TO MEET ONE'S MAKER, pt.2

(I need to move. Move! MOVE DAMMIT!!!)

The shadow of Rivra's ten-foot-tall frame engulfed Milo.

She cocked her hand back and aimed directly at Milo's head. Tereine and Albany shouted from the sidelines, but she ignored them.

Lucianna wheeled on her heel. Hey eyes bulged.

"Milo!"

She threw up her hand, a blast of energy surging forth.

But it was much too slow for Rivra. The energy had only made it halfway to them when Rivra's fist sprung forward, only inches from Milo's face. A green eclipse that would soon fade to black. Milo closed his eyes.

(This can't end like this.)

(But what can I do? I'm just a weak human.)

He could almost taste the chalk from Rivra's fist as it sliced through the space between them. He had a mere fraction of a second before Rivra punched his head clean off.

(DUCK, MILO!)

(Lucianna?)

As if possessed, his body ducked straight down.

Rivra's brow knitted together.

"Oh? You dodged?" she said.

As her fist completed its trajectory, a massive current of wind whipped at Milo, throwing him back several feet. He tucked into a ball and rolled as best he could until sprawling onto his hands and knees. His stomach rolled over. (Did I just survive her punch? How?)

Rivra quickly closed the gap between them again, her thick legs posted on either side of him. The energy bolt Lucianna had thrown smashed into a wall, creating a dent the size of a stop sign.

Lucianna dashed toward them. "Fight me, Rivra!"

One of Rivra's gargantuan hands wrapped around the back of Milo's neck, and she lifted him up like some defenseless kitten. Her breath warmed his neck, the remnants of roasted chicken causing his stomach to churn.

"Your luck's run out," she said.

She tossed him up in the air. He flipped over and over, like a human-sized coin. He clapped both hands over his mouth. (I'm totally gonna puke!)

"Die!" Rivra shouted.

A snake coiling to strike, her fist cocked back.

Lucianna halted. She threw her hand up and aimed it at Milo. A light pink aura enveloped him as he plummeted.

Rivra's hand struck out and hit its mark, striking Milo squarely in his face and chest. The impact made crumpled Milo. His body shot backward like a rubber band. He soared through the air and crashed into something solid. Something beneath him cracked as it absorbed his weight. A clanging sound filled his ears.

Rivra grunted. "You sure are persistent."

Milo opened his eyes. His eyes darted around the room. He'd landed all the way on the opposite side. His entire body throbbed and ached, as if he'd just ran a marathon. Mucus and bile coated his throat as he tried to keep from puking.

"Huh, you're…not as heavy as I thought."

The voice had come from beneath him, and so Milo scrambled up and turned. Lucianna grinned at him. Her arm had been smashed up to the elbow, a slew of bolts and screws scattered over the floor.

"Lucianna!" Milo grabbed at her arm, slicking his hands with grease. Sparks stung him as he swallowed back more bile. "What did you do?!"

"You were about to be splattered," she said. Grimacing, she rose to her knees. Her eyes glowed violet as she glared at Rivra. "Pick on someone who can actually fight!"

Rivra crossed her arms, her massive breasts pushing up. "Then bring me someone who can fight. Last time I checked, you can't use your power without your arms." Her lips peeled back, a fine mist spraying from her mouth. "Just let me kill that worm and we can move on!"

She struck a pose, forming a claw with her right hand. Lucianna's eyes widened.

"Milo, grab onto me!"

He didn't understand, but quickly wrapped his arms around Lucianna.

"Get away from her, runt!"

She thrusted her hand out. The air vibrated with Rivra's tremendous force, and a gust of wind sliced through the room. It slammed into Lucianna and Milo, lifting them from the ground, and sending their bodies skidding and rolling until they both slammed into the far wall. Lucianna cried out, having absorbed both the gust and the impact.

"Lucianna!" Milo said. "Are you okay?"

Tereine pointed at Rivra. "Hey, don't you think that's enough? You proved your point, didn't you?"

Rivra snarled. She stabbed a finger at Milo's awestruck face. "No. Not until this waste of breath is dead!"

Lucianna gritted her teeth. "What do you have against Milo? He's done nothing to deserve this!"

"What do you see in him?" She strode toward them, each step an earthquake that rattled the weight machines and Milo's bones. "There's nothing special about this guy except being the son of a traitorous bastard! Yet you throw yourself at him! You praise him as some saint! He's not even good enough to be my dinner!"

Albany clutched her chest. "Oh, no. This isn't good."

Tereine cocked a brow. "What?"

"Don't you know? Scrapsters are one of the few species left in the universe that openly practice cannibalism. That's why Faith sent us!"

Tereine's eyes widened, and she whipped back toward Rivra. "H-hey, Rivra! Milo's not on the menu! Back off!"

