[hr][h1][i][color=Dodgerblue]Lihua Vuhong[/color], [color=Red]Meifeng Vuhong[/color], & [color=Yellow]Mika Baozai[/color][/i][/h1][/i][hr][hider=Final Fantasy OST - Queen of the Abyss][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Demsu4kbU_Q[/youtube][/hider]


Meifeng plopped herself down on Lihua's chair, leaning in as she let out a sigh of release as she let out all the negative emotions she felt today. The Vuhongs and the sole Baozai were gathered in Lihua's office - which was thankfully untouched by the attack by the sole virtue of being out of the way. Today was not a good day. Everything's wrecked... but everything looks up in the end.

Mika wasn't that far away, sitting on the sofa with Lijuan in her arms. The infant was happy, reaching up towards Mika's collar. Meifeng didn't say a word to her older cousin as she just went back to leaning back in her chair.

Thank God they've managed to get a break - but they're going have to get to work later. Meifeng was ready for it. Hopefully they can put an end to all of this. Lots of people died here, but Meifeng was going to make sure that nobody else died. Not on her watch, of course. Then she was going to take on the Hands, Changelings, and whoever the hell else gets in her way. That was a promise.

For now, Meifeng was going to relax and hope that [i]nothing[/i] else crops up.

The door suddenly opened and Lihua charged on into the room. Without a word (From Lihua - or anyone really) she walked up to her desk and pushed aside Meifeng as she reached into her cabinet. She grabbed a bottle of whiskey and moved over to one of the seats in the room and sat down.

Meifeng raised an eyebrow as she looked up at her mother. "Shouldn't you be cooking up a plan with the rest of them?" She asked, skeptical.

Lihua herself was taking one long gulp of the alcohol while . "We're taking five - but there's something I wanted to talk to you girls about."

That was enough to get their attention.

"For starters," Lihua let out a sigh. "We have reason to believe that that there's a traitor in our ranks."

"A traitor?" Mika asked.

"Who the fuck would work with [i]them?[/i]" Meifeng asked. "That's just asking for-"

"Again, watch your mouth." Lihua was quick to say, before she took a long gulp of her alcohol. "I've been going over Dana's run down of what happened... and it's clear that someone is working with them. Things just worked out [i]too[/i] well for them."

The two girls were silent as Lihua explained.

"And part of the problem was that we kept underestimating them." Lihua sighed and shook her head. "We kept crossing them off as nothing more than violent animals that we can easily outsmart... We never realized how crafty they can be, getting overconfident - and we got punished for it." She took another sip of her alcohol.

"Despite that... we could have easily trumped them if we had our full force." Lihua explained. "But... like I said before, they knew where to hit, and how [i]hard[/i]. Knew a little too much. Someone could have been feeding them intel from the inside."

"Who do you think it is?" Mika asked.

"Let me start by saying that it's [i]unlikely[/i] our mole is anyone in RAVEN," Lihua said. "It'd be contradictory to established behavior, and previous operations. However, I [i]do[/i] believe that an agent was responsible... we had plenty of Agents that were working for the Hands and doing backdoor deals with the Changelings." Lihua shook her head at the shame of her organization holding these monsters.

"Who do you think it is?" Meifeng said, her eyes drifted out the window and saw the aftermath to the chaos. "... After what happened, we don't have a lot of people to choose from."

"I'll have to dig out the rat..." Lihua said, shishing around the bottle of alcohol in her hand and staring at it behind her glasses. "However, I'm [i]not[/i] one-hundred on this... It could very well be someone in RAVEN that got desperate, or roped into it."

There was a brief pause as Lihua looked between her niece, and her daughter.

"What I'm saying is that we're crossing the point where we can't trust the others." Lihua said. "Everyone is getting pushed up against the walls, and desperation is at an all time high, and everyone is reaching new lows... and people like the Changelings know how to take advantage of that."

All this talk about traitors and Changelings made Mika nervous. Especially given her "encounter" with the Unit. "Auntie, there's something I need to talk to you about." Mika stood straight up, and caught everyone's attention.

