Page 8

Two Sides

Ultima: Rio

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T he twins are playing air hockey while we’re waiting for Lynn to meet us in the rec room. Master Cedric approved me to inspect the gem on Emerald Island, while also acknowledging my report on the mysterious Elite member. His silence worries me, but I must trust that he’ll handle it.

So, some light browsing on an unfriendly mobile version of the Elite website is completely harmless. I keep switching from reading progress reports to the internet browser on my phone. A notification to review another member’s completed mission blocks the search bar.

“Dammit,” I mutter. The lights in the room flicker for five seconds before they stabilize.

Derrick whips his head toward me, creating an opening for Eric to knock the puck into the goal. He throws his arms up, but his paddle flies out of his hand and across the room.

I glare at the two. “Those things aren’t cheap, ya know.”

“Sorry,” Eric mumbles with a smirk, grabbing the paddle. “You helped me win!”

“Did not.” I take a deep breath to relax my jaw and return to the U-Knit app to look at another progress report.

Derrick rolls his eyes and plops on the couch next to me. “Dude, it was a technicality win. Stop acting like you don’t suck at this game.”

Eric sticks out his tongue before kicking my feet off the ottoman and sitting on it. I lower my phone and gape at him.

“Fincher!”

“Sorry, sir, but I don’t sit with losers.” Eric crosses his arms. “I’ve elevated myself to another realm.”

Derrick snorts. “Where? Naven? Oh, crap—that reminds me, I gotta grab this book before we leave. I’ll be back.”

“Hurry up; Lynn will be here any minute,” I call after him, but he’s already gone. Eric steals his spot and nestles next to me. I cringe away and raise my eyebrows. “What do you want?”

Eric smiles widely with his big brown eyes. “Hey.”

“Hi?”

“Sooo...can I take tomorrow off?”

I sigh. “Request it through the app and I’ll approve it.”

“Thank you!” Eric tries to hug me, but I scoot over to the end of the red sofa. “Fiona and I are having a date night, so I wanna try this place on Emerald Island. It’s pricey, but I heard the food is absolutely decadent.”

“Oh. Lovely. Have a great time.”

“Ya know, I’ve been trying to figure her out since we were kids. I think she likes me for realsies, but I dunno. She’s so feisty, I love it.”

I finish reading the report and raise my eyebrows. “Well, speaking of feisty, she got into a brawl because a guy told her to smile.”

Eric’s grin stretches before he dramatically fans himself. “Really? Ugh! I love her.”

As much as I agree with her actions, I still must reprimand her to set an example. I hope this doesn’t ruin their date night.

Lynn walks in with her combat boots stomping on the floorboards. Her violin is in its case and strapped on her back. Her hair is in a curly ponytail this time. She stares at us on the couch before approaching us.

“Where is the other one?” she asks thinly. “The other...dumb one.”

“Grabbing a book from the library.” I shove my phone in my pocket and abandon Eric on the couch. “Are you both ready?”

Eric nods like a puppy while Lynn folds her arms behind her with a firm nod.

Derrick rushes back in with a book tucked under his arms. “Ready!”

We head upstairs to the lobby. Before I make it out the door, Katarzyna rushes over and grabs my arm. The twins and Lynn wait by the receptionist, but Lynn doesn’t look like she’s associating with them.

“Kate? What’s up? How did that park investigation go?”

“It didn’t. A man died from Berserk.” Katarzyna swallowed.

I survey the lobby and usher her to a nearby column for more privacy. The twins inch toward Lynn who does a 180 and turns her back to them.

“What happened?” I ask.

“We didn’t get very far; the Guards were already all over it, and they snubbed Scott and me the whole time! Told us to stick with worrying about dragons, but like, how can we when the monarchs won’t let us? I talked to my grandma who was on her way to visit but was caught in the scene too. I think she saw the girl, Rio. The same girl who attacked the twins.”

“Really?” I don’t realize I’m gripping Katarzyna’s arm until she winces and pulls away. “So sorry. Um...so, are you sure?”

“Based on how grandma described her—black hair, Elite uniform, the eyes, the radiant warm skin. It has to be her, ya? Guards took the boy into custody because the father is gone. Witnesses reported the girl was questioning the little boy. Did Master Cedric respond to your report yet?”

