It was the time of night when the full moon stood in the middle of the Dallas sky and could litter its reflection into an otherwise dark alley in the inner city. Illuminated was a struggle between a large, greasy man in a blazer that was so worn it had to be from a second-hand store and the buxom blonde who was screaming as he held her down and tried to undo the zipper on his jeans. As he wrestled with his fly, a strange mist flooded the passage between the streets. What made it most strange was that fog formed and you could see the moonlight despite the fact that it had been raining since yesterday.
"If I were you, scum, I would unhand that woman before you call upon the wrath of Luna, Goddess of the Moon."
From within the mist, an average-sized woman clad in black leather armor and crimson, hooded cloak emerged. Her hair was a long and deep brunette, skin pale like the moon itself, and her lips were painted to match her cape. The color of her irises couldn't be seen since her eyes glowed like tiny stars planted in her skull. She made a motion as if drawing a weapon from her hip and a sickled blade made of hard light formed in her grasp. The man jumped up and snapped, like coming out of a daze. Looking around, he saw the cloaked woman with her impossible weapon and took off running without knowing what was going on at all.
"Darn. I only suppressed his will to lure you out here, but I was actually hoping he'd get further before you showed up," explained the women who previously looked to be the victim of this circumstance.
"What… what do you mean, I came here to save you, ma'am."
"Which is exactly what I hoped for, Luna. Oh, I'm sorry, we haven't formally met," She said as her clothing and form slowly shifted. Her long blonde hair shortened to slicked-back look that barely reached the nape of her neck. Her denim skirt became loose jeans as her blood-red fur coat and white tube top morphed into a leather jacket and tee-shirt of the same colors. The heels of her boots flattened down and became more suited for combat as well. And finally, her make up faded away as her body transitioned to that of a lean man only five and a half feet tall. "My name is Mack, nice to meet you."
Woken violently from his nightly slumber, Valor had a bad feeling about that night. He could always tell when Mack was causing trouble, though up until recently it only harmless pranks on the family and house guests like flicking light switches and rearranging their stuff when they turned around. Normally the windows in his house open without much noise, but with the storm, he'd never get away with it. He'd have to sneak out through the sliding door in the back so his parents might just think the other one was letting the dogs out. Already changed into his uniform, if you could even barely call it such, Valor closed the door behind him and froze up when he saw his dad sitting on the back porch having a smoke. He didn't know what to do. If he told his dad what was going on, would he even believe him and would he freak out? Even if he didn't believe it, there is no way a kid his age should be sneaking out this late. For someone who could tank a miniature nuke without being phased, Valor was terrified by the thoughts running through his head.
"So, are you gonna go do what you gotta do or what?"
"Excuse me?"
"Listen, Tommy, I wasn't born yesterday. It was more like thirty-six years ago. Most people probably don't want to see it and your mom is just an idiot, but I'm not. I can recognize my own son running around the metroplex helping people and showing up on every news channel. You think I didn't put two and two together when you started easily earning badges the older and bigger scouts physically had trouble getting?"
"So you aren't mad?"
"I will be if you aren't home before your mom's meds wear off. Now scram before I have to smack you for not doing the right thing."
Valor took off into the rain, flipping off the fence to their yard and hitting the streets. He summoned his new phone and hit the speed dial.
"Hey kid, wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon. Checkin' in on me, 'cause I swear I've been on my best behavior, mostly."
"No, that's not it. I know it's only been a weekend, but I could sure use Diaphanes' help."
"I remember the offer, but what could you of all people need my help with."
"It's a… family issue. Normally I wouldn't ask for help with this, but I think there might be more than I could handle alone."
"Yikes."
"You could say that again. Just meet me near the West End. Pretty sure you'll see where to go from there."
Back downtown, Mack continued to egg on the self-proclaimed moon goddess while doing what he did best; fighting. With time being so much slower in Limbo, Mack has had more than enough time to study most forms of combat. So while a hooked sword would typically trump most other melee weapons in single combat, he decided to show off by turning his guitar into a pair of chains just because he knew better. Luna swept in fast just like Mack or Valor would; quick enough cut through the air itself. The resulting sonic boom sent leaves, litter, and other lesser things flying as well as setting off all surrounding car alarms. An attack that would be unavoidable and lethal to just any mere human, but for Mack…
"Psh, child's play," he said wrapping his chain around her blade. "My usual sparring partner is way faster than that. You're gonna have to step it up, little missy." He then snagged her waist with the other chain and swung her around. The chains lengthened as she flew into a brick wall. Livid, she rose to her feet and rushed down her opponent once more.
"How is this for stepping it up!?"
"Yawn," he said avoiding her reckless swings with ease. "You've got the strength, the speed, the pizzazz, but you lack any form. You lack experience. And most of all," Mack uttered slamming his fist into her gut, "you lack the attitude it takes to win."
Luna popped off the ground and bounced a quarter mile down the road. Mack turned his back and started to walk away. He had bigger fish to fry anyway. Being no great fool, he knew Valor would show up soon enough. He has a funny way of finding Mack anytime he shows up on this plain, but the guy wouldn't have it any other way. As he strolled off to find a more fun place to fight the real challenge, a sudden searing pain arose in his shoulder. All he saw was white light erupt from the other side.
