Even though Anand was banned from entering simulations, that didn’t stop him from studying them. He spent hours learning how to use the control station. When Eve and Ray were in class, Anand would set up the old tabletop simulations on a larger scale. By controlling Ray and Eve’s tokens he slowly learned what worked for them. They had advantages Anand couldn’t hope for with Volt. Over time, this helped him set up the best situations for them to train in. His eyes darted from monitor to monitor making sure his virtual world was perfect.

“Horus, you should be able to see your target from your position,” Anand said. He’d grown accustomed to referring to his friends by their code names during training.

“I see it,” Eve replied.

“Remember, when you take one down-”

“Five more will rush me. I know, Volt. Get ready with the timer,” Eve insisted.

Anand was glad that his friends still referred to him as Volt even when he wasn’t training alongside them. He readied a timer and alerted Eve.

Instantly, a glowing rifle manifested in her hands. She looked at the target for only a moment before firing. An explosion of bright light enveloped the dummy and destroyed its head. As the body fell to the floor, a small group of prototype Glaives ran to its aid. Anand found they were the perfect balance between the weak dummies and the overpowered Oghrodi.

The dummies stood in a circle, waiting for another attack. With slow steps they split up and searched for their target. Eve fired two shots in succession and dropped her targets instantly. The remaining dummies saw Eve and began to run towards her. She dropped from her perch and waited till they were lined up in front of her.

“Burst,” she muttered.

A bright beam shot out of Horus’s single eye and eviscerated the targets. Eve bobbed her head a little bit and sighed.

“It’s not as jarring anymore but it’s so weird seeing into the center of that thing,” she said.

“I’m guessing the center’s not as bright as the rest of it. Otherwise, you’d be blind,” Anand replied. He turned to a different monitor. “Alright, Scorch. Horus passed her test, you’re next.”

“How fast do I need to clear this?” Ray asked.

Anand checked records from past tests and replied, “You need to clear it in three minutes to pass.”

“I’ll only need one.”

Without waiting for a signal, Ray ran towards the empty city square. Anand quickly started the test program and dummy Glaives spawned nearby. Ray flung his pauldron into the air and transformed it into his shield. As it flew into the sky, Ray jumped on top and started the thrusters. The dummies were ill prepared for the speeding mass that barreled into them and ripped one apart. Another that dodged the preliminary charge was instead set ablaze by the trail of fire left in Ray’s wake.

There was only a single dummy left but it was as large and imposing as Scorch. It easily gripped the edge of the shield and halted its advance. Ray reversed the directions of the thrusters and leapt off while launching it forward. The dummy was completely blinded while it was pushed backwards through the air. It took a moment to regain its footing then pushed the shield aside. Once the massive wall was out of the way, the dummy searched for Ray but he was nowhere in sight.

A high pitched sound radiated from overhead. Ray was holding his sword but its usual fire was replaced with the same pillar from his shield. Though he couldn’t fly with it, it helped him leap much higher than he could on his own. The dummy tried to back away but was met with an unexpected wall. Ray had recalled his shield and kept it in place to hinder his target.

“Superhot Saber!” Ray yelled as he bisected the dummy.

It exploded into polygons and Ray retrieved his shield. He kept his weapons at the ready while watching his surroundings.

“Aren’t there anymore?” Ray asked.

“Uh… no. I’ve been meaning to ask, are you always going to yell out attacks like that?” Anand said while stopping the simulation. They’d all gotten used to how quickly the simulation stopped and let them back to the real world.

“Why not?” Ray continued. “I think a nice heroic yell gives everyone confidence.”

“You can’t rely on just one attack to finish off the Oghrodi.”

“You saw him,” Eve said. “He’s got plenty of other attacks.”

“You named your other attacks, didn’t you?” Anand asked.

Ray nodded. “No, yeah. I didn’t just name mine, either..”

“I’m sorry I even asked.” Anand sighed. He turned to Conrad who had been watching and asked, “How’d they do?”

“Ray and Eve are all clear to take part in the mission,” Conrad confirmed. “Anand, how are you feeling? Do you think you’re ready?”

“I should’ve figured you’d test me, too.” Anand paused. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

Conrad shook his head. “I mean, are you well-rested? I checked the logs and saw you’ve been working on the strategy simulations in your free-time.”

“It’s not like I can actually relax.” Anand huffed. “Even if Mom gave me her blessing to train, it was with the caveat that I work harder.”

