As Fii and Glimmerstrike made their way through the compound, shouts echoed off the walls, punctuated by the sharp staccato of gunfire and the heavy thuds of bodies slamming into obstacles.

  Through an open window, Fii saw Diamond Ace marching through the facility, shrugging off gunfire as if it were mere raindrops.

  She thought it was his reinforced armor that protected him, but the bullets didn't bounce or ricochet off the surface, instead falling straight to the ground as if they lost all momentum the moment they touched him.

  The gangsters tried to fight back, some with their fists, others with pipes or knives, but they were no match for Diamond Ace. With a swing of his arm or a swift kick, he sent them sprawling.

  "Come on, let's go," Fii said, guiding Glimmerstrike away from the chaos. She didn't need to watch Diamond Ace's one-sided brawl. She knew how it would end.

  Fii led her down a corridor, keeping an eye out for any straggling gang members. But it seemed like most of them were preoccupied with Diamond Ace, either fighting him or fleeing for their lives.

  They encountered a few stragglers on the way, but Fii dealt with them quickly and quietly, using her power to knock them out or slam them into walls. Glimmerstrike tried to help, but her powers were still on the fritz, flickering in and out.

  "It's okay," Fii reassured her. "Just focus on walking. I got this."

  "Okay," Glimmerstrike murmured.

  She was uncharacteristically quiet, which bothered Fii. This wasn't the usual Glimmerstrike she was accustomed to dealing with, the one who was always ready with a sarcastic remark or an insult.

  But then again, given what she'd been through, Fii couldn't blame her for being shaken up. Even Supers had their limits, after all.

  As they approached a side exit, the sound of gunfire and shouting faded behind them. Fii glanced out the door and saw that the coast was clear.

  "Alright," she said. "Let's get out of here. Diamond Ace is causing a distraction, and the rest of the Syndicate goons should be busy dealing with him."

  She stepped outside, still supporting Glimmerstrike, and started walking toward the rendezvous point. It was an unassuming alleyway a few blocks away from the compound. Diamond Ace would meet them there after he'd taken care of business.

  After arriving at the rendezvous point, Fii lowered Glimmerstrike to the ground, propping her up against the wall of a building. The Super was still disoriented, her eyes unfocused, and her breathing ragged.

  "Just hang in there," Fii said, crouching beside her. "Diamond Ace should be here soon. He'll get you patched up and back to the Metropolis in no time. Then you can get the help you need."

  Glimmerstrike didn't respond. She just stared straight ahead, as if she were lost in her own thoughts. Or perhaps her mind was too muddled to even process Fii's words.

  "Hey," Fii said, snapping her fingers in front of Glimmerstrike's face to get her attention. "You still with me?"

  Glimmerstrike's eyes slowly focused on her, and she nodded.

  "Good," Fii said. "Look, I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, and you can be a real pain in the ass sometimes, but I'm glad you're okay. I'm glad we found you in time. It could have ended a lot worse if we hadn't gotten there when we did."

  Glimmerstrike didn't say anything, but the faintest hint of a smile appeared on her lips.

  "So, yeah," Fii continued, feeling awkward and uncomfortable.

  She wasn't used to having heartfelt conversations, especially not with someone she considered a rival.

  Eventually, Diamond Ace arrived and knelt by Glimmerstrike. He gave her a cursory examination, checking her vital signs and assessing her injuries. When he was satisfied that she was stable, he turned to Fii.

  "Thanks for getting her out of there," he said gruffly. "I can take it from here. You're not the priority today, so I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. So you better not abuse it. Don't ever expect this grace period again. Now get out of here."

  And that was it.

  Fii had expected as much, of course. There would be no tearful gratitude, no heartfelt thanks. She wasn't one of them, and she probably never would be.

  But that was okay. She'd done what she'd set out to do, and that was all that mattered.

  With a quick nod, Fii turned and walked away, leaving Diamond Ace to care for his injured comrade. As she walked down the alley, she couldn't help but glance back once more. Glimmerstrike's eyes met hers, and for a moment, they shared a look of understanding. And then Fii turned the corner and was gone.

  "And that's how it went down," Fii summarized her story to Virgil and Quinn the next day as they continued working on the other sand buggy. They'd been at it for hours, tinkering and repairing, swapping parts and fine-tuning.

  Virgil stopped welding on the vehicle's chassis, lifting his protective visor to glare at her. "And you just left him there without finishing him off?"

  Fii bristled at his judgmental tone. "He was unconscious! What was I supposed to do, bash his brains in for good measure?"

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Virgil's lips thinned into a tight line, his eyes boring into hers. "Fii, you've got to learn to think beyond the moment. Bill's a dangerous man, and he's the sort that holds a grudge. Not only is he going to be out for blood, but you've given him a real reason to seek you out."

  She felt a prickle of unease. "I know, I know. It was a split-second decision. I had to get Glimmerstrike out of there. I couldn't waste any more time."

  "Fii..." Virgil's voice softened, but there was still a stern undercurrent to it. "You did a good thing, saving her. You had your priorities straight. But you also have to think about the consequences. He's alive and angry, which means trouble. And now, not just for you, but also for Quinn and anyone else you're close with. You understand what I'm saying, right?"

  Quinn piped up from where he was working on the engine. "Hold on, hold on. Are you seriously trying to make Fii feel guilty for not murdering someone? Even if it's this 'Bill' asshole?"

  "Watch your tone," Virgil warned, his eyes narrowing. "There's no room for naivety in this conversation. Fii knows exactly what I'm talking about. Bill isn't just some ordinary thug. He's the second in command of the Red Market Syndicate. And he's a metahuman. You remember that, don't you, Fii?"

