Undying Rage

Terra had her armor on. She knocked on Millie's apartment door. Kris opened the door.

Kris: Uh...Millie. Y-your friend is here.

Terra walked in.

Terra: I wouldn't want to stand out there for too long. How are you Kris?

Kris: Eh, I'm alright.

Millie: Terra. You missed Halloween.

Terra: I could say the same. I've seen the new suit.

Millie: Admit it. It's awesome!

Terra: Well, what do you think?

Millie: Looks stellar. How long did it take you to make?

Terra: Who knows. It was a long time. Probably nine months. Minus the gauntlets.

Millie: Can't wait to see you kick ass with it.

Terra: Yeah, it looks pretty. But I don't have any Artemis-related powers.

Millie: You don't need Olympians! Their assholes!

Terra: Tell me about it. I met one up close.

Millie: Are you going to help with the metas and mutants?

Terra: Of course! That's why I made this.

Millie: Good. Because I've been busting my balls recently. There was nearly a prison break last week! I think they're starting to form gangs.

Terra: Maybe they did deserve to be in those camps…

Millie: I wouldn't go that far. For every crime I see, I see a happy reunited family. The school Kris goes to, a meta school is booming. And there's tons of new kids. That means tons of reunited family members. You're kinda a dumbass for not expecting the blowback.

Terra: I've heard that hundreds of times at this point. I am a little bit of a dumbass. But now I'm fully prepared to keep the peace. Or, make peace to keep.

Millie: Well, before you do that. Do you wanna say hi to Amelia?

Terra: Uh, sure. Is she...safe to see?

Someone walked through the door, holding a soda in her hand.

Terra: What the...Amelia?

Amelia: Sup.

Millie: She's moving in with me for a little while. Until I can find a new place.

Terra: You're moving? Didn't we literally just talk yesterday?

Millie: I needed to find a good time to tell you about this. I'm still going to be in the city. We're just getting a bigger place. Thanks to B.L.A.D.E.

Terra: Really? That's awesome!

Amelia: Yeah. I'm starting to get tired of staying in these same apartments.

Terra: How are you Amelia?

Amelia took a sip of her drink.

Amelia: I'm feeling better, well. Better than the last time you saw me. No more therapy, no more time travel, no more Olympian fire gods. Just me and Millie.

Terra: How fast can you go?

Amelia: I slowed down.

Millie: Didn't you just go for a run?

Amelia: Yeah. Top speed was mach 5

Terra let out a sigh of relief.

Amelia: What? Do you seriously think I'm going to go running into oblivion again?!

Terra: That's not what I was-

Amelia: The past is the past.

Terra: Then what about that necklace? The one you left at Donny's grave.

Amelia: ...What about it?

Terra: If the past is that past. That necklace would be around your neck.

Amelia: Do you think I'm that philosophical? I don't need sentimental objects.

Millie: What is this then?

Millie pointed out a necklace around her neck. It was a half of a handcuff. Millie showed Terra Amelia's matching necklace.

Terra: Seriously Millie? A pair of handcuffs?

Amelia blushed.

Amelia: Their friend handcuffs!

Kris butted in.

Kris: Surrre.

Terra: Well. Like we discussed Millie. I'm going to see what I can do about the meta problem.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Terra called Simon.

Simon: Hey Terra!

Terra: Do you think you have any jobs for me?

Simon: I think I have one you'll like. It's fifteen hundred if you complete it.

Terra: Really? What is it?

Simon: There is one of Integer's old soldiers going rouge. Her name is Four. Or, that's what I have on her. She was protecting metas and mutants.

Terra: Metas and mutants that were committing a crime or something?

Simon: Yeah. Take her out. I figured you'd like this one.

Terra: Right. Send me the place you last saw her.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Terra was taking a cab to a beach. That was where Four was last seen. Odd. Terra got dropped off. She got into a porta-potty and took her duffle bag with her. She got on her armor and walked onto the beach. It was closed. She went to walk in. But thought about Sae and Kai's strategies. She got into the tall grass next to her, and sure enough. She saw Four, just laying there in the sand on a beach chair.

Four: Come out.

Terra stayed quiet.

Four: I said come out Artemis!

Terra stood up, and walked through the grass. Four got up off her beach chair. She was wearing a beach gown over her bathing suit. Which was a one piece.

Four: Don't hide from me. Who sent you? Or did you come yourself to put me out of my misery?

Terra: I get it, your mad about Integer. But move on. You're free.

Four: What if I didn't want to be free?! I loved it there! It was MY HOME! Who are you to decide if I'm free or not?!

Terra: I...Listen. I didn-

Four: Die.

Terra got smacked over the head by one of Four's wings. Which this time around were smaller and more compact. She dodged the second one. They combined into one and mounted on a device on Four's back. She flew into the air.

Four: I'm happy you came. I figured someone else would kill you. Or you'd be pinned for the terrorist you are. But I had no idea I'd be the one to do the deed. My last wings were obsolete. So much so that I lost to your little magic friend.

One wing lit on fire, and the other was covered in a case of ice.

Four: I get you. You helped millions. Look at you, you made a name for yourself. It probably rips you apart; you aren't a hometown hero. If anything you're still a terrorist. Moving undercover, to take me down. I've done nothing.

Terra: I was told you protected groups of meta gangs.

Four stopped rising above Terra. She started laughing.

