The woman couldn't remember her name.

She knew she was a Soynite. She knew what a Freeman was, and the woman hadn't forgotten she shouldn't trust them.

A Freeman stood near the woman. Blood dripped off his weapon's green sharpness.

Whose blood was that?

What was the wailing baby's name? The woman didn't know.

She was on her back, holding a baby who made her discomfort known as the full moon glowed in the night sky. Black spaceships stayed in the dark sky, letting destruction loose.

Destruction came to the Freeman's head.

Blue and dangerous, a laser beam zipped past the space above the woman and the wailing baby.

Laughter crept into the night air.

The Freeman collapsed onto his side. Laughter came again.

"Ten points to Bane Sinister!" a person shouted. The woman's savior, the female Soynite assumed.

A man had spoken.

The Freeman's corpse morphed into smoke, then a strong wind blew it away.

The woman turned her head. Then a man became visible, but there was no invisibility bracelet nearby.

He grabbed the Strife dagger, then tossed it away.

After the man sat cross-legged next to the woman, he pressed a hand against her wound. Yes, because she bled. She bled from her head.

"I'm healing you now, you poor woman," the man said, healing the poor woman. "My name is Bane Sinister."

Memories flooded the woman's mind.

Summer Locket. That was her name. She remembered. The Watcher was twenty-one years of age. She had been born in the month of November.

Anne Majestic. That was the wailing baby's name. She had been born on the first of December.

The girl's father was Theo Majestic. Summer had shot him in the leg. Because she loved that man, she hadn't shot him in the head.

Anne's biological mother was Lilly Majestic, the woman who had married Theo and produced four children with him.

"I'm Summer Locket," Summer said.

Bane Sinister.

He wore white pants and a white shirt, but he didn't don a Soynite pendant. The light touched his gray hair, which was long. The eyes he kept pointed at the Watcher were blue, the man staring at Summer, who did not sit up. She stayed on her back.

"Did you come from the royal palace, Summer Locket?" Bane said, still sitting cross-legged. The Watcher moved into a sitting position, then she nodded. Anne had stopped wailing. Bane caressed the baby's blonde hair. "Who is this little one?"

Summer swallowed.

The little one was Theo Majestic's daughter, but Bane didn't have to know that.

"My daughter," she said. Bane stood, towering over the woman and the young Soynite. "Her name is Anne. You saved my life. You saved Anne's life. Thank you."

"Rise, Summer," Bane said. Summer rose, still holding Anne. "You have to be on your feet and vigilant. Are you ready to go?"

"Go where?" Summer said. "I was planning on leaving in one of these spaceships."

Holly Endman and Archer Endman had been near the parked spaceships, but they were gone. Boris hadn't been in their presence when Summer last saw them.

Boris had taken up residence in the royal palace a long time ago. As Holy Majestic's son, Theo had spent a longer time being a royal palace resident than Boris. One of those men had been shot inside that home. Freeman foes had tried murdering him in his own palace. The Freemans had tried murdering Summer there, too, but she had never lived at the palace Theo lived in.

If Summer was wise, she would stay away from the massive home. She needed to be far away from it.

As laser beams from dark turrets rained destruction in the distance, Bane used his foot to nudge green blades of grass.

"I can become invisible, darling," Bane said. "With me on your side, you and your daughter will survive. I promise. Tell me that you will go with me."

Bane moved a hand into his pocket, then he pulled out a teleportation stone.

Summer had planned on escaping the doomed Soy in a spaceship, with just herself and Anne, but Bane could turn invisible. And he could help Summer and her baby survive.

The Watcher had told Bane the baby Anne was her daughter, which was the truth, considering how the girl was now Summer's responsibility. But she hadn't informed her savior Anne was not her biological child.

That truth would come.

For now, as Freemans plunged chaos across Soy, Bane held his status as Summer's best chance of survival.

Whoever this man was, he offered safety.

"I'll go with you," Summer said.

Bane grinned. Summer didn't. She could grin when she and Anne were safe. Bane would be there too. After what he had done for the Watcher and the baby, the man had earned his position at a safe place, a place away from the ruthless Freemans.

A better place.

As much as Summer loved Soy, she could not refer to it as a good place.

"With this wonderful object, we won't need a spaceship," Bane said.

They teleported.

Summer. Bane. Anne. They were in a huge room.

It was void of furniture and decorations. The blue floor and the blue walls let the bright glow cover them.

Bane returned the teleportation stone to his pants pocket. He had used the object to transport him, Summer, and Anne to a place that Summer had never been before today.

Bane took a step back, gestured to the space around the three safe Soynites.

"Welcome to Bane Sinister's space station!" Bane cheered, walking toward the room's center.

