“Alright, Game Genie.” The Son of Osiris communicated via telepathy, “Who is this Blue Blur hero you keep rumbling about?”

The Game Genie, since he was not used to hearing someone else’s voice in his head, grabbed his temple, as if he was having a minor headache. But after a few moments, he quickly recovered and began to answer the Son of Osiris’ question.

“Do you all not know the Blue Blur of Chicago?” He asked, “The fastest man on Earth?”

All the heroes traded glances after the Game Genie’s response, showing that none of them knew of the hero named the Blue Blur. Apparently, this character was not as well-known as the Game Genie claimed him to be.

”I kinda thought he meant Icon. Dunno why, just felt bloody right yeah. Though I don’t know many Hero names either.”

”Wait, but this is Pacific Point, isn’t it?” Voyager interrupted, sounding lost. ”Why aren’t you in that...Chicago place?”

“Of course I’m not talking about Icon! I would have said that in the first place.” The Game Genie first responded to Eva. Then, while the other heroes were dumbfounded that Voyager didn’t know what Chicago was, he turned to Voyager and answered her. “Why, the Blue Blur is a speedster. Executing my plan in a faraway city would allow me to up the ante, so to speak.”

”So, where is he? For that matter why has no one here heard of a Famous Chicago Speedster?

“How am I supposed to know? Should I know where my archenemy is?” The Game Genie said.

”...well he’s apparently in a Chicago,” Voyager muttered offhand.

“I guess you all live under a rock if you don’t know who the Blue Blur is!” the Genie rambled on, oblivious to Voyager’s comment. “And they called me the basement dweller! Those cretins!”

”Should we be standing around talking, usually I just jump in but well, the mood was kinda ruined and well. I got confused and we’re just talking. Unless he’s about to give up shouldn’t we stop this?” Eva asked as she pointed her sword towards the Game Genie’s direction.

“You all need to stop talking and do more fighting.” Odysseus told the other heroes after he had finally defeated Pit. He wiped the sweat off his forehead as he joined the others. "It seems like I've the only one actually fighting this creep's minions."

“Well, if you all only know mindless violence, then I’ll give that to you.” The Game Genie called out. He reached into his black cloak and pulled out a small, metallic cube, similar to the ones that were hovering around the entire city. He then wound up, like a baseball pitcher, and tossed the device up above the heroes. However, instead of descending to the ground, like any object would according to the Laws of Gravity, the cube hovered there.

The cube then immediately started to construct what appeared to be something similar to the wireframes that are used in computer game models. It started with a simple cube and then began adding on more polygons. Once the frame was completed, it began rendering a skin onto the structure. First, it was just a simple shade of blue. But after a few seconds, more details began to appear, including an angry face with bushy, black eyebrows. Once the process was completed, anyone who had ever played a Mario game would have recognized that the cube had just produced a Thwomp: a large, blue cube enemy that would come smashing down to the ground whenever the player travelled underneath it. And since the heroes were underneath it, the Thwomp proceeded to do what it was designed to do.

Even before the Thwomp began to drop, Aubrey felt a buzzing sensation in her skull, which alerted herself that she might still have her powers, despite not having her drider appearance. Sensing the danger that was about to come, Aubrey grabbed her two apparently loyal retainers and pulled them out of the way. At the same time, the Son of Osiris used his magic to first move himself out from underneath the blue enemy. Then he pulled Talus towards himself and pushed Odysseus towards Aubrey. However, by the time he got to his last teammate, was about ready to strike Gajana, leaving the Son of Osiris no time to get him out of there.

With a quick roll, Eva moved out of the way fast a she could, with Voyager making a Psionic-assisted leap in the opposite direction.. ”Dickens! Catch it!”

When the Thwomp came down on Gajana, the Elephant Man threw up his arms and braced himself for the impact. Although he strained underneath the inertia of the blue boxlike enemy, Gajana was still able to hold up the Thwomp. However, even though he tried, Gajana was not able to throw the giant weight off himself, as if it had a will of its own to continue only in a downward direction.

“Alright, guys.” Gajana exhaled heavily as he struggled against the weight of the Thwomp, “This thing is kind of heavy. Any bright ideas?”

With a huff, Dickens placed his head directly under the immense boulder creature. And lifted upwards, straining but as he lifted higher he grew even larger to compensate for the massive weight. ”So. You don’t hold anything against me now, right. We even? Although I do hope he can get out of there?”

Gajana, now that the Thwomp had been lifted off his shoulders, was now able to escape from underneath the giant block. “As long as that things never comes after me again, I guess so.”

”Just. Don’t look like food. Or dumpster dive.”

“Well, I can tell that you all have found an exploit in my programming, since you’ve been able to summon characters of your own.” The Game Genie said. He then pulled out a small notepad and pencil and began scribbling something down. “I need to make a note to fix that once I’m through with you all.”

“The Thwomp is just a mindless Mario enemy. But let’s see how you handle against more intelligent foes.” The Game Genie once again reached into his cloak again and pulled out even more cubes and slid them across the floor towards the heroes. Once the cubes stopped sliding, each device began creating another character via the same process as the Thwomp had been fashioned.

The first character that was created was a giant cyclops that towered above the heroes. In his hand, he held a trident, the staple weapon of his father, Poseidon, and he was dressed in an attire that was somewhat Greek in nature. But before he engaged, he began speak in verse.


Then the cyclops paused, ceasing from his poetic verse. When he saw the Son of Osiris and Odysseus, he bursted out into laughter. “Ah, I see Arkantos has sent his allies to face me. What a shame, as I would have liked to have ended him, too, so he would have known that Gargarensis is his superior!”

As Eva shifted her gaze towards the giant, the Thwomp smashed down on Dickens suddenly, as she fearfully turn to him his back legs pulling his severed head from underneath the cube as it reformed into his usual dumb self. ”Oh, thank the Queen of E.” Distracted a blade lunged out of nowhere as a incredibly tall armored figure clad in a ragged cloak and a pointed helmet. Dodging the first strike a dagger reared up with a powerful left handed strike slicing at her hoodie as it made it’s way up towards her chin. Eva sidestepped and felt herself for wounds, the dagger has cut clean through her hoodie and left a shallow laceration on her stomach. If she hadn’t dodged backwards as far as she did it would have been far deeper; there wasn’t much time to waste as the knight lunged forward. ”What the Bloody hell are you?”