"Ow! Now that was unexpected," he exclaimed turning back at the girl who gripped a bow of hard light. "If you have tricks like that, you should really lead out with them. Especially against someone of my stature."
"You're stature? Bah, you're barely as big as me. Besides, I am a goddess of the night, you could not com…"
"Hahaha, who are you lying to? Me, yourself, or the other one?"
"You mock me, after that shot?"
"You are no goddess, just as I am no demon. We might spin the fib, but such titles are beneath us."
"Then what have you call us?"
"A good friend of mine refers to our likes as…"
Mack was cut off by a small fist crashing into his jaw at upwards of Mach 12.
"Anomalies," Valor said with a rather displeased expression.
"Ah, speak of the devil, if it isn't my favorite person."
"Mack, why in God's name are you back so soon? Any other time you were fine with leaving me all alone for months on end, but now that you decide starting trouble for everyone else is just as good an excuse to 'play.'"
"Oh, don't be that way. I told you, I came here to help. It's just now I found a new plaything and really wanted to take her for a spin."
"Yeah, right, you sure are helping by making a mess of everything and possibly ruining lives. Thanks."
"Anytime, think nothing of it."
"Hey!" They both looked over to Luna still holding her bowstring taut. "I'm still here you know."
"I'll deal with you in a minute after I send off this jerk." Mack gave off a posh look of shock to sarcastically woe toward Valor, but Luna wasn't happy to be dismissed like that. She came out to help the meek and feels just as capable as anyone else. She released her arrow at Valor to show that she was not to be put off so easily. The arrow flew as fast as the light it was made from. Within the blink of an eye, an explosion of light and plasma let loose at the boys' location. As the light dispersed, it became clearer to see the tiny star resting in Valor's palm.
"Very nice, I wasn't aware your reaction time had gotten so fast."
"How," Luna muttered in confusion, "how did you do that?"
"Oh come on, it's simple. He did it the same way you do."
"Ease up on her Mack, she clearly doesn't understand how her powers work, she just acts."
"Wow, that's pretty sad. Even you managed to figure out what you were doing without me explaining it."
"Not that I'd even figure out that I could without you showing up."
"Oh you, give yourself a little more credit. I only sped things up for you."
"Will someone please tell me what just happened!" Luna screamed in anger. "Why didn't my arrow pierce you?"
"I'll explain it. After all, I came here to have fun tonight and I simply can't pass up a chance to monologue."
"I'll give you this, but make it quick so I can send you home and go back to bed."
"Ha, that's if you even can. Like you, I learn," Mack retorted before vanishing. In a fraction of a second, he reappeared behind the young woman. "Boo!"
"AHCK!" She screamed and fired her bow from the anxiety. Mack easily vanished and appeared again between each shot until she calmed back down and he rested in a nearby tree.
"Physics is a touchy thing you know," he stated while apparating an apple into his hand and taking a bite.
"Lots of complicated math involved, but if really make the effort, maybe even build a fancy doodad, there isn't much you can't do. Smash atoms, terraform planets, reach near proximity to the speed of light; all of this is possible through conventional means. Much of what we do, falls outside of those limitations. And I know what you're thinking because you've had to have been told at least a few stories in your short life, but it's not magic either. With magic you can defy the means of thermodynamics, but not the ends. It's like a shortcut or a backdoor. Magic could bring me everything I need for a fire and spark it up right where I want it, set electrons to fly off for a bolt of lightning from my fingertips, or perhaps even lift someone through the air, though I've yet to witness that last one. Even with all it can do, the system still reacts to magic in the same way as everything else and the magic fades as soon as you stop putting energy into it. But there is something more fascinating than anything else. The father-code of the system itself… um, what was it you called it again?"
"Entropic existencience."
"Ah, yes. Existencience. Such a beautiful word, isn't it? Anyhow, existencience allows us to mess with the world at its most base level. Run at speeds greater than anything built by man without our bodies and clothes being torn up by the forces of friction. Alter our clothes and form without even thinking about it. Creating stars so small they'd burn out instantly or never even fully form in the first place. Or in your case, condense light into a solid object without it gaining mass or losing volatility. The fabric of the universe adjusts to our actions and unless we will it hard enough it not to, it stabilizes itself to the best of its ability afterward."
"You're monsters."
"Welcome to the club. Sorry, but we're out of membership cards."
"So that's how you guys work." A familiar voice echoed from the alley Mack and Luna were previously within. "I was awfully curious before, but this really has the gears turning now."
Diaphanes finally made himself known, although they were all aware that he had been standing there since before Mack gave his little spiel. This time he was wearing a new, blue and cyan, spandex costume, likely to look more traditionally heroic since he agreed to give Valor a hand. He even had the Greek letter Delta embroidered on his chest since it was the first letter of his new name.
"Oh, I've been watching you. You're really fast, and pretty cute, too."
"Um… are you coming onto me? I'm sorry, I don't play for that team."
Mack looked down at himself and laughed as if he had forgotten something.
