Still don't own Lab Rats or anything you recognize.


"Call me paranoid. I'm frequently right."

Seanan McGuire, A Local Habitation


Soad

This place didn't have enough room for him. He shifted where he was laying, but debris still dug into his scales no matter where he was. This town, this Mission Creek, needed to be cleared. Soad let out a sigh, the wind from his nostrils bending trees as he blew it. An afrit dug a wooden beam out from under a scale as Soad narrowed his eyes at the lights he could see miles away. With the sun setting, the fireflies that lit the city were coming on. What was that human settlement? Los Angeles? It was closer to his goal, whatever it was. The ocean was right up on it, and that was where he wanted to go.

He liked water. It had always been his favorite element. It responded the fastest when he called on something, took the least energy to manipulate. Sure, every element answered him, but water was special. He would have to tear up Los Angeles to get the humans away from his new home, but that would be easy enough. He didn't doubt that the city had more demons he could use, since he was running out of them here. The Summoners he had captured died after they ran out of food or water, it turned out. Weak creatures, these mortals.

Soad let out another windy sigh, narrowing his eyes at a bunch of humans he could see in the distance. Some group, as far as he understood things. They had magic projectiles that burst into flames when they hit their target. He was missing scales from those things still. The only one of those that drew blood hit when he had that Summoner in his talons. That one had silver in it, he could tell. It had taken him too long to dig the item out of his chest.

Just another reason to hate Summoners.

The black spikes that formed Soad's mane rattled as he shook his head, sending a few imps flying. He had only spent a few months on this mortal coil in the grand scheme of his long life, and in that time, he found that he had underestimated humans. The problem with these mortals was that they didn't give up. No matter how many he sent to their graves, more popped up. Any demon would have given up by now. Humans didn't know when they were beat, or refused to accept it. Nothing in this world could stand up to him, but they were still trying.

That was fine. He just had to make it to the ocean. Taking over the world was now a useless endeavor, he knew. There were too many humans, and they just didn't quit. No, he had to outlive them. That, he was convinced he could do. He had been alive for millennia. He could beat out a few short-lived mortals. If he just made it to the ocean, he could spend his time down in the brine like he wanted to. This concept of gravity and physics wouldn't affect him as much there. He could live down at the bottom with a loyal group of demons – or even none at all, if the situation went on long enough that the Summoners he brought down there with him died.

This was a long game now, and he was immortal.

Soad looked to the south again. Something about that place held his attention, and it wasn't the ocean. He felt the twinge in his essence like everyone else. He had only felt that once – the day Azazel died. He felt each blow to the demon like it was hitting his own being. Every demon felt it. It was the balance of power shifting, a cornerstone of the world crumbling.

Now, he sensed something more powerful than him in this world. It was in that city to the south, but it was moving closer. Soad narrowed his eyes, looking through the hundreds of planes he could see. There were demons everywhere. Mortal spirits haunted their old homes, calling out for loved ones. One spirit even sat at his paws, winking at him. It looked like the Summoner Soad hated so much, but it couldn't be. That Summoner was alive, as far as he knew.

No, he couldn't tell who was coming. It felt very much like Apollyon, but different. There was a hint of foreign magic involved, something that wasn't demonic.

All he could guarantee was that it was headed straight for Mission Creek.

Soad let the planes go, blinking. He gathered his paws under him, sending demons scattering as he growled and forced himself to his feet. Well, whatever it was, he should check on it. He didn't need something threatening him right now. He spread his wings out wide, beating them a few times. Demons hopped off his back, running from the wind he generated with the motion. If it was Apollyon somehow, he needed to say hello. He bound forward several steps, beating his wings as he jumped in the air. It always took a few tries to take off on this planet. It wasn't designed for creatures like him. Eventually, though, he made it into the air. Angling his wings, he turned to head towards Los Angeles.


"To win you have to score one more goal than your opponent."

Johan Cruyff


Douglas

Douglas glossed over Sam completely, his eyes wide. He was locked on the limp imp in Sam's arms, instead. His imp. His Olyanaeci, his mischief buddy. What happened? Did Sam kill her? Why? What did Oly do to deserve that?

The Hunters stood up around him, watching Sam. Douglas glanced at Tasha for a split second. Tasha watched Sam, too, but something about her expression gave Douglas pause. Wheels were turning in her head. Frowning, Douglas focused back on Sam and Oly. Something was wrong here, if he judged Tasha right. What was it? Was it Sam? He couldn't be sure Chase's friend wouldn't turn out to be a demon killer. Kevin did, after all. Krane also turned on him before. So many people had. That Sam turned out to be a Hunter wasn't as shocking as it should have been. The only surprising part about it was that she hadn't killed Chase or the imps the first chance she got. Maybe she was a spy?