As his Alpha was under attacked Dickens began to charge her way in order to protect her, however a hail of gunfire erupted as a Figure sprinted forth from a dust cloud firing off crimson bursts of energy from a rifle like gun with maws. The blasts ripped into Dicken’s flesh and he shifted his priorities and sank his beaked maw onto his aggressor, a Man in full Military like armor. His hand pulled himself up and onto Dicken’s back by climbing his beak, while tentacles ensnared his legs he continued firing into his back all the while ripping his legs free. Reversing his position he wrenched back Dicken’s beak and whipped out a massive minigun with triple barrels firing directly into his exposed mouth.

Eva in between dodging nearly fatal blows could see Dickens struggling with the Doom Marine, she had played some of the new Doom game. The Knight before her pushed her back, as another jumped into the fray. Awwh Blow me already, there’s another!”

”Oof...hang on, I’ll get him off!” Voyager piped in, finally getting back to her feet and preparing a barrage of Psiblasts.

“Oh no, don’t think I’ve forgotten about you!” the Game Genie barked at her, before producing another cube from within his robes. Voyager turned his attention to him as he tossed it into the air, the cube morphing and beginning to take on a humanoid shape. The cube came down in the form of a man, brown-haired and devilishly handsome, with a long straight mustache and wearing the gaudiest outfit Voyager had ever seen. Cautiously taking a step back, the man made a three-pronged landing and quickly straightened up, slicking back his hair as he gave the half-alien girl a haughty look.

“Well now…” he announced to the room, his deep, charismatic voice audible even over the surrounding battle. “Another prisoner here to test his luck in the Noxian gauntlet!”

”G-gauntlet?” Voyager asked, still stepping away from her handsomely mustachioed counterpart. With a hearty laugh, the man drew two wicked looking straight axes from behind his back, adorned with spikes along the back of the blade and with rings at the end of the handles.

“Remember to put on a show, kiddo!” he said, starting to swing his axes by the ringed handle.

“WELCOME TO THE LEAGUE OF DRAVEN!”

Voyager leapt aside as Draven flung his axe at her, missing her exposed face by inches and bouncing off of the far wall to fly back towards him. Voyager shot back with a psi-blast, but Draven sidestepped it to catch his returning axe and flung the second one at her, which she deflected with a Psiforce barrier, energy crackling off it from the force of the attack. This axe also bounced back into his arms as Draven flung the first axe again, and so the battle went, with Voyager darting back and forth to avoid the axes and her opponent laughing wickedly as he casually dodged her returning fire.

The Immortals now had choices to make. The Game Genie, knowing that he was outnumbered not only by the Immortals, but also by the two others heroes who had shown up at city hall, evened the odds by summoning more of his holographic constructs to deal with the heroes. Three of the Game Genie’s summons were already distracting Eva and Voyager, while a fourth one stood before them.

However, before any of the Immortals could react to the situation, a fifth cube went off in front of Odysseus, Arachne, and her two supposed retainers. In its place, there was a samurai kneeling on the floor. He wore red and white armor, while his sword was attached to his belt. For a moment, this man just knelt there, as if he were biding his time.

“You have done well so far.” The man finally spoke towards the four heroes.

The samurai then got up on one foot so that only one knee was resting on the ground . At the same time, he slid his sword out of its sheath. With each inch of the sword’s blade had been exposed to the air, electric sparks began to jump around the blade. Once the sword was almost free from its scabbard, the man swung it in front of himself, producing a burst of electricity.

“But that was only practice.” The man told his opponents as he stood up. He then swung his katana once again, producing a similar cloud of electricity as he had before. Once he had taken a stance that would prepare him both for launching an attack and also defending himself if he were attacked, he spoke again. “No more games. To the death!”

“Is it just me or does everyone want to kill one another?” Aubrey asked aloud after she had just watched the samurai prepared himself for a fight.

“He’s a Hoshidan. We’re Nohrians. There’s kind of some bad blood between our nations.” Selena told Aubrey and Odysseus. “But you should have already known that, Lady Camilla!”

“Great.” Aubrey sarcastically muttered.

“You might want this.” Beruka told Aubrey as she handed her a silver axe that the blue-haired girl pulled out of thin air.

“Where did you get that?”

“Personal inventory.” Beruka laconically replied.

Meanwhile, tired and rapidly running low on stamina, Voyager’s Psi-Shields shimmered from the effort of maintaining them as they deflected shot after shot from Draven’s axes, who seemed to be enjoying himself more than ever as a cocky grin slid across his handsome face.

“You’re the best one Draven’s had to fight in a long time!” he said with a triumphant laugh as he shattered her shields again and dodged a retaliatory blast, neatly catching his weapons again.

”*huff* Y-yeah?” Voyager retorted breathlessly. ”*puff* W-well...you-AGH!”

Voyager collapsed in a heap as a sharp pain shot through her leg. She looked down to see a gruesome looking gash in her leg, with the offending axe flying back into Draven’s hand. She tried to get back up, but pain shot through her leg again, forcing her down to a kneeling position as she gripped her wound tightly to stop the bleeding. Draven, wiping the green blood from the weapon with his sleeve as more blood leaked through Voyager’s fingers, gave another haughty laugh.

“You would have done well in the Fleshing,” he told her in a tone of mocking admiration. “Shame this will be your last performance though.” Blinking tears of pain from her eyes, Voyager steeled herself and prepared to fight, but Draven was ready for his grand finale. Roaring his own name in triumph, he flung both of his axes not at Voyager but straight into the ground. To Voyager’s shock and horror, they kept spinning, tearing up the ground as they shot in her direction like a bullet.

With a burst of shock- and psi-induced energy, Voyager flung herself out of the way of the blades, only for them to slow to a stop and start flying back at her again. Thinking quickly, Voyager put her full energy into charging up her Psiforce and slammed her shielded arms into the ground in front of them. With a resounding crackle of energy the axes were dislodged, leaving another gash on Voyager’s cheek as they were launched into the air, curving back towards utterly shocked owner.

“Oh for the love of Noxus…”

With a pair of meaty *thunks*, the axes struck home in the dead center of Draven’s chest, slamming him backwards into the wall. A weak yet haughty laugh echoed from him as he slunk to the ground, pixels starting flaking off of him like dust. Eyes glowing from the Psionic energy coursing through her, Voyager strode towards her enemy, limping slightly from the still bloody leg wound.

”H-how was that for a performance?” Voyager said, her smile starting to come back to her. ”I think I did a pretty good job.”