  She nodded, feeling even more deflated. "I do."

  "So you understand the implications. This isn't just about some personal vendetta. This is about protecting the people you care about. If Bill is alive, he will come for you. Even if you both know that you're the more powerful one. That's the kind of man he is. So, what do you think you should have done differently?"

  Fii's shoulders slumped. "I... I should have made sure he wouldn't be a threat anymore. I should have..."

  "Killed him, yeah," Virgil finished for her. "Look, I get it. Taking a life, even a piece of shit like Bill, isn't an easy thing. Even if you had to do what you did back when the Adrenomancers attacked, and with Prime, it doesn't get much easier. But sometimes, it's a necessary evil. Especially when lives are on the line—your life, and the lives of those you care about."

  Quinn stood up, wiping his hands on a rag. "Hey, come on, man. She's not a murderer. She's just doing the best she can. Give her a break."

  "I am giving her a break," Virgil snapped, standing up and walking outside the garage.

  "W-where are you going?" She called after him.

  He stopped and glanced over his shoulder, his face set in hard lines. "Finishing the job for you. Sooner or later, Butcher Bill's gotta be put down. May as well be today. If not from you, then from me."

  With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Fii and Quinn alone in the garage. Fii stood there, rooted to the spot, feeling an odd mix of anger, guilt, and fear churning inside her. Quinn put a comforting hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

  "Hey, don't let him get to you," he said softly. "You did what you thought was right. That's more than most people can say."

  "But he's right, isn't he?" Fii whispered, staring at the ground. "I figured I'd be able to handle him again if I needed to. No one else had gone after me or my friends after I took them down. I guess I got used to that. And... I don't know. I don't want killing to become easy."

  Quinn wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. Fii leaned into his embrace, finding comfort in the warmth of his body. They stayed like that for a long moment before Quinn spoke again.

  "Listen," he began, his voice gentle but firm. "Virgil's old school, and yeah... he's not wrong, I guess. But that doesn't mean he's completely right, either. There's more than one way to do things. You've got to find what works best for you."

  Fii nodded against Quinn's chest, the guilt slowly ebbing away. "Thanks, Quinn. I needed to hear that."

  "Anytime," he replied, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head.

  Fii took a deep breath, then stepped back and looked up at him. "Well, we can't just stand around here waiting for him to come back. Let's get back to work on the buggy. We've still got a lot to do."

  Bill flung the door to Isabella's office open, stomping inside with a livid expression. His wounds from the other day had already healed thanks to his own ability. Though the memories of that fight still stung him bitterly.

  He marched towards her desk, slamming his hands down onto the surface and glaring at Isabella. "That bitch! I'll find her, and I'll make her pay for what she did to me. Just wait until—"

  "Bill," Isabella interrupted, unfazed by Bill's outburst. "Enough."

  She calmly took a drag from her cigarette, a plume of smoke filling the air between them. "What's done is done. It's time to move on and focus on the bigger picture. The Syndicate is what's important here, not your petty grudges against another meta."

  Bill seethed, but he held his tongue. There was no point in arguing with Isabella when she was in this mood. He knew he wouldn't get anywhere.

  Isabella took another long drag, stubbing out her cigarette in an ashtray. She steepled her fingers, her eyes locked onto Bill's. "Listen to me, Bill. There are far more significant things at stake than your wounded pride. Losing the Super from the metropolis? I didn't really care in the first place. Getting a bunch of our men beat up by the other metropolis Super? Yeah, it looks bad, but I've seen worse."

  "I—" Bill started, but Isabella cut him off with a wave of her hand.

  "The important thing is that the Syndicate must continue to run smoothly. That means no unnecessary distractions. And revenge?" She scoffed. "That's the definition of unnecessary."

  "But—" Bill protested weakly, but Isabella silenced him again with a stern look.

  "I don't want to hear any more about it, Bill," she said firmly. "I've indulged your whims long enough. It's time for you to step up and take your responsibilities as my right-hand man seriously."

  Bill bit back a retort, knowing better than to argue with her. Isabella was right; the Syndicate came first. Always had, always would. He had to swallow his pride and do what was best for the organization.

  With a deep breath, he composed himself and nodded. "Understood, boss. The Syndicate comes first."

  Isabella smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Good. I'm glad we have an understanding. Now, get out of my office and get back to work. We have a lot to catch up on after all this nonsense."

  Before Bill could leave the office, one of the henchmen barged in, looking worried. "There's trouble outside, boss!"

  "Speak of nonsense," Isabella sighed. "What is it now?"

  The henchman gulped, sweat beading his forehead. "B-Backfire, ma'am. He's... He's outside the gates demanding to be let in."

  Bill and Isabella exchanged a look.

  This was unprecedented. Backfire had never shown up at their doorstep before. Whatever this was about, it couldn't be good.

  Isabella gathered her composure, putting on an air of nonchalance. "Tell him to come back another time. I'm busy."

  The henchman hesitated. "I'm not sure he'll take no for an answer, ma'am."

  Isabella's jaw tightened. "Then tell him to make an appointment. I don't have time for this nonsense."

  The henchman didn't have a chance to relay Isabella's message. A series of loud gunshots rang out, shattering the tension in the room. They could hear frantic shouting and screams from outside.

  "Sounds like he wasn't taking no for an answer," Bill said.

  Isabella pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes in exasperation. "Alright, fine. Bill, come with me. We don't have a choice but to deal with this. But keep your mouth shut and follow my lead."

  Bill nodded, a sinking feeling settling in his gut. Deep down, he already knew why that bastard was here.