Warning: Homicide and Jaci Valentine is not mine. They belong to Showstopper. Katherine is also not mine, but she don’t belong to anyone.

The Enega-Warriors Chapter 1: Massacre in the Subway Nu’u-Sara, Ai’a’ive Archipelago, the Pacific Ocean, July 1rst, 2025

            The Ai’a’ive Archipelago was and always will be an oddity. While the islands could be considered volcanic geologically, they didn’t form in the manner of most volcanic islands. They were raised from the magic of eight jewels. These stones are the Seven Sisters and the Tina-O-Ai’a’ive (Mother of Ai’a’ive), containing the essence and powers of eight very important Ai’a’ive women. The Ai’a’ive are a race similar to humans in every way, except that they have feathery bird-like wings growing out of their backs. They resemble what most people think about when they hear “angel.” The Ai’a’ive had spread to many other planets, but they were originally from Earth, and these islands were magically created there. The centermost island is where the jewels are kept, and across from the island that has the Royal Palace, where the Ai’a’ive Matriarch lives. Next to that is Nu’u-Sara, or Village of Sara, named after Sara Ai’a’ive, an important hero. In this large metropolis, inaccurately called a village, because in Ai’a’ive custom any collection of buildings, no matter how large, is a village, is where this story starts. The village is the capital of the Ai’a’ive Islands, which includes the Centre islands and part of the Inner islands. The rest of the Inner islands and all of the Outer islands were given to various countries on Earth, some of them already close, such as Tonga and Samoa, and some of them much further away, including Israel and Canada. The outer-most islands are in a ring, and at some places are very close to existing islands. They are connected via a circular highway and a circular railroad. Road, rail and ferry survice throughout the islands is generally second-to-none, with few exceptions.

            But back in Nu’u Sara is where this story is going to start. Nu’u Sara is known for quite a few things, including a great spot for tourism, really great food, the hills, beaches, and even a mountain, a pleasant climate, bars and restaurants, night-clubs that all have escalators, wide-screen TVs, and Ai’a’ive women who like to flash their panties at men (coming from a culture where underwear is not traditionally worn), an interesting mix of cultures, albeit primarily Ai’a’ive, who are very Polynesian by nature, despite having lived apart from Earth for millennia. Nu’u Sara is also known for its vast subway network.

            Since most of the area was volcanic rock, one would think it was quite expensive, but with advanced tunneling techniques, money from the sale of stuff from Ai’a’ive planets such as love-fruit and hoopies (small creatures with very good senses of smell and hearing), and a bit of magic, it was quite easy to come up with a system to rival New York’s and London’s. And unlike those two systems, here the tunnels were big enough and the area on either side of the tracks was wide enough to allow full-sized North American trains to use the tunnels. Besides the subways themselves, many parts of the tunnel were shared with local and long distance passenger trains and even a few freight trains (although height-detectors ensured that nothing too tall entered). The subway network was called the Aga, which means cave in Ai’a’ive, which is mostly derived from Samoan.

            A couple of men in dark jackets, pants, boots and shades got off from a train on the Dwayne Wayne line at a stop called 1999, the year that the last of the Ai’a’ive Sisters and their mother were recovered.

            “Carl, you got the ‘party equipment’ ready?” asked one of them.

            “You bet, Joe!” replied the other with a New York accent. “Mr. Bigallow will be glad he hired us!”

            The duo waited for the train to head into the tunnel beyond the station. As it was the last station on the Dwayne Wayne line, there wouldn’t be anyone aboard except for the driver. The rest of the passengers had left the platform. To anyone on the opposite platform, they were just regular passengers. The station itself had walls that were done in grayish-brown bricks. On the walls were a few carvings that resembled the number 99. The ceiling above the tracks was arched, with bricks in a diagonal pattern. Orb-shaped lights were on the ceiling and the walls. There were two tracks, with a platform on either side, long enough to accommodate two trains on either platform.

            Carl rushed to a staircase that gently curved to the left, next to a curved escalator. At the top was a tube-shaped hallway. Signs pointed to an exit, elevators and the Hill Street tramline in one direction, and the way out and the platforms for the Sekola and Lara lines being in another direction. He produced a small suitcase, and then purposely tripped. The suitcase spilled open, and numerous small bags and canisters, all of them decorated brightly, rolled out. “Instant Party” was marked on a couple of the cans.

            “SHIT!” he yelled out. The containers were all shaking. A can popped opn and dozens of brightly colored worms were flying off in all directions. A Catherine’s Wheel shot up from one of the bags and bounced off the walls while making bright patterns. Smoke bombs began smoking, and portable strobe-light generators flashed, while a holographic projector showed a boy-band dancing while music played. Predictably, crowds were drawn to the commotion. “My daughter’s birthday party is ruined, RUINED!” he said with mock emotion. Noisemakers went off, while streamers and worms and even a model airplane flitted about.

            Down below, at track level, Joe smiled. He heard faint echoes of the commotion above. Now was the time to strike. He produced a long device with chains and metal weights. He threw it across the tracks. Each track had four rails: two running rails spaced four feet, eight and a half inches apart, an outside positive rail that was four inches higher and off to one side, always away from the platform, and a center negative rail that was two inches above the height of the running rails. The positive rail was energized at 600 volts, the negative rail at 300. His device wrapped around the various rails, creating connections that shouldn’t be, and causing a grounding fault. A spectacular display of pyrotechnics ensued, and then it went quiet. In the tunnel beyond the station small red lights went on. Joe walked to the end of the station, to the tunnel. On the edge of the platform was a small panel with a warning not to walk into the tunnel, and warnings in Ai’a’ive and English that ignoring the warnings could have deadly consequences.

            He walked past the swinging panel and onto the tunnel’s walkway. He walked down from that and onto a rubber walkway that crossed the tracks. He had to be quick because soon the driver might spot him. There was a door marked “Transformer room.” He went up to it, and saw that it was mechanically locked. He produced a special door-opener device and opened it. Inside were rows of transformers to convert the voltage to the nominal 900 volts that the system used. Warnings were posted that shutting off the transformers would sound an alarm. Before he got too far in he also saw that there was a surveillance camera. It would turn at regular intervals. When it was turned away, he produced a laser gun and blasted it. He then took out a strange device and attached it to the transformers. He kissed it for good luck, before pressing a couple of buttons.

            A blue countdown timer appeared. He calmly left the room.

            Moments later, a bright blue explosion went off, and the transformers had sparks flying.

            Carl, meanwhile, was reassuring passengers and a couple of Aga police that everything was alright. The Aga police officers were Ai’a’ive. They wore dark red jackets and “Bobby”-style helmets. They also had red lavalava, or sarongs. Both the sarongs and the jackets had the Aga logo and the words “Leoleo Aga Police.” They had belts with handcuffs, assault flashlights, radios, and special weapons (but not conventional firearms, for the simple fact that such a weapon would be ear-shattering in the confines of the underground stations). Their radios went off.

            “Yes?” said one of them.

            “We have a serious situation at your station. The power to the tracks has been cut, the transformers are non-functional,” came a voice over the radio.

            “Roger. We’ll investigate. Are you alright if we leave you, Mr. Thompson?”

            “Yes, I’m alright, I don’t need any help,” said Carl. The officers dashed off.

            By the time they reached the transformers, Joe was gone. “What kind of weapon did this?” asked one of them.

            “An EMP device,” said the other, as he checked the remains of the device that was used. “It will take a few hours to get this back online.”

            The other officer shrugged. “He’s probably out by now!”

            The first one pulled out his radio, and pressed a few buttons to patch into the station’s PA system. “Your attention please. The track power to this station has been cut. Please exit the station. Replacement bus service will commence shortly. I repeat, please exit the station, replacement bus service will commence shortly.” He repeated the message in Ai’a’ivean.

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Bigallow Manor, atop Angela’s Hill, Angel Heights, Nu’u Sara

            A phone rang. A fair-skinned hand reached out to grab the receiver. “Yes?” he answered. “That’s mighty good. You done well Team Amarillo. Any word yet on whether or not Team Buckaroo has rustled up them there royal children?” A slight sigh. “Well ya better let me know if they tell ya before they tell me. There’s a-gonna be a big fight down at old ’99, an’ I wanna see it happen, and them Next Wave are gonna participate!” He heard a bit more. “Fine. Good day to you!” He slammed the receiver. As he got up, his armchair’s springs creaked, relieved to be free from his portly frame. He slipped on a silver fringed coat to go with his silver pants and designer cowboy boots, and put on a necklace with a platinum dollar-sign on it. He made sure to also put on his designer Stetson, complete with another dollar sign on the rim. He lit a cigar and laughed between puffs.

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The Palace Gardens, The Palace

            A couple was sitting on a bench, looking at the ocean. The male was half Ai’a’ive, half Ya’a Naomi (a race that resembles a cross between the human and the raccoon), so consequently he had the fur, raccoon-like head and ringed tail of his Ya’a Naomi father, and feathery bird-like wings on his back, like his mother has. His name was Bobby Yicola Kokare Ai’a’ive, but most just called him Bobby. His fur was mostly brown, except for white around the mouth, and black rings around his eyes. His wings were dark red. He wore a light blue t-shirt and a dark blue sarong with wavy patterns on it. His green eyes liked into the blue-greyish eyes of his girlfriend.

            “Katherine, I’m happy that I met you. You have no idea how happy you make me feel!”

            His girlfriend, Katherine, was a Pavonian. She resembled a human in every way, except that she had head-feathers and a feathery tail similar to a peacock. Her feathers were all greenish, with some red and yellow near the center of her tail. Unlike a peacock, however, the “eyes” in her tail were actual eyes, of different colors, but they could see things the eyes in her head couldn’t. The hair on her head was brown and in a bun. She was shorter than her boyfriend, and had fair skin. She wore a light brown blouse and a white skirt.

            “You look slightly worried,” she said to Bobby.

            “It’s all the shit that’s been happening lately. The attack on the G-9 meeting. All the other stuff the Glocks are pulling!”

