Fii leapt off the rooftop, her white hair streaming behind her like a comet's tail. For a moment, she hung suspended in the air, weightless and free. Then, with a deep breath, she reached for her power. The world seemed to shift around her, and suddenly, she was shooting forward, propelled by her gravikinesis.

  Tweak had sent her the location of Glimmerstrike's confrontation with the Red Market Syndicate, and she was determined to get there in time to help. She soared above the slums, dodging between buildings and weaving through the maze of streets.

  She had to admit, the Super could be a huge pain in the ass—always broadcasting her fights and chasing ratings. And the way she relentlessly pursued and antagonized Fii was frustrating and dangerous.

  But she couldn't let Glimmerstrike die.

  No matter how much of an annoying twit she could be, she was also the closest thing to a rival Fii had, which, admittedly, was a strange and tenuous connection. More than that, though, it just wasn't right to stand by and do nothing while someone's life was in danger.

  As she approached the hospital, she scanned the area.

  Gone.

  Fii swore under her breath. She must have gotten here too late. The fight had been and gone. Still, there was a chance she could pick up the trail.

  "Can you track their vehicles?" Fii spoke into her comm.

  Tweak's voice crackled in her ear. "Yeah, but it'll take a few minutes. They have scramblers."

  Fii sighed, frustrated. "Fine, I'll wait. Just hurry. Every minute counts."

  "Gotcha. I'll get back to you as soon as I have something."

  Fii paced back and forth on the rooftop, trying to stay calm. She knew she had to be patient, but it was hard. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to act, to do something. Anything. She hated feeling so useless.

  Just then, she heard a sound overhead. Looking up, she saw a sleek military Osprey descending from the sky. Its dark grey fuselage gleamed in the sun, and its massive propellers kicked up clouds of dust and debris as it landed. On its side, emblazoned in bold letters, were the words 'Ultimate Guardians.'

  The ramp lowered, and out stepped a tall man in a sleek, silver suit of powered armor. His face was hidden behind a helmet, but Fii knew exactly who he was.

  Diamond Ace.

  The superhero scanned the area and spotted Fii. Without hesitation, he activated his suit's thrusters and flew up to her, landing on the roof with a heavy thud. His helmet retracted, revealing a handsome face with a chiseled jaw and steely hazel eyes that glared at her.

  "Axion," he said, his voice cold and hard. "I knew you were involved in this mess."

  Fii bristled. "What? I'm not involved—"

  "Don't lie to me," Diamond Ace interrupted. "I've been monitoring Glimmerstrike's transmissions. She said she was looking for you before she went offline."

  "That's not—"

  Diamond Ace cut her off again. "Where is she? What have you done with her?"

  Fii took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. She couldn't afford to get angry; she had to convince him to help her. "Look, I'm not involved, okay? I came here to help. I don't know where Glimmerstrike is, but I'm trying to find out. We need to rescue her from the Red Market Syndicate."

  Diamond Ace's eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer to her, towering over her. "And why should I believe you? You've given me no reason to trust you. As far as I'm concerned, you're a criminal, a fugitive, and the one responsible for Prime's death."

  Fii held her ground, meeting his gaze defiantly. "Because Glimmerstrike is in trouble, and we don't have time for this. If you really cared about her, you'd put aside your mistrust and work with me to save her. She's in the hands of some real psychos right now. The longer we argue, the worse it will be for her."

  Diamond Ace stared at her for a long moment before finally relenting. "Fine. But don't think for a second that I trust you. And if you try anything, I won't hesitate to take you down. Understand?"

  Fii nodded, relieved. "Okay, good. A friend of mine is trying to track their vehicles. As soon as we get a location, we can move."

  As if on cue, Tweak's voice crackled in her ear. "Fifi! I got it! They're is holed up in an old factory complex on the edge of the slums. Sending coordinates now."

  "Got it, thanks," Fii replied. She turned to Diamond Ace. "Let's go. Every second counts."

  Without waiting for a response, she jumped off the roof and engaged her power, soaring into the air. Diamond Ace activated his thrusters and flew after her, keeping pace as they sped toward the factory.

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  "You better not be leading me into a trap."

  Fii rolled her eyes. "If I were, I'd have come up with something more original than this."

  In the shadowy bowels of an old, rundown warehouse, Glimmerstrike strained against the thick metal chains that held her. Her body ached, her muscles tight and cramped, and her throat was dry, leaving her speech hoarse and raw. Around her, dim, flickering fluorescent lights buzzed and cast a sickly glow over the room, barely illuminating the darkness that surrounded her.

  She tried to gather her thoughts, to focus on her power and create one of her energy constructs, but every time she closed her eyes and tried to concentrate, a jolt of pain shot through her body, forcing her to abandon her efforts. The feverish feeling had only grown worse, making it feel like her insides were boiling and her head was being squeezed in a vise.

  Before her stood the lanky man from the hospital, the one called Bill.

  Whatever he had done to her, it was effectively neutralizing her abilities. She didn't understand how it was possible, but it didn't matter. Right now, she had to find a way out of this mess.