Lihua was taken aback by Mika's interruption, but kept her composure if only to hear her niece out. "What is it, Mika?" 

"During their attack... I ran into them." Mika said, somewhat frightened to say the words. "Or, more accurately, they ran into me."

"What happened?" Lihua immediately said. "Are you okay? They didn't lay a finger on you, did they?"

"That was what I wanted to talk to you about," Mika said. "I was in the hallway outside of here with Lijuan, and... they just walked by us. Doing nothing." She was awestruck, and didn't know what to even say. "Then, as they walked off, their leader - Luis I think - said, "the boss would have a fit if we touched her."" 

Mika hung her head. 

"... I hope it doesn't mean what I think it means."

Lihua, too, was surprised. For a large number of reasons (Starting with [i]why[/i] Lijuan was with Mika). She didn't know what to say... up until she thought of who this [i]"boss"[/i] could be and she was immediately set on a different mode. She put the bottle down and stepped over to Mika and pointed a finger to her.

"Listen... this information doesn't leave this room, got it?" Lihua said to the two girls, who nodded in agreement. "And two, I have an idea of who this person [i]could[/i] be... but we'll discuss this matter later. We have more important things to deal with for now."

Letting out a sigh, Mika nodded her head as she said, "Very well."

"Say..." Lihua turned around as the thought occured to her. "You said that you had Lijuan with you, correct?" 

"Yes, Cindy passed her off to me shortly after you left." The explaination made Lihua clench her fists tightly. 

Lihua's fists were clenching for a reason. She placed her trust and faith in Ms. Keagan only for the [i]bitch[/i] to pass her off the first moment she got, and she could have gotten injured if it wasn't for Mika (and her apparent ties to the Changeling Unit). Which is why she's going to seek out Ms. Keagan at once and give her a piece of her mind.

Without saying a word, Lihua turned out the room and started walking down the halls.

Meifeng couldn't help but whistle. "... Cindy is going to get it." Meifeng said. "You seen the look on her face? She had that "you fucked up" faced on... and especially with Lijuan involved - phew." Meifeng said... she was disappointed in Cindy, but since the worst didn't occur, she found it hard to really care. Though, she knew that she [i]should[/i] be angry with Lijuan's life on the line.

"Whatever happens with that girl is none of my concern." Mika said as she planted her behind firmly on the chair.

Meifeng rolled her eyes up into her head. "Know what?" Meifeng pushed herself up off Lihua's chair. "I'm going to check on Jen, and make sure that mom doesn't kill Cindy." She put her arms behind her head as she walked right out the room.


[hr][i][h1][color=plum]Trevor Obott[/color], [color=springgreen]Cindy Keagan[/color], & [color=Dodgerblue]Lihua Vuhong[/color].[/i][/h1][hr][hider=Johnny Polygon - You're Never too Old to Die Young][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj3Ox3yRi4c[/youtube][/hider]


"... I just don't want to die a virgin, y'know?" Trevor said.

"[i]Trevor.[/i]" Cindy sternly said.

"When you, uh, think about it, we got a lot in common." Trevor said, scratching the back of his neck. "Me [i]and[/i] Jen are good lookin' people, white and [i]nerdy[/i], and... [i]big[/i] - y'know? Where it [i]counts?[/i]" Trevor heartily chuckled as he put his hands together and pushed them apart as a measurement of his... you know.

The only appropriate reaction to this was a facepalm and a groan from Cindy. "I hope you're not saying she has what I think you're saying." Cindy said.

"Oh, no, no, no," Trevor waved his hands left and right rapidly. "But, I'd be fine with that."

The two were sitting in one of the hallways of the NEST Headquarters... in front of a broken window, watching the rain. Trevor himself was sitting on the "windowsil," looking back at Cindy who wasn't stupid enough to sit this close to the edge. That crazy white boy was going to fall, and she wasn't going to catch him.

Instead of scolding him for his perversion... Cindy really didn't have it in her anymore. After all this bullshit, for nothing, she really didn't care. Because she just [i]feared[/i] that her father was killed by the Changelings. It'd make sense, wouldn't it? They just came across him and killed him without a second thought. And just like that, a great man was cut down. [i]For no fucking reason.[/i]

Cindy was depressed about it, yeah. 

