Bill led her into a dimly lit room filled with various medical equipment and tools. The air was heavy with the smell of antiseptic and blood. In the center of the room was a large operating table, where Glimmerstrike lay unconscious, strapped down with thick restraints.

  Her suit was in tatters, barely covering her body. She had bruises and cuts all over her exposed skin, and her hair was matted with dried blood. Her breathing was shallow, and her face was deathly pale.

  Fii's stomach lurched, and her hands balled into fists at her sides. The urge to punch Bill's smug face was almost overwhelming. But she had to keep up the act, at least for a little longer. She had to make sure Glimmerstrike was okay first.

  "Pretty sight, isn't it?" Bill smirked, circling around the operating table. He ran a finger along Glimmerstrike's thigh, and Fii had to fight the urge to knock him out. "Such a shame to see a pretty thing like her reduced to this. But, hey, at least we get to have some fun with her before it's over, right, Tom?"

  He looked at Fii expectantly, waiting for her to join in the banter. She forced a half-hearted chuckle, hating herself for it. "Y-yeah, I guess so," she muttered, keeping her voice low.

  Bill raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Not feeling it? That's too bad. You should be excited."

  "I am," Fii said hurriedly. "It's just... she looks like she's in pretty rough shape. You sure she's up for... this?"

  Bill's grin widened. "Oh, don't worry about her. She'll wake up soon enough. And trust me, she'll be plenty responsive once we get started. This one here is a firecracker, even tied up like this." He glanced at his watch. "Alright, enough chitchat. You got ten minutes with her, kid. Make 'em count."

  He sat across the room on a dirty couch and watched her. The thought of what he expected made Fii shudder.

  "Hey, uh... Could I maybe get some, uh, privacy? You know, to set the mood..." she mumbled, hating every word.

  Bill snorted. "You wanna be alone with her? Listen, Tom, I know you're probably nervous about your first time with a Super, but you're gonna have to learn to perform with an audience."

  He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and continued in a condescending tone. "Look, I'm not judging. Just remember, whatever happens in here, it's all for a bit of fun. No one's gonna think any less of you. Besides, you might learn something new." He leaned back and made himself comfortable. "So go ahead, kid, take your pants off, and let's see what you've got!"

  He laughed at his own joke, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure.

  Fii grimaced beneath her bandana. She couldn't waste any more time stalling.

  She stepped closer to the table, pretending to fumble with her belt as she discreetly examined Glimmerstrike's restraints. They were thick and sturdy, but nothing her power couldn't handle.

  She didn't see any contraptions hooked up to the Super, and that's what worried her most. Bill had shut Glimmerstrike down, somehow, and Fii needed to figure out how to undo it. Bill was obviously involved, but the details were still unclear.

  "So, um... how did you, uh... manage to do this to her?" she asked hesitantly. "I heard Supers were practically unstoppable."

  Bill's gaze snapped to her, his expression shifting from amusement to suspicion. "You ask a lot of questions for someone who's about to get laid. I thought you were just looking for a quick fuck."

  "No, no, I am!" Fii said hastily. "It's just... I'm curious, you know? About Supers and stuff. Like, how did you beat her? She's supposed to be all-powerful, right? So, like, what's your secret?"

  Bill eyed her warily for a moment before answering. "Well, I guess there's no harm in sharing a trade secret with a fellow pervert. I use my power to suppress hers. It's as simple as that."

  "Your power?" Fii feigned ignorance. "I didn't know you were a Super."

  "Of course I am. How else could I be this big of a badass?" he boasted. "My ability is pretty simple—I can manipulate organic matter at will. And I've discovered a little trick to keep a Super like our friend here from causing trouble." He chuckled darkly. "Let's just say I made a few adjustments to her insides. Nothing too permanent, mind you. But enough to keep her in line."

  He motioned toward the restraints. "Though we still need those. Just in case my power isn't enough."

  Fii's blood boiled, but she kept a straight face. "Wow, that's impressive. I never would have guessed. So... how does it work, exactly? Do you need to keep touching her or something?"

  Bill's eyes narrowed, and he stood up. "You sure are interested in the mechanics of it all. I thought you just wanted a turn. I'm beginning to think you might be up to something else." His tone was light, almost joking, but there was a dangerous undercurrent to it. "What's your game, kid?"

  Fii's patience wore thin. Enough was enough.

  Without warning, she reached out with her power and slammed Bill into the wall, pinning him there with crushing force. The look of surprise on his face was almost comical.

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  "The fuck—" he gasped, struggling against the invisible bonds that held him.

  Fii ripped her bandana off and let her hood fall back, revealing her face. "Surprise, asshole," she sneered. "No more games."

  "You—" Bill spluttered. "I should have known... that voice—"

  "Should have guessed it was me?" Fii finished for him. "Yeah, you should have. But don't worry, I'm not here to play with you. I'm here for the moron on the table. Now, are you going to tell me how to wake her up, or am I going to have to break every bone in your body and figure it out myself?"

  Bill's expression turned to pure anger. "You won't get away with this. I'll make sure you regret ever crossing me. There's nowhere you can hide that I won't find you."

  "Big words for a guy who's about to get his organs rearranged," Fii replied, pressing him harder against the wall. "But I'm done playing games. If you don't start talking, I'll show you just how dangerous I can be." She lowered her voice dangerously. "I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, and you should be very afraid of what I'm capable of."