            “We shouldn’t think about that. Think about Elka and Jerome. They’re coming here tonight!”

            “You’re right, I shouldn’t be so pessimistic. Just, I had a rather nasty dream last night.”

            “It’s just a dream.”

            ‘But sometimes dreams mean something!”

            “You’re right there. Let’s go for a walk. Maybe that will wear it off.”

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Somewhere in Outer Space, just beyond Mars

            A strange entity was flying through space. It resembled a series of purple orbs. The largest two were circling each other, while the others went in random patterns around them. Lightning arced between them. A trail of purple sparks was left behind. It flew past a satellite put into orbit around Mars. It wasn’t looking at the red planet, however, but rather up into space to notice any spaceships entering the solar system, and informing the relevant authorities on Earth if something was wrong or unusual. This strange entity that resembled energy but was moving with the precision of a spaceship was considered unusual enough. Additional sensors activated, and a Hyperwave link was established with the U.N. Solar System Administration (sometimes nicknamed “Ass-Backwards”) buildings in Nepal.

            Within minutes this information would be broadcast to every national government and international alliance.

            Despite the significant amount of energy, sensors determined it to be “mostly harmless,” and scans for intense radioactivity or instability also turned up negative. Still others suggested it may be someone who can travel in an alternate form. Some Ai’a’ive were known to be able to transform into comet-like entities for short distances. In minutes the entity would be orbiting Earth.

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Inside the Palace

            Lusi Lelagi Tiamane Ai’a’ive walked through a passageway. She had dark black wavy hair, and almond colored skin. A pair of light blue sparkly wings extended out of her back. She wore a green and yellow lavalava and a matching puletasi (dress worn over the sarong). As she moved, a necklace of ai’a’iveum (dark metal) and crystal swayed, and her crown of pink flowers didn’t move at all. She was the Matriarch of the Ai’a’ive Islands, and it sometimes wore her down. But things were quite calm, and it wasn’t one of those days on which she met with the Cabinet. Those were the most stressful.

            She just wanted to get her children. Soon they’d be going to pick up a couple of guests. She knew they’d most likely be watching wide-screen TV in a certain living room. She opened the door.

            “Darius? Aua? You should…Darius? Aua?” She noticed the TV was on. It was showing a cartoon barbarian fighting a three-headed skeleton. Then she noticed the couch was a mess, with one of the cushions on the ground. And a strange round device was there. She turned off the TV and went to the device. It was black and had a couple of buttons. A note was taped to it. “U Wunt Yer Childs?” it asked. She picked up a phone and dialed an extension. A moment later, a security guard came in, with a creature on a leash. The creature was covered in light red fur, had four legs, rabbit-like ears, a long feathery tail, and an ivory bird-like beak. The guard wore a purple and gold sarong and jacket, and had light brown wings.

            “Don’t worry, La’u Tina (Our Mother), Henry the Hoopie should find out if it’s a bomb.” The hoopie sniffed, and then walked back to the guard. “It shouldn’t be anything!”

            “Thank you for coming,” thanked Lusi. She pressed one of the buttons. It opened, and a small projector appeared. It came to life, and showed a holographic image of Mr. Bigallow appeared.

            “Howdie, I’m Billy-Bob Bigallow. I’m runnin’ the biggest fight ever. It’s gonna be better than anything on Pay TV. But there’s a hitch. I need some heroes, such as yer Next Wave. But they wouldn’t want to come, would they. So I had a couple of pardners come over to rustle up yer kids. They’re safe, at 1999 station, but send the Next Wave, or else…I don’t mean to upset anyone, but I’m a gonna see the biggest fight of the millennium, in that there subway station, with yer champions involved. Don’t let me down, or else!” The image pulled out a pair of six-shooters and shot in all directions. “You don’t want yer kids harmed, do ya? Have a nice day. Yee-haw!”

            “LEAI!” screamed Lusi in denial, “LEAI!”

            “Are you alright, honey?” asked a male voice. She turned around and saw her husband Jack. He was tall and handsome. He was an African-American from Chicago, and had short black hair and green eyes. He wore a red and white lumberjack-style shirt and an orange patterned lavalava. He hugged her.

            “They’ve been kinapped,” she said softly. Then she activated the device again.

            “SHIT!” exclaimed Jack. “They’re gonna pay!”

            “Unfortunately, they’re in that subway station!”

            “Why did they have to pick 1999? It’s a fucking Fraggle Rock down there!”

            “I think you answered the question. We’ll have to get the Next Wave. We should also get a map of the station from Mack.”

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            Sarona, the blue winged, red-dyed furred sister of Bobby, was lying face-down on her bed. No matter how much she tried not to think about it, her letdown with Koko was teasing her endlessly. She tried spending extra time practicing her techniques, and driving around, but nothing could bring her relief. How could he, she thought? Koko had slept with her four nights, said he’d always be with her, kept saying how beautiful she was. But then he gave her the wrong telephone number. And days later a card arrived via star-mail. He said he wasn’t ready for this sort of relationship, and hoped that she would understand.

            How insensitive! He played with her heart. She was naked but had a sarong draped over her.

            There was a knock at the door. She hastily wrapped the blue sarong around her Tahitian style.

            “Come in!”

            Lusi and Jack came in. “Darius and Aua have been kidnapped!” exclaimed Lusi.

            “Are you serious?”

            “Damn right she is,” replied Jack.

            “Just a moment!” She got up, and retied her sarong so that part of it passed between her legs, making it resemble a swimsuit. That was how she dressed for fighting, whether in the ring, or on duty, as was now the case. “Do you know who did it?”

            “Yes, some jackass named Billy Bigallow!”

            “What does he want!”

            “He wants the biggest fight event ever, he’s holding it at 1999 on the Aga, and he insists that the Next Wave show up!”

            “He wants a fight? He’ll get it alright!”

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            Four people were playing a fighting videogame.

            “I have my father’s touch,” said one of them. She was covered in pink fur, had flower-shaped ears, a face that was a cross between a cat’s and a dog’s, and a fish-like tail. She also had six other limbs, four arms and two legs. She also wasn’t that large in size. The name of her race was pororo.

            “In your dreams Vanessa,” said another of the contenders. He had pointed ears, short black hair in a ponytail, and a tanned complexion. He was in his late teens. He wore a white t-shirt and white pants, and a pair of shades. “I, Robert-Creaig Sami Nuanua-Jackson, shall have all your asses on a silver platter!”

            “Now Sami, you don’t think you can defeat me, Kuwachobee Hialeah, your girlfriend, can you?” asked the third person. She was slightly older, had brown hair in six braids with a few feathers around the base of the braids, and pointed ears. She was wearing a loose purple dress.

            “You’re all wrong, I will win!” said the fourth, a girl with an Asian appearance to her. She was the youngest of the group at only seventeen. Princess Suki Shika Ming Sira Fliria was the adopted daughter of a princess on another planet and her late Japanese husband. She resented her royal life, was thrilled to move to Earth and become one of the Next Wave, and preferred to just be called Suki.

            It was Suki who was winning, but before she could gloat, Jack and Lusi entered.

            “It’s time,” said Lusi, “for the Next Wave to get into action. Our children have been kidnapped!”

            “NO!” screamed Suki, “This can’t be!”

            “It is,” said Jack.

            “Then we have to make it not,” said Kuwachobee, “do you know where they are?”

            “1999,” he said. “The subway station.”

            Just then Bobby and Katherine walked in.

            “Hi guys, I thought…” began Bobby.

            “It’s showtime,” said Sammy.

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El Rei, Texas

            El Rei was known for having the only traffic light in a sixty mile radius. Located in the heart of cattle-country, El Rei was wear ranchers would go to hang out and socialize. It was home of Bob’s Hardware and Farm Supplies, the place to go for everything from nails to electric cattle fencing. Apart from hovercars being in use, the town was essentially unchanged since the 1960’s.

            At the intersection with the only traffic light, there was Bob’s Hardware and Farm Supplies, Clem’s Garage, The El Rei General Store, and Susie’s, a combination café, bar, and dance club where crowds could get rowdy, especially around lunch-time, when Susie, in the bar section, would go around and give half-price drinks while wearing only a bra and panties. During one such period, a strange noise was heard.

            “You heard something’?” asked one man.

            “No Randy, you just hearin’ things, enjoy Susie, that’s what she’s here for!”

            Just then the strange swirling purple mess of energy came in through the open door and flew into the bar.

            “Since when did you start spicin’ up your show with them holographic e-fects?” asked someone else.

            “I don’t know what y’all talkin’ about,” answered the red-headed Susie. The purple energy coalesced into a ball, lightning arced in a short distance in many directions, and then a man appeared. He had silver skin, white hair, sunglasses, and white clothing, including a white jacket, white pants, and white shoes. His hair was in short dreadlocks.

            “Get off that dance-floor, ya galoot,” shouted Randy, “Yer spoilin’ the show!”

            “Make me!” he said in a low voice.

            “Ya want a fight?”

            “As a matter of fact, I do!”

            Randy grabbed a pair of pool sticks from a rack and went at the man with them. The man grabbed them and broke them. Randy swung a left-cross, and it hit, but it didn’t have any effect. The man retaliated with a simple punch that sent him crashing into a table. The man looked around. “Anyone else?” Then he saw a TV that was muted. It was turned to CNN and the words “breaking news” and “fight in Nu’u Sara” appeared.

            “Turn on the volume,” demanded the stranger. The bartender did so.

            “Texas-born billionaire Billy Bigallow demands that the Next Wave participate in his fight-fest in the 1999 Aga station in Nu’u Sara. While police are on standby, they fear entering the station for fear of inciting Bigallow to kill the hostages.”

            “It’s a tense situation,” said one of the Aga police officers.

            “That looks like a fight worthy for me,” said the stranger. “Where is Nu’u Sara?”

            “I don’t know,” said Randy. The stranger came over to him, picked him up, shook him violently, and threw him across the room.