“Haha...yeah, guess you did,” Draven choked out, still sporting his smug smile as more pixels began to die and fall away from him. “One thing...though…”

”What?”

“D...Draven’s not fighting solo today…”

Before she could ask why, the wall exploded behind Voyager, who turned around in time to see something massive and metal flying towards her. Eva turned around at the sound of a shriek just in time to see what looked like a giant anchor on a chain hook Voyager around the waist and pull her from the battle.

”Bleeding Wankers! Voyager!” Eva called out momentarily distracted by her sudden disappearance. As a sword ran though her shoulder, the Abyss Watcher lifted her and tossed her out the nearby window. Falling onto the grass just outside she thanked her luck that they were on the first floor as she felt the huge gaping hole in her shoulder. ”That, that’s going to cheese me off you bloody Yank. This is a real Dog’s Dinner.” As the two jumped outside after her swinging down their swords. ”Good thing I’m made of sterner stuff. But that’s still gonna be a bit@# to deal with later.”

“Well, I hope you all have fun with your new playmates!” The Game Genie laughed as he dropped another cube at his feet. This cube created a pink puffball with red feet. It looked uncannily like the small, round character that Captain Falcon had been fighting earlier that day. Then, the pink puffball pulled out a yellow, five-point star that was big enough for the little guy to stand on. The Game Genie, in turn, also hopped onto the star and the two began to fly out of the city hall lobby. “I will be waiting on the top floor for the Blue Blur! And no one else!”

As Game Genie was about ready to soar out of the building, Talus, timing his jump, flew up and grabbed a hold of the Game Genie.

“Kirby, deal with him!” The Game Genie commanded. Kirby then pulled out a large hammer, the mallet of which was almost as large as Kirby himself, and swung it at Talus’ face. Talus, therefore, was sent crashing down to the ground, but not before he dislodged a few cubes from the Game Genie’s robes.

“Why does it have to be the face.” Talus muttered to himself as he rubbed his forehead. But when he noticed that a couple of the Game Genie’s cubes had fallen with him, Talus developed a plan. He quickly grabbed one of them and plugged his usb cord that was attached to his arm into the device.

“Alright guys.” Talus told the other Immortals. “I have an idea. Just give me some time and we should be able to capture this Game Genie.”

Location: Lost Haven, Maine- Center for Disease Control
Timeline: Three days after Racheli’s kidnapping



The man stared at the tray of samples on the shelf in front of him. He was tall, almost freakishly so, with bronze skin, shoulder length black hair, dark blue eyes, and strong, square features. He looked more along the lines of a bodybuilder or athlete than a scientist, but his credentials didn’t lie. Or, at least, they were a convincing enough fabrication that no one knew he was lying. To everyone here, he was Dr. Jose Vargas, and that would have to be good enough for them.

”You’re certain this is it- Ms. Desdemona’s blood samples?” he said, voice carrying a light Latin accent. He turned to look at the assistant who’d allowed him access to this room. She was pointedly staring down at her feet, for some reason. Odd.

“Um… y-yes sir. Those are the samples,” she said, shuffling her feet. Was that a blush?

”I’ll need all of the research data collected during Ms. Desdemona’s stay here. Perhaps there are some clues in her condition that will lead us to whoever kidnapped her.” He turned back to the girl. ”...If you wouldn’t mind getting those for me?”

“Oh… Oh! Yes, of course- right away, sir!” With that, she scuttled off to parts unknown. The man watched her go, then turned back to the tray of vials on the shelf.

Glyph.

ramos.

You’re certain the surveillance has been… dealt with?

as sure as i can be. if it’s still up and running after what I did to it, they deserve to catch us.

Fair enough. I suppose that was a silly question to ask.

not at all, boss. keeping your bases covered, i understand the logic- it’s admirable, being so thorough. so, do the thing?

Ramos nodded, though the gesture was pretty useless, considering who he was conversing with. Yes, Glyph. As you so eloquently put it, do the thing. He raised his hand, hovering just over one of the vials of black blood. A dark spot appeared on his palm, out of which a narrow tendril of dark red- almost black- metal snaked down, working its way under and through the seal without compromising it, before dipping into the dark substance within. Just as quickly, the tendril receded back into Ramos’ palm, leaving no evidence of his infiltration.

He leaned back from the shelf, closing his eyes as the sample he took was analyzed. The process was over in less than a second, and his eyes snapped open when it was, almost shocked. Glyph had a… far less reserved reaction.

jesus h. b. christ, boss. if i’m reading this right, this isn’t just a symbiote. this is the mother of all symbiotes- just the trace phylactery radiation i’m getting is off the charts. no wonder whoever snatched her wanted her.

Indeed. If this is how powerful she is mere days after her genesis, she could be the most potent asset to the organization we’ve ever had.

or a liability. not everyone is keen on our little… group therapy, as it were.

I’m trying to be optimistic. If things do get ugly, bringing Desdemona down will not be easy, if this is any indication. Regardless, the Director needs to know about this. Patch me in.

The “phone” in his head rang only twice before being answered. The Director was prompt like that.

”This is Director Noah.” The voice on the other end of the line was deep, rich, Scottish-accented. ”Is that you, Ramos? Do you have something for me?”

”Yes, Director,” said Ramos, reverence in his voice. ”It appears we were correct- there is definitely at least one confirmed Symbiote presence in Lost Haven. She’s… powerful, sir. Unlike anything I’ve ever seen. If we can get her on our side… she’ll be an enormous asset to our cause.”

”If she joins- she could refuse, Ramos, in which case, she will be a threat.”

”Have you seen something, sir? About Ms. Desdemona?”

”Nothing concrete,” said the Director thoughtfully. ”There’s too much… interference. Too many variables, too much I do not know about her. Find her first, and bring her to me for debriefing. We will know more once that happens.”

”Understood, sir.” The call hung up soon after that. Ramos breathed in deeply, somewhat unnerved, but also invigorated. He always did prefer this aspect of the job- hunting, recruiting, bringing more promising young men and women into the fold. And all the better if they were Symbiotes. Either their group as a whole would be made stronger, or a potential threat was eliminated.

A win-win situation, really.

Just then, the girl from before walked back into the room, carrying a sheaf of papers in a manila folder.

“Dr. Vargas?” she said, timidly. “I got that file you asked me for. Will you be needing anything else?”

Ramos turned to the girl, smiling, which caused her to avert her gaze once again.

