July 7th, 2486 - Planet Sanctuary, Sanctuary City - Koltura District - The Ruins of the Teqaku Family Mansion

Angora watched in horror as Ichiro howled in pain, lurching forwards as though something has just struck him in the back. Dust billowed around Ichiro, and Angora stepped forwards automatically. Ichiro stumbled to the side, howling again, then to the other side. Insane, manic cackling filled the air, and Ichiro’s head jerked back. Ichiro struck out wildly, his arms flailing, he grunted in pain, saliva and blood mingling and dripping from his split lip, and the cackling continued.

‘Just because I’m such an effective killer, doesn’t mean I can’t have fun on the job!’

Dust billowed. There was a shimmer, something that Angora had not noticed before. The dust settled, on what was very clearly the silhouette of an arm, for just a second…

‘Behind you, Ichiro!’ Angora yelled.

Ichiro’s elbow flew back, his other hand clenching his fist and pushing, amplifying the speed and force of the blow. Colado gasped. The dust dispersed again, and someone imperceptible staggered away, coughing.

‘You won’t get lucky again!’ Colado wheezed.

Angora’s eyes met Ichiro’s. It was obvious to them both that Colado was right. Ichiro was in no shape to be fighting this battle, Angora felt stupid for allowing it … but nonetheless, he wanted Ichiro to win. He made a decision.

‘Ichiro!’ he said. ‘This is our fight, not yours. Abiona is our objective … and knowing her, she’ll want us to make it to her in one piece, together! I’m not going to take this battle away from you, but I am going to level the field.’

With some hesitation, Ichiro raised his chin and said, ‘Do it’.

Angora lifted a powerful leg, and brought it down hard on the mosaic floor. Dust rose, in a great plume, and all three men broke into a fit of coughing. Ichiro opened his eyes. There was Colado … a dusty silhouette, wheezing and coughing just to Ichiro’s left. Ichiro grinned, drawing his fist back. An uppercut, two swift jabs and a knee to the gut; Colado collapsed onto the mosaic, huffing and panting, the invisibility fading and the man beneath curling up, hands raised in surrender.

‘I was never very tough’, Colado groaned. ‘I just … gained a power that let me make use of the few options I had available ... just do me a favour … don’t hurt the Boss too bad, okay?’

‘It’s a promise’, Ichiro said.

Then he kicked Colado in the head with the force of a small asteroid colliding with a planet.

‘Yikes,’ Angora hissed. ‘Was that necessary?’

‘He’s unconscious’, Ichiro said. ‘… and yes, yes it was necessary—I feel pretty good now.’

Angora sighed and shook his head, failing to suppress a chuckle. They climbed the stairs, walking slowly across the dishevelled red carpet until they came to a drawing room at the top. Ichiro dusted himself off, bouncing on the balls of his feet. They were ready for the next challenge. Angora pushed the door open with a foot, and they both stepped inside.

The Boss stood at the end of the room, monitors strewn around her bare feet, and on various tables around the room. The harsh glow from the screens caused her green eyes to flicker and spark in a sinister fashion.

‘You guys actually came to save me … I’m surprised.’

The voice came from a chair in the corner of the room; to which Abiona was tied, grinning ferociously. Ichiro blushed deeply, screwing up his face.

‘Don’t get it twisted—I wouldn’t be here if Angora hadn’t convinced me’, he lied. ‘I’m just here for my pay check.’

The Boss and Angora locked eyes. She wasn’t saying anything, just watching. Angora noticed that she held a crimson rose in both hands, and was gently rubbing one of the red petals with her thumb.

‘What’s it gonna’ take for you to let our friend go?’ Angora asked with a grimace.

‘Your friend owes me’, the Boss replied. ‘She owes all the little urchins, beggars and orphans who never had the chance to live out her fantasy life. I have bidders waiting patiently for their prize … once she’s in the winner’s hands, I don’t care what they do to her, just so long as I get my money.’

‘She doesn’t owe you shit!’ Ichiro spat. ‘You know who Abiona is, who she could be some day … she’s the one person in this room who could actually help people who are suffering!’

Abiona’s eyes lit up, an emotion that resembled surprise, but was more like admiration, playing on her face.

‘To be frank, I don’t care about those who suffer in the present’, the Boss replied, mockingly. ‘I am a survivor. I have suffered. The universe owes me for all the suffering I’ve endured until now.’

The flower dropped, rolling away from her across the aging floorboards. Her toes curled.

‘Then there’s nothing more to say’, Angora growled.

Silence hung in the air. The room was large, and dark, so dark that it was impossible to tell how large it truly was. Angora’s feet shifted position silently. Ichiro spat a wad of blood onto the floorboards.

‘Punish them, Kaushika!’ the Boss called, and the room was engulfed by an explosive flash of bright light.