Previously, on Verthaven...

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5:24 PM.

Local cable televisions all over Verthaven were broadcasting, you guessed it, Reporter Molly Schuler was standing in front of a large and elegant building. She was standing on the stairs of the building, wearing a black suit with a red dress shirt under it. She was holding a microphone in hand.

"Hello, this is Reporter Molly Schuler, and this is the news. It has been approximately two weeks since the revelation of NEST's involvement on the attack on the Festival, and their associations with groups known as the Hands of Science, and the Changeling Unit, have been exposed to the world. Metahumans, and their sympathizers, all over the states, far as Black Fall, have been outraged." The screen changed to footage of people protesting outside the NEST base in Black Fall. Shouting, and waving signs up and down saying "PROTECT US", and variations of the message.

"Tensions have been rising as public opinion of NEST has taken a downward spiral. Many have outright sworn to refuse monthly checkups, and have been encouraging others to do the same. Along with many Metahumans going to immense lengths to get their registration chips removed, or disabled, through illegal, and highly dangerous, methods. All while NEST is going through a major internal investigation to uncover the extent of Miranda Caryl's, who rests in NEST custody as we speak, involvement. NEST Headquarters is still undergoing repairs. Many NEST Agents are still out of action, and the Verthaven branch of NEST is undermanned. To help bring order to the city, many Agents from other cities have been transferred."

Molly nodded her head, and caught her breath as she moved onto the next branch of news. "Gruesome attacks on citizens have been reported from all over the city. People have been found in alleyways, and other less populated areas savagely attacked by what appears to be monsters. Mostly the homeless, and wanderers. Survivors have stated that they have been attacked by "monsters". The attacks appear to be linked to the erratic rain patterns that have been going on. NEST is looking into this as we speak. Gang violence in the Estella Isle have also been on an increase, as gangs move into the territory left behind by the Fiends, who have all but been eliminated. Police activity in the area have been on an increase, and there have been talks about imposing Martial Law on the city. Every law enforcement Agency in Verthaven is doing all they can so that it doesn't have to come down to that. So far, they are making progress, we can only hope things will get better."

Looking off to the side as a tall man in a suit with black hair walked up the stairs. "Now, I am at the Sequester's Grand Hall, where NEST have decided to host their impromptu Charity Ball & Garden Party. Where they plan on regaining public favor by raising money to help build new cheap and affordable housing in Union Point Hills, and raise money to help those who have been lost during the conflict with the Fiends, and Hands of Science. For ten dollars, you can help raise money, and participate in the social event. Which features dancing, entertainment, and free food and drinks."

"That is Molly Schuler with the news. I'll see you at the ball."

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"Mom, we look like a pair of sterotypes with this on..." Meifeng groaned in her native language as she sat firmly upon the stool in Lihua's bedroom. With her mother standing right behind her, adjusting her Cheongsam (Ignore the pretty lady), a beautiful dress with flower patterns. Seemingly a dress perfect for Meifeng. Color and style and everything. Her bare feet were touching the carpet, she moved them to lightly tap the bright-red dress shoes with Chinese flowers embroidered onto the side.

"Oh, shush, you look amazing in that dress..." Lihua retorted in Chinese. Standing over her daughter in a similar, but blue, Choengsam. Already prepared and tighty. Wearing black heels that brought her up a few inches. Most notably, she had a massive bruise on her forehead, which she would pause for a moment and put ice to. She zipped up the back of Meifeng's dress, and she reached over to the side and grabbed a brush. Before she started brushing Meifeng's hair. "And you ruined the dress that you oh so insisted I buy for you going to that stupid party...." Lihua groaned, rolling her eyes up into her head.

"Hey, what?!" Meifeng pivoted, and looked back at her mom. Lihua stopped brushing her hair.

"... Mika told me. Everything. Especially that fight you got in." Lihua off-handedly said, gently putting her hands on Meifeng's shoulders, and turning her body forward. "... Bet you really wished you restrained yourself there." Lihua said in reference to a certain malfunction Meifeng went through at the party.

Eyes firmly pressed shut, as the embarrassment of that moment flashed before her eyes. She muttered something underneath her breath in Chinese.

"Besides... you owe me for wacking me in the head with your bo staff...." Lihua groaned as the pain of her bruise sharpened.

"I said I'm sorry!" Meifeng said.

"And I said you should wear this dress." Lihua retorted. "Alright, I'm done." Lihua said, as she put her brush down, and Meifeng hopped up, and faced her. "You look great." Lihua complimented her.

Almost reflexively, Meifeng looked away. "... Except for these scars." Meifeng said, putting fingers to her healed wound, and shuddering. "I look ."

Lihua put her hands on Meifeng's shoulders. She wanted to look her in the face, but Meifeng was still looking away. Letting out a sigh. "Meifeng, we all get scars. You remember everything I told you. You got those scars for doing the right thing. Anyone who thinks less of you is merely unimportant."

Meifeng managed to pull her head around, and look Lihua in the eyes. Shrugging. "I guess."

Before Lihua could respond, the doorbell rang, and she whipped her head around. "Oh, Cindy's here."

Lihua quickly stepped out the room, and walked into a room off to the side. Decorated with infant furniture, a dresser, a toybox, several toys lying around, and a crib, which Lihua walked up to. Sitting down in the crib was none other than her infant, Lijuan. Wearing sky blue pajamas, with a cap. Lihua lifted her up by her sides, and took a good look at her. Lijuan responded by smiling widely. She didn't quite look like Lihua, unlike Meifeng. It might have been the fact that she was biracial. She had features from her father that balanced out the genes she got from Lihua. She put her arm underneath Lijuan's bottom, with her legs hanging, and pressed a hand to her back to hold her up. As she stepped out the room, and slowly walked towards the door.

While Lihua was grabbing Lijuan, Meifeng was doing something equally important... getting the door. Meifeng quickly ran down the stairs, and walked up to the door. Unlocking it, and pulling it open to reveal an African-American girl that was around her age with glasses, braces, wearing a vest with a striped green shirt underneath it, and jean shorts.

"Hey, Cindy."

"Meifeng, you look nice!" Cindy said with a smile, as her eyes were on Meifeng's dress. They wandered upwards to her facial scar, and she let out an, "Oh."

Meifeng rolled her eyes up into her hair. Is this going to the norm when I talk to people? Meifeng rolled her eyes up into her head.

"Where's Lijuan?" Cindy asked.

Lihua walked down the stairs with her infant in hands. "Right here." She softly said before she handed Cindy Lijuan. Feeling a bit of hesitation in her. "Keep an eye out, and don't, under any circumstance, open the door for anyone." The Changeling Unit has made her extra paranoid.

There was an understanding when Lihua had to note that. Yeah, Cindy was a little paranoid herself. She was a Metahuman, but she wasn't sure if she could handle whatever these madmen could throw at her. She held Lijuan cold to her, and stepped into the house. Getting out of their way. Assuring them "Yeah, I got this - just enjoy your time at the ball!"

"We will!" Meifeng said as she skipped on by, outside.

Taking slower, and more graceful steps, Lihua stopped and faced Cindy, "Just call me if anything goes wrong."

Before they walked up to Lihua's Cadillac Luxury Sedan, Lihua got into the driver's side, and Meifeng got into the back. They drove off towards the fair.

---

---

The trip across the city was long, and horrible. Fortunately, Meifeng had a cellphone! A new iPhone... the Hands of Science broke her other phone, so Lihua arranged to get her a new one. And sure it was... literally no different from the other phones. That wasn't important, what was important was that she kept herself busy by sending texts to her various friends. Trying to get them to come to the Charity ball. To party with her of course.

Yo Jen bout to make my grand entrance! u comin? Meifeng sent a text to Jen. She scrolled through her phone until Jen replied.

No thanks. I think I'll sit this one out. Jennifer replied.

Oh com on, why? :(

I just think these big events are recipes for disaster. And since Ratchet left, I think I should just lay low for awhile.

Wit me by ur side what do u hav 2 worry bout. Ill even pay 4 u 2 get in.

No Meifeng. I just think I should stay in for awhile.

don be like dat Jenny. U ben stayin in that house 4 weeks now. Meifeng sent the final text, but Jennifer didn't answer at all. Which made Meifeng let out a sigh. God damn it, Caspin. Meifeng thought to herself as she thought about it. She really needed to get that girl out of the house... again. Well, she'll cross that bridge when she gets to it. Well, she still had plenty of friends! Oh yeah... she doesn't really have too many. Other than Anna, that is. Speaking of which, she should definitely hit her up. Maybe she'll lift her spirits.

Ayyyyy sexy. U goin 2 the ball? U shud. It'll hav me. Meifeng sent the first text - but she felt a little unsure of if she really enticed Anna to come (She was having doubts that Anna really shared the feelings she had). So, she quickly hammered another text in: Don wori bout d cash i'll pay. U know I got your back.

She hoped that Anna would come. Maybe they could talk face to face. However, it was time for Meifeng to make her grand entrance! The car was pulling into the parking lot, and Lihua parked the car. Lihua was the first to casually step out the car, holding her purse underneath her arm.

Meifeng quickly shoved her phone into her pockets - which didn't exist! She forgot she was wearing a dress, and had to use a purse... A little red leather purse to match her dress. Meifeng was definitely not the type to walk around with a purse, but just this once. Meifeng unzipped her purse and stuck her phone into it, and slung it around her shoulder, before she kicked the door open and skipped out of the door after Lihua.

It wasn't long before she caught up to her mother (And who couldn't? She was walking like she wanted to be graceful). Holding onto her purse strap with one hand, she walked down the sidewalk, and looked up at the building, and wow, didn't it look great? It was this big mansion looking place. With armed guards (NEST Agents, of course, armed with M16's) at the front doors. With a nice lady in a suit behind a podium-looking stand handling entrance fees.

When they approached, Lihua merely pulled her NEST ID out her purse and walked inside without a word.

The sight was almost breathtaking, the interior of the ballroom was this massive hall that was made out of this exquisite brown wood. The ceilings had several fancy metal chandeliers hanging down. There were several large windows on the left and right sides of the room. In the center of the room was the dancefloor. It had a few people dancing, but not as many you'd expect for a dance hall. Surrounding the dance floor, were several tables, where most of the people were. There were buffets serving a variety of free food, and most importantly; an open bar.

On the other side of the entrance were more doors (guarded, again). Leading out into the back yard of the Ballroom. There were exquisite stone stairs placed around many plants, and whatnot, with stone paths that were decorated with tables, and potted plants. At the top of the stairs was an area that had plenty of tables, and another bar. At the bottom of the stairs was the sandy beach. A sandy area that was surrounded by cliffs that isolated the area from the other beaches. There wasn't anyone down at the beach other than a few people talking.

The Vuhongs stepped into the room, and immediately someone dropped down from the ceiling in front of them. Meifeng, instinctively, summoned water out of her supply, but Lihua quickly put her hand in front of her as a gesture for her to stand down.

Blonde hair fell down into place as her figure was revealed. She stood straight up (Feeling awfully tiny compared to the Vuhongs). Her black, specially made, NEST suit was a black color, with a tactical vest, and had a pistol in her holster. What caught Meifeng was her high-powered sniper rifle hanging off her back. "Oh, sorry for the scare." Her name was Sonya Mayfield, one of NEST's best sharpshooters. "Welcome, Agent Vuhong.... and who might you be?" She extended a hand to Meifeng.

Oh, she's just a NEST Agent... calm down. Meifeng assured herself, letting out an exhale. She sucked the water back up into her pocket dimension. Though, this chick looked like her mother did a lot more with the frog prince than kiss him. She couldn't take her eyes off her frog feet. She figured that she should be cordial and shake her hand, but she found it difficult to look her in those great big green eyes.

"Meifeng Vuhong." The second she made contact with Sonya's hand, she immediately felt Sonya's slime, and how slippery the woman's hand was. It was hard to grasp her hand. She had to contain the urge to say "yuck".

"Oh? Sorry about that." Sonya said with a smile on her face, after chuckling. "Got a lil' bit of my slime on you." Sonya released Meifeng from her grasp, and put her bulbous finger tips together. Cheerfully saying, "Your Lihua's daughter? Oh, it's sooo nice to meet you!"

"Yeah..." Meifeng groaned as she tried to wipe Sonya's slime on her dress - but Lihua's own hand latched onto her wrist to prevent her from doing just that. Lihua quickly pulled out some napkins from her own purse, and wiped Meifeng's fingers clean.

Sonya kept her lips sealed during the display. "Well, I'm Sonya Mayfield, they put me in charge of the security detail."

"Oh, that's nice." Meifeng shrugged. She was feeling more and more like she was in the wrong place here.

Reaching into her pouch, Sonya pulled an ear-piece (wrapped in plastic) out. "This is for you, Agent Vuhong!" Sonya said.

Raising an eyebrow, Lihua was curious because she didn't know she'd be wearing an earpiece. "I don't understand, I came here off duty."

"Oh, sorry I didn't tell you," Sonya said with a smile, "... You're going to be apart of the security detail for tonight. Every NEST Agent here will be."

"Oh?" Lihua said to get an elaboration.

"Don't worry, just enjoy yourself! I just want to keep everyone posted, and have you guys report anything suspicious." Sonya said.

Meifeng crossed her arms over her chest, and rolled her eyes. Like was like she was - gasp! - invisible here! She shifted her weight to one hip, and put a hand to that hip. Muttering in Chinese, "That's Lihua for you, when she's not supposed to be working, she's working!" Before giving Lihua a look (And Sonya wondering what the hell she just said).

The only response that Lihua could muster was rolling her eyes, and looking around for a minute. She saw all sorts of familiar faces. Mostly the transfers from other cities - but one stood out. Her build, her facial features, her manner of dress... yes, it had to be her niece. She had the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone.

Her hand was firmly slapped onto Meifeng's shoulder. Leaning down slightly to whisper in her ear, in Chinese (Once again leaving Sonya dumbstruck), "Meifeng, I see your cousin over there, how about you go talk to her? She looks a little lonely."

Not that depressed bitch. Meifeng did hear that she was in town, but she didn't expect to see her here. Sitting all alone. Like the antisocial fuck she is. Well, maybe pissing her off would be fun - opposed to standing here being a third wheel to official NEST business.

"Yeah, I'm out." Meifeng said at the same time that she turned away to go walk over to Mika.

Lihua only gave her daughter a nod as she walked off. She cut the packet open with her nails, and placed it in her ears.

"Now, I should tell you about the great security plan I have." Sonya said, taking steps behind her more towards the dancefloor. "We have Agents all over the streets, disguised as regular civilians, keeping an eye on everything. Anything out of the ordinary pops up and I'll know, and I'll relay the information to the rest of ya' so we can handle it before it devolves into another festival attack."

"... And no one wants to experience that again." Lihua shuddered as she took steps.

"I'm telling you, I would have had Khan and her little group of lieutenants in cuffs if they just sent me." Sonya raised a finger in the air as she cheerfully said. "Oh, but don't let me hold you up. Go enjoy the party! There's so much to do!"

"... Where is the open bar?" Lihua asked.

"Thatta' way!" Sonya pointed at the open bar over against the wall.

Well, if Lihua's going to be here, then she might as well enjoy the benefits and get her drink on. Just enough so that she doesn't get incredibly drunk. But enough to drink alcohol to her heart's content. She sat down on the stool, and put her finger up, "Red wine, please."

The bar tender nodded his head, and turned around. He put a large wine glass in front of her, and then poured red wine into it.

Grasping it with tender fingers, Lihua took a sip out of it.

---

---

For a moment, Meifeng was wondering why the hell she'd walk all the way over here for Mika. Then she reminded herself that none of her squad was here, and that screwing with Mika would be fun. She also had to ask herself why she didn't just talk to someone new. Find a new face to add to the squad. Eh, she realized that she was too late to back out now, because Meifeng had approached the table in the corner, and Mika was already looking up at her. Dear God, she just reeked tryhard. So tryhard. Meifeng almost vomited the second she stepped up to Mika's table because of how fake she was. She put her hands on the table, and leaned forward, looking Mika in the eye. Not. Saying. A. Word.

Mika had a similar reaction. It was her good old redneck cousin, come here to prove nothing new. Mika put her cup of steaming hot tea down onto the plate with a gentle clang. She looked up at Meifeng, and put her hands into her lap.

"It is great to see you here, Meifeng." Mika said in her usual dry tone.

"Nah, don't give me any of that crap." Meifeng looked Mika up and down. She eyeballed the white dress Mika was wearing. It didn't look expensive, and given how big of a tryhard Mika is, she should be walking around in million dollar clothes constantly.

"That dress looks like it could be bought by crackheads." Meifeng noted.

"Oh you're so kind... is there anything you want?" Mika took a sip of her tea.

"Yeah, I'm wondering what brings you to Verthaven, city of tomorrow." Meifeng asked, looking Mika dead in the eye. "... and more importantly, why are you staying at MY house, of all places."

"Father's on family business, and insisted he brings everyone here. I got into a fight about him over it, and choose to spend my time at your house." Mika explained, followed by a sip of her tea. "Saves money."

"... Your infinite FOUNTAIN of fucking money?!?!" Meifeng loudly said - earning herself a few looks.

Mika had to fight tooth and nail to suppress the massive smirk growing on her face. What didn't help was her comments afterwards, "Oh, I wouldn't say infinite, but I think I'd rather stay in your house. It has that rustic feel that makes me glad I have what I have."

At this point, Meifeng was shaking. Containing her anger. Breathing in deeply and letting it all out a few seconds later. This bitch doesn't get anything on her own, she gets everything from her dad! Her dad! She's practically spoonfed. She wouldn't have anything if Uncle Jiao-Long didn't hand it to her. Her anger gradually subsided with each sigh with one final sigh. "You know what, I can't even get mad at your shit anymore, Mika...." She groaned.

"Oh, that's surprising." Mika said, reaching to the teapot, and pouring some tea in her cup. She poured another cup full of tea, and pushed it over in Meifeng's direction. "Mind having some tea? I have the good kind, not the filth you get in a grocery store."

This better be laced with poison, that'd make this fun. Meifeng said as she pulled a seat down. Grabbing onto the handle, and taking a sip of the tea. Usually, tea wasn't her thing, but this tasted good. "... Thank you o' cousin." Meifeng said. Before she suddenly slammed her tea cup on the table, saying, "Heeeeeey wait, last time I drunk tea with you, you cheated me out of fifty dollars."

"That was your own fault." Mika said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"What would you even need fifty dollars for? You're loaded!" Meifeng put her hands out.

"I needed money to pay for the taxi." Mika said, "And besides, you know better than to challenge a telepath to poker."

"... Because you know you'd lose!" Meifeng shouted, as she put her hands on the table. "You gotta resort to using that little telepathy of yours, because you know you'd lose otherwise. I bet I can kick your ass if you didn't have telepathy!"

"I'd still beat you... I'd prove you wrong, but-" Mika spoke, until Meifeng pulled two decks of poker cards out on her purse, and slammed them on the table. Giving Mika a smug look. "Okay, then."

"Promise you won't cheat? Swallow your pride for juuuuust a second and let me kick your ass." Meifeng taunted her.

One of the empty teacups were surrounded with a white aura, shining a dim light. It floated upwards into the air, and remained levitating. "Very well. As you know, I can't use telepathy and telekinesis at the same time. Therefore, long as I levitate this cup, I cannot read your mind."

"Hey, how do I know you're not just lying?" Meifeng asked, pointing at her.

"Oh, very well," Mika said, "Think of a number, any number."

"Alright then..." I'm not thinking of a number, I'm thinking of banana! Meifeng thought to herself. "What numba am I thinking of, o' cousin?" Meifeng asked.

"I don't know, you're probably thinking of something dumb and perverted." Mika rolled her eyes. "Now, shall we begin? Deal the cards."

Meifeng grabbed the cards, and she spread them in front of her. She put them back into one big stack, then split it in half. She put her thumb to the inward pointing corners, and shuffled the corners together (creating a ripping sound), before making them one big stack again. She repeated the action. Meifeng then grabbed the cards from the middle, while holding the cards on top in the air, she then put them on top of the stack, and repeated this action. Over and over, and over, again. The cards were as mixed as they needed to be. She held them in hand, and pitched the cards over the table in front of herself and Mika.

While Meifeng was doing her theatrics, Mika decided to cheat. Meifeng seems to be forgetting about the telekinetic power she has. While Meifeng was pitching the cards, Mika briefly used her telekinesis to bend them upwards, just so she sees what's under the cards.

"You're not slick, Mika!" Meifeng shouted. "I see what you're doing like I wouldn't notice, but I noticed."

"Oh dear, it appears I've been caught." Mika put her hands in the air as if ordered by police officers. She stopped using telekinesis on the cards.

"I knew it... you couldn't help but cheat." Meifeng said, "You know, if I catch you cheating again... you should treat me out to a trip to the mall, y'know, get me all sorts of new clothes and possessions."

All the more fun it'll be when Mika crushes her. She grinned. "I accept these terms. And I want nothing if I win... there isn't anything worth more than defeating you."

"Let us begin, then!" Meifeng shouted as they began their epic poker match with explosions and everything.

---

---

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Trevor loudly shouted as he felt the wind assault him from the back of his sister's motorcycle - with his sister driving it of course. Scarlet was wearing a black helmet over her head and goggles, while Trevor just had on a black helmet. They were racing through the streets of Verthaven on the back of her motorcycle, on their way to the charity ball of course. Trevor just wanted to go because he hoped he could actually score some girls (Or boys) this time.

The motorcycle came to a skidding stop right in front of the Grand Hall. Trevor stepped off the motorcycle, and took his helmet off and put it on the back of Scarlet's motorcycle. "That was awesome! NEST money well spent!" Trevor said, chuckling.

