A Dance With Shadows

1 week of training later.

Terra was sitting alone in the apartment. She was successfully lifting both of her gauntlets at once. She brought them to her and equipped them. Amelia phased through the door to the apartment. Terra was startled by her.

Terra: What was that?

Amelia: New trick. Like it?

Terra: Where have you been?

Amelia: Do you remember Michael? He taught me this.

Terra: Awesome! Now we are both forces to be reckoned with.

Amelia: Anything going on today?

Terra: No. Why?

Amelia: I'm just wondering. Maybe we should go somewhere.

Terra: Uh, sure I guess.

Amelia: Why don't we meet up with Millie and Kris?

Terra: I don't see why not.

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

Kris: How have you been feeling Millie?

Millie: Eh, peachy. We are going to meet Terra and Amelia somewhere.

Kris: We should explore! It's so nice outside.

Amelia ran up in front of them. She was holding Terra. Terra jumped down.

Amelia: Hey guys.

Millie: Hey. So does anyone have any idea what we had planned?

Terra: Amelia told me nothing. Why don't we go walking or something?

Kris: Yeah.

Millie: Well it looks like we have two votes. And I don't feel like tying with you two. Lead the way Kris.

Kris led the way. Terra ran up next to Kris.

Terra: You actually like the atmosphere of outside?

Kris: Uh yeah of course. After my parents passed I've just felt extremely connected with nature.

Terra: I grew up all around nature. I literally lived in the woods.

Kris: When I get older I really want to move somewhere in the country. This city is so cramped. But I can't complain. Millie does her best.

Terra: It seems so. I've never talked to you, so how is Millie as a sister?

Kris: Are you interrogating me or something?

Terra: No! It's just a question. You don't have to answer if you don't wanna.

Kris: Oh no I can. Millie is an amazing sister. She is the reason I'm even alive. Even though I didn't really agree with her whole Repulse thing though.

Terra: Why?

Kris: It was just so dangerous. And I couldn't do anything about it.

Terra: When you saw her in my room and beat up it was probably a real startle.

Kris: I've seen worse honestly. I don't think she'll go back after her accident.

Terra: Oh yeah. I'm sorry you had to go through that.

Everyone looked ahead and saw the rubble of the black coat's base. The base was still open enough that they could walk in.

Kris: Should we go in there?

Everyone shook their heads no. So they walked forward along the docks.

Terra: Wait can we ride boats on there?

Amelia: Of course. We could take a ferry.

Terra: Cool…

Terra watched the ferries going down the hudson river. The sun glistened nicely off the river.

Millie: Why don't we just do it right now?

Terra: Really?

Millie took out some money.

Millie: This would be a pretty crappy hang out if we just walked.

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

The group were all around the ferry. They were the only one on the boat.

Kris: Isn't it weird that we are the only ones on this boat?

Millie: I guess we got lucky.

Terra was marveling at the view. The wind blowing off her face. Amelia sat down next to Millie and offered her a drink.

Amelia: Let the children play.

Millie: I don't see why not. Bottle opener?

Amelia took out a bottle opener and opened Millie's drink. Off the ship there was a group of three people watching it go.

???: Everyone got their man?

Terra looked over the ship. She saw the three people and she got a bad feeling. Three people jumped onto the ship.

Terra: Everyone get inside!

Everyone went down below deck. Where they waited.

Terra: Keep Kris and Millie safe.

Amelia: I'm not just watching. Guys, stay in here.

A prosthetic hand smashed through the window and opened the door. Terra looked up at him. He was wearing a big black sweatshirt. With one of his sleeves being tucked back, showing his prosthetic arm. He had his hood over a metal-looking baseball cap under pink hair. He had both a longsword and a shortsword tucked away. He wore baggy pants that were also black. There were two girls behind him. One having short hair, and a white dress shirt under a black leather jacket. She wore black jeans with a belt. The other woman had long brown hair and orange pants with a black crop-top of sorts. Leaving her midriff exposed. Terra counted down to 3 and grabbed the man and got him in a chokehold. He put his hand in front of Terra and blinded her. He kicked her backward.

???: Wow! You are even more impressive up close.

Terra: Who are you?

???: I'm Fleet. This is Mary.

Fleet pointed at the girl with orange pants and long brown hair.

Fleet: And this is Tess.

He gestured over to the girl with a leather jacket.

Fleet: You all scared my master out of here. Now I'm cleaning up. It is kind of dirty when you sneak up on me like that.

Mary: Are you done with your little spiel? I'm starting to get annoyed.

Fleet: Fine fine.

