stuck his spikes into the mouths of the arms, and they exhaled, going limp and dying. Balto hissed with pain as they separated from his body, dropping off of his back and turning to dust. “I must go now,” Equinox said. “I am sorry to leave, actually.” “Thank you, Equinox,” said Jenna. “Yes, thank you,” said Balto. “You saved our lives.” Equinox smiled and shook his head. “No, Balto. You saved your lives. You see, the tools didn’t make you a hero. The tools helped you do the hero’s job. Your love saved your lives.” He closed his eyes. “Now, Necrosis.” A deep, thrumming sound arose, and in the middle of the room, a crack appeared in space itself. Abaddon walked in first, and was thanked by Balto and Jenna on his way out. Then, Equinox stepped in, backwards, so he could watch them as he flew away…

Balto and Jenna watched Equinox speed into the void. As the crack began to close, Balto got an idea. “Can we give them something as a reminder?” Jenna shook the two old collars out of her bandana. “These.” They tossed them in just as the crack sealed.

Equinox appeared back in the industrial building, the floor denting from the concussion caused by the opening wormhole. He looked up and saw Necrosis and Immolator waiting there. “Sorrow failed,” he said. “Balto killed him.” “Very good,” said Necrosis. “Abaddon went off to his lair, a loner as usual.” They were about to leave when a noise came from behind them. Equinox turned around…and knelt, picking up the two collars. “They sent those after you?” asked Immolator. Equinox nodded and walked out of the room, quietly.

That night, Equinox went into his room, standing up to sleep, as he usually did. Only this time, he didn’t go to sleep right away. He stayed awake, staring at the picture of Balto and Jenna that Sorrow had written “LOVE IS EXPLOITABLE” under, which he had taken and nailed onto a vent section in front of where he slept. Below it, on a projection that was used to allow the presence of a grate, sat the two collars. A small, faint light was rigged to illuminate the items, enough so they could be seen, but not enough to keep Equinox awake. “Thank you, my friends,” he whispered, “for helping me to almost understand love.” With that, he allowed himself to drift into sleep…

THE END