Summer stood on the floor, which was blue and hard. Like the gun she had used to shoot Anne's father in the leg. The light's glow didn't glisten off red blood marring the floor. In a different place, an unsafe place, Watcher blood had spilled onto blue carpet.

Poor Pristine.

Summer had shot Theo. The woman had given the man poor treatment. She hadn't cherished firing a laser through Theo's leg, but it had needed to be done.

"I am so ready to get to know you, Summer," Bane said. After he reached the room's center, he faced the baby-carrying woman. Bane smirked. He gestured for Summer to go closer to him, which she did. "Due to the obvious fact I saved your life, I deserve answers. Be a good Soynite by being truthful, please."

"I will," Summer said.

Bane had saved both her and Anne. The man in white deserved knowledge.

Who Bane was, whatever had happened to his own friends and family, and how he viewed Summer, it all mattered.

"I've suspected that Lilly Majestic went through several pregnancies," Bane said. "You told me you came from the royal palace. Theo Majestic lives there. I found you with a baby who has blonde hair and blue eyes. The youth in your arms isn't your daughter, is she?"

Anne remained in the arms of Summer, who stood in front of Bane the savior.

"Not in the biological sense," Summer replied. "Anne comes from Lilly and Theo, but I'm her mother. I wasn't before today. I'm her Watcher."

"How did the darling Anne end up in her Watcher's care?" Bane said.

"I kidnapped her."

Bane chuckled, then grinned.

"You are such a naughty lady," Bane said, pointing at Summer's face. "You can't go back to Theo and his wife. You took their baby from them. This space station of mine is my home, but it's also home to the two of you. My space station is your space station. You and your child are now housemates of dear Bane Sinister."

Summer and Anne would sleep and wake up in the same home. They were now family. And Bane, who had saved them, had given them sanctuary within his Soynite space station. Sweet sanctuary.

Anne's Watcher had taken her, but she gifted sweetness to the babe. Perhaps Alice's kidnapper was sweet to Boris Endman's granddaughter.

If Summer saw Holly and Archer again, would Alice be with them?

"Thank you," Summer said. She glanced around at the empty room. "You have furniture, right? What about a crib?"

"When we go deeper into this huge home of ours, you will see the furniture and the cribs," Bane said. "Now, Summer, I need you to tell me more about the Majestic family. How many children does Theo have?"

Nick.

Nova.

Hailey.

Anne.

Theo had four children. Summer had one child.

The woman had shot Theo, then she had taken his baby, but she held love for the man and his wife.

Beyond the space station was Theo and Lilly and people both Soynites cared about. Within the space station was a Watcher, a savior, and a baby.

They didn't form an army.

"Four," Summer said.

"Don't be shy," Bane said. "Tell me about them. Precious Anne is one of them, but I want to know more. Inform me."

Bane craved more information about Theo's children, information she had.

"Anne was born in December," Summer said. "That was last year. Nick is the oldest of Theo's children. He's his only son. Then Theo and Lilly had Nova. Then Hailey. Nova was adopted because the owner of the Ascend Museum, Land Preachman, convinced her that Freemans were going to attack Soy. He was right, of course."

The Freemans had ignited an attack on the royal palace on Soy. Nova hadn't been there. It was because her mother had considered giving her up for adoption as a better alternative to keeping her.

Lilly's paranoia had worked in Nova's favor.

"And Freemans attacked the royal palace," Bane said. He rubbed his wrinkled thumb against his wrinkled index finger. "Land Preachman's belief probably saved Nova's life. The beloved Lock Tannis hates Theo Majestic more than he hates anyone else."

"Beloved?" Summer said. "Why did you call Lock Tannis beloved?"

"I love him," Bane said. Summer's pulse increased. Her shoulders rose and fell. Then again. The Watcher took a step back. Bane pointed a palm at Summer. "I worship the man. I love Him, Summer."

The man had saved Summer and Anne, but the Watcher could not trust him if he hadn't lied about being a Lock Tannis worshipper. Despite Bane's existence as Summer's rescuer, the distance between the Watcher and the wrinkled elder wasn't far enough.

Anne's life depended on Summer. If life drained from the woman, Anne would die. Unless Bane adopted the child after her Watcher's death.

This was the life Summer had, for the rest of her life, and a Lock Tannis worshipper had saved her.

Summer had risked her life to reach Anne. Both lived. Bane the Lock Tannis worshipper could harm and kill the Watcher and the baby. Her baby.

The woman was supposed to defend and help Anne, which she had done. But Summer hadn't expected to fall into the presence of a man who supported and praised Lock Tannis, the universe's worst Freeman. Not even Zero Spike had launched a massive attack on Soy. Even if he had longed to, the Freeman population hadn't been as massive as it was now when Zero still lived.

