Leader.

Tom Stone checked his appearance in the mirror for around the fifth time as he contemplated that word. How was he the leader? After the way he freaked out on the battlefield, he had no business being in this position. And it wasn’t as if they didn’t have another option.

That “other option” started knocking at his door. Tom closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened them and glanced at the framed photo on his dresser of him and Scott when they took a trip to Thailand together.

“Hope you’re watching out for me…”

The knock came again, a little more intensely. Tom went to the door and opened it to find Rachel standing on the other side. She wasn’t always the warmest of people, but her stoicism was at a higher-than-average level.

“Come on, we don’t want to be late.”

She used a clipped tone and avoided prolonged eye contact with him. Didn’t even wait for him to step out of his room before she started walking down the corridor. Tom shut the door behind him and moved with a quickened pace to catch up with her.

“Didn’t take them long to find three recruits, did it?” he asked in an attempt to start come conversation between them.

“The Group keeps a list of potentials on-hand. It’s always being updated when new potentials are identified so that whenever a new Knight is needed, the process moves fast.” Rachel then added with a bit of harshness, “You know this.”

“I do. I was just trying to make conversation.”

They came to an elevator bay. Rachel hit the button to go up.

“I hate small talk. Another thing you already know.”

“Right…” Tom whispered. He tapped his foot and watched as the numbers on the elevator display ticked down. It felt like it was taking longer than usual to arrive.

The doors opened, and the car was empty. Rachel stepped in first, and Tom walked in beside her. She hit the button on the console and the doors closed. Tom looked up, watching as the elevator rose past each level.

Of all the team, Rachel had been the one he’d never really connected with. His relationship with Scott had been passionate. There was also Emily, who was the first of the team Tom had really struck up a friendship with. And Michael was so easy-going that no one ever had problems talking to him.

Rachel was a different story. She liked to keep to herself. Her family had been involved with the Quantum Group for generations, so she took this responsibility more seriously than anyone else. So it was understandable why she felt snubbed by the Tribunal’s decision. Tom felt the need to clear that air between them. Even though he was now the leader, he’d still need her help with these new recruits.

“Hey Rach…” he began, chancing another attempt at conversation. “I just wanted to say that I think the Heads made a mistake,” he said. “If I were the one deciding, I absolutely would have picked you over me.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“That’s okay, but I want you to know where I stand on this whole thing.”

“Fine, I know. Thanks.”

They moved a few more steps in a silence that felt like a wall between them. Tom tried to think of something else to add, something that would break that tension.

“I want us to be cool with each other is all and—”

“Oh…my god.” Rachel stopped and pivoted toward him. “Exactly what part of ‘I don’t want to talk about it’ were you unclear on?”

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“No, I get it, I just—”

“You got the job. What’s done is done. Let’s just forget about it and move on. Okay?”

Tom nodded. “Okay. I just—”

Rachel gave an exasperated chuckle. “I swear, if I hear you say the words ‘I just’ one more goddamn time, I’m going to shoot you with another arrow. It’s done. Let’s go.”

She sighed and turned, continuing on the walk down the corridor. Tom sighed and followed, though walking about a step or two behind her to give her some space. He’d make this up to her somehow. He just had to figure out what that would entail.

They didn’t exchange another word until they arrived at the Nexus. While their Omega Gauntlets enabled them to teleport virtually anywhere on the planet, the Nexus was the focal point of that transportation system. It was a large, round room. Even the air smelled different in here, crackling with the otherworldly energies of the Omega Force. In the center of the room was a massive circular platform, constructed of sleek metal and with ethereal tendrils of energy arcing between the crystal strats.

Several control stations were set up at different points surrounding the platform. Here, Quantum Group technicians monitored the Nexus for any abnormalities and ensured the system worked without a hitch. Dr. Candace Wu stood between terminals, looking at the screen of her tablet. Once she spotted Tom and Rachel, she clasped the tablet to her chest and approached.

“Good, you’re both here.” Candace smiled at Tom. “Congratulations. I’m sure Scott would’ve been proud to know you’re picking up the mantle.”

Tom gave a half-hearted smile. The intent behind the words was nice, but especially after the terse exchange with Rachel, it just made him feel like shit.

“What’s the story on these three?” asked Rachel.

Candace looked at her tablet again. She made a few motions, and a holographic image of the three recruits appeared in front of them. The one of the left grew larger than the others to highlight it. It was a young white woman with short, burgundy hair.

“Alexa Monroe from Chicago. Twenty-two and a social media influencer. She trained as a gymnast from the age of twelve, but she eventually parlayed that into parkour. She’s been identified as a candidate for the Wyvern.”

“You really think a social media influencer can keep quiet about all this?” asked Rachel.

Candace shrugged. “I don’t make the choices. If the Tribunal has confidence in her, I guess that’s what’s most important.”

The figure in the center grew larger, this of a Latina woman with long, black hair.

“Next up is Olivia Reyes. Nineteen-year-old college student from Tampa. She’s studying to be a social worker and has been identified as a Unicorn candidate.”

“What does she bring to the table?” asked Tom.

“The Unicorn tends to identify with candidates who have a high degree of empathy. My guess is that’s why she’s been selected,” said Candace.

The last image highlighted a Black man with a compact Afro hairstyle and a full beard.

“Ethan Jackson is from Vancouver. Twenty years old, working as a personal trainer. Amateur MMA fighter, even won some tournaments.”

“Now this is one that makes sense,” said Rachel.

“In more ways than one,” said Candace. “Ethan’s from Phoenix, but was sent to live with relatives in Canada ten years ago.”

“Phoenix…?” Tom scrunched his brow. “You don’t mean the Phoenix Incident, do you?”

Candace gave a solemn nod. “His family was killed in that breach. Only he survived.”

“So he saw it?” asked Rachel.

“Yeah, he did,” said Candace. “And according to this, when he tried to tell his story, everyone thought he was just in shock and hallucinating.”

“How’s he going to react when he finds out he was right all along?” asked Tom. “Think he’ll feel vindicated or cheated because the truth was kept from him?”

Candace sighed. “I suppose that’s what we’re about to find out, isn’t it?”

“And he’s supposed to be Scott’s replacement, is that it?” asked Tom as he studied Ethan’s holographic image. “The new Karkinos Knight.”

“No one’s replacing Scott, Tom. No one can replace him,” said Candace.

“Tell that to the Heads,” said Tom.

Candace glanced down at the tablet and swiped across it. The holographic images vanished. “You know that’s not what’s happening. The Quantum Group—”

“Right, right, the Quantum Group’s responsible for the Omega Knights and we always need a team ready to defend against the breaches,” said Tom. “I’ve heard it all before, Doc. Doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.”

Tom started toward the platform.

“Anyway, I guess since I’m now the leader, that means I have to put on a smile and welcome these replacements into our team.” He looked at Rachel. “You coming?”

Rachel glanced at Candace and then ascended the steps to the platform, stepping up beside Tom.

“Do I need to remind you that you were once the new guy?” she asked. “These rookies aren’t responsible for Scott and the others.”

“No, I know exactly whose fault that is, so thanks for reminding me of that.”

Rachel frowned. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

“Whatever.” Tom gave her a hard stare. “‘I don’t want to talk about it.’”

Rachel muttered something under her breath as the platform crackled to life. Energy arced from between the crystal strats and their Omega Gauntlets glowed. In short order, their bodies broke apart, transformed into energy, and then the crystal strats absorbed them, causing them to vanish.