Sunset 02

The rooftops spread out below me, the lights of the city making everything far more beautiful than it had any right to be. I had expected that flying would be scarier than it turned out to be. This wasn't so bad. Granted, we weren't exactly high, barely five feet above the edge of the nearest roof, yet still…This was nice.

"I am really not comfortable with this, Hardlight." And then Kayden had to ruin my high.

"Patrolling is good. Maybe we can help someone."

Purity sighed, reaching up a hand to rub at her temples. "Hardlight…"

"You know, I wonder if I'm immune to all bright lights or if it's just you?"

"Honey…"

"Let's go down another few blocks and then circle back west," I said. My platform minion started forward again and I dropped down to all fours to stay balanced on it. Flying was fun - that didn't mean I was going to be stupid about it.

"Remember what happened the last time you didn't listen to me when I was trying to talk to you?" Purity asked, the arched eyebrow very prevalent to my eyes.

"I'm fine."

"Two Prozacs say otherwise."

I glared at her. "We can't get a restraining order until we get to a judge and we can't get to a judge tonight. The police were very clear about that. I want to hit something so I might as well do some good while I'm working out my frustration."

"Honey, that is not a healthy attitude to have while patrolling."

"Like you're one to lecture me. You looked like you wanted to blow up the station when they couldn't help us right away." That was a low blow. I shouldn't have said that. That was just mean. Damn it.

"Yes, and you were the one who nearly filled the entire room with your little creations while gnashing your teeth. I am speaking from experience here, it is not the best idea to go out tonight. Please, can we go home? I'll make your favorite casserole!"

"Are you bribing her with food? Holy cow, what the heck did you do to domesticate Purity of all people!?" Purity and I both turned our heads to the side at the new voice entering into the conversation - argument - only to see Glory Girl hovering a few feet away.

"Seriously, you're eavesdropping on us?" I asked.

"I've been hovering next to you for the past three minutes, it's not my fault if you're oblivious. I was trying to find an opening to say hello, but you two really don't shut up."

I grimaced. Usually I was a lot better at remaining aware of my surroundings. I was concentrating far too much on the platform though to have any brainpower for other things. Not Falling, was currently my entire world. Also the medicine probably had something to do with it. Dammit, I hated taking those pills…

"Good evening, Glory Girl," Purity said, holding a hand up in a soft wave. "There hasn't been anything of note in this area of the Docks. We were planning to travel a few blocks north before we headed in for the night if you would like to join us."

Glory Girl looked at me, her expression unreadable. Finally, she nodded once and flew closer, her hand extended. "Hi. I'm Glory Girl. You can call me Glory or GG if you'd like. I'm not really partial to GG, but Glory Girl is getting a bit…pretentious these days so take your pick."

"Hello," I replied back. "I'm not going to shake your hand right now. You'll have to wait until we're down on a roof. This is my first time flying."

"Yeah, my sister said you made little glowing angels. This is not what I expected at all."

I shrugged as best I could without lifting my hands from the moving platform. "Technically this is a minion. Technically I can also make more." I jerked my head to the side and six additional platforms popped up around us, before blipping back into non-existence just as fast. "I wanted to try flying. I've had a bad day and getting above everything seemed like a good idea. Also, if I'm terrified of falling then I'm not likely to be thinking of anything else that's gone wrong today."

"Fair enough." Glory Girl turned to Purity, her mouth quirking slightly as she frowned. "You really are trying to go Hero, huh? That's…weird. You should stay away from my mom. Just to be safe."

"And not you too?" Purity asked. Glory Girl wouldn't be able to see it, but she was smirking. "From what I've heard your whole family can be a bit judgemental."

"I've recently realized that black and white leads to mental breakdown." Glory Girl's gaze dropped to the street, a scowl flitting across her face. "Opposite extremes don't work - the categories don't fit right for everyone. I'm not liking 'grey', but if trying to see grey in people means that I can avoid hurting people I care about, then I'm willing to make the attempt."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"Family drama. Not your problem. So this area is dead huh? You sure you want to keep going? Casserole is a good option instead. Take it from me, hitting people while pissed off is a bad recipe."

"I'm fine. Will everyone stop asking me that!"

"Hardlight, I'm just trying to - " Purity cut off as her phone rang. Glory Girl's phone rang a half second letter.

I stared between the two of them, finally settling on Purity as her eyes narrowed down at her phone. "Why do you both get calls from the Protectorate and not me. I'm a hero too."

