Fii stood before a cluster of Kurigali elders, Barathi, and Mambo Naya. They gathered in the main village hut, its walls adorned with paintings that depicted stories and traditions of the tribe. She felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness as she awaited their decision.

  "Your commitment to our way of life has been admirable, Fii," Mambo Naya spoke, her voice warm yet firm. "You have proven yourself to be a person of strong character and respect for our traditions."

  The other elders nodded in agreement, and Fii felt a surge of pride. She had dedicated herself to understanding and embracing the Kurigali's customs and beliefs, and it was gratifying to know that her efforts had been recognized.

  Barathi spoke next, a fondness in her tone. "We have watched you grow in both skill and spirit during your time with us. Your eagerness to learn and your dedication to our ways have touched us all."

  Mambo Naya continued, her gaze meeting Fii's. "Therefore, we have decided to grant your request for a guide. It is not a decision we make lightly, but we believe that your intentions are pure and your cause just."

  Fii felt a wave of relief wash over her, mixed with gratitude. She bowed her head respectfully, expressing her thanks to the elders and to Naya.

  "You will be assigned a guide, a Kurigali warrior named Luku," Naya announced. "He is one of our most skilled and trusted, and he will ensure that you safely traverse the Wastes on your journey."

  Fii looked at the older warrior she'd seen around the village a few times. He was one of the ones who had escorted Quinn out a couple of weeks ago. He had a stern face, with dark, observant eyes and a scar running across his jawline. His body was wiry, and he carried himself with a quiet confidence.

  Luku bowed to the elders and then to Fii. "It is an honor to serve as your guide, zürakalu. I will do everything in my power to ensure your safety and the success of your mission."

  "Thank you, Luku," Fii responded, trying to match his solemnity. "I am grateful for your guidance."

  The meeting concluded, and the elders, Barathi, and Luku filed out of the hut, leaving Fii and Mambo Naya alone. Naya regarded Fii with a thoughtful expression, her eyes twinkling.

  "I must admit, Fii," she began, "I was skeptical when you first arrived. I doubted your commitment to our ways and questioned your reasons for seeking a guide. But I have seen the change in you during your time with us. You have embraced our culture and shown a deep respect for our beliefs. It has been... unexpected."

  Fii shifted, uncertain of what to say. She had been skeptical too, at first, of the Kurigali and their customs. But the more she learned, the more she came to appreciate the wisdom and beauty in their way of life.

  "I'm glad I proved you wrong," she said, managing a small smile.

  Naya chuckled, her expression softening. "As am I. Now then, I'm sure you are eager to return to your own home and continue your work there. We will not delay you any further. Luku will be ready to depart whenever you are."

  Fii nodded, feeling a sudden pang of sadness. Despite her initial reservations, she had come to enjoy her time in the village. She had made friends, learned new skills, and found a sense of belonging she hadn't known she was missing.

  These past six weeks had been some of the best of her life. It was a far cry from her previous routine of patrolling, keeping gangs in check, and helping people. She would miss the simpler pace of life, but the Kurigali were also a hardworking bunch. Even on their easiest days, Fii still had to do manual labor for hours on end. It was fulfilling, but not a way of life that she could ever fully adapt to.

  Her calling as a Super was simply too important to ignore.

  "I'll prepare my things," Fii finally said. "Thank you again, Mambo Naya, for everything."

  The old woman smiled, placing a hand on Fii's shoulder. "It has been a pleasure, young one. May the spirits watch over you and guide you on your journey."

  Fii left the hut and returned to her temporary dwelling, gathering her belongings and the few gifts she had received from the villagers during her stay.

  It wasn't as if she was never coming back. In fact, she already knew she would. Maybe not anytime soon, but it would happen. This wasn't goodbye; it was just a 'see you later.' And yet, there was an undeniable melancholy that lingered in her thoughts as she packed.

  As she stepped out of the hut for the last time, she was greeted by Barathi, who had a knowing look in her eyes.

  "I knew you'd be leaving soon," she said, smiling. "You have that restless look about you, always itching to be off and doing something."

  Fii laughed, the sound a little strained. "Is it that obvious?"

  Barathi nodded, reaching out to squeeze Fii's arm affectionately. "You've learned a lot here, Fii. Don't forget what we've taught you. It may come in handy more than you realize."

