Come in Peace

3:00 PM – Kira's House

The front door shut with a hollow thud as Kira stepped inside, the late afternoon sun spilling through the windows in pale orange streaks. School was barely over, and already the air hummed with purpose. Shard hunting waited for no one.

Kira dropped her bag near the couch and stretched. "Where should we go today?"

Hakim was already checking the Galaxom, its faint glow reflecting off his fingers. "We received a message from a police department in Queensland, Australia."

Kira frowned slightly, walking over. "Didn't we get a message from a different police department last week?"

Hakim shrugged. "I guess the summons are too tough for them."

Before he could even open the portal, both of them stepped through as if the decision had already been made.

Guardian's Chamber

The familiar chamber greeted them with its towering pillars and quiet hum of ancient power. The Guardian turned as they arrived.

"Where are you two off to?" the Guardian asked.

"We're going to Queensland. The police called us," Kira replied without hesitation.

The Guardian studied them carefully. "You two need to rest. You've been shard hunting day in and day out."

Kira clenched her fists. "The longer we wait, the higher the chance some greedy lunatic will get a powerful summon."

Without waiting for further protest, they transformed and stepped through the portal.

Queensland Police Department, Australia

The portal opened with a ripple of light, and Kira and Decibolt stepped onto polished tile floors beneath buzzing fluorescent lights.

"You've arrived," Police Officer 1 said, relief clear in his voice.

Molecular Girl crossed her arms. "Where's the summon that needs to be dealt with?"

"It's not the summon," Police Officer 2 explained. "It's the summoner. We have witnesses who say they saw a young girl with a shard, but she refuses to admit it."

Police Officer 3 nodded. "She lives alone, and we were thinking of sending two people undercover as Child Protective Services agents. Who better to send than you two?"

"All you have to do is go as your normal selves and find the shard," Police Officer 2 added.

Molecular Girl's expression hardened. "There's a problem with your plan; if you reveal our identities, and we are forced to fight, the girl will learn them."

"A small price to pay for a shard," Police Officer 2 replied flatly.

Molecular Girl shook her head. "I have a better idea."

She grabbed Decibolt by the arm and pulled him away.

"I really thought they were going to do it," Police Officer 2 muttered.

"I told you they were too smart for that," Police Officer 1 said.

An Empty Room

The door creaked as Kira and Decibolt entered.

"Detransform," Molecular Girl said.

"Why?" Decibolt asked.

"Just do it before I get back."

She stepped into a portal, disappearing for a moment. When she returned, she was holding two plastic cat masks.

"Wear these," she said.

Hakim stared at them. "Why should I?"

"I'll be wearing one too, and it isn't easy for me either."

She detransformed, and both of them slipped the masks on before returning.

Outside the House

"What are you wearing?" Police Officer 3 asked.

"This way, she doesn't know we're superheroes, and she can't see our faces," Kira explained.

"And if she asks why you're wearing them?" Police Officer 1 pressed.

"I'll think of something. Can we have the address of her house?"

Moments later, a portal opened in front of an old, abandoned house. Boarded windows, peeling paint, and a rusted doorknob gave it a lifeless look. Kira rang the bell.

A girl about fourteen opened the door, a chain keeping it barely ajar.

"Hi, we're from Child Protective Services (CPS). We've come to inspect your home," Kira said.

"What are the masks for?" the girl asked.

"It's mandatory for employees. They're supposed to help the little ones warm up to us."

"That's a stupid concept. You don't have name tags. What are your names?"

"Umm, I'm Heather, and this is Colt."

"You've been the one talking; Colt doesn't have a voice box or something?"

"He's just a shy and awkward introvert. Can you let us in?"

She shut the door, removed the latch, and reopened it. "Welcome to humble abode."

Inside, the lights flickered weakly. Floorboards creaked under every step, cobwebs clung to corners, and dust hung in the air.

"We never got your name," Kira said.

"You came here to inspect my house; my name is irrelevant."

