RWBYond Home: Villains of Vacuo

AN: I'm getting close to catching up with myself. I haven't given myself a substantial break since starting this series but I have been releasing chapters slightly faster than I've been writing them. Putting it in perspective, I just released Chapter 7 today.

Review Response: Runelt-whatever it takes to evoke an emotional response. Nintendoborn-Don't know, doesn't matter and yes. Kyrogue-Nova's having a hard time figuring out what her feelings are. She's hid everything that could be mistaken as a weakness under all the rage. Nightshade is actually a similar case, throwing away his former position as a Lightbringer to become the vigilante.

Previously on RWBYond Home: Nova fought an army of ninja clones. Johnny discovered a terrible secret of the Lightbringers. And Nova was pushed beyond her limits, now wounded and alone in Johnny's apartment while Saber's forces continue their hunt.

Cult of the Sun Part 2

Saber sat at her table, alone. She had failed to capture the Summer Maiden but her clones were on the lookout. She had eyes all over the city, feeding her information. She's have to thank the Lightbringers for giving her the equipment that made tonight possible. Ten-thousand clones had been dispatched during the fight and Saber barely felt any fatigue.

"Where could she have gone?" Saber was regretting not doing more research on the Summer Maiden before tonight. She had her address, her family's address and the names of her teammates but that was all.

"We have eyes on all the hospitals, Shade Academy, and the addresses of any known family members." A clone said.

"What about her teammates?" Saber asked.

"Any information regarding the whereabouts of Johnny Clay has been impossible for us to recover."

"That's probably where she's hiding." Saber surmised. It still felt odd talking to her clones, but it did help articulate her thoughts. "Keep searching the city."

"What if she's fully recovered and has friends?"

"She didn't even put a dent in us tonight. No amount of allies will help her so long as I stay here." Saber gave a haughty laugh. "Infinite power is within my reach. I can afford to be patient."

Chenzi casually strolled down the street at an ungodly hour. The concert had been amazing. Walking back towards the apartment and seeing police cars, huntsmen and a frantic Sun wasn't as amazing. He got the rundown from Sun and then again from Nickel.

He walked into the apartment complex and let himself into Johnny's apartment. Johnny was pacing around lost in thought. Nickel leaned against the wall looking as cool as ever. Nova was still passed out on the bed wearing nightclothes.

"Any word from out there?" Johnny asked.

"Things quieted down." Chenzi said. "Sun is a hot mess but his better judgement won out."

"Your secrecy likely saved Nova's life." Nickel said. "Sun coming here would compromise that."

"I know." Johnny said. "I hate seeing her like this. It's such a rare sight. I guess I've never gotten used to it."

"I know the feeling." Nickel sighed.

"Nickel, something I've always wondered is how can you sigh without organic lungs?" Chenzi asked. Nickel shot him a dirty look causing a nervous laugh.

"Uhh…" Nova groaned.

"She's waking up." Johnny said.

"Johnny?" Nova sat up. She looked around the room and saw that her clothes had changed and her wounds had been treated. Her face went red and she covered up. "What did you do?"

"What did I…" Johnny started.

"Don't worry." Nickel said. "I'm the one who changed you."

"Good." Nova fumed.

"We got the rundown from your old man." Chenzi said. "Anything else you can tell us."

"Well, I know the best way to take her down is to use that good ole fashion combination of you aim I shoot." Nova said.

"Really?" Johnny said. "You get beaten within an inch of your life and your plan is to just use my eyes to find the source?"

"Hey, it's worked plenty of times before."

"I hate being objectified like this." Johnny groaned.

"You hate...what about all those plans that just involved you, Scott and Ariadne rounding up targets for me to cook?"

"That's different." Johnny said. "I'm team leader. I make the plans."

"Alright, what's your plan?" Nova asked.

"I find them then you fight them."

"That's exactly what I…"

"With me helping you." Johnny finished.

"I don't need the extra muscle." Nova protested.

"Well then, you're staying right here."

"I will not be treated like a child."

"And I won't be treated like I'm some sort of scanning device." Johnny said.

"Well then, I'll find another way." Nova said.

"God, you are so stubborn!" Johnny stormed off. Nova didn't say a word but she was starting to regret her decision.

"What are you two looking at?" Nova asked Nickel and Chenzi. "No one invited you."

"Actually Johnny did." Chenzi corrected.

"Johnny doesn't want you to do this alone." Nickel said.

"Well, I definitely don't need you two. I only need Johnny to find this slippery meinu." Nova fumed.