“No, but if she’s been spotted this close to us, we have reason to believe she could’ve been planning a direct attack on us.”

Katarzyna scratches her arm with a slight lean against the column. Her uniforms always look too big on her despite having the smallest size.

“That’s risky and she wouldn’t get very far with security,” Katarzyna says. “It has to be something else.”

I glance over at the unsuspecting twins. Lynn is now probably ten feet away from them with crossed arms and a piercing stare in my direction.

“Maybe.” It doesn’t hurt to add this bit of info to the report for Cedric, though. “If the boy is still in Guard custody, I’ll swing by later and chat with him.”

A s we’re riding to Emerald Island, Derrick approaches me with the book from the library. Lynn and Eric huddle around us.

“There it is—Skylar,” Derrick says, pointing to the page in the book.

“I knew he looked familiar.” Eric rubs his chin. “I think...we learned about him in mythology class, right?”

“Not likely,” I murmur, taking the book to look closer and then glancing up at Derrick. “The girl summoned this?”

“I super swear she did,” Derrick replies.

“I swear, too,” Eric adds with a stern gaze.

I stare at the rough sketches in the leather book. The human legs extend to the torso, wings, and head of a bird, but human arms also protrude from the back. It’s beautiful and terrifying even as a pencil sketch.

“You realize that is impossible, right? Skylar is the Holy Bird of Naven. It is all a myth,” Lynn explains.

“She’s right. Maybe the girl had a similar creature who resembles Skylar.” I pass the book back to Derrick.

“Naven isn’t a myth, though,” Derrick insists. “Did y’all ever learn about the Era of Chaos in school? You remember the world was split into six islands and one isle, right?”

Lynn purses her lips. “Obviously.”

“Okay, well, after the Era of Chaos, the Superiors created Naven. It’s an alternate world if Zeala basically like...craps the bucket. Rumor has it, the door to Naven lies somewhere in the Tower of the Superiors,” Eric explains. “Naven is also where the dead go in the afterlife, so, not a myth.”

“I do not believe in that,” Lynn simply says. “Naven and Skylar are purely myths until proven to exist.”

The twins gasp in unison right when the train comes to a complete stop as people gather their belongings to depart.

“WEEELCOME TO EMERALD ISLAND, FOLKS. Enjoy the food!” the conductor blares over the loudspeaker.

“If the girl had some connection to Skylar, she would have been to Naven first. That means going in the Tower of Superiors or dying and arriving there,” Lynn hisses. “None of that makes sense or real to begin with.”

We leave the train, greeted by locals who pass peaches to everyone deboarding. Someone in a giant broccoli costume convinces visitors to taste their seasoned vegetables on a stack of wooden buckets next to them. The twins fall for it and end up walking away with a two-pound bag of broccolini.

“This is false advertisement,” Derrick grumbles, holding his paper bag. He slips the book in it to give himself a free hand. “Anyway, no use arguing about things we don’t have more info on.”

Lynn’s jaw tightens. “Agreed.”

The thought of the creature being Skylar boggles my mind. What if she can summon him? Someone would’ve said something by now about his presence, right? How many people know what he looks like?

I push the thoughts away and look at my team. “Okay, where is the field you heard about with the ge—”

Lynn slaps her hand over my mouth and pulls me aside to a gazebo with peeling yellow paint. Before I can protest, she jerks her head to the station we just left. The twins sit behind us, inspecting the broccolini.

I stare at the station until I notice two Elite members patrolling and keeping the foot traffic moving. We’re too far to see their names, but judging from the twins’ obliviousness, neither member attacked them.

“I am sorry, Commander, but that was necessary,” Lynn whispers, withdrawing her hand. “That is Rachel and Robert. Tess said they patrol here regularly.”

“Any powers we need to be aware of?” I ask.

“Not sure about Robert, but I have heard Rachel detects danger. We should not get too close to her,” she replies. We look at the twins and then at each other. “I am afraid I do not know where the gem is located. Maybe if we visit Tess’s village, they can guide us there.”

Rachel and Robert welcome people and direct traffic for the produce wagon trucks to drive down a dirt path toward endless stretches of farmland. Most citizens wear overalls, aprons, or worn tunics paired with aged shorts or capris. They greet each other with warm smiles, tired waves, and simple nods with their straw hats.

