I didn't emerge from an explosion like Lance.
Instead, swam through the lake and climbed out. As I stood out of the lake, the muscles in my body flexed. I felt an intense and indescribable sensation flowing through me.
I felt like a mountain.
"A strong foundation! Just as I anticipated, my son!" Unity hugged me from the side, cooing. "A thousand voices each with strong will, born of me."
Her skin and clothes were impossibly soft, and incredibly easy to get–
Wait.
My eyes snapped open.
"Where is she? Where is Lumina?"
Apollo tightened a fist as he looked down at his feet. Unity, meanwhile, grabbed my chin. She forced me to look into her liquid, white eyes.
"She's been consumed."
She whispered, smiling as she scratched my jaw. "She fought hard, but when it comes to being my child, only the best is good enough."
I stood frozen, remnants of cosmic dust rolling off my body. "Consumed?" I repeated, my voice dropping. "No, that's not right…"
I shook my head.
"The key to surviving the dip is arrogance. You need to believe you're stronger, that you're a user of it. She went into the pool as confident as Lance and I were. She couldn't have been consumed."
Another hand touched my shoulder. Apollo.
"I'm sorry, Marcus. But that kind of determination isn't built in a single conversation. Especially when there's a disconnect between what you say and what you truly feel."
Unity chirped up.
"In reality, she only wanted a peaceful life. One granted to her by the light. She won't have to suffer anymore, my son."
I pushed both of them away.
"Cut the crap, she's dead. And she's dead because of you, Apollo." I glared at him, clenching my fists. Apollo took a step back.
He raised his hands in a placating posture.
"Whoa, I know this is a lot to take in, but–"
"Shut the fuck up. Just shut the fuck up." I stepped towards him. "You're nothing but a glorified doormat! 17 people, you let 17 people die when you had the power to level cities."
Apollo lowered his hands.
I continued.
"You claim to be this benevolent teacher who cares about his students, but we both know that's not true. Because if you really cared, you wouldn't have let Vane get away with this."
Apollo frowned. "The Director is in a difficult position. One that calls for–"
"Excuses. You could've easily killed and replaced her."
I scoffed bitterly.
"But no, instead you let her go and gleefully ruin lives. Then throw around sympathy tears after the fact." I shook my head. "That ends the moment I get stronger than you."
Because when that happens, I will kill Vane.
I slipped on my clothes and walked out of the room.
Stepping back in the hangar I was greeted by the sight of Zero reaching for a clear vat filled with light. The only thing stopping her was Erika. She was sitting on top of her, cleaning her nails.
"Must, drink…"
"Hey! Get off her!"
My voice boomed as I sprinted forward. Erika didn't flinch, but she did look up. She seemed a little surprised at first, but it was quickly replaced with a devilish grin.
"Make me."
Great, this bitch wants to try me now of all times. So be it.
I pulled back a fist, coiling it with all my might. Erika sat unmoving. But the closer I got, the wider her grin grew.
Then, when I was about ten feet away, she launched forward. The sequence of movements was quick.
She was in my face in a blink.
I swung down with a haymaker, but she dodged. She snatched my wrist, and with the force of ten men, slammed me into the ground.
"My baby!" One of the robed women shrieked, rushing covering her mouth.
Erika pinned both my wrists above my head and straddled me. She got uncomfortably close. Her breath was hot and thick.
"My little Mutt thinks he's a god 'cause he's got a light in his bones."
I gritted my teeth.
Why the hell was she so strong?! I didn't expect to beat her, but it shouldn't be this one-sided either. We're both pilots…
"Fuck off!"
Erika laughed with a bark, "Aw, is the little pup confused? I bet you expected to kick my ass, didn't you? Too bad you're still a weak–"
CRACK!
Both Erika and I snapped our necks in the direction of the noise. Zero had broken the container and was literally drinking raw cosmic dust.
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp…
Erika and I sat and watched as she drank the entire vat.
When she finished, everything went still.
Erika gripped my wrists. A faint tremble in her hands. "There's no way in hell she could've ingested that."
Zero stepped away from the vat. I gripped Erika's thighs. Not to catch a feel, but because I was genuinely worried Zero might explode.
We waited.
But all that followed was a long sigh from Zero. "The hunger only weeps when it's satisfied, there shall be no tears today."
I raised an eyebrow.
This girl just drank enough raw light to power a cruiser for a decade. And she was reciting poetry? What the hell is she?
There was a loud clap.
I turned my attention towards a hall where Apollo and Unity stood. She was standing behind him, peaking out from his back.
"Is it gone?" She asked quietly, "Looking at Erika."
Erika stood up, dusting her hands. "If you mean the demon child who can down a vat of raw light without so much as a tummy ache, then no. She's not gone."
Apollo raised an eyebrow.
"She… drank it?"
He stepped forward, his movements cautious. "The director mentioned she had similar abilities to a null walker. But even so, that much energy would kill one ten times over."
He knelt before her, placing a hand on her stomach. He looked up. "I'm going to pour some energy into you, is that alright?"
Zero grinned, "By all means, hunger accepts your call."
Zero's jumpsuit began to burn around his hand. Then her shirt, until finally his hand made contact with her skin.
Apollo frowned.
"What's wrong, master?" Erika asked, stepping closer.
"I'm pouring enough energy into her to melt steel." He said calmly, pulling his hand away. Zero's stomach was unblemished, if anything it looked colder. "This isn't good." Apollo stood to his feet.
He opened his eyes for the first time since I met him.
Apollo's eyes were a bright, neon violet. His pupils were wide and held a spiral pattern. It was alien, completely and utterly alien.
But that wasn't all, his irises began to rapidly shift hues.
"No thermal… no radiation… no energy… no… wait." Apollo's pupils retracted as a grin caught his lips. "So that's it, I should've realized sooner."
He raised his hand aimed at Zero, pointing two fingers as a bead of light headed the tips.
My eyes widened, something like fear gripping at my heart. "Apollo, WAIT!" I rushed forward, but a hand snatched me back. I looked over my shoulder to see Erika grabbing my collar.
I tried to shrug her off, watching as Apollo prepared to fire.
Zero tilted her head curiously.
Time seemed to slow. It was like that time in prison all over again. Lola was being threatened while all I could do was cry and beg.
I was helpless then.
And I'm helpless now.
Even with cosmic dust, I wasn't any stronger. Not physically. And by the time I managed to make anything, Apollo would've fired.
A beam no thicker than a pencil pierced Zero's head, going right through. My outstretched arm dropped as Zero collapsed forward.
No!