"Know what?" Cindy said. "Fuck it. Just go for it, Trev. Just like you said, [i]it's the end of the world[/i]. So if you want to try to get some tail from Jen, then why the hell not? I doubt she doesn't give a shit either anymore. Even if she does, your white ass can probably find some other chick who's that desperate."

Trevor was honestly surprised about this turn of events. Usually he gets shot down by Cindy, and called annoying. "So, things are [i]that[/i] bad now?" Trevor asked. "You don't even care?"

Cindy sighed. "... At this point, I'm finding it hard to." She denounced. "Sorry, but I don't feel like our first-world-problems mean shit anymore." Cindy shrugged. 

Trevor figured that it was time to take his chance, he scooted over to Cindy and said, "So hows about me and you make an oreo-"

"[i]No.[/i]" Cindy immediately cut him off. 

"Okay." Trevor slid his behind right back over to his previous spot. He didn't want their conversation to end like this. He turned his back over towards Cindy, "But, let me put it like this; the situation is so bad that it can't [i]possibly[/i] get any worse from here, y'know?"

"... And you just [i]had[/i] to say it." Cindy facepalmed again.

"No, no, I'm serious." Trevor said. "Think about it, we're trapped in here with all sorts of loonies - and I'm certain that the loony-meter just went up even higher, too - but, from here on in, it's going to be smooth sailin'." He did a gesture with his hands mimicking waves. "Can promise you that much."

Well, either Trevor just jixed them all, or he might have a little bit of wisdom left in that head of his. Cindy took in a deep breath of air and cleared her mind. Trevor, for a fool, knew how to at least reassure the girl. Even when the situation is the worst. Cindy nodded her head.

"So, want to know some ways to bag Jen?" Cindy asked, going along with it. "Just don't be direct... ease her into it. Don't be too direct, you gotta make [i]her[/i] want to do i-"

Their conversation was cut off when she heard the loud footsteps of Lihua's boots coming up on them. Cindy turned her head over and...

"Ms. Keagan," Lihua said with pure venom in her voice. "I [i]specifically[/i] asked you to stay behind and keep Lijuan out of the fight," She leaned forward and stared the teen right in the eye. "And I hear that you passed her off to Mika literally [i]minutes[/i] after I left? What kind of responsibility is that?"

"Well, I..." Cindy trailed off, scratching the back of her neck. She really dropped the ball back there. In fact, she didn't even think of Lijuan up until now... Now she feels like a giant dick.

"And, not only that, but you have the audacity to steal my alcohol so you can go fool around with your friends." Lihua poked her finger into Cindy's chest, her nails dug deep. "[i]Meanwhile,[/i] Lijuan and Mika barely avoid danger by the very skin of their teeth."

"Wait, what happen-"

"It doesn't matter now." Lihua stood straight up, and rolled her eyes up into her head. "You apparently don't care enough about about her in the first place-" Lihua shrugged. "-so why should I bother even telling you?" She asked, rhetorical as ever.

"That's not true."

"Then why weren't you acting like it?" Lihua asked, and Cindy couldn't honestly answer. Lihua turned halfway from Cindy and crossed her arms over her chest. "After I place so much [i]trust[/i] in you... I'm just so [i]disappointed[/i]."

Cindy couldn't muster the words.

"That is all." Lihua let out a deep sigh. "I'll be heading back to the planning room... you'll be needed tomorrow." She immediately turned away from Cindy and Trevor and paced back down the hallway she came.

Cindy sighed... feeling a familar sense of shame.

"... [i]Phew.[/i]" Trevor said, grinning like a fool as he stayed out of that one. No offense to Cindy, but he knew Cindy enough to know that she got had this. "She was really laying it into ya', huh? Worse than how I usually get it." He shrugged. "Eh, don't worry about it. No matter what happens - it ain't like she gonna hate ya' forever, right?"

"Hate? No." Cindy quickly replied.