  "I won't," Fii promised, returning the gesture. "I'll keep everything in mind. Thanks for all your help, Barathi."

  The two women embraced, and Barathi whispered in Fii's ear, "Don't be a stranger. You're always welcome here, remember that."

  "I will. And I'll visit, I promise."

  Barathi stepped aside, allowing Fii to pass. "Safe travels, zürakalu."

  Fii reached The Vigil, the former police station turned superhero hideout, late in the afternoon, having left the Kurigali Quarters earlier that morning. The parking garage that used to hold police vehicles had since been converted to a makeshift mechanic shop by Virgil and Quinn, who were...still in the process of working on a dune buggy?

  As Fii walked in, Virgil and Quinn looked up from where they were huddled over the half-built vehicle, covered in grease and grime. Virgil's face was stern, but Quinn's broke into a grin when he saw her.

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  "I did say you didn't need to rush things to get our guide, but damn, kid," Virgil quipped, wiping his hands on a rag. "Six weeks? What, did you take the scenic route?"

  Quinn punched him on the shoulder and then hugged Fii, getting grease all over her clothes in the process.

  "Finally back to the concrete jungle," Quinn said, pulling back and looking her over. "I thought you'd come back wearing beads and feathers or something, but you're just wearing your regular old clothes. That's no fun at all."

  "Hey, I still got a few trinkets," Fii replied, pulling out a small necklace with a pendant in the shape of an eye. "They call it a spirit-eye charm. It's supposed to ward off bad energy or something. Oh, and this." She held up a bracelet made of wooden beads carved with intricate patterns. "It's a Kurigali friendship bracelet. Barathi made it for me."

  Quinn examined the bracelet, nodding approvingly. "Cool. Very tribal chic." He leaned in to whisper, "Hey, uh, did they also give you the clothes you wore during that... ritual? The one you talked about? You know, the... skimpy..." His voice trailed off, his eyes glazing over.

  Fii smacked him on the head, her face turning red. "Quinn! Seriously?"

  Virgil cleared his throat, and Fii and Quinn snapped back to attention. "If you two keep tryin' to get frisky under my watch, I'll tan your hides," he threatened. "Now, did you manage to get a guide, kid?"

  Fii nodded, tucking the necklace and bracelet away. "Yeah. His name's Luku. He's a Kurigali warrior, and he knows the Wastes better than anyone. He'll get us through. We can pick him up whenever we're ready to go. Speaking of going... why are you guys still working on that buggy?"

  "We've already got one up and running," Quinn said, pointing to the completed buggy in the corner that she missed. "But Virge here thought it'd be a good idea to have a spare."

  Virgil shrugged. "You never know what might happen out there. Besides, the spare can double as a parts donor if something breaks on the first."

  Fii eyed the buggy skeptically. "I don't know... It looks kind of flimsy. Are you sure it's safe to drive in the Wastes?"

  "The sand's not the problem," Virgil replied, crossing his arms. "It's the critters that call that place home. Some of 'em are... well, let's just say they'd make a T-rex think twice before messing with them."

  "What's a T-rex?" she asked.

  Virgil rolled his eyes. "Never mind."

  "I've heard stories about those creatures," Quinn chimed in. "Like, there's this thing called a 'wickerbeast' that's supposed to be bigger than a bus. It's got claws that can rip through metal like paper."

  "Or the sandworms," Virgil added. "They're said to be blind, but they can sense vibrations from kilometers away. One wrong move, and you'll find yourself being swallowed whole."

  Fii gulped, suddenly feeling much less eager to venture into the Wastes. "I still think it's better to try and hitch a ride in an airship," she muttered under her breath.

  "Airships only travel between major settlements," Virgil reminded her. "And the ones going to and from Merraco are either miliary or corporate vessels. Not the best idea to try and stow away on one of those. Not that I've tried, mind you."

  "Right. Because that'd be crazy," Quinn said, his tone playful.

  Fii sighed, resigned to her fate. "Okay, fine. We'll take the buggies. But if we get eaten by some giant monster, I'm haunting both of you."

  Virgil snorted. "That's fair."

  Fii sighed and turned to go upstairs, pausing to look back at the half-built buggy. "Just... make sure it's sturdy, okay? I don't want to die because of a mechanical failure. When are you thinking of leaving, Virgil?"