“How big is this gem?” Derrick asks.

“Big enough to be an issue,” Lynn mutters, looking at me. “Well?”

I don’t want to go to Tess’s village. They’re private and prefer to not get involved in matters outside the tribe. We don’t have any other options right now.

“Fine. We’ll go. What’s the best way to get there?” I ask. The twins finally stand up after having a quiet conversation. They nod together and chuck the paper bag of broccolini into a bush behind the gazebo. I rub my temples, hoping we’ll make it through this mission alive.

“Rio’s lightning can bolt us there,” Derrick replies. He tucks his book in his armpit.

“That attracts too much attention. If people see a lightning bolt zigzagging through the island, they will know it is Rio,” Lynn says.

“It’s sunny out, so if we stay high in the sky, no one should pay too much attention, right?” Eric suggests with raised brows. “AmIright?”

“I don’t understand why we just don’t ask those Elite members for directions,” says Derrick. “We’re all mature, right? It never becomes an all-out battle when org members see each other. Besides, this is our mission. Why we actin’ all scared now?”

Well, not all of us are mature.

The train comes back, spitting out more passengers to go about their way. An Elite member descends the stairs and does a fist bump with Rachel and Robert. She’s wearing a backpack and has blood-orange hair.

“Natasha! You made it; are you checking out that gem today?” Rachel asks.

“Yup! I’m having a wheelbarrow sent over there now,” Natasha replies.

Robert places a hand on his hip. “Mmm. Must be exciting. Where is it?”

“Up north, near the terrace rice fields,” Natasha says. “I’m renting an electric car.”

Oh no.

Lynn and the twins turn to look at me, but I waste no time with their sharp stares. I take out my phone, keeping my eyes on Natasha as she continues her conversation with her teammates. I dial Cedric’s number, and he answers on the first ring.

“Commander.” Master Cedric immediately addresses me.

“M-Master Cedric! I’m at Emerald with agent Wu and the Fincher agents. I...think our mission with the gem conflicts with Elite. Please confirm.”

Cedric doesn’t miss a beat. “See if they need assistance with the excavation. If not, return to base.”

Despite him hanging up on me, I can’t move the phone from my ear. My eyes focus on Natasha leaving while the burning need to fulfill the mission stings the tip of my fingers. This is a great opportunity for Ultima in many ways. Most importantly, continuous public appeal and versatility.

I meet the wary stars of my team. “We’re going to help her.”

“And if she refuses our help?” Lynn questions. “Elites are not quite nice.”

“She won’t refuse, trust me.”

The plan to subtly stalk Natasha is one of caution, in the chance she runs before we get directions to the gem. It’s hard not to look suspicious and watch her from afar. With the twins stepping on the back of my heel every five steps, it’s nearly impossible. Lynn strays far from us, looking at ease and casually browsing the farmer’s market.

“Idiots,” she scoffs at us. She grabs an apple and leaves a coin on the food stand, all in one swift motion as we’re meandering the small market. More sellers are opening their food stands, shouting to see their crops, freshly squeezed juices, and milk. It’s a perfect setup for capturing patrons right when they exit the train. The rest of the island is a rigid mixture of city and farmland.

After snaking through a few more rows of signs, stands, and chickens roaming about, the market ends, leading us off the dirt path and perfectly across the city street from a rental building. It’s a small, square building with only five tagged cars available.

Natasha looks both ways before crossing and heading inside. The twins and I stay put while Lynn waits and crosses the street, takes out her violin, and plants her case on the ground. She settles the violin into position, whips out her bow, and gently drags it across the strings. The melody from her wooden companion is soft and thin, matching the everyday hardworking vibe as a burly woman with a green bandana around her head rolls a giant barrel down the street.

Traffic is light enough that people cross and transport goods on foot, carts, and wagons. Citizens rush across the street to give Lynn generous tips while the twins and I watch from afar.

Natasha finally emerges from the rental building and jets over to one of the parked cars up front. We run across while I pray this all looks normal. A few bystanders clap as Lynn continues playing, but she gives me a rushed grimace.

“Hi. Natasha, is it?” I ask.

