The Mogadorian biological experiment fortress was located beneath a barren mountain range in a desert region. Its entrance was cleverly hidden inside a natural-looking cave, protected by camouflage technology and constant patrols.
"This is going to be a problem," Number Six said, observing the entrance from a distance through binoculars. "It's an enclosed space. My Atmokinesis won't be useful underground. We'll have to rely on stealth."
"Stealth, stealth," Tom complained, sounding like a child being told to clean his room. "Can't we, just for once, go in screaming and blowing things up?"
"We'll blow something up later," Number Six replied patiently, though her patience was wearing thin. "After we get to the main reactor or the cloning labs. Getting in undetected is the priority."
Tom rolled his eyes but finally agreed. "Fine. But if I see a cool giant monster, I'm not promising I can hold back."
Using Number Six's Invisibility as their main advantage, they managed to slip past the outer patrols. Tom, who was also rendered unseen by staying very close to Number Six, had to be constantly reminded not to hum or kick pebbles. They successfully entered the cold, dimly lit steel corridors inside the fortress.
The atmosphere was horrifying. Through thick windows, they could see laboratories where strange experiments were taking place. Deformed creatures floated in tubes filled with green liquid, and in the distance, the terrifying howls of caged Piken could be heard.
"Cheerful place," Tom whispered.
They moved deeper, following a layout that Number Six had managed to steal from the previous base. Their goal was the laboratory's control center. However, their silence didn't last long. As they passed through a long corridor, Tom stopped.
"Hold on a second," he said. He pointed to a large ventilation panel on the ceiling. "I'm sure I saw something shiny in there."
Before Number Six could stop him, Tom used his Telekinesis to rip the ventilation panel off. What fell out wasn't something shiny, but three calf-sized Piken that immediately barked and attacked.
"Oops," said Tom.
Alarms blared. Steel doors around them slammed shut.
"You did that on purpose!" Number Six exclaimed, becoming visible and preparing to fight.
"Maybe a little," Tom replied with a wide grin. "Now the party can begin!"
The fight in the narrow corridor was brutal. Number Six moved with speed and precision, using her energy daggers to slash at the Piken's vital points. Tom, on the other hand, was more like a wrecking ball. He let the Piken pounce on him, then used his Lumen at point-blank range to burn them from the inside out, or used Telekinesis to slam them into the walls until they were dented.
Waves of armed Mogadorians began to arrive. In the enclosed space, the fight became more intense. Energy shots ricocheted off the walls, creating a small hell in the hallway.
In the midst of the chaos, they were forced to separate. While Tom was busy using two Mogadorians as living shields, he saw Number Six being pushed back into a large room that looked like a breeding arena. A steel gate dropped behind her, trapping her inside.
From the shadows of the arena, a monster emerged. It was no ordinary Piken. The creature was much larger, the size of a small truck, with thick, armored skin, multiple glowing red eyes, and jaws capable of chewing through metal. It was clearly one of their "champion" experiments.
Number Six attacked quickly, but the monster's hide was too thick for her daggers. She tried to dodge, but in the confined space, the monster's speed was surprising. The creature managed to corner her, swinging its giant claws.
Tom, having just finished "cleaning up" his hallway, saw all this from behind the steel gate. "Hey! I'm the only one who gets to defeat her!" he yelled angrily.
He didn't try to open the gate. He did something more direct. He focused all his telekinetic power on the steel wall next to the gate. The metal groaned, bent, then tore like wet paper as Tom created a gaping hole in the fortress wall.
He stepped into the arena just as the monster was about to pounce on Number Six.
"Sorry, pal," Tom said to the monster. "Your playtime is over."
The monster turned its attention to Tom and roared, then charged. Tom didn't dodge. Instead, he ran to meet it. Just before they collided, both of Tom's hands ignited with a Lumen so bright and hot it was blinding.
He didn't punch the monster. He plunged both of his burning hands directly into the creature's chest. The monster's roar turned into a high-pitched screech of agony as the incredible heat from Tom's Lumen incinerated its internal organs from the inside out. A few seconds later, the giant monster collapsed to the floor, dead, with two large, still-smoking holes in its chest.
Number Six stared at the scene, shocked. She knew Tom was strong, but the brutality and raw power he had just displayed were on a different level. And... he had just saved her.
