Days later, Black Phoenix and Skyfire sat perched atop a building across from the night club Rose Colored, the lights of the club a bright beacon lighting the night sky. People were lined up waiting to enter the club.

{ Current Powers:

Poison Generation

Psychokinesis

Draining Touch }

"So this is your club?" SKyfire asked.

"Mostly, I bought it for Rose. It was also useful for money laundering," Black Phoenix answered.

"Just Rose? I feel bad for Thorn" Skyifre quipped

"You shouldn't, Thorn has an underground fight club called Crown of Thorns that's just for her. I appreciate my lady completely," Black Phoenix shot back.

Skyfire rolled her eyes with a chuckle, "alright, what's the plan?"

"I think she is in there, but I have to be able to get in there. Do I go in there with my face and hope the Lunar King can get a private audience with Rose or do I go in incognito and try to sneak to her."

I can't figure out the right play here. It's only been a couple months for me but it's been years for her and I don't know how things are with her and 'Lunar King'. Still a stupid name.

"Well, from what I heard, she and Lunar King have been on the outs for years now. I would suggest trying to finnesse your way in to see her."

Four guys arrogantly strode to the front door of the club and were immediately let in skipping the crowded line. They were all wearing royal blue shirts with a crescent moon on it except the largest one in the back who had a half moon on his shirt and they all wore white caps.

"Who are these mooks?" Black Phoenix asked.

"Lunar King calls them his pawns. The moons on their shirt represent their rank and power. The crescents are powerless, the half moon is powered but not something that strong."

"Seems kind of silly" Black Phoenix opined. "If they're wearing shirts why not just arrest them?"

"They technically haven't done anything wrong yet. We can't arrest them for wearing the uniform, they're not Team Rocket. Half the time we try following these goons, they always end up going somewhere like this to hang out. Makes me wonder when these villlains actually get any work done."

A man came out dragging a woman by her hair into the alley next to the club, she was struggling uselessly but wasn't making any noise. Skyfire stood prepared to intercept but Black Phoenix held out a hand to stop her.

"What? I can stop him."

"Yeah, I know. Don't do that."

"What are you talking about? He's going to rape her."

"Yeah and he paid a lot of money for the pleasure to do so."

"What? What the hell are you talking about?" Skyfire interrogated angrily.

"That's Holly, a girl that worked for me. Rose Colored isn't just a dance club there's a back room too. You didn't notice that she wasn't screaming? That the bouncer didn't look at her at all? She didn't want to draw the attention."

"You had sex workers?"

"Yep, these people have powers that rely strongly on sexual energy. Basically like succubi and incubi without the draining people's life energy thing. Holly is a real sweet girl but she's been doing it so long she needs a bit of the rough stuff now. She heals quickly though, almost instantly."

Skyfire deflated a bit, "that's kind of weird."

"Tell me about it. I wasn't in love with the idea but prostitution isn't illegal here, just mostly frowned upon. I interviewed Holly to be a waitress, but she spent half her time there picking up patrons and taking them home. We just skipped the middle man so to speak."

"What's her power?"

"She can feel lust and sexual energies and her body reacts to it. Then in the middle of the act she can absorb the sexual energy and use it to preserve herself and her body. Then she uses a secretion her body makes too much of as a result of her lust she sensed and puts it in the person. It'd revitalizes the body, people have said they felt 10 years younger after sleeping with her. Only problem is, if she does it too much with the same person, without significant time in between, they could die. Like overdosing on medicine. Thus why she has so many partners."

"That sounds like a rough way to live."

"If I've learned anything it's that powers aren't always glamorous. Just look at your friends; Universa, always having to see everything, or Arcturian, having amazingly addictive powers that he can't use unless he wants to die. This shit is rough. I don't even have an established power set."

They sat silently watching the door, a time passed but nothing really happened further.

"Well, nothing I can do from up here. I need to try to get in there." Black Phoenix stated before bouncing up to his feet and hopping off of the roof into the alley on the side of the building.

"What the hell?" Skyfire reacted,

[Suit Skill Used: Booster Boots Lvl 3 - Successful ]

Blue flames leaked out of the bottom of Black Phoenix's boots and his descent was slowed down a bit to an easier touchdown.