“I’ll take your stubbornness as a sign of being prepared versus a sign of insubordination.”

“I promise, I’m not being insubordinate,” Anand said. “I don’t mean to sound sarcastic. Please don’t take me off the mission.”

“It’s okay for a misunderstanding here. Make sure it doesn’t happen on the battlefield. That was the point of your training.”

“But, we trained separately,” Eve replied.

“Correct. Anand’s training was to learn what you can do,” Conrad explained. “Even if he’s learned to let you in on his plans, he needs to work your strengths into them.”

Ray patted Anand’s back. “He’ll do great. Right, buddy?”

“Yeah. It won’t help to doubt myself,” Anand said, trying to sound confident. “We’ve got some time before we need to teleport, right? I’m gonna get some air before everything kicks off.”

He didn’t wait for a response before leaving.

“Is he going to be okay?” Conrad asked.

“Yeah, leave him be,” Eve answered.

Ray nodded. “He just needs to catch his breath. This mission is all he’s been thinking about for the last couple of weeks.”

Anand wandered through the halls with his headphones on. The faint music didn’t drown out much sound. Then again, Anand was the one who didn’t turn up the volume. He wanted to hear everything around him. Agents rushed through the halls, finalizing their parts of Operation Beacon. JP ran past him with some agents as they discussed a defensive barrier they had prepared. Gale and Alec were double checking the containment units meant for the Riftwalker that would appear.

Anand could feel the stress from everyone. It was not conducive to his need to relax. He went to the stairwell nearby and made his way to the hangar roof. The hangar was less busy as many of the machines had already been moved to Old Nebraska. Anand walked towards the end of the walkway. He noticed someone had jumped over the railing and was leaning back against it.

“I take it you needed some air,” Boss said without turning. He had a handful of chickpeas that he nonchalantly tossed one-by-one into his mouth.

“Yeah. I wanted to catch my breath. Who knows if I’ll get this chance again,” Anand said as he leaned over the railing.

Boss chuckled.

“What?” Anand asked. He had never seen Boss so relaxed.

“Nothing. You remind me of myself when I was younger. I mean, I was older than you but… younger.” Boss gestured in a way that implied he was shorter in the past. “I’d get in my own head and all my confidence would be washed before I had to do anything. My head would be muddled with too many unnecessary thoughts.”

“Probably because you were overthinking.”

“Isn’t that why you’re here?” Boss smirked. It was like he was a different person. “Catching your breath is just a chance for you to untangle everything in your head.”

Anand didn’t answer.

Boss continued. “You’re worried about too many things, Anand. The mission, your father, your friends and family, the GDF; you can’t worry about everything all the time. It’s why you can’t ever fully explain your plans.”

“I’ve gotten better. I just don’t see how I’m supposed to explain a plan in the middle of a mission,” Anand replied.

“It’s difficult to explain everything quickly. That is unless you spend some time specifically giving instructions and taking feedback. I’ve found that sort of training results in unique communications specifically for the individuals involved. It also makes it far easier to elaborate plans.”

“That was the point of my training, right?”

Boss arched an eyebrow. “How long did it take you to figure that out?”

“A few days...” Anand admitted.

“Eve and Ray are always at your back. It’s good to know what they can do. Even Team Lucky has your back. One day, I’ll have you learn what they can do.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you want me around,” Anand said mockingly.

“More than most people here, yes.”

“Thanks.”

Boss smiled and stared towards the horizon. “This is an important mission. And I know you have a lot more riding on it than anyone else, Anand. Give any command and I will make sure it happens. Within reason, of course.”

Anand looked at Boss and nodded. They stood in silence, watching the sun approach the distant land. Clouds were interspersed throughout the sky covered in warm orange hues. Anand saw Boss fidget and quickly rub his eye.

Before Anand could speak, Boss said, “Before any mission, Laxman always found me panicking here; worrying about everything that could go wrong. I have no idea how he was so calm all the time.”

“Indian standards dictate that we must be stoic,” Anand said dryly.

Boss scoffed and returned to his sober demeanor. “I’d seen that idiot smile widely to calm everyone down but I knew better than anyone how scared he was. I’m sure you know how that is.”

Anand nodded.

Boss continued, “Laxman would always say, ‘Everything will work out as long as you’re in control.’ I was never sure what he meant. Was everyone supposed to be in control? Or was I supposed to be in control of everything?” Boss turned and placed a hand on Anand’s shoulder. “No matter what happens, everyone will be okay as long as you’re in control.”

