Rising Shards

The night Kalei found out Nikki was dating someone else, she finished crossing a bridge, then felt a giant hand grab her, then everything went dark.

She woke up thinking she died. Why else would she be surrounded by a bunch of nightmare corpse looking Kitty Kilander replica dealies? Then she saw Ovie and 09, and it was clear she’d been captured in some stupid Endoran scheme. Again. She spent the morning trying to figure out what kind of Kitty Kilander themed void node they brought her to (Kalei's guess was Kitty cloning facility), tied up in some kind of restraints that kept her from using her ice powers to break her way out, getting spoon fed applesauce by 09.

“Sorry for the tying your arms up thing,” 09 said.

“Don’t talk to me,” Kalei said. “Friend status revoked. Rex Steel nickname? Revoked.”

09 looked genuinely hurt by that, which made Kalei feel a bitter sort of pride about.

“You’re lucky I didn’t spit that food out, because I wanted to,” Kalei said. “But I’m also really hungry.”

“We have a few more packs if you want another,” Aira said.

“Right, you guys have friend status revoked too.” Kalei said, nodding toward Aira and Laenie. “I don’t know if Laenie can understand me in her dumbass brute form, so maybe relay that update when you get a chance, Aira.”

“I’m really sorry about all this,” Aira said. “I…didn’t think we’d…”

“Yeah yeah, real sorry, and yet you’re still here going along with whatever idiot plan these two came up with.” Kalei said. Ovie and 09 had been putzing around with a dinky looking machine for what seemed like hours.

Kalei let out a quivering sigh, fighting back stinging in her eyes. She wanted to just go somewhere and be alone and just. Feel what she was feeling about Nikki without having to worry about anyone seeing. Not be stuck with these dorks.

“What are you even doing, anyways?” Kalei asked. “Let me guess. Loser Endorans, so. Trying to bring Endora back?”

Ovie groaned as the machine she worked on apparently wasn’t doing what she wanted it to.

“Can we at least tell her that?” 09 asked.

“Tell her whatever you want, maybe it’ll get her to shut up.” Ovie said.

“Some of the Wildfire Hearts students have been captured by the Sharai,” 09 said. “Ovie’s girlfriend Jeans and Laenie’s brother Rem are with them.”

“Pfft.” Kalei burst out laughing. “Wow.”

“Wow what?” 09 asked.

“Couple of things,” Kalei said. “First, Ovie, why the hell are you trying to get Jeans back? Seemed like you were pretty done the last time I saw you. Going this far for an ex does not seem worth it.”

“Jeans isn’t my ex,” Ovie said, cranking a bolt with a wrench on the side of the machine. “We’re still dating.”

“Pretty sure I saw you run her ass over with a golf cart.” Kalei said.

“That was…a mistake.” Ovie said.

“Sure it was.” Kalei said. “Second, 09, if Ovie’s going after her girlfriend, literally why the hell are you here? For Laenie’s brother? Do you still even go to Rising Shards?”

09 didn't answer.

“Hm. Interestingly quiet there, Rex.” Kalei said.

“I thought you said the Rex Steel nickname was revoked.” 09 said.

“It still is, I just have to break the habit.” Kalei said. “Next up, Aira and Laenie. I’m still pissed at you guys for the Zeta thing.” Aira looked too sad for Kalei to go too far in on even in the current situation with Kalei’s current emotional state, so she didn’t go any further on her. “Laenie, you look ugly as sin when you’re an Exa Cani, and you hurt my ribs when you snuck up on me. I’m gonna deck you the first chance I get, and I'm gonna make sure it hurts.”

Laenie growled in response, but Aira stopped her from advancing.

“Lastly, and maybe most importantly,” Kalei said. “The Sharai are gone, dudes. We just had a worksheet about it. Even I know that.”

“What?” Aira asked.

“If someone wants to reach in my pockets, I got the worksheet crumpled up there.” Kalei said.

“Not falling for that one.” Ovie said.