[ Suit Skill Level Up: Booster Boots Lvl 3 has become Booster Boots Lvl 4 ]

"I hate you." Skyfire said to him after she rappelled down the five story building with her firebird shaped grappling gun.

"Forgot I had those?"

"I did."

"No problems Sky." he said patting her shoulder.

He pulled up his menu and unequiped his Black Phoenix suit, underenath was a nice black suit with a power blue shirt and black shoes.

"Were you wearing your suit underneath your Black Phoenix suit?" Camilla asked taking off her cowl. "Audrey? Dress please."

"You got it," Audrey answered producing a nice blue dress that complimented Jam's suit.

"I don't know. I don't feel it under the suit, I"m not really sure if it stays on my body or switches places." Jam answwered her before casting illusion to make her a privacy curtain.

"Thanks."

"No problem," Jam said turned around. He pulled his secret identity glasses out of his jacket pocket and placing them on his face.

Camilla walked through the illusion causing it to dissipate and gave her Skyfire suit to Audrey who put it in her inventory.

"This is so much better than when I had to go all the way back to the HoD or to my apartment just to get my Kid Mighty suit. You're awesome Audrey." Camilla complimented.

"Thank you," the pink glowing orb responded.

Camilla's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at Jam, "this is going to take some getting used to. I'm trying to tell my brain that it's you but I still see some really uninteresting blob."

"Audrey, how far away from me can you get?"

"About six feet," she answered.

"You're going to have to go back to the HoD. If you're with us, they're going to think you're a camera."

"Sure I guess. I'm just kind of worried because Mr. Probably was able to disconnect me from your implants."

"It'll be fine."

Audrey's orb digitized and teleported away back to the Hall of Destiny. Camila and Jam strode up to the back of the short line that had mostly emptied out. They stood before the large bouncer, the man had three eyes, all in a straight line under his brow. His skin was yellow and his nose was too small for his face. He was definitely Sharry.

{ Name: Carlos Mulin

HP: 200/200

SP: 250/250 }

"Men 10 delrens, women 15 delrens," the deep voiced Carlos announced.

When it was their turn in line Jam held out a 50 delren note and went to hand it to Carlos who ignored him.

"Sorry buddy, you're not getting in here. Move along," Carlos dismissed.

"What do you mean I'm not getting in? I have my cash right here," Jam growled.

"You gotta meet a certain standard for this club and you're not working. Keep it moving dude."

Jam slid his glasses off his face and looked at Carlos. "Carlos you're letting me into that building."

"Nice trick buddy but you're not the first guy to pretend to be the Lunar King. Would you like to find out what happened to the others?"

"Carlos, if you don't let me in. I"m going to call your parole officer and let him know about exactly who you're working for."

Carlos rolled all three of his eyes and looked past Jam.

"Then I'm going to call Ashley."

Carlos' eyes shot open wide and he looked at Jam's sinister grin.

"How would your mom feel about your current work?"

"Sir, of course. Please come in."

"Good to hear, do me a favor and don't tell your boss that I'm here. I need to surprise her."

"Yes sir."

Camilla and Jam both walked in, Jam sliding Carlos the 50 delren note anyway. As soon as they entered the pair separated, Jam going to the back of the dance floor and Camilla finding a seat at the bar. The music pumped and the people all grinded against each other. Jam couldn't remember the last time he'd been in a nightclub on Earth but he remembered it smelled of sweat and perfume. Rose Colored smelled faintly of roses and the subtle scent seemed to blanket all other smells.

Then Rose came out of a hallway to the back opposite of him. Jam's breath caught when he saw her but he deflated some as well when he realized her hair wasn't glowing nearly as brightly as it used to. It was more of a dulled shimmer now, like a slowly dying glowstick. She was stil beautiful though in her green skirt suit that hugged her curved perfectly. She walked up to the bartender and said a few things, greeted a couple of important people, and then made her way back toward the hallway. Jam walked briskly behind her easing through the crowd, however when he got to a distance to where he could touch her he quickly routed his direction and went into the bathroom. He ran the water and cleaned his face, nearly gasping for air under the anxiety,

Come on Jam. You can do this. They are the love of your life and now you just have to go and remind them. You can do it

"You ok?" Audrey asked concern evident in her voice.

