The neon glow of Gotham City flickered in the distance, its shadows stretching far and wide. On a rooftop overlooking the chaos, a dark, mysterious figure stood motionless, his gaze locked on Kei and Ignis below. He observed with a cold intensity, his cape fluttering in the wind.

But the figure's surveillance was cut short. A burst of heat erupted behind him, and before he could react, Ignis's fist connected with his mask, sending him hurtling through a wall. The force left a crater in the ground where he landed.

Ignis, flames flickering around her hands, landed gracefully and growled, "Spying on us, huh? Let's see what you're hiding."

As the dust settled, the figure stirred, clutching his fractured mask. Ignis loomed over him, ready to strike again, but Kei's voice cut through the tension.

Kei, her tone urgent: "Wait! Ignis, stop!"

The fractured mask fell away, revealing a familiar face—one Kei never thought she'd see in this universe. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she took a cautious step forward.

Kei: "Teri...?"

The Revelation

Commander Teri, disoriented but still composed, sat up, brushing rubble from his uniform. His sharp features were unmistakable, his resemblance to Kei and Ignis's old ally startling.

Ignis, flames subsiding, muttered, "What the hell is going on here?"

Teri looked up, his expression torn between frustration and relief. "Kei... Ignis... you're alive."

Kei, still stunned, whispered, "I thought I'd never see you again. What are you doing here? How did you—"

Teri cut her off, his voice heavy with urgency. "It's a long story. But first, you need to know something... about the Time Freezer. He's not just some villain. He's the one who tore apart our realms. And I've been chasing him ever since."

The Time Freezer's True Enemy

As the trio moved to a more secure location, Teri began to recount his journey.

Teri: "After the Time Freezer unleashed that rift, I managed to survive and track him across dimensions. But he didn't stop there. He's been wreaking havoc in every universe he touches, destabilizing worlds and bending time itself."

Kei, still processing, asked, "But why? What's his goal?"

Teri hesitated, his gaze distant. "Power. He wants to control the flow of time across the multiverse. To erase anything or anyone that opposes him. And that includes you two."

Ignis, leaning against a wall, scoffed, "So, he sent us here to get us out of the way?"

Teri nodded. "Exactly. He thought you'd be trapped, unable to find a way back. But I've been tracking him ever since. I managed to corner him and..."

He trailed off, his voice faltering.

Kei, her voice soft but insistent: "And what?"

Teri looked up, his expression pained. "And I failed to stop him. But I captured him. He's contained—for now. But I don't know how long I can hold him without help. That's why I came here. I was searching for allies, for anyone who could help me bring you two back."

A Sibling's Shadow

As Teri's story unfolded, Kei couldn't help but remember the name of the one person who connected all of them—Teri's older brother, General Kael.

Kei, quietly: "Teri... does Kael know what's happened? Does he know you're here?"

Teri's face darkened at the mention of his brother. He stood, pacing. "Kael... he doesn't know. I couldn't tell him. He'd try to stop me."

Ignis, crossing her arms, added, "Or worse, he'd try to take control. You know how he is."

Teri sighed. "Kael's methods are... different. He's always been about strategy and control, never about taking risks. But this—" He gestured around them. "This fight needs risks. We're dealing with forces beyond anything Kael's ever faced."

Kei, placing a hand on Teri's shoulder, said firmly, "We'll find a way to stop this, together. But first, we need to figure out how to get back to our universe."

The Plan

Teri pulled out a small, glowing device from his belt—a temporal anchor.

Teri: "This is our ticket back. I've been calibrating it to the rift's energy signature. But it's not enough on its own. We'll need to amplify its power."

Ignis, with a smirk, said, "Let me guess. That's where we come in?"

Teri, nodding: "Exactly. There's a temporal conduit hidden somewhere in this city—an ancient artifact that can boost the anchor's range. But it's heavily guarded, and we'll need to move quickly. The longer we stay here, the more vulnerable we become."

Kei, determination in her eyes: "Then let's not waste any time. We'll find the conduit and get back to our universe. And when we do, we'll finish this fight—together."

The Shadow of Kael

As they prepared to set out, Teri lingered behind, staring at the fractured mask in his hands. Kei noticed and paused, her voice soft.

Kei: "You're worried about him, aren't you?"

Teri, his voice low: "Kael always thought I was reckless. That I couldn't handle responsibility. If he knew what I've done—what I've failed to do..."

Kei, stepping closer, said, "You've done more than anyone could ask, Teri. Kael may not understand, but we do. And we'll see this through. Together."

Teri managed a small smile. "Thank you, Kei. Let's make this count."

To Be Continued...