As Zeta calmed herself, Roren made his way toward the woman. The open parking garage was dully lit, and even though the woman’s body was partially concealed in the shadows, Zeta could tell she was tall. Her most prominent future was long, dark hair.

There were cars positioned around Zeta and the rest of the group, there were no gaps for their vehicle to get through. Not like that was a viable option. Even if their car managed to start up and if they did manage to escape, they would most likely get teleported back to this very position.

Upon closer inspection, the vehicles around them were similarly fashioned to the one that Jonas had stolen.

“Tac?” Roren said.

He immediately pushed the lady upon recognition of her. Despite his forceful push, she did not resist and allowed herself to stagger to the floor. Given her height, the fall was most of all awkward. A dozen car doors suddenly opened, but then she raised her hand telling them to hold. The men were masked, waiting just outside their doors. A few seconds passed before they returned inside, but their doors remained open.

“What kind of sick game is this?” Roren said.

“The one where you get pissed off, Roren. Doesn’t it suck when things don’t go your way?” Tac smiled.

“Fuck you.”

“Don’t be like that,” she said. “I just wanted to play a game with an old friend. Did you not have fun fighting my men?”

“I’m tired of being involved with you in any way,” Roren said. “Where’s Delton? Why are we here?”

“That’s none of your concern. He’s talking to important people if you’re wonderin—“

The lady’s eyes darted between Zeta, Jonas, and then to Chloe.

An explosion blasted beside Tac, but it somehow flew off into the ceiling. Tac did not flinch and instead continued to stare down Chloe.

Zeta created a radius around her and dampened everyone’s abilities. Her energy reserves were still usable, but she would not be able to hold her powers long.

“Let’s talk this through please,” Zeta said.

“My, that’s quite a power you got there,” Tac said. “That is a good idea. Maybe your side should lead by example? It is a bit disrespectful, isn’t it? You killed my people today. Wouldn’t it be justice to kill yours as well?”

“An eye for an eye and the world goes blind,” Zeta said.

Tac sneered.

Roren said, “Tell your men to stand down or I’ll send you all down through the floor. I’ve had enough for one day. Don’t try me.”

Zeta took this as a cue to prepare herself to release her hold from off of Roren.

Tac said, “All I hear are bluffs, Roren. Rather characteristic for the oppressors and instigators to want peace when it doesn’t suit them.”

Tac waggled her finger at Zeta signaling her over.

“I’d like to speak with you. Alone.”

“Absolutely not,” Roren said.

“Fine. You can come with,” Tac said. “The other two stay here with my men. Does that sound fair?”

“Fine.”

As Zeta walked away, she looked toward Jonas, then released her hold. Jonas nodded when he understood, and a second later Zeta was filled with energy. She increased the radius of her powers and thought about releasing her hold from Roren and Chloe, but decided not to.

Zeta and Roren were guided to the end of the room.

Tac said, “We want to recruit you. All four of you, in fact. Especially you.” A finger pointed at Zeta. “Your ability is quite useful. I wouldn’t mind just you joining us.”

“She’s our asset,” Roren said. “Don’t even think about it.”

Tac ignored Roren. “What’s your name?”

“Zeta.”

“How does that sound, Zeta? How would you like to work for us? Maybe we could borrow you for a bit?”

If Zeta could roll her eyes, she would. I don’t want to work with any of you. Leave me the fuck alone.

“Careful,” Roren said. “You’re thinking about taking her, but you wouldn’t be able to even if you tried. She has a tracker on her body.”

“I’m sure there’s someone with an ability that can remove it.”

“Not the one that she has. You wouldn’t have time if you did happen to find someone.”

“What if we buy her?” Tac said. “What happens then?”

“Buy?” Zeta asked.

“Well, if that happens, it happens,” Roren said. “I can’t do anything about that.”

“Zeta,” Tac said. “Do you realize how much your ability is worth?”

“Probably not much since you have ability dampeners too. My ability isn’t as rare as I thought.”

“Ability dampeners? What gave you that impression?”

“The people you had tailing us made Chloe and Roren practically useless. Jonas and I were the only ones able to—“

Zeta trailed off. That made no sense. She looked at Tac for clarification.

