This chapter is a bit shorter but there weren't any cleaner places to cut it off.

Hit staggered to his feet. His right side throbbed in rhythm with his heartbeat. He'd let his focus slip and Cocotte had taken full advantage of the presented opportunity. Excellent work on her part, another area for improvement on his.

"Again."

"Are you sure?" K'nsi asked.

The assassin nodded. "Both of you-"

Dyspo, freshly unfrozen after Hit's concentration had shifted to the pain in his ribs, butted in. "Both of you, take a break."

Hit glared at the Pride Trooper but didn't rebuke his order. "A short break."

K'nsi and Cocotte, nervously watching both Hit and Dyspo, made their way to the water bottles waiting for them on the sidelines.

"How bad is it?" Dyspo asked once his teammates were out of earshot. He hadn't seen the actual impact as he'd been locked in time, but he had seen Hit drag himself off the ground, guarding his right side as he did so.

"Nothing's broken," Hit replied.

Dyspo delivered a quick jab to Hit's ribcage. The assassin hissed through his teeth and clutched at his chest.

"But it's bruised pretty good, huh?" the Pride Trooper teased.

Hit replied with a punch to Dyspo's sternum. The breath was knocked from his lungs and he was left doubled-over and gasping. "I don't know, you tell me."

"I probably deserved that," the rabbit wheezed.

"You definitely deserved that," Hit corrected.

"How about neither of us does that again and we play nice for the rest of the day?"

Hit massaged his yowling ribs. The smart thing to do would be to put a halt to the training session and apply some ice to them. He fully intended to, after he got a little payback.

"The break's over," Hit said. "I want the three of you to come at me."

Dyspo straightened up but couldn't completely hide his wince when he did so. "Fine, but it's your funeral. Pride Troopers, let's kick his ass!"

Being the closest, Dyspo engaged first. He tried to give himself enough space to let his speed shine, but Hit stayed on him. That strategy worked swimmingly for the assassin until he found the tables turned and his own motions hampered by the golden threads that captured his wrists.

"Sucks being on that end of it, huh?" Dyspo asked, still a little salty over how the three-on-one match from days ago had ended. He then turned to the shorter Pride Trooper. "Can this version explode?"

"It sure can," K'nsi replied.

"Hear that, Hit? You wanna give up or find out how bad it stings?"

Hit pulled back, drawing the threads so tight they threatened to cut into his coat. "I won't be the only one getting stung."

Before anyone had time to ponder that ominous message, Hit activated his time skip. He threw himself at K'nsi, instantly creating slack in the golden filaments that connected the two warriors. But what was this? Dyspo, having heard the familiar muscle contractions that signaled Hit's signature technique, was attempting to stick his nose where it didn't belong again.

Perfect.

With a twirl of his arms, Hit used the slack in the line to create a loop. He understood Dyspo was trying to predict what he'd do with the time skip, but he'd bet any of the money he'd amassed during his long lifetime the rabbit wouldn't expect to be lassoed like a rodeo calf.

"How in the hell?" Dyspo asked, finding his arms bound tightly to his sides. Then, realizing the full extent of his predicament, he shouted, "Don't explode me!"

K'nsi, seeing his friend suddenly and inexplicably tangled in his trap, flailed. "I won't, don't worry! I'll get rid of them, I just need a second."

Hit had no spare seconds to lend the flustered Pride Trooper. He instead gave the threads a tug, pulling them taut. With no heavy coat to offer protection, Dyspo winced as the threads bit into him.

"Long ago, I knew an assassin who preferred to use a garrote to ensure silent kills," Hit said conversationally, as though he was discussing the weather. "She told me, if she wasn't careful, it could end in decapitation."

That was all Dyspo needed to hear. "Nope, I quit, not getting cut in half today."

K'nsi took a deep breath and found the control he needed to dispel the threads. The moment he was free, Dyspo bolted to K'nsi's side. He wanted a united front—and no way for the assassin to lasso him again—if Hit demanded another round.

"If that's how you treat your friends, I'm damn glad I'm not your enemy," the rabbit grumbled, massaging his forearms.

And speaking of friends… Where was Cocotte? Dyspo realized she'd never joined the fray. Had she been worried Hit would be after her blood for the nasty blow she'd landed on him earlier? If so, she could have voiced her concerns instead of flaking.

To Dyspo's surprise and irritation, Cocotte was still on the sidelines. Her back was turned and it looked like she hadn't even watched the fight, never mind been prepared to participate.

"Hey, we could've used your help!" Dyspo called.

Cocotte turned around and held up the communicator strapped to her wrist. Once her point was made, she returned to her conversation. Dyspo considered trying to listen in, but the last time he'd eavesdropped on Cocotte, he'd ended up with a hell of a bruise from her smacking him and far too much information about a persistent rash her father was experiencing.

"I wonder who she's talking to," K'nsi said.

"Don't tempt me," Dyspo replied.

"You'll get caught and she'll smack you again."

"Or I'll hear about how the rash came back."

"She'll definitely tell Top and you'll get a lecture for spying on people."

"I'm not gonna do anything, don't worry."

"You're listening in right now," Hit said, flicking Dyspo's ears. "Both of you are far too easily distracted."

"Ow, you know my ears are sensitive," Dyspo protested. He rubbed the twin sore spots Hit had thwacked. "And for your information, I heard you coming, I just didn't want to ruin your fun."