She turns to me just as she opens the car door, fiery hair swishing to the subtle movement of her head. Her smile is soft, pink, and pretty. Her badge reveals her full name, Natasha Redly.

“Oh, h-hello? Do I know you?” Her eyes flicker at my attire, and her smile shifts into an ugly scowl. “What do you want?”

Happens every time.

“I’m Ultima Commander Rio Shackler, and I was asked to inspect a gem in the fields somewhere that could be causing a disturbance in a dragon nesting area. My team and I didn’t receive much more information than that. It appears that you are also on your way to the same task. My order from Master Cedric was to assist you in any way we can.”

Natasha smiles sweetly, resurfacing the gentle fire in her that was once there.

“Eat shit,” she sneers.

Lynn’s tune transitions into a deep, dark melody. Natasha looks at the violinist as I watch her scan the crowd. Likely seeing Lynn’s Ultima uniform, too, Natasha gapes at me with wide eyes.

“You see, Natasha, I don’t think you’re in a position to refuse help. Sure, you can call for backup to assist, but certainly that’s a waste of time when we’re here and can collaborate towards the greater good, ya?”

Natasha swallows and flares her nostrils. A rush of pink hits the roundness in her cheeks as I keep my cool with a pleasant smile and easy pitch. Lynn strikes higher, faster notes in her tune, creating a sense of urgency.

“I uh...I should contact my Commander. W-We have to report any time someone gets involved in our assignments,” she mumbles, pulling up her phone with a trembling hand.

“No problem at all. There will be a total of four of us helping you.”

“F-Four?” she gasps.

“Oh my gosh, Natasha! Hey girl!” Derrick runs up to us with a holler, aggressively slapping Natasha’s arm like a hyperactive teenager. “So glad to work with you!”

“Yeah, thanks.” Eric rushes into the backseat of the car.

Lynn’s dark melody dies down into a slow, swaying beat until she abruptly ends with a sharp gesture of her bow. She blows her hair out of her face and bows to the cheering crowd.

“Thank you for watching!” she says, packing up her equipment to put in the car trunk. Natasha is on the phone, trying her best to hide the tremor in her voice before ending her call.

“Everything’s good,” she mumbles, not making eye contact. “Though, I gotta admit, this is a little strange for me.”

I open the driver’s side door for her, maintaining eye contact and a pleasant smile.

“No worries, this will be fun,” I tell her.

Lynn is on the passenger side, so I cram in the back seat with the twins but neither scoot over, so I end up in the middle seat. They grin with perfect synchronicity.

“Why’d you throw out the broccolini?” I ask them.

“It was gross and smelled weird,” Derrick says. Natasha backs out and pulls off.

Streets fluctuate between asphalt and bumpy dirt roads as the variety of buildings get lost in the shuffle of farms, barns, and whatnot. It’s only when we make it back to a paved road and wait at a stoplight that I notice a side street with emerald lampposts lining the stretch of pastel buildings. At the dead end of the street sits a tall golden gate with a group of Guards positioned.

Oh, King Jonah.

After some time gazing out the window, Natasha slows the car in the middle of nowhere in endless, sculpted fields. In a sloped series of carved out land lies the terraced rice fields in beautiful green dips like giant stairs. I spot a path off to the side that has been worn by many foot travelers all the way to the bottom.

“Alright, where is this gem?” I ask, relieved to finally stretch my cramped legs.

Natasha points to the pit of the field through the stalks and tall grass. It’s hard to see what’s emanating down there, but maybe I can kinda tell there’s a large patch of grass missing?

An elderly lady emerges from the slanted field path with a basket in her arms.

“Hello–oh my, Elite AND Ultima working together today, hmm? What a treat for us! I heard you needed a wheelbarrow to get that gem out of the ground. I left it at the bottom,” she says.

Natasha’s smile is forced and shaky as she side-eyes us when the woman strolls off. I finally lose my smile and relax my jaw.

“Okay, what is Elite’s plan for the gem? We were going to remove it and have it run through labs at Onyx,” I explain.

Lynn takes out her violin case from the trunk and tries yet again to distance herself from the twins who are inching closer to her for a hug.

Natasha bites her lip, still avoiding full eye contact with me. “We were just gonna inspect it. I won’t stop you if you wanna take it.”