”No, thank you. That will be all.”



The streetlights casted their low quality light and gradually penetrated the night time skies with their dim, yellowish haze, illuminating the otherwise dark asphalt that separated the building’s entrance from the parking lot. Among the vacant scene was a single woman casually walking to her waiting limousine. Her heels tapped loudly and echoed in her wake, each step pronounced confidence. It pulled her quickly toward the oblong and darkened shape with a man standing within the shadows, his arm extended to hold open the door for her. Without a glance in his direction, Jacqueline Freeman ducked her brunette head into the car then listened to it snap close.

Something was wrong the moment she settled down. The sensation of someone watching her caused her neck hairs to raise in alarm and her eyes snapped upright to see a darkened figure sitting across from her. Her heart stopped. She felt her dread and fear snake itself into her throat causing a lump to rise, then settle there. Jacqueline’s eyes stared for several moments before she forced herself to speak.

“You realize most clients require an appointment?”

The individual across from her chuckled, a dark, low sound. As her eyes adjusted to the dim interior, more and more of the figure’s appearance would become clear. He was not tall, perhaps only slightly taller than average, and built very slim. His hair was shoulder-length, mousy brown, framing an older face, with a prominent nose and dark, intense brown eyes. He was dressed finely, carrying a strange-looking cane- the surface seemed too smooth, too perfect somehow.

The man leaned back, hands gripped loosely on the too-perfect cane. ”Beg pardon, madam, but this was a matter of some urgency, and who knows when I’d be able to get an appointment?” he said coyly, with a strong Scottish accent. He smiled at her, warm, yet unnerving- it never quite reached his eyes.

Jacqueline was an established poker player of sorts, her business skills required she was able to read complete strangers in the shortest period of time. However, she felt something was off with him. This immediately made her suspicious, not to mention the fact he had literally broken into her limo without much effort and Carlos was too loyal to allow such a thing to happen. Something obviously happened to her driver causing her eyes to harden despite the man’s polite demeanour.

”Ms. Freeman, I’m going to get right to the point. I understand that, up until a short while ago, you were in the possession of a… very particular item. A virus, of some sort, perhaps? You don’t need to answer, Ms. Freeman- I know very well what it was you had in your grasp. I consider myself… somewhat of an expert on the subject.

“So I wonder, Ms. Freeman, if you’d like to get your missing property back?”

It was the Gene Co CEO’s turn to settle back in her seat, her right leg crossed over her left while she put on her business face. It didn’t reveal her shock, fear or other emotions swirling around within her fluttering heart. Her gun grey eyes studied the man then started to speak.

“It’s a pity you didn’t do your research. Else you would’ve realized this is among the worst ways to get my attention. As for answering your question, I have no idea who you are or how you know this but you might want to leave. Security will be here shortly.”

Unknown to the man, Jacqueline had made strict instructions to her security that if her vehicle didn’t begin to pull within a minute then a man went out to investigate. If everything was fine, she would give them an estimated time she would be driving out and send the man back. Currently the woman was now just waiting for the man to turn up so he could escort the individual from her limo then return home.

The Scottish man merely smiled, then knocked on the window behind him. After a second’s pause, the limo began to move.

”Your security protocols have been adjusted, Ms. Freeman, for this night and this night alone. Do not be alarmed. Your usual staff is unharmed. You will not be harmed, and you will arrive at your destination in a timely fashion. Which will give us plenty of time to illuminate one another.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Director Noah. I represent the Polaris Organization. And I am very much interested in the same thing you are- retrieving whatever property is contained within one Miss Racheli Lorne Desdemona.”

The man introduced as Director Noah grinned wider. ”I wager, however, that you are unaware as to why it is so vital that Miss Desdemona be retrieved, hmm? Would you like to know?”

Jacqueline’s lips tightened. Her eyes narrowed and her expression fought against the paleness creeping over her skin at realizing how much danger she was in. Fingers tighten briefly in her lap while she adjusted in her seat, her hand tugged her skirt straight once more when she spoke. “Why would you be interested in this woman and what makes you believe I have any desire to retrieve her or whatever you believe is inside of her? This is a corporation for medical care, not human trafficking and we both are smart to know the cost of breaking such a law would bring.”

Deep inside, her attention never wavered from Noah as she tried to bluff herself from the situation she was in. If she cracked and admitted to illegal dealings whenever some two-bit thug or corrupted police officer tried to convince her they knew something more about her operation then she wouldn’t have gotten where she is now.

Noah’s smile shrank marginally. His hands adjusted on the cane he grasped.

”Ms. Freeman. I admire your organization, and your accomplishments, besides. I'm hoping you and I can cultivate an… effective working relationship. But,” he said, leaning forward, voice dropping dangerously, ”that cannot happen if you continue to insult my intelligence.”

The Gene Co CEO stiffened up and spoke in a surprisingly firm voice, her eyes keeping watch over his. She had noted the change in his aura and body language but still resisted the voice of reason begging her to be cautious as she replied, “And you’re expecting me to take your word alone without any proof of what you say is true. Do you think you’re only individual who has tried to blackmail me for personal gain through these exact methods? If this is how you proceed to deal with these meetings, then pardon me for not fully accepting your words alone.”

”Blackmail?” His voice sounded surprised at the insult. ”Is that what you think I'm doing? You cast aspersions at my integrity now, Ms. Freeman. I'm hurt.”

Noah leaned back, a hand reaching into his suit jacket and pulling out a smartphone-like device, too flawless, like his cane. He tapped a few actions onto the screen.

”You're right about one thing, though. I have gone about this entirely wrong. If it is evidence you desire, Ms. Freeman,” he said, leaning forward and handing her the device, ”then read through these files. I think you’ll find that my accusations are not baseless.

“Oh, and for the record, dear, these are not the only copies of the files in my possession, so don't try and destroy the device. Not that you could, anyway,” said Noah, smiling his icy-warm smile.

Jacqueline’s hand gingerly reached out for the smart phone. Her eyes trailed downward and her finger flipped through the smartphone’s screen, reading the details over her corporation’s dirty secrets. There were a number of images over the ruined laboratory in Michigan, their surveillance over Ms. Desdemona, and much more. Her fingers tightened about the device as if to shatter it, her expression abnormally still in reaction while she handed it back. Her hand quivered ever slightly in the transaction.