Anand felt a lump in his throat and joked. “You expect me to figure out what Laxman meant?”

Boss chuckled and hopped over the railing. “You’ve been telling me what he meant for a while now. So, yes, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” He walked away while dusting chickpea flakes off his hands. “With me. Let’s get this started.”

Anand took a deep breath and followed Boss to the teleporter. It felt like every single agent who wasn’t part of the mission was there to send them off.

Upon arriving at the Old Nebraska underground base, Anand felt a familiar frantic energy. Ray and Eve were waiting nearby with Team Lucky and Tori. They were discussing hypothetical scenarios. Everyone seemed as high strung as Anand usually felt. Boss cleared his throat to grab everyone’s attention.

“Worrying about what might happen will get us nowhere,” he said. “Let’s group up with the rest of the agents and begin the mission.”

The group let out a collective sigh and joined Boss. They entered a massive control room with agents at almost a dozen control stations. In the center of the room was a large circular table with a holographic map of Old Nebraska. Some agents nearby turned to see who entered the room while others continued attentively working. Anand felt out of place seeing other Glaives wearing uniforms compared to his loose hoodie and jeans.

“How’s everything looking?” Boss asked someone standing at the central control station.

“Good. Your… ‘Papa’ BEAR is ready with the beacon. The mission can start on your signal,” they replied.

“Great.” Boss slammed his hand on the table and pulled the attention of the room. “Alright, agents! Our main goal is to bait a Riftwalker here and stop it. Once it is subdued, my team and I will enter the rift. We will retrieve the civilians who have been taken! Listen to my commands and success is guaranteed. Do not deviate or I will make sure you’re never seen on GDF premises again. Do I make myself clear?” He looked around the room and nodded. “Good! Pilots to your BEARS. Glaives, teleport to your assigned locations.”

The underground base consisted of multiple rooms scattered under Old Nebraska. They were connected only by teleporters. The Glaives separated into their teams and went to their assigned rooms. Team Goldilocks teleported to a large domed room on the eastern side of the state. Though they couldn’t see it, the outside resembled a silo. Inside, the center of the ceiling had a circular opening connected to a tunnel that stretched for hundreds of feet. Beneath it was a slightly raised, circular platform.

“That’s the cannon, huh?” Anand asked.

“You know it,” Tori answered. Her voice came out of loudspeakers spread throughout the room. “Don’t worry, it’s no different than the one you trained with. You might feel a bit more inertia.”

Anand, Ray, and Eve slowly stepped onto the platform, unsheathing their Glaives as they approached the center.

“All Glaives are online,” Boss said over voice comms. “Are you all connected to the Glaive voice channel?”

The channel was briefly drowned in acknowledgements.

“Good. Once the mission begins, I will remain on this channel as a bridge between the BEARs and Glaives. Remember to communicate,” Boss instructed. “Tori, can they see us?”

A large projection appeared at the end of the circular platform.

“They can now,” Tori replied.

“Let’s begin,” Boss said.

The air was still. Papa BEAR stood in a large field, circled by half a dozen BEARs. The cage on its back lit up as power fluctuated within. The orb inside rose steadily and hovered with an eerie stillness. It glowed faintly but there was no sign that it was signaling the Oghrodi. Papa BEAR began roaming around the field.

“Um… Shouldn’t something be happening?” Ray muttered.

“It’s not gonna be instant,” Eve replied. “Just stay steady. Tori could launch us any second. You don’t want to bite your tongue again.”

“Quiet,” Anand said calmly. “It’s coming.”

The ground shook as the sky was torn apart. The rift manifested more violently than anything Anand had seen before. This was unnatural even for a giant hole appearing in the sky. An amalgamation of purple and green colors violently twisted within the fracture. It looked as though someone had scribbled a line aggressively through paper. As Papa BEAR dashed around the field, cracks burst out of the Rift and chased it.

“Why’s it so aggressive?” Ray asked.

“Probably because of the beacon on their back,” Eve said.

An ear-piercing screech filled the air. Large talons emerged from the newly formed rift. The creature that emerged was shockingly humanoid. Netted wings protruded from its back. Jagged claws tore through the skin of its hands. Pincers sprouted from the bottom of its face. Upon roaring again, it revealed rows of jagged teeth. Both sides of its face had a vertical slit that opened to show grotesque eyes.

