New Arrival. Detouring through Lux.

The sound of the music filled the air, breaking through the sounds of humming engines and disgruntled voices that each sat in their respective cars. The pleasant sound told hold, calming those around with its melody while the law enforcement took to doing their job. Whatever conflict was happening up ahead had certainly caused quite the buildup of traffic; but it seemed as those things were soon to be resolved, at least in the immediate moment. Traffic would begin to nudge forward, an indication of a successful redirect; however, no sooner did traffic begin to move, did a yell come out from the guy in the car directly before Araka and Tuleap.

"WATCH OUT!!!" An officer would yell as individuals began to bail from their cars en masse.

Crash after crash would suddenly sound out, before in seemingly an instant, a mass of black hair would take the viewpoint from the front windshield of Tuleap's car as a body slammed into the machine. Tuleap's car would be the final stop for this individual; as her body slammed into the hood, the vehicle would drop from it's light hover and slam into the pavement. The car would be pushed back several meters before coming to a stop, finishing the car's life with the sound of the radio stuttering out before finally dying.

"Tetete, ouch..." Zuqetta would groan as she pried herself from the hood of the car and rubbed the back of her head, "Oh, think you're a TOUGH guy, huh!?!" She'd exclaim before jumping from the hood and dashing through the air, back towards the direction she'd been launched from.

It was clear now that the presumably 'handled' situation was a bit less handled than law enforcement would have led others to believe. The street Araka and Tuleap sat in now lay in minor ruin, with multiple cars having suffered the consequences of merely existing nearby. Though the girl who'd been the cause of such destruction gave off no energy signature, the mere fact that she could survive such an impact at least showed she had a bit of strength. How far that strength went? Who could say, what mattered now was getting a handle of the even more distraught situation; such was the thinking of the nearby law enforcement as they went car to car, assisting those who needed it, Araka and Tuleap included.

    "Sorry that your first trip to Konats is starting out as a rough one." Tuleap sighed as she kicked her feet up on her dashboard. It was evident that the roadblock was a significant inconvenience. But he could sense her words were genuine as if she had control over the situation playing out this way.

    She flipped her hair out of her face, locking eyes with the young Earthling. It was the first time Araka actually focused on her facial features. And every part of her face was appealing. He was flushed for a moment after staring at her lips. He'd completely missed whatever she might've been saying as he tuned nearly everything out.

    He wouldn't come to his senses until he realized he'd gone airborne. No longer confined to the passenger seat of Tuleap's hovercar. Soaring a couple feet in the air over the swarms of cars, the clusters of people on the ground scrambled in panic. "Wait a minute," he muttered during his freefall.

    From his bird's eye view, he could see what appeared to be someone on a small dark cloud. Circling around Tuleaps' car that had been grounded and tossed some distance. He also saw Tuleap, who was so distraught over her ride that she had forgotten all about her missing passenger. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion during his descent.

    Then it all came to him at once before he realized the situation. He was falling to his doom due to his inability to sustain flight. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit," he repeatedly exclaimed while on a crash course with the individual on the dark cloud. He couldn't make out their face, nor the large-maned individual either.

    But if he was a betting man, which he was most of the time. Araka could guess that one of these people was responsible for the roadblock. But that information wouldn't matter much if he crashed into the cloud rider. "HEADS UP," he shouted as a warning to the nimbus rider while closing his eyes to brace for impact.

”What the—OOF!”

Temporarily distracted by the oncoming stranger, Erebos was shot clean out of the sky by the girl. Smoke plumed from a sharp impact, and he twirled downward toward the city streets.

With a grunt, he lashed his hand out, grasping the edge of a shadow as he passed through it, and throwing his shadow ball out toward it. The ball elongated into a whip of sorts, sticking to the corner of a building and sucking him in toward it. With a pop, the connection severed, and he leaped stop the roof, snapping his fingers to grab the attention of his Nimbus, which seemed to be trying to catch its bearings in midair.

”Real clever. Using hapless folk to land a clean shot? Talk about rude.”

Smoke left his chest in a trail of wisps. He’d been hit square in the left pectoral, saved by his armor, which seemed to have a hole through it. Reddened skin could be seen if one squinted hard enough.