"I think you need him for more than that." Nickel said.

"And what would you know you overgrown action figure?" Nova shot back.

"I know you've been a mess ever since we arrived here with Prim." Nickel said.

"Have you ever thought about a pet?" Chenzi asked.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Nova asked.

"Just curious. You know, have something to talk to that won't judge you. My mom got us a dog after my dad died. Really brought us all back together. For you, it should be a cat."

"Is that…" Nova looked at her tail and got flustered. "Is that a crack about my heritage?"

"No, it's just you live alone in an apartment. A cat would be better for you. You can cuddle up with it when you're home. And when you're away on missions, a cat is a lot better at taking care of itself than any other pet. It's like, the perfect match for you."

"Can it Spark Plug." Nova threw a pillow at his face. She looked at Nickel, standing casually against the wall. An idea crossed her mind. They might not know Johnny's address but they probably knew what he was capable of. Nickel on the other hand, was a wild card.

"Something on your mind?" Nickel asked.

"Yeah...I think I have a pretty good, and incredibly dangerous idea."

Morning had come. Saber's clones were still on the lookout but in fewer numbers. With the approaching day, it would be harder to maintain their stealth. One particular clone that had been spying on Nova's apartment, caught a glimpse of her in the neighboring window.

"She was at a neighbor's the whole time." The clone said. "Never took her as the friendly type."

The clones were much better prepared this time. They slid along the alley walls making all preparations they needed to secure Nova as quickly as possible. As soon as the Summer Maiden turned her back, several chains were thrown.

They fished her out of the apartment. She pulled on the chains, bringing all of them in for a swift spinning kick. She landed on the ground, right where a certain glyph had been placed. Nova felt her Maiden powers drain. Half a dozen clones slammed into her. A volley of flash-rounds took out her aura. A clone gagged her. Another one stabbed her in the leg.

"So much easier when we have an actual trap for you." A clone said. Nova kept struggling. But nearly thirty clones surrounded her and beat her unconscious. They bound her and dragged her off. They needed to be fast and careful. The chances of being seen were high. Yet, they made their escape into the sewers without much of a problem.

But, unbeknownst to the clones, an invisible figure watched from the rooftop. It took all of Nickel's self-control to follow through with this plan. Furthermore, it was up to Chenzi to inform Johnny once the deed was done. It was Nickel's job to track down the kidnappers. Of course, should they try finishing her off or extract her powers, Nickel would intervene, but they wanted her alive for something. Nickel just hoped Johnny wasn't too mad at how risky Nova's plan was.

Nickel followed the gang through the sewers. She stalked them through the corridors, remaining mindful of her signal. She would do her best to protect Nova should the need arrive but Chenzi and Johnny were the assurance.

"What do you mean she's gone?" Johnny yelled.

"Bro, Nickel is keeping an eye on her." Chenzi said. "It sounded like a good plan."

"What if they kill her before we get there?"

"I'm telling you, Nickel's got this."

"And if they kill them both?"

"If they can take down Nova AND Nickel, maybe they deserve to win."

"Not funny!"

"I'm just saying, Nickel's a damn good fighter. We're not going to be that much help." Chenzi said.

"I can't believe this!" Johnny said.

"I think you can and that's why you're mad." Chenzi said.

"I thought you were the smart one!" Johnny said.

"Only when it comes to people. Glade's the one who keeps us all from doing stupid stuff. You'd think it was Nickel with the whole computer brain thing but when someone hurts someone she cares about...good luck getting her to not try for revenge."

Nickel hid in the shadows as the clones opened up a secret door. The symbols on the door were unmistakably characters used by the Lightbringers. Nickel managed to send a message to Johnny and Chenzi on her location.

It'd be awhile before they manage to arrive. It was too long for Nickel to remain comfortable. She walked up to the door and examined it. It had Lightbringer writing on it but lacked the same mechanisms that hid Nightshade's lair.

Nickel pushed in a loose brick to open up the secret door. The opening of the passage created more noise than Nickel would have hoped for. She drew her blade, ready and expecting a fight. She activated her semblance to disappear as she slipped through the hall.

A few clones came to investigate. Before they crossed paths, Nickel jumped up and spread her legs to cling to the ceiling. The clones spread out, looking for her. Nickel silenced herself, trying to buy as much time as she could.

Then, a trickle of water hit her shoulder. There was a leaky ceiling right where she was roosted. The water trickled down her shoulder and dripped onto the floor. A clone took noticed and looked up. Nickel was still invisible but the path the water took around her body gave away her position.