“You have my attention now and I see you’ve come prepared. My biggest concern is simple: What do you have to gain by her recapture?” Jacqueline asked, her eyes never leaving Noah’s image. The cold still seeped in her very veins and chilled her to the very bone, drawing a sense of dread along with it.

The faintest trace of warmth more seeped into Director Noah’s smile as he took the device back, hearing the CEO’s words.

”And now we come to the crux of the issue. Excellent. Allow me to explain, then- Polaris is a privately-owned, privately-funded organization. Our purpose is the study of various advanced technologies, and our efforts to slow the proliferation of said devices should they prove harmful to society at large. Our focus, however, is what draws me here today.

“Ms. Freeman, you are no doubt aware that we on this Earth are not alone in the universe. D-Day, Umbraxis- one would have to be a fool to ignore such evidence. But there is more evidence that has gone ignored or unnoticed by the world at large, even here in Lost Haven. A particularly powerful, and occasionally insidious, breed of device that my organization has come to call a Phylactery.

“And powerful they are, indeed. They operate by binding to a living host, proliferating and propagating themselves within the organism. Not unlike… a virus.”

Noah smiled as he put his phone away. “You see what I'm getting at, I take it? That was no virus you possessed, Ms. Freeman. It is an extraterrestrial artefact, of very potent capability. In exchange for taking up residence in their host, Phylacteries grant the individual extremely potent abilities, as you no doubt recorded. What we have to gain from her recapture, therefore, is simple. We keep such abilities out of the hands of those who would use it to harm.”

“One thing I’ve learned from individuals… it’s never as straightforward as it appears. As a business woman, I’ve come to expect this in every dealing I’ve ever made as that’s how the world works. Those who are willing to manipulate or omit key facts to rise closer to their final desire,” Jacqueline pointed out, though she was careful to keep her words unthreatening as possible, “I find it difficult to believe this is all you want and there’s not a bigger game at play within your offer.”

Noah stopped smiling then, suddenly deadly serious. ”You misunderstand- this is not a business transaction. I'm not in any dire need of money or prestige, or my organization would not be as clandestine as it is. My concern is for humanity’s sake, not my own.

“These are the terms I offer, Ms. Freeman. I help you procure Miss Desdemona or her remains, as the case may be. I give you the means to restrain her- properly this time. And you can carry on with your research, this time with far more security afforded to you. In exchange, our organization would appreciate if you share the fruits of your labors with us. In this way, we can both prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future. You might even come out of this incident with a profit.

“Are those terms acceptable to you, Ms. Freeman?”

“It is. Any choice in the matter isn’t an option currently,” She pointed out then inhaled then breathed out, her words continued, “There’s only one issue with this… Ms. Desdemona's whereabouts are unknown and I’m not fully sure if we’ll be able to locate her when she resurfaces. In addition, how would we contact you when we have?”

”I was just coming to that, Ms. Freeman. I will provide you with a number of my agents, to coordinate your efforts. They are experienced with this sort of thing, and will contact me when the job is done. You will also be equipped with a number of… devices that I've developed, for precisely these purposes. Normally I would handle this operation myself, but my organization is… rather private, and Lost Haven is rather high-profile of a location. I would prefer to stay out of the spotlight for some time yet, in order to keep my advantage over those who would wish me and mine ill. Thus, I will equip you, so as to minimize my exposure, and increase your agents’ effectiveness in reacquiring your investment.

“Tracking these beings, Ms. Freeman, is somewhat of a long game,” said Noah. ”Play your hand too far, and your opponent will fold, leave the table. And you will lose your chance to triumph. You must be cautious. I have had similar dealings with organizations such as yours in the past, where my agents would be too exposed. We will find Miss Desdemona, Ms. Freeman, of that you can be sure. But it will take time.”

”When will these individuals arrive and who they are? Namely so I can prepare for their arrival and ensure they won’t simply be turned away at the door,” Jacqueline commented as she adjusted her skirt for the second time. Her peripheral vision the buildings flashed by drawing nearer to her home, her thoughts turned to the whereabouts of Carlos and looking forward for this situation to be over.

Noah smiled, turning his head to speak into what was presumably a microphone on his lapel.

”Pull over. Privacy screen down.” The limo turned gently to stop on the side of the street, before the divider between the driver and passengers lowered. In the driver’s seat was a tall, bronze-skinned, black-haired man.

”This is Ramos. My right hand. He is the first and foremost of my agents that will be on loan to you for the duration of this operation.”

”How do you do, madam?” said Ramos, as the car began to move once again, and the man's eyes turned back to the road. Noah turned back to Jacqueline.

”The other two agents I will loan you will arrive with Ramos- you will identify them in that way.”

Jacqueline merely nodded, but didn’t say a word for several moments. “Is there any additional information I will need to know before this arranged meeting ends?”

Noah chuckled. ”Just be patient, Ms. Freeman. There will be plenty of time for briefing once my agents arrive to supply you.” He turned to look out the window, then exhaled softly.

”Alas, our time is at an end, Ms. Freeman. I do so appreciate your hospitality, however. Tomorrow, your usual driver and staff will be returned to their duties, none the worse for wear. In the next week, Ramos and his associates will arrive with the tools you will need to track and neutralize Miss Desdemona. It’s been a pleasure, my dear- may all our meetings be this productive,” he finished, just as the car stopped in front of Jacqueline’s house.

A slender man casually strolled to the limo’s side door. Where his arm reached for the handle, a slight hiss like heat pressed to the cold steel sounded. With a gentle click, he pulled it open and peered his smirking face in curiously. “Evening, any issues here?”

Jacqueline glanced at the sight of Tristan’s face leaning into the vehicle and a bit of her worry melted away. Not because of the unusual heat that emitted from his body, but rather the fact if things slid down hill during this transaction he would be around to even the odds. Her head turned toward him and twisted to file out causing him to retreat back a few steps.

“Not at the moment,” Came her simple answer, her suited figure gracefully coming to a full stand on the sidewalk, “Please return the vehicle when you’re finished with it and in the same condition. Good Evening Mr….?”

”Noah will suffice, for now,” came the gentle reply.

Jacqueline nodded then turned on heel toward her home. Meanwhile, Tristan had stood at attention the whole time. His hand became slightly reddish behind his back where it tucked in and hidden from sight, ready to unleash a torrent of controlled magma at a moment’s notice. His eyes darted side to side as his heat vision noted exactly where about nine others like himself were. His breath held tightly in his chest until it felt close to bursting.