Mary put her hand on the ground. Amelia sped in and knocked Mary down.

Fleet: A speedster? I've never seen one up close.

Tess tapped on Fleet's shoulder and pointed to where Millie and Kris were.

Fleet: What? Do you want me to do something? Those guys are yours.

Fleet dodged out of the way of one of Terra's gauntlets. She ran up at him and tried to leg sweep him. He stepped out of the way and kneed Terra in the face. She was completely discombobulated. So much so that she dropped her gauntlet she fired at Fleet in the air. Fleet grabbed Terra by the neck with his prosthetic arm. He picked her up.

Fleet: Hm. Stunning.

He took his shortsword out. Kris used his telekinesis to grab Fleet's leg and flipped him on the ground. Terra was set free. She stepped on Fleet's back and jolted her foot back and forth and she heard a crack. Fleet put out his hand and blinded Terra again. He got up and tried to deck Terra. She brought up her arm and blocked it. Terra listened closely. Fleet threw a roundhouse kick high. She dodged under. She heard the click of his sword. He slashed at her. She lurched back but was cut right across the stomach. It was the longsword. She regained her sight and realized the cut wasn't deep but was a really good gash. She threw a side kick. He moved back and waited for her foot to plant on the ground. He slashed his sword down at her leg. Thanks to her armor she still had her leg. But she was bleeding. Fleet drew his second sword and stabbed forward. Terra pushed it down and did a ho0k kick and broke his sword. She followed this up with a superman punch.

Fleet: Tess! We need a double!

Tess pulled out a sound device and let out a loud ear piercing noise. Terra tried to endure. Until Fleet blinded her again. He stabbed his other sword through her. A purple streak came through and swiped up everyone. It was Mike. He ran everyone to Amala's house.

Amala: Hey, what the hell are you doing here?!

Mike: I understand you train her.

Mike stuck a syringe into Terra.

Mike: This will stop the pain.

Terra regained her consciousness and was startled by the stab wound.

Amala: Terra. We're having a quick lesson! You need to rest your hand over your wound. Put pressure down.

Terra was hesitant.

Amala: Do you want to die?

Terra took her hand and put it over the wound.

Amala: Like I said. Let Artemis flow through you. Calm yourself.

Terra tried to. But the pain leeched in.

Terra: I can't do it!

Amala: Fucking concentrate! On anything that eases you!

Terra closed her eyes and pushed down on her wound. Still nothing.

Mike: Everyone get out of the way!

Mike ran off and came back in a split second. He used his speed to read a whole book on how to sew an open wound and sewed her wound closed. Terra lost consciousness again.

Amala: You didn't have to do it! She needed to learn.

Mike: She wasn't ready! This is between life and death.

Kris: Why does this always happen?

Millie: When we get involved with this kind of shit. It's what happens.

Amelia was just sitting there quietly.

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

It was nighttime. Mike was running down the block. He stopped at a flower shop.He thought it was customary to wish Terra a happy recovery. He walked in and bought a nice bouquet of orange tiger lilies. He looked across the street. Someone was sitting in the park on the bench quietly. He had a hood over his face. He was by himself. Mike ran over to him.

Mike: Hey bud. It's after hours. Shouldn't you get some sleep?

???: I think you should mind your own business.

Mike was wrapped around with strings from behind him. He tried to phase. But it didn't work. Erica came out.

Erica: Axel. You can stop the homeless act.

The guy took off his hood. He had long black hair. He tied it back into a small ponytail. And he wore a vanilla colored suit. And nice dress pants and shoes.

Axel: You are the fastest speedster I've ever seen. My mother would love to examine you.

Mike: Cute. You are that kid who exploded those busses. 6,000 kids? Why don't you let me go so we can settle this man to man. Or rather Man to Boy.

Erica laughed.

Axel: Do you think I'm stupid? Take him to mom.

Erica: You are always so serious.

Axel: We have a job. I'm getting it done. You wouldn't understand.

Mike was locked down in what looked like a basement. But it was very futuristic. Jilaya walked downstairs.

Jilaya: So you are from the future. And I made you? That is amazing!

Mike: That's a different timeline. Maybe your fate is to be taken out by me.

Jilaya: You wish.

Jilaya looked at a report paper.

Jilaya: So you are Michael Hilton? I am Jilaya. Nice to meet you.

Mike: Not likewise.

Jilaya: While I haven't even found out how to remove the speed force from people. I have learned that I can cut off your connection to the speed force.

Mike: And how would you do that?

Jilaya: Simple. Paralysis. Let's get this show on the road.