"Trust... [i]now that's a whole different discussion.[/i]"


[hr][h1][i][color=aqua]Jennifer Marissa Caspin[/color], & [color=Red]Meifeng Vuhong[/color][/i][/h1][hr]


With everything going to shit, Meifeng was going to make sure that Jennifer was okay. Her chance encounter with the Changeling Unit probably didn't do much for the girl's health. Meifeng walked up to Jen's door and tapped on the door with her knuckles. "Jen... you in there?"

Hearing Meifeng's voice made Jen wrap the blankets her body tighter in shame. She didn't want Meifeng to see her [i]now[/i] of all times. She wanted to pretend to not be here, and let Meifeng walk off. The self-condemnation was just too strong.

Unfortunately, Meifeng just opened the door and looked inside.

"Jen?" Meifeng asked, taking slow steps over to Jen's bed and sitting on the edge. "Is everything okay? Why didn't you answer the door?"

"Just..." Jen tried to come up with the best answer. ".. Tired."

"Heard you were coughing up blood... you sure you're okay?" Meifeng said as she reached over and put a hand on Jennifer's shoulder. Giving her a slight nudge. "You okay?"

"I..." Jen realized that she can afford a little of honesty here. "... I don't know. I don't know about [i]anything[/i] anymore. I only had this power for a month, and it already feels like my body is turning against me..." More tears ran down her eyes as she lied to her friend - the person who believed in her the most. By a reassuring pat calmed her down.

"Hey, calm down," Meifeng said in the most soothing voice she can muster. "How about we get you checked out by a doctor tomorrow? See if they know. If they don't know - then how about we see if we can get Trevor's drug to patch you up?"

Jennifer sighed. "Okay." She had to find some way to weasel out of this one. Perhaps even get the Changelings... No. Jennifer would never resort to them.

"Now, you had a long day, yeah?" Meifeng said as she stood straight up. "How about we hit the showers and relax for the rest of the day? I think all our enemies are just as tired as we are." She followed that with a loud snort.

"Wait, together?" Jen asked as she got up.

"Sure, why not?" Meifeng shrugged. "The world's ending... do you think anyone gives a shit if two best friends shower together? [i]Besides,[/i] that damn gym teacher made us all shower together after every basketball game." 

Jennifer shook her head.

Meifeng pulled her out of the bed. "Alright, let's go then." She pulled Jen over along to the showers.


[hr][i][h1]The Changeling Unit.[/h1][/i][hr][hr][hider=Massive Attack - Angel][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiK2JlBpzvI[/youtube][/hider][hr]


"Welcome, welcome, welcome!" Luis said as he clapped his hands together. They were in a large dark room - likely a cleared out warehouse - and before him was the various prisoners that he had "recruited". Behind Luis was his assembled Changeling Unit. "Before you can be inducted into our ranks... we have to run a few tests, first." Luis began walking up, with his hands behind his back. "These are simply just ways we can gauge your loyalty to the Changeling cause... see if you're the [i]right fit[/i]."

They all looked confused, before someone piped up and said, "What kind of tests?" He asked.

"Well..." Luis stopped and looked at him. "The [i]trials[/i] will be decided by our members... they can be [i]anything[/i] they want. Even give you a special one." Luis tilted his head towards the side slightly as he stared down the group. "Don't worry... they're all [i]fair[/i] - But as a little fun thing we like to do, the less we like someone, the more tests we'll have them do. Just making sure that, despite our doubts... you'll still go that little extra mile."

Heartbreaker started twirling her revolvers. "But don't worry... failing one fuckin' test doesn't mean that you're going to die or something." Heartbreaker said. "But, if you decide to be a pussy and give up, then [i]that's[/i] when you die." She narrowed her eyes, that grin getting wide enough to flash her white teeth. 

"And [i]boy,[/i] I don't want to tell you what some of the others will do to you. I'll just shoot ya' and get it over with, but some of these guys," She threw a thumb over her shoulder. "They'll make you wish you never crawled outta that whore."

"So, who wants to opt out now?" Luis asked with a devilish grin on his face.

Someone raised their hand - and didn't even get a second before Heartbreaker pulled the trigger and put a hole through his chest. He dropped dead, and bled out.