"Yeah, isn't this awesome?" Scarlet said. "Thought about buying a car, but isn't this more fun?"

"Yup!" Trevor said.

"Alright, I have to head back to the base, you and Lucille enjoy yourselves!" Scarlet said, before she kicked the motorcycle back in gear, and sped off.

Oh yeah, Lucille. She's probably already here. Trevor misses staring at that amazing rack already! Well, he stepped up the stairs, wearing nothing impressive. Simply jeans, a jean jacket, and a white and black checkered polo shirt underneath it. Compared to the people here who have come in suits, and ties... he looks like street trash. But he didn't care, he wanted to get some booty.

He walked up the stairs, handed the lady ten dollars, then stepped inside. He wondered what the food would be like.

"Got any threes?"

"Go fish."

There was a sigh on the other side of the communicator and the edges of Henry's lips curled up into a sly smile. But they soon fell as there was a celebratory chuckle on the other side of the com.

"Got any sevens?"

"Damnit Eli."

They played on an honor code. One they had both agreed on. And it worked. They each carried their own cards for times like this.
"That's a book for you." Henry sighed. He was losing. Badly. Some days peanuts, some days shells.

"Punch it, lizardman."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..."

There was a moment of silence between the two. When suddenly some other NEST agent chimed into their chat.
"These channels are for NEST business only. Go Fish is not NEST business."

Henry frowned.

"One banger eight turbo."

That meant channel 18. Eli grumbled and Henry tapped a few times on the radio terminal of his touchpad.

"Testing. Eli, come in?"

"Rodger under over. So how're things going over there?"

Henry sniffed, and whipped his snout with the sleeve of his nest suit. He tapped another button on the touchpad and switched to metahuman detector function. He hoped he wasn't catching a cold. When he gets sick it hits him like a train.

"Well there are like, thirty meta humans around here. Counting NEST agents. Maybe seventy or eighty normals?"

There was some grumbling on the other side. And crinkling that sounded like a bag of chips being opened. Henry's thoughts drifted to the food longingly. He wasn't particularly hungry, but...

"Know any of them?"

"Uh, lemme check. Hold on..." Henry said, selecting the radar application again. "Show me identities." Henry said to his touchpad. Nothing happened. He furrowed his eye-ridge. "Show me... Identities." He repeated. When nothing happened again- he shook his arm. "Come on you stupid piece of-"

"High tech and expensive equipment."

"Show me identities!" Henry just about yelled into the touchpad. He was positioned way above the people below on a ledge of decorative marble just large enough for him to cling to. It was just out of the way enough to not draw anyone's attention. Finally it began loading. Henry then groaned. Spinning color wheel of death. When the identities (finally) loaded, several names came up. Nothing that really drew his attention- save for Meifeng Vuhong.

Huh. The Vuhongs were here.

"Hold on a sec, Eli." Henry said into the mic. Eli grumbled through the chips in his mouth in indifferent confirmation.
Henry tapped his touchpad some more and switched to the common channel for those undercover agents. Every NESTy was given and earpiece. His partner had just dropped off the ceiling to give a newcomer theirs. But they didn't have their touchpad- more than likely. So they were on the default channel for this event. The creatively chosen channel one.

"Hey, hey, hey fellow NESTies! This is Dragonfly. You have a big man above watching out for you!"
He saw a few NEST agents look up. He saw one- Rob, an agent that was literally made of rubber, look up and flip him the bird.
"Love you too Rob. Welcome to the squad, Li. If any of you scrubs need us- channel 18. Signing out."

He then switched back to channel 18. Eli was coughing. Henry laughed.

"The fucking sign in noise scared the shit out of me-" Eli said in between coughs.

"Hey, how's Harmon doing?" Henry said, changing the subject. There was another pause as Eli cleared his throat. He could hear some tapping on the other side of his screen. He imagined the lanky nerd at his so called battle station- tapping away on glowing keys in a dark room with a few others hooked up to their own computers and talking to their own NEST operatives. His hair was probably a mess and his skin was probably extra pale. He could only imagine the bags under his eyes. The last several days days had been especially tough on everyone in Black Fall. And to be honest, it kinda sucked. Henry's NEST badge used to be something that was honored by those he knew and some of the people who used to be happy to see him were now hesitant to even look his way.

Eli is an insomniac. It's why NEST hired him. Henry often went for 30 consecutive hours or so without sleep on a semi regular basis. And Eli tended to be awake that amount of time no sweat. This gave the two a lot of time to bond as friends and co-workers when they were first paired together. Henry wasn't sure how often he slept. All he knows is the man is a genius, the insomnia isn't healthy, and he owes him a few beers. Since the incident though, Eli has worked to take Henry off the streets. Something he had to pull strings to do. When Henry had woken up after his long ass nap he had been alerted that he was now Agent Greenfield's spotter. Or the guy that keeps her safe and finds her targets. One of the safer jobs- as he was now out of the line of fire in just about any place he would be realistically located. Greenfield, or Sonya as she had insisted he refer to her as (in the nonmission area), was good. Really good, and it was really nice to actually have someone who was in his same skill and experience level to work with because god damn it made life so much easier. And she understood the need to keep secrets. NEST Black Ops and Spec Ops missions were things that the world didn't need to know about- and she never pushed him for the parts she wasn't there for. Because she knew that she shouldn't know. He respects that and returns it in full. Death Valley, the gang wars, and Mendel's race riots need to be forgotten.

Thinking about it, he owed her a beer. They haven't been working together long (not on record at least)- but she was one of those few that really tried hard to be more than a soldier or a harbinger of death. He likes that about her- because he is that way himself. Most NEST agents either become cold as a rock or learn to forget that they're human. Ironic that they'd be the ones that fight the hardest to smile in spite of it all. But then again- they've had to prove they're human since the day their powers manifested themselves when they became adults.

That's another thing Henry likes about her. She reminds him way too much of himself. And that's a good thing. Despite all the secrets they need to keep and respect- he hopes that in time she'll be a close enough friend that they can talk about those kinds of things. They'd be able to talk to each other about that kind of stuff. He lives a lonely life outside of Harmon. Maria and Sonya? They're... they're the type of people he wants to have at his back. Not because they're dangerous (well, that too), but because they're the kind of people that would get him.

Plus girl help. If Sonya can do it he... probably can?

"Just looked him up. Ivory Deer says he's doing well. Making leaps and bounds of recovery since Frank's been taken out of the picture."

Henry's pent up breath released forcefully. He was almost thirty now, and despite it all he considers Harmon to be his adopted son. Frank caused him a lot of pain. He doesn't like thinking about that. He wishes he could've helped Veronica. He could've worked better but he didn't and now she's...

"Henry, stop thinking about it." Eli suddenly warned. He always knew when Henry was working himself up. Probably because he could hear the heavier breathing. "Have you been taking your meds?"

Antidepressants. Right. The things he hates taking because they taste bad. He was on Paxil or something. So far all it's done is made him shake some and make it hard to roll out of bed at 4:30 AM. Which was probably completely normal.

"No."

"Henry, c'mon man."

"I feel fine. I haven't needed them lately. I dont really remember the incident much and I've been on reserve for a while. I'll take 'em as I need them. Okay?"

"Fine."

There was an awkward silence. Henry didn't like that much.

"So, got any ones?"

"Fuck you. Yes."

---

---

Lucille was uncomfortable with her dress, which left half of her thigh naked—a paranoia she usually had when wearing any dress, or skirt—and, between a slight tug and another, she was trying to unsuccessfully hide her skinny legs. She was no Marilyn Monroe, nor a girl willing to come face to face with some breeze of a passing ninja subway, her legs could be delicate but she didn't like to show to everyone. She even tried to imagine she in The Seven Year Itch, only to caught the attention of a few people that was passing in front of her, turning in embarrassment her silent laught.

She was wearing the famous "Hartigan's party outfit," a black halter dress followed by sneakers of the same color. The most that her mother could made she wear. Nothing too formal, but that was her outfit; Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year, any event is Hartigan's party outfit Day. And there she was, the uneasy girl with the dress, waiting for Trevor. And all the thinking about Trevor was confused to her, Trevor was... Well... in a parallel universe she'd be happier with a "Trevina".

Lucille ran her finger on her phone screen, drawing the initial of her name with her thumb. Where the hell is Trevor, she thought as she looked at the clock. She tried to control the discomfort but everything was new to her; and Trevor was as a guide for her in Verthaven, as well as her brother was in Black Fall. Without him she's just a blind woman in a shooting.

"Trevor!" Lucille tried not to shout too loud, waving at him. There he was, with bloody jeans. Why I didn't thought about that? She sighed, knowing it was too late to change her looks.

---

Written in collaboration with @Defacto

---

"Heeeeeey, it's the Titty Monster!" Trevor said - nearly shouted, but he has some home training - with a wide smile as she walked up. Titty Monster being his nickname for her, because she had a huge rack - it'd be hard for Trevor to miss it. He quickly closed the distance. And when they were close, Trevor put out his arms for a hug.

"Trevor!" Lucy said, giving him a quick hug. "Where's lady Sindel?"

"She went back to the base, that means we're here all alone. Together." Trevor said, in the middle of his hug. Though, with her pressing against him, he couldn't contain himself. Something large started poking Lucille.

The brief hug was followed by a Lucille's look of disapproval. "Fuck you," she said laughing, gently pushing him and rubbing her eyes; she was high again, something that couldn't be avoided when close to Trevor. Somehow she wasn't nervous by him teasing her, "Let's find a table."

Trevor was laughing awkwardly along with her. Before he quickly shot her double finger guns, and found a chair. Couple seconds in, and he already has a raging hard on in a room full of people. He'll need to sit down for this one, fortunately, Lucille just suggested that. He hunched over a bit, and put his hand in his pocket. "Oh, sorry." He said, with the world's most awkward smile on his face. In this awkward stance, he slowly walked over to one of the tables on the side, and plopped down on it. He neatly folded his hands on the table.

"Nah, it's okay. Well, not okay... awkward... but it's alright." She said, tripping over the words.

"Heeeeeey... you act like this is a rare thing." Trevor says with a smile. "Especially with that rack of yours." He started laughing. He didn't really talk to every girl like that, only Lucille. Just to tease her.

She held herself trying to not laugh loudly. "If only worked with the right target," she said looking at the drinks table. "I'm thirsty, you?"

"Well... you could say that I'm always thirsty." He leaned in with a smile on his face, looking Lucille right in the eye, as he winked.

"Jesus Christ, T. You're on fire today. Let's take a walk and get some drinks, I saw this girl, 'bout this big." She said grabbing an imaginary breast and then winked.

Trevor snickered. "Are you talking about her booty, or her bazongas?" He asked, pushing himself out from under the table, and standing up. He calmed down enough so that nobody would notice. He still kept his hands in his pocket as he walked after Lucille.

"The bitties." She tried to be discreet while dabbling the crowd. Lucy enjoyed the talk about girls with Trevor, it was a burden to think she would never talk to her family about that.

"Awwwwww...." Trevor said with puppy dog eyes.

While he was being led by Lucille, Trevor couldn't help but look around a little bit. ".... Hey, wait!" Trevor quickly latched onto Lucille's wrist. Bringing the two of them to a halt. "Instead of getting some shitty juice to drink because we're not old enough for alcohol...." He pointed over to the table that Meifeng and Mika were playing poker. "... Let's go talk to them."

Lucy nodded, and was lead herself over to the table.

Of course, they were noticed by Meifeng before they could even walk up. She turned her head at them, and smiled at Trevor (but wondered who the hell this broad was - Trevor can't score chicks for the life of him). She stopped for a moment, and raised her hand in the air. "Yo, Trevor, glad you showed up." Meifeng side with a wide smile on her face.

"Oh good, they're multiplying." Mika bitterly said. Her eyes were on her cards.

Hi!" Lucille said sheepishly, with a wave that went unnoticed and less interesting than the poker game.

There was a brief awkward silence as Meifeng looked at her. Giving her a sheepish grin that just said, "that's it?". She laughed a little. Putting her fists to her lips. "Meifeng..." She said. "Ol' chubber over there is Mika, my asshole cousin. Make sure you keep your food away from her."

"Oh, you have a cousin?" Trevor asked, with a smile on his face. A bit chubby - but Trevor didn't care. She did look a little hot.

"What's your name? Or are you a little too shy?" Meifeng asked.

"Lucille. But everyone calls me Lucy. Nice to meet you." She let out an ear to ear smile.

"Lucy, it is." Meifeng said with confidence. "Came over here to watch my poker match? I could use some cheerleaders." She winked.

"Don't think I'd look too good in a skirt." Trevor laughed.

"Don't you think you're underselling yourself just a little bit there, Trev?" Meifeng pinched her fingers together closely as possible.

"A sight to see." Lucille gave a friendly poke in Trevor arm. "I do the flips if you dance with the pom-poms." She added, not even noticing what the hell she was telling. It was too late, hugging Trevor had its drawbacks in addition to the weird colors. "But we're looking for drinks," Lucille said blushing, attempting to fix the situation, looking around looking for the open bar.

Meifeng went silent for a moment. Looking around. "... You're definitely on the right track." Before she started laughing.

"Nice trick with the teacup," she said at the two girls in the table, clearly not knowing who was.

"That's Mika here." Meifeng said as she raised a hand high up into the air, and pointed a finger at Mika. Only to earn a look of ire from her cousin. She rolled her eyes, and turned her head at Lucille. She was curious about the girl. "You can have a seat if you want... I kinda want to know what you're doing with a boy like Trevor. You gotta be his cousin or something. Because I know someone like Trevor can't score any chicks."

"I'm his big sis' friend."

"Yeah, what she said." Trevor said, as he sat down. Leaning backwards, with his foot against the table.

"Oh, Scarlet? That's even more surprising." Meifeng said with a snicker as she looked at Lucille... who looked like a lesbian with that haircut. "You look like a homosexual with that haircut." Meifeng just noted, out of no where.

"I've never been a fan of guys." She said, embarrassed. Luckily for her, she was not drinking anything, which didn't prevented her from stumble over her words.

"Awwwww, my heart." Trevor says, dramatically putting his hands on his chest, and leaning backwards like he was falling... except, he went backwards a little too far, and started actually falling. He let out a yell as he quickly put his hands out to grab something - but his chair hit the floor before he could even catch himself. He felt pain in his back, and his neck, letting out a quiet, "Ouch..."

Meifeng and Mika only casually looked at him. With Meifeng getting an ear-to-ear grin as she said, "Wow, Trevor, smooth."

Lucy tried not to laugh but failed. "Come here," she said while helping him to get up. As she pulled him, a lilac aura glowed around her. Just enough to lift him, she tried to not use more than it should do. It was hard, pulling him and holding in hand at the same time. She barely knew Mika, but she already have one reason to envy her telekinesis.

"Thanks..." Trevor said, after he was thrusted to his feet by Lucille. He put his hand on his neck, as he experienced the sharp pain traveling through his body. He started gently rubbing.

Meifeng raised an eyebrow when she spotted the lilac aura, but honestly didn't feel all that surprised at the revelation. This is Verthaven, baby. Everyone's a Metahuman. Every person here was a Metahuman... which gave Meifeng an idea. "Hey... " Meifeng said as she looked over to the open bar. "... You all wanna help me with my hairbrained scheme to score some alcohol?" She said with a confident smile.

"No." Mika said. "In fact... I think I'll take my leave." She put her cards down, and stood straight up

"You're forfeiting?" Meifeng said. "You know what that means..." Meifeng put her arms in the air, hands back, doing the raise the roof motion. "Shopping spree!"

Whatever to get away from Meifeng and her friends. "Very well." She put her teacup on the tray, and walked off to another empty table.

Meifeng turned her head back to Trevor, and Lucy, as she neatly stacked her cards into one big deck. Putting them back into her purse.

Lucy frowned at Trevor. Scarlet'll kill me, she thought. But thanks to Trevor she was already seeing colors. What could go wrong? "Sure."

"You know I'm in." Trevor said, throwing his hands behind his head with a dumb grin on his face.

"Excellent."Meifeng said, with a impish grin on her face, and trouble on her mind. "... Does anyone have a plan?"

"Nope." Trevor shrugged.

"Just ask? They wouldn't ask for id..."

Both Meifeng and Trevor started laughing at Lucille.

"Honey, you from America?" Meifeng asked. Because she must be from some European country (Or from under a rock) if she doesn't know that they won't hand liqour to kids like that.

"As far I remember." She said, raising an eyebrow. "Any better idea?"

"Alright!" Meifeng loudly said. "I have the perfect plan!"

Trevor listened up.

"Trevor here will walk over there, and beat up the bartender, and while he's doing that, we jack some bottles and run off with it." Meifeng said with a smile, containing laughter.

"Brilliant. Just brilliant." Trevor said, clapping his hands.

Lucy laughed in response. "You always can ask nicely."

""Oh, yes, please Mr. Bartender, give us underaged kids some alcohol so we can ruin our developing minds!"" Meifeng said in a mocking tone, putting on wide puppy eyes. "Showing him your tits is a better plan than that - Know what? We're just going to pull a good old diversion on them."

"On them?" Lucy couldn't contain her sarcasm.

Meifeng facepalmed. "Yes, of course. Someone causes a bit scene, then I go grab the good stuff, and we'll drink them on the beach, or something."

"After or before I go to jail for indecency?"

"Well, Lucy... sometimes you gotta make sacrifices for the good of others. In this case, you show your boobs, and me and Trevor get to drink to our heart's content." She said. "Besides, you're doing them a favor."

"Just make sure to bring me two Heineken," she took a deep breath and held Trevor wrist for a few seconds. "I'll just play dead."

"Wait-" Trevor said as she latched onto him. He knew that she was trying to get a little buzzed off his power. The sedative part of his power would make "playing dead" more believable.

"Oh, okay. I wanted to pull some Mission Impossible shit, but sure." Meifeng said, as she got up from the table, and started walking behind Lucy. Keeping a safe distance so it doesn't look like they're associated. Trevor followed behind Meifeng.

Lucy walked toward the open bar dodging all the cheery colors that appeared in front of her. She sat next to the counter and made an okay sign to Meifeng and Trevor. "Water please. It's a little hot in here, don't you think?" She said, falling from the chair while the man gave her a cup of water. She tried her best to not look alive.

Everyone's eyes fell on Lucille as she, well, fell. Someone walked over to her, wondering what happened.

... Trevor, on the other hand, saw the perfect opportunity here. "... I'll give her mouth to mouth!" He said as she ran away from Meifeng over to Lucille.

"Wait, Trevor!" Meifeng put her hand out.

He quickly ran over to Lucy, and got on his knees. He closed the distance between their faces until their lips were touching. His first kiss (From a girl!). He kept at this, resisting the urge to get some boobie action in.

Meifeng stood there, shocked that this turned into a circus preformance. "God damn it." Meifeng muttered as she stomped her foot.

Lucy pushed him and sat still. She tried to curse him or hit him with all her strength but nothing came out of her mouth or muscles. She stood there, staring to the people around while she saw thousand colors and the world turning around. A chill of embarrassment ran down her spine. It was a fucked trip.

---

---

A wide smile immediately etched itself onto Sonya's face the second she heard Dragonfly's voice. Her new partner! They went waaaaay back. He's her new spotter, and should things go wrong, her cover - but when has things gone wrong for NEST's greatest sniper? Never. Notta. Last time she checked, he was up there on one of the perches. Maybe she should go check up on Godzilla. She looked around nervously - she noticed that some chick was on the ground getting mouth to mouth from some boy. Well, at least eyes weren't on her. Crowds were never really Sonya's thing.

She looked up, and squatted down a bit. Springing off her legs like a rocket, Sonya flew through the air into the ceiling, and latched onto it. Nailed it. Sonya thought to herself as she began to crawl on the ceiling. Towards Henry's personal perch. The moment she was in range, she shot off the ceiling onto the perch. She stood straight up, and balled her fists, putting them to her hips.

"Never saw you as the ceiling type, Henry. I'd imagine you'd be on the ground floor." She said, as she brushed her blonde hair aside. "How's it looking from up here?"

Henry's attention shot up from his touchpad and to the figure that had suddenly rocketed up to his altitude level. He was still getting used to the sporadic movements that Sonya was capable of. He had noticed that he had been more jumpy lately. Maybe the Paxil wasn't a bad idea after all. However, as he recognized his partner- he relaxed. No need to get so worked up about things.

"Says the sniper," Henry said, a shit eating crocodile smile splitting his face.

"It's uh... It's looking pretty good. Not much has been happening. Which is definitely a good thing," he said. He hesitated for a moment, deciding whether to address Sonya's first statement, but decided against it. He wasn't really feeling crowds right now. And he doubted people would take kindly to an obvious meta after the whole shitstorm. He doubted she really cared that much about his sudden discomfort for large quantities of people either.

"How about you? How's it looking from down there?"

"Someone just passed out, but they're taking care of it." Sonya put a thumb over her shoulder, as she spoke nonchalantly. Eh, she was handling security, not medical, someone more suited could handle that one. "Though, I'm worried that someone will try something...." She looked over her shoulder at the ground floor. "We have the Pure, the Gangs, and now the Hands of Science, and their REAPER lapdogs, after us. It'd be a pretty grand opportunity for them to pull something." Which is why she's running security this time around. Nothing will get past us.

"Speaking of which, I haven't exactly been kept up to date on the whole crusade against the Hands of Science, do you know anything about them? Or REAPER?" Sonya asked. Far as she could tell, there weren't any engagements with them in Verthaven thus far. Though... Agent Vuhong would probably know this before she does.

"Oh- uh," Henry began, stopping himself midsentence to think. "They're... well, when you discovered you were a Metahuman, what did you think society would do with you?"

"Slice me open, and cut me up." Sonya said in a chipper tone.