Tom turned, dusting the soot from his hands. "Told you, didn't I? She's my toy." He winked at Number Six, who was still too stunned to respond.
"Come on," Tom said, his tone cheerful again. "We still have a reactor to blow up."
Leaving the monster's carcass behind them, they continued their journey to the heart of the fortress. This time, Number Six followed with a feeling far more complicated than mere frustration.
They traveled in silence for hours after escaping the collapsing fortress. The spectacular success of their mission felt hollow, replaced by an awkward atmosphere that enveloped them both. They finally found shelter in a rock formation resembling a shallow cave, shielded from the cold desert wind as night fell.
Tom, for the first time, wasn't acting immediately foolish. He just sat, lit a small fire with his Lumen to warm the place, and stared into the flames with an unreadable expression.
Number Six stood on the other side of the cave, her back against the stone wall. She kept replaying the events in the arena in her head. The way Tom had torn through the steel wall, the way he had annihilated the monster with raw power, and the words he had spoken afterward. 'I'm the only one who gets to defeat her.'
She couldn't stand the silence any longer.
"Why?" she said, her voice clear in the quiet cave.
Tom looked over at her, raising an eyebrow. "Why what? Why didn't we bring one of the monster heads back as a souvenir? I was wondering that myself, but it seemed like too much hassle."
"Not that," Number Six cut in, looking Tom straight in the eye. "Why did you save me?"
Tom let out a small laugh, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Save you? I don't know what you're talking about. I just saw an ugly monster trying to break my new toy. Of course I got mad."
"I am not your toy," Number Six hissed, though the words felt less convincing even to herself.
"Aren't you?" Tom stood and walked slowly towards her. He stopped just a few feet in front of her. "Since we made this 'alliance', you've been my partner. You lead me to fun places, show me exciting fights. And as per our agreement, after all this is over, we're going to have one last battle. The grand prize is your power."
He leaned a little closer. "So, tell me, how am I supposed to collect my prize if that monster kills you first? I didn't save you, Number Six. I was just protecting my investment."
The words were cold, pragmatic, and utterly selfish. And because of that, Number Six knew it was the truth, at least Tom's version of the truth. Strangely, that brutal honesty was easier to accept than if Tom had pretended to be a hero. It re-solidified her position in this game. She was a means to an end.
But still, something bothered her. The way Tom had moved, the speed of his reaction. It wasn't just about protecting an "investment". It felt... possessive.
"Now that that's settled," Tom said, returning to his usual cheerful tone, as if the heavy conversation had never happened. "There's only one big target left, right? The big boss, Setrákus Ra."
Number Six nodded stiffly, trying to bring her focus back to the mission. "His main base, the warship Animus, is believed to be underground at an old military base in Nevada."
"A warship underground? These aliens have weird taste," Tom commented. "Alright. One last big fight. After we defeat that lizard boss and destroy their command, then it'll just be the two of us."
The statement hung in the air, full of meaning. This was the end of their alliance. They both knew it. After Setrákus Ra fell, they would be enemies.
Number Six looked at Tom. She had seen his power, his madness, his immortality. She knew her chances of winning in a direct fight were almost zero. But she was a Garde. She wouldn't run from a fight. She had to find a way, any opening, no matter how small. Maybe if she could get him to use too much energy, or maybe... maybe there was another way to "defeat" him that didn't involve physical force. The thought appeared fleetingly before she pushed it away.
Tom, on the other hand, was incredibly excited. The game was nearing its climax. He would get all the powers he wanted from this world: Atmokinesis, Invisibility, and a bonus ability slot. He glanced at Number Six, who seemed lost in thought. He had to admit, having a partner this strong and stubborn had turned out to be much more fun than he'd expected. It would be a bit of a shame for the game to end. But the prize was too tempting to pass up.
"Get ready, partner," Tom said, breaking the silence once more. "Tomorrow, we're going to put on the biggest fireworks show this planet has ever seen."
They began their journey the next morning. The air between them felt different. It was no longer just distrust or frustration. Now there was a silent understanding, an acknowledgment of their respective roles in this final act. They were allies marching towards the last battle, all while holding knives they were ready to use on each other once the war was over.