"Yes, but you're also not someone they want in the path of Bad Things," Purity murmured. "Damn. It had to be tonight. I should've known when that asshole turned up."

"Are you going to help?" Glory Girl asked, slipping her phone back into her pocket and narrowing her eyes. "They could use you there."

"What is going on?" I asked. This was at least something that the pills helped with. I wasn't nearly as annoyed as I could - and should - be.

Purity shut her eyes, taking a moment before lifting her head and meeting my gaze. "Lung and several Empire capes are fighting at the border of their territory. Crusader, Rune, Othala, Victor, Fenja and Menja are all present."

My eyes widened. "They're going to destroy half the block with that many people against Lung!"

"Probably more," Purity scowled. "Hardlight, I need to ask you to do something that you're not going to like."

"No. I'm not letting you go in there alone."

"Hey I'm going too," Glory Girl commented. "I mean, no offense, I'm not going to try to protect her, and I don't really trust her, but as long as she doesn't take any shots at me or the Protectorate folk around, she'll have backup…after a fashion."

I shook my head, still watching Purity. My mother finally nodded once. "I'll try to draw Lung into following me. Glory Girl, Dauntless is already on-scene. If you can help him against Fenja and Menja, the rest will fall back. Those are the heavy hitters here and once they are out, none of the others will stay. I'll do what I can while baiting Lung, but the biggest help I can be is to get him focused on me. Then when we're far enough away, I'll fly off and he'll cool off instead of continuing to ramp up. Hardlight, can I trust you to protect the civilians?"

"Yes. I got it covered. Which way?"

"Market and Bayshore. Glory and I will go ahead. Follow as fast as you can."

I nodded. That was only four blocks. Squinting, I could actually see a bit of smoke coming from over the buildings in that direction. I could push my minion to better speeds and be there fast.

The other two sent me a thumbs up and flew off. I leaned forward, my minion accelerating, my eyes narrowing. Finally, I could punch someone.

The smoke was more prevalent than I had thought, but I couldn't find the fire that had to be creating it. Finding the rampaging capes however, now that was easy.

Lung was already breathing gouts of fire at Purity as she flew circles around his head. Fenja and Menja were using the distraction to smash their spears into sections of the street. Plenty of cars were already destroyed and I could see men running away everytime the valkyrie twins raised their weapons.

Scowling, I angled my minion towards a nearby roof, pushing it for a bit more speed even as I started to lose my balance. We were only a few feet from the roof when a piece of debris shot from the street towards me. My minion took the attack though I felt it flicker below me. Another rock flew my direction, I let the minion vanish, my feet landing firmly on the roof. With the platform gone, I glanced over the side of the building and pulled out about 40 lancers laying them onto the street below me.

Ten of the minions barreled forward, assisting Glory Girl in her harrying of Menja - maybe Fenja? eh, this would be Menja - while the rest surged further down the street to help the people on the side of the road. There was a nearly even mix of ABB grunts, Empire grunts, and unlucky civilians caught in the crossfire. My minions didn't discriminate, they just grabbed everyone they could find and started pushing them back from the fighting.

The lancers I had on Menja were already being squashed in the time it took to orient myself. I had lost five almost immediately and I had to keep up a near constant refresh as she kicked at them. Each minion she stopped did halt her progress momentarily however, and it was almost funny to see her nearly topple over as her foot abruptly stopped midair as it smashed one of my minions to pieces. She'd learn not to fully commit fast, but not fast enough. Glory Girl took advantage of her balance issues, flying forward to smash her in the face and send her crashing to the ground.

Her sister yelled out and moved to assist, never even seeing Purity pull up from Lung long enough to fire a blast of light into her back. Fenja sprawled right next to Menja.

Glory Girl was already circling back for more. I glanced around, trying to find the others. There had to be…There! Miss Militia and Dauntless were in the alley across the way, both of them concentrating their fire on Victor. The man was dodging everything they sent towards him while hitting them with chops and kicks in between. I could see Othala further back, peeking out from behind a dumpster. Every few seconds Victor would jump back, brush against her hand and leap forward again. He must have been getting invincibility or something from her. No way would he be able to ignore the electricity from Dauntless' arclance or the bullets from Miss Militia otherwise. Karate wouldn't work against either hero without major advantages like that.

