I had finesse and a fighting style on my side. He had the upper hand in everything else. I had to play to my strengths. He came at me like a two-ton megastar, and I dodged his fist with a step to my right before whirling on him, sliding my left leg through his legs and wrapping my foot around his ankle. With a forward thrust, I grabbed his waist and lifted him from the floor. He seemed lighter than at other times. I bent backward and, in one fluid motion, brought us to the ground.

Bart howled as his power was used against him and he came crashing to the ground with me curled around him. He smashed into the ground with such velocity that his spine and ribs cracked. I dashed to my feet, ready for another assault, but Bart merely groaned and clutched his back whining. Le Pew or Johanson stood aside, watching in silence. I thought he was unconscious, but I guess he could stand a few knocks from Bart. I started for Andromeda and Tarric who were clapping. I blushed when I heard their cries.

“Look out!” they both screamed.

I spun on my heels and grabbed Bart’s arm before twisting and flipping him over my left shoulder. As soon as he was down, his arm shot out. He grabbed my ankle, trying to drag me to the ground. He tried twisting it, but I hopped out of his lazy grab and chopped his neck. He fell, like a puppet without strings, at my feet. Andromeda came close and blushed when she saw me.

“You’re pretty strong under all those cute spots,” she crooned and I felt myself flush redder than I already was.

I let out a breath and grinned. “Would you like me to s-show how s-strong I can be?”

She went redder, but before she could reply, Tarric cut in. “I need to cuff the guy, we are needed at the council room. Keep it in your pants guys.”

“Tarric!” we both groaned.

“Way to be a killjoy!” said Andromeda as she grabbed Bart by his shirt and tugged him toward the cracked entrance. Jude was muttering to himself and gazing at me with questionable eyes.

“You never fought like that with the gang,” he said.

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“We never needed it. We had guns,” I muttered, feeling uncomfortable with where the conversation was heading but trying not to let it show.

Jude noticed but didn’t say a word more. We decided to wait until Lana and Bart were awake to traipse to the council room way above us. Andromeda knew a short cut but we needed everyone awake for it. It didn’t take long as Tarric had packed smelling salts for this occasion.

“Always thought I’d be using it on you, Matt. You’re kinda small and these guys are kinda big,” muttered Tarric as he swung the smelling salts under Lana’s nose first. “Even the female is big.”

Lana groaned as she awoke from her unconscious state. She tried to lunge at me but Andromeda grabbed her by her ponytail and pulled her back. Lana winced and sat back down where she was.

“She is not a happy camper,” Jude muttered as Tarric woke Bart with the smelling salts and a slap. Tarric drew back blowing on his hand.

“Oww! How in the hell did you pick him up, Matt? The guy is steel!” he whined blowing on his hand.

I rolled my eyes. Yes, Bart was perfect, but Lana was the real threat. With the dark abilities of a cyborg and the strategic mind of a human, she was deadly in a fight. I so did not want to fight her so soon after I fought Bart. She was fast and agile. My only saving grace was that she was untrained in her abilities. Jude wasn’t a fighter. He had lackeys for that kind of thing which included Bart and Lana.

Now handcuffed and awake, Bart eyed me warily. I shouldn’t have been able to throw him so easily. He was perfect and I was spots…normal. To him, he should have won and he could have if he hadn’t rushed me like a HeMan.

We reached another level and Andromeda took us up one more. It was getting warmer. Soon we were met by a natural crystal bridge that separated the two sides. We crossed it and I noticed that the bridge had sigils carved on one side of it.

“Councilman Machi carved those sigils a while ago for protection and design,” said Andromeda as we entered a red-carpeted corridor. We climbed a few more levels always heading uphill until finally reaching the surface halls. Taking a right we headed to the familiar round set of rooms and entered the wide set hall. Jude, Lana, and Bart were taken ahead. I came in after to hear the council’s decree.

“You three are henceforth banished from Tierra Onda.”

Lana cried. “You can’t do that! We just want to return home!”

Bart nodded agreeing with her.

Jude was silent. As always he was contemplating his options carefully not that he had any left.

I stared ahead wondering when my crewmates were going to wake up and realize we were stuck here possibly for good. I crossed my arms. Lana’s shrill voice was giving me a headache. How did I ever think it was the sweetest sound in the world? Hmm, maybe I could do one last thing for them.

“Lana is an engineer and a mechanic a damn good one. Bart is a biologist and Jude is a decent geologist. They can work for a place to stay,” I said interrupting Lana’s tirade.

She glared at me. “I am not working for them!”

“Then you rather be banished?” came Cho’s windy voice. She smiled like a Cheshire cat. “That can be easily arranged you know, however, your Captain has once more saved your hide. We need a mechanic and a biologist and we can find a place for the geologist.”

’From now on you work for your right to stay, for your food and lodgings and clothes,” said Vivianna as she glared at Lana who seemed to quell.

Reynolds petted his beard and smiled. “Then it’s decided? All in favor?”

The council members were all in agreement.