            “It’s over yonder, way across the Pacific ocean,” said Susie, pointing in the general direction. “But I’m calling the cops!”

            “Try to. I’ll be gone,” warned the Stranger. With that, he held his arms to the side, and a purple lightning aura surrounded him. Then he transformed into the energy form and zoomed off.

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Nu’u Sara

            Three vehicles were headed in the general direction of the Aga station. The first was a blue Condor. The Condor was the hover-car version of the Chevrolet Impala. Beneath the car, instead of wheels, it had jets keeping it a short distance from the road. In this car, Sami, Kuwachobee, and Suki were traveling, and Bobby was driving. The vehicle had retractable flashing police lights on top of it. The second vehicle, running next to them, was a chrome green “Fly-Cab”, which was a Checker Cab (complete with the “checkered” stripes on either side) that used a SUDZ suspension system, releasing what looked like soap-bubbles on the underside. Vanessa and Suki were inside as passengers, while Sarona was at the wheel. This car also had flashing warning lights. Behind them, on a bicycle, was Katherine, moving at speeds more appropriate for a motorcycle. She was in a transformed state. Her feathers were a lighter shade of green, her hair was a lighter color, and she wore a green blouse and a light blue skirt. The bicycle had flashing warning lights on it. It also had Katherine’s weapon, the Enagi staff. The Enagi staff had a wooden staff, with a small blue and a small green crystal near the top. Coming out of the sides near the top were metal rings with metal hoops on them. The rings connected to the top of the staff, that had a large bluish crystal. In this crystal, the spirit and magical essences of her departed grandmother Dorotea kept watch over her.

            They had a plan. They went to the Nu’u Sara Victory station, a station with many platforms. As had been arranged, they walked to the staircase to platform 5, where notice boards said “not in service.” The main platform area had statues of various heroes, from the Posse and the Seven-Club, standing on the platforms. The statues were all painted in lifelike colors, and in different poses, except that they were all holding catenary (overhead wires places above the tracks) with their hands, except for the female Nuanua, Lara and Teuila, who were also holding it with their hair. A couple of converted ex-Amtrak Amfleet cab cars were parked there. They had been modified for track maintenance, and had the Aga O Nu’u Sara logos on them (a stylized tunnel with the word Aga “coming” out of it). The group entered the front car. Sitting there in the engineer’s seat was a Nuanua woman who had long orange and blue hair. She wore a purple sari-like garment wrapped around her.

            “I am Sivasiva Mumu-Pa’auli. Yes I know, that means dance purple!” She laughed. “Well, I was told that you wanted a train to 1999. And with the power out, you need Nuanua power!” She had three long braids, at the end of each one was a strange crystal object that resembled a jack in a game of jacks. She put these things into special receptacles in the ceiling. “Now, power will flow through my hair to power this train!”

            Strange whining noises were made, and the train slowly started.

            “So how do female Nuanua power trains?” asked Sami.

            “It involves use of her mana, or power, which powers up Lara’s Wheels, which provide electricity for the motors, and Teuila’s wheels, which supply either power for lights and things, or in this case, for track testing equipment, it’s fascinating, really!” explained Vanessa.

            “So how long until we’re there?” asked Suki.

            “A few minutes, maybe more or less depending on traffic,” said the engineer. The train entered a tunnel at one end of the main station, and then came to a tunnel that branched off in one way and began a downward descent.

            “Amazing, we’re on a route few people see,” said Vanessa.

            “You’re right, this is a connecting tunnel. We’re no longer on the Ai’a’ive Railways Mainline, we’re now going onto the Aga’s Sina line.” They passed one station, went through a long open cutting with trees and grass on the side, and passed a couple more. Then they turned off that line and entered a tunnel. “This is it, the Dwayne Wayne Line!” she said. They passed another tunnel that branched off. “And on your left is the tunnel to the Sea-Beef Fish house. A lot of fishy cargo is hauled by freight train from there!” After a few more stations, and sometimes switching tracks to get around delayed Aga trains, they slowed down. A sign in the tunnel with three red dots in a triangle indicated that there was no power in the section ahead. “I’ll do the announcement test, just for fun!”

            “This is a Dwayne Wayne Train,” announced a female voice, “1999 is our next stop. Change at 1999 for the Sekola and Lara lines, and the Hill Street Tram. This is the end of the line. Please ensure you have all your personal belongings. Thank you for traveling with the Aga! Please be advised that the train may travel to the left platform or further ahead up the right platform for spacing issues.” The same announcement played in Ai’a’ive.

            The train slowly pulled into 1999, as Sivasiva engaged the brakes. The doors opened, and the entire group got out. “That was fun,” commented Katherine.

            “It sure was, especially since you were with me,” said Bobby.

            Sivasiva walked to the other end of the train and waved goodbye. The train started off again.

            “So, this is the place, eh?” said Sami, “What a place for a fight.

            “I agree!” said a voice from the other platform. Several men in jeans and leather jackets stood there, two with chains, the other with a pair of machetes. “Don’t worry men, we don’t start fightin’ until the signal sounds. There’s a lot of fighters here. But we are better than everyone else!”

            “Ya right,” said Sami. The group turned towards a staircase. Standing there was an Ai’a’ive male dressed in a yellow sarong and a camouflage t-shirt. On his right shoulder were tattooed images of a golden gun and a coconut with a maniac’s face on it. His hair was dyed green, and he had his wings dyed purple, orange, and yellow.

            “I’m Scraper, kickass fighter and proud member of the Loco-Nuts, who, as you can tell, are now part of the Glock family!” he proclaimed.

            “Family?” asked Bobby, “How do you call the Golden Glocks a family?”

            “Simple, like this, ‘they are a family!’”

            “Normally I’d like to kick your ass, but right now there are bigger…” Just then a ball rolled down the stairs. “What the…”

            The ball exploded in a plume of smoke. When it cleared a man was there. He wore a bodysuit that had an emblem with a couple of crossed croquet mallets. He also had a gold and red cape and a matching top hat. He had fair skin and a small mustache. In one hand he held a red mallet, and in the other, a golden one. He also had spare mallets crossed that he wore on his back. “’Tis I, the Malleteer. Nobody shall take innocent children hostage like this, like a ball shall Mr. Bigallow be sent through the hoops of justice!” He twirled his mallets for effect.

            Enagi-Velosi/Katherine called over the entire Next Wave. “Let’s split up before it’s time to fight.” They did so, going to different parts of the station. Sami and Kuwachobee positioned themselves at different parts of the lowest level, on opposite platforms. Some of those men in leather and jeans, as well as Loco-Nuts, the Malleteer, and a woman in a silver bikini who carried a pipe covered in sharp spikes.

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            On the next floor, Sarona was covering a multiple-direction intersection. On one side was a one-way upwards escalator that landed there. There were also two tunnels going up in diagonal directions, for different directions of the Sekola line. She felt odd seeing a train line named after her father. Behind her was a wide column with a passageway around it. The column was decorated with scenes of the year 1999. The top had representations of the eight crystals. There were also a few benches around there. On the other side, there was the passage that crossed over the Dwayne Wayne line, and another passage that branched off towards the Hill Street Tram line. She too saw a mixture of people, including a few Loco-Nuts, a couple of tough Ai’a’ive males who didn’t seem to have a gang affiliation, a female Glock, a female ninja, and a man in military gear.

            “Oh,” he said, “Blue Tiger. I like hunting tigers!”

            Just then the PA system came to life. “Howdy Y’all. I’ve taken over this here PA system to tell you it will soon be time to fight. Now, there’s only one rule. Ain’t no firearms allowed. But I can change the rules whenever I want. Oh, last one or team standing wins. And I can damn well send surprises if I feel like it, and quite frankly, I feel like it. YEE-HAW!”

************************************************************************

            Bobby and Katherine were standing on opposite sides of the Lara line. Unlike the Dwayne Wayne platforms, the Lara level had ionic columns on either side, and there were actually three tracks. There were two tracks in the middle, like down below, but there was also a third track up against one wall, on Katherine’s side. The third track ended abruptly, with a metal hydraulic/spring buffer and a short expanse of sand just before it.

            A rainbow of gang members appeared from various entrances. There was also a man with short brown hair who was dressed in a business suit. “I’m the Jackhammer,” he proclaimed, “I’m the best gun that San Diego has, but the buckaroo here says no guns. That’s alright, I’ll use fisticuffs!” He pulled his gun from his holster. It was an automatic handgun, with a cream-colored handle, with an image of a jackhammer on it. “I’m sorry, my sweet, but he don’t want your music!” Bobby looked at him with an odd look. He was talking to his gun, not a good sign. Jackhammer looked at him. “Trust me; I know what I’m doing!”

            A black girl in a tiger-print leotard appeared and flipped backwards. She had cat ears and wore neko-te (cat’s claws) on her hands, and spiked boots). “Cat Girl? That’s me-ow! The winner? Me-ow! I’m purr-fect.”

***********************************************************************

            Vanessa stood at the Hill Street Tram entrance. The place had a store that sold newspapers, magazines, snacks, and even had a small ice cream parlor, but the place was closed. Temporary shutters had been added to the windows and the door, lest the fight get out of control. There was also a small shoe repair shop that was also locked and shuttered. Another place had a few videogame machines. As this was a tram stop, it was possible to cross the line wherever one wanted, but signs warned to look out for trams. The décor was otherwise similar to the Dwayne Wayne line, but with overhead wire hanging from it, and the tunnels were square.

