Terra was in the workout room in her apartment complex. She was doing the bench press. She sat down the dumbbell with a crash. She sat up. Sweating. She looked at the time. She got to her room and quickly changed clothes. She was wearing A grey crop-top and jeans under a brown fur coat. She wore black warm-up pants. And Her hair was completely let down. She had socks and sandals on. She made her way to the dojo Millie went to. She opened the door. Millie's sensei, Hazel smiled at her.
Hazel: Hey Terra! Nice to see you. Hey Millie. Terra's here.
Millie: Hey Terra!
Terra: What's up?
Millie: Not much. How about you?
Terra: That's for Bibble and Sip.
Millie: Right.
Hazel: Hey, you're lucky you made it in when you did.
Hazel pointed outside. It was thundering and raining outside.
Terra: Lucky me, I guess.
Hazel: Everyone line up!
All of Hazel's students, including Millie lined up. He had about ten students.
Hazel: Everyone, meet Terra. She'll be showing up here on occasion.
Terra: Yeah. Nice to meet you all.
Hazel: Alright! We're going to do some light sparring! Everyone throw on some gear!
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Terra and Millie ran through the rain. They got to Bibble and Sip and rushed in. They ordered their normals and sat down.
Terra: Remember that spinning back? You could've nailed me with that. But you were telegraphing with your foot. Try to make the turn fluid.
Millie: Yeah, thanks.
Terra: See? Like this.
Terra threw a slow spinning back kick in the middle of the restaurant.
Millie: Not in the middle of the restaurant!
Terra: Ha. Right.
Terra sat down.
Terra: But it does look like that. How do you keep focused when training?
Millie: Whenever I go there I train like I'm depending on my life. Because I am. That night I could get into a fight where I misplace a move. And it could be all over.
Terra: Oh yeah, how's all that going?
Millie: Still new meta and mutant crimes are going up. But it would be worse if it wasn't for the people working to stop it. Plus, it's more than a service now. It's a job.
Terra: Really?
Millie: I got hired by B.L.A.D.E. I'm still waiting for a position. But I'm excited. The benefits are so awesome.
Terra: Yeah, that's what I thought when I joined the Chaste. Well, I guess I didn't really have a choice in the matter.
Millie: I don't think their anything like the Chaste. They are much bigger. Besides, the benefits are more financial. It's almost like being a vetran.
Terra: I hope it works out good for you.
Millie: Oh yeah, you went MIA for a couple days. What happened?
Terra: I had to take care of some old stuff. I met a guy named Kai.
Millie: You met a guy?
Terra: Why would you say it like that? He's like a big brother if anything. Kind of an asshole. But he means well.
Millie: That's nice. Hey, I fought him one day. He was being an asshole to Amelia.
Terra: I doubt he meant it! Like I said. He means well.
Millie: I guess I kind of feel bad for smashing him through the roof of a building.
Terra: You what?
Millie: We fought. And I smashed him through some glass and into a building. He probably walked it off.
Terra: Either way, we took out a crime syndicate of villains. And we took care of the Chaste.
Millie: You saw the Chaste?
Terra: Don't say their name too loud. I feel like Stick could hear me even if he was across the world.
Millie: Right.
Terra: How's Amelia?
Millie: She's doing a little better. Since the incident with Phobos. She started taking meds.
Terra: I mean, Amelia really shouldn't be your problem. She deserves a good life. But should you have to sacrifice so much of yours for hers?
Millie: We protect. Both of us do. Why wouldn't I want to protect a friend?
Terra: I know you think of Amelia as more than a friend.
Millie: Is it really that obvious?
Terra: Just, hope it's a good investment.
Millie: I hope.
They finished up their drinks. And bid farewell. Terra made her way to T.H.O.R.N headquarters.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Terra walked into their headquarters. She realized the place was renovated. With computers, newer looking tech, and a training room. Tempest walked out of the training room.
Terra: Uh, hi.
Tempest: I thought we were done with you.
Terra: I got a call from your boss.
Tempest: The president?
Terra: Yeah. He told me to meet you here.
Tempest: Probably because he wanted you out of our way, T.H.O.R.N is under new management.
Terra: By who?
A man with circular glasses and a full beard walked into the room. He had an open tuxedo shirt with a tie that had an american flag pattern on it. He had black hair, and his beard came down just a little under his chin.
???: Me. You, young lady, can call me Simon.
Terra: Nice to meet you.
Simon paced around the room while talking.
Simon: Where's the rest of the crew, Temp?
Tempest: Don't call me that, they're on their way.
Simon: In that case, Terra. We've been down a member since Sae went missing. You wouldn't happen to know where she is?
Terra thought about Stick.
Terra: Have no idea. I fought and beat her. And she left. Haven't seen her since.
Simon: Such a shame, I liked her.
Terra became a little uneasy from this statement. How could anyone like Sae after seeing what she did?
Simon: We have lots of work to do. And I was wondering if you wanted to join the team. T.H.O.R.N needs you.
Terra: I-I'm good, honestly.
Simon: Why? We could be making history.
Terra: I'd rather do things my way. I would be happy to take meta jobs. Plus, last time I joined a team…Things didn't work out great.
Simon: If you'll at least be on standby, that'd be great.
Terra: My phone lines always open.
Simon: Delightful.
Terra left. On the way out she saw Lobo.
Lobo: You meet the new boss?
Terra: Yeah.
Lobo: Keep an eye on him. There's something about him I don't like.
Terra: That's kinda mysterious.
Lobo: It's because he is. Plus, he thinks he has privilege over us, you know.
Terra: What?
Lobo: Us women. I can see it in his eye.
Terra: Riiight. Hey, I forgot to thank you for saving my life after that whole thing last year.
Lobo: Has it really been that long?
Terra: Yeah, feels like 2021 flew by.
Terra went back home. She opened her closet. Her armor hung there. It was fully finished. She took it off its stand and put it on. She had melded her breastplate into one piece, and she had shoulder pads, shin guards, her waist belt was raised a bit so it protected her lower stomach. It fit her perfectly. She also had the same gauntlets she had already made. The armor was made so it fit nicely over her clothes. And she had also created a new spear. It was retractable, with a lock. It had a small mode, and a long mode. She had made the blade thinner as opposed to wider. When shortened, it looked like a sort of knife, and in long mode it took the form of a normal spear. She had a holder for it on her waist belt. From her waist fell three wide, short brown pteruges to her side and behind her.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tempest opened the door to his small apartment room. His room was very small, almost smaller than Terra's. He had a kitchen, and a couch with a TV in front of it. In said living room there were swords hanging all around. He took out his sword. It was bloody. He took out a cloth. And cleaned his sword. He sat it down next to himself on a night table. He laid down on his couch. And drifted off to sleep.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
He opened his eyes. He looked outside of some sort of testing tube. It was cold in the water. He saw a bubble float past himself. A figure walked in front of the tank. It took out a syringe. There was a chair in front of the testing tube. With someone on it. He banged on the glass for some reason. The figure looked up at the testing tube. And took out a gun and shot the person in a chair. They took out the syringe and flicked it.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tempest was startled awake. He was sweating.
Tempest: That again…
Tempest got up, and picked up his sword. He strapped the sheath to his armor. And walked out of his apartment. Outside there were crappy streets. With a group of people protesting. They were walking down the street. They had signs with the phrase "No more metas!" Tempest rolled his eyes.
Tempest: Animals. I suppose we have lots in common.