"Why don't you give us a tour while Colt does his job?"

"He won't be joining us?"

"He's really shy, so he does his work in private."

"Why would a shy person apply for a job that forces him to interact with other people?"

"Umm, his parents signed him up for it to boost his confidence. You know how parents can be."

"No, I don't. As you can see, I live alone."

Hakim's Side

"How dare she call me a shy introvert!" Hakim thought. "That role belongs to Theo. But it did give me the perfect opportunity to find the shard."

He activated the tracer. "Hmm, it's not working; there must be a scrambler somewhere around here."

He scanned the room. "No cameras anywhere—Deci-locate."

The signal locked. "It's in a room in the ceiling. There's a ladder at the top of a small door up there; that should lead to it."

Kira's Side

"This is the kitchen," the girl said.

The chandelier barely lit the stains on the walls. Cockroaches scattered as they entered.

"I have perfectly good food in the fridge."

She opened it. Instant noodles, sodas, fruit.

"Where did you get all this?" Kira asked.

"I waited for it to fall off the back of a truck."

Kira narrowed her eyes.

"Calm down, I work at a store down the street. They give me discounts on all these kinds of things; that's how I pay rent. Since this house is so rundown, the rent is cheap."

"Okay. You Know I lost my parents before I could talk, I started living alone way younger than..."

"Yeah, I don't remember asking for your life story.

"Sheez, you don't have to be mean about it."

"Why are you still wearing that mask? You said it was for the young one, and there aren't any around, so why don't you take it off?"

"If my boss knew I took it off, I'd be fired on the spot."

"He doesn't have to know."

"How can I trust you won't tell him? I'd rather play it safe. Now I need to see the upstairs."

"There's nothing upstairs—just empty bedrooms."

"It shouldn't take long, then."

Upstairs, Decibolt stood beneath a small attic door.

"What are you doing?" the girl demanded.

"I need to get into the tiny room up there."

"You mean the attic? The only things up there are rats and bats."

"I need to check your wiring."

"Everything works just fine."

"But I need photographic evidence."

"Knock yourself out, but if the rats get you, I can't be held responsible."

The ladder dropped. Decibolt climbed.

Attic

Bats screeched around a black box flashing red.

"That must be it," Hakim said quietly. "It's surrounded by those earth creatures, which seem to be using sound to communicate. My specialty."

A high-pitched sonic wave cleared them instantly. He smashed the box.

"That should do it."

He checked the tracker. "There's definitely a shard in this house; it's in one of the rooms upstairs. I should join their tour so I can see each room."

Back downstairs.

"What do you want now?" the girl snapped.

"I'm done with what I had to do, so I thought I'd join you."

Kira whispered, "Did you find the shard?"

"No, it's in one of these rooms."

"If you haven't found the shard, why did you join us? You just restricted your movement."

"It's better than her finding me snooping around."

"I still don't think you made the right choice."

"We know she has the shard; why don't we just force it out of her?"

"That would be cruel. She hasn't done anything wrong with the shard, and she's around 14. We can't beat up a 14-year-old."

"As you can see, it's as empty as the last two rooms," the girl said.

"There, in that pendant; the shard is in there," Hakim whispered.

She noticed his gaze, casually pocketed it, and walked out.

"Now I'm sure it's in there."

"How do we get it from her?"

"I can use my sonic step."

"Sonic step?"

She stepped back in. "That's one of the moves used by those people who hunt shards. You're not CPS agents, are you? You're just here to steal my friend, mu only family."

"We don't mean you any harm; we just need that shard."

"You may have come here in peace, but I'll make sure you leave in pieces."

She opened the pendant and picked out a shard. "Peb!"

A boy emerged in yellow smoke.

"Heart of stone, give me strength; give me the might of pebble!"

Pebbles crawled across his body.

"Oh, pebble guy!" Molecular Girl said. "I remember him. His category is elemental manipulation, and his combat power is 598. This shouldn't take long.