"I'm fine" Jam answered.

"You left the room, is everything ok?" Camilla sent him over party chat.

"Yeah, yeah. Everything is fine."

Jam looked in the mirror hard for a moment before he blew out an annoyed breath, fixed his clothes, replaced his glasses and walked out. He took a seat and the bar with a loud thump.

"What can I get you guy?" the bartender asked. A young guy, looked barely old enough to be drinking let alone tending bar.

"Give me the strongest, scariest stuff you got. Something to knock me on my ass," Jam shouted over the music.

"You got it, one Might Guy gut punch. 80 delrens."

"Of course it's named after him," Jam grumbled pulling out his wallet.

"What's that?"

"Nothing!"

The bartender set the drink down and took the money from Jam's hand. The glass was just a bit larger than a tequila shot but it was also blue and seemed to be releasing steam. Everything about the drink threw up red flags in Jam's mind. Jam ignored them and grabbed the glasses holding it up and smelling it; it smelled like an odd mixture of fruit, raw beef, oil and metal.

Time for some liquid courage.

Jam took the shot to the head throwing it back quickly. Everything inside his body burned immensely as if he were swallowing his own firefist spell. He sucked in a quick breath and let it out as his eyes fluttered for a moment.

[ Skill Developed: Poison Resistance Lvl 1 ]

[ Skill Developed: Poison Detection Lvl 1 ]

[ Status Ailment: Intoxicated - Time Limit: 5 hours - You have drunk an ungodly amount of a vaguely alcoholic beverage. You're lucky to be alive. Strength +4, Speed -4, Dexterity -4, Constitution +2, Defense -1, Intelligence -4, Wisdom -4, Charisma +6, Perception -4 ]

[ Skill Auto Triggered: Calm Mind Lvl 27 - Successful ]

[ Status Ailment Cured: Intoxicated - Despite any irrevocable damage you may have done to your brain cells, your stats have returned to normal. ]

Jam's eye twitched, teeth ground and he crushed the glass cup in his hand.

Are you fucking kidding me? I can't even get drunk!

"Whoa guy, you ok?" the bartender asked.

"I'm fine." Jam dumped all 54 of his refinement points into his psychokinetic power and mentally picked up all the glass shards off of the ground and into a small pile atop his napkin. He pulled out more money and paid for the broken glass. He only had a good hour or so before his powers reset anyway.

"That's pretty cool," a voice next to him said. He looked over to find a smiling redheaded woman. Her smile was gently and friendly without a hint of flirting, as if she knew that he wasn't anywhere near in the mood for seduction.

"Thanks, it's my first time," he smiled back at her.

"Your first time using your powers or smashing a glass?"

"The former, I've broken plenty of glass."

"Do you need a napkin for your hand?" she gestured.

He looked down at his hand to find it had not a single cut, he moved his fingers around but didn't feel any exposed cuts or glass slivers in his hand.

Must be pretty durable now. Sweet.

"No I'm fine. Thank you."

"Is everything ok Mr. .?"

"Jam," he responded, holding his other hand out.

"Kayley, nice to meet you." She said taking his hand. "So is everything ok Mr Jam?"

"You too as well Kayley and it's just Jam. I'm fine honestly, I've jusst been having a rough go at it lately. A lot of people wanting to punch me."

A momentary shocked expression washed over her face, "I hope you aren't getting involved with the wrong kind of people."

Jam chuckled heartily, "honestly, its the supposed right kind of people who keep wanting to hit me."

"Well, that's no fun."

"Would you like a refill on your drink?"

"Sure, that'd be awesome."

"Bartender, another drink for my friend here, please. At least someone can enjoy them."

Before he realized what was happening, Jam was grabbed out of the seat by a rather large man with two golden cat-like eyes. The man held Jam up easily, his face less than a foot away.