“Worth a shot,” Kalei said. “Yeah, you’re being lied to, though. Jeans probably isn’t even in the void, she’s definitely not captured by any Sharai.”

Aira thought it over. “To be fair, the Exile didn’t really give us much information.”

“Uh huh, ‘The Exile,’” Kalei said. “Isn’t that the dude that’s going around beating up Endorans? A random dude that beats up Order of Terina freaks is pretty cool, I’ll admit, but I’m pretty sure they’re just their own brand of Endoran, probably the same one as you guys. Sending you on some dumb chase around the void for reasons.”

“The Kathrons said they could bring the Sharai to us.” Aira said.

Kalei could scarcely believe people she considered friends would go along with anything Zeta’s crappy parents said, let alone have enough confidence after they beast tendency’d their own daughter to continue parroting them.

“And you’d trust them after what they did to their own kid?” Kalei asked. “The Sharai are gone.”

Kalei grinned at the uncomfortable quiet in the lack of reaction from the group.

“Wow,” Kalei said. “How do you not know it, Re—09? You have computer chips and crap. Couldn’t search this one? Oh? Or maybe you do know. And you’re going along with this…because.” Something about 09’s body language looked familiar. It also felt curious she had been by Ovie’s side the whole time Kalei had been stuck with them, not her actual friends in Aira and Laenie. “Oh, wait.”

“Can someone shut her up, please?” Ovie asked.

“Don’t you want to know why 09’s going along with all this?” Kalei asked. “I totally just figured it out.”

“If I humor you, will you shut up before I use my acid to seal your mouth shut?” Ovie asked.

“Maybe,” Kalei said.

“Fine, what is it?” Ovie rolled her eyes.

“Dude, she’s crushing on you hard,” Kalei said. 09 flinched. “That’s it, isn’t it? And she’s probably following you around like a puppy because she’s so down bad for you.” She laughed.

Ovie burned red, while 09 looked away, not answering.

Kalei had a vague plan in mind. If she could get them all in varying states of confusion or pissed off-edness, surely an opportunity to escape would present itself. Before that plan could come to fruition though, footsteps echoed through the room, sounding like someone landed in the void and started running towards the others. 09 rushed over to block Kalei from whoever it was.

Ovie cursed as she gave up on her machine, getting her bloodsaber out.

“Stay back, whoever it…” Ovie started. “Oh my god, what the hell are you doing here?”

“I heard you were having a little party, then I saw the guest list...”

The girl’s voice felt like grabbing some high voltage cables to Kalei, sending goosebumps up her arms and back. She tried to lean around 09 to see, her mind barely processing the voice she heard. 09 shuffled back and forth, blocking Kalei from getting a good view.

It couldn’t be.

The wristbands of Kalei’s captors all started binging.

“Idiot!” Ovie hissed. “They’re going to know we’re here now! We had a block on the signal, and…ack, you’re going to lead them right to us!”

“Then just leave now?” The girl said. "And you led me to you pretty easily, maybe you shouldn't have made it so easy to track where you were and who you brought along?"

Kalei shook, like actually physically shook. That’s…her voice. There’s no way, though…

“Laenie!” Ovie said.

Laenie’s head whipped around, her tongue flopped out like a dog in summer.

“Go protect the barn.” Ovie said.

Laenie nodded and ran off on all fours, with Aira following behind her, somewhat reluctantly.

“09, charm the door.” Ovie said.

“But…I have to protect…” 09 said.

“Oh, like Narkissa's going to do anything but annoy us.” Ovie said. “Kalei isn’t going anywhere either.”

Narkissa? Isn't that...?

“You do have her.” The girl said.

Kalei blinked as her vision blurred and her heartrate sped up as 09 finally got out of her way, confirming what she thought was just a wild, hopeful speculation. The girl with long hair and freckles couldn’t be anyone else.

“…Risa?” Kalei said weakly, as the girl she never thought she’d see again now stood a foot away from her.