            She decided to get ready. She took out an amulet with a nine-pointed star on it, and put it around her neck, then she took out a cane with a golden handle. She held it in front of her and shouted “GHETTO!” Bright light surrounded her, and her amulet glowed. She felt a spinning sensation. When it ended, she was slightly bigger, wearing a light blue jacket, a feather boa, and a light blue cowboy hat. “I am Payback, and remember, Payback’s a bitch!” Just then she heard the squeal of metal on metal. But she was sure that the transformers to the area were non-functional. The answer came when two Ai’a’ive men and two Faerian men (Faeriens being much like Ai’a’ive but having insect wings instead of bird wings) came forward, with heavy chains. The heavy chains were pulling a streetcar. The men were wearing camouflage-style sarongs. The streetcar was covered in elegant yet crude graffiti. A door opened, and out came a man with long tattered black hair and a goatee. He was wearing a purple bathrobe and carried a golden guitar. He let out a yell, as he shed his bathrobe, to reveal a pear of tight purple underpants.

            “Everyone can kiss my fucking ass. I’ll win, I’ll win!” he shouted.

            “Hyena, save it for the fight,” came a voice from the tram.

            “You’re just the fucking drummer, I’m the fucking leader, I AM!” Soon more people exited the tram, all of them dressed funny, and carrying a mixture of musical equipment and weapons. At one end of one platform, another group appeared. They all had greased hair, and were dressed like auto mechanics. “This is Grease-Monkey turf!”

            “You really think so, boys!” came a slight English accent from the other end, on the other platform. A group of Ai’a’ive boys with Beatle-like haircuts stood their with grins. They were generally dressed like preppies, except with designer lavalava in place of dress pants. “The Socializers, that is us, have now gone under the umbrella of the Golden Glocks. But you know what you are? Trash with long greasy hair!”

            “Well you are just trash with madras shirts, designer jackets, and hovercars that are all glam and no horsepower!” came from the other end.

            “I believe you just insulted us,” said another Socializer, who had metal rings on his fingers, some of them with spikes on them. “You better take that back, inferiors! We came from influential Ai’a’ive families from different planets. I believe most of you came from slums in America.” A small group of Ai’a’ive girls danced around the Socializers. “Our allies in the Loco-Nuts have more class than you!”

            “At least we don’t sell out to masked men from Japan,” shouted another Grease-Monkey.

            “You call this selling out? Your grasp at tactics is appalling, but then again so are you. This is a strategic alliance.”

            “SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU WORTHLESS PIECES OF SHIT!” shouted Hyena.

            Payback knew things would get ugly as soon as the fight started.

************************************************************************

            Suki was in a passageway in a higher floor. She was near the stairways to the ticket hall. She saw a double-door that was open, one marked “Do not enter: Staff only.” She went through it and came to a lounge area. Halfway through it, a barrier of spiked metal and Duraglas (The next generation Plexiglas) was installed. Mr. Bigallow sat there with a smile on his face. He had a row of monitors set up on either side. A squad of men in black wandered around, while a tall man in overalls stood to one side of him. He carried a loaded rifle, and had a red beard and hair. Standing to his other side was a man in a bright pink and green circus bodysuit, and a jester’s cap. Suki could see a barred door in part of their room. She looked more carefully. Their were two children up against the door. They were mixed Black and Ai’a’ive. The children, she thought, Darius and Aua.

            Darius Te’o Ai’a’ive had short curly black hair and brown eyes, as well as golden wings. He was only wearing a green lavalava. His sister, Aua Aaliyah Ai’a’ive, had longer hair with a pink ribbon in it. Her skin was slightly darker, and she had purple eyes and light pink wings. She wore a green dress.

            Bigallow took a microphone. “Hey you, Suki right? You can stay here, but you ain’t not welcome to try freein’ the kiddies until the fight is over. Don’t try nothin’ funny. The young ‘uns are safe, FOR NOW!”

            Suki turned around, to see an Ai’a’ive construction worker, complete with hi-vi vest and chrome-green helmet. Next to him was a Nu’u-Sara Metropolitan Police officer, in purple rather than red, but otherwise resembling the Aga cops mentioned earlier. Along with him was a Hell’s Angel, dressed in leather and a helmet. With them was a charro (Mexican cowboy), a US Navy Seal, and a Mohawk Native American chief in full regalia.

            “We are the Macho-Macho men,” proclaimed the Seal. “We are going to win, little girl, not you!”

            “Shut yo pie holes, shit!” A skeleton dressed like a 90’s era gangsta rappa appeared. “I be Mr. Bones. I no longer have my main aces, but I got class and I got soul, so much it’s comin’ out of my asshole!”

            “You’re a skeleton, you don’t have an asshole!” informed Suki.

            “Shut up, bitch!”

            “You do sssssso assssssss well!” came a hissing voice. A strange reptile man appeared, having a face that resembled a cross between a human, and anaconda, and a cobra. He was completely covered in scales. “I am El Serpiente!” With that his neck extended, and his mouth opened, while he whipped at the air with his tongue. “And my tail is as bad as my tongue, sssssso watch out!”

            More people were filing in, a mixture of gang members and amateur fighters. There was even a small group of hooligans who somehow thought they were ready for the big-leagues. Plus a few bored law enforcement officers, and a few small-time super villains and super-heroes.

            “We got us a mighty full house,” shouted Bigallow on the PA system. Lights flashed. “As you see, I can control these here lights. I can control many other things.”

            Suki had the five-pointed amulet around her neck. She focused, and a pair of feathery sparkling wings grew out of her back, while a strange stalk with a round orb grew out of her head, and whiskers appeared on her face. She was starting to resemble an Afatasi-Muguri, one who was half Muguri and one who was half Ai’a’ive. She liked her extra power in this form.

***********************************************************************

            “Ladies and gentlemen, this here Ai’er’eever station will become a slaughterhouse,” boomed Bigallow through the loudspeakers. “You ready for a fight. NOW!” With that a loud whistle was heard.

            Sami and Kuwachobee were assaulted by a mixture of Loco-Nuts and leather-jacket men. Sami held up his hands and two odd weapons appeared. They looked like a kind of dagger, with both a curved blade and a straight blade, but they were connected by chains to rings, so that they could have a bit of reach. He flailed his weapons around, fending off attackers. Kuwachobee, meanwhile, focused.

            “RAINBOW MEGABLAST!” she yelled, and shot a rainbow-colored beam at them.

            “Hey, he said no firearms!” said one of the gangmembers.

            “Exactly, this isn’t a firearm, it’s a natural ability!” she said.

            A knife whizzed by her. “Well I’m good with knives!” said one manwho approached her. He was Chinese, bald, and had a Fu-Manchu mustache. He was only wearing a pair of dark black pants, and several belts that had knives. He threw a few more at her. Frustrated, he charged directly at her, brandishing a couple of knives. He slashed and stabbed. He was able to scrape the front, drawing a spot of blood. In an adrenaline rush, she whipped him with her hair, and then followed through with an ear clap, and then yanked a couple of knives from his belt and stabbed him with them. She pulled them out and pushed him away. He flailed backwards until he crashed into a wall.

            “Let’s get her!” shouted someone on the platform. They all turned towards her with hate in her eyes. Some people that would have gone after Sami also turned their attention. Kuwachobee jumped onto the inbound track.

            “Come and get me, you assholes!” she said, as she backed off into the mouth of the tunnel. The gang were determined to lynch her. “I’m sorry to SHOCK you!” With that she dropped to her knees, and some of her braids went into contact with the positive and negative rails of the two tracks. An aura surrounded her, and crackling noises were made as electricity traveled through the third and fourth rails. The attackers all fell down and convulsed. One of them slowly got up, produced a lead pipe, and charged at her with it. She electrified the rails again, and he went down.

************************************************************************

            Enagi-Velosi was fighting off Cat-Girl, who’d attack her with her claws. Katherine just blocked the blows with her staff. Katherine kneed her, and followed through with a swipe.

            A Loco-Nut appeared behind her and hit her. When she turned around, he had a handful of sand from the sand-drag, and blew it in her eyes. As she yelled in agony, the two opponents beat her.

            Bobby, meanwhile, was in a fist-fight with Jackhammer. Jackhammer took out his gun and pistol-whipped Bobby with it, sending him sprawling backwards. He tripped and fell off the platform, landing across the rails. He was thankful they weren’t energized. Jackhammer jumped onto his chest with his knees, winding him.

            Katherine had been thrown down into the dead-end track, and was dragged across the sand before Cat-Girl pulled on her head-feathers and slammed her head against the buffer, while the Loco-Nut was stomping on her stomach. He turned to face downwards, and grinned, and grabbed the hem of her skirt. He thought he’d humiliate her. He quickly pulled backwards, but just then her legs came flying at him, kicking him backwards and into Cat-Girl, who promptly fell backward and hit her head on the buffer.

            A couple of men with crowbars attacked the Enagi. Bobby went to help her, but Jackhammer grabbed him from behind in an armlock. “You’re not helping your girlfriend, you have to help yourself. I am defeating you. Trust me, I know what I’m doing!”

            Bobby promptly spread his wings, confusing him for a split second, then stepped on his feet while hitting his head with a backward punch. “I don’t think you do.”

************************************************************************

            Sarona was fending off attacks from all directions. For every attacker she kicked down, two more would come. “Surrounded is not defeated, surrounded is not defeated,” the voice of her first sensei came to her in her mind. She had numerous methods in her mind on how to escape the situation. She chose…the spirit of the animal she chose, the tiger. She stared up into the sky, and called the words “Blue Tiger” in both Chinese and Sanskrit. She then opened her eyes, with an unusual glow. She shouted out “Iu o Sarona, iu o yania, iu o Ya’a Naomi e Ai’a’ive, amake ia OOROO!” meaning “I am Sarona, I am woman, I am Ya’a Naomi and Ai’a’ive, here me ROAR!” She let out a blood-curdling scream, and then attacked with a rapid series of kicks and claw-swipes, while growling like a tliger. The man in military gear produced a machete and charged, while the ninja tossed shuriken at her. She dodged the shuriken, and then disarmed the soldier.

            “Very good,” came a voice from behind her, “but can you defeat us?” She turned around to see two men who had Chinese complexions and black kung-fu suits. They also had the same kind of feathers as Katherine.

            “Yes,” said one with orange feathers, “Dong and I shall defeat you!”

