The evening Kendra brought Marlin home was odd.

Lights had been going off across the block for days. Tonight, there was a blackout.

Some new ultra gang called 'The Snatchers' trying to rob jewelry stores. Power outs helped them get in and out before the cops could respond.

Daddy was in office and Step-Mommy had gone to the club.

The sound of Kendra's car in the driveway alerted me. I puttered my way over to the door for scritches.

The moment she stepped in, I could smell Marlin.

He smelled wrong.

Blood and darkness and death.

Wrong.

It took me a second to process, by which time he was already in the door.

".... they don't get me at all," Kendra was saying. "And she's just straight-up using him, you know?"

"I hear you," Marlin said. "Oh, is this your dog?"

"Yeah, he's Rufus," Kendra introduced me. "Rufus, say hi to Marlin! He's my friend."

I gave Marlin a wary look. Then barked.

Loudly.

"Rufus! What's gotten into you? Sorry, he's usually pretty friendly."

"That’s okay," Marlin laughed. "Most dogs take time to warm up to people."

"I know, it's just that Rufus gets comfortable pretty fast. We usually joke that if a burglar broke into the house he'd make friends with the guy while he took everything."

Marlin chuckled. "Is that right. So, we standing on the doorstep, or do you invite me in?"

"Oh, sorry! Come on in. We'll grab something from the fridge - ice cream? Better eat it before it melts, I suppose."

I kept a wary eye on Marlin throughout the dinner.

Man was smooth. And I do mean 'man'. Couldn't have been under twenty-five.

Which makes it a bit sleepy that he came over with a seventeen year old.

In fairness, not the first time Kendra did something dumb. Had that been it, I'd have let things be.

But blood and darkness and death.

The nose knows.

So I kept watch.

All was well at first. Kendra chatted about school stuff. Marlin listened.

Then he suggested they go up to the roof. Starry night and all that. Good for stargazing.

Kendra had a starry look in her eyes. Girl you can be extra dumb at times.

I followed.

Kendra gave me a weird look. Normally I nrespext her privacy. This time, not so much. Even her 'shoo!' motions I ignored.

They were on the roof when Marlin put his hand on Kendra's back.

She froze.

I don't mean froze with self-doubt, as most young ladies might in such a situation. I mean paralysis, as in she literally couldn't move.

And just like that, I realized what Marlin was.

Egbert the Supersniffer did an episode on Drainers once. Pretty well researched for a kids cartoon.

Drainers are ultrahumans who suck the life out of people, literally, to power their abilities. Technology related, usually.

The victims are usually young - more power per dose - and the process of draining kills them. As a first step they paralyze the victim, then begin to feed.

They need to maintain physical contact to feed. Break that and the paralysis breaks.

A terrier isn't going to stop a Drainer.

Nor is a Great Dane.

But a reasonably fit twenty year old?

That's a different story.

To say Marlin was surprised when I bodyslammed him would have been an understatement.

He reacted quickly. You don't stay a murderous ultra if you don't know the basics of how to fight.

I was weak, never trained in grappling, never been in a fistfight and spent five years as a lapdog.

Didn't matter.

When your pack is threatened, you give it all you have.

Spent a year on the street. Just because I could shapeshift didn't mean I never got into a fight. Sometimes doggy me took over when I was up against a half-starved Husky.

Dogs go for hamstring, then throat.

Humans don't expect they enemies to bite.

With Marlin's blood flowing doen my jaw, he couldn't do much. Choking on your own blood tends to limit your options.

All things considered, Kendra took the news well.

We had a long talk afterwards.

By the time Daddy got back, I'd shapeshifted again.

Kendra had a long, tearful discussion about how Marlin tried to take advantage of her, then kill her. She fought back and managed to beat him.

Cops were called. Turns out that Marlin had a rap sheet.

The power he used to fuel with Draining?

Plunging city blocks into darkness.

Marlin the mighty. Drainer. Criminal. Murderer. Leader of a gang of jewelry thieves. Nice resume you got there, buddy.

Defeated by a teenage girl with no powers, and her loyal dog.

Made local news for a bit. Dog bites ultrahuman to protect master. Good feelgood stories.

Also made for a great college application essay.

Kendra's going to Harvard next year on a full scholarship. Turns out they like courage. Daddy's proud. Step-Mommy brags about her 'incredibly brave daughter' to her circle of friends.

Rufus is going to Harvard, too.

And maybe, after some of the hubbub has died down, Rufus will pass gently into the night, and Richard will return.

We'll see.