Tac looked back at the car then smirked. “Jonas shouldn’t steal cars that aren’t his, right? It’s kinda like you in the sense that it can dampen abilities. At least at the back seats.”

“Technology to remove powers?” Zeta asked.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” Tac said. “No need for Lances, right?”

“Something like that exists?”

“It was used at some point, but somewhere along the way, a collective pact decided they wanted to scrub it away from history. To keep things short, there are people interested in learning about forgotten history and this is one of their finds.”

Zeta inspected the car and wondered what materials it was made of. Its price must have been considerable. A car capable of removing a person’s abilities temporarily. The concept was intriguing. It also frightened her.

Tac said. “Does this interest you?”

“The technology? A little bit,” Zeta said. “There’s no way this was kept secret for so long.”

Tac shrugged. “I doubt anyone wants their powers to be taken away from them, especially the ones that become wealthy and notorious for the powers they have. They become rather powerful, for lack of a better word.”

Roren said, “Can we move on?”

“Roren always wanting to get to the point,” Tac said. “Can’t I create some discourse with your colleague?”

Roren stared until she changed topics.

“Fine,” Tac said. “I no longer work for Enui. I’m loyal to Myriad now.”

Enui? Myriad? Were they people?

“Never heard of them,” Roren said. “Are they some low running gang thinking they can take the top spot? It’s been tried before. No one has ever succeeded.”

No, these were the names of organizations.

“Myriad will be the first.”

Roren scoffed. “You really think this group can go against the big two when lower-tier organizations can barely fit into the third slot? Don’t be absurd.”

“It will happen, Roren. Join us. Leave Gray Wall.” She turned to Zeta. “What about you? I would love to have someone like you join us. I’d even let you return to school on the side. Hell, let’s bring you back to a normal life. Consider your time with us a part-time job. I mean, with a power like yours, I wonder how they treat you.”

Zeta considered it for a moment. She did not have a full picture of the scene, but the pieces were slowly coming together. The group Roren was in, the one that imprisoned Zeta, was most likely Gray Wall. Then there was Tac’s group. The way Tac spoke about Myriad invoked confidence, a sense of belonging, that it made Zeta think about cults. Surely, that would be a worse route than the one she was already in. Or maybe that confidence stemmed from trust, that Tac really believed in the work she was given.

“Well, it’s not official yet,” Tac said. “Myriad doesn’t exist yet, but it will.”

“What do you mean by that?” Roren said.

Tac shook her head. “I said too much already. I’ll let you go on with your lives. Return to Gray Wall. Contact me if you decide to change your mind. You four still have a lot of time to think about it, but when the time comes and you don’t join… From then on, we’ll be enemies.”

“As if we weren’t already.”

“I’m being serious this time. Myriad is aiming for the top. Gray Wall and Enui currently hold that position. That won’t be the case for long.”

“Why tell me this? I can tell my bosses about it and foil your plans.”

“Because I know you, Roren.” There was a sincerity in Tac’s voice. “You will join us. Jonas and Chloe will follow too.”

“I don’t believe it for a second.”

“You’ll change your mind.”

“Delton plays a part in this. Doesn’t he?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

Roren faced Zeta. “Come on. We’re done here.”

Zeta and Roren began to walk away.

Zeta was sad that she was returning to the prison empty-handed. Her performance in the mission was not enough for Yorke to consider her freedom, not up to par with whatever Yorke’s standards were.

She looked on the bright side. At least she was alive. Even if she was to return to the prison, for now, she would surely have another opportunity to leave. But, even then, she was not guaranteed her true freedom. Her life would probably consist of more missions with tiny sprinkles of free time.

“Don’t forget about him,” Tac said when they reached their car.

“Who?” Roren said.

“Delton, of course.”

Zeta’s heart skipped a beat. She and Roren turned around to see a tall man approaching them. It was Isaiah Delton.

“Zeta, focus your powers on him,” Roren instructed.

Zeta did as he said and expressed more caution towards her surroundings.

“Is he real?” Roren asked. “Not a shape-shifter?”

“I’m the real thing,” Delton said. His voice was rough, yet expressive. It matched the man who Zeta assumed was in his mid-30s. “Go ahead and verify it by releasing your powers, girl.”

