(Disclaimer: A warning to those who continue.  This is a sequel to a previous story.  Both of these were written in the mid-1990’s.  While the first one was slightly edited and vanity press published, this one has not been touched in over 20 years.  I figure I should do something with it and people may get a laugh or fright from how I used to be.  Every author comes from somewhere, so this is part of my origin.  To that end, I am deeply sorry for whatever nightmares I will inflict on the literary world and the American English language.  Enjoy?)

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In a recently condemned building, the four guardians heal their bodies and listen to a very unique story.  They are happy to have Hydrana back, but her explanation of what she did makes all of them, including the Neptune guardian herself, a little uneasy.  It isn’t until Fate mentions the telepathic bond that Infinity and Miracle decide to voice their own opinions and questions.

“So let me get this straight.  You and my boyfriend are mentally bonded to each other.  It’s a tiny bond, so you can track one another and share mental trauma.  She can’t read your mind.  Can she, Eddie?” Miracle inquires.  She is pacing back and forth to help it all sink in.

“For the last time, she can’t read my mind.  Just calm down, Kelly.  The bond can only be consciously used and there won’t be any reason to use the thing.  It will be like it doesn’t even exist.  Anyway, SEAS can get rid of the bond as soon as one of us returns to the sun base.  Now, let’s please talk about something else.  Any information from your two encounters?” asks Fate.  He stands in front of Miracle and gently stops her pacing by putting his arms around her.  They sit on the floor and Miracle silently curls up into a ball on Fate’s lap.

“We do have some information.  It sounds like Adriana won’t be a problem in the near or distant future.  We heard Draveon talking about killing her.  Cybro and Tegam might be in on the backstab, but I doubt it.  Draveon is probably the only one egotistical enough to go against the nympho.  He’ll win too.  I can’t see how Adriana can put a stop to someone with his physical abilities.  So, we can just hang back and pick off the winner,” reports the Earth guardian.

“No.  Draveon will easily slaughter Adriana just like you said.  But if we help her against him, this entire battle will be over.  With our help, Adriana can kill that red-eyed bastard.  Why are you all looking at me like that?  I’m not crazy anymore,” Hydrana whispers while staring at the magic ring on her right hand.  She notices that when she tries to use a certain sense, the corresponding rune gives off a red glow.

Miracle gets up and answers, “All of us know that Adriana is much easier to beat than the self-proclaimed ultimate genetic weapon.  But even if we do help her, we would still have Cybro and Tegam to deal with.  They won’t just up and leave because we helped eliminate their traitor.  Tell her she’s wrong, Eddie?”

“She’s right.  This fight will end a lot quicker if we decide to help Adriana.  Remember that she repays favors to anyone that helps her out of trouble.  This includes people that are considered her enemies.  Cybro and Tegam will follow her back home like trained dogs and only Draveon will have to be killed.  What happened with your fight against Tegam and Adriana anyway?”

“I’ll tell you, but after that I want to talk to Delila.  Alone,” states Infinity.

“Lucky me.  So spill it, handsome.  What happened with that jester we’ve learned to ignore?” the Neptune guardian asks.

“This is going to sound very strange, but he’s not the same immortal we met on Pluto.  He’s changing.  When I fought Tegam, his voice was deeper than the high pitched squawk that we’re used to.  His personality seems to be changing also.  During our brief talk, he was serious and almost sincere.  I think the other evil immortals have had him under some form of mind control.  Probably the morning star of mind control.  My guess is that being away from it for a certain amount of time has caused its influence to disintegrate.  Now, Miracle can get through to him considering how she seems to be a constant target of his affection.”

“Good point.  We’ll leave you two alone.  Kelly and I will be on the roof, so if anything happens we’ll call you.”  Fate and Miracle leave their friends and it is a couple of silent minutes before anything happens.  Hydrana goes to hug the Earth guardian, but runs into a telekinetic bubble that surrounds her boyfriend.

“Look, Steve.  I’m really, really sorry about everything I did to you and everyone else.  But what I did to my father is no reason to hate me forever.  I never meant to attack and hurt any of you.  You guys just got in my way at the worst possible moment,” says Hydrana as she looks out the hole-filled wall.

All she gets from Infinity is a lasting silence, which hurts her a lot more than any kind of harsh words.

Hydrana punches a fresh hole in the wall, before yelling, “What the hell do you want me to say!  I said that I was sorry and that I never meant to hurt any of you!  I’m sorry I didn’t ask you for any help or tell you what was wrong with my life!  But this silent treatment is driving me crazy!  Again!  So say something!”

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.  A little disgusted and very guilty about some of the things I did.  Although, that is to be expected.  Why did you let me yell and cry my little heart out like that?  It was something just like that, which sent me nose-diving over the edge and beyond in the first place.”

“I know it wasn’t a nice thing to do, but I wasn’t sure if you were back to normal or not.  I know Fate said that you were back to normal.  It’s just that your eyes had this fire in them that’s been spooking all of us.  In case I haven’t already said this, it is great to have you back.”  The next five minutes are spent with one long, and very hot, kiss that leaves both of them breathless.

“Wow.  I don’t remember kissing anyone like that.  Is there anything else you want to discuss?  Or can we try holding our breath for ten minutes?”

“Maybe later.  I wanted to ask you a question about that ring.  SEAS doesn’t have that much information on it, so tell me exactly how it enhances your senses.  Are there any problems or side effects?” asks Infinity.

“I don’t know if it’s important, but ever since I put the ring on my finger, I’ve been hearing this noise.  At first, I thought it was my body getting used to the enhanced hearing.  Now, I know that the ring releases some kind of a wolf-like howl that only I can hear.”  Hydrana suddenly fires a narrow ice spike from her finger and hits a cockroach on the far wall.

“Nice shot.  I don’t think anyone could have made that.  Not even Fate.  I’ll talk to SEAS about the howling.  How does each sense work?”

“Well, I can only use one sense at a time.  This new feeling of touch allows me to notice any imperfection on a surface like those tiny bumps on your head.  I can pick out specific ingredients with my enhanced taste.  To be honest, I don’t think either of these two are going to be used much.  If I ever use them at all.”

“What about the last three?  Those senses can probably make you some kind of living sensor system.”

“You have no idea.  My eyesight can work like either a heat sensor or a pair of night vision goggles.  They also make my eyes zoom in on things if I let my attention wander.  The enhanced hearing is so powerful that I can probably hear a flea cough.  And my sense of smell . . .”  She stops talking and curiously stares at a very bright falling star.  Hydrana sniffs at the air like a hound before slowly turning toward Infinity.  Her face is completely stoic and serious.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

“That falling light isn’t a star.  It’s a space shuttle that has about three types of  alien scents in it.  I picked up about twenty individual smells, which I think are groups of Maviks, Palidors, and Grunts.  We have to get the others because the Clan of Fire just showed up,” answers Hydrana as she runs up to the roof and leaves the confused Earth guardian behind.

“Wait up, Hydrana!  You never told me what a Grunt is.”