”I’ll have you know I— wait a second…” He furrowed his brow, and gave the guy in Zuqetta’s hands a strange look. ”Is that… Desert scientist guy?! Wow! Is this a coincidence or what?”

Erebos reached his hand out, and a thin strip of inky black would crawl up Zuqetta’s back. The goo would morph into a picture-perfect recreation of her own hand, which would proceed to take a swing at her face!

”Kinda funny how small the galaxy feels sometimes, huh?”

Should Araka begin to fall, he’d find a thin black sheet suddenly appear a few feet below him, cushioning his fall and helping him drift slowly to the ground.

---

Her attack had landed true, and the knife ear soon found themselves at the mercy of gravity; unfortunately, Zuqetta found herself too preoccupied with Araka for a follow up, leaving the rather haughty man the chance to recompose himself. As he did, Araka had taken to giving his name; but while he claimed to be an engineer, the fact that he and her opponent knew each other made Zuqetta feel especially suspicious.

"An engineer ya say?" Zuqetta would question as she eyed Tuleap's car, "What, were you workin' on that scrap heap?" She would ask, "Sorry ta say, but I don't think it's salvageable." She'd shrug, giving her own opinion as a bit of an engineer herself.

To be fair, she was more of the type to buy and replace rather than to focus on fixing up something old and worn out, so she hardly saw a point to repairing the girls car; though she knew not everyone had the mean to simply replace what could or couldn't be fixed. Araka seemed less concerned about the girl's car however, and more about the surroundings; something Zuqetta had been a bit too distracted to take into consideration until now. What was she even doing out here anyways? Her tail would stretch out to take hold of Araka by the waist while she crossed her arms to think; a much safer alternative considering how much he was flailing about.

"Wait, what're you freakin' out for? You attacked me from above! Can't ya fly!?" She would question with narrowed eyes before an incredible shiver would rush down her spine.

The expression on Araka's face helped give it away; though carrying him in tow would make combat much too difficult. It may have seemed heartless, but she was sure the man could manage somehow; she needed to react fast, and so would release the man from her tail's grip and allow him to fend for himself, unaware of the black goop below that would catch him in his fall.

"LIGHT!" Zuqetta would shout as she aligned her ki with the light element; causing a minor burst of energy around her body as several blades shot forth, dissolving Erebos's black goop, "I dunno what you were up to-" She'd begin as the blades spun around her form before coming to a stop and narrowing their tips upon Erebos, "-but you're pissin' me off!!!"

With that, Zuqetta would undo her mana veil and allow her energy to flow freely; the six summoned swords would fire off from beside her and down upon Erebos, all homing into the same point. Unbeknownst her Zuqetta however, the blades would react much slower than usual; while the goop that threatened to strike her from behind had been eradicated, much of the goop lingered on her now summoned swords, hindering their capabilities.

“... yeah, I’m fine, Mom… yeah… no, it’s-... Alright. Are restin’ up?... Okay. I’ll be fine, Mom. Stay at the hotel, okay?” Upon her phone as Zerori walked the glimmering streets of what she’d come to know as Lux, Zerori was finishing up a tense conversation with her mother. She’d come to Konats a few days ago to watch Ise’s match up after being told the uh… news back on Arcose about her new view of the planet. Safe to say the young hybrid was surprised but she couldn’t be more proud of how well Ise had acclimated to the role and how much happier she was. She didn’t really know much about her partners, Mint and Brumal, but if she said they were fine company then Zerori couldn’t care less.

In coming to Konats, however, no matter how angry Zerori had been at her mother for lying there were reasons she just couldn’t leave her behind. So, after some arrangements were made, her mother was assisted into a nearby hotel that was taken care of by Ise’s family. It took a lot of apologizing and some gifting before Zerori was satisfied that she’d thanked Ise enough for helping her. It was as she was watching Ise’s match that she’d received the phone call and begrudgingly had to leave to answer it. With one last final yell to her girlfriend, “YOU GOT THIS!!” Before she hopped away from the stands and quickly ducked away into the city.

So while she was looking for a store that would have what her mom was requesting, Zerori was taking in the sights of the city. It was busy - a LOT busier than she was used to in Arcose or Plant but it made Konats REALLY exciting! She really was enjoying herself until something in the back of her mind seemed to tug at her senses. It wasn’t very large at first… hardly a blip but it was familiar. Then another feeling washed over her and Zerori stopped where she stood in the middle of the street to pay attention to the feeling.



