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~ Boston, Massachusetts
Planet Earth ~

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A man of average height and build was standing in his penthouse on the top floor. The city lights glittered remarkably against his short red hair, beaming in his amber brown eyes.

Red lines bled across his wings the hue and color of the ametrine gemstone. The radiance of amethyst and citrine was a clash of purple and orange reminescent of the sparkly planet called Iredescent.

The red lines dripped onto the floor, though the wound on his shoulder was already healed. Scarlet red shimmered on his ivory skin devoid of freckles, mimicking the scarlet red of his hair.

The lights refracted on his suit comprised of the darkest shade of purple, which was the color the Iredescent people wore to funerals and when they mourned the dead. Thin shimmery, hot pink thread peered from within the dark midnight purple fabric, as if silently challenging the city lights that dared to glare in accusation, though the man was unshaken.

His suit was torn from a small test explosion that injured him but slightly. Though his body was scraped on the shoulder and his wings were sliced from the sharp scrapels of pink gemstone material, a smile emerged upon the remembrance of another success.

I'll be able to launch it soon. I won't be defenseless, even against powerful Iredescents and irangels.

Including the Black Rose and the creator of irangels.

In just a few months, his job position elevated from an unknown perfume chemist to a wealthy businessman known all over the world, unaware of his secret weapons, the true façade that he hid beneath a luminuous array.

His business? Creating wing shops and perfume fragrances.

His name? Gemini Ruadan.

When his former boss had sent him to planet Iredescent for information on rare plant life, to use the knowledge to create intriguing new fragrances, Gemini sought to learn more about the alien planet and its people, indulging himself in Iredescent culture and way of life. Entranced by Iredescent's beauty, Gemini began to covet, wanting the sparkles for himself.

Sinister ideas formed in his mind as Gemini presumed that he could make money off the planet, starting by selling flowers from planet Iredescent, and secretly testing fragrances, before he created 'wing shops' where humans can turn into Iredescents.

The phrase – "Anyone can become an Iredescent" – became Gemini's marketing pitch that drove his business, hiding the murderous truth of Iredescent trafficking, of killing Iredescent people to use their blood to turn humans into Iredescents.

From the very first sight of planet Iredescent, Gemini became fascinated with the sparkly planet. He thought the Iredescent people were the most beautiful human-like lifeforms in the galaxy, so much that he wanted to become an Iredescent.

But alas, he was human, and the knowledge to turn a human into an Iredescent was forbidden. Nobody knew the knowledge except for the Ruler of Iredescent, the Phoenixes, and of course, the creator of irangels.

So Gemini kidnapped, trafficked, killed, and shipped dead Iredescents to planet Earth, along with their blood, wings, and fins. He brought them to a secret lab he disguised as a perfume factory and had them studied meticulously by a secret team of scientists.

After learning how to turn humans into Iredescents via Iredescent blood and n-r element, Gemini turned himself into an irangel. He then allowed anyone to become an irangel, sharing the knowledge with managers of wing shops: the places that allowed humans to turn into Iredescents.

Wing shops were built all around the world, encouraging people to become Iredescents. Every person was given a free perfume sample, and every person received the diamond gem logo on their bodies, directly above the Iredescent birthmark that formed after receiving their irangel bodies.

This indicated Gemini's heightened control, of his claim over the Iredescent people. It set a new mark in humanity, running deeper than the groove Tori Nichok had set into place. Tori had set the marker, but Gemini extended the marker into a line, paving the road for alternate humanity, a humanarchy of sort.

And so, his morally abhorrent business grew. Gemini became world-famous for providing humans the opportunity that Demian hadn't: the opportunity for anyone to turn into an Iredescent, not just a select few.

They called themselves 'Iredescents' instead of the correct term 'irangels' that referred to humans who turned into Iredescents. This was done intentionally to confuse people, though the diamond gem logo would be the true indicator of a person's planet of origin and nationality.

It was just a matter of time before real Iredescent people would come to investigate.