"Well, there's your explaination as to what the Hands Of Science do."

"I gathered that much, but do you know about the offensive against them? Everyone in NEST have been raising a real fuss about it." Sonya said, sticking her long tongue out a bit. "Heard that something happened with them and NEST in Nevada... wasn't pretty, but I think Agent Vuhong has the deets."

She shrugged, raising her bulbous hands up. "But, I don't really think she's in the mood to chit-chat, she seems to be in more of a "drown my sorrows" mood."

Henry was quiet for a moment, choosing to ignore the Nevada comment for what is more than likely the better. But he smiled at her antics. "Well, I'm always up for a drink. Should I rally her over? What should I say?"

She looked down at Agent Vuhong at the open bar for a moment. "She's that strong, stoic, stick-up-the-butt type. Just go down there and be direct!" She pounded her fist into an open palm.

"My friend I am a giant reptilian monster- I dont have much experience talking to the opposite gender in a way that's social and not work." he stated, but sighed. He tapped on his touchpad to turn off the music he'd been playing (using his earpiece as headphones) in Eli's absence (he was on bathroom break). He looked over his little outcrop and decided that climbing down to the second floor and then taking the stairs was probably a better idea than jumping down with his size.

"And I'm part-frog! I do wonders talking to people!" Sonya retorted.

"Obviously, you're married."

Henry cracked his neck and adjusted the clothes he was wearing over his NEST suit. It wasn't much- just a huge button up shirt and a pair of equally gigantic khakis. As was his style- he had no shoes on. Planting his hand firmly on the edge of the ledge, he swung his massive body over the side, careful not to hit Sonya with his massive tail or legs. As he hung, he planted his feet against the adjacent wall and propelled himself over to the second floor. High enough to clear the guard railing. Because lets be honest- if he hit that, it'd do nothing but force NEST to write an unnecessary check.

"Doesn't mean much! She's just as weird looking as I am!" Sonya put her hands on her chest... but then remembered that she could shape-shift. "... When she's in her true form, that is - but think of this like a mission! You're Agent Dragonfly, and you're gathering intelligence for future operations! Lihua Vuhong has the intelligence, and you need to interogate her for it!"

Henry took the fucking stairs to the first floor like the badass rebel he was.

"You can do it, Henry!" Sonya cheered him on. "I'll hold the fort."

And as soon as he came into view his presence demanded everyone's attention. Heads turned and conversations quieted. Not necessarily because Henry was that well known but because he was the better part of twice the height of nearly everyone there. But almost as soon as the silence came- it was gone. Conversations returned to normal and most of the eyes were taken off the reptilian man. Which he liked. He never got used to people staring at him. He never learned to really take it in stride- despite every childhood therapist's instructions to do so. It just didn't work well in his mind.

But, there were advantages of being what he was. Because as soon as the cocktail party effect set into place- Henry was able to distinct Lihua from everyone else in the party by her scent alone. It was impossible to notice for a normal person- but everyone had their own personal body odor. It wasn't a bad smell most of the time, just a unique smell that everyone had to them.

And of course, as Sonya had predicted- it came accompanied with alcohol.

The bar.

Henry followed his eyes and his nose until he came across the stoic chinese woman. Who was currently seated along at the bar. Henry felt that. He'd probably be in the same position in the future. He's just glad his liver bounces back from anything he throws at it.

Henry walked over to the woman- using his tail to subtly push a few of the stools to the side and out of his way, and leaned against the bar itself since a stool probably wouldn't bear his weight. The bar predictably groaned against his weight, but held strong. Or at least strong enough.

"Drinking alone now, Vuhong? Or waiting on someone?"

Oh. It's Agent Dragonfly. Normally Lihua would classify him as an aberration, but he's human in all but looks (From what she can tell). She raised her head, and turned it towards him. Quickly taking a quick sip of her wine. "Alone. Just taking advantage of the open bar. Not much else for me in here." Lihua said. She wasn't exactly the type to walk around talking to everyone. Especially when her co-workers most likely didn't hold her in the highest position.

Every now and then, she'd take a peak over at Meifeng to see what she's up to. Right now, her daughter was reacting to the girl who was passed out. Eh. Kids. Always doing dumb stuff. Long as it didn't make Lihua look bad, she trusted Meifeng to go alone.

"What is it, Henry? Come to keep me company?" Lihua asked, taking a sip of her wine. "I don't think this wine would... do anything for you."

"Well, Agent Merryday asked me something and it made me ask. She said you'd probably know. So... here I am." Henry said, waving the bartender over for his own glass of wine. When the tiny red glass was slid over to him, he pinched it between his thumb and his index finger- and raised it to eye level. He gently shook it- eyeing it carefully as if he was a detective attempting to perform a necropsy.

"I know lots of things," Lihua said after a sip. Giving Henry a look as he tried to grab the glass of wine. "And people come to ask lots of things. So, what do you want to know in particular?"

"Well, you work in intel. I wanted to know if you knew anything about REAPER?"

Of course. REAPER was the talk of "NESTies" everywhere. No one knew much about them, though. "REAPER... they've been confirmed to be the Hands of Science's little security force... their private army. They've been defending Hands of Science bases, while launching operations to kidnap Metahumans for the Hands. They've gotten into a few engagements with NEST in various different places. They don't seem to have much numbers... but we do know they use a perfected version of the mutagen the Fiends had employed." Lihua explained.

Henry downed the entire glass of wine in one go, like a shot. He had the bartender refil it, and did not turn to face Lihua. But he did speak. "Any patterns in mutagen usage? Type of power most commonly employed?"

"From what has been observed, they've been using Mutagen that gives them elemental abilities. Fire, concrete, glass, smoke.... Not as strong as, say, a Metahuman's, but it's still a powerful weapon." Lihua explained. It would make sense to use a Mutagen that grants you Elemental type abilities. They're versatile, and powerful in the right enviroment.

Henry nodded, and decided that there wasn't really much else to be said yet on that subject. But the whole 'buisness only' thing was leaving a bad taste in his mouth- and as Sonya had pointed out inadvertantly, treating it as a mission wasn't exactly a good way to get better at being a social creature.

"How's Meifeng?"

Hmph. A very unexpected question. Normally, everyone just wants to know about the job and calls it a night there. Though, she's not exactly the type to bring them up.

"She's been... getting paranoid." Lihua blankly says. "What happened down there... it's been giving her nightmares, and making her wake up and search the house at the slightest noise... Last night she whacked me in the head with her bo staff." She pointed at the bruise on her forehead. Not that Lihua found it a bad thing. You're never paranoid until you're wrong - and with what she's up against, she has a right.

"That's... I understand how she feels. Probably too well." Henry said, drinking his second glass of wine. Grapes man- they didn't do much besides add flavor. "The night terrors, I mean." Henry clarified, raising the empty wine glass to about eye level and spinning it around slowly as if to accentuate what he was trying to say.

"... I do, too." Lihua probably has the worst night terrors. Just the things she's done. It's something that she can't bury with alcohol.

"I... I know a few good therapists if you think she needs one and... are you okay?" he said, turning his head to look at her- but not daring to reach out as if to touch her. Too personal. Hopefully words alone would demonstrate his concern well enough.

"Do not worry about me, Henry. I can handle myself - And that won't ever change." Lihua immediately asked Henry's question. "I've been trying to get her some therapy - but she's stubborn. She believes she doesn't need any help, and I should just stay out of it."

"Tell me about her issues, assuming it's more than just... general anxiety. If you dont mind. Different people specialize in different things so..." Henry said, using his free hand to wave near his jaw, as if it would coax more words out that came in a less awkward manner. But he still came up blank.

Lihua drank what was left of her wine until there was nothing left. She looked at the bottom for a few seconds - but didn't feel the need to call for the bartender for another. She just gently put it down, and answered him, "I can't really accurately scope the extent of her problems... other than paranoia, and night terrors."

Henry nodded. "I... wont ask what exactly happened to her but.. if she was involved in the incident a few weeks ago and had to fight her way out or god forbid, kill anyone in self defense... she might have a case of PTSD. I'm the exact same way. I'm better about it now that when I first started out twenty years ago but... Sonya scares me regularly just by moving around when I'm not looking at her. Exaggerated Startle Response and Hypervigillance as the doc called it." Henry described, reaching into the back pocket of his khaki pants and pulling out what looked like a woman's wallet.

"Before you say anything- guy wallets are too small." Henry premptively stated, and fiddled with the wallet for another few seconds before sighing and setting it down on the table and sliding it over to Lihua.

"I can't get it out without shredding it. There are a few cards- I'd recommend the one with Doctor Callanan. She's... really good at that kind of stuff." he explained. He was eyeing the wallet like it was his mortal enemy. It, amoung with many other tiny objects that regular people used where his confounding variables that were necessary evils.

Lihua took the wallet and searched for the card, and looked at it for a few seconds once she found it- memorizing the number. Before she looked back up at Henry. "... I'm going have to drag her there kicking and screaming."

"She'll probably want to come back after the first visit. If she ever wants to talk to me, you... probably have my contact information. I'm no therapist but I can definitely relate." Henry said, wincing as he accidently broke the empty wine glass by pinching it too hard.

Lihua merely nodded her head in a silent agreement. She slid the card into her purse, before she raised her finger. "Another glass, please." Before the bar tender came back around and poured it for her.

Henry didn't say anything after that. Actually, he didn't really have anything to say at all. So he stayed there, leaning against the bar with Lihua in a comfortable and hopefully companionable silence.

Maybe he wasn't so bad at talking to people after all.

"This is a mistake!"

Rory Mackenzie froze in the bedroom doorway as he suddenly found his vision blocked by blue coloured fabric, he lifted the dress off his head with a sigh and chucked it onto the bed. It joined a small pile of various colours and fabrics already discarded by the woman standing in front of the tall mirror. She saw him standing in the doorway and glared at him, many people winced or looked away from that glare but not Rory he just grinned at her and perched himself on the edge of the bed.

"What is?" He asked.

Cora Dubois turned and faced her cousin with her hands on her hips, she stood in just her underwear yet showed no sign of being bothered by this. Rory seemed equally as oblivious to the fact that she wasn't dressed, he was used to it after all, and merely sat on the bed waiting for the inevitable explosion.

"You know damned well what I mean." She snapped. "Me. Going out. To a ball of all places. I don't know why I ever allowed myself to be talked into this. You know its a mistake right? I'm not exactly people friendly."

Rory chuckled but swiftly turned it into a cough when Cora glared at him again, she was already annoyed and he didn't want to push his luck. He opened his mouth to answer when he heard the front door open and several pairs of footsteps.

"Oh thank god." He muttered under his breath. "Reinforcements."

"I heard that." Cora snapped.

"Up here!" Rory yelled and then cocked an eyebrow at Cora. "As if I could avoid hearing you wherever I was in the house."

The sound of lots of feet coming up the stairs invaded the room and Cora growled low in her throat, as if she needed more people invading her space. Two young men fairly bounded in the room identical brown eyes looking first at Cora and then at the clothes on the bed and then back to Cora. After two heartbeats of laughter identical mouths opened and laughter escaped from both, Cora felt her patience slipping away with each passing moment. Her mouth twisted into a snarl and she felt her nails lengthening of their own accord, clearly she was more on edge than even she realised.

"What's going on in here?" The sharp snap of Aunt Elise's voice abruptly stopped the twin boys laughter. Small though she was no one ever crossed Elise Mackenzie especially not her own sons. They looked back at her sheepishly as she stepped into the room proper, she took in everything in a single glance and raised her eyebrows. Rory, the eldest at 26, looked worriedly at Cora or more specifically at Cora's extended nails. He stood slowly and edged away from the bed towards the door, he had been on the receiving end of those nails and he did not want to be again. He stopped next to his mother and shrugged.

"The start of World War 3 I think." He said.

"All of you should know better." Elise snapped at her three sons. "Especially you Rory. You know how Cora gets when she's anxious. You're not helping. Now your father needs help unloading the car, go on."

Ned hurried downstairs without a backward glance but Connor hesitated in the doorway. "Sorry Cat." He muttered before quickly following his brother.

"And knock next time!" Elise shouted after them.

"I'd better go help them." Rory said. "Sorry Cat, I was trying to help."

Cora nodded briefly feeling a little better with only the three of them there, she allowed Rory to give her a brief hug before he followed his brothers downstairs. Elise shut the door firmly and walked over to her niece, her brown eyes were warm and gentle when she looked at Cora. She gently smoothed back the younger woman's hair, stroking her as you would a cat, and Cora felt herself begin to relax a little more. Her nails retracted back to their normal length and gradually her snarling ceased. She rubbed her eyes feeling embarrassed and ashamed of her behaviour, this was her family and she hated causing them trouble.

"I'm sorry." She said finally.

"Hush." Elise said. "They'll be fine. Besides they should know better than to disturb a woman trying to get ready."

Cora smiled. "F'true."

"Now then, why didn't you wait for me? I thought we were going to get ready together."

"I know but I was so worried about what to wear and I thought starting a little earlier would help but it didn't. I really don't think this is a good idea Auntie. I'm not good around people in big groups especially strangers."

"You manage when you're working."Elise pointed out.

"That's different." Cora said. "I'm in control then."

"You need to do this honey. With all the trouble lately you need to show your support. Besides I think it will be good to meet more like you. I know you wish you had others to talk to about being a Metahuman. Now enough worrying I have a surprise for you."

She cleared a space on the bed and pulled out a pile of fabric from the shopping bag she held in her hand. I saw this and I knew it was perfect for tonight. Here, try it on."

Cora's eyes widened in delight as she took the dress(ignore the model). She stroked the fabric and smiled widely. She quickly put it on and turned to show her aunt, she already loved it and hoped her aunt thought the same.

"It's perfect." Her aunt said.

"Don't you think I should hide this..."She gestured at her skin where it was visible, the leopard spots stood out against the redness of the dress.

"No." Elise said firmly. "You should be proud of what you are. Never hide it honey. Now I need to go and find my husband and get ready myself otherwise we'll be late."

Cora hugged the other woman before stepping back and admiring herself in the mirror again, Elise smiled and left her niece to her preening.



"Bloody thing."

"Come here you big oaf, honestly you'd have thought you would know how to fix a bow tie by now."

Jack Mackenzie sighed but allowed his wife to straighten his bowtie without speaking, he did his best to stand still without fidgeting but he was just as uncomfortable in the formal black tuxedo as his niece Cora was in anything fancy. After a few minutes Elise stepped back and nodded once satisfied. She was already finished with her own preparations and Jack took a moment to admire her, even after many years of marriage she looked beautiful to him.

"You look gorgeous in that dress(again ignore the model) darlin."

Elise kissed him briefly and then turned to leave the room, picking up her matching bag as she did so. "You don't look too bad yourself."
Together they descended the stairs where Cora already stood waiting at the bottom pacing. She looked up with a relieved smile and hugged them both quickly. She brushed a stray curl back from her face and turned nervously on the spot looking at her uncle for her approval, he chuckled and dutifully gave attention to his niece's outfit.

"Beautiful hon. Now lets go and party."

"Cat wait!" Rory walked into the hallway and handed Cora's evening bag to her "You left that in the kitchen. You look awesome by the way."

Cora hugged him. "Thanks cuz."

"Come on lets go, the cab's waiting."Jack hurried the two women out of the door and nodded goodbye to his son.

The cab pulled up outside the Sequester's Grand Hall and they all hurriedly climbed out as the street was already full of vehicles and the driver had nowhere to park safely. Jack stopped just outside the entrance with a long suffering sigh as his wife and niece made last minute checks of their appearance. Elise straightened a few tendrils of Cora's loose mane of curls before stepping back and nodding to her husband. He showed their tickets and they were ushered inside.

As they walked through the foyer and into the ballroom proper Cora's hand tightened on her uncle's arm and he squeezed it reassuringly with his other hand. "Just remember your breathing exercises and that this is neutral territory and you'll be fine. Besides we're here with you and won't let anything happen."

"You mean you won't let me hurt anyone." Cora replied with a small chuckle.

Her uncle was right she could do this, she spent plenty of time with strangers in her work, granted not as many in one place but still she knew how to behave. She just had to make sure to keep her other tendencies in check, it wouldn't do much for the Metahumans image if she went on a rampage. She let go of her uncle and straightened her shoulders, working at appearing confident and unafraid. The three of them headed over to the bar.

"Good lord." Her uncle muttered as he saw the enormous reptillian man leaning against the bar.

"Shush." Elise elbowed him none too gently in the ribs.

Jack jumped and then nodded apologetically before heading to the bar, Elise followed him but Cora hesitated. She felt the faint stirring of a growl in her throat and pushed it back. Just because the man was big did not mean he was a threat to her and she deliberately walked over to stand beside him and the woman next to him.

"Hi." She smiled at them. "I hope I'm not interrupting nothing but I thought I should introduce myself to at least one other person tonight. I'm Cora Dubois."Her southern drawl was evident in her words.

---

Written in collaboration with @Mr Allen J

---

Lucille was sitting with her arms crossed, staring at the dance floor. She was already feeling her head clean from the effects of Trevor kiss—something hard to take, he was her friend, but still, he did that. And there she was fully recovered from the incident, trying to not adress a word to Meifeng. To her luck, everyone believed that she really had briefly fainted, even the the bartender, who insisted her take a cup of water. She just wants to break Trevor in half—with all her strength—and whenever he tried to fix the situation it was like poking a tiger with a short stick.

"A beer would be good now," she tried to break the ice with Meifeng. "I don't believe he did that. I'll kill him if I see him tonight." She said pressing her arms against her chest in anger.

"Heeeeeeeeeeey now...." Meifeng said, putting her hands up. Okay, she had to admit; it was pretty funny. At the same time, it was really fucking stupid. And Trevor tossed her plan. "You know him; he's just a poor little retarded boy! He doesn't know better!"

"What better than drugging others by kissing, I suppose." She sighed, "I'm stuck with him as long I'm in the Academy."

"You could always go somewhere else." Meifeng shrugged. "You're in Verthaven: City of opportunities!"

"I can always get a job lifting containers on the docks. Fun!"

"Yeah, you're on that entrepreneur shit!" Meifeng followed it with laughtered. "But, look, who could blame him? Every person on that dancefloor probably wanted to cop a feel."

Lucy laughed, it was the only thing she could do to smooth things out. "Maybe I'll try joining NEST. I may be able to help with something, you know. My ma used to help in church every Saturday. It was fun to do something for people. Also carrying a gun will make Trevor think twice."

Who would honestly want to join NEST in the mist of all this internal turmoil and chaos? Well, it might be apart of the joke. Though, instead of instigating things, maybe Meifeng considered talking it out between the two. So they don't turn into headlines. "How about we go talk to Trevor before we decide to murder him? I saw him go... wait, you gotta agree to resolve this with words and talk about your feelings and shit.... Ah, nah, just screwing with you, he's in the bathroom. Just don't kill him all the way." She winked at her.

"I'll try my best at not killing him."

"Good. I'll lead the way." Meifeng slid from off her chair, before taking slow steps towards the men's bathroom. She stepped to the side, and presented the door before her. "Ladies first." She said with a grin.

"So you think that after what happened at the open bar I'm going in there?" Lucy raised an eyebrow.

"Well, you want to kick his ass, right?" Meifeng asked. "Anywhere's a battlefield, sweetheart. You should have seen me and my mom at the IHOP."

"At least come with me."

"Yeah, sure. Think I'm some puss-face that's afraid of a bathroom? Gender's a social construct, baby." Meifeng said, shrugging.

Lucy pushed the door slowly, trying not to come face to face with a man in the process. She called for Trevor, but didn't get an answer.

"... Stop pussyfooting. You gotta do it like - THIS!" Meifeng immediately kicked open an open stall with a powerful sidekick. It created a bang that echoed through the room. There wasn't anyone in it. She stopped, and put her hand on her hip. "Try it. It's fun."

Lucy shivered at the sound of the kick. "I'll try." She said, lowering and spying on each of the bathrooms. He was not the first, nor the second. She repeated the process until finding his All Star sneakers.

"... I don't think he's in here." Meifeng winked at Lucille. Pounding her fist against an open hand.

"Let's find out." She said with a grin. She put her right hand on the door and thrusted. It was easy to her. She just needed to concentrate and think about the aura wrapping her arm, giving her strength, and the telekinetic steroids did the rest. The door was pushed hard enough to force the lock open.

"Ah!" Trevor shouted as he realized he's been discovered. He put his hands over his head.

"What the hell were you thinking!" She shouted raising her arms.

"I couldn't help myself! You're hot!" Trevor shouted.

Meifeng simply shifted her weight, and pivoted her body towards Lucy. "See, girl? Told you."

Lucy facepalmed and sighed.

"Look, I'm... sorry." Trevor.said, trying to avoid eye contact by shooting his head to the side. "I... shouldn't have done that."

Meifeng looked at Lucille, then Trevor. "... Whoop his butt!" She said, pounding her fist into her hand again.

"It would brighten my day... But no, enough of this mess." She then pointed her finger at him. "Don't even consider trying again. Lead the way miss Meifeng." She said at last.

"Oh wait, hold up." Meifeng put her hands up. "You gotta be a little mad. You gotta sort this shit out now before it starts to affect you when it matters."

Oh please God, don't convince her to punch me. Trevor thought to himself with wide eyes.

"You should punch him at least once." Meifeng said. "Just to settle the score. He touched you uncomfortably, so you gotta do the same."

"You right. I'm sorry T." Before he even thinking about saying something she kneed him in his groin. She even tried to aim a little to the left, although she tried to be convincing.

"Omph!" Trevor let out the noise as he grabbed his wang. Nearly falling over as he dropped to his knees. He felt a pain like no other - mainly because he feels a little extra pain because of his drug. "... Thank you." Trevor groaned, in a high pitched tone.