That was when it clicked. Not one, but two familiar energies had caught her attention on the planet and ONE of them was who she was searching for. Almost immediately, Zerori felt herself become overtaken by the memories of the last communication Zuqetta had given her - which consisted of a confession of lies, betrayals and a goodbye she never WANTED - before impulse drove her to action!

“Sorry Mom, your medicine is gonna have to wait!” Zerori muttered, throwing an arm in front of her to summon a portal and, without any more hesitation, she bound through it. In a matter of seconds, Zerori would find herself in a completely different part of the city and BOY were things in need of repair. Buildings were destroyed, traffic was backed up and some lady was crying really loudly by her car. What caught her attention most, however, was the apparent fight between Zuqetta and Erebos that Zerori didn’t expect to ever see. “How the fuck do they know each other?” Zerori snarled, her emotions a mix of confusion and contention before she focused her attention on Zuqetta.

She wasn’t going to lose sight of her again, “HEY! HEY!” She would bellow in Zuqetta’s direction, only to see an attack from Erebos (complete with a nifty little shadow that looked just like her sister) barrage the ground, closing in quickly on Zuqetta.

Once more, instinct took over. Eyes flashing red as the controlled power of darkness, Zerori would rush toward Zuqetta as the barrage of darkness encroached. Grinding to a halt in front of her, Zerori would ignore her sister for the time before looking back up at Erebos with a grin, “Not so FAST, Erebos! That’s my SISTER you’re AIMING AT!” Before throwing up both arms, and using her dark magic to create a barrier in front of her to try and defend both herself and Zuqetta. As it crashed against the wall, the force of the dark beams would be like chisels against a rock before it finally broke - the remainder of the beams of darkness cutting and pelting against Zerori’s body.

Bleeding profusely but having successfully defended Zuqetta for the time, Zerori would struggle to breath through her wounds before finally finishing, “No one… gets to hit my sister…” Her fist clenched at her side, shaking with rage as she used the pain to push her next action to it’s fullest. She turned on Zuqetta, anger in her eyes before she swung with all her strength right into her face, “-except ME! BITCH!!” Hit or miss, Zerori wouldn't stop there, bellowing her repressed feeling, "Why the FUCK would leave like that, huh?! Dropping the bomb on me like a fucking COWARD and then deciding to RUN like one TOO?!" Having completely drained herself of any and all possibility of defense, Zerori was the very vision of a pissed off woman with hardly any care for the repercussions of her actions.

Her attack had landed true, causing the whimsical man to throw a fit for some reason; mentioning... spells? 'This guy some kinda magic man?' Zuqetta would think to herself before hearing an eerily familiar voice speak up behind her. she would immediately flinch, dashing away from the voice as she turned to face it; lifting her guard as the situation seemed to become a bit more serious. Her head would cock to the side curiously as she raised an eyebrow to the sight before her... herself, yet not?

"The heck are you s'pose ta be?" Zuqetta would question before wincing as the strange high pitched laugh of the copy, "If anything pisses me off, its a cheap knock-off!" She'd exclaim as she watched the Shadow Zuqetta perform her Melody of Shadow, "I only buy BRAND name! Now let me show ya the power of a TRUE Saiyan!!!"

The atmosphere around Zuqetta would shake as her energy began to rise rapidly; until with a burst, a shimmering blue light would envelop her form as she took her Raging Spirit form. She wasn't done yet however; the devastating strikes from the Melody of Shadow were beginning to close in, and Zuqetta was more than ready to return the favor to her off-brand counterpart. As the attacks neared her, Zuqetta would call upon her own Dark aligned magic; darkness akin to shadows would begin to wisp up around her, ready to counter the doppelgangers attack... until.

'Wait...' Zuqetta would think as a massive chill rushed down her spine, 'This power... familiar... one I've not sensed, since...' Suddenly, Zuqetta's senses would be shocked back to reality as the subtle power exploded with ferocity. Zuqetta would freeze up as the form that exhibited the power suddenly filled her view, taking the impact of the Melody of Shadow head on. a plethora of memories would play back through Zuqetta's mind in a fraction of a second before her thoughts returned to the current time and place; leaving Zuqetta to completely forget the confrontation she had been a part of as she focused solely on the person before her.