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It was nighttime when Tal's ship appeared in Earth's atmosphere, hovering over the northern hemisphere of the United States. The air traffic had significantly increased due to hovercars that became the newer form of transportation, as did the most startling form.

"WHAT! What the galaxy is going on?!" Cole exclaimed upon looking out the window and seeing newly turned irangels, flying with their new wings or swimming with their new fins. "Is this for real? But how?! Demian and I made sure nobody learned how to turn people into irangels."

"Apparently someone else is turning people into irangels," said Sailesh, joining Cole at the window. He watched as a black merman jumped out of the water, exposing his glistening green fin, before diving back into the sea, swimming near the harbor city. "Either that, or some Iredescents have moved to planet Earth."

"No, there would be credentials and such," Tal said carefully, his usual playful manner shelved away. "There hasn't been anyone that moved to planet Earth from planet Iredescent; they only went to visit."

"And that was around a hundred or so people, not like, an entire thousand or more, from what we're seeing," said Quidore.

"These people paid money to turn into irangels; they didn't turn into irangels for free," said Eignor, the realization dawning on him like the stretches of golden sunrise on the black horizon. "Whoever is doing this, is doing it for profit."

"That sickens me," said Cole, gathering his hands into fists, his anger already at its boiling point. "Whoever this greedy, sick bastard – "

Seeing Cole was about to erupt like a volcano, Tal suggested, "Let's jump a glittering wing or a sparkling fin and ask whom they paid."

"We need to search for answers and investigate," Eignor agreed, landing the ship atop a skyscraper. "Quidore and I will remain on the ship. The rest of you, seek out the exploiter. Keep in contact via the gliss."

The gliss were small, glittery black communication devices that attached onto the ear, cleverly disguised as an earring.

Tal tapped gently on his gliss, making sure it was secured, before waving and flying out of the ship. Cole immediately followed, seething as he flew with purpose. Vragden and Sailesh went next.

Zvizda finished zipping her metallic jacket and was about to head out when she noticed Elurõõm hadn't even risen from his seat.

Elurõõm finished a cup of tea and set it on the counter, looking at it interestingly. "That's some pretty good tea," he said, impressed.

"Elurõõm, are you even aware of the atrocious events and our objective?" Zvizda asked, her arms crossed as she narrowed her eyes at the officer.

"Someone is turning people into Iredescents....for profit," Elurõõm responded, completely calm and unruffled. "And we're going to find who is behind this atrocity."

"Then let's go," said Zvizda, yanking Elurõõm by the arm.

Stars, were those Iredescent people in for a surprise.

Irangels received surmountable attention from people all over the world. Despite the fact they came from select countries, irangels have gained fandom on the entire planet. People idolized, admired, loved, or hated irangels.

The fight between Valerie and Desmond had brought irangels to a higher popularity, capturing the moment when Desmond called Valerie the Black Rose. The name became well-known and iconic, especially after Valerie was later revealed as Iredescent's Black Rose.

The release of a new Barbie doll called 'the Black Rose' spread the irangel image to the younger audience. The Black Rose became a symbol of something different, rare, unique, out-of-worldly.

Lamborghini came up with a new car model designed by a Black Rose enthusiast. It was a cutting-edge design that increased their own popularity, as well as that of the Black Rose.

Other car companies followed suit, with BMW, Acura, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, Volkswagen, Audi, Mitsubishi, and Mazda portraying rose designs on the doors and wheels. The Black Viper became a new motorcycle, influenced by the Black Rose and released by Ducati.

Both young and old knew of the mysterious Black Rose and the turned superhuman beings known as irangels. Though they were loved and admired by most, the irangels were outcasts and rejects in the human world. Tension caused much strain between those who admired the irangels and those who hated the irangels.

Gemini's wing shops destroyed much of the tension by giving humans the once-forbidden chance to become Iredescent. Until then, it was assumed only a lucky few were able to become Iredescent. Now, everyone had that opportunity.