"I know... I'm sorry."

"Hey! Hey! Hey! I said punch him. Eh, know what, just go with it." Meifeng made a gesture with her hands that imitated waves. "Now, you two have reached an understanding... but given that shit show that happened last time, I think we could probably go without the underaged alcohol." She shrugged.

"Now we were about to strengthen our emotional bonds? I'm disappointed."

"Now, I think I'm going to find an adventure somewhere else...." Meifeng said as she stepped towards the door. Pushing it open, she stood in the doorway and looked back at them. "... You might want to leave the men's bathroom." Before walking out.

"Sure. I'll wait at the door, Trevor." Said Lucille, followed by a muted sorry that went unnoticed.

"I'll-" Trevor said, his voice squeaked. "Think I'll stay in here for a bit... Could you go grab me some ice?"

"I'll try to." She said as she walked through the door. "Things in Black Fall were never this fun... or disastrous." Lucy glanced at Meifeng.

There was dull germ of gray light sauntering down from the half-burnt garage light overhead. A thick layer of filth blocked out most of the illumination, but left just enough to let shadows dance around the room and stalk the dark corners. David could scarcely see much beyond his blindfold as he struggled to break out of the double-bound plastic ties cuffing his hands. He wasn't sure what was anchoring his foot to the floor, but he'd soon find out. Just a little more tension and he could break the ties. He could feel it.
In the that moment, when the hope for escape seemed possible, he heard the metallic creak of a heavy door open and shut.

"Who's there?!" Through his blindfold, he saw the silhouette of a tall figure cross in front of the light and stand opposite of him. "H-Hey, man! You can't fucking keep me here! This shit ain't legal, man-I got rights!"

An undaunted voice that sound like it had been raked through gravel answered him with a hearty laugh. "Don't get so jumpy. We just had to blindfold your for security reasons." The figure stepped over and removed the strip of cloth.

David couldn't make out much of this guy's features. With the light behind him, shadows obscured too much of his face. But the uniform, he recognized immediately: he was part of NEST. When he sat down across from David, the dust-coat bulb above shed light on his identity: Agent Emilio Barabas.

Emilio pulled a hot dog from a brown bag at the foot of his chair. If the grease stains on the bag and the delicious smell of cooked meat was any indicator, it was piping hot and fresh.

"So I'm just give to ya straight, Dave. You don't mind, if I call you Dave, do ya?" He didn't wait for a response. "Great! Well Dave, as you and I both know, dereliction of duty is essentially treason when you're a NEST Agent. Getting hit with an Article 85 would be peachy compared to what NEST's as-of-yet-unnamed branches are going to hit you with." A wry grinned sneaked into Emilio's expression; he seemed amused by his own words. "But there's a catch, isn't there? Otherwise, you'd be dead already." He held out the beef frank with a charitable gesture. "Here eat some first. You're probably starving, Dave"

David looked at Emilio and then at the heavy steel clamp around his ankle and at the anti-meta collar cuffed to his neck. "Kinda hard to eat with all this hardware on me? You mind at least takin' the ties off."

Emilio smiled pleasantly. "Sure Buddy, whatever you need." He flicked out a long, serrated utility knife from his sleeve, and fixed his eyes on David with hawk-like focus, a predatory gaze that made the captive traitor sweat even harder. Emilio was waiting for this, waiting for David to show a chink in his armor. "You alright, Dave? Lookin' a little pale." His expression changed instantly. Every word and nuance seemed genuine. He looked and sounded genuinely concerned for David's health, but the transition was suspiciously quick. He stepped over and cut David's bindings.

David tried to hide it, but just feeling the sudden lack of tension around his wrists made him jump in his skin. Something about Emilio unsettled him. He knew better than to try escaping. If it wasn't for that damn power-dampening collar, he would already be gone; he could just phase through the chair and cuffs. Instinctively, he rubbed the red marks circling his wrists as Emilio held out the hot dog for him, which he took reluctantly. One bite and his mouth was watering. God, It was so good. Having been on the run for two months now, made eating regularly difficult and he hadn't had much to eat the past few days.

Emilio sat down again, crossed his arms nonchalantly, and waited for him to finish.

"So what's your deal?" David ground out with a bit of chewed food stuffed in his cheek. "So what's this 'catch' you're talkin' about?"

"Agent David Emerson was the last person to be assign for deep field infiltration of Hands of Science facilities. That's you Dave."

David stopped eating.

"That means you know some useful shit, doesn't it? And I need to know what you know." He studied David for a moment, trying to guess how hard he'd have to push to get what he needed. "I'm here to offer you a way out." He nudged the greasy paper bag with his foot. "There's a wad of cash and an unregistered pistol under your french fries here. And I can personally pull the hounds back for you finish your Houdini act and disappear... permanently."

David scoffed. When everything sounded too good to be true, it was usually a trap. "You'd make a great salesman, but I'm not buyin' it." He looked at the bag and then at Emilio. "So what're you gonna do, if I say no?"

Emilio looked disappointed. "Do you even need to ask, Dave?" He shook his head and sighed. "Of course, I'm going to kill you. What the fuck else am I gonna do, if you decide to be useless sack of shit?" He threw his hands up in exasperation.

"Fuck you, man... Fuck you!" A deep scowl crossed David's face. "I don't care, if you kill me. I don't even care if the food was poison. You think your a scary motherfucker? There ain't shit you can do to me that's worse than what I've already seen. They have living, breathing nightmares so bad you'll go crazy just lookin' at 'em. So you want to put bullet in my head? Fine, go ahead." He leaned forward to match Emilio's hard stare. "I'll fucking enjoy it."

Emilio flashed a wicked smile. "That's no bueno, Dave." He sighed in feigned frustration. "I really thought we could be friends, ya know?" He leaned down and reached for the paper bag.

Capitalizing on that fraction of second when Emilio's attention seemed to waver, David leapt into action. With a tight grip on the back leg of his chair, he slid the the folding metal from under him, and with a hard yank, collapsed it into its flattened form. In one fluid motion, he directed the heavy side of the aluminum chair at Emilio's head.

Emilio rolled to the side, but the edge of it caught his brow. David was well-trained, but still had to recover from the upswing. Emilio shoved a kick into the rogue agent's exposed ribs. A quick hand was there to knock it away, but he managed to duck the downswing as the flat metal bludgeon cut across the air and bit into the floor. Emilio brought his arms up, the muscles under his jacket rippled in series and burst a few shoulder seams as he pounded hard into the side of David's knee. It didn't buckle, instead it rocked with the blow and forced Emilio to snake away from a pointed elbow strike from David's swinging arm. A loud clatter echoed through the room as the chair slammed into the floor. David ditched it. It made him too slow.

The two exchanged cuts and bloody bruises in a wild flurry. Both were expert combatants and their experience showed. But Emilio had the advantage: his footwork gnawed at David's weakened knee, effectively preventing his opponent from maintaining his center balance.

David felt winded. Every hit from Emilio seemed to steal away his energy. "Bastard's not even using his knife. He's fuckin' playing with me". He knew he was losing. He tried creating some distance between them, but with his right foot anchored to the floor, he was sitting duck. Behind Emilio, he caught a glimpse of a metal plate on the floor with massive bolts fastened to it at each corner. It gave him an idea. He wormed his way through the next few feints and counters, finally managing to land a solid hook into Emilio's jaw, but realized very quickly impact didn't feel as dead-on as expected. Shit. David lunged forward, trying to ram his shoulder into this smiling bastard, so he'd take a nice tumble and impale himself on those floor bolts.

This was the moment Emilio was waiting for. He felt it in how the air rushed into him and leaned into it. With expert precision he slipped his left hand under David's opposing arm, lifted slightly to expose the neck, and pressed the bony edge of his forearm against the base of David's neck as the two fell straight down. Nearly the full weight of Emilio's upper body slammed into his captive's spine, but enough of the impact was blunted by the dampening collar, leaving David broken and unconscious, but not dead.

Emilio stood up, straightened his suit, and delivered one last parting gift: a swift kick to David's ribs. Hearing the pained groan that floated up from the limp wreckage of meat and bones was enough to satisfy Emilio's spite. The adrenaline still rushing through his veins kept him tense and wiry, but once it subsided he exited to room.

Turning to the agent stationed outside, he said "Alright, Julie. Gut him and wipe the slate clean. Once you finish the extraction, we'll leave him on NEST's doorstep. He'll make a nice paperweight for our fellow 'detectives'."

Julie nodded and headed inside. She was short woman with fiery red hair and an athletic figure. Her cute, round face belied the fact she was a terrifying metahuman. NEST dubbed her Tabula Rasa. She was a tactile mind-reader, but her real value came from being able to wipe other memories with just a touch. The pair made up one of NEST's unregistered "eraser" teams.

Julie entered into the corridor with a bored expression. "I'm getting really tired of cleaning up messes."

Emilio took a long drag on his cigarette, obviously enjoying a quick smoke break.

"Yeah..." he said making smoke rings with his mouth. "I wouldn't worry about it. We're not going to be here much longer anyway."

She stuck her thumb over her shoulder, which meant he was supposed to "get off his lazy ass and do his damn job".

Emilio knew the look even, if she didn't speak. He mockingly saluted her with the cigarette barely hanging on his lip. "Yes ma'am! I'll get right to it."

"Don't take too long, we'll miss our flight." She shouted over her shoulder, pausing briefly to jot down notes on a small flip pad. "The charity ball is tonight."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever..." His voice echoed from the dark chamber.

- - -

<Placeholder for the rest of it>

---

---

"Papa, you said we'd work in the garden today."

Marigold sat impatiently on the counter of a kitchen as her father washed dishes, nodding with her statement. Plants of all shapes and sizes lined a nearby window, which let in enough sunlight to keep the entire room well lit. Even with Mark's line of work, the Emerson home was surprisingly cozy. Brass pots and pans hung from the ceiling on hooks, and drawings covered every square inch of space on the refrigerator but the handle. Notches made with markers lined one edge of the wall, with tiny dates and height measurements next to them. The rooms smelled strongly of sage and cinnamon, and soft music played from a radio near the sink.

"I'm busy tonight, so I can't dig up the carrots with you, sweetpea." Mark polished off the last dish in the sink with a satisfying squeak, setting it on a rack. "Tell you what, sport." Mark said, flicking the last bits of water off of his fingers as he turned off the faucet. "Papa can't work with you in the garden today, but he can give you a quick fly around town. Sound fair?"

"Fair." Marigold said, sliding off the counter. Her red hair seemed all the more fiery in the sunlight, just like the flower she was named for. Her eyes were the same deep shade of brown as her father, though unlike Mark, she was covered in freckles. Before Mark got the chance to tell his daughter to wash up, his cell phone rang in his pocket, buzzing with impatience immediately. It was a ring unlike the usual Acoustic guitar -- Only one contact had three plain beeps.

"Go put away those sheets I mentioned earlier, then I'll meet you outside." Mark said, pulling out his phone. Marigold nodded happily, and ran down the hall.

Mark opened up his flip-phone, and leaned back on the counter. "Yellow?"

His smile quickly faded as he listened. "Tomorrow?" He pinched his lip nervously, looking out the window to his garden. Every now and then, Mark would confirm with a "Got it" or "Mhm", but the conversation was clearly one-sided. He was receiving orders, after all. After a long stretch of silence, Mark spoke up.

"Sounds risky. A day after their fundraiser, and we're in the news every minute. You hear the radio today?" He said in a hushed tone. "Not for that amount. Remember the Kerry kid? That was just some nobody's kid and I got seventy five. No way this one's only eighty."

"Papa, I'm gonna wait outside!" Marigold shouted down the hall.

"One fifty, and I'll have 'em from the crib to your arms in an hour." He paused for a second, before a silent fistpump. "You got it. I gotta run. Yeah." Mark impatiently sighed. "You don't have to worry about that. Alright. Bye."

He hung up the cell phone and jammed it into his pocket as quickly as he could, as if he carried something secret. Something bad.

"Be out in a minute, munchkin." Mark called out, stretching his wings.

---

Mark soared above Verthaven, with Marigold clinging tightly to his back. Slowly but surely, she was getting harder to carry, though Mark pretended not to notice. He liked that his daughter was still his little girl -- No doorslamming phase, no boyfriends, no hundred dollar makeups kits. They were high up enough that few people would notice them, and those who would would assume that Mark was simply a very large bird or a very small plane. His speed accounted for that.

Mark dipped down, pivoting his wings to catch the current, gliding quickly towards the ground. The two were closing in on the beach, or at least, the ocean by the beach. Within moments, Mark glided down close enough for Marigold to dip out her hand and touch the water as he flapped, slowing down as they neared the shore. They'd rest for a while before going back home. It'd give Mark a chance to rest, but more importantly, a chance for his daughter to tire herself out. "Go find a friend to play with. Meet me back here in twenty minutes."

"Thanks Papa" Marigold said, leaping off of his back onto the warm sand. Mark stood up, stretching his wings in the sunlight.

"Hey man!" A voice yelled a few yards away with him. Instinctively, Mark cleared his throat, ready to shout. Mark turned around, ready for a brigade of NEST agents. Instead, he found a man with a scraggly beard and long brown hair tied back with twine.

"Hey man, aren't you that guy who was on that bird show on the History Channel?" He asked eagerly.

A simple case of mistaken identity. Nothing to worry about.

"Ehh, sorry friend, my inglesh es not good. No hestory show, very sorry." He said with a slouch. Even though the man seemed harmless, Mark wasn't taking chances. What if he was a detective? What if he was a NEST agent? What if he was one of Mark's victims? There were too many factors for Mark to reply normally.

"Ah, alright, thanks man, sorry." The man said, turning around.

"Es alright, yes. Have good day."

---

---

Henry saw her coming.

Well, he smelt her first. Then he heard her. Then he felt her weight on the floorboards near him due to his weight and then he saw her. So it was more of seeing her coming as much as it was seeing her coming.

This person, she smelt different than the others. The way her weight was displaced... the way she seemed to hesitate as she approached... It was strange. She smelt very different though because unlike the relaxed and almost uncaring demeanor that Lihua held to her being (who was currently ignoring them both) she was perspiring. For a breif moment he hypothesized that her sympathetic nervous system was at work. As she came up to his flank and he turned to face her he saw more signs. Dialated pupils, and he could sense her heart rate's increase. He counted the beats.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... Times sixty... He estimated 151 BPM. Her body was pumping small amounts of adrenaline, and her heart rate was high. She was nervous. A quick glance over her features gave away that she was an animal meta. Her category gave away why she was subconciously behaving the way she was. She was scared. His presence scared her. Or alarmed her. Or threatened her. Or something. All he knew was that at the very core of her mind- her body was either telling her 'fight or flight'. He would put his money on the latter though. Any animal with a sense of self would rather run than fight. Especially outside of their territory. Fighting meant injury. Injury could mean death. Basic animal instincts would be telling her to fear him because of his size- just as his instincts were telling him not to mind her because she was so small. But his prefrontal lobe- the logic and reasoning and headquarters of intelligence- told him that, that line of thinking wasn't true anymore. In this day and age, the weakest looking man could kill you without having to touch you.

And so he respected her. It was fair and just and... the general nice thing to do. Plus, it was very obvious she was putting a lot of effort into being here. It was pretty brave, all things considered with the demon on her shoulder telling her no.

"Hi," He replied blinking. Hopefully he hadn't been lost in thought for a noticable amount of time.

"No, yeah, no. I dont think you're interrupting anything I-", Henry said, looking over to Lihua who still looked genuinely disinterested. Oh wait, she was speaking again. Her name was Cora. Interesting name.

"Uh," Henry said, trying to find words because he was not used to being approached like this. He suddenly didn't really know what to do with his hands so his left hand rose to his neck and messed with the spikes along his back. He jerkily stuck his right hand out to her.

"Uh, Henry." He said, trying his best to not sound like an idiot.

Cora Dubois and Henry Olin

Written in collaboration with @UrbanEvolution

Cora hesitated for a brief moment before reaching out and shaking hands with Henry, his skin felt dry and not at all unpleasant. She had never come across a meta with Reptilian features before and didn't know what to expect. But thus far apart from his size, Henry, seemed genuinely friendly and a little awkward. It made her feel a little better knowing that she wasn't the only one who struggled in these situations.

She shook his hand firmly before releasing his hand and resting both of her hands on the bar, she took several deep breaths in an attempt to help calm her instincts. Her senses were working overdrive taking in every little thing around her in an effort to spot any potential threats. But at the same time her instincts were insisting that the big man next to her was her most immidiate threat.

Determined not to allow those instincts to win she continued breathing in and out, in and out, the breaths slow and even. Gradually she felt her heart begin to calm and smiled, pleased with her efforts. She turned so that she faced Henry and smiled again.

"Well Henry, it's nice to meet you. I'ma struggling a little being around all these people, so I apologise if I'ma little distracted. But it is real nice to meet someone else like me."

She looked Henry up and down and then grinned her playful side showing itself a little. She gestured to her skin and then at his.

"Well sorta like me anyhow."

She turned and caught the eye of the bartender, he walked over and smiled politely. She asked for a glass of juice before turning back to Henry. Jack had just gotten drinks for him and Elise and as she glanced at him he nodded in approval. Obviously trusting her to handle herself he and her aunt wandered away to mingle amongst the other guests. Cora told herself they were not abandoning her and pushed the re surfacing anxiety to the back of her mind.

"So you here to raise money for us 'special people' too?"

Henry sucked in a breath, contemplating his response.

This person didn't know him, which was probably good- considering NEST's reputation.

In one hand he could say he was here to raise money and a reputation. In the other he could lie, and just pretend that he was a civilian. He doubted Lihua would say anything to blow his cover. His eyes shifted to her free hand- instinctively looking for a weapon of some sort. A habit he had learned the hard way. He'd taken a bullet to the gut and while he had come out of it just fine afterward- the nickel sized scar was the source of many 'belly button' jokes onward.

Henry coughed, and finaly spoke up.

"Yeah, yeah. Just... trying to do my part, you know?"

He was glad he wasn't carrying any weapons on him right now. Honestly he was glad he didn't really use weapons to begin with. Weapons were messy. And hard to cover fup. Claws and fists? You can hide those. Well, you can hide them better than you can hide weapons.

"I take it you're here for the same reason?"

Cora took a sip of her juice and then nodded in response .

"Yes, though honestly I didn't want to come. I'm not exactly a people person and this is a lotta people."

She paused , wondering what he thought of NEST and all of the recent press it had received. Many Metahumans were angry about what had come to light and Cora could understand why. Yet she believed in NEST, believed that they were needed. If a Meta like her went on a Rampage they were the best people to deal with it. It gave her comfort knowing that and she chose to believe that not all of the organisation was corrupt, just a few bad apples.

"But my family was right to convince me to come. NEST needs our support if it's ever gonna rebuild its reputation."

"I feel the people person part." Henry said, resisting the urge to call over more wine. He wanted to get drunk right now. Like, really badly. But then Lihua or Sonya or both would have to lug him home and that would be bad.

This NEST conversation though... Probably wasn't good. Conversations like this would inevitably lead to him messing up if he continued down the road. He was good, really good. But he'd met people that were better. Especially at picking up lies or deception. One mistake could lead to some bad stuff like distrust or something. So it'd probably be best to play it smart and reveal his occupation later. If he would even need to reveal it at all.

"That an accent I detect?" Henry questioned, turning and leaning back against the bar, which groaned against his weight once again. "I'm from Boston. Where're you from?"

Cora heard the bar complain when Henry leaned on it and smiled slightly.

"You ever break stuff accidentally? "She gestured at the bar which, though solid, definitely looked to be bowing slightly under his weight.

"I do all the time. I'm always having to replace my rugs and furniture."

She realised then that he had asked her a question.

"Louisiana, New Orleans to be exact. I grew up in the Bayou's. Never been to Boston, do you miss it?"

"Constantly. I constantly break things. I spend more money replacing things than I do on appartment annually." Henry said, looking down and glaring at the bar as if doing so would whip it into shape. He picked up his wine glass and held it at hey eye level. "See this? Think of it as an egg. You know what? Just think of everything as an egg."

Henry snorted. "God no. Boston's a great place to be from. Not a good place to grow up. Do you have any idea how many 'New York Sewer Gator' jokes I got down there before I moved? Way too many." He said, his brow furrowing.

"So why'd you move to California? And why Verthaven of all places?"

Cora almost choked on her juice as an impromptu chuckle escaped her throat. She tried to imagine everything being as delicate to her as an egg and the ensuing image was enough to cause more laughter to escape.

"I guess that makes you an interesting house guest. Me, I'm always ripping things." She raised her hand and extended her nails briefly to emphasise her point. "My aunt's given up on expensive carpets."

Her smile faded as she remembered what had led her to come to Verthaven. Memories flashed before her eyes and she unconsciously hunched her shoulders trying to become a smaller target. Though the human part of her scolded her for her reaction. But the animal part remembered, and feared, her time in her parents lab.

She clenched her glass and was not aware that her nails had extended again.

"I...have family here and after my parents had finished they sent me to live with my Aunt and Uncle who live here."

Needing to talk of something else, feeling how unstable she was, she said too brightly.

"I'm a freelance photographer, you might have seen some of my work with Metahumans. I'd love to photograph you at some point. You have a fascinating and oddly attractive appearance."

She looked away realizing what she had said. "Im sorry, I hope I didn't offend you."
She clutched her glass tighter unaware of her nails scratching the glass.

"I'm so bad at this." She muttered in frustration.