            “Ding is right,” said Dong, who had dark blue feathers. They assumed kung-fu stances.

************************************************************************

Over the Pacific Ocean

            The energy form of the Stranger continued moving, startling anyone in a passing boat or plane. He came to one island, and touched down on the beach, before reverting to his normal form.

            He came across a small airfield. He looked around. There was a small hangar, a couple of huts, and a few flagpoles. One of them had an American flag on it. The second one had a flag with a bald eagle and an Ai’a’ive holding an island. The third one had an image of an airplane with a sun behind it.

            “You lost, stranger?” asked a woman in her fifties. She was white, had straw-colored hair that was curly, was slightly portly, and wore a gaudy purple shirt and a pair of fluorescent orange Bermuda shorts. “My name’s Sandy, my hubby and I run Sunset Air Tours.”

            “Where is this place?”

            “You ok there? This is La county, in Northern American Ai’a’ivea, in the U.S. of A.”

            “Where is Nu’u Sara?” demanded the Stranger.

            “Nu’u Sara? That’s in one of those Center Islands, where the Matriarch lives. We could fly you there for a charter, if you have the money, and the passport!”

            “I don’t need either. Point it to me!” demanded the Stranger.

            “It’s miles over yonder!” said Sandy, as she pointed in the direction, “But how you gonna get there without a plane?”

            The stranger transformed into his energy form and zoomed off.

************************************************************************

1999 Station, Nu’u Sara

            Payback turned her cane, called the Pimp Cane, into a pair of nunchuks. She fought off a couple of Grease-Monkeys who attacked her with aluminum pipes. She was picked up by a tough man in underpants who laughed while kicking an amplifier around. Hyena was laughing at her.

            A static sound echoed over the PA system. “Ok varmints, time for the first ornery surprise!” Smoke bellowed out of several vents.

            “This isn’t right,” complained one of the Socializers, who then proceeded to brawl with Hyena.

************************************************************************

            Suki was valiantly holding off the Macho-Macho Men, using punches and kicks. Mr. Bones faced all of them, and shot fireballs from his eyes. They exploded, throwing all of them around. El Serpiente then whipped Mr. Bones with his tongue.

            Just then smoke began filling the area. Suki dropped to the ground, and sent out a sonar pulse from her stalk’s orb, or ike’u, or raundorb, which are two names for it.

            She was able to hear the echo, and effectively “see” with sound. Only Mr. Bones could do likewise, but through seeing heat signatures. So the two generally dueled with each other, while taking the odd swing at the others. Suki just missed a blind tomahawk-swing by the Indian chief, but she kicked his hand and grabbed the weapon, and charged at Mr. Bones with it. She swung at him, hitting his head, causing it to fly off.

            “Over here, homey!” shouted the head, and the body got up to retrieve it.

************************************************************************

            “What kind of shit is this?” demanded Sami, as the smoke billowed through.

            He fought off a couple of nunchuk-wielding thugs.

            “I don’t know, but it’s getting too dangerous!” answered Kuwachobee, as she fought off more Loco-Nuts.

            “Ya’ll havin’ fun yet?” laughed Biggalow over the PA. “It’s now time for surprise number two!”

            A loud growl was heard, and the smoke dispensers were turned off. Through the receding fog, a pair of bears lumbered forward. They roared and charged at the gang members.

            Kuwachobee noticed the ursine marauders. She made gestures with her hair to attract them.

            “Kua?” asked Sami.

            “I know what I’m doing!” replied Kuwachobee, as she raised her hair, and began chanting in Seminole. The bears became docile, and then aggressive again, but concentrated only on the gang members.

************************************************************************

            On Sarona’s level, barking was heard as a pack of hounds was let loose. She spread her wings and flew up to the ceiling, while the other forces fought off the dogs. Ding and Dong spread their tails, and opened all their tail-eyes. They fired orb-shape blasts from their eyes, scaring off the hounds. A few of them tried running the wrong way on escalators, which were curiously enough still active. Sarona looked down, and decided to attack Ding and Dong. She leapt down from the ceiling while cork-screwing. She nearly crashed into them, but at the last moment they assumed ghostly forms, so she just crashed through them. They solidified and beat her up, until some of the other fighters began picking on them.

************************************************************************

            Up on the surface, The Stranger landed outside one of the entrances. It blended into the surrounding buildings, the only sign being it was an entrance were that “1999” was above the entrance, and carved in a stone relief on either side, and a sign proclaimed “Le Aga O Nu’u Sara.” A heavy metal gate with diamond-shaped holes was closed across the access way. A sign was attached to it, saying “closed due to power problems,” and informed anyone who may read it of where the substitute busses were running, as well as a little-used section of tramline that was filling in for the Hill Street Tunnel that was out of use. He growled, and then turned into energy, and surged through the holes in the gate. On the other side he was in a dark room with a couple of benches, and a few closed ticket booths. The only light came from windows. Then he saw it. A stairway with light coming from below. First he tied his hair into a ponytail, then he ran down the staircase. He could hear the sounds of fighting below. This was perfect for him. He wanted to find a worthy opponent to fight against.

************************************************************************

            Bobby was in control off his battle, and pushed Jackhammer off the platform. He jumped onto him and pummeled him. Just then there was a rumble. A flock of rams were coming from the tunnels at either end. Rams were also pouring onto the track Katherine was fighting on. Some of the other gang members were throwing each other onto the tracks. Bobby could have just left him there, but he picked him up and threw him onto a platform. Katherine, meanwhile, flipped over Cat-Girl and onto the buffer.

            “Get off the track!” she yelled at Cat-Girl and the Loco-Nut. Cat-Girl climbed onto the platform, but the Loco-Nut just began doing diss signs and making chicken noises. A ram ran into him and crushed him against the buffer. Enagi-Velosi and Cat-Girl were in a fight of legwork, each kick being countered with another or a turn. Enagi-Velosi broke the impasse with a swing with her staff, knocking her down to the ground. Cat-Girl began doing a break-dancing attack, but Enagi avoided it, and when Cat-Girl picked up speed and tried to ram through her in this break-dance attack, she quickly dodged her, and Cat-Girl ended up plowing through assembled Loco-Nuts, who went ballistic. Soon some of the rams were trying their best to climb up onto the platforms.

************************************************************************

            Suki was effectively dominating the fight, until the smoke abated, and a trio of wild mountain lions entered the fray. These lions were quick, and aggressive.

            “Don’t worry about them there lions, I gave them all kinds of drugs,” laughed Billy-Bob from the other side of the partition.

            “You’ll eventually pay,” yelled Suki at him.

            “I don’t pay unless I think I should pay. Ever since I became a billionaire I ain’t gave one cent to the IRS. So if I ain’t payin’ them, why should I pay the Next Wave?”

            “Be thankful that things are too hard!” she said. “Or else I’d come there right now and kick your ass in!” Just then one of the lions turned around, and saw the Stranger enter. The lion leapt at the stranger, but he struck it in the head with a powerful strike. It shrieked in agony, and was bleeding. Mr. Bones turned his attention towards him, and fired explosive blasts from his eyes. They didn’t do anything against the Stranger.

            “Who the fuck are you, freak?” he demanded.

            “They call me Homicide. Because that’s what happens to anyone who gets in my way!”

            Mr. Bones rushed at Homicide, but he kicked him away with a roundhouse kick. Mr. Bone’s body shattered upon hitting the ground. A few moments later he literally pulled himself together. “That’s it, I’m outta here!” With that his eyes produced a bright light, and then he was gone.

            The Macho-Macho men all attacked Homicide simultaneously with their weapons, but Homicide just laughed as he threw one over his shoulder, kicked away a couple, grabbed one and threw him, and landed an uppercut on another. The last one, the biker, was given an Airplane toss at the others. Then he laughed as he tore a bench from its supports and threw it at them. It hit with a loud bang, and they were all bleeding.

            “Is that all you have? You’re pathetic!” he yelled.

            “Now this is the kind of action I like to see,” yelled Billy-Bob Biggalow. “You’re my kinda man, Homicide!”

            “Are there any true fighters here?”

            “Yes, me,” said Suki.

            “This strange…oversized fur-less Muguri wants to challenge ME to a fight? ME? YOU? YOU against ME? You are a little girl trying to compete in the test that few real men can handle!”

            “I’m not even here by choice,” said Suki. “The man in the cowboy hat behind the Duraglas partition is holding a couple of children hostage.”

            “What do I look like, a superhero? Homicide only looks out for one person. Homicide. I didn’t come here for any hero games. I came here to fight, and I’m going to fight. Any questions? And are you stupid enough to want to fight me?”

            “I will take on any opponent!”

            “I am not just any opponent. I am known through many planets for the trails of bodies I have left behind! Why do you think they call me Homicide?” With that he walked over to the bodies of the Macho-Macho men, and stomped on them, getting his shoes messy in the process. “You want to join them?”

            “I may not be that big, but I am powerful. I know my techniques. I’ve been taught by the best!”

            “Tough talk doesn’t impress me!”

            “Then maybe THIS will!” she said, as she charged towards him. She dodged a kick and then focused, before jumping up, and balancing on her tail, and punched and kick with many fast combos.

            “That TICKLES!” he laughed, before landing a powerful punch, sending her across the room. “And now it’s time to bench you as well!” He picked up another bench and threw it at her, but she rolled out of the way. “Just stand there and take your ass-kicking with dignity!”

            “NEVER!” screamed Suki. A glowing aura surrounded her. Pink and blue energy was flowing into her. Her ike’u was glowing, as was an orb at the end of her tail. “Through the power of the Ai’a’ive, the Muguri, the Chi, and the Spirit, I summon the energy!” A large ball of energy coalesced in front of her. She put her hands forward and it erupted forward at supersonic speeds. Upon contact with Homicide, it exploded, and threw him against a wall. The wall was left dented.

            “That actually hurts. But not much!” said Homicide. “I’d like to keep beating you up, but there’s other fighting to do!” With that he dashed out. Suki had to catch her breath before she could try following him. But when she did, she came to a place where the tunnel branch. She took the route to the Hill Street Tram.