However, that opportunity came with a terrible cost: Iredescent life.

Unaware that Iredescents were being kidnapped and killed for their blood, humans eagerly bought into the wing ships, unknowingly supporting the corruption and deceit that lay behind the corporation's sparkly façade. And the irangels were unaware, having just recently discovered how different planet Earth was from when they last left it.

The Iredescent officers and the original irangel stared at the city streets and the sights, feeling as though they had just walked into a futuristic world that wasn't Earth, but was Earth.

Cars were outdated, sold as vintage models for luxury travel, and hovercars dominated the air. Even as the irangels had been living on planet Iredescent, people on planet Earth were slowly transitioning to hovercars. Now it seemed, the transition was complete.

"What an overflow of glitter," Vragden murmured, raising a hand to shield his eyes from a dress that was so flashy it was reminiscent of camera flashes, a nonstop blink dance array that left the viewer mesmerized.

"Stars, how does she move in that tight dress?" Zvizda remarked, crossing her arms as she looked disapprovingly at the tight silver dress that barely covered the essentials.

"Way too short," Tal agreed, turning his attention to the hot pink wings that were so bright it made him think, If Barbie had wings....

Like Tinkerbell, Cole thought, scowling in annoyance. We should be focused on our mission, not staring at some blonde in a miniskirt. "We're splitting up," Cole said, taking Elurõõm and Sailesh with him.

Glitter Girl's camera flashing dress flickered silver sparkles like a disco ball as she moved, dancing at the street corner. Her dance slowed when she saw the three Iredescents walk towards her, their faces a blended painting of curious question, intrigue, caution, and amazement.

Intrigue stepped forward, followed closely by caution, whose gaze was swallowed by bewildered amazement from passersby, while the face of curious question lingered behind, on the lookout for any nearby danger.

Vragden blinked, the footsteps of intrigue gliding into purpose, as he approached Glitter Girl. Caution didn't stray from Zvizda, while Tal remained watchful but bearing curious questions.

"Hey, Glitter Girl. Where did you get your wings?" Vragden asked Glitter Girl, curling his wings inwards so he would appear less intimidating.

A slow, flirty smile proved that Glitter Girl was immune to Vradgden's intimidation. "A wing shop, of course." The smile lengthened, revealing sparkly white teeth. "That's got to be the trendiest pick-up line."

"What is a wing shop?" Zvizda asked, caution turning into alert awareness.

Glitter Girl looked at Zvizda as if she was from Mars. "What do you mean? How else do you get wings other than a wing shop? Unless...." Realization appeared on her face. "You're native Iredescents."

Tal stepped in, saying, "Look, if you're not going to tell us, then we'll just Google the location of the nearest wing shop and find out that way."

"What's Google?" Zvizda asked, astounding Glitter Girl and making Vragden roll his eyes.

"Zviz darling," Tal said in a calming tone, trying to keep the annoyance under control. He loved Zvizda, but sometimes her blatant naivety of Earth culture made him want to face palm. "If you don't learn the majority of Earth culture by the end of this trip...."

Glitter Girl's magenta pink eyes widened in amusement. "Wow, you really are clueless. A wing shop is a place where you can turn into an Iredescent. There's one in every city."

"Could you please take us to one?" Tal asked, wanting to get to the clear of things.

Glitter Girl sidled up to Vragden, running a hand on his chest. "Only if this guy goes on a date with me," she said, flashing a flirtatious glance at him.

Vragden tried to back away, but Glitter Girl held onto his arm, smiling up at him like a lovestruck admirer. Vragden looked at the others as if to say, Is this really happening to me?

"But I don't want to go on a date," Vragden told Glitter Girl.

"Too bad. I've got my sight set on you," said Glitter Girl.

"I've already got my sight set on an Iredescent girl," Vragden tried, hoping to somehow get himself out of the situation; however, Glitter Girl said, "But I'm a glitter girl, and I want you."