"Intruder!" The clone pulled out a blade. Nickel dropped down in the middle of the group and took them out with a single swing of her sword. More clones started running down the hallway. Nickel used the narrow passage to her advantage. She flung the shurikens from her blade to take down the front line.

She manipulated the strings attached to the shurikens with her aura to bind the clones. She then dashed forward and cut them down. The clones got wise to her tricks and moved to surround her.

Nickel used her superior speed and strength to carve a path through the clones. If the clones knew she was here, their source probably did too. That knowledge would compromise Nova and put her in further danger.

Nickel made the mistake of going too far down alone. More passages opened up around her. More clones poured in completely cutting off her progress and the ground she had gained. The deeper she went, the harder it was to keep moving forward. Clones were coming out by the dozens to stop her. Most of them were armed with simple swords that Nickel was able to slice through. Others had guns, grenades and chains that made things harder.

Nickel used a bit of gravity dust to push her foes back. She used that extra room to jump onto a wall. She then pivoted and jumped to the other end. She zigzagged like this, slicing through any clone unfortunate enough to get in her way. She used her superior strength speed and stamina to propel herself forward through the ever-growing crowd.

"Wake up Summer Maiden." Saber said with a slap.

"We should do this quickly." A clone said.

"It appears we were followed."

"I knew she came a little too easily this time." Saber laughed. "It doesn't matter. Soon, we'll be truly invincible." The chamber room was covered in archaic runes. Nova was powerless. Her Maiden powers were sealed away thanks to the glyphs. Her arms were bound to chains and wires. The real Saber stood in front of her.

"What do you want?" Nova asked.

"What does any girl from Vacuo want?" Saber retorted. "Respect, power, your power to be precise, that is my goal, my destiny."

"You don't deserve this power you worm!" Nova tried standing, but electric shocks coursed through the wires around her wrist, electrocuting her.

"We are the Cult of the Sun. Long had we served the Summer Maiden in return, succeeded her."

"Sounds a bit counterproductive, don't you think?" Nova scoffed.

"The one called Avarice took the Summer Maiden from us centuries ago. Since then, we have waited patiently for the day he can no longer keep you from us. As the last of the Sun Worshippers, it falls on me to secure your power for both my ends and the ends of the cult."

"You could have asked nicely." Nova said.

"Would that have worked?" Saber laughed.

"No but it'd make your death come sooner." Nova said. Another shock brought her back to her knees.

"You're in no position to make threats." Saber said. She placed a white glove on her hands. "This is where you part ways with that incredible power. A power, might I add, you did nothing to deserve."

The glove had a red symbol on it. A small Black Gate opened up in Saber's palm. A bug came out of the portal and sprayed a black ink on Nova's face. The two women's psyches were plunged into the closed-off Black Gate. Black and red mist swirled around them. Nova felt powerless as Saber stepped towards her in the void.

Nova felt a powerful energy punch through her stomach. A violet mist of burning energy extended itself from her gut and took the shape of a beautiful woman. This was the power of Summer within Nova. In this realm, it had mostly separated itself from Nova. They were still bound together like a genie to a lamp.

"Stay back!" Nova yelled. Saber only laughed.

"You're mine now Summer and you will fulfill my every ambition." Saber said. She clutched onto the power of Summer and began pulling. Nova felt like her stomach was being ripped out through her skin. The Maiden fought back, creating a purple flame. But Saber did not submit.

"Like hell I will!" Nova cursed.

"You don't deserve this power!" Saber yelled.

Nova's mind went blank. Her thoughts traveled back to when she first discovered her power. There had been hints throughout her training. Her potent aura, her vision turning purple under stress, certain desperate attacks causing massive damage without the aid of dust, these were the hints of her inheritance. But it was at Raven's Peak that she discovered the truth.

Her team was fighting an assassin named Phos Ferris in a conjoined mission to save Rosaline Ren from Cipher. She had been pushed beyond her limits by the assassin and unleashed a primal fury. It was upon the revelation that this same assassin had spared her mom years earlier, for no other reason than to use the Belladonna blood to resurrect Avis, that sent Nova over the edge.

Nova mercilessly beat the assassin after that. Nova had killed Phos that day. As the heat of the moment settled, Nova realized what she had done and was overcome with fear. But it was Johnny who comforted her.