“Sounds good, we’ll handle all the heavy work if you just want to wait here,” I offer. “From your distance, you could tell us if you notice anything strange happening.”

She nods, but her eyes linger on the ground.

My team and I take the path downward, trying to keep our balance at the slanted angle. Lynn keeps questioning my logic in leaving Natasha unsupervised, but I have faith in my “enemies,” even if they hate me for no reason.

“I wonder if the other gems are embedded somewhere in Zeala,” Eric snickers. “We could make mad bank fro—”

“Shut up,” Lynn grumbles.

When we reach the bottom, a glimmer erects from the grass that hits the sun—the jagged corner of the emerald stone. It’s buried deep in the ground, so I look at the twins.

“Think you’re able to...claw this out? Otherwise, we’ll need shovels,” I say.

The twins exchange a look before meeting my eyes.

“Sure thing, boss!” Derrick chirps. His skin turns into a mixed swirl of purple and green as the scales emerge from his pores. His clothes fuse with his body while he continues his transformation into a giant lizard, flicking out his tongue. Eric mimics the shift and is the same mixed colors as Derrick.

Lynn snorts, appearing unimpressed. “Are we sure they are giant lizards and not...alligators? Or crocodiles?”

I frown. “You guys have been in Ultima longer than me. Cedric holds most employee files, so I couldn’t be sure. They look too thin to be anything more than giant lizards.”

While Derrick and Eric are digging away, I sit and soak in the humid sun, thinking about how well everything is going. I close my eyes and smile, feeling the sparks electrifying my blood. This will surely keep dragons safe in this area.

“Done!” one twin shrieks. My eyes pop open as they stand in a crater, back into their human form caked in sweat and dirt. Lynn grabs the wheelbarrow and furrows her brows. I get up and walk to the edge of the crater they’ve dug.

“Holy Naven, this thing is huge,” I whisper. It’s basically the size of a stove!

“We should’ve brought Fiona so she could levitate it instead,” Eric grumbles but perks up immediately. “But it’s not too late to call her!”

“Sure.” I reach for my phone but don’t feel it in my back pocket. Natasha peers over from the top of the hill, meeting my eyes with a vengeful gaze that could set suns on fire. “Is something wrong, Natasha?”

“Actually, y-yeah! Ultima k-killed my grandparents in a street raid, and I’ll never forgive you for it!” she shouts.

“No! You’ve got it all wrong! We’re your friendly neighbors helping you dig out the gem!” Derrick yells back with a big smile.

“Great Holy Superiors. She will not fall for that crap,” Lynn mutters, reaching for her violin. “Just say the word, Commander.” She’s already in position, but I don’t know if her music will travel that far.

It should be combat first, powers second. Natasha is too far to safely disarm but also a threat to us.

The twins and Lynn look at me, waiting for my orders. If we attack her, it’s bad news for us. C’mon, dammit. Think!

I take a few steps forward. “Natasha, let’s talk about this! Ultima would never hurt–”

She interjects, jingling the car keys as she points to each of us. “All of ya are liars! I’ve waited for a moment like this, and I have nothing left to–”

I shoot lightning from my two fingertips, striking the keys out of Natasha’s hand. She wails and holds her wrist, upper lip curling and revealing her teeth. I concentrate on my body until the sparks fly around me. Once engulfed in a standing bolt of lightning, I zap to the car. Natasha screams and moves aside just as I shift back into human form and grab the car keys from the ground.

“That’s enough,” I growl.

“No. I alerted my team when I called Rebecca. Elite will burn you down,” Natasha says.

Her irises illuminate a fiery ring of light as she jerks her hand towards the fields where my team is and blasts a fireball from her palm and into the grass. Before she can conjure another, I grab her wrists and let the power within me hum until I can feel her body jerk from the electrocution. I’m already knee deep into “attacking” Elite’s member, so there’s not much more damage I can do.

Natasha collapses into my arms, completely unconscious, so I drag her body and open the trunk to toss her into. The burning smell of grass alerts me, but the faint sound of Lynn’s violin must mean she’s taking care of it.

I pick up Natasha’s phone, but it’s locked and asking for a code. I hold onto it and grab my phone from the backseat to send a distress signal in the U-Knit app. They’re not going to enjoy coming to Emerald Island for this.