Zvizda widened her eyes in astonishment, and Tal was having a hard time hiding a smile.

Vragden murmured, "Betrayers" before saying, "Well then, Glitter Girl, let's get this date over with."

"My name is Brittany Dean," said Glitter Girl, twirling strands of her long platinum blonde hair. "And I shall call you – "

"Vragden," Vragden said hastily, not wishing for her to call him anything but his name. "Vragden Cherkof. Otherwise known as the Iredescent Dracula." He scowled at her, trying once more to discourage her, but Glitter Girl was undiscouraged.

As the two flew off on their date, one eager one reluctant, pleasant chuckles followed the Iredescents as they headed elsewhere.

Alarm sprung upon sight of the horrid evidence that confirmed Gemini's influential power. Turns out Vragden didn't need a date to learn that the wing shops were a corrupt business.

That the wing shops used Iredescent blood to turn human people into Iredescents.

The people were never told the source of Iredescent blood, making the public believe it was 'special ingredients derived from the moon' and therefore presenting a supposedly valid, though suitably invalid, lie.

No 'special ingredient' could mimic the exact consistency and design, nor could it hide the truth that it was Iredescent blood rather than artificial chemical components that gave the ability to change a human's entire body to that of an Iredescent body.

Cole was so furious that he slammed the wing shop owner against the wall, demanding to know who owned the wing shops. The terrified wing shop owner told him a man named Gemini Ruadan owned all the wing shops in the world. He also told him that Gemini became the wealthiest businessman in the world because of his wing shop business.

Sailesh immediately used his comect to locate Gemini Industries, the corporation building facility that founded the wing shops. Cole had the wing shop burned to the ground before he teleported himself and his companions to the city of Boston in Massachusetts, using the picture of Gemini Industries as a reference.

Cole glared at the building that appeared like a jewel in skyscraper land. The purplish golden dawn sky illuminated the building, making the light purple and orange stand out even more in the day than it did in the night. The building was literally shaped like an ametrine diamond, with elaborate amber glass piping ascending the building and releasing Gemini's signature fragrance every hour.

Gemini's signature fragrance was a pleasant, masculine blend of bergamot, lavandin, tonka bean, and cedarwood. People nicknamed his building "the Abercrombie and Fitch store of Perfume Avenue" because it always smelled like his fragrance.

Though the building was quite impressive, Cole hated it, knowing what it stood for and what foul business lay within those shimmery walls that cloaked deception.

Cole contacted Eignor, asking him to fly the ship towards his location. Elurõõm and Sailesh waited with Cole, carefully keeping an eye on Gemini Industries.

Their keen patience was rewarded when they finally saw a man walk out of the building, escorted by five men in black. Gemini's security men, Cole assumed, his eyebrows narrowing as he took in the man's appearance, wondering at his dark purple attire.

That man must be the owner of Gemini Industries, Sailesh thought, recognizing his face from the photo on the Internet.

"Hey Cole," Sailesh started to say. "I think that's – "

Cole immediately teleported, believing Sailesh, though he needed further verification. Cole reappeared in the sky directly above the men in black, startling them with his outstretched wings, and releasing bolts of electricity that zapped them like an electric fly swatter.

Like zapped flies, the men in black dropped to the ground, an instant knock-out that left the last man standing in a state of shocked perplexity. Before he could defend himself, arms grabbed him roughly and teleported them both to the ship.

Eignor and Quidore jumped in alarm, reaching for their eneres. Cole threw the man on the floor before he seized his shirt collar in an iron grip, his sneakered shoe keeping him on the ground.

"Who are you?" Cole asked, his voice a cold dagger in the winter night. His stern blue eyes watched the man's every move, every line of his body poised as if ready to fight.

"Gemini Ruadan, the owner of Gemini Industries," the man stammered, too startled to hold onto dignity. Pride wasn't his strong suit, anyway. "Who might you be?" 