  Bill grinned, a manic look in his eyes. "You think you're so tough, little girl? You have no idea who you're messing with. I'm the—"

  Fii didn't let him finish. With a flick of her wrist, she twisted his right arm, snapping the bone cleanly. Bill cried out in agony, his body convulsing in pain. "You stupid bitch!" he screamed. "You'll pay for that!"

  The door burst open. The brute, Hoss, stormed inside. "Bill! What the hell's going on here?!"

  Fii spun around, her power flaring. Hoss didn't have time to react. She launched him into the air, slamming him against the ceiling with bone-crushing force. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious or dead—Fii didn't really care which.

  Her attention snapped back to Bill. He was slumped against the wall, gasping for breath, his broken arm hanging uselessly at his side.

  "I warned you," Fii said coldly, her power still crackling around her. "Now, tell me how to wake her up. Don't make me ask again."

  Bill spat blood onto the floor. "Fuck... you..."

  "Wrong answer," Fii said, grabbing his other arm and bending it back until it snapped. Bill's screams filled the room, mingling with the sound of breaking bones.

  "Gah, shit! Why couldn't you have just minded your own business," Bill screamed, spittle flying out with each word.

  Suddenly, his body began to ripple and contort. His muscles bulged, tearing through his clothes. He grew taller, his limbs elongating grotesquely. "I warned you, runt," he growled, his voice distorted and inhuman. "You really think you can take me on?"

  Fii increased the gravitational force pressing him against the wall. "That depends," she said, her voice steady despite the danger she faced. "Can you lift a ten-story building?"

  Bill struggled against her power, but to no avail. His body strained and shook, but he couldn't break free from her crushing hold. "Damn you..."

  "That's what I thought," Fii said, keeping her voice calm and controlled. "Now, you're going to tell me how to wake her up, or I'm going to do things to you that would make a slaughterhouse look like a playground."

  "Touchy bastard, aren't you?" Bill's words were hoarse, and his defiance was waning. His bravado had all but vanished, replaced by fear as he continued to struggle in vain. "We could give you everything you ever dreamed of, if you just joined us."

  A derisive snort escaped Fii's lips. "Yeah, right," she retorted. "Like I'd believe anything that comes out of your slimy mouth. The Syndicate is nothing but a bunch of lowlifes and psychopaths. And you think I'd willingly be a part of that? Do I look like an idiot to you?"

  "You're making a mistake, kid. This could've been a great opportunity for you. The Syndicate is gonna run this whole damn city sooner or later, and then what're you gonna do? Beg for a place on the bottom rung? Don't be a fool," Bill's voice took on a more pleading edge. "Just hear me out. You don't know the whole story. Things...they aren't as simple as you think. There's...there's more to the Syndicate than meets the eye. If you just give me a chance to explain—"

  Fii tightened her grip on her power, increasing the pressure on Bill. She wasn't interested in his excuses or his attempts at persuasion. "I'm not here to listen to your lies," she snapped. "I'm here to get information, and that's it. So, unless you want me to turn you into a human pancake, I suggest you start talking. How do I wake her up?"

  Bill gasped in pain. "Fine, fine! Just...stop! Please!"

  Fii hesitated, not fully convinced by his surrender, but eased up on her power just a fraction. "Talk fast, or I'll make you regret it."

  "I just...I just have to release her from my power's control. That's it," Bill managed to say, his voice strained. "But first, you need to stop crushing me! I can't do anything if I can't move!"

  A faint groan from the table behind them startled Fii. She glanced back to see Glimmerstrike stirring, her eyes fluttering open weakly. She was coming to on her own.

  Fii turned her attention back to Bill, her eyes narrowing. "Looks like I don't need your help after all. So, I guess we're done here."

  "Oh fu—"

  With a swift, decisive motion, she slammed Bill against the floor with such force that it left a crater in the concrete. He lay there, motionless, knocked out cold by the impact. Fii didn't care to stick around and find out if he was still alive.

  She rushed to Glimmerstrike's side, trying to assess her condition. The Super seemed disoriented but gradually regained consciousness. Fii did a quick scan, her eyes scanning for any critical wounds that required immediate attention.

  To her relief, aside from some cuts and bruises, there didn't seem to be any life-threatening injuries. Fii carefully released the restraints binding Glimmerstrike, then helped the Super sit up on the table. It was strange for Fii to see the usually arrogant and confident Glimmerstrike looking so vulnerable.

  "Can you walk?" Fii asked, her voice gentler than usual.

  Glimmerstrike nodded weakly, swinging her legs over the edge of the table and attempting to stand. Her legs wobbled, and she stumbled, but Fii caught her before she fell. She draped Glimmerstrike's arm over her shoulder, supporting her weight.

  "Thanks," Glimmerstrike murmured, her voice barely audible.

  "You're welcome," Fii replied gruffly, avoiding eye contact. "But let's not make this a habit. I still think you're a colossal pain in the ass."

  As if on cue, the sound of gunfire erupted from outside, along with muffled shouts and the dull thud of explosions. It seemed like Diamond Ace had initiated his part of the plan.

  "Let's get out of here," Fii said. "The cavalry's arrived."

  Glimmerstrike nodded, her usual bravado absent. As they made their way toward the door, she paused, glancing back at Bill's unconscious body. "Is he—"

  "He's alive," Fii confirmed. "Unfortunately. Let's go before I change my mind."

  Without another word, Fii led Glimmerstrike out of the room and into the chaos waiting for them outside.