"God damn it." Luis said, annoyed. "[i]Someone[/i] will have to clean that up... unless you want to eat him for your first test, [i]HAHA![/i]" He began crackling like a hyena

Everyone looked around awkwardly.

"So..." Luis rubbed his chin a little bit. "[i]This[/i] is a tough one... we never had [i]this[/i] many recruits at time." Luis clapped both of his hands together. "So, we'll be going one at a time... should be fair, right?" 

"Oh, oh, oh!" Heartbreaker said like a giddy schoolgirl as she skipped over to Luis. She had one leg kicked up into the air. She whispered something in her ear, before she pointed at one of the former prisoners. After she was done, she leaned back and took a few steps back.

"...Starting with [i]you.[/i]" Luis said, pointing at the same person.

An average heighted woman with shiny red dyed hair - that was beginning to fade back into it's natural brown color - her build was somewhat bulky. A sign that she was bulking up in that jail cell. She took a step up and said, "Me?" 

"No, the person right to you." Luis rolled his eyes as, literally, the person next to her stepped up. "Of course I mean you!" And the person stepped back, saddened he didn't get to go first. "But let me know who you are."

"... [i]Emily.[/i]" The woman - now properly introduced - said.

"We got [i]two[/i] Emilies now?" Heartbreaker laughed. 

"No, no, no..." Luis raised his hand up into the air. "Flashbang renounced that part of her. There's only Flashbang now."

"Riiight, right right..."  Heartbreaker said, remembering Luis' retarded rules.

"Now, are you ready."

Emily clenched her fists tightly, and said, "Yes, yes I am."

"Splendid, then let's get to work! Everyone else can watch." 

[hr]

The lights went off in the room.

A few moments later, everyone heard a creaky wheel rolling into the room, finally ending in the center of the room. Then the lights flashed back on and everyone was assaulted by the brutal lights as they were given little time to actually adjust. By the time everyone got a chance to adjust, the Mannequin's tall form gave everyone a spook. He was hunched over an operating table that was hauling various surgeon tools and... a perfect replica of the Mannequin's mask. Except the mouth area was much bigger. Almost like it was accommodating for a different mouth, and was flexible around the cheeks.

The doll pointed at Emily, and she took a few steps forward towards the Mannequin. Who, strangely enough, ran it's ceramic fingers across her face.

"You are [i]beautiful[/i]..." It's voice was a monotone whisper. "... Among the Changelings... beauty serves no purpose."

He reached back and grabbed the copy of his mask.

"Abandon your beauty..." The Mannequin said, leaning forward until he was seconds away from touching her.

Emily nodded her head.

Without saying another word the Mannequin pressed the mask against her face, and reached back to grab some bone screws. A little screwdriver came out of the Mannequin's finger and drilled the screw through her flesh. Emily winced in pain as the first screw went into her body. The Mannequin grabbed another, and drilled it into her, and another. The pain was like no other. Blood was dripping down her face, and she felt the metal inside her body. The Mannequin's mechanical grip stopped Emily from moving, not even to make this more comfortable.

Once the "procedure" was finished, the Mannequin let go of her, and Emily dropped to the ground. Grabbing onto her mask as she realized the depth of what she has gotten herself into.

"... You know," Luis said as she walked up to the girl, standing over her. "We should save Mannequin's body alterations for later in your tests - but nope! You're mutilated right off the bat." Luis started laughing. He snapped his fingers, calling for one of his associates, "[i]Witch Mother![/i]"

The Witch Mother scrolled on by wearing her white cloak, and grabbed onto the top of Emily's head. She infused the woman with her biological manipulation - closing the woman's wounds, and strengthening her antibodies to godly levels so she doesn't get infected.

Luis squatted down. "Oh yeah, forgot to tell you..." Luis started grinning. "Every test you pass, our resident healer will put you back on your feet... depending on how well you preform, of course. She might decide to heal you half way, or leave all the bacteria in your wounds, if you do a shitty job."

[hr]

Luis loudly whistled as he wheeled in a person on Alice's former wheelchair (Might as well put it to good use!). A young girl that was around thirteen years old, had black hair, and was wearing clothes that was soaked with water.