I peer over the hill at the twins and Lynn, all giving me questionable looks. Smoke rises from the wet patch that Lynn conjured and manipulated water to drench.

“I think we should just leave the gem here!” I shout.

“And then what?! Run home?” Derrick asks. His eyes are squinting from the sun behind me. “She probably told everyone, so there’ll be Elite members waiting at every station.”

“Alright, get it up here,” I demand. The twins scurry back into the crater, and with one of them on each side, lift the uneven cut gem and toss it in the wheelbarrow. Lynn runs up the hill with Derrick behind her and Eric behind him, rolling up the gem.

“What now?” Lynn huffs. “Did I see you put her in the trunk?”

“Ya, you sure did. Anger like hers simply can’t go ignored.” I toss the keys at her, only to realize I’ve been trembling this whole time. “Take the twins and the car. I don’t know where we are but just keep driving. I’ll be behind you with the gem.”

“Are...are you sure, Commander?” Lynn questions.

“Go. NOW.” I grab the wheelbarrow handles from Eric to get a running start and push it down the road. Lynn gets in the car with the twins, and they speed by me. My body lurches forward as I shift into a human-shaped lightning form while pushing the wheelbarrow with its wheel going nuts from the fast speed. I catch up to the car and tail it as Lynn drives. Eric looks out the back window and waves at me.

We pass a wooden sign that says, “Amethyst Station” in purple paint with a black arrow pointing ahead. Lynn speeds up as dust flies in front of me. We’re still on the road in the middle of nowhere. A few miles later, city buildings surface. The train tracks are clear enough to see a departing train, but the road ahead turns into asphalt. Before we enter, two incoming cars stop and park sideways, blocking us.

Lynn slams on the brakes while I maneuver around to shift back and slow my feet down. The car squeals to a stop, curving slightly and leaving tire streaks in the road. I stop beside them and park the wheelbarrow as they emerge from the car. We’re a few hundred feet from the blocked vehicles, so I have a better view of what’s ahead.

I look behind us to find more cars blocking our rear. We’re surrounded by an open field that doesn’t seem claimed as farmland.

“Master Cedric will be so angry,” Lynn says. “We will all be punished.”

“Relax. I have everything under control. I’ll take full responsibility,” I reply.

Eric nudges me. “Thanks for always looking out for us, Rio.”

My members flank behind me as we walk down the road toward the first two parked cars. Waiting for us is a large, disgusting sea of maroon, gold, and white—about ten against four of us. The cars behind us unleash five more Elites.

“Is this even necessary?” Eric asks, placing a hand on his hip. “A-Are we telling them about–”

“No. Natasha ran away as far as they’re aware,” I tell them.

Derrick huffs. “Lynn, how many people can you hypnotize at once?”

“I do not know,” she murmurs with sadness dripping.

A member with black hair is front and center of the group. I almost believe it’s the mysterious girl, but the twins’ lack of reaction convinces me otherwise.

“Rio!” Katarzyna’s voice calms me; I turn around to see my Ultima members assemble. Scotland, Clyde, and Drake are among them with a parked van behind the second Elite car.

I step forward while the black-haired girl stops her group and steps forward. I finally recognize her: Elite Commander Rebecca Foster. The Elites lurking behind us finally move around with stank expressions to join the main group.

“Commander Rio,” Rebecca addresses me with a quick, firm bow before rising. I return the gesture. “We were notified by Natasha Redly that an intervention was needed for excavating the gem that’s polluting this area.” Her raw and scratchy voice catches me off guard.

“Greetings, Commander Rebecca. I was given a directive by Master Cedric to assist Natasha with the gem.” I gesture to the wheelbarrow behind us. “As you can see, we’ve successfully removed the gem and will take it back with us to Onyx for further testing. Your team is more than welcome to inspect the premises; it’s just further down the road.”

“Ah yes, we will be doing that, thank you.” Rebecca purses her full lips. Her stony, expectant stare chills the air. “Where did Natasha go, by the way? Her phone’s signal ends here.”