“Don’t listen to him,” Roren said. “What game are you playing at, Tac?”

“Not a game,” she said.

“Isaiah Delton?” Zeta said. Her thoughts sidetracked.

Zeta slowly realized her purpose in the mission, the reason she was here. Nothing about the situation made sense to her until this point. She had been puzzled about her presence in the mission, why they would place Zeta here when she was so inexperienced. It was because of Isaiah Delton, the abilities he had.

“What are your powers?” Zeta asked.

“Don’t ask—“ Roren said.

Zeta raised her hand towards Roren.

Delton said, “Sometimes being ignorant is best. He doesn’t seem like he wants you to know.”

“What is it?” Zeta said, firmer this time.

“I can make anyone do as I please by asking.”

“Is this true?” As Zeta turned to Roren she amplified her powers.

“It is,” Roren said.

“Why not tell me then?”

“We thought about the possibility of you being caught in his powers. We didn’t want to risk that. What he didn’t tell you is that it only works if you know what his powers are.”

Zeta turned back to Delton. Only works if you know? How long did it take for him to figure that out?

Zeta wished she could ask him more, but now was not the time.

“This doesn’t feel right,” Zeta said.

“I’m with you on that,” Roren said. “I don’t trust this one bit.”

“Isn’t this who you came for?” Tac said.

Roren said, “Yes, but not in this way. It’s too easy, especially after what you put us through. There’s a catch. There’s no way you go through all that trouble just to give him back to us. Delton, who did you talk to? You can force people to do what you want, possibly even more than what the documents tell me. There must be someone that Myriad wants you to use your powers on.”

“How can you make such an inference? All I did was have a little chat. With whom and why is none of your concern.”

“A little chat? After all that and you come willingly with us?”

Delton walked up close to Roren; fear caused Zeta to move a few steps back.

He deepened his voice, almost growling, “You talk too much for someone so tiny.

“I know you’re well aware that I took an oath to only use my powers when necessary, and I suppose a girl capable of removing powers is a necessary moment. But, I could easily knock this girl out and tell you to drop dead and you would. But I don’t need to. I can do the same without my powers.”

Delton’s eyes met Zeta’s and she immediately looked away.

Delton did not appear to align with Myriad’s best interests nor with Gray Wall’s. He was looking after his own. As she learned more about the situation, the less she understood. The questions continued to pile up in Zeta’s head.

Delton knew nothing about Gray Wall’s intentions for him, but he must have spoken with Myriad to make it turn out this way. Why did Myriad go to all the trouble of making their group capture Delton, when Delton was going to end up in their custody at the end?

“Fine,” Roren said. “Let’s go then.”

As they went back towards the car to meet up with Chloe and Jonas, Zeta let go of her powers. Commanded by Tac’s men, they stood close-knit.

Roren’s attempts at learning more were not worth the effort, but he kept digging. “What is Myriad, Tac?”

Tac spoke with a sort of shame in her voice. “I didn’t mean to group it with Gray Wall and Enui. We’ll be so much more than that.”

“Yes, but what are they?”

She shook her head. “The future. That’s all you need to know.”

The five of them were instantly transported to what seemed like a dying field of grass. Upon closer inspection, it was just an unkempt parking lot that had been taken over by time. Grass and weeds filled in the cracks. A single streetlight flicked in the distance, but they were remote in the otherwise busy city.

“Zeta.” Roren called her over. He had walked towards the edge of the parking lot away from the group. He overlooked the city, the moon the only object illuminating him.

Chloe and Jonas watched Delton closely, but he did not appear he wanted to escape.

Zeta walked up to Roren and waited for him to speak. He rested his hand on her shoulder as he did.

“Zeta. I need you to keep some parts of this mission a secret. Don’t tell anyone about Myriad, how we obtained Delton, about the car, or anything about Tac. Say we exceeded, that I got some help from some friends, but nothing else. Understood?”

Zeta nodded. “I understand.”

“Good.” He patted her shoulder a couple of times, then finally let go. He pulled a cigarette carton from his pocket, lit it, then exhaled the smoke. “You did a good job today. Let’s hope Yorke keeps her word.”