"Zeror-"

She had listened to Zerori's remarks, albeit in a disillusioned manner; before Zuqetta could even finish a single word however, Zerori had made to strike. The Dark magic Zuqetta wielded would attempt to well up to defend, but would be suppressed without hesitation. She could have blocked, she could have dodged, she could have even redirected the attack, but no... she didn't deserve to do so, this punch was a long time coming and while she hadn't expected it here and now, she would accept it.

Gritting her teeth and bracing herself, the impact from Zerori's punch would land hard; sending Zuqetta spiraling a couple times through the air. Having readied herself, she wouldn't be sent flying, but the impact would do much more than merely rattle her. A migraine would immediately take to her head, while she could swear she felt a couple molar crack; her neck would certainly be feeling pained for the foreseeable future from taking that, and a shock-wave pulsated down her spine and through the rest of her body.

"Heh-" Zuqetta would remark as she straightened up and gave Zerori a bright smile, "That was pretty cowardly, huh?" She'd comment as she did her best to refrain from shaking; keeping up the ruse of having taken no damage from Zerori's strike as best as she could, "Long time no see, Z! Didn't expect ta see ya here of all places!"

Despite her efforts, Zuqetta's cheek would show true damage; bright red and swelling from the impact, while burn marks lightly dressed the wound. Hidden beneath her waist cloak, Zuqetta's tail had taken to wrapping around her waist incredibly defensively, tightening more and more. She had forgotten all about her confrontation with Erebos for the time; her only thought was what to even say next, to the sister that she had abandoned...

Zerori’s eyes watched, hardened by anger and fatigue as she watched her sister be spun a few times by her attack before she managed to recover. Would she attack back? Have a few choice words herself or even justify her actions in some way? While Zerori didn’t expect anything like that from Zuqetta, the feeling remained that she would always be ready for anything now when it came to her. As Zuqetta turned back to her, cheek swelling and burnt visibly from her attack, the grin she was given nearly had Zerori lose her temper again - her own face going red with heat as she grinding her teeth behind lips trembling with rage, “THAT’S all you have to-?! AUGH! Whatever…” She was far too tired to try another assault and quickly frankly her point was made. Her eyes took in the visible damage and knew that her attack wasn’t so easily taken.

Is that what you do now? Pretend things don’t hurt until you can’t pretend anymore? Zerori thought forlornly, only turning away from Zuqetta when Erebos had yelled at someone to not leave and cocking an eyebrow at him out of curiosity. That was when she heard it, the loud cry that sounded a bit like Zuqetta and Zerori turned to said person with a glare.

“... What?” Her voice was sharp as knives, almost believing every word that was said untiiiil-

She turned back to Erebos, “-the hell are you doing? I confessed to Ise in front of Zuqetta a long time ago.” She smirked, crossing her arms. “I won the bet, Erebos. Besides, you’re missing a very important and very annoying inflection in your mimic. Zuqetta... has a lisp,” She stated simply, equal parts amused and unimpressed that Erebos would try and pit them together. “Why are ya’ll fighting here? Did she say she was going to do something and flaked on you too?” Zerori questioned casually, hoping that her words would drive home that this was something Zerori wasn’t going to drop for a LONG time. “You’ll have to get in line because I have a LOT more punches for her where that came from.”

That sounds like enough… for now, There was still a lot of questions to be asked and answered all around but the first one that came to mind was addressing the new pair of faces. Erebos had blocked the guys' path and, in doing so, forced the lady with him behind too. Looking at the car that was near them, it didn’t take a genius to know that the mangled metal was probably that lady’s car. Looking it over, Zerori brought a hand up to her head to scratch it in thought before she approached to get a better look. “ Did uh… did you need this fixed? You seem pretty broken up about it,” She’d need a bit of time to try and recoup her magic but the hybrid woman was more or less just interested in seeing if she COULD fix it as opposed to whether it was the right thing to do. "Tell ya what. I'll fix it... if you tell me who broke it."

Zerori had a feeling she had a good idea who the culprit was.