“Natasha attempted to inflict harm and burn the area, seeking revenge. When you inspect the area, you’ll see the burnt grass. She dropped her phone before running away.” I pull out the device and saunter forward to give it to Elite’s Commander. I scan the crowd behind her, but it’s all a blur of scowls and bared teeth.

Savages. All of them.

“Much appreciated, Commander Rio. I apologize for my member’s violent reaction. We will address this when she returns to the base.”

My heart pulses loud enough in my neck as I keep myself upright and walk backward to rejoin my group.

“If I may, Commander Rebecca, there’s another incident I’d like to inquire about while we have the opportunity to speak on concerning matters,” I begin. “A different Elite member attacked my agents a few days ago in a cave on Topaz Island. I’ve sent the report to Cedric, who will likely review it with Azul. I’m hoping you can follow up on that.”

“Didn’t your agents disrupt the investigation in that cave?” Rebecca counters.

“Unknowingly, ya, but the reaction was uncalled for. Your code is combat first, powers second, right? Why didn’t she follow that? Why didn’t Natasha follow that?” I retort.

Rebecca raises a hand and shakes her head. “Don’t. Just don’t, Commander. I’ll follow up on the incidents and email you once it’s—”

“SCREW ELITE!” Clyde roars from behind me. “NOTHING BUT A BUNCHA PANSIES PRETENDING TO BE IMPORTANT.”

“Clyde!” I hiss when I whip my head toward him.

He puckers his lips and slips further back into my Ultima group with a massive eye roll.

Rebecca smirks. “Heh, real classy, Ultima. Take care.” She snaps her fingers, and everyone moves swiftly in a fluid motion back to their respective vehicles. The Elites who were from the car behind us mutter obscenities and bump shoulders with us. Clyde’s growl rumbles to the front of my group.

“Rotten... SCUM!” he bellows.

Clyde is faster than my physical form, but someone else is quicker than both of us as he tries to grab an unsuspecting wavy blond Elite member. My teammates create a tornado of audible gasps around me as my attention slips away when I spot the flash of gold.

An invisible force blasts Clyde onto his back while gasping for air. His eyes dart everywhere as he slowly sits up. I kneel beside him, tempted to punch him in the throat for his recklessness, but...

That unknown power agitates my confidence and ignites my curiosity.

Everything is still as my eyes fix on the purple translucent force field surrounding the blond girl and second Elite member. Short black hair like a tsunami of crows, a warm fire glows under the brown hues of her radiant skin, golden eyes that could strangle the sun and light the universe.

“Rio, Rio, Rio!” someone whispers fiercely behind me—one of the twins. “Rio! That’s her!”

As I thought.

My body moves without thinking, leaving Clyde to help himself off the ground. I drift forward to come before the infamous purple bubble that stopped the twins in their tracks that fateful day. There’s an internal tug I want to ignore, but I’m locked in her presence. Something is different about this one. She’s different.

She wears a grimace that leaks trouble but also pain. The kind of pain Natasha wore on her uniform when it was too late to realize. It’s evident when an Elite member dislikes Ultima, but there’s always a different expression when an Elite member was hurt by Ultima. Maybe multiple times, or maybe one devastating moment that altered the trajectory of their life.

Yet another threat to society.

“S-Sorry,” I mumble.

The girl blinks, breaking my own trance. “What?”

“Commander Rio! Is your team done antagonizing my members?” Rebecca chokes darkly, her lips curling up. Katarzyna touches my shoulder. Worry and shame wash her pale face.

“L-Let’s go. Don’t let your pride kill us today,” she whispers. I look back at Elite’s Commander bitterly.

“Yes. My apologies for my agent’s outburst. Consider us even,” I tell Rebecca. She nods, maintaining her cold smile as she snaps her fingers again for her team to resume leaving.

As we drift off our separate ways, I reflect on today’s events, curiosity polluting my thoughts. Most team members will have questions about the girl now that her identity is halfway revealed.

“Still gonna do date night here?” I ask Eric.

He gags. “Absolutely not. I’ve had enough Emerald for one day.”

With the truck the extra agents came in, we load the gem in the back. I open the rental car trunk, revealing Natasha Redly still unconscious. The members crowd around me.

“S-Sir!” Scotland gasps. “You had her this whole time? Wh-what are we gonna do with her?”

“The same thing we do to all the other Elites we capture,” I reply.