Of course, Cole thought ruefully. They all know the Black Rose and the creator of irangels, but they don't recognize an original irangel's face when they see one.

"What kind of name is Gemini?" Cole barked in a menacing tone. "And what the hell is Gemini Industries? ANSWER ME!" Cole shouted, pressing him to the floor.

A sliver of morning sunlight dawned upon his red hair and amber skin as Gemini stared at Cole, his eyes as bright as the sun. With the dawn came the truth. "You're an Iredescent."

"One of the irangel leaders, to be exact," Quidore felt the need to advise, causing Gemini's eyes to widen like the sunrays that stretched over the skyline.

"Cole Matthews," Gemini said in realization, no longer stammering. He spoke coherently, his voice dipped in amazement as he looked upon the irangel leader. "You're not just an Iredescent; you're one of the original irangels. The very first original, before Demian – "

He found himself staring into the barrel of an alien weapon that could very well end his life. Cole kept the enere focused on Gemini as he continued in a menacing tone, "If you do not answer my questions in the next forty-five seconds, I will end your existence with this bullet lodged in your skull."

"Actually, it's an enere," Eignor informed him. "Eneres don't shoot bullets; they vaporize people."

That statement was more than enough to convince Gemini to start speaking, quite rapidly as the Iredescents noticed.

"I'm Gemini Ruadan, owner of Gemini Industries, a facility that mixes the ingredients necessary to create wings or fins and sparkly skin, allowing humans to turn into Iredescents," Gemini said in a rush, clearly terrified.

"Clever name for your industry. Such a gem," Eignor said sarcastically, taking the enere from Cole.

"What ingredients?" Cole said, his voice sinister from the menacing tone he used earlier. It was darker than night, just a step away from killer. His fist was grinding so hard into Gemini's chest it was hurting him, but Cole cared more for a wandering ant than he did Gemini's comfort.

"Demian and I made sure nobody knew the technology of turning a human into an Iredescent. So how did you learn that technology? And for what sick reason did you publicize it for? Answer me!"

"Trade secret," Gemini said wryly. He yelped in pain when Cole electrocuted him, hard enough to cause him severe pain, but not enough to knock him out.

"Tell me now." Cole's eyes were merciless, his voice deadly.

Gemini saw there was no other option. He was surrounded by Iredescents, all of them more powerful than him. They had superhuman abilities; Gemini did not have a superhuman ability. However, he held a different power of his own, something the result of a creative mind despite not having a superhuman ability.

Gemini's eyes returned to Cole after glancing briefly at Eignor's enere, the intelligence in his denim blue-tinged dark brown eyes, and the seafoam green aura that indicated Quidore's healing ability.

He had no doubt that Cole would kill him soon as he found out he was the man responsible for Iredescent trafficking and murders, the man responsible for willfully shedding blood for profit. That the wing shops were blood money, supporting innocent deaths to increase a man's billionaire status. From the look in Cole's eyes, he assumed the man already knew, or at least suspected it, and was just wanting him to say it to his face. To admit the sins he kept committing with absolutely no remorse.

His body was on the floor, his arms pinned firmly to his sides, as Cole kept him down, pressed so hard to the floor that it was starting to hurt his back and wing muscles. Keeping his wings materialized, Gemini stealthily reached into his own pants pocket, feeling the secret weapon within his grasp.

Keeping his eyes locked with Cole's, Gemini spoke deliberately as he slowly moved the object from his pocket, keeping his hand enclosed around it, and making sure he didn't touch Cole in the slightest.

"You know the saying – money makes the world go round. My reformed version of that is – money makes the world go round, but it is blood that brings life to being." Gemini smirked sardonically, making Cole choke him harder. "I was the one who created wing shops and made money off your planet. Because of my efforts, I am richer than the world's wealthiest CEO."

A cruel grin appeared on his face, fueling Cole's fury as he began sparking, ready to surge with a killing electric stroke. "And I....I will bring your planet to my knees."

Spritz.