“Harpy,” Ray said. “Calling it, right now.”

“Of course.” Eve muttered. “Wait. What the heck is that?”

“That’s our target,” Anand replied.

A small creature leapt off the Harpy’s arm and landed heavily in the field below. Before Anand could get a good look at the creature the Riftwalker flapped its wings and took to the sky. It kicked up a thick layer of dirt which the Oghrodi used for cover.

“Glaives, find the Oghrodi and deal with it!” Tori commanded. “Launching in 5, 4…”

Anand made sure he had a firm stance as the mouth of the cannon opened overhead. The platform rose until it was at the base of the cannon barrel.

“One!” Tori’s voice was barely audible over the loud click of the cannon.

The platform shot upwards at unprecedented speed before stopping at the mouth of the cannon. A circular nozzle at the end caused the Glaives to propel even faster until they launched outside and sailed through the sky. They landed miles away, near the battleground. It took a couple of seconds of skidding across the ground to lose their momentum.

“Anyone got eyes on the Oghrodi?” Anand asked.

Among the dozen Glaives, Horus was the best at searching for a target.

After a brief silence Eve replied, “Over there.”

She pointed towards a dust cloud that was moving across the field at high speed. Other Glaives turned and began rushing towards it. One got close to the cloud and stopped.

“What the-?”

She couldn’t finish her sentence before being sent flying backwards. Her allies rushed to her aid as she collapsed to the ground. They had trouble keeping their footing as the ground shook from BEAR footsteps. The Riftwalker used its talons to easily lift one of the mechanized beasts and threw it at the beacon. The other BEARs began firing a volley of bullets and liquid concoctions to slow down Harpy. Bits of the liquid sprayed over the plains as it collided with the beast. Though its legs were slathered and slowed down, its wings continued to flap quickly. The Oghrodi weaved through piles of gunk and hid in cover as it made its way across the field.

“Where is it going?” Ray asked.

Anand took the lead and commanded the Glaives. “The BEARs will handle Harpy. Everyone, focus on finding the Oghrodi.”

He skated through the cloud of dust, focusing on any faint shape nearby.

“Come on. Where are you?” he muttered.

“It’s here!” Tori yelled over the voice comms. “We’ve got a visual. It’s inside the control center.”

“What’s the fastest way for us to get in?” Ray asked.

“We’ll open the gate.” Tori replied. “Hurry!”

The Glaives rushed towards a large flat area with a lone tree standing in the clearing. Nearby was a massive hole torn from the ground where the Oghrodi likely broke in. The tree started to slowly slide against the ground. Beneath it, hundreds of feet of dirt shifted as a large metallic ramp revealed itself.

“It’s in the east hall,” Tori instructed.

Anand pointed to some of the Glaives.

“You guys go guard the control room. My team will go after the Oghrodi,” he instructed.

“Why do we have to listen to you?” an agent complained.

Anand’s temper flared and he screamed, “Just do your damn job!”

He dashed down the ramp towards the hallway. Eve followed as quickly as she could.

“Sorry, dude. Just do it, okay?” Ray said. “Plus, some of you are hurt. Less movement is probably good for you.” He then ran after his team.

“Did the others go to the control room?” Anand asked when he heard Ray and Eve enter the hall.

Ray nodded. “I saw them heading that way. Don’t seem too happy about it, though.”

“Not a problem. Let’s hurry.” Anand retracted his treads and crept around the corner. “Tori, any vision?”

“It looks to be approaching our position,” Tori replied. “The next hallway is a dead end.”

“Alright, guys, Line Formation,” Anand commanded.

Ray ran past him and readied his shield. Meanwhile, Eve summoned her rifle while hanging back. Anand kneaded his fists and felt lightning crackle across them. It felt good to be in the real Volt again. Especially since he hadn’t even done any simulations for the last few days.

The team slowly turned the corner. The door was shut and Ray blocked it with his shield. They waited to hear anything on the other side.

“Cahl…” A gravelly voice muttered.

“It’s… talking?” Ray said. “What’s it saying?”

“It doesn’t matter, we have to stop it. We can ask questions later,” replied Anand. “Scorch, go!”

On command, Ray burst through the door and ran towards the hulking beast. It stood on two legs, only a few inches taller than the Glaives with muscles that seemed to ripple with every motion. Its arms had grotesque blood vessels that pulsated as liquid squirmed through them. It seemed as though a single movement would make the creature burst but it was unhindered.