He let his eyes settle on Oly again. Her tongue was sticking out of a half-open beak, her yellow eyes glossy. She sure looked dead. Her wings were spread out across Sam's hands as they hung down, hiding the girl's arms.

Wait-

Douglas' eyes widened for a split second before he forced himself to look as neutral as possible. Oly was still here. Her essence hadn't faded away at all. She couldn't be dead. Did Tasha know that? Did the Hunters? They had to recognize there was a problem soon, if they hadn't already. They killed demons on a regular basis.

Sam wasn't on the Hunter's side here. She was aiming to get close without them killing Oly. Douglas narrowed his eyes. Clever girl. No wonder Chase liked her.

James took a step forward, squinting at Sam. He held a hand up towards the other three, shaking his head. "Don't shoot yet. She's one of us." He narrowed his eyes, watching Sam approach.

Yet. James knew something was up, too. Douglas fidgeted, his shoulders aching. They didn't have a big window between James figuring up Sam was there to help and them coming up with a plan. The second they got a good look at Oly, it was over. Douglas looked at Tasha again. She was messing with her fingers, picking at the knots on her ropes while nobody was paying attention. Her hands were bent at an awkward angle, but she seemed to be getting somewhere. What a godsend it was that they tied her wrists in front of her. He held his breath, biting his tongue to stop himself from yelling at her to hurry up.

Sam grinned, calling out a greeting to the Hunters. "Hey, guys. Look what I found." She raised her hands, Oly bouncing slightly as she did. She stopped about twenty feet away from them.

James furrowed his brow, stepping towards her. "What are you doing out here? You're supposed to be back at the base."

Sam shrugged, shifting her weight from foot to foot. "I just…I couldn't stay down there anymore." She bit her lip. "I figured if I came out here, I could actually do something, you know? Like, fight demons. You guys have been training me enough. I think I'm ready. I mean, look." She shook Oly a bit. "I can do it."

James waved his hand a bit. The guards stepped out from around Douglas, forming a line in front of him and Tasha. Sam might end up facing a firing squad here today. James raised his chin as Tasha's ropes fell away from her wrists. "Then what are you doing outside of Mission Creek?"

Tasha crawled her way over to Douglas and started picking at his binds.

"I needed to get out of the city for a bit. There were too many demons. I had to take a break." Sam was watching the men now, her smile dropping. "Is…is that okay, or…? I thought we were supposed to fight smarter, not die when we were tired."

"You didn't go back underground when you were tired? You decided to come out here instead?"

Douglas felt the ropes around his wrists slacken. He breathed a sigh of relief and pulled his wrists in front of him, rubbing the skin. Some spots had rubbed raw, but the relief in his shoulders more than made up for it. He looked over his shoulder, nodding at Tasha. Her eyes were wide as she watched the men in front of them. She wasn't ready for this fight. Douglas looked back ahead, gathering his legs up under himself. He guessed he'd have to take the bulk of them out. Maybe killing one would make the others back off? With Oly, though-

"I wouldn't be let back out of the base if I went back there," Sam responded. She lowered Oly a bit.

"You shouldn't have been let out at all. Where's Missy? Where's Sarah? Who was supposed to be watching you?" James pointed at Sam. "And why is that demon still alive?"

Sam's face fell as Douglas sprang to his feet. The ruse was over. He dove straight for James, aiming to strangle the guy. He deserved it, as far as Douglas was concerned. More importantly, he was the leader. "Oly, attack!"

Oly rolled in Sam's arms and hopped out of the girl's arms, charging along the ground towards the Hunters. She had to take off into the air almost immediately, though. One of the Hunters managed to open fire on her. The other three whipped around to face him at his order, buying Oly time to change form. It hardly mattered, though. Douglas ducked low and rammed into James before they could do much about it. The man let out a yelp, dropping his gun. At least now, the Hunters risked shooting James if they shot at Douglas.

God, please let them be loyal.

Hands landed on Douglas' shoulders and arms, tugging at him as he clung to James. James himself was attempting to roll over and buck him off. A falcon shrieked, and the hands stopped pulling on him. Screams filled the air above him as Douglas attempted to sit up on James to get in a few good hits. James struggled some more, freeing a hand, but it wouldn't matter much now. The guy deserved everything he got, as far as Douglas was concerned. Tasha started yelling something, but he wasn't paying attention. Douglas grinned down at James, pulling a hand back to hit the man right across his jaw. James arched his back, letting out a wild yell and jerking the arm that was free upwards.

White hot pain tore through Douglas' lower back. His eyes widened as his arm dropped, a soft gasp escaping him.

Pocket knives.

He'd forgotten all about Hunters and their pocket knives.