Lock Tannis was the worst Freeman in history, no doubt.

There was no Freeman in the room to kill, no pale warrior to fight. But Bane stood near Summer. Too close. Too dangerous. He was an enemy.

Summer stood in the blue room, holding Anne while they remained unable to receive Theo's help. If Summer made contact with Theo, he would try snatching Anne out the Watcher's life. Or he would make Vera track down Anne and she and Theo would fight Summer, just so they could get Anne back to her family.

Holly and Archer had tried convincing Summer to go with them. The woman had refused. Boris Endman's son and daughter-in-law were friends with Theo and Lilly. If given the opportunity, they would choose to assist the Majestics with taking Anne from her new mother. That wouldn't be good.

Lilly had held Anne and now Summer held her. The woman refused to give the baby back to her birth mother, determined.

Summer and Anne had survived the attack on the Soynite royal palace, had survived the massive attack on their planet, but they had encountered a man who worshipped the mastermind behind Soy's invasion.

Bane Sinister.

Summer had won the precious Anne, but Bane might take the lady's life. He might murder Anne.

Whatever Bane had as a plan, Summer would defend her child. Anne was hers. The Watcher had taken the girl from her biological parents with no permission, but she could protect her.

She loved the girl. Anyone who loved Lock Tannis didn't flow with greatness. Summer's savior was not great, nor was he a man who would appreciate it if Lock Tannis died.

Meanwhile, Summer would love for Tannis to meet his demise. The meeting needed to happen, like how the Watcher had needed to take Anne from her birth family.

Summer and Bane were too different.

Their clothes glowed in the bright illumination, which reflected off the solid blue below beneath their shoes. Innocent Soynite blood hadn't been spilled, hadn't spread underneath their feet. A good person's blood, a person who had taken a red laser beam to the head, hadn't been spilled in the room. This was not the Soynite royal palace.

Bane's love for Lock Tannis was more outrageous than Alice Endman's kidnapping had been.

The man who could turn invisible had broken Summer's trust in him. She could not trust a Soynite who supported Lock Tannis, the same Freeman who had made the invasion on Soy explode into reality.

"Stay away from me," Summer, taking a step back.

Bane grinned. He took a step closer to the woman, rubbing this index finger against his thumb.

"I don't intend on bringing you harm, Summer," Bane said. "In truth, I believe there is much we can assist each other with. I need to build a family. I am a man. You are a woman. There is a baby in your arms. If you help me spread the glory of Lock Tannis, I will love you forever."

Bane would murder her and Anne if the Watcher refused to do what the man desired.

At the same, though, Summer had made enemies out of the Majestics. She couldn't return to them. It would be unwise.

Besides Anne and Bane, who did she have?

"Do you mean that?" Summer said. "You will love me forever?"

"Just as long as you praise and worship the greatest being of all time, darling," Bane replied. He reached out and caressed Summer's cheek with his wrinkled hand. "Your baby, Anne, also needs a father. Now, it's just a suggestion, but our bond with each other must deepen. Romance must come. If you want an easier life for Anne. It's your choice, ultimately."

Bane clasped his hands together.

"I know," Summer said. She made eye contact with her baby. "I took Anne away from her birth parents, but it was my choice. And now you're giving me the choice to join you. If I don't do it, you will kill me."

"Erase that negativity," Bane said. He pressed a hand against his chest. "I've only killed one Soynite, Summer. You don't have to become my second Soynite kill. I like you. Unlike how I did my father, I won't rush you. There's plenty of time for you to believe in the glory of the good Lock Tannis. I need you. Not only are you a great lady, but you're a Watcher. Our brothers and sisters are going to need a great warrior helping them survive. Can you shoot and aim well?"

"I won't miss," Summer said.

Bane smirked. He placed a finger on Summer's forehead.

"Your mind is brilliant," the man said. "Follow me. You will put the baby to bed, then we'll talk."

Bane turned, moved.

Summer followed.

They moved through several halls, halls that were blue and not splattered with warm red. Fortune had found Summer. It had found Anne.

Bane wouldn't convert Summer as soon as possible, and choosing to join his current one-person cult would not be moronic. The Watcher could not go back to the Majestics, because they would repossess Anne, and Holly and Archer would do what Theo and Lilly desired them to do. Trying to find Boris Endman's son and daughter-in-law would be foolish. Staying with Bane wouldn't be.

The three Soynites were soon inside a room with a bed, a wooden dresser, and a crib.

Bane gestured to the crib, which was blue. Like Anne's crib within the royal palace, a place that possibly no longer stood.