Four: You really believe that?! Hahaha! Your stupider than I expected. Don't believe everything you're told. I bet it feels good though, I'm the bad guy. To me, you destroyed my family.

Four put her hands together and fired off an energy blast. Terra's first instinct was to dodge. But she decided to push her luck. She shot an energy blast and blasted through Four's aforementioned blast. She spun around and kicked Four in the head. She fell back. She flew higher, so she was out of the way of Terra. She shot a fire blast, Terra let it hit her. She felt the burn. But her body lit up with a red aura. The same color as her armor.

Terra: Watch this, Amala.

Terra jumped up at Four. Four shot an ice blast. Terra punched it apart. She shortened her spear. And blitzed past Four. She cut off one of her wings. Four was shocked. She had her ice wing cut off. She grabbed it as it fell, and it was still lit up. She hit Terra to the ground with the wing. Terra fell backwards into the sand. Four landed on top of her, with her feet on her stomach and the other and her face. She went to stab the wing through Terra. She bent up and let four hit her chestplate. She threw four off of her and sliced her across the stomach with her spear.

Four: I get a million people, but there were a thousand of us. I don't think all of us wanted to be saved. You collapsed a part of the government. None of it's pretty. I promise you.

Terra: It was an unjust part! I've heard it a million times! "You're an utter dumbass Terra! You collapsed the government and weren't ready for the blowback!" I was stupid. And the blowback didn't knock me down. I'll put the metas and mutants where they need to be. And I'll put humans where they need to be too. And I'll get all the help I can get. If any self righteous asshole like Integer gets in my way, I'll smash them too.

Four: Doesn't that make you a self righteous asshole?

Terra: I want justice. Not money, not fame. I want a world where a meta can shake a human's hand and smile in their face.

Four: I highly doubt that. Power corrupts.

Terra: Let's see if I get corrupted or not.

Terra flipped out her spear, and got into a fighting stance. Four's wing powered up. She flew at Terra. Terra swung her spear up. Four started flying faster and faster, all around Terra. Terra had lost the spark of power she had gotten from the fire previously. Four came around to hit Terra. Terra ducked under her hit and stabbed her spear behind herself. Right through Four's stomach. She started bleeding, and fell on the ground.

Terra: You'll live.

Terra took her blade out of Four. Four grabbed Terra's blade with her hand.

Four: If I can't beat you here, then why should I continue on living?

Terra: You can turn this streak of violence into something better. You're talented, you just used it in a misguided way.

Four: If you're so noble, show me real mercy. Kill me here and now.

Terra: What? No. You don't deserve to die.

Four: What if I want to die? Do you know how painful it will be to heal from this wound? I predict thousands of scars, hell. They'll probably kill me there.

Terra: I'm not killing you, this is some kind of trick.

Four: End my suffering! END IT!

Terra couldn't do it. She shortened her spear and strapped it to her side. She turned around and walked away. While Four screamed at her.

Four: THIS IS HOW NOBLE YOU ARE?! You loved killing Beck! But me, no! I'm worthy of killing! End my life! KILL ME!

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Amelia and Millie were laying down on their stomachs. They were playing cards along with Kris. They were eating snacks while they played.

Amelia: We should do this more, a night where we're completely disconnected from technology. I never realized how much I miss.

Millie: There could be people out there, in trouble.

Amelia: Come on! Be Millie for a night! There's so many people out there protecting it still. The Crimson Dragon guy, and Terra can have it for the night.

Kris: She's right. I was stuck here like a month last year. We haven't spent enough time together. I've had to hangout with this one.

Amelia: Hey, what's wrong with me?

Kris: Moody. Not a normal girl moody. You're just moody.

Amelia: I'm not moody!

Millie: I can vouch for him. You are pretty moody.

Amelia: Well shit, guess I'll just up and leave then.

Millie: Don't be-

Amelia: Sike! Ace of spades! I win!

Millie: You bastard!

Kris: Millie? Remember the bet?

Millie: Ugh...Yep.

Amelia: If I win, I get to take Kris around the block! Don't worry, I'll go slow.

Amelia scooped up Kris and fired out the door. Leaving a streak on the rug, it almost looked like fire. She was back in a minute. Kris's hair was forced back from the wind. He was in shock and laughing from the speed.

Kris: Holy shit! I wish I had your power!

Amelia: Hah, right.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kris had gone to sleep. Amelia and Millie were doing shots on the balcony of the apartment.

Amelia: I bet Terra's under lots of pressure. You did say she was working with B.L.A.D.E right?

Millie: She does yeah, but didn't join. I think she's still hurt from the Chaste.

Amelia: Well, I hope she makes it through this shit alright. I totally caused a bunch of excess stress.

Millie: For all of us.

Amelia: You know I'm sorry about that right? I just see red…

Millie: It was the way you brutalized them. You blew through Raphael like paper. It was scary. I don't want to see you like that again.

Amelia: I don't want to hurt anyone anymore. I don't even want this power anymore.

Millie: I don't know if it works like that.

Amelia: I don't want to be mad anymore, about anything, about Donny. I said I moved on. I can't. He's my brother!

Millie put her hand on Amelia's cheek, and brushed her tears away. They both got close to each other. Foreheads touching. They both inched closer. But Millie embraced Amelia. They were both blushing.

Millie: I'm not going to leave you. You're never going to have to suffer by yourself again, I promise.