---

Written in collaboration with @Defacto

---

Now, while Henry was discussing what was going on with REAPER, and the Hands of Science, Sonya immediately jumped back up to her post. She attached herself to the ceiling, and kept watch on the scene. Nothing unusual was going on, and no known or wanted criminals had showed themselves yet. Fortunately, that meant that they're staying faaaaaaaaar away from such a event. Or they're going onto better endeavors than causing wanton destruction. Which brought a smile to Sonya's face. Her eyes focused on Maria, or Agent Inkshade, as she was sitting alone. In her human form, a small Spanish woman with brown dreadlocks, and sunglasses. Wearing this little dress, looking all lonely.

It almost made Sonya gasp as she thought about giving her wifey some attention, but duty calls. Sonya turned invisible, and watched everything from above.

"Agent Merryday?" Sonya's comms buzzed with the voice of Agent Cornell - Maximilian Cornell. One of the better known NEST Agents. So known that Sonya immediately recognized him by voice alone.

Sonya turned visible, and had a youthful smile on her face as her fingers went to her comm button, "Yeah, what is it?"

"There's a confrontation on the beach between some teens. Want me to handle it before it escalates?" Maximilian said, as she stood on top of the porch, with one hand on the railing, and watching from afar. He was tempted to activate his power, but wondered if it was really necessary.

Well, she is running security detail, and that's to stop silly little incidents like this from tearing up the place! Keeping that smile on her face, Sonya said, "Oh, that's not good. I'll be right out there."

"Understood, I'll be keeping watch." Maximilian said as he watched on.

Let's hope I can get there in time. Sonya said, as she leaped from one part of the ceiling, to another, closer to the door. She climbed outside through the door, before flinging herself to one of the ledges - earning surprised looks from the nearby family.

At this point, the fight had escalated from some harsh words, to fists being thrown. Sonya didn't waste a second in leaping onto the beach.

I'll call my brother, Lucille sighed, remembering her awkward smirk and excuse towards Trevor. She had better things to say, swimming naked in the beach might have made him laugh his ass off and make things better. But she was there, staring at the crowd while trying to regain Trevor's friendship by dull talking. It was she who kicked his balls but, even though he deerved, it was a good way to end a one month friendship. She just needed air.

Lucy followed the direction given by a NEST guy and she finally reached the mansion's porch. The porch was more beautiful than the house, she thought as she stared at the sunchairs, two garden benches surrounded by marble jugs and one Greek statue holding a harp. Lucille sat down on one of the steps of the masonry stairway.

---

"She's cute but I dunno if she’s in. Pretty scar in her cheek, though." She said. “What? I'm not into scars.” Lucille let out a laugh while pressing the phone between her ear and shoulder while she was looking for something in her purse. "Don’t even think about telling ma, she'll have a heart attack. Just don't."

Lucy said goodbye with a kiss and untied her sneakers. Feel the sand on her bare feet would make a good for the soul. And so she walked, glancing at her surroundings. On the left she saw a married couple who was playing with the waves, jumping and running as the tide went back and forth; further on she saw two children playing and chasing each other.

"Hey!" A male voice came from behind her, "What we have here boys? Trevor's sweetheart."

Lucy turned around only to come upon John and his stupid group. "What now?" She said, snorting in anger. John was one of the students in Academy 12, a prick with enhanced strength which best hobby was to bully others. Behind him were the Moskau's brothers. One was called Tom and the other Mike, but she never knew the difference. Tom had four arms and nine feet high while Mike was fast, very fast. She knew they would pick on her, just like all they knew to do. Annoy others.

"What was that, girl?" Tom said with the hands of his lower arms inside his trouser pockets and his upper arms crossed holding against his chest. "Fond for queers now?" The three laughed.

"Don't call him that!" Lucy said instinctively. She felt a chill and hopefully was just the wind.

"Or what?" The other brother said after quickly run between the middle group and her. It was so fast that sand was thrown in her dress and legs.

"Just leave me alone." She said turning the other way. But Mike was faster. As soon as she turned around, Mike appeared before her. This time closer. More sand was thrown in her dress and face. "Fuck you Tom!" Lucy said in rage with a right cross punch right on Mike nose, without realizing that she was taking advantage of her ability. Maybe it was the purple aura or the fact which he was thrown a few yards away from her.

"... Hey now, everyone take it easy!" Sonya shouted, as she put up her bulbous hand. Holding the strap to her rifle very tightly. "Don't know what started all this, but just walk away. Just avoid the paperwork." Sonya pleaded with them. Her hand was getting awfully close to the Glock hanging off her waist-holster - loaded with taser-rounds, of course, live rounds weren't her thing.

"Fucking bitch!" John said while running in Mike's direction, who was struggling to get up, staggering in the soft sand while trying to stop the bleeding from the nose with his hands.

Lucy stood staring at her wrist covered in blood, watching the purple aura fade. "I'm sorry," she said, turning to Sonya. It sounded more as an apology toward the NEST agent, she wanted to badly beat them. Even if it was three against her.

"Eh, it's fine... just walk away, and I won't mention what happened here to anyone." Sonya should have kicked the three of them out for starting a fight - but they didn't look like the trouble-starting type. And besides, she wanted everyone to have fun. Everything should be fine long as she ended it here.

"I'll--clean myself." Lucy said with an about to be arrested concern, while messing her hair to get all the sand off.

"Well, I would help you brush it off, but...." Sonya looked at her hands, which were coated in slime, and would only get onto Lucy. She seemingly defused the situation, with the boys walking off, and Lucy here clearing herself off. "What was that about, darling?" Sonya had to ask.

"You probably heard about the open bar incident..."

"... Yeah, saw it with my own two eyes." Sonya said, putting her fists on her hips.

"It was me. The boy who kissed me can be an asshole but he's my friend." Lucy sighed, "Those three were mocking me about him."

"Sounds like he's a little more than your friend." Sonya teased, sticking out her tongue. In some attempt to defuse the situation. Seems like a fight just started out of a few words. A pity. Sonya wished that people solved their problems with anything other than their fists, but oh well. "And when did you decide to deck him?" She asked.

"I--I don't like my friend that way." Lucy said defensively. "Besides them terrorize the lives of everyone in the Twelve? They called him queer. I think I lost control of myself, I could've blown his face." She shook her head in regret.

"Yeah, you could have..." Sonya said as she looked Lucy down. "Hate to be cliche here... but you really need to be the "bigger person", even though it's tempting. Makes less problems for NEST if you turn his face into a splatter." Sonya shrugged.

Lucy laughed, but then corrected herself seeing that the situation was serious. "Lets hope they forget me for awhile. John's a douchebag, he hit on me once. He couldn't stand a no and since then I am on his losers list. Never liked boys anyway." she coughed.

"Just stay out his way next time, 'kay?" Sonya responded.

"Yes miss!" She saluted.

Sonya nodded her head. "Now, I need to get back to observation... stay out of trouble, please? 'Kay, sweetheart." Sonya leaped back up the stairs, and in a single leap, she was at the top of the stairs.

---

---

Henry raised an eye ridge at her body language. Her animalistic urges were seemingly stronger than hers. She made mention that she had only moved after her mom and dad had finished, whatever the hell that meant. But it didn't seem like something that she would be willing to talk about. Or appropriate to discuss in this setting. But he'd find that out later. Maybe work up a file for her name. Case studies were something he'd always enjoyed. Something about the subject's unawareness always got his blood rushing.

Huh. Maybe they had something in common, instinct wise. Although, she still seemed to have some issues when it came to suppression. He understood that. He understood that probably too well.

"I'm... well.. I'm definitely not in the modeling occupation." Henry replied, giving a shit eating grin. "But thank you," He said, trying his best not to make it anymore awkward than she probably felt. He coughed. "It's not often I get complimented on my features. Often for... other qualities."

Cora raised her glass to take a sip and saw the faint scratches her nails had made. She looked at Henry and noticed the raised ridge. She blushed, something she rarely did, and quickly put her glass down before she could damage it further. Dammit why couldn't she get a handle on herself, it wasn't like she hadn't had plenty of practice.

Stuck in her parents lab for days on end , with nothing to do, had at least seen to that. Hours spent practicing and she still screwed up when it mattered most. God, he must think I'm an idiot. Cora thought in frustration. The first possible metahuman person she meets who could be a friend and she was making a fool of herself. Since he had already noticed her slip she decided humour was her best response.

"So yeah, back to breaking things." She said pointing to the glass. "Do ya think they'll notice?"

She realised he had been talking and quickly thought back to what he had said. At least her short term memory could be relied upon if nothing else.

"I don't photograph professional models. I used to do mainly natural art, animals in their own environment, that sorta thing." Talking about her work always made Cora feel more in control and she could feel herself relaxing. "But more recently I've been doing a project on the more...unusual Metahumans like me. I thought it would help humans see us as... more acceptable maybe. You probably think it's silly but it's my way of helping us out."

"It's different. I'll give it that," Henry commented, tilting his head momentarily and then moving it back to it's original spot. His eyes scanned her over again. She'd probably notice it. He know he does all the time. It's usually very subtle and hard to see- but people like them? Well, he at least, was very good at it.

He flicked his tongue.

"Although I wouldn't say it's a bad different." He briefly wondered who or what was funding her, or causing her to take these photos. Was he the first person she was approaching on this? He knew most of the animal meta humans in Verthaven- and unless this woman lived in a very bad part of town or near the edge of the city he doubted she would've met them all.

Sonya would be giving him so much shit if she could read minds right now. He probably sounded extactly the opposite of what he should sound like- thought wise. This was the bad part about being all work and no play. Everything became work.

"And what would you have me do, Cora?" He questioned, her name bouncing around in his mouth for a minute before rolling off his tongue as all unfamiliar words tended to do. His jaw structure made new words hard sometimes. Cora was no exception. It probably sounded like he said 'Coral'.No,

"Would you have me pose as a saltwater crocodile at the beach? Put someone's head in my jaws? Place me at a viewing perch in a zoo for irony's sake?" He questioned, wiggling his eyes ridges. "You had my attention. Now you have my curiousity."

Cora tensed as she noticed his eyes scanning her over again, having little experience with other animal meta humans outside of her work environment, she was unsure how to respond. Was he checking to see if she was a threat? Or because he liked what he saw? Or was that just what he did? She wished she had a better understanding of social interactions, at least those outside that of the various Feline species, those she understood all too well. Though she didn't think he would appreciate a typical feline response to this situation.

Instead she looked him over in return, making it obvious she had noticed. She smiled slightly hoping to convey her sense of humour and indicate that she was not offended.

"In the previous shots I have done, I have found it best to go with what works for them. A canine meta human I worked with wanted to be photographed in an open field, whereas another feline meta human wanted to take a more ironic approach. She had hers taken with a ball of wool." She grinned at the memory.

"I wasn't sure about that one at first as I didn't want her to be mocked but she insisted and people seemed to take it in good humour."

She cocked her head staring at him her mind running through different possibilities. He was naturally quite menacing and intimidating and she didn't want to lose that.

"You don't strike me as the calm beach or peaceful meadow kind of guy." She said slowly. "And I certainly wouldn't want someone's head in those jaws, no way I could get insurance for that! Honestly, I'm not really sure. But inspiration would hit me eventually."

"I would never put you in a zoo." Her eyes darkened again in memory. "No one should be caged like that."

Well, she was right on the whole 'not the calm beach or peaceful meadow' type. He was a soldier and a person who literally had a license to kill of need be. Peace was something he wasn't as well acquainted with as most people. Or maybe he was better acquainted with it due to knowing just what it's like to not have it. He didn't know. Or care much.

"No, I think you misinterpreted what I meant-" Henry said. He alig his tumbs and index fingers together and closed one eye, and put his huge arms out, looking through the small box he made with his fingers. "Me, dressed up like a tourist, leaning against the guardrail feeding peanuts to the elephants or something." He explained.

Henry was kinda glad that she hadn't pressed for his occupation yet.

"Oh." She grinned. "I like that. Though I'm not sure what the Elephants would think! Seriously though, sometimes I do them where people work. You know, to show us in a 'normal' environment so to speak. Maybe I could do that, though I guess it depends on what you do?"

"I'm sure they'd just be happy to ge free food. It's the zoo keepers you have to worry about."

Henry took a drink of his wine, drinking his fourth (Or fifth?) glass in one go. Then he just about choked as soon as she asked about doing it where he worked. This was going so well too.

"Uh, well, you see..."

Shit.

"Uh, you probably wouldn't want to do that."

Seeing him suddenly hesitate piqued her curiosity, and if there was one thing Cora was, it was curious. Too curious for her own good. Now she just had to know.

"Why not? Do you work in Morgue or something? Because I guess that wouldn't be so good. Though we'd get points for horror value."

"Uh," Henry said, his eyes shifting to Lihua. He'd get shit for this later. He knew it.

"I'm Special Agent Olin." Henry finally said. "Of NEST. I'm here to make sure nothing goes down that shouldn't go down."

He wouldn't tell her about the sniper on the ceiling. That wouldn't go down well. It really wouldn't go down well that he was working directly with that sniper on a daily basis.

Cora frowned, looking at him it was obvious he was built for combat and she was irritated that she hadn't figured it out before now. She wondered if he was one of the good guys, or one of the not so good guys, she hoped he was the former. She liked him and wanted to trust him but she had been burned before and knew it was always best to err on the side of caution.

But he had told her when she had asked and so far, other than his size, he hadn't done anything but talk to her.

"NEST huh? Well Im guessing you've had your hands full recently. Hopefully you won't have to deal with too much tonight."

She hesitated then said "I suppose I'm supposed to hate you guys but you're not all bad right? Besides I've never had a problem with NEST so unless that changes I still believe in what you're doing."

Well, at least she had some faith in him. Faith that would be long gone if she knew what he did on a regular basis, but faith never the less.

"I... I'd like to think that we're not all bad." A lie. Every NEST agent was probably a bad person from some standpoint. Him, because he was a killer. "I'm here in case something happens. We've been busy and..." He said, fumbling around with the words.

"Well, we really want this to go on smoothly. We want the city to trust us again. It was the higher ups that were the bad apples- we're just... trying to clean up after them."

In the end they were all janitors. Cleaning up after someone or something. Loose ends, a missing witness. Whatever it was, NEST was just a glorified garbage disposal unit with a different job description and heavy training.

---

---

Right when Sonya's feet hit the ground, her comms activated again.

"Agent Merryday," Detective Luther Ross, disguised as an ordinary citizen out on a walk, spoke into her comms. "We miiiiiiight have a problem."

"Oh dear, what is it?" Sonya put her fingers to her earpiece.

"Fiend. Or at least one of them. We Id'd him as Rampage the Fiend, he's on our wanted list. He's heading straight for the Ball, and he isn't looking very friendly." Ross said.

"Bloody hell... I thought we knocked that gang. There's still a little left?"

"Enough to cause us some problems."

A soft sigh escaped her lips, before speaking into the undercover comms, "All Agents, move in to intercept. I'm on my way. Agent Merryday out."

Sonya took her fingers off her earpiece, before leaping high up into the air. Landing on the roof of the mansion, and quickly crawling her way to the front of the building.

---

It was time that the Remnants get revenge for what happened to the lieutenants, and the rest of the gang. It was time for NEST and the police to stop eating out of their cheese trays while people in the Estella Isle suffer. It was time for Rampage the Fiend to walk up to their building, wearing nothing but camouflage pants and boots, leaving his muscular tattooed figured on full display. He strut up to the building like he owned the place, and stepped up the stairs.

But, the undercover NEST Agents came up to him. Lead by Luther Ross, who was wearing a white T-shirt, some torn up sneakers, and sneakers. "Sir, I'm going have to ask you to leave." Luther said, pulling his arm around behind him to grab the gun that's in his waistband.

"I wanna see ya'll try and stop me." Before they could pull their guns out on him, the man's chest started glowing with a red energy, before a concussive wave shot out of his chest, and sent all the undercover Agents flying. Before the Agents guarding the door could react, he fired another blast that absolutely decimated the wall and knocked over the NEST Agents. Rampage grinned as he walked inside.

"Oh dear..." Sonya groaned as she grit her teeth as she made it to the edge of the building. The man had gotten under the cover of the building before Sonya could pull out her rifle and taze his ass. She had no choice but to quickly slink underneath the building, and hope she can get another aim on him.

Stepping through the smashed down doors, Rampage's grin got even wider as he saw all the scared and confused people. "That's right! Run!" He shouted as his chest started glowing again. He started laughing like a supervillain.

A loud bang filled the room, before he felt an impact hit him in the stomach. He looked down, and saw his stomach leaking blood out of a fleshy red wound. His chest stopped glowing as he put his hands on his stomach - right then that's when two more shots rang out. Hitting him in the chest, and the last shot shooting him in the head. Blood and brain was shot all over the walls. Rampage fell over, and landed headfist, getting more brains on the ground.

Agent Vuhong merely slide her pistol back into her purse and zipped it shut, before turning back to take a sip of her wine until she ran out. "Can I have the whole bottle?" She casually asked, putting out her wine glass.

Sonya dropped down from the ceiling, expecting for the worst, but she saw Rampage's dead body, and NEST Agents approaching it. Along with civilians looking on. Throwing on an uncomfortable smile, Sonya put her hands in the air. "Party's over folks!" She shouted. "We gotta clean all this up!"

In the meantime, NEST Agents were dragging off Rampage's body.

"Let's go, let's go, let's go!" Sonya said, as everyone began leaving.

She was hoping that this wouldn't happen - but looks like she'll have to deal with it.

---

3:10 PM, The Next Day....

The sun was shining in Verthaven. People were out enjoying the sun, and having.

---

_{@BurningDaisies}

---

"One..." Meifeng moaned the number as she pulled herself up for a chin up. The music blasting out of her speaker was motivation for her. She struggled for a moment, but managed to get herself up on the chin-up bar mounted on the ceiling. She did one chin up, groaned, and then did another. Sweat was dripping down her body, and soaking her clothes (Which were, at best, minimal) in sweat ten minutes in. Her arms were aching, but she barely stopped. "Thirty...." She groaned.

What interrupted her was the door slamming open, and her cousin stood in the doorway. Wearing a grey hoodie (Zipped up, nothing under it), and matching grey sweat pants. She let out a sigh, before furrowing her brows, "Would you please turn that music down? I'm trying to rest."

"Well, you're going have to wait a little bit, because I'm working out." Meifeng said, strained because she was doing chin ups at the same don't. "Sure as hell don't want become chubby like you." She chuckled as Mika rolled her eyes.

"You're so inconsiderate." Mika answered.

"Inconseederate?" Meifeng mispronounced the word in the middle of her chin-up. "Hey, you choose to stay here. Too bad it ain't like one of those mansions."

"Ugh, I'm telling auntie." Mika turned around, and walked right out the door, angrily stepping down the stairs.

"Auntie." Meifeng parroted, raising an eyebrow. She dropped down, and let out a sigh. Mika here is going to act like a spoiled brat, and it's up to Meifeng to stop her. As she stepped down the stairs, she said, "I thought you'd be above such... lingo." Mika ignored her, and stepped into the kitchen, which Meifeng quickly followed behind.

The first thing that Mika saw was Lihua sitting at their dark-brown wooden dinner table, holding Lijuan, who was keeping a bottle steady to her hand. Not dressed elegantly as before, Lihua was simply wearing a white T-shirt, and grey sweat pants. With sandals on her feet. She looked up at Mika, before her eyes shot down at Lijuan. "Can I help you, Mika?" Lihua said.

"Yes you can-" Mika bowed, but Meifeng quickly ran into the room, and bumped into her. They impacted each other hip to hip, and it sent Mika stumbling a few steps ahead.

"Hey!" Meifeng said to Mika. Before turning to Lihua, "Mom, Mika here is being a brat, and coming into my room and telling me to turn it off!"

"Your daughter is being heavily inconsiderate! I'm trying to get some rest!" Mika put her hand on her chest. "She is too unruly!"

Lihua closed her eyes, and slowly raised Lijuan in her arms, before lowly saying, "... Lijuan here is acting more mature than the two of you." Lihua looked up at them. She then flatly says, "Meifeng, just turn off the music. Or turn it down, at least."

"I'm trying to workout, and she's getting in the way." Meifeng said, putting her hand on her hip. She looked over to Mika, "You can't wait twenty minutes for me to finish? That's why you're so fat, Mika. All you do is sleep, drink tea, and ea-" Before she could even finish, Lihua stepped in.

"Enough, you two." Lihua put her foot down. "Meifeng..." She turned towards her daughter. "How about you go out for a bit? You've been cooped up in this house far longer than usual."

"Oh, you're kicking me out-" Meifeng rolled her eyes, before Lihua said something that changed her mind mighty quick.

"You can take the car." Lihua said.

"Well, I'm out." Meifeng gleefully said as she turned around with a smile on her face and ran up the stairs. This is amazing, she's going to take the car out for a spin! This is the rare opportunities when Lihua lets her drive their expensive car alone. She's going to get Jen, Anna, Cindy, and all the girls and have an adventure!

First thing she had to do was get dressed, boxers and a T-shirt wasn't appropriate out on the town wear. Well, she had the perfect idea in mind once she got into her room. Fortunately, the only thing she had to change on her current outfit was her shirt - which was replaced with a loose and baggy T-shirt, and had a plaid flannel shirt. She pulls some jeans up over her boxers - which weren't really her thing, but they looked good with the rest of her outfit - before she slid into some sneakers. All that was left was slapping a Chicago Bulls hat on, and she was out the door.

However, Meifeng didn't exactly head straight for the door. She quickly slipped around into Lihua's room, a big old room with a large queen-sized bed (Fitting), dresser, and various nightstands. The latter was Meifeng's objective. She stepped over to it, and grabbed one of the cases for Lihua's glasses, before rummaging around her room until she found her ID. She grinned, before sliding it into her pocket.