"You moving in on my girl?" cat eyes growled. "You want me to kick your ass?"

{ Name: Jack Rabbit Lvl 2

HP: 150/150

SP: 400/400 }

"Please sir, I meant you no harm. I was merely keeping the young lady company. If you must hit me at least let me remove my glasses first."

Cat eyes Jack nodded almost imperceptibly. Jam slid his glasses off then looked at Jack again.

"Boo," he whispered at Jack who completely lost all the color in his face as he flushed. His lips went to move but before he could say anything Jam spoke over him. "I'm incognito right now, so here's what I'm going to do for you today. You can hit me once, in the stomach. You hit me in the face and I kill you, your girl there and anyone else you like or have spoken kindly with. You talk about how I wasn't worth your time and then you move on and treat that pretty lady right. Alright?"

Another nod.

"Oh no sir, I'm so very sorry. Please let me buy you both a drink, completely on me. I didn't mean to instigate any kind of issue."

A swift punch to Jam's stomach that he sold harder than the Rock getting stunnered by Steve Austin. despite barely feeling it. The man took Jam's seat and Jam slapped money on the counter and walked away replacing his glasses.

"That was pretty nice of you, let him keep face with his girlfriend. Though, it's not cool how jealous he was," Audrey told him.

"I bought her a drink, that's probably on me."

"Maybe."

Jam decided that it was probably a sign to stop beating around the bush and go for what he wanted to do. Stepping into the hallway Jam noticed no one was guarding the hall, which didn't full surprise him considering Thorn would kill anyone who tried to step to Rose.

"Hey Camilla, if anything happens then leave immediately understood? Forget about me and work with the HoD to take down the Lunar King," he told her through their mental party chat.

"What in the world are you talking about?" she sent back.

"If I play this wrong, Thorn is going to rip my head off. Just be ready to move and leave; they might realize you're with me. If Carlos didn't already tell everyone."

"Just don't get yourself killed."

"Audrey?"

"Yes Jam." she responded.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

'I've gotta do this next part alone."

Disconnect A.I. implant

{ Disconnect A.I. companion from implants?

[ Yes ] [ No ] }

Yes

Jam went further down the hallway.

"Jam, why is Audrey telling me you turned her off from your implants?"

Jam ignored Camilla and stepped into the doorway of Rose's office. He saw her leaning over her desk looking at paperwork, her back to the door. He took a second to scan over her body, she was still so gorgeous. Jam couldn't imagine a time he'd get tired of looking at either of them. He cleared his throat to make his presence known.

"Your Highness," Rose said, her voice clearly annoyed.

[ Skill Used: Mental Resistance Lvl 27 - Failed ]

[ Skill Used: Calm Mind Lvl 27 - Successful ]

[ Skill Used: Mental Resistance lvl 27 - Successful ]

"Oh come on, no need to call me that. I'm not the Lunar King."

"So what, are you Apex now?" she said flippantly, her back still to Jam.

He didn't move from his spot leaning against the doorway. "Nope, not anymore. You know who I am Rosie."

The light of her hair brightened just a bit at the nickname but when back to its dull sheen. She flipped around and leaned against her desk staring hard at Jam.

"What do you want Jam?"

Moment of truth

Jam's eyebrows furrowed and his face devolved into a scowl before he began to march forward and cast blink to close the distance in an instant. He grabbed her jaw and turned her head away from him.

"Who the fuck said you could look at me?" Jam hissed in her ear.

Her body stiffened quickly under his touch but she didn't move to push him away, "What the hel. . "

"I asked you a question." he interrupted her. "Who. The fuck. Said you could look at me?"

She swallowed hard and her breathing became faster. She closed her eyes and pulled her lips in licking them before she finally answered quietly, "No one."

Jam cleared his throat again.

"No one, sir."

"That's better." Jam praised as he released her jaw and rubbed it with his fingers. He used his psychokinesis to close the office door and lock it, never stopping his fingers from running across her jawline. He took his other hand and ran it through her hair which he noticed was slowly but surely starting to glow brighter with his every caress. He placed a soft kiss on her jaw and her hands didn't move from the top of the desk. One hand kept running through her hair as the other one opened a few buttons of her shirt and slid to trace small lines across her chest. He kissed the place just below her ears that sent shivers through her body and her hair burst with light for a second before returning back to its slowly growing glow.

