Homecoming: Iron Will, Soul of Steel

"So this is the Underground?"

The group stood outside an abandoned warehouse that looked ran down and dirtied. Flickering lights set the mood, making it look eerie and grim. The sounds of bats and broken glass filled the air. Sun shuddered, hugging Arianna around her waist. The place gave her the willies!

"We haven't been here in months." Electra commented, looking around in disgust. "Does anyone even clean around here?"

"Okay I still find it hard to believe that this is your secret hideout." Arianna said, giving her friend a skeptical look. "It looks too...shallow."

"Appearances can be deceiving, my dear Anodite." Anubis chuckled, Sirius glaring at him. "What may look like a building that should be condemned is actually a masquerade to what it actually is."

The Loboan walked up to the door and gave it a rather large push. Crackling noises were heard as the plaster came off the top of the door-frame. More plaster chips fell as a steel door was revealed to be behind the shoddy house. Arianna's eyebrow raised in awe at the hidden ability of their foes. No wonder they were so hard to find!

"Momma is down there, we have to save her." Sun walked up to the door and placed her hand on it. "How do we open it?"

"Correction: You won't get pass."

A giant beam of light shot from the roof, aiming towards the girl. She screamed and closed her eyes, as Sirius grabbed her in the nick of time. The blast left a crate-sized hole where she was standing.

"What the heck was that? Security measures?" Arianna exclaimed, changing into her Anodite form.

Electra's eyes widen as she turned to Anubis. "No way...how is he still alive?"

"I don't know." He replied, equally in fear. "Boss lady put him to sleep years ago!"

A loud THUD! broke them out of their thoughts as a giant robot towered over them. It's yellow eyes bore deep into their souls. It took a step forward, shaking the ground as it walked.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Sun squeaked, holding onto Rigel for protection.

"AK-18..." Electra breathed out in fear. "Your back from the grave."

Selena slumped against the walls of her prison cell, her black hair covering her face. She was very tired, hungry, and wished she could break free of the place she was trapped in. Her past was catching up to her at a rapid pace and she didn't know how to stop it. Her body was thinner, her flesh was paler, and her eyes lost their youthful glow to them.

"We can end this suffering if you just talk to me old friend."

She didn't want to turn around, knowing that Celeste would pick up on her weakness. The alien girl smiled and walked over to her.

"Selena McKnight, at long last we finally reconnect." Her lips stuck out in a pout. "You never call, never write, and never wanna talk to me anymore. It's a shame really..."

"You aren't getting them..." She snapped, her eyes narrowed in anger. "Those aliens are my children! They would never turn against me or betray my trust."

Celeste's lips curled up in a deep sneer before kicking her in the gut with her boots. Selena coughed as some blood spilled from her mouth.

"You seem to forget that I myself is an alien you befriended. With that in mind I would refrain from making me angry."

"Why? What do you want with them? Why did you kidnap me?"

"My dear Selly, I can't believe you forgotten what I can do with the aliens I meet. Don't you remember the time my powers increased just by getting a sample of that Celestialsapien's power? I was unstoppable!"

"You also died and I had to take care of your child!"

She waved her hand. "Details, details, the point is that with your Celestialsapien and Anodite, I will have enough power to purge all human lifeforms off the face of this Earth. All the aliens that hide in the shadows will emerge themselves and we will make a new society!"

"Your mad with power! Can't you see that all life is welcomed here on Earth!"

Selena fell over again from a kick in the gutt as Celeste towered over her body once more.

"Need I remind you that not all living things are created equally? Prejudice to aliens have been around since the dawn of time." She went to the door, pausing before turning around. "I'm going to win this war Selena. Tennyson can't help you this time nor will your alien family save you from the true powers I wield within me."

The door slammed shut, leaving a crying Selena on the floor. Her thoughts flew widely as she feared the worst for her family.