"There's a legend, that the fires of Vacuo burn in its citizens." Johnny had said. "And that those in whom the fire burns brightest, can achieve amazing feats." He was referring to the Summer Maiden.

"You're wrong." Nova growled at Saber. "I do deserve this. I'm the only one that deserves this. Maidens choose themselves and the Summer Maiden chose me!"

A power lashed out from behind her. The red mist took the form of a crimson raven and slammed into Saber. The void shattered. Saber was blasted into a wall. Nova was still alive, still the Summer Maiden, and didn't even have a scratch on her body from the exchange.

"What. Was. That?" Saber said in disbelief.

"You moron. Do you really think Avarice would let this power be so easily taken?" Nova asked. "All I have to do is fight back and have a stronger will than yours and you can't do anything to steal my power."

"Well then." Saber coughed. "It looks like I'll have to take you out the old fashioned way." Saber ran up to the altar and flipped a switch. The giant machine started humming. "One blast from this and not even you will survive."

Johnny and Chenzi followed Nickel's symbol all the way through the tunnels. When they heard the sound of clashing blades, they picked up their pace. There was a crowd of clones separating the boys from where Nickel was in a desperate deadlock.

Johnny took aim and sent a beam of light down the corridor, engulfing all the clones. Nickel was propelled forward from the blast as well. She spun in the air and threw her blade towards the boys, but kept hold of the shurikens.

The light faded. More clones poured in from the passageways. Nickel threw the shurikens into the walls. The blade landed at Chenzi's feet. Johnny launched himself forward by firing a blast from his weapon. As soon as he landed, Chenzi charged up an attack.

"Overdrive!" Chenzi released electricity into Nickel's swords. It traced through the wires into the shurikens, creating a deadly pool of electric energy. The clones were trapped. Nickel blocked their progress with her wires, trapping all the clones coming from the walls.

"The two of you go." Nickel said as she took some lightning dust from her pouch. "I'll keep things going here."

Chenzi jumped onto a wall and let himself be caught in the electricity. He used the current to launch himself over to Johnny. A pair of clones bore down on them. Johnny sidestepped and punched one, releasing a concentrated strand of aura from his knuckle as he made contact. Chenzi punched the other one in the chest, destroying it. He then pulled out his hammer and smacked more out of the way.

"Wow, Nova was right, these things do go down quick." Chenzi said. "Go on ahead, get your girl."

"My girl?" Johnny said.

"Just go!" Chenzi laughed. Johnny raced on ahead. He only got a few second head start before Chenzi caught back up with him.

"I thought you were hanging back." Johnny said.

"Yeah, I changed my mind when I realized Nova might be down for the count and whoever their leader is might be open for a beating."

"Why would you care?"

"Because Prim has dragged us on a bunch of missions and I never get to fight the villain."

"What about Sura?"

"That asshole went down in a single hit." Chenzi scoffed. "I'm hoping this one will last longer."

"Alright." Johnny said. He fired a beam of light to finish clearing the path. He could sense the machine charging up. "Chenzi!"

"On it!"

"I leave it to you!"

A blast of lightning fired from the machine at Nova. Chenzi intercepted it just in time. He spun his arms around to channel the lightning blast around his body. Saber stared at him in anger. Nova looked at him in desperation.

"Holy crap this is a lot of power." Chenzi said. "You can thank me later Nova. This would have definitely killed you."

"What is the meaning of this?" Saber yelled.

"It must really suck for you that this little trump card of yours runs on electricity." Chenzi laughed. He pointed a finger at the machine. "Maximum Overdrive!" He released all the energy back into the machine, destroying it. Saber was thrown back by the blast. "Alright, explain." Chenzi said.

"Her name's Saber. Wants to be Summer Maiden. Needs to piss off and die." Nova rattled off as she tried standing. A blade sliced through her chains as Nickel and Johnny joined her side. She nearly collapsed from her cramped legs but Johnny caught her.

"It's alright Nova." Johnny said.

"Hey, I'll call us even if you let me have the finishing blow." Chenzi said. Before Nova could answer, Nickel leaped in and slashed Saber across the chest as the cultist aimed a gun at the group.

"It's over." Nickel said.

"Oh you have to be...You did that on purpose!" Chenzi complained.

"Talk less. Then you'll secure the villain." Nickel pulled out some wire and bound the cultist.

"You're going to be locked away for a long time." Johnny said as he stood over Saber.

"Do you hear me?" Saber threatened as the police van shut her up. Johnny and Nova sat on the hood of Sun's car. Chenzi and Nickel sat across from them. Nova slurped up some coffee her father bought for her.