The dawn light shattered into a shower of fragranced liquid droplets that smelled strongly of valerian. Startled from the unexpected onslaught of perfume spray, Cole coughed and let go in surprise, his eyes burning as though from acid contact.

The tall cylindrical bottle was empty, though the valerian scent lingered. The enere clattered to the ground as the fragrance reached Eignor, his breathing wheezy as he began to feel light-headed from the heavily concentrated perfume. Eignor passed out promptly, just seconds after Cole lost consciousness.

Only Quidore was unaffected, his healing ability keeping him immune from illnesses and ailments, including surprise knock-out fragrance.

Springing to his feet, Gemini flung the emergency door and jumped out, using his wings to escape. By the time Quidore dashed to the door, Gemini had disappeared and was out of sight.

After he aired out any remainder of the fragrance via the ship's air ventilator system, Quidore returned to Cole and Eignor, using his healing ability to rouse them to consciousness. He handed each man a glass of water, asking, "You ok? What happened?"

Cole leaned against the wall, trying to breathe steadily. "He sprayed something at me. It looked like a small perfume bottle and smelled like strong valerian. I felt it weaken me, as if – "

"As if the perfume was specifically designed to weaken your ability," Quidore said in realization.

Eignor drank another glass of water, still feeling the effects of the perfume spray. "What do we do?" he asked, directing the question at Cole, but Cole passed out again.

"We return to planet Iredescent," said Quidore, picking up Cole and taking him to the sleeping area. "You get some rest. I'll fly the ship after we retrieve the others."

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~ Planet Iredescent ~

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Upon return to planet Iredescent, the Iredescents were sent home while Cole was placed in a care unit at a hospital in Auraglen.

Demian stood watch over Cole as he slept, feeling the heavy weight of responsibility from what had happened to his irangel brother. Restlessness disturbed him, even after Demian placed calming thoughts in Cole's mind, encouraging him to dream of sparkling snow over a scenic landscape, chamomile tea, books, and a warm fireplace.

First was the horror behind Gemini's wing shops, a horror that revealed the identity of the murderer that claimed the lives of innocent Iredescent people. Then was the perfume onslaught that uncovered more than secret corruption.

The perfume was specifically designed to weaken the ability of an irangel and an Iredescent.

Gemini had taken the perfume bottle with him, but Elurõõm had covertly stolen some fragrance samples from Gemini Industries while Sailesh caused a diversion by pretending to stumble in the lobby. The fragrance samples were studied meticulously. Though nothing suspicious was found, the Phoenix and the irangel leaders distrusted the fragrance, burning it shortly after inspection and study.

The royal medic, Natusan Sushila, informed Demian that floron irritants were found in his system. Inhaling the substances in the perfume caused the n-r element in Cole's blood to counteract itself, shutting down its own components, and therefore rendering the temporary deployment of his ability.

"Too much perfume and he would've been weakened for weeks. Luckily, it was just a spritz. He'll recover after a few days," Natusan told Demian.

"Thank you, Natusan," Demian said quietly in relief.

After Natusan left the room, Demian walked over to the window blinds. He looked past the stripes, peering through the horizontal lines that cast the shimmery aqua green hospital room in hues of light and dark. His gaze pierced through the night, as though he could see the enemy on the other side, peering from another window, a dark midnight purple suit that covered a cruel heart.

Cole was lucky it was just knockout perfume. Had it been killer perfume....

A plan quickly formed in his mind as Demian considered such a dreadful possibility. He thought over all the options until one stood out, becoming a cohesive plan he intended to implement. The weight fell, alleviating some of the heaviness of responsibility.

The creator of irangels continued to stand, facing the window that mirrored the frame of the most dangerous opponent from a faraway planet.

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Music:

"Humanarchy"
by Circle of Dust

"Chrome"
by The Anix

"Neophyte (Instrumental)"
by Circle of Dust

"Fire in our Hearts (Cinematic Edit)"
by Arston vs. Swanky Tunes

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