"Put the darling Anne to bed," Bane said.

The crib bordered a wall, lacking an occupant. Anne could replace that lack.

Summer put Anne in the crib. The woman brought her hands to the blue railing, then curled them around it.

"I love you, Anne," Summer said.

"How old are you, Summer?" Bane said.

"Twenty-one,"

"You're young," Bane said. "Good. That means death by old age will strike you later than it strikes me. Our family is going to need a new leader after my death. That leader will be you, darling."

Summer faced the man, her rescuer.

"I appreciate you, Bane," the woman said. "You killed that Freeman. You saved me and my daughter. But I need to know that you can keep us safe."

Back in the royal palace, Summer hadn't been safe.

During that time, that awful time, Anne hadn't been safe. She had been unsafe.

Because of Lock Tannis. Because of Theo Majestic.

Boris Endman. He hadn't helped destroy the Freemans, because he hadn't been in the royal palace.

Other Highs hadn't been inside the palace. They hadn't been able to help kill the attacking Freemans.

Where were Theo's fellow Highs? Where was Theo?

"It will be as easy as it was when I killed that Freeman," Bane said. He chuckled and moved his hands to his hips, letting his skin meet white fabric. "Safety is what I want as well. I can't pray to Lock Tannis if I'm dead. If you were dead, you wouldn't be able to, either. I need you and Anne safe, which you are. You two are fine. When our family grows much larger than it is now, you and Anne will be even safer. I promise. People will join us, Summer, and we will love them."

"I'm not part of your family," Summer said.

"You will be," Bane said. "I can see the past. I can see the future. I haven't seen you in a precognition, but you will be part of my family. You will love me. I will love you. I know you're on the borderline between wanting to be with my family and wanting to help the Majestic family, but the best choice is obvious. Isn't it? The Majestics will try to take their daughter back. It's best for you to oppose them. Side with Lock Tannis. That's a must. As the years go on, your love for Lock Tannis will deepen, become stronger. You surely hate Him, but that hatred won't last."

Summer fiddled with her Soynite pendant. Bane looked at it.

"No family of mine will wear a Soynite pendant," the man said. "When you become a worshipper of Lock Tannis, you won't wear that pendant anymore. His worshippers don't wear Soynite pendants."

"Right," Summer said.

"Baby Anne will have to stop wearing her pendant as well," Bane said. "This is not the royal palace. This is not Soy. You and Anne are with me. Anne Majestic is with me. I won't harm her. I can't promise I will let her father go unharmed."

Summer moved her hands into her pockets, then turned her head.

Bane's hand met her shoulder.

"Sorrow comes, but it leaves," Bane said. "You're upset. I know. You're with a person who doesn't support the Majestic family, and it bothers you. You're with a person who worships Lock Tannis, and it angers you, I'm sure. Don't worry. What you are, I once was. What I am, you will become. You will know the truth, Summer."

He grinned, showing his white teeth.

Clad in white clothes, Bane Sinister remained as Summer's savior.

It was the truth.

A Freeman had put Summer and Anne in danger, but Bane had saved them both. A Lock Tannis worshipper, as awful as his belief was, had kept the deaths of Summer and Anne at bay. Bane had done a great act.

The Soynite person Bane had killed was not Summer.

She could live.

She could thrive.

She could join Bane Sinister, form a family with him.

The Watcher turned her focus to the baby in the crib. Anne's eyes were closed, and she breathed with rhythm. The little one slept.

Summer removed her Soynite pendant.

When she was in the hall outside the room, the woman moved the pendant into her pocket. Bane accompanied her.

Summer removed her shirt. With her hands on the blue fabric, the woman held eye contact with Bane.

"It's your choice, Summer," Bane said, as the light shone against the lady's blue bra. He showed her his palms. "If you don't want me to touch you, I won't."

"I want you to," Summer said.

She dropped the shirt, then removed her bra.

Summer had never done what Theo and Lilly had done to produce Anne Majestic. Perhaps she would never have biological children of her own, but she needed her savior to be with her. If Bane and Anne were not with her, she would be alone. She needed her baby. She needed Bane, a man who donned white and aspired to convert more people.

"Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it," Summer said. She released her bra. It hit the floor. "Whatever you need me to do, I'll do it."

She brought her face closer to Bane's, and the man brought his face closer to Summer's. They shut their eyes, then the Watcher and the Lock Tannis worshipper kissed.

A good kiss. Summer's first kiss.

When the kiss was over and both Soynites' eyes were open, they held hands.

Summer was going to give Bane Sinister what they both desired, but she needed to speak another sentence into existence.

"I serve Lock Tannis." Summer Locket said.