"Your hair still smells divine; you still use that shampoo I like?" He asked between soft kisses on her neck as his hand explored her chest. Jam expected her to resist but she just moved her head to give him better access to her throat. He nibbled on her neck and she exhaled slowly her eyes sliding closed.

"Yes sir," she finally answered when he stopped his advances and she remembered he'd ask her a question.

"You're still wearing the pearls I gave you."

"Always."

Her silver skin glistened under his attention, He moved his other hand down the back of her skirt to cup her ass. "I like this underwear too, they feel incredible. You smell amazing."

"Thank you."

"You know I'm not the Lunar King right? I was never the Lunar King," Jam informed her in a moment of clarity as his hand stopped roaming her body.

"I know."

"You know?"

"Yeah, I knew as soon as you saw me in the crowd. I knew, even more, when you were standing in the doorway, watching me."

"How?"

"I can sense your desires, smell them, taste them. Feel them as if they were a tangible thing. They're so strong, how could I not?"

"I didn't know you could do that."

"I've always had feelings but it has only risen to this status over the past few years."

"Then you can see how I feel," he said continuing his exploration.

"I know you're afraid."

"Am I?"

"Yes, you're afraid that I'm no longer yours."

His hands froze again, "and are you?"

She finally opened her eyes and looked him directly into his. "Everything I am, body and soul belongs to you, my love." Her green eyes twinkling like gemstones.

A joyous smile spread across Jam's face, "You can kiss me now."

Rose smashed her face into his claiming his lips with her own. They passionately kissed as she finally moved her hands and wrapped them around him to pull him in closer. Jam slid his hand further into her skirt and began to rub her warmth through her panties. She gasped into his mouth but refused to break their hungry kiss. Finally after what felt to Jam like a lifetime yet not long enough, he extricated himself.

"Now let me speak to Thorn."

"You fucking tease!" Rose growled out, her breath heavy.

He just kissed her nose in response.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea at the moment. She has been different ever since the Lunar King rejected us. She only comes out to fight and mate. Unless we're going to visit your parents and even dragging her to that is a struggle sometimes. I'm not sure which one she's going to be feeling if I invite her out."

"We'll just have to see."

Please don't let her kill me.

She kissed his lips one more time before backing up, "Thorn, it's time to wake up."

Without a flash of light or any other indication, Rose was gone and Thorn was there in her place. The large barbarian woman stood angrily, breathing heavily, raring to fight. She looked down and saw Jam standing before her smiling softly. This time, however, she didn't return it. Instead, she grabbed him by the throat, lifting him from the ground and pushing him into the nearby wall.

What is this a running gag? Why is it always the throat?

"Thorn, please."

"Why are you here?" she asked curtly.

"To see you! I'm not the Lunar King."

[ Skill Used: Calming Touch Lvl 27 - Failure ]

That's not good.

Jam used what little power he could of the draining touch to try to sap some of the energy from Thorn. Her eyes still burned into him red tinted. He began to hum a tune, the sound of "Forever Yours" by Seven More a semi-famous band of Arcturus. It was their song, the song that played the first time they fought each other. Some of the red tints seemed to fade from her eyes and her grip loosened some.

[ Skill Used: Calming Touch Lvl 27 - Success ]

"You're not the Lunar King."

"I'm not, but I need your help to stop him."

She let him down on the ground and he rubbed at his neck the pain quickly fading. "I will help you, lover, though I still hurt," she said her hand over her heart.

A pang of guilt shot through Jam that he couldn't explain and it made him hate the Lunar King all the more. He reached up and pulled her head down to kiss her softly. When Jam opened his eyes again he realized he had ignored his power cycle countdown and it was just about to hit zero. He took her hand and smiled up at her right as a pain shot through his body. Except his countdown timer was still counting down and that's when he realized there had been an explosion in the office that had thrown both he and Thorn. He began to lose consciousness right as the timer hit zero.