At the site of the attack, amongst the residual smoke and fiery rubble, a small army of reporters from multiple publications descended upon the smoldering ruins. The Daily Saturn reporters were among them on the scene, getting eyewitness accounts. Monica completed her interview with a victim of the attack in time to rush to Delia as she finished hers with Ginger. Ready to compare notes.

  “Well?” Monica asked.

  “I was right again. The knight saved over a dozen necks. Just like all the other times over the last month.”

  “Chief Ginger, confirms it?”

  Delia nodded. ”And you?”

  “Multiple witnesses can corroborate. I guess he’s a hero?” Monica surrendered a slight laugh.

  “Who’s crazy now, my friend?” Delia shot Monica a proud grin.

  “I’m woman enough to admit when I’m wrong.”

  “Aces. Now, let’s get this story printed before the competition.”

  “Agreed, but what do you think the knight’s doing right now?” Monica rubbed her chin. “Saving a cat from a tree?”

  “If I had to guess, probably kicking his feet up and relaxing maybe with a drink. Enjoying a good day’s work.”

  ***

  Daniel ran up to a large office building. And as he saw the time on another clock tower, he grew a smile.

  “Yes, I beat the clock with ten minutes to spare." Daniel quickly ran into the office building.

  An hour later, the office’s guards guided Daniel out of the building as he looked dead inside, slowly walking away and pushing over a garbage can as he brushed past it, not angry but apathetic to the world around him. He continued his journey until he reached his new home. Daniel arrived at Karen’s apartment building like a member of the living dead, dragging his feet. But he bumped into his neighbor Keiko, a Japanese woman of seventy, breaking him out of it. However, her heart stopped momentarily as she saw the soulless expression on Daniel's face.

  “Daniel? Has something happened to you?”

  “Just the usual Keiko depression and disappointment.”

  “Did another employer reject you?”

  Daniel nodded.

  “Oh, sweet boy, that's terrible.” Keiko gently brushed her hand against Daniel’s cheek.

  “I just want to go to bed and sleep for a day or two.”

  “If it's any consolation, I have my problems. That daughter of mine refuses to visit me with my grandchildren.” Keiko groaned. “I’m seventy years old. How much time does she think I have left?”

  “No way, you're seventy? All this time, I thought you were in your mid-twenties, at most,” Daniel said, a bit of life returning to his voice.

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  Keiko giggled as she heard Daniel, playfully pinching his cheek. But Daniel soon left, cracking a small smile. He reached the door to his and Karen’s apartment. And quickly entered it, seeing Karen engrossed in a book with her face framed by her circular reading glasses as she lay on the couch.

  Glancing up from her book, Karen noticed Daniel. “Evening, love. How was your day?”

  “Karen, I’m going to shower, and then I’m going to bed.”

  “To bed? But it just turned five.”

  Daniel uttered a loud groan. “Karen, they turned me down because of my record again.”

  “Oh no. But don't worry, we'll have to be thrifty, but we can survive off my job and a little borrowed money from Sharon.”

  Daniel’s features hardened, punching the wall, and denting it.

  ”Even if that's true, I still hate living off my girl,” Daniel shouted.

  As Daniel looked at Karen, he saw judgmentalness on her face and took a deep breath.

  “I’m sorry I lost my temper. It's just that I feel like such a loser. But do me a favor and focus on your teacher's degree and the class tonight, okay?”

  As Karen heard Daniel, the judgmental look on her face hastily became a sultry smile.

  “Tonight's class got canceled. So I’m free for quite a few hours.” Karen sat up, crossing her legs on the couch. “Any ideas about what I should do with that time?”

  Daniel grew a smile as he realized what Karen meant. He hurried over, gently removing her glasses as he made out with her like the wind. He ran his hands down her back to her butt cheeks, squeezing them tightly. Karen erupted into laughter as she felt his hands. Hastily Daniel took Karen up by the butt as she happily clung to her lover. Daniel carried her to their bedroom, throwing her on the bed. And he lay on Karen, restraining her as he had his way.

  ***

  Daniel and Karen snuggled in bed as they slept together in the night. Daniel in boxer shorts and Karen in a short silk nighty. But the couple awoke as they smelled smoke. And as they hurried out, they gazed in horror as they saw their home engulfed in green fire.

  "Karen, quick, help me get our—"

  Daniel turned pale white as he saw Karen staring at the flames with a soulless expression as tears flowed from her eyes. He waved his hand and snapped his fingers before her face, but she didn’t react. Hastily, he realized her body was beside him, but her mind was somewhere he couldn’t begin to guess. But short on time, Daniel quickly grabbed her hand, dragging her back into their bedroom.

  As the apartment started to collapse, he quickly zoomed back out. Jumping to a wall, smashing through it with Karen and a big suitcase in his arms. And as they landed on a nearby rooftop, Daniel gently put her down.

  "Williams, it's an ambush. Get to the others, and I'll lay the suppressive fire," Karen whispered.

  Daniel looked at Karen terrified as he saw her talking to herself. He pondered, was she going mad? And, if so, was there anything he could do to help? But before he could think of a solution, he spotted the rest of the apartment building engulfed in the green fire. Daniel quickly opened the suitcase and found his armor to put on for action. However, he stopped as he looked back at Karen, shivering in fear.

  Daniel looked between Karen and the apartment building vigorously. He breathed heavily. And he hit his head on his helmet, contemplating what to do. Aid his lover first or the innocent people of the apartment building? Either option would take precious, perhaps lifesaving time, from the other. Still, with a heavy heart, he made his decision.

  "If you can understand me, I'm sorry, angel. I have to help everyone in the building first. But I won't linger one second longer."

  Daniel quickly donned his armor, hurrying to the apartment building. But before he left, he glanced back at Karen. Ensuring she was safe, he jumped down to help.

  ***

  The apartment building was a massive pile of smoldering rubble in the morning. The residents gazed at the destruction, horrified at their loss of money, material possessions, and, worst of all, irreplaceable memories as emergency workers covered the scene.

  Daniel and Karen stood by Keiko as the EMTs put her in an ambulance.

  "Get well soon, Miss Yukimura," Karen said.

  "Frankly, I'm disappointed the valiant knight was around to save me. I was looking forward to death."

  "Keiko, you'll outlive us all," Daniel said jokingly.

  Keiko waved Daniel and Karen goodbye as the EMTs finished loading her into the ambulance and driving off.

  Daniel turned his gaze to the ruins of the apartment building, his features hardening. "Karen, I'm so sorry for leaving you alone on that rooftop."

  Karen hugged Daniel. "I hold no grudges, love. War forces soldiers to make difficult decisions. And we are soldiers in a dire war."