Scowling, I tried to send a minion their way, but it was just a bit too far for me. Damn. Instead I turned my attention back to searching the road. Rune and Crusader were supposed to be here as well…

Movement to my right had me lifting my arm in reflex, a lancer springing into existence to my side. Its mouth opened in a silent shriek as something translucent smashed into it. I blinked, staring as Crusader's ghost vanished at the same time as my minion. Smart little guy had stabbed its spear out just as Crusader's tried to destroy it. I pulled more minions around me as ghosts flew over the walls of the roof.

Glaring I thrust my hand forward, the minions leaping into attack. I had to stop refreshing the ones around the valkyries to focus more on my immediate issues, but it wasn't a problem. Crusader's ghosts died just as fast as my minions and I could rebuild my troops faster than he could rebuild his own. Now just to find where the bastard was.

"I got her! Help Victor and Othala to disengage!" A girl shouted just below my roof.

Rune. If she thought she could get the drop on me, she had another thing coming. I pulled up more lancers and narrowed my eyes waiting for the moment that her platform rose into view.

"I have her!"

"The twins are running, asshole! Get Othala and Victor!"

Were the valkyries running? Oh, they were. Excellent. Go Glory and lancers! Great tag team! And Lung was already trying to leap after Purity too. That probably wasn't fun for her. At least he hadn't grown wi-oh no, now he had gotten his wings. Well that was probably it for Lung and Purity. I'd have to meet up with her at home later.

I set the remaining lancers amongst the crowd in the street to work subduing people. If we could capture most of the ABB and Empire goons, this night would actually be pretty good, barring some property damage. The civilians would be easy enough to let go once I could concentrate fully on what my minions were feeling.

Rune chose that moment to fly over the roof ledge. I smirked and pointed, my minions already jumping for her flying piece of concrete. Rune was smart though, she was far enough out that they couldn't reach and she had two smaller pieces of rock circling her.

"They're all pulling out. We can stop here!"

"You destroyed half the block!"

"Lung did most of the damage! We're done!"

I didn't deign to comment on that, just narrowed my eyes as I gave a different set of commands to my closest minion squad. They started to jump onto each other's shoulders and in an instant, my minion's reach had vastly expanded as they fell forwards towards Rune's platform, the bottom ones already climbing the makeshift light ladder to flow over and bear her to the ground.

Rune scowled, sending one of her hovering rocks through my cluster. It broke several but not enough to stop me. The first two were reaching for her when someone else appeared next to Rune out of thin air.

The Empire cape let out a cry, even as I saw something fall right in front of her. She started to run towards the edge of her platform, and the man next to her turned to stare at me. He had a demon mask on.

Oh. Oni Lee. Oh no…Rune reached the edge, just as I had a minion leap onto the grenade. She jumped, and the concrete exploded downward. My minion vanished. Rune landed on the roof, her leg giving out on her as she tumbled. A plink behind me was all the warning I had as the Oni Lee on the falling piece of concrete tumbled into ash. I jumped forward, sending a minion to drop onto the grenade I knew was behind me. It fell onto the grenade not a moment too soon as that minion vanished in a blaze of light, a large hole opening in the roof below it and the sound of the explosion ringing in my ears.

I rolled over and tried to push myself to my feet, only to find a knife at my throat, Oni Lee right above me.

"Free the ABB members. I will not ask a second time."

"Fuck you!" I snarled. Two minions stabbed into his back, but the clone dissolved into ash. I rolled over, avoiding a slash from Oni Lee as he appeared on my opposite side. I tried to redirect the minions but he was fast - this clone disappeared into ash as well. Coughing, I got my feet under me, just as Oni Lee teleported again, this time directly in front of me. His knife slashed out, even as another grenade dropped from his off-hand.

"Leave her alone, fucker!"

Two pieces of rock flew through Oni Lee's head, the clone vanishing into ash as it died. I threw myself back, throwing another minion over the free grenade. Landing next to the original hole in the roof, a quick glance showed me Rune behind me, her hand on pieces of the debris surrounding the hole.

"Be careful, he hasn't given up yet. This crazy bastard never gives up that easy."

"You're giving me advice now?" I asked, still scowling, my eyes scanning the roof even I hurried the minions on the street along with their efforts to tie all of the people up.

"Trying to make sure you don't die," Rune said. She was standing, though the weight was entirely on her left leg, her right foot was barely even touching the ground and she was breathing heavily. "Oni Lee doesn't have any sort of code and is fucking insane. He's a murderous psychopath."

"The same could be said of a lot of Empire people."