            “Still havin’ fun with them critters? I’ll add something more. Robots!” With that an employees-only door flew open, and a humanoid robot emerged. Suki did a running flying kick at it, knocking it down. Then she continued.

************************************************************************

            At the Hill Street Tram platforms, a few bulls had been run in, and the Grease Monkeys and Socializers found themselves being impromptu toreadors. The rockers, however, were all having a good time trashing the place. One of them took out a garbage can from the tram, and then threw it at an enraged bull, and laughed as it went running off towards him. He produced a knife, and stabbed the bull with it. Then he ran into the tram while laughing. Payback was on the other side. All of the sudden, a couple of copter-drones appeared. They both had metal tendrils with sparks coming out of the end. A Grease-Monkey came running forward, but one of the drones turned to him, and struck him with the tentacles, delivering a high voltage shock. Payback turned her cane into a heavy metal pipe, and jumped up to bat the drone, and it crashed into the other one. A mess of metal and sparks was left. A bull approached her from one direction, and a crowd of Grease-Monkeys from the other. They all had mechanical tools and were yelling and shouting. She heard a rumbling noise, and turned her implement back into a cane. A Forty-ounce bottle appeared and she drank it. Then she jumped over the bull as it walked towards her. The bull charged at the Grease-Monkeys, but they were all crushed by the tram, that was pushed over by the Socializers.

            “This is the happiest day of my life,” said one of them. When he saw blood run from the other side, he smiled.

            “You would enjoy that, Glock!” shouted Payback.

            “You’re saying Glock as though it were an insult,” snapped back another Socializer.

            “Glocks are all stupid!” came another voice. Suki emerged from a doorway. A few Socializers looked at her.

            “A little girly has come to partake in our contest,” laughed on of them. “Oh well, it’s your funeral. Boys, let us take down all the interlopers!”

            Just then one of the windows in the overturned tram was pushed out. Hyena emerged. “You fucking preppies are going to die!”

            “So we’re attacked from three directions simultaneously. Not that it matters!” said one of them.

************************************************************************

            Homicide arrived at the Sekola platforms. He saw the fighting going on. Perfect. The Sekola platforms had ornate tiles, some of them were a lighter color, arranged in a manner to say “99.” A trio of tracks was on this level, with the outer ones being against platforms that had ionic columns supporting the ceiling. The middle track had no platform, as it was intended for through freight trains. The platforms were filled with brawling gang members, a few soldiers, and a few amateur fighters. There were also vicious tigers and enraged gorillas in play, as well as four legged robots that had hatchets and drills.

            Most of the robots were close to Homicide. He tore through them with his bare hands. “Anyone here able to fight against me?”

            “All of us!” shouted a Loco-Nut.

            “No, us!” retorted a biker.

            A pair of brawny Ai’a’ive men flew at him, trying to push him down onto the tracks. They succeeded at that.

            “You probably think you hurt me,” said Homicide. “You didn’t!”

            Just then tigers leapt onto him from both directions. They were able to scratch and bite him, but no blood was drawn. He strangled each one with a bare hand. “Any real fighters here?”

            A group of Loco-Nuts spread their wings in defiance, and focused. Balls of energy formed. These different balls were all launched in unison. Meanwhile, the bikers threw knives and hammers at him. Several of them picked up a bench, and threw it at him. It only broke in half.

            “The game’sssssssss over,” shouted a voice behind Homicide. El Serpiente threw himself onto him, wrapped his head, tongue and tail around him, held him in a lock, and stabbed him with his fangs. “You are getting weaker, weaker, weaker!”

            Just then a ball bounced, landed on the middle track, and emitted a high-pitched noise. The tigers and gorillas all ran off.

            “‘Tis I, the Malleteer!” shouted the Malleteer, as he then hammered at Homicide, but ended up hitting El Serpiente more. “I shall defeat this knave, not you, serpent-lout!” He then attacked Homicide, but his hammering wasn’t doing anything.

            Just then Kuwachobee and Sami entered. “Who are you?” demanded Sami.

            “I am Homicide,” said Homicide, “And you are going to join him!” He grabbed one of the mallets, and broke it apart. Then he picked up the Malleteer, spun him around, and threw him against some Bikers.

            “I must depart,” said the Malleteer.

            “Oh, the great Malleteer is finally running away,” laughed Kuwachobee.

            “I am not blocking, I am attaining a farther distance from the ball, I am assuming a strategic location, so that I may better strike the ball through the loop when the opportunity presents itself!”

            “BRAVELY RAN AWAY, HE BRAVELY RAN AWAY, AWAY!” sung Sami and Kuwachobee in unison. “When danger reared its ugly head, He bravely turned his tail and fled, Yes the Malleteer turned about, and gallantly he chickened out…”

            “SHUT UP, YOU UNHEROIC KNAVES! And Now I shall strategically employ my smoke ball!” He dropped a croquet ball that released smoke. When it was gone, so was he.

            El Serpiente tried to attack Homicide, but he was thrown across the room, and slowly slid down a wall and onto a bench, leaving a trail of blood. “I mussssst retreat asssssss well, my bites didn’t work!” And so he did.

            “That idiot, I am resistant to all kinds of poison. As well as energy weapons, firearms, and even good old fashioned muscle power. I must say that some people have injured me before, but not anything that lasts!”

            Kuwachobee assumed a stance and focused. Energy surged through her, and her face and body took on the features of a panther. “I am the Panther!” she screamed. She charged at Homicide, and dodged a roundhouse kick, before pushing him down. The two wrestled, but when Kuwachobee got him into a position where he was above her, he used his weight and strength to push upon her, releasing her grip, and then she was held in a Boston Crab, which was converted into a Figure-Four Leglock, and Kuwachobee howled in pain as her legs were forced.

            Sami rushed to his girlfriend’s aid. He tried to dig his blades into Homicide’s back. Homicide just hit him with a backwards punch. Fortunatly Sami was able to control his fall, but it hurt as his back hit the negative rail.

            “YEE-HAW!” shouted Mr. Biggalow, “I think I know who the champion’s gonna be!”

            “Someone on this planet actually has class,” said Homicide, while he smiled briefly. “Now I want a real challenger!” He kicked Kuwachobee away in disgust.

            “Somebody’s going to pay,” shouted Sami. “Come on, attack me!”

            He jumped onto the middle track. Homicide jumped onto it and charged at him. Sami sidestepped, but Homicide hit him with a kick.

            Kuwachobee suddenly got up, and jumped onto the center track.

            “You never know when to give up,” said Homicide. “I kinda admire you for it, but then you’re just going to be another statistic!”

            “No, you will, part of the statistic about deaths due to playing on live rails!” With that Kuwachobee lowered one of her braids onto the positive rail, and the other onto the negative one. She focused and electrified the rails. Blue sparks flew up to Homicide, and he shook. Kuwachobee stopped the shock.

            “You are an idiot,” laughed Homicide, “You think that works? But you seem to like playing with rails!” At that point the rest of the combatants had all left that level, not wanting to be around Homicide. “I’ll also use rails!” With that he bent down, and tore up a section of one of the running rails. He swung it around with finesse.

            “We’re in shit,” said Sami.

************************************************************************

            Payback was beginning to hate the fight. In a moments she’d have even more reason.

            “Ok, them rules have changed. Firearms are now acceptable!” announced Billy-Bob.

            I wonder how many of my enemies have firearms, she thought. The tunnel echoed with the sound of multiple firearms being produced as every Socializer pulled out a hidden gun from within the folds of his lavalava.

            Suki was even more worried, as she didn’t have any guns of her own. So she decided to take advantage of her size and powers.

            Payback, meanwhile, had her cane turned into a quartet of Uzis. She was firing at the Socializers while tumbling to the side, and then hid behind the overturned tram.

*********************************************************************

            Jackhammer had his gun out. “Gun, it’s time to have fun!” With that he fired a couple of rounds at Bobby and Katherine. ‘Copter-drones with attached guns appeared and fired. There was still a mad panic among the rams, and some of them had gotten up onto the platforms. Cat-Girl was defeated, but Jackhammer wasn’t, and he was dangerous. Enagi-Velosi rushed over to Jackhammer, disarmed him, trip-kicked him, and then pummeled him.

            “Trust me, you don’t know what you’re doing,” warned the Enagi. Then she spread her tail, and put her hands on the sides of her head. Her head-feathers began to glow. “We need help!”

**********************************************************************

The Palace

            Five people had just arrived with Lusi and Jack.

            “It’s nice to be back at the palace,” said one of them. She was a Muguri, or actually half Muguri, half human. She had a face that seemed like a cross between a cat and a mole, she had cat-like ears, as well as a stalk with an ike’u, a tail, and a pair of large bat-like wings. Her wings were purple, as were her eyes, but the rest of her was covered in black fur.

            “It’s nice to have you again, Korrina,” said Jack. Along with Korrina Esther Kingston was her sister Kari Ruth Kingston, and her brother Gerald Benjamin Kingston. Kari had dark red fur, and Gerald had dark brown fur. All of them wore platinum chain necklaces. Then there were their parents.

            “I always enjoy being here,” said their father. Jerome Kingston was tall, Black, and had short hair. He wore a dark green sarong and a grey Dolemite t-shirt.

            His wife was with him. His wife looked like their children but smaller, and had purple fur. She had a necklace with a ten-pointed star amulet around her neck. Her name was Elka Sorkin.

            “I’m so happy that this time there’s no longer any Diamond or El Matador to worry about!”

            “Saddly the same can’t be said for the Golden Glocks. They’re everywhere,” complained Lusi. “And the reason why the Next Wave aren’t here to greet you is because there’s a fight in the Aga.

            “Aga?” asked Jerome.

            “The subway.”

            “Glocks?”

            “Well, there are a few there, but it’s a big fight staged by Billy-Bob Biggalow. Because he has our children hostage!”

