truth was, there was no way to know for certain what she would be able to do with this power.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU08FAuoMm7
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRqfywBs5I
* * *
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWZlzQOeyi
A similar lead took him to a well-known fast-food chain restaurant.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaESZEbQ7o
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhcEkvejVe
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMATiemmfDS
Three more restaurant blackouts occurred in the area.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVOKJQJHOI
“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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMmiYMvoRa
He slowly but quickly followed it and found a dark mass clinging to the exterior of the base before climbing into a window.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkD4Pn3YWb
Alarms sounded in the back of Volt’s mind.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7z5iWZLfN
She re-entered the base.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZMZGzLW00
He began to panic and try to think of ways to get up to that level quickly, but he came up blank.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wNhfixmxz
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G7khqYlmG
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHfL16Q1zj
Volt’s eyes widened when he realized this was his room, and she was leaving a note for Abyss.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGYmh3TLKo
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyiaLEkfKq
The wind was knocked out of Volt, and he could tell multiple ribs were broken, but somehow, he survived the damage he sustained.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sUB51IVcr
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaSMLcnk2J
* * *
Three days later, he finally caught up with her.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07axEfvNCv
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUhL9WjFuA
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QEUEjlpjz
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72rfNiIQrP
This woman was dangerous, and Volt was the only one who could stop her.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPsOazkX38
Volt charged a direct blast. A lightning spear should do the job. Volt smiled. After this, he could rest easy.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKndOjfWbO
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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