"You kids did well tonight." Sun said.

"Those machines were pretty advanced." Johnny said. "In the wrong hands, they might have caused a real problem."

"A machine that allows you to use your semblance without draining your aura?" Chenzi sighed. "To think the Lightbringers had something like that."

"And that storm machine." Johnny said. "I didn't get a good look at it before you blew it to kingdom come. But...I guess there's still a lot I don't know."

"Well, I'm sure you'll figure everything out someday." Chenzi leaned back.

"Thank you." Nova whispered. "I...didn't get to thank you earlier."

"What are friends for?" Chenzi said.

"Prim doesn't deserve the three of you." Nova said. "Er, I mean the two of you, as teammates."

"Hey, you know I've always got your back." Johnny said. "A leader should always put his team first." Nova stood up and started walking off.

"What are you doing?" Chenzi asked.

"Something I should have done a long time ago." Nova said. Johnny started following her. "I'd like some time alone."

Nova locked herself into her personal training room in Shade Academy. She sat on a workout bench and held her scroll. Her thumb hovered over the first name on her contact list for an eternity as she planned what she was going to say.

She nearly died that day. She nearly lost everything she strived for. Her whole world was crumbling. But somehow, thanks to Johnny and all the rest, things still seemed bright. And that hopeful light is what convinced Nova to press her thumb onto that first name.

Her heart sank as her scroll started ringing. She thought she knew what she was going to say. But doubt plagued her mind. What if they argued? What if she didn't answer? What if she wanted nothing to do with this? Nova certainly wouldn't blame her.

"Hello?" Ariadne answered more enthusiastically than Nova expected.

"Ariadne?" Nova's voice was weak.

"Nova! It's been too long. I was starting to think you'd never call. How've you been girl?"

The words crushed Nova's heart like a steam roller. No, it was like a whole had been punched in Nova's own private brick wall. Nova didn't know whether to describe it as her heart being crushed or exploded. All Nova knew, is that she couldn't keep her voice even or stop the tear.

"How?" She whimpered. "How can you be so happy to hear from me?"

"What are you talking about?" Ariadne sounded unexpectedly chipper. "You're my best friend. Or, at least I'm your best friend. Seriously Nova, I'm probably one of the few people willing to put up with you. And you call me for the first time in over two years, how am I supposed to react?"

"Best...friend?" Nova nearly broke down there.

"Nova are you crying?" Ariadne said. "God, was it your mom? Did she leave you…"

"After everything I've done!" Nova yelled. She squeezed her eyes shut to stop the tears. "After everything I said. She covered her mouth. I called you pathetic. I said you were weak. I said you were only dragging me down and getting in my way. I told you to give up being a huntress!"

"Nova." Ariadne's voice took a more serious tone.

"After I belittled you, and chastised you, and hurt you, how can you forgive me before I even have a chance to apologize?" Her breathing became staggered. "Kuso." She whimpered. "Kuso!"

"It's all in the past." Ariadne said. She started whistling a song. Her music always found a way to calm Nova down. "I did resent you for it. But I know...the reason you did that was because you were scared. You're scared of anyone seeing you as weak. Scott and I did drag you down. You and Johnny are the types to save the world. I'm...I'm fine now. I have a job. I'm the resident Huntress here. I have a boyfriend. His family loves me."

"I'm glad to hear it." Nova said as she calmed down and wiped away her tears.

"Yeah, he works at the local animal shelter. He also works as a carpenter on the side to help bring money in. His name's Corcra by the way. I can't wait until you're able to meet him. When do you think you'll make it all the way here to Mistral?"

"I don't know." Nova said. "I wasn't planning on it. I didn't plan anything other than an apology."

"Well, apology accepted." Ariadne said.

"Johnny's fine too by the way."

"I know." Ariadne laughed. "I message him back and forth every once in awhile. He worries about you a lot."

"I know." Nova said.

"Hey, want my advice?"

"Sure."

"You should get yourself a pet."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Trust me, for someone like you, it'd brighten up your day." Ariadne laughed. "Johnny hates to see you angry or sad. And I hate it when he spends our phone calls worrying over you."

"I'll let you go now." Nova said.

"Keep in touch Nova." Ariadne. Said. Nova hung up with a new outlook on what she had done. She tried her damndest to push Ariadne and Scott, especially Ariadne away. Even so, she was willing to forgive her and make amends. Nova decided to give Scott a call sometime later. One emotional phone call is all she could handle today.