"Don't worry, I usually don't either. Though, I do have a weakness for the fairer sex from time to time. Speaking of, where is my new plaything? Ah, there you are!"
With a grin, Mack ran to Luna ready to have his fun. She readied her sword again, but before she could attempt to defend herself Valor popped up between them and kicked him into the night sky. Before he could turn around, the young lady swung at him. Valor rolled swiftly and she only cleaved his cape. It grew back as he stood there and reassessed the situation. The girl was confused and ready to attack anyone for her own safety and Mack was going to be returning to the ground any moment.
"Diaphanes, you handle the girl and I'll send Mack home."
"Got it!"
"Actually," Valor retracted his idea after remembering why he met Robert in the first place, "I changed my mind. You distract Mack and I'll take care of her."
"Party pooper. Fine."
As Mack landed, Diaphanes grabbed him by his jacket collar and took off at Mach 40. They were out of town in seconds flat. Meanwhile, Valor found himself narrowly evading swing after swing from Luna's hard light khopesh. Anger steamed out of each slash as if he could hear internal screaming.
"Why are you so upset?"
"I'm not," she grunted amid her attacks,
"I'm fine!"
Valor stopped evading and grabbed the blade. She tried moving it, but he didn't budge a millimeter while giving her an unimpressed look. She dissolved her khopesh and fell back a bit. Recomposing herself, Luna formed two small daggers and dove back in.
"I just.. hate... bullies," Luna uttered after each motion. "A boy your age wouldn't understand."
"A boy my age? You're like two years younger than me!"
"What?" She was caught off guard, tripping and landing face-first on the pavement. "How… how did you find out?"
"Oh c'mon, Mack likes to play pretend, too. It's not hard for someone with my powers to see you for who you really are."
Luna sat there stunned. She thought her form was flawless, yet she was still apparent to those two. She couldn't even touch the guy if he didn't want her to and with that, all her hopes of holding her own in the fight were gone. She hadn't even been helping for long at all; not even but a few weeks had she been out here each night. Now Luna feared it was all over. With her disguise blown anyway and her concentration on the persona fading, she couldn't help but start crying.
"Listen, I'm not a bully. Unlike my counterpart Mack, I didn't strike back realizing the difference in our abilities. You don't have to fight me."
"It's not that. I was bad and made a mess of things. Now yer gonna put me somewhere I can't leave and I'll never be able to help people again."
"Shh," Valor uttered softly as he moved and held her around the shoulder, "No, it's alright. This is Mack's fault. You were just trying to stop him. It was a stupid idea, I'll you give that much, but not your fault."
"I only started doing this because I saw y'all's fight on TV. I figured if there was someone as strong as you out there that more heroes were needed. I just wanted to be tough, like everyone else."
"You don't have to be tough."
"What?"
"You don't have to be tough. Mack and I aren't tough, we just don't feel emotions in the same way other people do. Makes it easier for us, I guess. You just gotta be you. Doing the right thing helps, too. Wish Mack would understand that."
"I think I can be me… once I figure out what that is."
"Yeah, not even sure I know myself yet. Bit of advice though: stay positive. Crying on the battlefield or lashing out in frustration can lead to mistakes you don't want to make."
"And we wouldn't want to be making mistakes, now would we," Diaphanes snarked returning just in time to hear that last part."
"Mack got bored that fast?"
"Yes… and I feel violated."
"Sorry about that. Hey, do you have any more of those phones?"
"A bunch. Girly here joining the side of awesome?"
"That is if she wants."
Still wiping the tears off her face, Luna shook her head rapidly.
"Okay, but they're all back at my place."
"That's fine, I'll run back with you. How long could it possibly take at our speed?"
"Like two and a half minutes. I found a nice loft in the Big Apple."
"Stay right here, Luna. We'll be back in five."
The two took off like they were racing again, covering the expanse of the United States in the time it would take to brush your teeth. Robert's new apartment was set up like a live-in lab. The only spot that wasn't a total mess was his workstation which housed chemicals with names Valor wasn't sure he could even pronounce. Without his sort of vision, he was surprised Diaphanes could find anything in that dump and yet he got to the phones first.
"Got 'em. Now let's get back to that lovely little lady."
"Ew. First off, she's like seven."
"Huh?" Diaphanes questioned in complete disbelief.
"And secondly, don't get too attached to her."
"Are you holding out on me, Valor? Because if I'm going to assist you against mystical beings that could kill me, like Mack, I'm going to need you to be upfront with me."
"She's not real… well, not in the sense that you or I are."
"I don't follow."
"She's a projection. The personification of a young girl's subconscious, or at least part of it. As far as I could tell by looking at her soul, the girl is like me or Mack but doesn't know it. Luna is the part of her that wants to overcome her troubles brought to life."
"Wait a second. Are you saying you can look at people's souls because as a man of science, I find it unsettling at the thought that they even exist?"
"Oh yeah, and the real kicker is that not everyone even has one. What I'm getting at though is at any time Luna could be gone. If the projection is put under too much stress and destroyed or if the girl stops needing her, she ceases to be."
"Yikes."
"So, let's not let her know this info and keep our emotions distant enough. Until that time, she's just part of the team."