It released in a long exhale when she casually brushed her fingers along his upper arm and gestured for him to follow her. Shrugging lightly, his eyes casting a rather hardened warning, Tristan moved to follow her.

Noah smirked at the bodyguard’s glare, as though amused at the attempt to intimidate him, then closed the door as the car began to move away. When the limo was a sufficient distance away, Noah turned toward the driver’s seat once again.

”Bug sweep results, Ramos?”

”If there were any listening or recording devices in the vehicle, Director, they are neutralized now.”

”Exquisite,” said a light, haughty voice from thin air next to Noah. In an instant, the air rippled and warped, revealing the form of a slim, lithe black woman, hair tied back in a long ponytail, wearing a navy blue suit. “I wondered when your conversation would conclude. It was getting rather dull sitting on my hands and not simply slap her for making matters difficult,” said the woman, in a crisp, refined British accent.

”A necessary precaution, my dear Charlotte. In case her security decided to play rough with us.”

“I feel this whole ordeal was rather pointless as she didn’t quite understand our intentions and only submitted when we threatened her company. I am always surprised when people refuse to accept that others might know what is best for them and fighting gets them nowhere. ”

”With respect, Director, I am concerned,” said Ramos from the driver’s seat. ”You're not seriously intending to let that woman and her company lay their hands on Miss Desdemona again, are you?” Noah laughed in response.

”Ramos, have some faith. I would sooner let that woman turn her tender mercies on myself than let that poor girl fall into her clutches again. No. Once we have acquired Miss Desdemona, ostensibly for our new business partners, she will meet with... an unfortunate accident. No part of her will be available for recovery- the Phylactery’s weakness to heat is well-documented, is it not?”

”Of course, Director.”

”Meanwhile, Miss Desdemona will have been acquired and transported to a safe location, where she can be briefed and judged for suitability to join the organization. Whether she joins or not, the poor girl will never again find herself victim to the predations of one Jacqueline Freeman.”

“I don’t believe your new ‘partner’ will appreciate such a scandal,” said Charlotte, smirking at the Director’s line of thinking. “You seem so earnest to help her recover what she believes is her property after all. It’s a pity she will never know the truth.”

Noah simply smiled at that, then pulled out his phone, tapping a few actions onto the screen and holding it to his ear. It rang only once before being picked up by a thickly-accented Russian voice.

”Director.”

”Operation success. Rendezvous in Lost Haven for your next assignment.”

”At once, Director.” The line went dead, and Noah put away his phone away, smiling. All according to plan.

The journey back to Settlement 149, unlike the journey from it, had been relatively straightforward. The Humvee had been more durable over the fissures and raised tarmac than the motorbike had been. That plus The Wanderer would have struggled to get the fuel rod back to the settlement just with the bike, so the attempted murder that The Officer orchestrated was in a way convenient. Still, the nerve of the man trying to get him killed had gotten underneath The Wanderer’s skin. As the light was failing, the sight of Pine Bluff was seen in the near distance, which would have pleased the Mutant. However, the failing light had shown smoke rising from the city, which is of concern. With little to hasten him, he pushed down on the pedal and moved quickly to get to his destination.

When he arrived, the slight fear he had about where the smoke was coming from had been realized; during his absence, Settlement 149 had been attacked. The mutants must have found this place by chance or someone in the settlement got sloppy, The Wanderer thought as he got out of the Humvee. Grabbing the fuel rod, he rushed through the main entrance to the settlement. The sight of torn bodies and the gore had turned his stomach, the first time in a while he had seen something this severe. The further in he went, it was clear that the mutants had ravaged at least the upper- to mid-levels of Settlement 149. The majority of the bodies found were the men, leaving a glimmer of hope that the women and children were at least spared from this horrible attack. But he needed to know for sure. He reached the power room, the bodies here had been smelling due to the increased heat. Stepping over unrecognizable limbs and heads, he reached towards a door, the sign ‘Engineer’s Office’. Unlike most of the doors he’s seen on the way down, this door had a few dents but it hadn’t been busted through. Punching through one of the dents, the mutant opened the door and stepped in. The room had been clear of blood and bodies, which was a good sign. The machine in the corner, looking more elaborate than anything else in the power room, or the entire settlement, remained dormant and slightly dirtied from the dust that had been gathering. The Wanderer placed the fuel rod beside the machine and walked back out, slamming the door shut so no one of human strength could get through.

For the next hour, the mutant had ventured further down into Settlement 149, getting lost along the way. This is the first time in a long while since he had been down this far in this place. This was one of the conditions that were made by The Commander in order for him to return from exile since he had gained the mutation and the abilities to use psionics. However, the man was now as dead as the majority of the men in this place. The good news he had seen was that the further down he went, the gore and limbs went down as well. Hope had been rising for the women and children. That was, until the smell started to rise. He reached the bottom level of Settlement 149 and the smell of copper in the air had increased. Going through the rooms, his boots clanging on the metal floor, he reached the final door. However, he didn’t dare to open it. Congealed blood oozed from the partially open door, a small arm propping the door open. The Wanderer did everything in his power to keep his stomach from flipping over on itself. But the thought of all the innocent women and children being herded into this room, where the only exit was a single ladder to the surface closed by a latch, had made it very difficult to keep it in check. Dejected from imagining the slaughter, the mutant made his way to the office in the power room.

Once back in the office, he slumped into the chair, this index finger and thumb pressing gently in the corner of his eyes on either side of the bridge of his nose. I need to fix this future so no one can suffer this fate, he thought, sinking into the chair. From the corner of his eye, he noticed a flashing red light on one of the consoles, leading to a small screen. Moving the office chair to the screen, he noticed the light was next to a button. Thinking that it was a message left by someone, most likely his father, he pressed the button, lighting up the small screen to begin what was the message.

The view of the message looked like it was made in the main power room. The view was dominated by the face of the Engineer – his father – as the workers in the power room were scrambling. The man looked on either side of him, worry apparent on his face, before looking to the screen that was there. “Listen, my son,” he started, his voice cracking under the nervous emotion that he was feeling. “We don’t have much time. Hours after you have left to go to Arkansas Nuclear One, a mutant raiding party had found the vehicle depot and is storming through the site as we speak. The Officer has disappeared shortly after the mutants had arrived and ordered the women and children down below and from judging by the cameras, he had blocked the only escape for them…”

”That coward…” The Wanderer muttered, gritting his teeth in anger.