"Stay out of this!"

With a swift motion, Rivra swung her arm through the air. A blade of wind hurled toward Tereine and Albany.

Lucianna raised her broken arm, her eyes shining neon.

An enormous wall of pink energy erected itself in front of the girl. The wind slammed into the barrier and dissipated with a ghostly howl.

Rivra wrapped one of her hands around Milo's waist and yanked him off Lucianna. She pulled him up to her eye-level. Her grip made his whole body ache. He didn't even have the energy to struggle or kick.

"The weak feed the strong! And I am the strongest! You…"

She licked her lips, a trail of drool glistening on her lips.

"You are weaker than the weakest!"

Her maw opened slowly, strands of drool forming like cobwebs in her mouth. Steaming hot breath washed over his face. Rivra's long, thick tongue twitched and flicked. The black green of her throat opened and closed, as if winking at him. His ears rang as Rivra's mouth opened impossibly wide. Wide enough to accommodate his head.

"Rivra, stop!"

Lucianna struggled to her feet, stumbling until she tripped into Rivra's leg.

"You don't want to do this! This isn't you!"

Rivra's mouth closed, and she turned her head toward Lucianna. "Learn, Lucianna. You try to do everything yourself, never relying on any of us unless you absolutely have to." She shook her head. "And now it's going to lead to this worm's slow and painful digestion. His blood is on your hands."

She unhinged her jaw and shoved Milo head-first into her hungry jaw. Saliva coated his face and neck as her tongue caressed his face.

(N-no way! She's actually going to eat me?!)

Rivra's teeth slowly sank into his neck. His breathing grew ragged. He closed his eyes.

(This is really how I die, then? As food?)

Lucianna grabbed Milo's right hand.

"Stop! Milo!"

"I need you to prove to Rivra, no…I need you to prove to yourself that you're not worthless! I know you're not!"

"So don't give up! Please!"

"I need you!"

(When was the last time I'd heard those words?)

(I can't even remember.)

(No one's ever said they needed me before.)

(Least of all someone who seems to care as much as Lucianna does…)

"Is that true?"

Milo opened his eyes. Before him stood the bedroom, the one he'd first seen when he combined with Lucianna. He grabbed at his throat, but there was no sign of teeth marks. He hadn't been eaten. Yet.

Something blue weighed on his left shoulder.

"Is it true…that no one's ever said they needed you? Not one person?"

Milo blinked slowly at Lucianna. A wet sheen covered her eyes as she stared off into the distance. Her cheeks had the ruddiness of apples. That comforting scent of apple and cinnamon washed over Milo like the waves of a lakeside beach. Her warmth radiated through him and slowly his heart rate returned to resting.

"Yeah. It's…just like Rivra said. I'm pretty worthless. No one's ever needed or wanted me. I should just let her eat me."

Lucianna pulled away and looked him in the eyes. Tears slid down her cheeks.

"Don't talk like that. Ever." Her gaze fell. "I know I'm selfish. But I just want to make everyone happy. I want everything to go back to how they used to be." She shook her head. "If anyone's worthless, it's me. I can't even keep you safe. What good am I?"

"You might be a little selfish. But aren't we all?" Milo chuckled.

"Hey, not funny! You're not supposed to agree!"

Lucianna pouted as he folded his hands together.

"Alone, we're not much. But together…we can be something more?"

She looked at him again. Her lower lip trembled. "Do you really want to be stuck with someone like me? All I do is put everyone around me in danger. That's not someone to hang around."

Milo placed a hand on each of her shoulders. He gulped. "You're not perfect. But neither am I. We've both made some horrible mistakes."

"But I want to be with you."

"Let me be your right hand."

The room groaned and rumbled. They looked around. Lucianna pointed at the wall to their left.

A window had appeared, and outside the room there was a vast darkness. Twinkling particles floated through the murky ink like stars in space. Lucianna gasped.

"Is that…?"

Out in the darkness, there was a giant, naked man floating through space. He had medium-length brown hair. His eyes were closed as he drifted along. Milo gulped.

"That looks like me. Hold on, look up there!"

On the right side of the giant man's head, a square-shaped window had opened up just above the ear. A warm yellow light glowed from within.

"What is going on right now? Why am I out there? But in here, too?"

"How should I know? H-hey! Your wrist!"

The diamond glowed brightly, and the tattoos on Milo's arm slithered along his skin. Something welled up within Milo, and as he turned toward Lucianna, he smiled.

"I think it's time we unite, and show Rivra just how worthless we are. But first…"

Milo wiped away her tears, and she shivered.

"Oh, I didn't hurt you, did I?"

She shook her head. "No. It…your touch felt nice."

She turned her right shoulder toward him. "Now…let's get back at Rivra."