Meifeng slid down the railing, and saw Mika standing there, holding a wad of cash. Which she pushed against Meifeng's chest, saying, "This is encouragement for you to stay out extra long while I rest. Consider it payment for "winning" that poker game last night."

A grin etched itself across Meifeng's lips as she counted four-hundred dollars. Four hundred! Just to get the hell away from Mika? Well, this is the easiest money Meifeng ever made. And will ever spend. "Thanks Mika! " Meifeng said, before running out the door.

Lihua was walking up, holding Lijuan in hand. She only caught a glimpse of Meifeng's outfit before she put her hand out, saying, "Wait, don't go out dressed like a les-" Meifeng had already slammed the door shut before she could finish. She facepalmed, shaking her head slowly.

Meifeng was going quickly as possible to get to the car. A luxury Cadillac sedan made for the best. A gift from their rich uncle not too long ago so they can stop driving around in a lemon. Meifeng loved this Cadillac, but had to be extra careful so that she ensures that she uses it again. Even sitting in, all Meifeng could smell was excellence. However, the first thing Meifeng did was whip out her phone, and send a text to Anna.

Hey Anna, wanna meet up?

---

---

Broken glass crunched underneath his black steel-toe boots as he stepped by an abandoned car.

Trevor walked through the ruins of this once-beautiful part of the city - The Ghost town - with a child-like excitement. He didn't smile, not that it would be noticed underneath his plum-colored scarf. He was walking through these streets holding his black compound bow, his quiver was mounted on his hip, and another knife was strapped to his other hip. Not because he was hunting anything, he was using it for protection. Just in case some monster jumped out at him. Like that would happen. Heh. He'd be more afraid of some stray dog, or angry crackhead coming at him - though, he hasn't seen too many animals out here. Other than the birds, but even they didn't stick around for too long. He just figured that he was being paranoid, and kept pushing on.

Heaving what looked like a gym bag over his shoulder, he approached some old cafe, and looked up at it. It was a decrepit little building that was sandwiched between a row of other buildings that looked just as bad. The windows were smashed in on this place, doors were kicked in, and the tables were smashed. Though, Trevor thought about giving it a look, just to see what it was like inside. He stepped through the window, and reached to his belt, and pulled out his waist mounted flashlight. He shined it into the room, and slowly saw that there was nothing but debris, and animal crap. He was expecting at least one dead body. Come on!

He really wanted to keep exploring this building, but there was clearly nothing in here of note. He turned around, and as he stuck his boot over the window-frame, he saw something. Something shoot by him outside of his peripheral. The first thing that came to mind was immediately turning around to look. It was gone. Maybe it was just a leaf. Or a stray cat. Or he's just fucking crazy. He was just going to ignore it and keep on exploring this ghost town. While ignoring every horror movie he ever saw by continuing to be here.

Trevor continued down the street, every step was cautious. There was something clearly off about this place. Then again, they do have it fenced off for a reason. That's what makes it a little more exciting. It's that adventurous spirit that drives Trevor forward.

Though, it was a little lonely out here.

It probably would be a little more exciting if he had the crew with him. Oh well. Maybe he should come out here to do what he planned on, and then head on back to the beach house. He kept walking, and turned the corner when he saw what was the remnants of the mall. Not just any mall, but the largest mall in Verthaven. A shame that it had to be abandoned (And that he never got to go there). They were talking about making another, but there probably wasn't enough free space. Unless they decide to step on the little man and buy a bunch of shit. He wondered if there was a hunting store that he could loot in there.

It was tempting to head inside, but he'll save this big one when he has some friends with him. Trevor simply walked over to the parking lot, and found the nearest abandoned car. He stepped up to it, put his bow down, and let his gym bag drop off his shoulder. He bent over and unzipped it, before pulling out some tin cans. He neatly put them all over the car.

Satisfied with the placement, he reached down and grabbed his bow. All Trevor had to do was take a few steps back, before standing perpendicular. He loaded an arrow, turned his head to the car, before raising his bow, aiming at one of the cans. He pulled the string back until his hand was under his jawbone. He let go of the string, and let it slide up against his finger, the arrow was launched at high speeds at the can. The arrow pierced it, and it was launched off the car.

Trevor fist pumped. Before he loaded another arrow, and repeated the process, and hit another can. Smiling. It was hard to do this at the beach house, because there wasn't really a yard like he had in Texas, and in Black Fall. There just wasn't anywhere to practice. Out here - while the police frowned upon it - was where he could practice his archery to his heart's content. He fired off another arrow, and hit a third can.

Before he could knock down the last two, he heard something prowl up behind him. It sounded like an animal. He didn't know if it was a dog, or something else, but Trevor instinctively reached for his knife, and whipped around.

He barely even had a chance to blink before it was on top of him.

Whatever it was, it must have been mid-pounce. It launched off it's back legs, and it's front legs landed on Trevor and knocked him to the ground. He had to pull his head up to stop from cracking his head on the concrete. Trevor didn't even get a good look at it, it's body looked fluid, liquid-like, and it's general shape was puma-like. He let out a yelp, as he kept that knife tightly in hand. As he tried to keep this thing off of him, he started blindly stabbing at it. Causing gushes of a thick, sickly-blue, liquid, to spill all over him (And it smelled awful).

The creature let out a high, inhuman, screech, before Trevor threw it off of him. He didn't even look back as he hauled ass out of there. Only thoughts that were running through his head was Run. Heart was racing, and he didn't even hear the thing coming after him. Not that he even looked back. He's been chased by pissed off animals several times over the course of his life, and you never look back.

Though, those animals caught up by now.

He made it to the fence, and saw the whole that was cut in it. Trevor quickly knelt down, and slid through the hole. As the creature stood on the top of the building, it watched. Before it sunk into a puddle form, and disappeared.

Trevor kept running. Even though he's in the very crowded Knightdale Rows, holding a knife. He barely even acknowledged that fact. He wouldn't stop running until he knew the coast was clear.

This probably won't end well.

---

---

"Yeah, Jolene. Just cleaning the club for my pops. No one ever comes here during the day, so it's basically mine." Cindy confidently spoke into her phone. Standing over a table, holding a rag in her hand as she wiped it down. She was wearing a T-shirt, jeans, and some sandals. Something simple since she's cleaning. Her hands scrubbed down the table with speed and grace.

"You should come over here after you're done, girl. You're not doing anything else." Jolene said, casually.

"Nah, got plans, girl. Maybe later, though." Cindy said, as she scrubbed the table clean. She skipped away from the table, and walked backwards. She got a good view of the club - with red decorations that made it look like a carnival. There were booths after booths. Tables after tables. And on the opposite side was the stage. Where musicians come to make a name for themselves! Hope they weren't looking for record deals, though. Since, they're competing with thousands of other people for one. It's a fool's game for these people - at least her dad at monopolized it.

"Alright girl, see you later." Jolene hung up the phone.

Cindy walked over to the bar, and grabbed a cup. She walked up to the sink, and filled it with water. She threw it to her lips, before drinking it. The door to the club swung open, and revealed her father, Jackson, and his large frame. He was pretty tall, like NBA player tall. It felt like he was ten heads taller than her! He made her look so small in comparison. Her mother made her look short, too. He was muscular-too. Before he owned the club, he worked as a personal trainer, and just made sure he didn't lose the body.

"Hey Cindy!" Jackson said, wearing a red athletic shirt, and jeans. "Did a good job cleaning the place, girl."

"Thanks, dad." Cindy nodded her head.

"Know they tear up the place sometimes..." He scratched the back of his neck as he looked around. "You okay? Did you see anyone come around?" He asked as he took a step forward.

"No." Cindy said, as she put the glass down. "Why?"

"You know those Scientists out there targetting Metahumans...." He crossed his arms. "I just want you to be extra careful. Stay away from anyone shady."

"Yeah... I know." Cindy's eyes drifted downwards towards the sink, and the glass she was once using. "Thanks dad."

"You know it, babygirl." Jackson walked over, and ruffed his hands through her hair. "Are you heading out now?"

"Nah, I think I'll stick around here for a bit."

"Oh, alright then, I'll just head into the back."

---

---

Sonya crawled over to the edge of the building, turning visible, and pulled her binoculars out. She spied a man and a woman walking down the street, holding hands. "Ahhh, gotcha." She said underneath her breath. She looked at her datapad for a moment to confirm, and smiled wide. She put her finger to her earpiece, and spoke into the undercover comms channel. "Got visuals on our target. Moving down April Street." Two suspected Hands of Science Big Wigs that NEST was, of course, interested in. Now, the objective of the mission was to see where these worker bees lead...

"Affirmative, I'm on my way now." Maria Mayfield, or Inkshade (as far as NEST callsigns go), said. She started walking down the street, and stopped when she saw the two walking down April street. She was disguised as a business woman with straight brown hair, green eyes, and glasses. Wearing a suit, and some high heels. And peddling behind her was a child, with similar features - just an extension of Maria's body of course. Maria crossed the street, and started walking, while pulling out a fake phone and chattering on about business deals or whatever, mindlessly.

"That's my wifey." Sonya said. "Alright, this mission should be straight forward long as it's the three of us. You ready, partner?"

Dr34dn0ught was coming around through the forest while neither Chex or Agrippa were responding in lane. Then Orb showed himself top.

“Go go go!”

Alice pinned Chex in place and yanked herself towards him with a flick of both blades, Dr34dn0ught’s shock collar flew through the air and Chex was rendered incapacitated for the few seconds Alice needed to finish him off with a flurry of deadly attacks. Agrippa had attempted to respond, but caught off guard by the sudden ferocity of the assault, was quickly locked down by a quick embrace from Serendippity. Alice turned to him and proceeded to eviscerate the helpless support.

Alice would have punched the air, but with the game balanced on a knife edge as it was a quick in game taunt had to do as they pushed up the lane to take the tower. Orb rotated to try and put a stop to their push, but a lucky lash from Serendippity sent him scurrying away on half health. The tower crumbled and Dr34dn0ught called a retreat.

“Time to go people, lets not get greedy.”

The game lasted maybe another ten minutes, but the final push had allowed Alice to pick up a Scissor blade and the ensuing carnage led to an even bigger lead, and eventually, victory. She sat back and rubbed her eyes, “ok guys I think I’m going to call it a night there, I’m kinda tired.”

Dr34dn0ught responded in kind, “same for me too, well played tonight guys, same time tomorrow sound good?”

There was a chorus of affirmatives, and one by one everyone signed out of the chat. Alice’s aging computer meant she had to quit out of the game first and eventually it was just her and Dr34dnought left.

“Are you sure you’re ok Regicide? It’s no big deal if you need some time to… you know…”

Alice nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “I think I need this Dr34d, I need… I can think about something else while I’m playing…”

There was a moment of silence, “ok, well if you ever need a break it’s cool, sleep well Reg.”

“You too.”

They both signed out of the chat and Alice stared at the desktop for a moment. It was true, she couldn’t talk to her dad about it, and her mom was hardly at home right now, but Alice was struggling. She needed to come off early for reasons other than being told. She was missing the ball tonight, but she didn’t care, she didn’t want to be there and have people watching her because she was in a chair. She didn’t want to have to answer questions about it, or remember the fact that it was NESTs fault she was in this chair, and that Sophie and Michelle were dead.

She wheeled herself back from the desk once the computer had begun its shutdown, her bedroom was on the ground floor now, a couple of her dad’s friends had helped him to manhandle her bed down the stairs and put it in the small room of the hall. It felt strange being in a new room, and Alice wished it didn’t have to be the case. There were too many new things in her life now, just the way she moved around had to change, and her operational therapist was having to teach her new ways to deal with what had once been the simplest operations for her. She felt awfully selfish for it, but she wished that at least one thing could be the same in her life as it had once been. At least Vorpal hadn’t changed. It was something. Even if it was only a video game. Maybe she was lucky, Sophie and Michelle couldn’t worry about how people would look at them. It was their funeral next week. Alice had already decided not to go, she didn’t think she could look at their parents, let alone meet their no doubt accusing stares.

She did not sleep well.

---

Alice woke to the smell of frying bacon and fresh coffee, her dad must be cooking. He was guessing, correctly, that the smell of bacon would entice her from sleep. She levered herself up in bed, it was awkward on a soft surface, but eventually she was sitting up and awkwardly reached for her dressing gown. It was clear that her dad had already been in, her dressing gown had been hung over the back of her chair where she could reach it instead of the floor where she’d left it. In the past she would have hung it on the back of the door but there was no way she would have been able to retrieve it now. It was strange how she could miss something that simple.

She pulled it on and threw the covers back, awkwardly dragging herself into the chair, or at least trying to. Unpracticed as she was she placed too much weight against the chair and it rolled backwards, away from the bed. Suddenly devoid of support and unable to react fast enough Alice slipped and fell. It wasn’t loud, but even so she heard her dad pause in the kitchen.

“Alice..?”

“It’s fine dad I just fell.”

The sound of footsteps crossing the hall preceded his entry into the room. “Let me help you honey.”

Alice barely spoke as he helped her into the wheelchair, just a grumbled thanks as he settled her into it. Her dad smiled faintly, aware that she was embarrassed, and left her to it, “breakfast will be ready in a minute.”

She adjusted the dressing gown and tied it shut awkwardly, everything seemed more awkward when you were perpetually stuck in a seated position. Still, it was only a few minutes later when she rolled into the kitchen. Her dad placed a plate loaded with bacon and pancakes in front of her, then brought his own to the table. It was a heavy dining table, and something of a squeeze in the small kitchen, it had originally been in the room Alice now slept in, but her parents had moved it when it became apparent it was not realistic for Alice to sleep upstairs anymore. Unfortunately there was no shower downstairs, and they would have to work out a different solution for when her Dad went back to work full time. They couldn’t afford the mortgage on the house if he wasn’t working now though, but his boss had kindly offered him a part time job at the depot until he could drive again. It would last for at least a few weeks, maybe even months, but then he would have to go back to fulltime work again, or risk losing the house, especially considering the extra expense having a disabled daughter would bring.

Alice ate in silence, her dad attempted to broach conversation a few times, but it didn’t last long, and they finished their breakfast in silence. Michael Shepherd put the plates in the sink and put a hand on his daughter’s shoulder.

“I have to go to work, just don’t stay in the house all day ok? You still talk to Jen don’t you?”

Alice nodded non-committedly; she did, though she hadn’t really spoken to anyone since the fair. “you should go around and see how she’s doing.”

He left, but not before getting a few things from her old room, they were still in the process of moving things downstairs, and they still needed to buy a new wardrobe, her old room had a built in one, and the old dining room was not so well equipped. She dressed, it was awkward and time consuming, but at least it was something she could still do without help, and texted Jen.

Hey I’m going out today, feel like hanging? I’ll probably be heading past your house anyway so I’ll call in.

Maybe her dad was right, she needed to spend some time with someone, to be reminded that the world wasn’t quite over. About half an hour later Alice was outside Jen’s house, she would have used the bell, but it was uncomfortable and embarrassing to reach up, so she texted her again.

You in? I’m outside.

---

_@Nosuchthing

---

It's been two weeks and Jen hasn't stepped out the house once.

Her family (Who were just as afraid, yet willing to leave) were pretty much the only ones making trips to the store for her. And Jen has no intentions of ever leaving the house anytime soon. Not with these monsters running about. Call it cowardice, but maybe Jen has just gotten complacent with being made a prisoner in her own home. The world forced her in here, and she's fine with that. Long as the world leaves her be, just as she should. This wouldn't have started if Jen had just gone with her gut, and just forgot about Penny and stuck inside.

You know that isn't true, Jen. You know you loved the spotlight. You loved your friends.

The thoughts went through her head as she laid down on her bed. Hands behind her head, and one leg crossed over the other. She just... stared at the ceiling fan above her. Thinking. Thinking. And thinking. Was she really going to stay in here all her life? She was hoping so. Maybe everything will forget about her. She just sighed. And continued staring at the ceiling. Maybe, at some point, she should consider talking to someone about it. Yet, she was wondering who out there would listen. It was... something that would haunt her. Haunt her forever. Despite the ability to survive the experience, could she ever live with the memory? Sometimes Jen wondered if she'd just go insane from all the near-death experiences.

Become the monster people fear, and go down as, just that, another monster.

A shudder vibrated through her body. Just as a text message vibrated her phone. Jen briefly wondered who it was - probably Meifeng trying to check up on her - before she reached over to her nightstand, and grabbed her phone. Flashing across the screen was a text from Alice.

Hey I’m going out today, feel like hanging? I’ll probably be heading past your house anyway so I’ll call in.

Huh. Alice. She hasn't spoken to her in awhile. Her old gaming buddy. Well, they kinda fell out of touch a few weeks ago. Jen wondered why. She was fine with hanging out with Alice, long as she didn't have to leave the house. So, Jen quickly replied with a:

Yeah, we can hang at my place for a bit. Can't leave the house, though.

Jen had to note that she couldn't leave. Just in case. But, yeah, talking to someone might be fun. She slid off the bed, and bare feet hit the ground. She realized that she was wearing literally nothing but cyan-blue shorts and a white T-shirt. Not that she dressed to impress while home. Jen slowly took steps out of her room, and walked downstairs. She walked past her melancholic family, before she received another text. She whipped out her phone and tried to read it.

You in? I’m outside.

Jen found that a bit odd because why didn't Alice just ring the doorbell? She wasn't going to question it. When she walked up the door, she put her hand out - but stopped. Staring at the doorknob. Sweat was beginning to trickle down her forehead. Before she just closed her eyes, then sighed. She pulled the doorknob open, expecting to see a friend right at the door. However, Jen raised an eyebrow, confused. Before her eyes drifted down the stairs....

"Holy shit." Jen said outloud as she took steps down the front stairs. Her eyes were wide. Jen couldn't believe that Alice was in a wheelchair. When last time she saw her, she was standing up right. As she walked down the stairs, all she could mutter was, "W-when when... when did..."

Once she hit the last step, she closed her eyes and hung her head. "Alice... What happened?"

---

---

Mark's footsteps were completely silent as he crept into the cellar. It was a dark, dank room with little room for a grown man to stand, much less a man with a wingspan. The brick walls were covered with cobwebs and dust, and a small leak in the ceiling made the unlit room smell strongly of stagnant water and mold. The floor was a pale wood, covered in layers of old newspaper and grime. This wasn't out of a lack of organization, but to hide an entrance from any prying eyes.

With a grunt, Mark pulled a heavy wooden slab from the floor -- One that would've matched the rest of the dark basement perfectly save for a small space for his fingers to lift the trap door up. There was a ladder underneath it, but not one of the wooden ladders he kept in the house. It was steel, and bolted into the ground, down a long tunnel just barely wide enough for Mark to squeeze through. He sighed for a moment, looking down the pitch black hole. He quickly made his way down to the bottom of the ladder into a small room with an equally sturdy looking metal door. It was a dull grey steel, with large bolts reenforcing the frame. There was no knob or handle where there should've been, only a keypad.

"One two, two eight." Mark repeated to himself as he dialed the small black buttons. It was a date. Marigold's birthday, to be precise. After a moment of mechanical whirring, the keypad gave off a satisfying beep, and the door began to slide open with a hiss.

The room was different from any room in the house. The walls were plain white, while the ceilings were covered in unnatural flourescent light. One one wall, a row of screens showed Mark every room in the house, while another wall held a display case of several different kinds of grenades, pistols, and rifles. At the end of the room, there was a container not unlike a steel wardrobe or an industrial refrigerator, with another keypad. This combination would not be his daughter's birthday. Mark quickly walked through the cold room, and pressed his hand to the keypad.

"Zero zero one, zero zero one, zero one, zero zero one, zero zero one, zero one." He repeated to himself as he pressed the keys. This keypad had no beep noise, nor did the doors hiss. They unlocked silently, and Mark pulled the doors open gingerly, as if he were hesitating.

The suit was on a mannequin made of shiny metal, which shone in spots of exposure underneath the jet black suit. What was menacing wasn't the suit by any means, but the helmet. Cold grey steel, with blank, emotionless yellow eyes that hid his own.

Mark paused for a second to stare into the mask, as if to say something, before exhaling deeply. He lifted it off the mannequin, rotated it, and put it on, clicking a dial on the inner lining to turn on the rebreather. The rest of the suit took little time to put on, save for the zippers and clips around Mark's wings. When he was done, he left the room as quickly and silently as he entered it, making sure to not look at any of the reflective surfaces in the room.

---

Hundreds of feet into the air, Mark's suit in the night sky made him little more than a shadow, lingering along the horizon. Though he was nearly impossible to see, Mark could see the ground below him with relative ease -- Most importantly, the house below him.

114 Oxford Road, Central Valley. The Vuhong residence.

He dipped down, folding his wings into a shape not unlike a paper airplane, descending with a speed that would have made him whistle if not for the aerodynamic suit. Within seconds, he landed on the roof silently, perching like a gargoyle above a small window. He took a breath, and vaulted over the side, clinging onto the roof with one hand, while he used the other to steady himself on the window's frame.

The room he peered into was silent, save for the nearly inaudible snore eminating from a crib. Mark placed one hand onto the glass of the window itself, pulling out a small metal device that looked like a high-tech colander. He pressed it into the window until the suction gave off a small "pop", and then twisted the device slowly. Sure enough, a glass circle big enough for Mark to fit his arm through slid off with ease.

He delicately placed it by his feet as he reached in, unlocking the window. After a few moments of struggling with the latch, he slid the window open without a sound, and crawled in. He stood silently for a second, as if he had come out of a child's nightmare. A tall shadowy figure with jet black wings, creeping in through a window, almost like the boogeyman stories he would tell his daughter.

Mark took in one deep breath, and walked towards the crib. Inside lay a small bundle, cooing and gurgling in the midst of slumber. He reached in, and gently pulled the baby from its pillow, holding it tightly to his chest. He looked at it for a moment, examining it's face.