Ray froze in his tracks and stopped his allies behind him.

“What happened?” Eve asked.

Ray shuddered. “It looks so… human.”

“It’s not. Look at it’s face. That’s not human,” Anand said sharply. “Just name it like you usually do. Heck, I’ll do it. Beast. There you go.”

“Wow. You… really suck at naming things,” Ray replied. “But you’re right. It’s an Oghrodi. Plus, I’ve seen one look human before.”

Beast turned to face Ray and grumbled again. “Cahl…” It growled and planted a knuckle against the wall. Even without the force of a punch, its fist cracked the wall.

“Cahl?” Anand muttered. “Tori, where is the nearest concentration of Cahlium?”

“I guess, the control room?” she replied.

“Tori… Vic… tori...” Beast grinned widely. “CAHLGREN!”

It yelled and punched the wall. Like cardboard, it crumpled and Beast burst through.

“All Glaives: guard Tori Cahlgren. We’re chasing the Oghrodi!” Anand said while rushing through the broken wall.

Eve crouched behind the debris for cover and fired a volley of bullets to slow the rampaging creature. Ray hopped on his shield and gave chase. With an ignited blade, he slashed at the Oghrodi’s leg to try and cripple its advance. But the creature was much tougher than anticipated and only received a small cut. If Beast slowed down, it was imperceivable. Anand swore under his breath and dashed past the creature. He spun back while aiming to kick Beast’s slightly wounded leg. Lightning exploded against one of the veins. It burst, spewing blood across the floor. Even though Beast was wounded, Anand was the one in pain. He’d never hit something so sturdy. It was as if Volt’s speed and power backfired.

Beast growled and stopped and swatted Ray’s shield away, knocking off the Glaive in the process. He landed in a three point stance and called back his shield. Beast paid it no mind and continued forward while morphing. With each step its arms got bigger. Their veins were hidden underneath the growing muscle until each arm was as big as the creature’s torso. It continued on its path and flicked a wall to break through. Luckily, the Glaives were ready on the other side with a myriad of weapons.

“Now!” someone yelled.

A barrage of bullets and lasers fired at the Oghrodi, pushing it back slightly. Immediately after, it was met with a wave of bludgeons and blades. Each weapon was jammed into Beast’s chest. It was damaged but the Oghrodi did not falter. Anand was in awe as he watched Beast straighten itself. Even with weapons stuck in its body, Beast ignored the wounds.

“Glaives, protect the control room at all costs,” Anand commanded.

Beast began to raise a hand to swipe at its adversaries but paused.

“Only Cahlgren,” it said as though reminding itself.

Its arms shrank to normal size—relative to the creature, at least. Meanwhile, its legs became massive as it crouched. Smaller wounds closed and with one swift motion, the Oghrodi leapt past the defensive line. It crashed onto the ground behind Tori. The cement under it shattered. Tori lost her balance and fell into Beast’s clutches. It picked her up and made a mad dash towards the unguarded door. A few Glaives started firing at the enemy.

“Stop! You’ll hit Ms. Cahlgren!” one of the agents yelled.

“After it!” someone commanded.

Eve ran back through the hall and replied, “We’ll try to cut it off!”

“Volt-” Ray was cut short by his friend dashing past him.

“Come on!” Anand yelled while overtaking Eve. “I’ll try to slow it down but I need you!”

Anand burst through the door and caught a glimpse of the creature moving towards the ramp. It strided across the metal floor, landing with a thud before quickly leaping forward again. Anand stomped on the floor and spun his treads hoping to move faster. He lost his balance as his legs got away from him. For a few seconds he was dragged across the floor before forcing himself into a crouched position. With an outstretched arm, he reached for Tori.

“So… close!” Anand yelled as he grasped at nothing and his target jumped away again.

“Volt, focus on getting Tori!” Eve said.

“I’m trying!”

Beast grumbled and leapt even further, now bounding dozens of feet in seconds. Anand sped up as Ray and Eve fell further behind.

“Slow him down! Trip him or something!” Ray yelled while trying to catch up. He and Eve both rode on his shield.

Anand pushed himself further. He swore the lightning emanating from his feet left longer trails. As Beast slowed in the air, Anand was able to bypass it. He spun and kicked a blade stuck in the Oghrodi. With the help of its momentum, the weapon cut deeper into the leg. Beast fell forward and rolled to its feet. It protected Tori from scraping against the ground or getting hurt. Anand rushed forward and sent a current through the blade. The lightning arced off the weapon and left a large scar on the Beast. It loosened its grip and Tori slipped out. Anand caught her and dashed away.