”… so far, no one has a clue on how to leave this place in one piece without the mutants responding. But one thing we have observed from them is this. The mutants are organized. They didn’t stumble onto the vehicle depot by accident. It is as if something knows that we are he-“ The power room shook like that seen in an earthquake, everyone visible to the camera falling to the ground. A loud, but dull, groan emanated through the room as if something large was close by the power room.

”There’s something large underground?”

”We think that whatever made that sound is controlling these mutants, maybe more of them. It appeared to be huge. But to the point of the message: I think I have found the beginning of the chain of events that created the time we are living in now.” The engineer pulled up a newspaper clipping. How it had survived was a mystery, but on it the large words ‘THE ESPER FAMILY ESTATE DESTROYED: FAMILY KILLED’. “From the looks of this article, dated October 23 2017, this might be the event that had started everything. Events after this started to become more common, ranging from city blocks to whole cities…” As he was saying this, he was showing more articles, main stories ranging from ‘LA STRIP DESTROYED: SOURCE UNKNOWN’ to ‘A CITY IN RUIN: LOST HAVEN DESTROYED’. “… Being destroyed by some creature. Using some of the power in Settlement 149, I have been able to set a date and time on the machine so you can go back months before this day to find and destroy whatever starts these events.”

Large banging sounds could be heard in the room, with everyone in the room rushing to the only entrance in. “You know what to do. Go back then, find whatever started all of this and bring an end to this nightmare. You might still be alive as a time fragment once the mission is completed, so I want you to live out the rest of your days in the peace I know you deserve.” The engineer looked down, eyes welling up at a fate that has been sealed. “Even though I have not said this to you before you left, I could not be more proud of you of the man you have become, mutation or not. If only your mother was here to see you become the champion that we will need in this desperate time. I love you, my son…” Men started to fly from the entrance to the power room before a large hand grabbed the engineer’s head. Static appears a second after that.

By the time the message had finished, The Wanderer started to fight through the tears. He started slamming his fist down onto the console, however not as strong as he usually does it as to not break the console. ”You didn’t have to go out like that. Not because of some coward refusing to do his goddamn job!” After a few moments, he got up from the chair and looked at the machine. However, he was once back into it when the earthquake came. The now more audible groan could be heard, similar to that of a whale underwater. Much like the recording, this sounded very close. ”Well, I don’t have much time before you come back and learn that someone is here. I best get this machine ready. Time to bring this fucking nightmare to an end.”

Sunlight peered through the moth eaten curtains and into the room, illuminating the hazy darkness. It glided over the end of the bed and across the tucked in sheets before coming to rest, blinding Avatar in the face. Instinctively, his right arm jerked up then shielded his eyes. Turning his face away, his eyelids tightened in irritation and his nose scrunched up. His torso pulled away, retracting from the abrupt wake call. A small moan escaped his lips in subtle protest as he curled into a ball against the awareness stirring into his attention. With the passing moments, the memory foam topper on his stiff mattress adjusted to his shape once more.

Sighing, Avatar pleaded for sleep to take him again. After an indistinguishable amount of time pass, it was clear that his efforts remained fruitless and insomnia had officially won this round.

Irritated by the encroaching day on his rare trip into the REM sleep stage, Avatar roughly flipped his upper body back again. His fingers began to rub away the grit collected within his sight while he stumbled into awareness. Blindly he began to smack about for his glasses on the table next to him. Each failure brought a soft sting to his fingers and a rumbling, displeased grunt sound from him at the empty palm. Finally, his fingers wrapped about the metal frames then slide them toward him.

Snapping them open one handedly, he followed up by pressing them to his face. Avatar blinked to allow his vision to adjust once more and leaned firmly against his right elbow. Grinding the end into the mattress, he settled into a comfortable position while he leaned his head down to ruffle his bangs from his eyes. He then shifted his attention toward the digital clock.

It blinked 12 PM.

“Tch,” he whispered through his clenched teeth. It figured it the time would’ve been less than an hour before Mia arrived and if she spotted him still within his bed, he would never hear the end of it.

Without another comment, Avatar flopped flat onto his back. His hand then reached for his nearby pillow and flipped it over his face as he screamed in frustration. His arm cusped the edge and let gravity hold it there while he screamed, the fluff muffling the sound. Having released his fill, he stilled then tossed it aside to breathe again. He deeply inhaled a cleansing breath. While his temper would not hasten his goal, it at least helped in calming his churning mind. He rocked his upper body to lean over the edge and stretched his arm out. He slapped the air until he finally clasped something hard.

A wheel chair arm.

His fingers tightened about the cheap, leather before he pulled it toward him.

He wasn’t in the mood to bother with imperfected prosthetic limbs that locked or jammed today. Besides, being reminded of loss served its purpose. It gave him reason and fueled him to continue working on his special project. He owed his accomplishments to that motivation.

He frowned and briefly wondered why he ever got out of bed at all. Shaking the depression off, he pulled past the prosthetic limbs and snatched the sliding board next to it. Once he was satisfied it was in place and secure, he proceeded to finish getting up from his bed. Straightening his arm, he scooched over to the bed’s edge to set the brakes on the wheelchair.

Avatar finally situated himself within his seat before unclipping the brakes and rolled it in reverse to change his direction. The mechanical whirring buzzed in the background with the wheels rotation. On entering the large closet, he idly wondered what he could chose for this day’s ‘challenges’. The man finally settled on a simple setup: shirt, tie, and loose pants. Technically shoes and socks were useless since he wouldn’t be walking at all and most days served to both impress or give a sense of normalcy to others. A faint hope they would over look the missing bits.

Personally, he honestly didn’t give a damn about that in his current mood. It was even less likely with Mia, who had worked around numerous disable during her career.

Pushing his way toward the closet back, clothes folded in his lap, something caught his peripheral vision. He promptly paused then turned to fully take in the image of his current state. The main thing he noticed were the obvious dark rings puffing under his eyes. With his organic hand, he tenderly prodded the swollen skin from sleep deprivation.

With a irritated huff, he knew Mia wouldn’t be pleased about his presentation in the least as he jerked his chair about and wheeled toward the back door of his closet. Everything within the house was designed for his condition, primarily to give him independence, but it took time.

About over half an hour later, he was washed and dressed when Mia arrived. Hearing her hand tapped upon his front door, he pushed his wheels forward into the living/kitchen then pushed open the door.

It released with a soft creak revealing a dark skin woman in her early thirties, juggling two bags of groceries and her purse. Her hips tilted to the side while she lifted up the bags.