"Forgive me one day." He remarked in his head. It would've been too risky to even whisper.

Mark was gentle, but not as gentle as he needed to be. The infant's eyes slowly opened as Mark looked into her face. Half-asleep, seeing the odd man holding her (Which looked like a demon to her) made her wake right up. She immediately started crying loudly, as she tried to wrestle out of his grasp.

From the sofa downstairs, Lihua was merely lounging, passing time while watching television. She let out a yawn, as she gently put her head down on the side of the sofa. The second she heard Lijuan's cries, she quickly raised her head right back up. The first thought that ran through her head was Lijuan was awake. The second thought was that her cries were... different. She could hear a bit of fear in her infant's voice. Something wasn't right here. Lihua immediately reached in between the sofa cushions, and pulled her Glock 17 - which she had stuffed in between them - out, holding it tightly.

She put her bare feet to the carpet, before standing straight up. She took slow, but hurried, steps up the stairs. Going slow enough to make sure that she doesn't alert any intruders. Meifeng constantly talked about her being paranoid - but it's that paranoia that has kept the three of them alive, so she just brushed it off as the rest of the nonsense Meifeng spouts. The second her foot touched the top stair, she immediately pivoted down the hallway towards Lijuan's room. Holding the pistol at head level, ready to let loose a barrage.

When she approached Lijuan's room, the door was always kept slightly ajar (or at least Lihua kept it that way, she never really bothered to close it, and it just became a habit). She slowly pushed the door open, hoping that this would just be a false alarm. What Lihua saw made her heart sank.

A strange man in armor, and wings, holding Lijuan.

"... Put my child down or I'll put ten rounds in your skull faster than you can blink." The threat was spoken with cold fury, as Lihua narrowed her eyes, and aimed her pistol right at Mark's face. Pulling the trigger halfway. "... Five seconds, or you're dead."

Mark stood perfectly still for a moment, running through every possible escape plan in his mind. Considering the circumstances, Mark went with his last ditch option first. Under the steel rebreather, Mark opened his mouth, and shouted. Loudly.

It was the single most blood-curdling sound Lihua had ever heard, like a thousand nails scraping across a blackboard into a microphone. Paintings on the wall fell off from the vibration, and for a moment, Lihua heard only a feint ringing, accompanied by a sense of nausea and dizziness unlike anything she had ever felt.

Lihua was hesitant to shoot - because of the off chance that she might hit Lijuan. Which certainly worked in Mark's favor as he launched an attack that was literally the worst thing ever. She was knocked backwards, and fell onto her back. The gun she had hit the ground right next to her. The room was spinning - but like hell she'd let that stop her. Even with the pain, nausea, and dizziness, she wouldn't give up. Not when her child is in danger. She grabbed the gun, and tried to pick herself up. She stood straight up, she raised her head... but her heart sank immediately.

Mark spun back, flying out of the window like ink down a drain, clutching the screaming child closely with both hands. With a heave, Mark flapped his wings once, picking up speed, making his way towards the clouds.

No. No, no, no, no, no.... Lihua infinitely repeated the words in her head as she ran over to the window fast as possible. All she saw was him flying off with her daughter. The first instinct was to raise her gun at him, aiming for his spine, and pulled the trigger halfway. She let out a sigh as she released the trigger. It wouldn't do any good if she kills this man, and Lijuan dies in the fall. A tear ran down her eye as she clenched her fists. Slamming her foot onto the ground as she let out a cry of anger. She chucked the gun out the window, and it landed in the grass.

That bastard... Lijuan! The thoughts ran through her head as every emotion in the book whirled around inside of her. More tears were rushing down her eyes as she saw that man escape.

When logic overcame emotion, Lihua quickly turned around and ran down the stairs, going fast as she could back to the sofa. On the night table rested her iPhone, which she swiped away. She immediately dialed in the number for the special NEST hotline that'd go straight to the operators.

When they answered, she didn't even give them time to answer, "This is Agent Vuhong! My daughter has been kidnapped by what I believe to be the Changeling Unit. Track all movement in the Central Valley area at once." Lihua barked the orders into her phone. "The man is a Metahuman with wings, wearing all black armour, has a super sonic screech."

"And don't you dare stop until you find him!" Lihua quickly rushed out the door with keys in hand. When she stepped outside, she realized that she let Meifeng borrow the car. Lihua let out a sigh, before hanging her head. "... I need a ride to the NEST Headquarters."

"Auntie...." Mika walked up, eyes half opens, she was clearly half asleep. "What happened?"

"Mika, I need you to watch the house for a bit. Make sure that nobody comes in or out."

---

---

Alice was not at all surprised to see Jen's surprised reaction. She hadn't seen her since before the fair, or talked to her. She hadn't really talked to anyone outside of her family and the team. Online it was just that little bit easier to pretend nothing had changed. They didn't have to see how she looked now. In fact Dr34dno0ught was the only one who knew, she'd felt obliged to tell him after she hadn't been online for two weeks. They knew she lived in Verthaven, so had been worried when they learned people had died at fair, she wasn't quite sure how to broach the topic of her new disability with people yet. Apparently simply showing up on their doorstep wasn't the way to go about it.

She grimaced, "hey Jen, sorry to kind of spring this on you," she shrugged in response to the younger girl's question, "I was at the fair, and got hit."

Her eyes looked very far away for a moment as she obviously relived some moment of the past, then she looked back to Jen. "I was lucky..."

Eager to change the subject, she moved on, "what about you, you ok?"

That fair.... Images of what happened flashed before Jen's eyes - because she saw it with her own two eyes. She could not believe that Alice was there, all while Jen was hauling ass with Ratchet. Jen scratched the back of her neck and looked away - and her eyes shot open when she realized that she was outside. Out in the open. Trickles of sweat started dripping down her forehead as she thought about who (Or what) could be watching her. Planning their next course of action in taking her back to the place that haunted her.

Jen didn't even think about the fact that she's standing out in the open in a less-than-modest outfit. She was literally at a lost for words. Once again, she could only say the first thing that came to mind.

"I... I'm so sorry that happened to you." Jen muttered, looking around. She was fairly unsure of how to go about answering Alice's question. By all means, she was far from okay. Yet, she saw this as an opportunity to talk about this to someone. "Can't say that I was..." Jen scratched the back of her neck. "... You're keeping up with the news, right?"

Alice did not have the issue with being outside that Jen had, she wasn't even afraid of being alone, at least that wouldn't mean knowing that maybe she could have done something, anything to save them. She could see Jen's discomfort though, it was obvious, she was sweating, avoiding eye contact. It didn't take a psychologist to deduce that this was a girl who was seriously struggling with her current situation.

"Yeah, everyone's sorry, it's not their fault, no one made me go to the fair, you don't have to apologise!"

Alice realised that she had raised her voice a little, and couldn't help but smile a little at the irony, "sorry, I'm just sick of people saying sorry..."

When she shouted, Jen took a step back. Okay. Maybe she pushed a button. "Sorry..." Jen found herself apologizing again. She hadn't even considered that. She, for a moment, thought about it. While she was running for her life, Alice was bleeding to death. She wondered if she could have helped Alice. Or, if while she was running, she passed right on by Alice in her rush to get out of there.

She shook her head, "I've not really been paying much attention, it's just more about the last two weeks, and things are depressing enough without adding to it."

I have to explain it... Don't I? Jen thought to herself, while avoiding eye-contact with Alice as much as possible. She doubt that she could look her in the eye while explaining. While Jen walked over to the stairs to her house, she thought about how to phrase it. How to explain it. Yet, every time she thought about it, she could just feel that monster's hands inside of her, and she had to remind herself that everything was fine. She had regenerated. She shuddered, as she sat down on the stairs. Her gaze was fixated on the ground at her feet.

"Well... Have you heard of the Hands of Science?" Jen asked. Alice had to know about it. Even if she hadn't... she would have a bit of trouble trying to explain it.

Alice half shook her head, she'd been in a hospital for the better part of two weeks, and been less than inclined to ressearch current events when she came out. Even so, she had heard them spoken of, "a little, don't they experiment on metas?"

Her voice caught a little, you wouldn't notice unless you were looking for it, but it was enough to give away her new secret. Though hopefully not to the clearly distracted Jennifer.

"I...." Jen trailed off, as she thought about a different way to start off. "Two weeks ago, me and my friends were... kidnapped by them." She started off, but found herself unable to continue. She wiped the sweat off her forehead with a hand. Before taking a deep breath in. She figured that she should keep her mouth shut about the details. "It should be obvious, but we got out.... yet, I can't stop thinking about what happened in there." She looked off to the side.

"You were..?" Alice fell silent, not quite sure how to continue.

"Yeah... It was... fucked up." Jen ran her hand through her hair.

"But you aren't a..."

Alice would have face-palmed, but it somehow didn't seem appropriate, "a meta..?"

"Are you?"

"Regenerator." Jen blankly says. At this point, she could care less about keeping it a secret. NEST knows about it. Her family knows about it. Her friends know about it. "A few weeks ago... I helped someone, and she gave me regeneration." She just concisely explained it, leaving out all the other details. She didn't care if Alice turned away right now, and never spoke to her again. This is the burden she has to carry now.

The burden of an abnormal life.

Many other people might have said that was cool, and Alice would be lying if she said she wasn't jealous, but she didn't say anything. She wasn't glad she was a metahuman, and god knows what had happened to Jen when she had been kidnapped by a group known only for experimenting on Metahumans. She probably felt a little less than lucky. The Doctors had told Alice she had been lucky, she'd been in critical condition, but somehow once stabilised she'd made a miraculous recovery. She should have been dead, but she wasn't, Michelle and Sophie were, sometimes Alice wondered if it wouldn't have been better if she'd joined them.

"Did you... you know... register?"

Alice hadn't, she wasn't sure if she should, if it was safe. She'd not been paying attention to the news, not enough to have an accurate understanding about what was going on, but she'd overheard enough conversations in her hospital bed to know that NEST had something to do with the Fiends attack on the fair. How could she trust them with her identity?

"Had... no choice... NEST found me out after they got me out of there." Jen scratched the back of her neck. Then let out a sigh. "I wish they hadn't... I never asked for this - any of this." She remembered the time when she wanted to keep her power a secret, and keep going. Now, anyone and their grandmother can just hack into NEST and get her identity. Who knows who's out there. Maybe someone might want to steal her Regeneration now.

"That... sucks I guess... Especially after what happened, I mean I haven't been watching the news but people talk you know. And to be honest I wouldn't want to be in NESTs database right now."

Alice half-smiled, and shrugged, "I don't think either of us ever asked for this, but we've got it, so we might as well make the most of it right?"

There was a faint pleading note in her voice, as if she didn't quite believe what she was saying herself, but was trying to put on a front for the world. A front that said that really, she was ok.

"So did they put you on house arrest or something?"

So, that means that Alice, too, is a Metahuman. Not that Jen was particularly surprised at this point. People manisfest a lot, and those people are drawn to each other. After she manisfested, she learned much more about the people of Verthaven than she had ever before. Exposed to the many faces that the city has to show. Alice asked her was she on house-arrest, which was silly.

"Well, no." Jen put her hands on the steps at her side. "I've just been... staying in lately. For... personal reasons." Jen explained. Though, meeting Alice here has really warmed her up a bit. Maybe she could use a walk. Nothing bad could happen during a walk, right?

"But, I could use a little walk. Columbiana Heights isn't that far away." Jen scratched the back of her neck. "Maybe we could walk there...?" She looked down, and saw that wearing nothing but a T-shirt and shorts is far from appropriate wear. "... After a little change of clothes, of course."

Alice nodded, understanding the desire to not really leave the house, especially after what had happened. It had been a feat of courage to open the door, let alone leave and head down the street. Now that she was out though, she was glad, there was a feeling of confiment that came with being cooped up in the house all day, and although she had only left half an hour ago already it was beginning to assuage that sensation, much as she wished she could go home already.

Alice had already noted Jen's clothes, it was pretty obvious she hadn't intended to leave the house today, but Alice's visit maybe had her convinced. Alice didn't really know why, it had hardly been the most optimistic conversation, but maybe it had reminded Jen, as it had reminded Alice, that shit happened to other people too.

"That's ok, I can just wait out here till you're changed."

She had bristled a little when Jen had said 'walk there', but resisted the urge to snap at her, not when it seemed she had a friend to spend a little time with.

"I'll be right here."

---

---

"Alright, this mission should be straight forward long as it's the three of us. You ready, partner?" Sonya questioned.

Henry grunted in response. Not really gratifying the question with a response because even if he wasn't- he didn't have a choice either way. All he could do was try and make things go as smoothly as possible.

Unlike his partner, who's camouflage ability was superior to his own naturaly, Henry was outfitted with his exosuit. It was greyish-black covered most of his body, save for his face. It was thick and heavy. Perfect for a brawler like Henry. Like his partner however, he had a gun. Although the massive pistol wasn't quite as threatening as the sniper rifle. Even less so given he wasn't very good at using it. He reached over and swiped the binoculars back from Sonya to look at the target. She had a scope that was linked to the binoculars. He used his superior sight and senses to detect the target, clicked the button to set the target, then the target appeared in her scope. Highlighted, of course. Made it much harder to miss.

The targets turned a corner, and Sonya nodded her head. She dropped her body a bit, before she shot upwards, flying through the sky. Landing on the roof right next across. Before she walked over to the edge of the roof, and looked down. The two targets were heading somewhere, hand in hand. Like a romantic couple. Sonya would have squeed if it wasn't for the fact these people are sociopathic scientists.

For a moment, Sonya considered asking about any events going on in this part of the city.

Though, after a few minutes of tailing them, they could hear the loud chatter and shouts that Sonya knew had to be from a protest or something. Sonya jumped another building, and knelt down at the edge. She swiped Henry's binoculars again and looked through them, and gazed upon a large group of people, with signs in hand, and raising their fists. All in front of one, of many, NEST outposts in the city. Just one of the many Anti-NEST Protests going on lately. Sonya let out a sigh. She remembered when they respected NEST... but now, things have changed. The two targets stood aganist a wall, and started talking an [i]awful[i] lot. If there wasn't this loud crowd diluting the sound, she would be able to hear what they're talking about. Though, the woman pulled out a cell phone, and started talking.

"Oh dear, what do you think they're up to? Scoping out targets?" Sonya asked Henry. She considered getting in up and personal - but she still had Agent Inkshade on the ground floor.

She put her fingers on her earpiece, "Agent Inkshade, think you can slip up on them and listen in?"

Agent Inkshade, who still had that disguise on, standing not too far away from the group on the corner, briefly glanced over. "Not without giving myself away."

Henry can seen much better than Sonya. He cant see facial expressions, but he can read their body language.

"Look at the man," Henry said, finally speaking up. "He keeps looking to the left. He keeps angling his shoulders in the same direction over and over again. It's dicrete, but not normal. Whatever their quarry is, it's in that direction."

"Hm... didn't notice that." Sonya thought to herself out loud. Her eyes scanned the crowd - and she pulled out her datapad. She took a few steps off to the side, so she could get a better angle on the crowd. The datapad started scanning people in the crowd, and detected any Metahumans within the crowd. There were... quite a few, in fact. Most of the crowd were baseline human beings protesting NEST for what hand they had in the Fiends - people who had their families hurt by them - yet, there were still a disturbing amount of Metahumans. If an incident happens....

"How many high levels to the male's left?"

"There's one... let's see... Eric Darrl. Can create solar flares, and shoot plasma. Seems to be in good standing with NEST." Sonya parroted what she saw from the datapad. "Rest are mid-to-low level. Regenerators, a pyrokinetic, a bone manipulator...." She trailed off.

"Click." Henry said, tapping the button and marking the man once the name matched up on his own data pad." It would show up in her scope, if she needed it. "REAPER is looking for elemental meta. It's how the mutagen works. If they dont know he's here, they will know soon."

"Oh no... " Sonya put the datapad away. Last thing they needed was REAPER getting another power under their belt. Though, Sonya was wondering whether or not they should warn him. No, you'll only tip them off. Sonya thought to herself. "We really gotta keep an eye on...." Sonya said, before she trailed off as she noticed something on the ground.

A black van pulled up not too far away from the protest. Tinted windows so that she couldn't see in.

"No license plate." Henry commented, almost immediately.

"Almost like they want to tip us off." Sonya looked over to Henry. "But, I bet they didn't expect that we were on their trai-"

A loud boom immediately filled Sonya's ears, followed by screaming. Her head darted over to the protest, and the mushroom cloud had told her what had happened.

Oh no... Sonya immediately pulled out her sniper, before scanning the area.

People were running around screaming their heads off! And Sonya couldn't get a bead on Eric. So, she immediately looked over to the car.

She put her fingers on her earpiece with lightning speed, "Agent Inkshade, do you still have visual on our targets?" Sonya asked.

"Affirmative. They're pulling out of the area. I'm following behind them."

"Don't let them out of your sight, Inkshade! Merryday, out." Sonya released the ear piece.

"Shoot the tires, then the driver."

"I'll have to swap clips...." Sonya groaned as she immediately ejected the clip, and reached onto her belt to pull out live rounds. She never thought that she'd have to use live rounds.

"We're on the clock now."

She quickly loaded in the bullets, and wasted no time in aiming at the van's tires. She put her finger in the air to get an idea of the wind-speed, and noticed that there wasn't any. Good. Lady luck was on her side this time. Sonya pulled the trigger, and the deadly round nearly instantly pierced the van's tire. It deflated, and the car fell downwards. She quickly turned around and hit the other front tire, then the back tire.

"They won't be taking that anywhere." Sonya was hesitant to take out the driver... So much paperwork (Especially if they were wrong). She let out a sigh, then lined up the shot.

Once she pulled the trigger, the bullet pierced the glass as if it was nothing, and put a hole right in the driver's chest. Blood was leaking out of his body.

"It's a done deal. Do you see Eric?" Sonya asked Henry.

"You got the scope. I highlighted him in bright yellow." Henry answered. "He was on the man's left. The couple's marked in green." Henry said, bringing the binoculars up to his eyes again. "He's... on your right." Buisness as usual for Henry Olin. He'd been in this position many times before.

"Oh... right." Sonya yipped, as she scanned the crowds. Eric was hauling ass out of the protest scene, and he was just about to leave her line of sights, when men came out of the shadows and put a power nulification collar on him, and a bag over his head and carried him off.

"They have him!" Sonya shouted, before she quickly leaped through the air, and landed on the next building. Quickly swapping out live rounds, for taser-dart rounds mid air. She landed on the building, and quickly climbed to the edge of the building so she could see down the alleyway. The men were dragging Eric to another car (Black sedan, tinted windows, no license plate).

Well, Sonya had to give them props for having a backup plan.

Henry sighed as Sonya jumped to another building and his a button on his own exosuit. It wasn't natural camouflage, but it'd work well against the pavement and concrete of the urban jungle. He moved onto his haunces, and looked down at the crowd below.

He was a brawler. They did as they do. "Take out the tires again, if you can." He said over the mic to Sonya.

And then Henry moved down the building.

First shot that Sonya took was to one of the men who were dragging Eric along, the dart hit him right in the neck, and he convulsed as he hit the ground. Which surprised the other REAPER, and gave Eric some leeway to elbow him, and start running.

The REAPER Agents pulled out their pistols, waving them around at the unseen shooter. Two went after Eric.

Sonya's objective were the men with guns. One more shot of her rife, and she nailed another REAPER in the chest, and he stumbled backwards, before he fell and knocked his head on a dumpster.

Oh! He's not getting back up. Sonya thought to herself.

"RPG, north." Henry said over the mic.

"What the hell?" Sonya thought out loud. She quickly scanned the area, and saw that one of the REAPERS was, indeed, carrying an RPG over his shoulder.

He pointed it right at the ledge Sonya was on.

She wasted no time in hopping to another rooftop as the rocket flew through the air. It created a massive boom as it sent shards of concrete in all directions. Sonya, was shaken by the shockwave, and looked over at the destruction. Then she realized that she had lost focus, and turned visible.

Bloody hell! Sonya shouted as she turned ined invisible again, and leaped to another roof (This time, maintaining the invisibility) as the rocket exploded, and caused massive damage to the next building. Sonya managed to get the element of surprise. Since, now, they don't know where she leaped. She aimed her rifle at the invisible man, and shot him in the shoulder with a dart just as he was reloading. He dropped the rocket, and it rolled on the ground, and Sonya winced as she suspected it would explode. Thankfully, it hadn't.

Sonya let out a sigh of relief, before putting her finger to her earpiece, "How are you holding up?"

Henry didn't respond.

Instead he answered by roaring in exhertion and flipping the van on it's side. He pushed. Most of the REAPERs turned their attention to the huge object being pushed in their direction, open firing in surprise.

But also taking their attention off of Sonya.

Sonya smirked a bit. That Henry. He's lovely. More importantly, they're now focusing on Henry. Though, Sonya was more worried about Eric. That man was hauling ass last time she saw him. She quickly jumped to another roof to get a good view down the street. Fortunately, he was still highlighted. It only took a few minutes to get a good view of his backside as he was running away. All he had to do was leave, while NEST were taking out these scumbags.

A bright white flash appeared in front of Eric, and when it faded, there was a man in a suit. Sonya didn't even get the details before he grabbed Eric, and the flash appeared again. Only this time, they were both gone.

"Teleporter!" Sonya thought to herself out loud. Her fingers touched her earpiece at lightning speed. "Eric has been kidnapped by a REAPER teleporter!" She had to resist the urge to swear.