            “OY VEY!” screamed Gerald.

            “OY VEY IZMIR!” added Elka.

            “How did they do it?” asked Jerome.

            “We’ve found out about twenty ways they could have gone in and out,” said Jack.

            Just then a button flashed. Lusi pushed it. A monitor appeared. On it was a black face with a white hat. “Yo, this is The Mack. The Feather is flashin’!”

            “Why couldn’t Katherine have just contacted us psychically?” wondered Lusi.

            “Hard to do when you have all that concrete and shit above you. The message is “Terrible fight, guns now being used, send more help if available!”

            Elka and Jerome hugged and kissed their children.

            “I’m sorry,” said Elka to them. She then produced a zebra-striped boomerang from a bag she brought with her. She held it in front and shouted “N’Zolo!”

            Strange lights surrounded her. When they cleared, she was slightly bigger, and wearing a lion-skin sarong. Her fur was now white and striped like a zebra, and she had ostrich-like wings. “Quagga-Kianga is ready to help!”

            “So am I!” said Jerome, as he held out his right arm, and a strange blade-weapon appeared on his wrist. It had numerous blades, including some arranged like scissors, and some that were just pointed. It also had a smaller blade that could be fired and had a chain attached to it. He could also fire energy bullets from his wrist-blade weapon. “We’ll take you there,” said Lusi.

************************************************************************

1999 Station

            The fight continued on the Hill Street platforms, as an emergency exit in the roof of the tram was kicked open, and Hyena emerged with an AK-47. He fired wildly at the Socializers. They returned fire. A few more of the rockers emerged, many of them as scantily dressed as Hyena. All of them had different weapons.

            Payback ran over to Suki. “Hold me up, and focus,” said Payback. She did, and energy built up in Payback. Guns were fired at her, but her amulet flashed and a forcefield deflected the bullets. “GHETTO FABULOUS!” shouted Payback, and blue energy erupted from her, filling the room. It flashed green, and all the Socializers and Rockers were thrown about and given slight burns.

            “That’s not nice,” said one of the defeated Socializers.

            “Let’s check out another platform,” suggested Suki.

************************************************************************

            Things had intensified on the Lara platforms, as everyone seemed to be going there. Many of the rams had retreated back into the tunnels. Suki and Payback arrived first, then Sarona, pursued by Ding and Dong. Finally Sami and Kuwachobee arrived.

            “So you outnumber us, we will still win,” warned Ding.

            “We’re all on the same side now,” warned Sami.

            “What drivel are you talking about?” demanded Dong.

            “Look behind you,” warned Kuwachobee.

            They all turned around to see Homicide. “I came here to fight, now let’s fight!”

            “As you wish, you uncultured buffalo!” said Ding. The two brothers assumed stances, before charging at him, landing kicks and punches on him. Homicide grinned before swinging at both of them in a spinning double-lariat, but they “ghosted” while he did this. They solidified when he stopped, and Ding punched him in the groin while Dong hit his head. Homicide appeared to have genuine pain. They were surprised, however, when he suddenly punched Ding and kicked Dong simultaneously.

            “That actually hurt, chumps!” he sneered.

            “Brother, we are now allowed to use our firearms!” informed Ding.

            “Than use them we shall,” added Dong.

            They produced submachine-guns and aimed them at Homicide. Sami produced a couple of magnums and aimed them in the same direction. Payback had her weapon in the form of an AK-47.

            “Just try it, you aren’t going to stop me with those toys!”

            They opened fire on him. A few small holes eventually appeared, and he was bleeding.

            He moved forward, resisting the bullets, and punched the guns out of the hands of Ding and Dong. Sami put his guns away. Homicide then stomped on the guns.

            “We aren’t defeated yet,” said Ding, “Anyone who has powers, prepare to use them!” Ding and Dong backed off, then spread their tails, with their eyes fully opened. Enagi-Velosi did the same thing, while Sami prepared his blade weapons. Fire burnt around them. Sami fired an enormous fireball at Homicide. He grinned as it burned around him. Some of his skin was scorched, but it quickly repaired.

            “Fuck, is this Wolverine, or the T-1000?” he asked.

            Energy appeared around the eyes of the Pavonians. Ding fired laser-like blasts, while Dong preferred to fire orbs, and Enagi-Velosi fired boomerang-shaped energy blasts. He was hit by the blasts, cut, and thrown to the ground. He recovered, and then Bobby and Sarona hit him, Bobby shouted “Penina O Atua” and fired explosive pearls from his hands, while Sarona used the Blue Tiger’s Breath to release a flow of energy. This too seemed to genuinely hurt him.

            “Before I was playing with you. But now you are actually pissing me off,” fumed Homicide.

            “Hey, you wanted to fight someone worthy,” said Bobby, “And now that someone is actually hurting you, you’re pissed!”

            “SHUT UP!” yelled Homicide. “You are all going to die!” He charged at Enagi-Velosi. She tried to jump over him, but he grabbed her legs. Then he began spinning as though doing the hammer throw, and threw her. She hit her head against the buffer of the terminating track.

            “KATHERINE!” yelled Bobby in disbelief.

            “Don’t worry, you’ll soon join her!”

            “THE MADNESS ENDS NOW!” shouted Kuwachobee, as a green aura surrounded her.

            “Are you taking crazy pills? I cannot be stopped. Not even by you assholes!”

            “SEMINOLE WIND!” shouted Kuwachobee, as her hair and dress began to flow. She held her right hand forward, fingers spread. Green energy began flowing at him. Pieces of green light were flying by rapidly, and a quick wind accompanied it. Blasts hit him, knocking him off balance, and the wind quickly blew him and slammed him against a staircase.

            He groaned as he got up. “You fuckshits are all dead, I am going to enjoy killing you.”

            “We must now make our exit, brother,” shouted Dong. He and Ding assumed ghostly forms, and left the station.

            “YOU ARE ORDERED TO STOP NOW!” shouted Jerome, as he and Quagga-Kianga ran downstairs.

            “More dipshits want to die?” he laughed.

            “I don’t know who you are,” said Quagga-Kianga, “But you aren’t going to be defeated by us!” She focused, and her ike’u began to glow. “ZEBRA-LASER!” she shouted, as a white and black beam shot out at him. It didn’t do much.

            Jerome focused, and shot an energy ball from his weapon, and hit him. Then he ran up to him and slashed with his blades. He picked him up, shook him, and then threw him over to Katherine. He landed on the sand, still awake, but dazed.

            “NO!” shouted Quagga, as she ran over to Jerome.

            In the meantime, Kuwachobee prepared another blast, but Homicide punched her and knocked her out before she could launch it.

            “This is too much fun,” laughed Homicide.

            “Your fun is over,” yelled Quagga, as she threw her Zebra Boomerang at him. It circled him and gave him shallow cuts. She then rushed up to him, and the two began to wrestle. Every imaginable move was performed by both of them, with neither one seeming to get the upper hand. Eventually Quagga was getting the upper hand, performing European Uppercuts, bodyslams, fist drops, and even a Flapjack gutbuster. Homicide was groaning in pain. She picked him up, and threw him up against the ceiling. He crashed into a light fixture, and then fell to the ground with a thud. Quagga walked over, and jumped onto his stomach. “I’m sorry, but you actually lost,” she said. “You better apologize, or things will get much worse!”

            “I’m sorry,” croaked Homicide.

            “That’s better,” she said, as she slowly walked away. Homicide reached out with one hand and grabbed her. He held her in a tight lock as she slowly got up.

            “I’m sorry you’re such a fool who fell for that!” he said with more oomph in his voice.

            “Let me go,” she said as she tried to break free.

            “Not this time,” he said. He began shaking her quickly. He sped up, until she seemed like a paint-can in a paint store. He started spinning while doing this. He stopped everything, and she vomited. “That’s good!” With that he struck her in the back of the head, and blood came out. Then he twisted and pulled off her ike’u.

            Everyone who wasn’t knocked out of the way was stunned. He took her to the farthest rails, and got onto his knees. He pounded her on the rails until she was bloody.

            “What are you doing with my wife?” croaked Jerome.

            “Killing the bitch!” he shouted.

            “NOOO!” he screamed, but he couldn’t get up.

            For the grand finale, he walked onto the sand, and up to the buffer. He quickly slammed her against the buffer, causing her head to snap off. Her head was disfigured by all the beating it had already received.

            Homicide laughed. It was the most satisfying kill he’d accomplished in a long time.

            He was so engrossed, he didn’t notice Katherine, morphed back to her normal form, regaining consciousness and springing to her feet. She held up her Enagi staff and shouted “Through the Spirit of the Enagi,” and transformed into a form with a light blue tail, darker hair, and strange markings on her face and arms. She wore a purple dress with white spots in this form, simply called Enagi. She spread her tail fully. Homicide slowly turned around, disbelieving that anyone who was so ineffective would keep trying.

            “Your funeral, you want to join that Muguri? I’d hang her head on my dashboard, if I had a dashboard!”

            Hearing that drove her into a state of deeper rage. Her eyes were all glowing, with energy surging through her. She also had a ball of energy at the end of her Enagi staff. She pointed the staff forward, and a quick sphere smashed into him. Her eyes all fired brightly colored rainbow beams that kept pummeling him. He screamed as it started to hurt him. Blood was gushing out. He fell onto the ground, bruised and bleeding.

            Just then Jack and Lusi came down, with a small platoon of Metropolitan Police officers behind them. Enagi quickly explained what happened. Lusi stared at Homicide, and focused. His body lifted off the ground, and then a large energy cage, in a shape that resembles the geodesic dome of Epcot Centre, surrounded him. It glowed blue, white, and purple. There were holes in the energy cage. A couple of the officers placed tripoded devices on the ground. These shot out a green beam that wrapped around the cage, further reinforcing it. Homicide regained consciousness.

            “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he demanded.

            “You are under arrest,” said one of the officers, “On many counts, most notably murder!”

            “You can’t do this,” shouted Homicide.