"... We found this girl retreating from your-best-friend NEST's little safezone with her family. They thought they'd have better chances on their own." Luis said as she walked over. He came to a stop and had the girl face Emily. "Her family? Dead. We killed them. Save for her. Heartbreaker wanted her."

Heartbreaker walked up, twirling her revolver. Grinning like a fool.

"This? This here is an important part of our tests." Heartbreaker said as she leaned up against the wheelchair, propping her elbow up on the girl's shoulder. "We need to make sure that you won't pussy out at the last second if you see some cute little girl. So, all you need to do is torture her... make it nice and slow." 

The girl started panicking as soon as Heartbreaker explained just [i]what[/i] was going to happen to her. Screaming loudly.

"Just one thing; don't kill her. We need to send a message." Heartbreaker said was she walked off to the sidelines with Luis. "[i]Haaaaaaave fun,[/i] you two!"

Emily walked up to the girl and stared at her.

Her screams echoed through the warehouse and Luis and Heartbreaker watched with delight.

[hr]

[i]Hours later...[/i]

Luis and Heartbreaker was watching the new recruits from the sidelines. They made a [i]Changeling[/i] out of Emily, and several others, including some ex-cartel assassin. They've gotten some members to make up for the loss of Shade and Wraith. Now it's up to the others not to pussy out. 

One of the recruits was engaging in a fight with the other Changelings, a part of Primitive Light's test. A man, muscular, with super strength threw a punch at Primitive Light that she caught. Doing literally nothing but making her stronger. Primitive Light returned the favor and threw a punch that left him skidding across the floor into the Berserker - fully transformed. The brute raised her foot up into the air and tried to slam her foot into the ground on him. He rolled out of the way, and her foot went through the ground like it was nothing.

"Screw this, I'm out of here!" The man rolled up to his feet, and jumped up into the air like it was nothing. Heartbreaker was about to shoot him, but Luis raised his hand up into the air. Leaping up into the air with him was the Berserker, who reached his level in less than a few seconds. She grabbed him by the head and he let out a surprised yell when they started falling to the ground. The moment the Berserker's feet hit the ground, she used the momentum to slam him head first into the ground, and utterly crushing his head underneath her palm as if it was a fruit.

The Berserker stood straight up, and let out a loud jet of air out of her mouth.

"Well," Luis shrugged. "That's like the fifth person we killed."

Heartbreaker shook her head. "They don't make psychopaths like they used to." 

"They sure don't." Luis said. "Now... I don't think I talked business with you, [i]Natalie.[/i] We were [i]sooo[/i] busy with the new recruits that I forgot."

"Yeah, about fuckin' time." Heartbreaker said, rolling her eyes up into her head. "Let's go."

The two started walking in the back towards a door - Luis opened the door for Heartbreaker like a gentleman. Heartbreaker stepped in, but Luis poked his head through the door and said, "You all hold the fort here for now, okay?"

The two stepped into the back room. "Nice fuckin' place you got here, how'd you pick it?"

"Oooh me and the Mannequin just found this little abandoned warehouse and we set up shop if you know what I mean." Luis snickered like a fool. Looking around at this place.

Heartbreaker walked in more, a hand was holding her revolver as she walked with a light swagger in her steps - up until she saw the people tied up in the room (And they saw her, looking at her like she was Beelzebub in the flesh). Heartbreaker raised an eyebrow, and pointed at them, "What's going on [i]here?[/i] Did you do a BDSM night without me and these are the leftovers?"

"Nah, nah..." Luis put his hands up into the air. "They're our... leverage to keep one of our new friends in line."

"Ooooooh, you got someone?" Heartbreaker asked with a wry smile as she crossed her arms tightly. "[i]Who?[/i]"

"Oh nobody important..." Luis offhandedly said. "Just their family member who has ties with the big shots at NEST. Think her name is... Jennifer Caspin."

"... Please don't hurt her." Cody Caspin, the younger sibling said.

"Oh, I don't plan on laying a finger on her." Luis said. "You... you should honestly worry about yourself for the time being."