At this moment, the REAPER Agents collectively nodded their heads. Before three of them branished syringes with a glowing green liquid. At once, they stabbed themselves in the wrist with them. Jet black smoke surrounded their hands, as they each spewed a black smoke throughout the area. While other REAPERS put on small gas masks, and then hauled ass.

---

The putrid smell of smoke made Sonya wince. "Henry, are you okay?! What the hell happened?!"

"Gas mask. Now." Henry responded. His exosuit was already reacting. The face gear portion wrapping over his skull. "Poisonous, potentially."

She quickly snapped her gas mask on, and merely put some more distance between herself, and the smoke.

"Fucking REAPER has teleporters now?" Henry questioned over the mic.

"God damn it. Looks like it." Sonya hissed. Looks like they won this one. Now they have access to a dangerous new weapon, and NEST is going to feel the brunt of it. She switched comms, and asked Maria, "Agent Inkshade, do you still have visuals on our targets?"

"Yeah, they're pulling out the area... Oh shit! I need backup!" Maria shouted into the comms.

"Maria?! Maria!" Sonya said into the comms, but no answer. Sonya clenched her fist, before saying, "We're on our way!"

"Where is she?"

"I..." Sonya was about to finish it off with "don't know" but her superior vision eyeballed a spout of black ink a few blocks away. A way for Maria to signal them. "There!" Sonya said, as she preformed more building hopping. She hopped one building, then another, then another... until she came across the scene.

The scene was splattered with ink. One of their targets was glowing with a burning hot flame, and most of his body was cracked and glowing like it was made of lava.

He was staring down Maria, who had reverted to her true-form. Who was desperately using ink to shield herself from the man's flames. Maria shot out a splurt of ink to attack him, but it did nothing to his imposing figure.

Sonya didn't waste a second when she primed her sniper rifle, and fired a dart right into his chest. It... didn't pierce enough, or whatever the hell happened to this man made his skin thicker. He merely looked at Sonya, and pointed his hand at her before he shot a thick stream of fire at her.

On instinct, Sonya jumped out of the way, and landed on another part of the roof. Fortunately, her slime coat kept her safe from fire. Well, looks like she's going to be jumping up to live rounds..

The man opened his mouth, and spewed a flaming wave of fire all over the place. Setting the entire area aflame.

Sonya leaped down, and stood right next to Maria, while swapping out taser-dart rounds for live rounds.

"Where's Henry?" Maria asked.

"I don't know." Sonya answered.

Maria pressed her comm piece button, "Dragonfly, go after the other target! This guy is only buying time!"

It wasn't long before fire had consumed the area. If it wasn't for their respective temperature resistances, they would be burning up right now. Yet, Sonya needed to get out of here before her coat dries up. She closed her eyes for a moment as the man took steps.

Sonya quickly reached for her belt, and pulled out her side-arm, a Mateba, and aimed it at him. "Freeze! Put your hands on the ground!" Sonya at least had to make the order.

The man laughed as he inhaled, and started breathing fire.

Well, Sonya warned him. She pulled the trigger, and the raging boom of the gun heralded the round hitting him in the chest. Except it didn't pierce him - well, not as well as she hoped. The bullet made him stumble backwards a few steps, but otherwise, he was undeterred.

God damn it. They weren't prepared for this. This was supposed to be a recon mission.

Sonya nor Maria were equipped to handle the big boys like this, and she doubted that High Command would appreciate her killing a target.

Maria put her hand out, and shot out another burst of ink that splashed him in the face. Which prompted Sonya to fire off a few more shots, before she jumped over him, so that she was behind him. She quickly grabbed a canister that was hanging off her belt. Well, this was a canister of the sleeping gas they say specifically targets Metahumans. She wondered if he was an actual Metahuman, but hey, worth a shot.

He quickly turned around and swung his hand out, and created a mighty wave of fire. However, a large chunk of himself went up in smokes, literally. Sonya jumped over it, and pressed the button on the canister. She tossed the can at his feet, then a white gas in a aerosol form was produced.

Which quickly filled the area - some of it was getting burned up by the fire, however - and the man inhaled it. Which made Sonya happy. Now it should do it's job! He started stumbling around, trying his hardest to stay up on his feet. He put a hand on his head, before he braced his arm on a car, and started taking a breather. Before he fell forward, and hit the ground.

"Yes!" Sonya said. "Knew that stuff would come in handy!"

Still, she made a note to keep her distance. Fire Department, and NEST, trucks were quickly pulling up onto the scene. Firemen poured off the truck, and immediately brandished fire hoses to calm these raging flames.

A team of NEST Agents walked up, and put handcuffs on the man.

"What happened here...?" A certain NEST Agent said as he stepped out of the truck. His tall figure, and his sharp facial features, were almost immediately recognized by Sonya. Acting Director Maximilian Cornell. Sonya knew him personally from her time serving in Chicago. A nice guy... but a huge tool. She wished it was different, but Max will always be NEST's boy wonder. He stood straight up, and looked around. "Agent Merryday. Agent Inkshade."

Both of them stood at attention, and saluted him. Saying in unison, "Acting Director Cornell, sir!"

"No need for the formalities." Max said as he walked up. "How did a scouting mission spiral into all this chaos?" Max asked.

"... Well, you see...." Sonya scratched the back of her neck. "It all started when we realized that..." Before she could explain, Max interrupted her when he put his hands up.

"We'll sort everything out back at the base." He said. "... Where is Agent Dragonfly?"

"Well..." Sonya looked around, and saw that the man was reverting back to normal. "Huh...?"

"... He took Mutagen." Maria said. "I was tailing them, when one of them just stabbed themselves with this syringe, and the other one darted off. Must be some advance version, or something."

"Advanced Mutagen? I thought that we had enough problems." Max let out a sigh. "Let's find Agent Dragonfly, and we'll debrief all of you."

Maximilian started floating in the air, looking upwards.

"... Echo." He whispered, and the projection of himself appeared right behind him. Echo. That was it's name. It shared Max's exact appearance, other than being twice as large, having a golden color, and that halographic look to it.

It quickly scanned the area, looking for Henry.

---

"Dragonfly, go after the other target! This guy is only buying time!"

This was totally not in the job description. Like, at all. But the mission also wasn't initially going to be a combative mission. He had been cuffing the men Sonya had shot for later interrogation. The smoke was still clearing and quiet frankly he had been so distracted that he had forgotten that there was another target that could still be in the area.

He stood to his full height and raised his nose into the air. It smelt of gunpowder and asphalt. Fire and alcohol too. But there was mutagen in the air. Most of it was contained in the brutally beaten (but still living) REAPER soldiers that were now messed up beyond all previously concievable comprehension. But one trail led away.

Henry cracked his neck, and stalked off, following the trail as best as he could. It led into into an alley, five blocks away from where the whole operation turned into a firefight. Then the trail went cold. His senses were in hyperdrive right now. He could smell nearly everything. He could see nearly everything. He could hear nearly everything. So where did she go?

Suddenly a large and heavy force slammed into his back, sending him to the ground. His eyes shot up and, lo and behold, a massive crystaline woman. Easily seven feet tall and covered in a shiny diamond-like carapice. His eyes shifted down to the cement at his feet and he breathed hard in frustration. Of course. He wouldn't be able to tell the scent of a rock from the scent of another rock as well as he would be able to with a, say, much more different objects. Henry dropped to all fours, and arched his back. His tail flicked dangerously behind him. He and the REAPER agent stared one another down for several moments before he lunged at her. She went for a kick and, despite everything Henry had learned through his many years of fighting, he accepted the blow. He felt one of his ribs crack as her crystaline leg hit him, but his massive arms wrapped around her appendage and he knew then and there that he had her. He looked up at her, and she looked at him.

Then, with the strength of his size, pivoted and threw her into the closest wall. She exploded through it, taking all the force of the impact from the wall and then skidding through the interior of the building's first floor several yards. She laid there face down for several seconds, but eventually stood up onto shaky feet. Henry had stalked in after her, giving her no time to really recover from the throw. He pivoted on his heel as he approached and knocked her legs clear out from under her with his tail- sending her back to the floor on her stomach. She began to move to get up again when Henry grabbed her skull with one of his huge hands and lifted her off the ground, only to slam her crystalized body into the floor again. His hand moved lower to her calves, and he dragged her a few feet away from her current spot. He heaved and threw her vertically out of the building's windows and across the street into a parked car. Effectively totaling it.

He stepped through the building's new opening and stood there, trying to calm himself. He knew he needed to hold back. He knew he needed to-

A solid, rock like fist connected with his chest and he stumbed back. His now extremely pissed off eyes were brought up to the very exhaused looking woman, who seemed to have an arm that was limp. Henry roared. His throat going raw with the force behind the sound, and he brought his leg up and kicked the woman back to the ground near the car again. He stalked over and curb stomped the woman, holding her chest in place as he reached for the very damaged vehicle. With the adrenaline coursing through his veins and rage in his mind, Henry lifted the vehicle off the ground. He moved his leg out of the way as he drove the car down on top of the woman.

He breathed for a moment, collecting himself, and then fell onto his ass. He couldn't see her under the rubble. She was either paralyzed- he thinks he dropped most of the weight on her hips, or dead. Depended on how effective the mutagen still was. He was tired. Lifting that car was hard. He looked it over and, saw he had lifted a god damn Toyota Tacoma.

He was really feeling that rib right about now.

"This is," Henry breathed, holding his side. His chest hurt too. His armor took the most of it, but it would definitely bruise. "This is Agent Dragonfly," Henry continued. "I'm outside of a building on the corner of George street and Colonial Avenue." He stated.

He looked down to the destroyed vehicle.

"Target put up heavy resistance. Was neutralized. Not sure if alive or KIA."

"Understood." Maximilian said through the comms. "On my way to your position now." He spoke as he flew through the air.

---

---

where are u? Lucille sent the sms for the third time. i'm at kennedy

just get over here Trevor sent the text, while leaving up against the wall. He had tucked the knife into his waistband - covering the handle with his shirt. His back, and his shoulders were in pain from what happened. Yet, he couldn't stop running over what happened in his head. It was just so completely random. There wasn't a single animal like that in Verthaven - let alone anywhere else. That was... a Metahuman? Or something created by one?

"You look like you saw your sister." She said when she recognized Trevor leaning on the wall. "What the hell happened?"

Trevor didn't exactly get the first comment. He merely raised his eyebrow. He could answer the second question. "Look... I was heading out into the Ghost Town to practice my archery and... this thing jumped on me. I got it off me, and hauled ass." He answered, before shrugging, "You know this city's just full of weird shit."

Lucille narrowed her eyes for a second and stared at Trevor's face. "You're not full of shit," she said after a brief break. "Cold be a shapeshifter. Those nasty things, one moment's a dog and the next your neighbor." She laughed alone. "But... you're not thinking about going back there, right?" I'm not a human shield, she said to herself.

"Ummm...." Trevor put his hands behind his back, as his blue eyes drifted to the side. "... I left my bow there... you know, hauling ass and all...."

"Hell no! I'm no human shield." She said without flinching, "The last time I agreed to something it all went wrong.I don't want to be cut off by a tiger."

"... And you're afraid of a tiger?!" Trevor stood straight up, and said in utter disbelief. "You got superpowers! What do you have to be afraid of?! All I can do is splash this stuff on it and hope it'll start tripping balls!" Trevor said as he turned his palm up, and produced the drug. A thick, clear, liquid, Just to demonstrate how much Lucille is in a completely different class than him.

"Okay," she snorted. "You have something with you?"

"Of course," Trevor quickly grabbed the handle to his knife, and pulled it out. A serrated hunting knife, with a wooden handle. He turned it, and presented it to her. "Neat, huh?" Before carefully putting it back in his waistband.

"Let's get the bow and arrow and get the hell back to the beach house." Trevor started walking back towards the Ghost Town. [i]Fortunately[i] since he was planning on getting Lucille to come with him to go get it back, he didn't go too far away from the place. It was a quick walk, before Trevor and Lucille made it to the chainlink fence that surrounds the haunted district. There was a part of the fence that was pulled up, cut with wire-cutters. Trevor walked up to it, and raised it a bit.

"Ladies first." Trevor said, jovially.

"Such coward."

"Heeeeeey... Cowards die last, y'know?" Trevor said, he exaggerated his Texan accent a bit as Lucille climbed through. Trevor would be looking at her butt if it wasn't for the fact that there were footsteps coming up. Trevor's head darted in that direction, and a police officer had joined them. Wearing the VPD Uniform, he was a Caucasian man in his late thirties, and in pretty good shape. Trevor almost immediately dropped the fence.

Busted. Trevor thought to himself.

"Mind telling me what you kids are up to?" He asked, putting his arms over his chest as he raised an eyebrow. "No one's allowed in the Ghost Town. You kids need to leave." He threw a thumb over his shoulder.

Lucy looked back frightened by the man's voice. A chill went down her spine and she was speechless. There goes her night.

"... Alright, officer, we'll just head on out of here." Trevor quickly pulled the fence up,so Lucille as crawled through.

Trevor and Lucille skipped right on by the police officer, as he turned back and looked at the pair. Shaking his head, and walking off.

... Only for the two to go to another entrance. Same thing as before, wire fence, but they approached a gate, that was chained together before someone cut it open with a tool of some sort.

This time, Trevor went in first, pushing open the gate and stepping right on through. Holding the gate open for Lucille.

"What if the office's the shapeshifter?"

"We don't even know if there is a shapeshifter... The acid I took must have kicked in." Trevor said with a grin. "Just come on. We'll be in and out."

"Just be ready..." Lucy said after a deep breath, clenching her fists while thinking about her strength.

"Yeah, ready to use you as a shield." Trevor chuckled a bit.

"Don't even tell me." She said as she passed through the gate

He started walking, pushing the gate closed, while saying, "If I get my bow, maybe I could-" Trevor was about to make a joke about shooting the monster in the ass as she gets eaten - but he saw the police officer running up to the gates.

"I told you kids needed to leave!" The VPD Cop shouted as he came closer and closer.

"Oh..." Trevor's eyes shot from left, to the left, then the right. Before he just turned around and shouted, "RUN!" As he inwards towards the Ghost Town, followed by Lucille. They just gotta lose him in the Ghost Town.

The Police officer rammed his way through the gates, and chased after them.

Trevor and Lucille quickly took to the streets of the Ghost Town. Only thing in his head was getting his bow, and getting the hell out of here. Unfortunately, Lucille was a few steps ahead of him. Trevor kept running fast as his legs could take him. Officer Action back there was quite a distance back.

This is why they needed a fat friend. So they could take one for the team!

Trevor and Lucille were coming up to a river, with a small wooden bridge on top of it... Years without maintence had really degraded the woodwork on the bridge, and left it crumbling. Trevor got an idea! A bad one!

He kicked it into overdrive, and started catching up to Lucille. They quickly ran over it, and when they were across, he shouted, "Hit the bridge!" Trevor said. He knew that there was a high chance the bridge would fall with him on it. Or that Officer Action would jump. He wasn't on the bridge just yet, but he would be in a second.

But he knew that one smack from Lucille's boobs would destroy anything!

Lucy did what she heard. She imagined her hand heavy, heavy as ever. She grabbed one of the wooden frames and pushed. Hopefully her strength would shake the structure. The bridge began creaking and shaking, as planks of decaying wood started splitting. The building started falling apart, and it ended with the center falling inwards.

The police officer had to stop, he shook his fist, as he looked around for another way across.

Trevor, nor Lucille, didn't stop for even a second. Trevor in particular thought that it'd be best if they put as much distance between themselves and that police officer.

Once the coast was clear, Trevor knelt over, putting his hands on his knees as he panted. He spoke in between pants, "Yeah... that... was a wor... workout, huh...?" He kept panting, desperately trying to regain his breath.

"Holy hell." Lucy said breathless. "Lets find your bow and get the hell out here," she said while recovered her breath

"Yeah, it's just..." Trevor pointed in one of the direction... and then realized he had literally no idea where the hell they are. "Somewhere." Trevor shrugged. Before he pulled out his knife, and started walking. But he stopped, and looked over his shoulder, "You should go first. Remember, you are the meatshield."

Lucille stood up and followed the direction given by Trevor. She walked with large steps while deep breathing, she didn't want to be afraid, she can't be.

The two kept walking. "Don't see us as lost, just think of this as an adventure." Trevor giggled. As he spun his knife in between his fingers. "All we have to do is find some big ass mall, the bow is in that area." He started looking .

"Before or after the creature kills us?" She shrugged.

"Relax..." Trevor put his hands up with the knife in hand.

"I'm trying."

"If you want, you can take a little bit of my magical drug." He said as he raised a finger, and produced a droplet of liquid on his fingertip. "It'll ease your nerves."

"Just... No... Stop doing that." She said as she turned away, disgusted. "I don't take miraculous liquids from boys," she said with a smirk.

"Well..." Trevor wiped the droplet on his shirt. "Okay." He shrugged.

It wasn't long until Trevor saw the emornous mall. He quickly ran up past Lucille as he immediately recognized the place where he was practicing archery. He quickly ran up to his bag. "Yeah, found it!" He saw as he unzipped it, and dropped his knife into it. He quickly lifted it up, and slung it over his shoulder. Trevor turned towards Lucille, and triumphantly gave her the peace sign. "We could come back around here some time! Explore this creepy-ass mall!"

"In my next reincarnation." She said looking around. "Exit?"

"Fine. I'll just get Meifeng, and all my other hot lady-friends to join me without you." Trevor sarcastically pursed his lip.

"Such shame, and I thought I had a big charisma... or two."

Trevor chuckled a bit as he pushed on by her. "Maybe if you wore a tube top." He said as he started walking forward. He knew exactly how to get out of here from this spot. Well, a vague idea. He was running out of here, and didn't pay too much attention to the area around here. He started walking. "Anyways, we should probably lay low for a bit... I think Officer Action is getting the dogs, or calling NEST because you titty-slapped that bridge down." He shrugged. "I know just the place."

"Lead the way then."

"I will. I'd ask you to - but let's be honest, you don't have any booty. Heh..." He started laughing as he walked through the Ghost Town.

Towards the exit.

---

After the pair left the Ghost Town, they quickly pushed through Knightdale Rows, sticking to the shadows. As they approached a building that wasn't too far away from the Ghost Town. Trevor stood at the front doors of the "Candy Club". Which had a bright red neon sign, that's been decorated to look like candy. "Weeeeeeee're here!" Trevor loudly announced as he put his hands in the air.

Not wasting even a second, Trevor whipped out his cellphone and sent a text to Cindy.

Hey Cindy, you in the Candy Club? Mind letting us in.

Wasn't even a second before Cindy replied.

I s2g, f U got n trouble, I'm kicking ur dick in2 ur chest.

No no I promise we didn't do anything

U betta not b lying, o it's goin 2 hurt Obott

Cindy sent the last text, followed by a sigh as she slid from the booth, and started walking towards the door. Trevor, and Meifeng really liked using the club to hide from the police whenever they do something stupid. She was going to trust him this time (She's going back to prison for assault if he betrays that trust). Cindy walked up to the front doors, and turned the key, and opened it. She saw Trevor and some mysterious broad that she vaguely remembers. Vaguely. Like, she remembers seeing her from somewhere.

"Ciiiiindy!" Trevor said outloud. He quickly turned to Lucille, and said, "Lucille, this is one of my friends, Cindy... and vice versa." He shrugged.

"Nice meeting you, honey."

"Hey Cindy!" Lucy replied with a huge smile.

"Let's get inside before-" Trevor tried to push the group inside, but Cindy stretched her arms out and blocked them.

"Before what?" Cindy asked.

"Nothing. It looks like it's going to rain! That's all." Trevor tried to come up with the excuse.

Cindy looked up at the sky, and only saw bright and sunny blue skies. "Riiiiiiight..." She said, raising an eyebrow.

"Can we just come inside?" Trevor said.

"Yeah, yeah... but no NEST Agents better swing around." Cindy said, before she got out of the way, and let Trevor and Lucille in. She quickly closed the door behind her. "Make yourselves at home - but don't make a mess, I just broke my ass trying to clean it." Cindy said as she finally locked the door.

Trevor quickly slid his way into one of the booths, and threw his bag on the other seat. Lying down, with his legs spread.

Now, there was a few questions Cindy had here. Specifically about Trevor. How did a dame like Lucille get wrapped up in a boy like Trevor? She would suggest they're cousins, but there wasn't even a strong enough resemblance. There was no way in hell she was his girlfriend (She looked like a dyke with that haircut, anyway).

"So, Lucy, if I can call you that, are you from Academy 12?" Cindy asked as she walked up.

"Yeah, we're from the same class."

"With Trevor...? But, I swear, I seen you from somewhere. I just don't know where exactly." Cindy said as put one foot out, and swifted her weight to one hip.

"No... I'm from your class, Cindy. Trevor is just a friend."

"Oh?" Cindy put both hands on her wide hips.

"Yeah... F-r-i-e-n-d."

"... Honestly, I don't see Trevor over there ever getting a girlfriend." Cindy spoke honestly.

"Hey, I'm right here." Trevor said, with a smirk on his face.

Cindy looked at Trevor for a bit, before turning back to Lucy. "Not a pretty one. And I got the friend part, I was talking about you being in my class, girl." Cindy smiled, and showed her braces. "That'd make sense. Since, there's all sorts of people in that school."

"Yep. There's Trevor." She laughed.

"... Still here." Trevor said.

"I hear you there, girl." Cindy said, while laughing. She turned back to Trevor, then to Lucille. "... Ya'll want something to drink? I can't give you alcohol, but I got lots of water."

"Eh... Water please."

"You got any Pepsi?" Trevor asked.

"Yes, and yes...." Cindy didn't like playing waitress, but she could at least get them something to drink. Hell, they got all sorts of stuff in the refrigerator. Not just alcohol. Cindy walked back towards the fridge.