I actually had something humorous to write here, but it has escaped me . . .

Flight Deck

As Equinox maneuvered the Shroud towards H.I.V.E., a screen appeared in the control panel, asking for the landing code.

"Seven-Delta-Nine-Two-Two," Equinox muttered, entering the code. Access Granted flashed across the screen as H.I.V.E.'s systems took control of the Shroud, allowing it to land at the island without any mishaps.

I wonder what's become of Solstice and her big mouth, Equinox thought. I would have expected to hear more screaming and cursing by now.

As if on cue, a shout spliced through the air. "I AM NOT PREGNANT, YOU INSOLENT CHILD!"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A CHILD?!"

Equinox sighed. And so it begins.

After several more minutes of screaming, insults, and something that sounded suspiciously like a sword fight, Equinox could not take any more. She stepped down from the flight deck and proceeded to slip on the second last rung of the ladder. Her foot went through the ladder, causing her to fall flat on her back, one leg twisted up. Then, as if to add insult to injury, one of her contacts fell out.

"Why me?" she muttered, pulling her leg out of the ladder. She stood up, mildly disoriented from her blurry vision. The cabin space had become a sea of shapes and lights. She closed one eye, which allowed her to see clearer, but also gave her no depth perception.

"DON'T TALK LIKE I'M NOT HERE!"

Just follow the sound of fighting, Equinox reasoned.

Cabin Space

"Miss Solstice!" Nero called out.

" . . . Yes?" Solstice asked, walking guiltily over.

"What did you say to Raven?"

"Uh . . . I may have suggested that-" Solstice mumbled the end of her sentence, regretting what she said to Raven. Solstice had the realization that the most dangerous person in the world just moved Solstice to the top of their kill list.

Nero raised an eyebrow. "Care to repeat that?"

Solstice looked away. "Not really . . ."

Suddenly, Raven burst into the cabin space with both katanas drawn. "I AM NOT PREGNANT, YOU INSOLENT CHILD!"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A CHILD?!" Solstice shot back. "I'm five and half feet tall!"

Raven took a step towards Solstice. "And I've killed people who annoyed me less than you have!"

"Like that's my fault you have a low tolerance of-" Solstice paused to think of the right word.

"Insanity," Nero offered. "Or perhaps you'd prefer the word nonsense."

"That too!" Solstice shouted.

For a second, there was silence, and then Solstice did the second dumbest thing of that particular day. She flew in a purple flash, grabbing one of Raven's katanas and taking a combat stance.

"Solstice, what do you think you're doing?" Nero asked, standing up.

"I . . . don't know," Solstice said.

"Then stop this immead-"

"No, it's okay, Max," Raven said. "I've wanted to knock her down a couple of levels."

"DON'T TALK LIKE I'M NOT HERE!" Solstice turned the sharpness setting higher on the katana. "Bring it on!"

Solstice made the first strike, forcing Raven to take a step back. Raven dropped low, kicking Solstice's legs out from underneath her. Solstice landed with a thump, but she quickly stood up.

"Lucky hit," Solstice smirked.

"You act as if you let me kick you," Raven replied, adjusting her stance.

Solstice did a front hand spring, driving her knees into Raven's shoulders with the force of a truck. Solstice raised the katana above her head, poised to strike.

Equinox snapped her fingers, aiming a trail of sparks just inches away from Solstice. Her intent was to scare her, not turn her into ash. But because her depth perception was distorted, the sparks hit Solstice's hand, causing the katana to skitter across the cabin space. Raven brought her knees up and kicked Solstice off of her, sending Solstice crashing into Equinox. And that's when Equinox's vision went completely fuzzy; her other contact fell out.

"That felt good." Raven smiled and picked up her other katana, happy to have ruffed Solstice up a bit.

Solstice, on the other hand, was angry. Make that livid. "Geez, Equinox! Trying to scorch my damn hand off, are you?!"

Equinox, only seeing a frenzied purple blur, looked up with a confused expression. "Huh?"

"Don't you 'huh' me! You burned me!" Solstice would have a continued on a long and rather colorful rant if not for a hand clamping over her mouth.

"I suggest you shut it," Raven said coolly, sending a shiver down Solstice's spine.

Solstice just nodded.