Ray and Eve finally caught up, leaping off the shield and using it to stun Beast. From the air, Eve fired explosive bullets at the Oghrodi’s head. Upon contact, they burst into a brilliant veil of light. Though Beast was physically unscathed, it was blinded. It wildly swung its limbs to try and grab Anand but Ray blocked the attacks with expert swordsmanship. Anand used the opening to disengage and move Tori to a safe location. The best option was a nearby silo. He rested a hand against Tori’s neck to keep her safe while skating. Though they traveled hundreds of yards, it felt almost instantaneous. As they approached the destination Anand prayed Tori was okay.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, way to go on stopping that thing,” she replied. “You should go back and help Scorch and Horus. At least until the other Glaives get there.”

In the distance, Anand could see Beast was no longer blinded and was going toe to toe against Ray. Eve was firing all manner of projectiles during every chance. The other Glaives were still running across the field to the target. Suddenly, Beast paused and turned to the Rift.

“Dammit! Get the beacon back! Slow down that bird!” Boss barked through the voice comms.

Harpy had finally torn the beacon off Papa BEAR and was slowly moving it back to the rift. Simultaneously, Beast began dashing back towards it.

“-Glaive brats!” Alec yelled while entering the voice channel. “If you can’t deal with the Oghrodi, do something to help with the Riftwalker. We need a distraction.”

Anand hesitated and disconnected from the voice comms before turning to Tori.

“Hey, the Oghrodi don’t let anyone get in the rifts, right?” he whispered.

Tori arched her brow and sighed. “Agents typically get killed trying.”

“So, they’d be more worried about that than the beacon, right?”

“I assume so.”

“Be honest, do you think I could jump up there?” Anand asked and nodded at the rift that hung a hundred feet in the air. “I know I’m faster than most people but I’m still only human.”

Tori contemplated her answer and said, “No, you’re not. Volt- You are more than human. Not to mention, once you’re high enough the gravitational pull will help you.The real question is: are you sure about this?”

Anand shook his head in confusion. “I... don’t know. Mom can’t survive without Dad. Plus, the BEARs need a distraction. It’s all I can think of right now.”

“There’s other options.”

“I can’t think of any. I’m done trying to,” Anand said and reconnected to the voice comms. “Scorch, Horus — back me up!”

Without another word, he stomped on the ground and dashed across the field.The familiar whir of the treads vanished. They were moving smoothly. Much smoother than they ever had before. Anand’s heart raced as the world around him turned into a blur. The BEARs continued to chase Harpy. Anand weaved through them, making sure to keep his balance as the mechanical giants trampled the land around him. From the corner of his eye, he saw the other Glaives join his team in fighting Beast.

“What are you doing?” Eve yelled.

“Making a distraction!” Anand replied while dashing further into the fray.

Anand could feel the energy from the rift permeating through his body. He paused for a moment to look back at Beast and his allies. The Oghrodi glared at him. Past it were his friends, shaking their heads.

“Buddy, don’t,” Ray pleaded.

“You don’t need to do this, dude,” Eve complained.

Anand sighed and turned back to the rift. “Back me up.”

He focused all his strength into his legs before dashing forward and leaping up at the rift. The ground quickly became a distant afterthought as Anand sailed through the sky. The gravitational pull of the rift affected him sooner than expected. Panic struck when he saw two monstrous creatures approaching him from either side.

Anand lost a lot of speed in the air so Beast was able to catch up. It was more practiced at monstrous leaping than the Glaive. The Oghrodi was trying to capture Anand from the right. Harpy dropped the beacon and darted towards Anand as he was within reach of the rift. Anand tried to think of what to do. Every idea was bound for failure. He couldn’t defend himself in his current position. In the air, any sort of movement was difficult. Anand felt his mind cluttering and thought he was done for.

Then he saw a massive metal claw swipe near him. Papa BEAR had caught up to Harpy and pushed it away from Anand. To his right, a bright laser blasted Beast. The Oghrodi crashed to the ground outside the rift. Anand turned back but his vision was blocked by a large red shield that quickly wrapped around him. The inside was a cold metal cocoon. Through the small cracks he saw himself reach his goal and warp through.