  "Well, well, well," Bill drawled, flicking the knife in his hand casually. "Look who's awake. The famous Glimmerstrike. The darling of the Metropolis."

  He circled her slowly, his eyes roaming over her body with a clinical detachment that made her skin crawl. "Tell me, Super, how does it feel to be on the other side of the coin? To be the one in chains?"

  Glimmerstrike gritted her teeth, trying to hide her fear and discomfort. "It's not the first time I've been in a tight spot, and it won't be the last. I'll get out of this, and when I do, you'll be sorry."

  Bill laughed, a low, humorless sound. "Will I, now? I highly doubt that. You see, Isabella has plans for you. Big plans. And once she's done with you, you'll be nothing more than a shell of your former self."

  He leaned in close, his foul breath hot on her face. "We're going to tear you apart, piece by piece. And we're going to make sure you're alive and awake for every agonizing moment of it. You think what you're feeling right now is pain? Just wait."

  Glimmerstrike swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure. "You're sick."

  He nodded, grinning widely. "Oh, yes. Absolutely. But that's what makes me so good at what I do. I enjoy my work. And you, my dear Super, are going to be my masterpiece."

  He traced the edge of his knife along her jawline, and she shuddered involuntarily. "Before we get to the fun part, though, I have a few questions for you. Isabella was very interested in what you were doing at the hospital. Why did you target our operation? Who tipped you off?"

  Glimmerstrike tried to focus, to come up with some kind of plan. But the fever and pain made it difficult for her to think straight. She needed more time. So, she did what she did best.

  Stalled.

  "I have a question for you, first," she said, her voice trembling slightly despite her best efforts to keep it steady.

  Bill raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what would that be?"

  She met his gaze, her eyes hard. "What's your power? How are you suppressing mine?"

  He chuckled. "Now, now, is that any way to bargain? You think I'm just going to reveal all my secrets to you?" He paused, tapping the knife against his chin thoughtfully. "I suppose it couldn't hurt to tell you. Not like you'll be able to do anything about it."

  Bill leaned in close again, his voice dropping to a whisper. "My power is simple, really. I can manipulate organic matter at will. Flesh, bone, blood, it all bends to my desires. That little trick I did at the hospital? That was just a taste of what I could do."

  He straightened up, his grin widening. "And right now, I'm using my power to keep your cells in a state of constant stress. It's a useful trick for stopping a Super in their tracks. Though I must admit, it does take a toll on their bodies over time. There are other things I can do. I can cause your blood vessels to dilate, inducing a fever. I can cause tumors to grow and spread, muscles to twitch and tear, skin to sag and peel. And if I wanted to, I could make your heart explode in your chest. But where would the fun be in that?"

  He pulled back, shrugging. "But there's a catch. I need to touch my targets for my power to take effect. Skin-to-skin contact is best, but I can still manage with something as thin as fabric in between. The longer I'm in contact, the more control I have. So, even though I'm not touching you right now, the damage has already been done."

  Glimmerstrike felt her stomach turn. The man before her was a monster, plain and simple. She had to find a way out of this. But how?

  "And what about your boss," she asked, trying to keep him talking while she desperately tried to form a plan. "Isabella, was it? What's her power?"

  Bill's grin faltered for a moment. "Isabella? She's just a regular human. A gifted surgeon, but not a Meta. Her only 'power' is a knack for leadership and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get what she wants."

  "Why are okay with working for her? I mean, you're the one with powers, so shouldn't you be the one calling the shots?"

  Bill shrugged, seeming disinterested. "It's not always about who's in charge. Isabella provides me with the opportunity to practice my art without interference. And besides, I've always preferred working behind the scenes. It's just more... interesting that way. It's the same for the other three... well, the other one now."

  "The other three? What do you mean?" Glimmerstrike pressed, trying to buy more time. She could feel the effects of his power wearing off ever-so-slightly, but it wasn't happening fast enough.

  Bill laughed. "Oh, you don't know? That's right, you're not from around here." He paused, as if considering whether or not to tell her. "Three other gangs each had a Metahuman, and they were a force to be reckoned with. Not anymore, though. One got killed by Backfire, and another got twisted into a mangled mess by Prime."

  "Backfire?"

  She remembered hearing that name before—a former vigilante from the metropolis who had been exiled. She didn't know much about him other than his reputation for being ruthless and effective.

  "He's a relic from the past, an old legend that just refuses to fade away." Bill's expression soured. "He's been a thorn in our side for years. A lone wolf who thinks he's the law in the slums. And now that he's trained that kid, Fii, things have been getting worse."

  Bill looked at her and smirked. "You've been going up against her lately, haven't you? I've seen the vids. It's been fun watching a Metropolis hero get her ass kicked by a slumrat."

  Glimmerstrike felt her face flush with anger. She couldn't help but take the bait. "Hey! I haven't lost to her! Those fights were all draws!"

  Bill's grin widened. "Sure they were, sweetheart. Keep telling yourself that." He shrugged, clearly enjoying getting under her skin. "Anyway, you won't have to worry about running into her anymore. Not after we're done with you, that is."