            “You committed too many murders. Even one is too many!” said Jack.

            “Think of all the people who have brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, sons, daughters, and possibly fathers or mothers, that won’t be coming back. Imagine how they feel,” instructed Lusi. “All of them lost in this senseless fight. A fight that you made worse!”

            “Cut out this emotional bullshit, bitch,” he snapped back.

            One of the officers produced a pepper spray, and sprayed Homicide with it. His eyes protested a little, but not that much. “I’m not going to your fucking prison!”

            “Yes you are,” said Jack.

            “No I’m not!” he said. He held his arms out, and purple lightning surrounded him. “You defeated me this time, but I’ll come for a rematch, and I’ll find other opponents on this planet here.” He turned into his energy form, and was able to squeeze through the energy field. He quickly sped off.

            Soon all of the unconscious heroes were back up.

            “I had a bad dream,” shouted Jerome, “Elka died. She’s still alive, is she?”

            “Sorry,” said Lusi, “she died!”

            He climbed onto the platform, and saw her severed head. A few moments a couple more officers, as well as Jerome’s children arrived. They freaked out when they saw the head of their mother.

            “NO!” shouted Jerome, “I’m hallucinating, someone gave me acid or smack, she’s going to appear and say she loves me!” Nothing happened. “Live, LIVE damnit!” he shouted.

            “I’m sorry, she’s been de-” began Payback.

            “I didn’t ask for your fucking opinion,” he shot back, “My wife just died and you’re trying to explain some fucking biological concept. Yes, she lost her head. She is dead. SHE IS DEAD!” He laughed maniacally, before lifting up the front of his lavalava with his right hand, and then, with his left hand, he held his penis. He began urinating onto the rails. “I’ll join her, yes, I’ll join her, the electricity will fry me, I’ll fry like a Kentucky Fried Chicken!”

            “Sorry, you won’t,” said Payback.

            “I will, I’m going to die, electricity, travel up my piss stream and kill me, KILL ME DAMNIT!”

            “The tracks are de-energized!” she explained.

            “FUCK!”

            His three children ran up to him and restrained him. “We lost our mother, we aren’t losing you as well,” shouted Korrina.

            Enagi, meanwhile, transformed into Enagi-Velosi, and sped off. “I have to stop Billy-Bob!”

            The rest of the group came upstairs. Then they saw Darius and Aua, standing there safetly. They hugged their parents. And they saw Mr. Biggalow hogtied, along with his assistants in black.

            “Many people died, because of you,” shouted Lusi.

            “I didn’t mean for it to happen, Ma’am,” replied the defeated Texan.

            “I may not be from cow-country, but I know what bull-shit is,” she shot back. “And it appears you have been recording what was going on through all the cameras. This will be nice evidence. I hereby order you arrested for all your crimes. Everything from running an event that led to senseless death, to inhumane treatment of animals. Oh yes, befouling public transport property is also a crime. You think those animals held it all?”

            “You can’t do this, I am the great Billy-Bob Biggalow, I’m filthy rich. I’ll have my lawyers get me out!”

            “No matter how rich you are,” said Jack, “We have evidence that your lawyers can’t top. Oh, and because you’re filthy rich, you’ll be paying for all the damage. Someone has to pay for all the electricians, engineers, janitors, and track maintenance experts to fix things here.”

            “You can’t do this, I’m an American citizen. I have my rights!”

            “Firstly, you aren’t in America. Secondly, our justice system IS recognized by your home country. And thirdly, as the only mercy you shall receive, you may get a chance to serve out your sentence in the good old US of A, I’m sure they have enough hoosegow space for you. We have a prisoner exchange agreement. Not to mention that if you stayed here, there are countless people in the prisons who have friends and relatives lost to your pointless amusement! This is the only time we’re saving your worthless ass!”

            “Your majesty,” appealed Billy-Bob to Lusi, “Please pardon me, it was an honest mistake, I’ll pay all the money…”

            “You think I’m some kind of third-world despot?” asked Lusi. “We don’t even need your freedom for your money. Under the laws, we may claim your money for restitution. And I don’t see how this elaborately staged fight can be called a “mistake”, as you planned it down to every detail. Police, take them out of our site. Read them their rights.”

            The local version of the Miranda Rights was read to him.

            “You can’t keep me,” he yelled, as he was hauled away, “I’ll get you, you can’t stop Mr. Biggalow!”

************************************************************************

The Palace, That Evening

            Everyone sat in the living room. The atmosphere was somber. Jerome and his children were not there, as Jerome was still in the hospital, recovering from his shock induced nervous breakdown, and his children were comforting him.

            “I’ll never forget her,” said Bobby. “I remember her telling me about her life in O’iveland.”

            “I remember her telling me the importance of accepting different religions,” said Sami. “And I remember when we went to O’iveland for Chanukah celebrations. She taught me how to spin a dreidle.”

            “As Sasa (Aunty) Elka would say, OY VEY!” said Vanessa.

            “I only saw her a couple of times. I wish I’d gotten to know her better,” said Katherine.

            The group then talked about their experiences with Elka.

************************************************************************

The Pataki Federal Women’s Prison, North of Albany, New York State, July 2nd

            Two women, one Pavonian, the other Italian, headed towards their usual table in the Maximum Security mess hall of the Pataki Federal Women’s Prison, nicknamed the Bleakhouse. The Pavonian had light blue tail feathers, and graying black hair. The Italian had brown hair that hadn’t lost any of its color. She had a vague appearance of being in her late 20’s from afar, but up close her actual age, in her late 40’s, could be ascertained. Meal time was one of the few times that the women didn’t have their every movement closely scrutinized. They wore high-visibility orange dresses, with their numbers on the right breast. The Pavonian was number 4449-NYWP. The Italian was 1492-NYWP. The Italian wore a special collar around her neck. The Pavonian had a similar collar, but it was attached by a chain to a clamp device that held her tail closed.

            “Jaci,” said the Pavonian, “Thank you for everything, Sorella. If not for you, then SHE would have robbed me of my sanity!” The Pavonian pointed at a woman sitting at another table. The woman was whistling the theme from Bridge on the River Kwai, horribly off key, occasionally slipping into atonality. The woman then proclaimed “We are King Henry VIII, We Are!”

            “How many times do I have to tell you, Loony Linda is all bark, no bite. Me on the other hand, I actually have bite!” said Jaci. She then hugged Obo. Obo returned the hug, and then looked through the mess hall. Most prisoners were wearing high visibility yellow dresses, except for Obo, Jaci, Linda, and a few others. This was to distinguish the Super-Maximum from the Maximum inmates. Obo returned to the curry and rice that was in front of her.

            “Jaci, There’s something that I’m curious about,” began Obo.

            “What is that, Obo?”

            “Were you ever married? Or did you ever have a…boyfriend?”

            “Why are you suddenly curious?”

            “I guess I was just…thinking about it,” she said. “I once had a husband, his name was Shigo. We had a daughter. But he was killed by someone from the Clan of the Burning Tails. And I was forced to work with them when they joined the Glocks. At least I was above them though.”

            “I had a few boyfriends. There was one man I rather liked, the son of an under boss. He was killed by a couple of pigs.”

            “Pigs?”

            “Cops. Fuzz. Police officers. They shot him. I only found out about it a week later when the letter arrived.”

            “I am sorry to hear that, Sorella!”

            “I’m no longer too upset. The cops are lying at the bottom of the Hudson River. So what is your daughter’s name?”

            Just then they were interrupted by a guard passing them and throwing an envelope at Obo.

            “Her name is Nira…” then she looked at the envelope, “It says this is from her!”

            “Hurry up and open it.”

            Obo opened the envelope the way she’d seen Jaci do so many times before. Inside was a letter. She read it.

“Dear Mom,

            I am having a wonderful time here. I am in a program called U-Turn, for giving a second chance and motivation to people like me. I have been learning life skills, as well as sports, music, art, and computers. I would have e-mailed you, but they don’t have e-mail in maximum security prisons like the one you are in. I will soon be a CIT (Councilor In Training) to help with the kids and young teenagers in this program. It will be fun. I will be like Katherine, being a Pavonian who makes a difference. I have renounced the Golden Glocks, and had my gun tattoo removed. I don’t want to be a dakoita anymore. It’s a new life for me.

            I may eventually visit you, but I will not return to the life you wanted me to live. I am not a member of the Circle of Destiny. Consequently I’m dropping the name “Sercle”, and taking on the name of my guardian-parents, Anderson.

            Goodbye,

            Nira Gina Anderson,

            ‘adopted daughter’ of Nathan Anderson and Julia Anderson.”

            Attached to the letter were a few photographs.

            “Your daughter has gone soft,” said Jaci.

            “My daughter? What daughter? I no longer have a daughter. She insulted the great Circle of Destiny. This isn’t allowed. And worse, she said she wants to be like Katherine. It’s because of that bitch that I ended up here. I want to get Katherine, and tear out her head feathers, and better yet, slice off her kula and force her to eat it.”

            “I understand, I have a long list of bastards and bitches that I want killed. And some of them actually got killed. Remember Kramer Spiegleman?”

            “Yes, you told me, someone in your family got a truck to…”

            “Blow the bastard and his family apart. Unfortunatly at this prison I can’t just call my family like that any more, and they don’t have the power to do those things anymore…”

            “I don’t want you to kill Nira. Why bother? Nira is already dead to me. If we get out of here, all of our enemies will pay. Wildcards, Next Wave, Star Guardians, Posse. I may be all that is left of the Circle of Destiny, you may be all that is left of the Valentine family, and we may be in prison, but we shall prevail.”

            Loony Linda began making odd bird noises, while trying to play The Blue Danube with her cutlery.

To be continued…

Notes: This is the longest chapter 1 ever. But I hope it was worth it. Right now things may be semi-episodic, at least at the beginning. Next chapter will have Kuwachobee getting new powers. Soon Katherine will end up with new powers also, and the Next Wave will become….The Enega Warriors.