The rain fell in heavy sheets, masking the low hum of generators beneath the concrete. A rusted sign, GreenCore Waste Solutions, hung loosely above the gate—an illusion.
Alex approached silently, cloak of demonic energy flaring faintly around him. His eyes, glowing red with demonic energy as he scanned the perimeter. The shadows bent with him, sensing the hunt was near its end.
He slipped through a breach in the outer wall and descended into the facility.
Inside, Bakuto stood among flickering monitors, observing live feed from a dozen recovery teams still scouring the wreckage of the former lab. His expression was a portrait of frustration—until a screen flickered.
Motion detected. Sector C-3.
Bakuto’s eyes narrowed. "He came," he whispered.
A grin, predatory and venomous, spread across his face.
"I’ve been waiting."
***
COLLEEN’S DOJO – MEDICAL ROOM
Back at the dojo, Sue lay propped against soft pillows, her skin pale but her heartbeat steady. The worst was over—for now. Colleen sat beside her, gently wiping the sweat from her forehead.
Sue’s eyes fluttered open again.
"Alex...?"
"His girlfriend," Colleen said softly, offering a faint smile. "You’re safe."
There was a pause before Sue spoke again, her voice hoarse.
"...I messed up."
Colleen didn’t answer. Just waited.
"I stole it," Sue admitted. "From one of Sam’s hidden stashes. It was a prototype... they said it was a super-soldier thing. I didn’t believe them, But I knew there will be idiots in Black Market, I wanted to sell it and then finally settle down fro good, maybe with Alex, he was the first person who never looked at me with eyes that said she is just a plaything."
Her eyes watered with shame.
"I was gonna sell it. Flip it for a quick score. But the Hand found me. I panicked. Used it. And then... I don’t remember much after that."
Colleen sighed. "You didn’t just steal a serum, Sue. You stole something vital to the Hand. It’s normal that you’d end up on their experiment table after that."
Sue looked away. "And now I’m the reason people are dying."
"No," Colleen said firmly. "The ones who hunted you down—they’re the reason. But you have to live with your choices now."
"And now, you also have immense vitality inside you. If you learn Chi manipulation, I can guarantee you’ll at least be able to punch a hole through a mountain," Colleen added. While taking care of her, she had discovered that Sue’s body was continuously generating a tremendous amount of vitality. It was because of this that—despite having her spinal marrow nearly drained—she was already recovering after just an hour of rest.
Sue blinked slowly, her body still sore but her mind sharpening. "Chi? What... what is that, exactly? You keep mentioning it like it’s some kind of magic."
Colleen gave a small, knowing smile. "Not magic. Not exactly. It’s life force—energy that flows through everything living. Most people never tap into it. But those trained in places like K’un-Lun... we learn to harness it."
She extended her right hand, closing her eyes briefly. A golden glow began to radiate from her palm, humming softly like a heartbeat. The light pulsed with power—calm, focused, and yet clearly capable of immense destruction.
"This... is Chi," Colleen said. "When you master it, you don’t just heal faster. You strike harder. Move faster. You gain control over the energy inside and around you. You can make your body do what others call impossible."
Sue stared at the glow, her breath catching. "You... learned this in K’un-Lun?"
Colleen nodded. "Alongside others—like Danny Rand, the Iron Fist. He’s the champion of K’un-Lun, the living weapon. But even without the Iron Fist, those trained in the way of Chi can become powerful warriors."
Sue looked down at her hands. "And you think... I can do that too? Because of this... serum?"
"I don’t think," Colleen replied. "I know. Your body’s overflowing with vitality. It’s like you’re a generator—your cells are producing energy faster than they can store it. If you don’t learn to control it, it’ll burn you out from the inside. But if you do..."
Her eyes narrowed with purpose. "Then you won’t just survive the Hand. You’ll be able to fight back."
"...and you might—no, you will—be able to defeat Danny Rand, the Champion of K’un-Lun," Colleen said, her voice quiet but certain. "After all, unlike you, his Chi is limited. Trained and powerful, yes—but it has a ceiling. Yours? It’s like a dam about to burst. A living generator that could fuel mountains if harnessed right."
Sue stared at her, unsure if she should be scared or amazed. "You’re saying I could be stronger than the Iron Fist?"
Colleen stood, turning slightly, eyes narrowing at the thought. "Stronger... and perhaps even more dangerous."
There was a flicker in her voice. Not fear. Something else.
Jealousy.
She masked it well, but it was there. Deep inside, Colleen remembered watching Alex—the way he stayed by Sue’s side, the way his concern never wavered. She remembered their own night together. A date that had started simply, ended quietly, and left her heart racing in the silence that followed.
For a moment, she’d thought—maybe.
Maybe she could be with someone like him. Maybe they could build something beyond the wars and wounds of their pasts.
But then Sue came crashing into their lives—damaged, powerful, and now evolving into something more. Colleen wasn’t foolish. She could already see the threads. Alex was kind, devoted... and drawn to those who carried burdens. Sue was a burning sun now, unpredictable and radiant.
And Alex... Alex was too much like her.
Colleen’s thoughts turned heavy. She knew how this would play out. Sooner or later, he would drift closer to Sue—either out of duty, empathy, or something deeper. And when that happened, she might just fade away, one more memory in the blur of his ever-forward life.
Still, she forced a smile, crouching again by Sue’s side and placing a steady hand on her shoulder.
"But you have a long way to go," she said, her voice calm now, her emotions buried beneath the surface. "The Hand will come for you again. And next time, they won’t hesitate. So if you want to live, and if you want to protect the people you care about..."
She leaned in, eyes locked with Sue’s.
"...then you’d better start training."
*******
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