  "About a week. Gives us enough time to finish this, gather supplies, and get you trained with some basic survival skills," Virgil replied, picking up a wrench and getting back to work.

  "Already got that covered," Fii said, a hint of pride in her voice. "The Kurigali taught me a lot while I was with them. I know how to navigate, how to find water and food, even how to build a shelter in the desert."

  Virgil raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Well, well. Looks like someone made the most of their time away. Still, a refresher wouldn't hurt. And you'll need to learn how to maintain and operate the buggies. Just in case."

  Fii nodded, understanding the importance of being self-reliant. "Okay. Let me get settled in, and then we can start."

  "Sounds like a plan," Virgil replied, his attention already back on the task at hand.

  Fii headed upstairs, leaving the two men to their work.

  The next day, Fii entered Tweak's hideout to find her sitting in front of her usual wall of screens, her eyes flickering between different feeds. The space was dimly lit, and the air hummed with the soft whir of machinery.

  Fii cleared her throat, catching Tweak's attention. She swiveled around in her chair, a lollipop stick protruding from the corner of her mouth.

  "Fifi! I've missed you!" she exclaimed, jumping up to give Fii a big hug—well, more like a big, crushing squeeze with her legs wrapped around her torso. "How was the wilderness? Did you learn to talk to trees?"

  Fii chuckled, extricating herself from Tweak's grip. "It was... interesting. I definitely learned a lot. And no, I didn't learn to talk to trees. But I did pick up some other skills that might come in handy."

  Tweak grinned, hopping back into her chair and spinning around in a circle. "I bet! Those Kurigali folks are hardcore. I've heard they can survive for weeks in the desert with just a canteen of water and a pocketful of sand."

  "Well, I don't know about that," Fii said, laughing. "But they did teach me how to navigate using the stars and how to find edible plants. Oh, and how to make a shelter in case of a sandstorm. Oh—did I ever mention that I'm part Kurigali?"

  Tweak stopped spinning, her eyes widening. "Wait, what?! Seriously? You've been holding out on me, girl!"

  "I only found out recently too. Virgil told me."

  "That's wild! So, do you feel any different? Do you think it changes anything?"

  Fii shrugged. "I'm still the same old me. I guess I feel a bit more connected to my heritage, though. It's... nice." Her eyes scanned the room, noting the various tools and gadgets scattered around. "So, what have you been up to?"

  Tweak shrugged, gesturing vaguely at the screens. "You know, the usual. Keeping an eye on things, trying to stay ahead of the game. Oh, while you were off doing the whole 'back-to-my-roots' thing, I've been keeping an eye on your Super stalker."

  "Glimmerstrike?" Fii asked, her voice tinged with annoyance.

  Tweak nodded. "She's been looking around the slums for you. I've intercepted a few of her drones and sent her on a few wild goose chases. I even had one of the drones lead her into an alley with a bunch of rowdy street kids. It was hilarious."

  Fii couldn't help but grin at the thought. "Thanks, Tweak. I owe you one."

  "Nah, don't mention it. Oh, that reminds me. I still have a connection to one of her drones. Wanna mess with her a bit? Maybe send her some threatening messages or something?"

  Fii shook her head. "No, that's okay. I don't want to stoop to her level. Besides, she's the least of my worries right now."

  "Suit yourself," Tweak said, shrugging. She turned back to her screens, her fingers dancing across the keyboard. "I'll check her out right now for you, see what she's up to."

  A few seconds later, one of the screens flickered, showing a live feed from Glimmerstrike's drone.

  Fii didn't bother looking. Instead, she settled onto the couch nearby and closed her eyes. She hadn't had a chance to properly relax since leaving the Kurigali, and it felt good to finally have some downtime.

  As Fii relaxed, Tweak kept an eye on the screen, monitoring Glimmerstrike's movements. After a few moments, she frowned and leaned closer to the screen, her eyebrows knitting together. "Uh oh, Fifi? I think you might wanna take a look at this."

  Fii cracked one eye open, peering at Tweak. "Is it important? I was trying to take a nap."

  Tweak turned to face her, concern evident on her face. "I, uh, think Glimmerstrike's in deep trouble."