"Mom! Is it alright if I go outside for a while?" Pallet asked.

"Yes dear. But be back soon, it's almost dark out." His mom said.

"Alright." Pallet nodded. His curiosity had gotten the better of him. He headed down to the courtyard where he promised to meet the ghost.

"Young boy." He heard the ghost whisper from the dumpster.

"You said that I'm the only one who can help you." Pallet asked.

"Yes, yes of course." An inky black figure extended from the shadows and crawled up Pallet's leg. "What is your name?"

"Pallet."

"Pallet? Well, call me...Inkwell." Flask chose that to be his alias for the time being. "I need a few things at first. Do you have a closet?"

"Yes?"

"Then that is where I shall live for the time being." The ghost said. "The only way to be free and pass over is to...enlist the aid of a certain huntsman."

"Then why didn't you just ask him?" Pallet asked.

"He doesn't know, or trust what I am." Flask said. "I need you to be...an aid. When I'm ready, I'll have you arrange a meeting."

"Okay?"

"Just do as I say. Other than this meeting, which won't be for a while, I may need your help going from place to place."

"I don't know." Pallet said. "Mom doesn't like me going out."

"Well, rules like that are bound to be broken." Flask said. "One last condition, never talk to me out in the open. Don't want people thinking you're crazy."

"I understand."

"Good, now back up to your room."

Flask gave a devilish smile. This should allow him a little more freedom than before. He still had to be cautious. There was one huntsman in the city that could detect him. Until he was removed from the equation, Flask had to be careful. But with this boy's help, soon, Johnny Clay wouldn't be a problem. And once he's dealt with, Flask would have free reign to move however he wants and rid himself of those he fears.

It was the next day. Glade and Chenzi recounted the adventures they had when the team was split. Hina was getting a history lesson from Ruby. Prim was trying to coax Johnny into getting alone with her. Nickel conversed with Citrine and Eiess. The only one absent was Nova, who was spending her extra time training.

"Come on Johnny." Prim said. "Let's go read those books you found. I want to see if there's more about that Hue guy in there."

"I appreciate the thought but...I'm a bit studied out for now."

"Well then, how about a spar?" Prim said. "This guy kinda fought like you. I can use some pointers."

"Alright." Johnny sighed. "But not right now, I'm trying to relax." He sat down on the couch. Prim sat next to him.

"Well, that I can certainly help with." Prim said as she leaned on his shoulder. "I got the gist of what happened with Nova. I get that you're probably stressed about a lot of things but...just know I'm always here for you. And I don't mean that in just a flirty way."

"I know."

"I really like you Johnny. And...don't tell Nova I said this, but I get jealous of the two of you sometimes." Prim swallowed. "But whatever happens, no matter what...I want to do everything in my power to help you." She grabbed his hand. "Even if that means giving you some time alone with your thoughts." She started sliding away but he held her hand tighter.

"Thanks. But that won't be necessary right now. I like having you here." Those words put a smile of Prim's face as she leaned closer to him.

"So…" Chenzi said. "Did you two kiss?"

"I don't see how that's important." Glade said.

"And I can't believe we're friends if you don't see how important that is." Chenzi retorted. "Ah well, our day would have been much more excited if SOMEONE didn't steal my thunder!" Nickel just snickered in silence. "And I still can't believe that Nova nearly died."

"I know." Glade put a knuckle to his lip. "Things are seeming incredibly dangerous around Vacuo. I'm worried we may be in over our heads." He looked at Prim, sitting on the couch with Johnny. "And I don't think Prim realizes it."

"Ah, it's a common problem with the women in our lives. They're a bunch of trouble. But that's what us men are for. Sure they can create giant witch thingies, or summon a construct that can pummel a man in seconds, or run faster than the speed of sound, or create a glyph for any purpose, or melt anything that gets in their path. But you, Johnny and I, we're the ones he keep them grounded."

"Well, when you put it like that…"

"It's like an electrical circuit." Chenzi said. "They'd fly off the handle without us."

"Some of them tend to fly off the handle anyway." Glade took a condescending sip of his coffee. "And I get it. Chenzi...I need your help. I want to track down and defeat Zwart Baard."

AN: And so ends this segment. The next two-parter will come as soon as I finish it. Then we'll be halfway through the Villains of Vacuo volume. So, until next time take care.

Next Time: Their worst fears realized. A crazed doctor. A final decision. Team PNGC faces their worst nightmares as Flask finds a powerful ally.