"Yes." Rune's quiet agreement threw me for a loop. I glanced back at her. That probably saved her life. Oni Lee popped into place just behind her his knife slashing down through the air. I gasped, all of the minions popping, allowing me to summon a knight. The knight forced itself into existence surrounding Rune completely, his shield held high, the hand holding it positioned exactly overlaying Rune's own outstretched arm.

Oni Lee's knife smashed into the shield, but the minion didn't even flicker. There was no way that a puny knife could stop this guy.

Oni Lee's mask raised and centered on me. He dropped a grenade next to Rune and the pop of displaced air gave me all of the information I needed. I pulled out another knight, this time layering it over my own body. Oni Lee's blade scraped against the armored plating of the knight instead of my throat. He danced backwards, dropping a grenade which a third knight kicked to the side. I relayered another knight onto Rune as the first vanished in the grenade explosion.

Oni Lee disintegrated into ash and I carefully walked with my minion back to Rune. "Stop trying to move, it's really hard to keep the minion in the right spot with you squirming."

"What the fuck is this?!"

"Do you like being blown up or gutted like a fish? I just want to arrest you, he wants to kill you. Stop squirming!"

The feelings surging to me from the sensations of my minion were…beyond weird. I had never encapsulated anything before and the feel of something moving inside my guys was just all sorts of wrong. It itched at my skin and set my hair on end and I could feel the goosebumps rising on my arms. Thankfully Rune stopped moving and the alien sensation started to die down to a manageable level.

"How long before we know if he's gone?" I asked.

"Give it another minute or two. He's surprising, but not exactly sneaky; and he's a coward. If he doesn't think he can win, he'll run. Lung is gone already anyway."

We waited in silence for another three minutes. Once nothing else exploded around us, I dropped the knights and turned my full attention on Rune, even as I pulled out the lancers again to surround her. "You're under arrest."

She just eyed me from under her hood. "Seriously?"

"Yes."

"Pretty sure I saved your life at least once."

"Pretty sure I saved yours more."

Rune chuckled. "Okay yeah, that's fair. Look, Hardlight, I really can't get arrested. I can't go back to juvie and with the people I associate with, that's where I'd be going."

My eyes narrowed and some of the minions poked her with their spears. "You should have thought of that before you started working with the Empire."

"It's…not that simple, T-Hardlight."

My eyes were slits as I caught her voice slip on my name. "What did you say?"

"I said it's not that simple. Some of us don't have a real choice. Please, just…let me go. I have a…promise to keep. To a friend."

"I can't. I'm sorry." And I actually meant that too. Why did her voice sound so familiar and what had she started to say before? My mind started racing to conclusions, conclusions that I squashed fast. There was no way. Because this day couldn't get worse and someone in this godforsaken fight needed to get punished instead of getting away!

"Please…I can't go back to juvie. I…I can't."

One of my minions on the street raised its lance in salute as Miss Militia walked over to it. Several of the goons had gotten away, but I'd been able to tie up enough before being forced to swap minions that there were still plenty there to keep her busy for another minute or two.

"The Protectorate could work with you," I said, my hands falling to my sides.

"I was a criminal before I started working with the Empire," she murmured. "They'd never let me in. I can't get out. I…please. I can't go back and they wouldn't give me any other options."

"The Protectorate has assholes, sure, but they aren't all - "

"I'm not like you, Taylor. I'm not…a good person." She reached up to grab her hood as I felt my breath catch in my throat.

Please don't pull the hood back. Please don't pull the hood back. Please don't pull -

Rune unlatched two clasps and she shoved the green cloth off of her head. I stared at Tammi, unable to breathe. "Please, just let me go. I promise, I'll explain everything. I'm sorry for running away earlier, but please. You need to let me go."

"You said…"

"That I was a getaway driver. Depending on how you look at it, I am." She shrugged, the ghost of a smile on her face. "Taylor, I triggered in juvie. I can't go back. Please don't make me go back." Tammi's voice broke on the last word and her head dropped to stare at the broken rooftop.

I shut my eyes and turned away, wrapping my hand around my scars. The minions vanished, leaving behind their sparkly confetti.

"Taylor…"

"Go. Just…just go."

"…I'm sorry. This wasn't how I wanted to tell you. I…"

"Just go!"

A tearing sound cracked through the air. I didn't have to look behind me to know that she was flying away.

I was proud of myself that at least this time, I didn't let a minion fall onto my shoulders to hug me.