Hit's "hmm" sounded doubtful.

Cocotte suddenly turned around. Her fellow Pride Troopers scrambled to look like they'd been doing anything except conspiring and eavesdropping. Hit, the only innocent one of the group, remained in the exact same position.

"Top wants to talk to all three of us," Cocotte announced. "Stop looking so suspicious and get over here."

Dyspo and K'nsi hurried over and gathered around the tiniest screen in the known universe. Cocotte found it easier to remove the communicator from her wrist and hold it back as far as she could to get everyone in view. It felt like she was trying to cram too large a group into a selfie.

"How's it hanging, Top? I was starting to think you forgot about us," Dyspo joked.

"I could never!" Top promised. "Though I have been...busy."

"I'll bet. If you ever need some help, we're all here for you. Just say the place and we'll be there."

The kind words hit Top like a gut-punch. He was silent for a moment and then nodded. "Thank you. Though I will be the one coming to you. I've got an announcement I'd like to share in person."

The three Pride Troopers cheered the news.

"Wait until you see everything we've got going on. Spot's practically civilized and—don't tell him I said this—with Hit's help, we've really-"

"Hit's still there?" Top interrupted.

There was something in his tone, something almost angry buried under the genuine surprise, that gave Dyspo pause and made him cautious with his words.

"He's training with us," Dyspo finally answered. "We're all learning a lot from each other."

"And he's behaving himself?"

That voice didn't belong to Top. Lurking like a cryptid just out of frame was the universe's current Destroyer. Top hastily backed away to allow his mentor access to the screen.

"Lord Belmod!" The Pride Troopers bowed their heads.

Once the formalities were out of the way, Dyspo nodded. "Yeah, Hit's behaving. He's sworn off any assassinating while he's here so we're golden."

"Glad to hear it." Belmod said nothing more but made no attempt to let Top continue his conversation.

The silence stretched until Dyspo broke it. "Do you wanna talk to Hit? He's a man of few words but you might appreciate that about him."

"No, I'm good for now. Enjoy catching up." The Destroyer returned to whatever he'd been doing before he'd decided to intrude.

"When are you coming to visit?" K'nsi asked.

"Three days from now. I have a few more arrangements to make first," Top replied. "I look forward to seeing all of you."

Dyspo turned his head and looked toward Hit. He wasn't so sure about that.

After they'd finished exchanging niceties and updates, Top signed off. K'nsi and Cocotte immediately started discussing their plans for showcasing Spot's more pleasant, less lethal demeanor. Their excited chatter couldn't quite warm the bad feeling Dyspo had gotten from the video call, however.

"Did Top seem a little pissed off?" Dyspo asked. "About Hit, I mean."

Cocotte shrugged. "From what I saw, he just seemed surprised; Hit's not exactly the social type so I can understand why Top didn't expect him to stay. Or maybe he's still upset about...you know what."

"I don't think I could look at a guy I almost killed either," Dyspo said. "That's probably it. I guess I'll talk to Hit, see how he wants to handle this. He might wanna find somewhere else to be while Top's here. Why don't you two take off, go spend some time with Spot."

Cocotte and K'nsi took to the skies and headed for the lake. Dyspo loitered for a minute, wondering how he could best address the situation. Even though Hit and Top had made their little peace pact, there was no way another meeting wouldn't be painfully awkward. But would Hit's absence be even more glaring? Would Hit demand to stay to satisfy his pride and prove he wasn't afraid of Top? On the other hand-

"Top is coming to visit," Hit said simply. "And you don't know what to do with me."

Dyspo had been so focused on his dilemma that he hadn't noticed the assassin approach. The rabbit mentally cursed himself for proving that he was, just as Hit had said, easily distracted.

"You damn hypocrite, didn't you just abuse my poor ears over eavesdropping?" the Pride Trooper asked.

"You're all as excitable as small dogs. I'd be forced to leave the area if I didn't want to hear you."

"At least you're aware of the problem. What do you wanna do? It's a big planet if you'd rather not deal with Top."

"Would you prefer I not be here?" Hit asked.

"Don't put this back on me!" Dyspo pleaded.

"You're more familiar with Top than I am."

"Sure, but Top and I don't have the kind of history he has with you."

"He never beat you to within an inch of your life due to a misunderstanding, you mean."

Dyspo looked away. "Yeah, that."

Hit watched the horizon, silent as the clouds overhead. Just when Dyspo was about to ask if the assassin had somehow frozen himself in time, the corners of Hit's mouth turned upward. Slightly. If Dyspo squinted.

"What's with that look?" the rabbit asked.

Hit gave no answer.

"I don't like it and I'm getting more weirded out by the second."

"I'll stay."

"Hang on, damn it! I can see the wheels turning. You're planning something!"

"It's possible."

"What is it? Oh, no way in hell. You can't be serious. Really?!"

"It's the logical progression."

"You crazy bastard."

"I need a true test of my current limits."

Dyspo scowled. "You need your head examined. You've been playing with this technique for what, a week and a half? And you think you're ready-"

"There's little risk in a friendly spar," Hit pointed out.

Seeing he couldn't talk the assassin down, Dyspo sighed. "I'll make sure Robo-Chef is stocked up. Better check on that first aid kit while I'm at it."

Thanks for reading!