"[i]Jennifer Caspin...[/i]" Heartbreaker thought of the name. "Yeah! That was the blonde haired broad who the Hands bagged when I was rolling with them." She whistled. "Small world, huh?"

"If it wasn't for her, you'd still be rotting in that cell." Luis said.

"I'll have to congratulate her for that next time I see her." Heartbreaker laughed like a legitimate fiend. "So, what's the plan? You got me out... we're trapped in a fuck-dome with a bitch that wants to tentacle fuck everything in sight... and we have a drove of new recruits. The fuck are we gonna do?"

"Go after the bitch that wants to "tentacle-fuck" everything, of course." Luis parroted the words. "She'll play a vital part in my plan to create the [i]perfect world[/i]."

Heartbreaker snicked again as she put her hands on her hips. 

"Oh, [i]that?[/i]" She asked with a stupid grin on her face.

"We're going to [i]have[/i] her. Whether she joins us willingly or not... we can lock her in the basement if needed." Luis stated his grand plan. "How are we going to find her?" Luis beat her to the question. "Simple, far as I can tell, NEST found her for us... Jen either tells us where they are, or - in the [i]high[/i] chance that she gets found out - we keep a very close eye on them and follow them there."

"Sounds like a plan." Heartbreaker said with a grin.

Truth be told, Jennifer has already served her purpose and Luis doesn't really have any need for her. He can just press the button and kill her and everyone around her in a bloody blaze. But, Luis felt like she had a [i]purpose[/i] that she wasn't even aware of.

A place within the Unit.


[hr][i][h1]The Devil of Verthaven.[/h1][/i][hr]


All chess pieces were falling together.

The Devil literally didn't need to lift a finger as her armies tore apart the people of Verthaven. Her lair was reconditioned with architecture made out of the same biological materials her monsters were made out of. A little trick she came up with. She had created a throne made out of the grey sludge taking a solid form, which had tentacles attached to her that allowed her to funnel the grey sludge into deep pools. These pools constantly produced the monsters to quickly replace the ones that were falling in battle, and [i]more[/i].

Large spires of the dark-grey flesh were also constructed around her and almost formed a sort of dome over her throne. She sat there and simply made more monsters for her war.

Though, she's been relenting. The Devil knows that if she kills everyone now, then NEST will just drop a nuke on her. Which is why she's been devoting efforts to two things; getting stronger, and finding a way out of this shield. [i]Then[/i] they'll be powerless to stop her. 

The Metahuman hearts were just rolling in. The Devil was utterly exterminating any Metahumans she could just so she could get their hearts and get strength. Hoping to overwhelm the shield with simple raw power. 

Monsters were lining up to hand her hearts.

She was handed a heart, and it melted into a brown sludge before being absorbed into her body. She felt her storms strengthen - the storms over her was getting more intense. Thus destroying more of the city, and giving her even [i]more[/i] opportunities to collect hearts. After all, they can't put up a fight if they're dead (And the Devil knows that a group of Metahumans can easily trump her strongest monsters).

Heart after heart... she felt the power surge through her.

One last heart, she grabbed it, and absorbed it into her body - and immediately felt that something was wrong. She immediately felt weak as her vision started to fade. Her head started to feel incredibly heavy, and her knees started getting weak. She gagged for air as she fell out of her "throne" and threw a hand to the ground to keep her from falling.

[i]Something[/i] was wrong here. It had to be in the last heart.

Was the Devil so arrogant that she didn't expect for them to try something like this? 

She started feeling incredibly weak - but still standing. The beasts that were forming in the pools started violently vibrating, before they converted back into the sludge and leaked into the pools. It felt like she was going to die here, but she refused to die. Not when she's this close to finally getting her revenge.

Worse of all, she lost her mental connection to both her beasts and Metahumans.

The beasts were going through the city, thrashing about, and destroying everything in their path (including each other if they got too close). Destroying the city in ways that weren't even constructive to the Devil.

The Devil gagged again. She quickly pooled the sludge at her feet, before she created a "shell" around herself made out of the grey sludge hardened to be tough as steel. This would be the shield to protect her from anything this city has to throw at her.

At least until she recovers.