He raised his right hand and gripped her shoulder.

Out in space, the giant man's eyes opened, a kaleidoscope of color and light flooding the infinite darkness.

(THROUGH UNITY, MANY ARE STRONGER THAN ONE.)

The light erupted, blinding Milo and Lucianna. Warmth settled in Milo's body, and he recognized the hugging pressure from before. Tighter and tighter, but not painful. Until he settled, and the flashing lights faded.

He opened his eyes and stared down into the dark abyss of Rivra's throat.

"W-what?! Was that all a dream?"

"Not quite, darling~!"

A flash of pink light and a roar shook Milo to his core. He flew backwards out of the mouth, strings of saliva snapping off, and landed with a smooth stop several feet back. Cries of awe erupted from Tereine and Albany.

"T-that?!" Tereine shouted. "Is that what you were talking about, Captain?"

Lucianna clenched her fist. The white armor glinted in the training room's lights. An overwhelming aura poured out from the Pirate Queen. She barked a laugh.

"This feeling…oh how I've missed it!" She opened her palm and smiled at Milo's face, now imprinted on her palm. "You did it!"

Milo frowned. "Let's not get too excited."

Rivra snarled, phlegm and blood spraying from her mouth. She punched the floor, burying her fist about halfway.

"You've got to be kidding me! Where did this come from? This power! And where is that coward?! Did he finally run away?"

"No," Lucianna said. "He's right here, as my right hand!"

She pointed a finger to the sky, and a single pin point of purple light formed on the fingertip. Assuming a wide stance, Lucianna aimed her index finger at Rivra's gut.

"You lose, Rivra!"

She closed her thumb down on her index finger, and a beam of light whizzed through the air, striking Rivra square in the gut. An explosion of purplish pink light hurled Rivra straight back. Her body didn't stop until she slammed into the wall, the entire room shaking from the impact.

Rivra's head slumped over, her body embedded in the wall.

Albany and Tereine cheered. "You did it, Captain! You beat Rivra!"

"No," she said, and held up her palm, revealing Milo's face. "We beat her!"

Albany and Tereine shrieked. "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"

Lucianna laughed and looked into Milo's eyes. Her smile grew wide. "You continue to amaze me, darling~!"

"That's my line! You laid her out so quickly!"

"That is quite enough."

A large screen lowered from the ceiling. On the screen appeared a blown-up version of Faith's face. She wore a hint of a smile as she saw Rivra knocked unconscious. Her eyes drifted over to Lucianna and Milo.

"Well, then. Congratulations, Captain. To you as well, Milo. I look forward to seeing what makes you tick." Her eyes flicked to Tereine and Albany. "Could you two retrieve Rivra and bring her to the infirmary?"

Lucianna waved. "They don't have to! Milo and I can do it! Watch!"

As she raised her hand, Milo noticed something on the ground. Close to where Rivra had been standing, there was a damp cat suit and a pair of boots. These belonged to him.

"W-wait, Lucianna!"

There was a bright flash, and Milo thudded against the cold floor. Goosebumps rose on his bare skin as he scrambled to his feet.

(Hold on…is that a breeze? Down THERE?)

Albany shrieked and covered her face.

Tereine whistled, wagging her eyebrows.

Faith sighed. "I will need to make some adjustments to your suit. Albany, Tereine…please bring Rivra."

Milo threw his hands in front of his crotch. (This literally can't get any worse!)

Two warm, soft things push into his back. Lucianna wore the most cat-like grin Milo had ever seen.

"T-too close! You're too close!"

"Oh, come on, darling~! I've already seen it~"

"Y-you have?!" Albany shouted. Her eyes rolled back into her head, and she fainted.

"Captain! Quit flirting!"

Lucianna harrumphed. "Oh, fine! Can't a girl have some fun?"

She retrieved her cloak from the sidelines and handed it to Milo. After she did, she turned her back to Milo so he could put it on. "There's a button that'll change the length." Her cheeks were flushed. "Y-you can keep it until Faith can make you a new suit. Make sure to wash it! Don't want your man germs all over it! Oh, and don't do anything weird in it! Perv~"

"Captain!"

"Oh, I'm coming!"

Milo covered himself with the cloak. Pressing the button, it extended down to his ankles. The cinnamon perfume radiated off the cloak.

(It smells really nice…just like her…)

Lucianna struggled to help Tereine extract Rivra's body from the wall. Halfway through, she resorted to poking the unconscious Albany with her stub. "Hey, wake up! Give me a hand with this, will ya?"

Tereine groaned.

"That lousy punchline again?"

Milo stood straight and took a deep breath. Something had changed. He could feel it.

As he watched them struggle to remove Rivra from the wall, he smiled.

(Maybe things won't be so bad, after all.)