Peb slammed his feet into the floor, the house groaning as cracks spiderwebbed outward. Stones tore free from beneath the boards, ripping through the ceiling in a violent eruption. A massive cluster of jagged pebbles rose into the air, spinning once before hurtling straight at them.

"I will show you the mightiness of a pebble."

Kira barely had time to react.
"Activate super suit."

At the same instant, Hakim barked, "Summon crystal armor."

Light wrapped around them both. Decibolt thrust his arm forward, releasing a concussive wave of compressed sound. The sonic blast tore into the incoming mass, shattering it midair. Pebbles exploded outward like shrapnel, raining harmlessly against walls and floor.

Molecular Girl didn't hesitate. She launched herself forward, boots cracking tile as she closed the distance in a blur.

"Kinetic punch!"

Her fist slammed into Peb's guard, followed immediately by two more strikes. The first impact detonated against his hastily formed defense, the second spider-cracked it, and the third broke through completely. Peb was thrown backward, skidding across the floor before slamming into the far wall.

"Pebble shield."

Jagged stones snapped together in front of him just in time, absorbing the worst of the blows, but fragments flew off, cutting shallow grooves into the walls.

Peb snarled and slammed his palms into the ground.

"Pebble transformation type I: Pebble monster."

The house screamed.

Pebbles surged up through the broken floor, crawling over his body like a living tide. His silhouette expanded, limbs thickening as stone fused into muscle. When he straightened, he stood nearly twice his original height, his body encased in rough, shifting rock.

"He's now at 606," Molecular Girl said, bracing herself.

Decibolt lifted both hands. "Sonic disc."

Six razor-thin rings of compressed sound ripped through the air. Peb swatted three aside with his right arm, shattering them into ripples of distorted air. The remaining discs slammed into his left side, but he planted his feet and absorbed the impact with a grunt.

Decibolt followed up instantly, unleashing a full sonic blast that slammed into Peb's chest, driving him backward and cracking stone from his torso.

Peb recovered mid-step, scooping loose rubble into his hands and hurling it like a storm. Decibolt twisted and ducked, sound bursts propelling him just out of reach as the pebbles smashed into the walls behind him.

The girl cried out, "Peb!"

"I'm okay," Peb growled. "But they won't be. Pebble transformation type II: Pebble dragon!"

The stone shell detonated outward, then reassembled again, this time elongating. Wings unfurled, a jagged tail snapping behind him as his form reshaped into a massive dragon of living rock.

"His combat power increased to 616," Molecular Girl muttered.

Peb reared back.
"Scorching hot pebble storm!"

The pebbles around him glowed red-hot before blasting forward in a roaring torrent. The air warped with heat.

"Deci cannon!"

Decibolt planted his feet and fired straight into the storm. The sonic beam collided with the molten pebbles, grinding them back inch by inch.

Molecular Girl stepped in, both hands glowing.
"Gravitational Kinesis attack I: Enhanced gravity!"

The force multiplied instantly. Peb's wings buckled as gravity crushed him downward. The floor collapsed beneath his weight, swallowing him as he crashed through to the level below.

She leapt after him.
"Kinetic punch barrage!"

Her fists hammered down relentlessly, each strike driving him deeper, stone cracking, dust exploding with every impact.

"Like I said," she breathed, landing hard, "it didn't take long."

For a moment, silence.

Then rubble shifted.

Peb rose from the dust as the dragon form fell apart, pebbles dropping away until he stood human once more, breathing heavily.

Decibolt narrowed his eyes. "Looks like you're out of tricks."

Peb grinned.
"I beg to differ—Pebble transformation type III!"

Decibolt froze. "There's a third transformation?"

Peb spread his arms wide.
"Legendary Pebble Manipulator!!!"

The ground trembled violently. Every loose stone in the house began to shake, then lift, spinning faster and faster as Peb himself rose into the air, surrounded by a roaring halo of orbiting rock.

His voice echoed unnaturally through the ruins.

"Prepare to leave in pieces."