“Figured you were running low on groceries and needed them,” she commented then advanced into the house, her tennis shoes squeaked across the wooden floor.

She quickly snapped the door shut behind her as Avatar wheeled his way toward the kitchen ahead of her. He tilted his head, hand gripped the towel ends hooked about his neck, and watched Mia begin to put away the assorted goods. Her dark eyes shifted to spy him wheeling toward the bathroom casing her to speak, “Mind gathering your dirty clothes? I'll take them to the laundromat while we’re out and get you some fresh air. You need to get out more often than just during your therapy appointments.”

“I'll politely decline,” Avatar shouted back on his route to the bathroom. He leaned within his chair to snatch the discarded clothes on the counter and those which had fallen on the floor, tossing each hazardly into the plastic bag lining his hamper.

“Oh sugar, that wasn't an invitation. That was a fact. We’re going out after you're done eating as you need to get out this house and interact with some real people,” Mia shouted back, followed by the sounds of crinkling plastic and shifting dishes, “I got you something you might like. Where’s your chopsticks? Never mind, I found ‘em.”

Avatar rolled his eyes then began to backtrack into the kitchen/living half of the apartment house. Mia was already strolling into the living room with two platefuls of food, primary sushi, as she set them down on a side table. Pulling out two dinner trays from the recliner side, she held one over to Avatar “Put that up will ya?”

Sighing again, Avatar reached with his good limb for the metal edge and sat it upside down in his lap. Flipping up the table’s legs, he then pushed it upright in front of him before Mia the plate down. “I hope you weren't expecting this to be authentic Japanese sushi because it's actually not. California rolls were designed and made here in the states, not Japan.”

“Someone woke up in a shitty mood this morning. Didn't you take your insomnia medicine last night?” Mia asked, passing the chopsticks.

Frowning deeper, Avatar reached for his set and positioned the correctly before he started to pinch a piece at the end. In a dismissive tone he commented. “It slipped my mind.”

He popped the sushi into his mouth to prevent any more words as he chewed calmly. His eyes observed her reaction to his statement. By this time, having never used them before, Mia had decided to stab rather than pinch her sushi. Slipping her first piece into her mouth, her eyes darkened in annoyance. In an expected fashion, she wasn't pleased about his admittance to being forgetful and wasted little time in voicing it.

“You know you're suppose to take those every day!” She snapped abruptly, pointing her chopstick, with another sushi stabbed on the end, at him. It nearly flipped off into Avatar’s face causing him to pull back cautiously. Realizing she had almost splattered him with food, she hastily set it down into her wrap then continued, “At least I know why you're so crabby, but seriously you need to remember them. The doctor didn't give them to you just sit on a shelf and look pretty. They are meant to help.”

Scooping up his wrap into his hand, he paused long enough to speak before biting down, “If my project works successfully then I won't need-”

“That project is likely why you keep forgetting,” Mia said off handed. Her shoulders shrugged and started in on her own wrap, a bacon and turkey lettuce one, “Don't give me that look. You know I speak the truth.”

Avatar sighed for the third time that afternoon and shook his head at the misguided nurse. He continued to eat in utter silence without another word on the subject so to not upset his caretaker. It was going to be a long day.

_{banner credit to Hellis}

---

Time: Present Day - Night
Location: England, UK

By the time the two would make it to the Stonehenge, Titanias' magic was already palpable in the air. The Queen had used one of her own groves for travel and was now standing, chanting at the far edge of the monument. She raised her hands to the sky and uttered a word of power, in Gaelic so ancient and forgotten only few would understand it. But everyone with magic nearby would have felt it. It rolled off her in waves, making the grass grow and wilt and grow again. Vines wrapped around her legs in intricate patterns before fossilizing and falling off her in chunks only to make the journey once more. The air shook and trembled with energies great and old. Ancient spells broke and threaded into nothingness as the Queen called upon powers known only to her now. Then she sucked in a deep breath as all the magic of the Stonehenge and its protections was sucked back into her. She was lifted up in the air as magic pumped into her, slowly reversing the aging process day by day, year by year. When she sunk back to her feet, it was a noticeably more beautiful and young Titania who stood before them.

It appeared that Titania stood to gain something from lifting the protection as well. Such was the way of Fae, one deal was just a smoke screen for other things. She smiled at them as they approached. "Try not to die Ambassador." She strode past them, apparently satisfied with her work. She had not been gone for more than a minute before the earth began to rumble underneath their feet.

I knew it. The Ambassador thought angrily. The spell to veil Stonehenge was a pocket of stored power for the Queen. Looking younger, feeling the energy coming off in waves around them. Odette was infuriated. All the lecturing over Hell and The Broker was simply a distraction. Titania wanted to lift it.

Odette took a deep breath in, all but slamming the portal door once Mandate and Bach stepped through. Bach looked on and his brow furrowed at the scene. The ground rumbling caught whatever Odette wanted to spit at the Queen, Odette and Bach both reached for Mandate to hold onto.

Mandate was familiar with the ground rumbling and shaking beneath her feet, but the fact that she was not the cause was new to her. Humming curiously as her companions anchored themselves upon her, the golem turned her head to and fro, taking idle note of the force with which the portal door had shut. "This place is interesting, Miss Ambassador. Do you want me to break it before the rumbles do? Or whatever is making the place all rumbly?" She seemed unperturbed by the shaking of the earth. It helped that she had no clear idea of what they were searching for, though she could guess that she would soon be fighting.

She was content with that.

Odette casted a look past the main historical sight, the sight had been closed for a few hours now but the security teams were in a panic at the sudden earthquake, taking shelter. The three of them going unnoticed by the panicking humans. While it felt like her bones were being jostled she held firm to Mandate's arm.

The ground shook. and then it began to bulge upwards. The earth heaved, the soil shifting and trees was uprooted where they stood. First came the Horns, massive as they speared up trough the ground. Then came the rest of the body.



Finally as the Earth settled and Odette sweeped low with a bow, speaking in Common Fey, "Great Hunter, I do humbly apologize for the disturbance! My name is The Ambassador of the Fair Folk!"

She gestured for the others to bow as well. Bach did so automatically arms straight down the length of his sides.

Mandate watched as the others bowed. After a moment, and at Miss Ambassador's prompting, she awkwardly repeated the movement. Her torso bent forward, and her hands curled into fists at her sides. The urge to stare at the wondrous creature -and break it apart- was temporarily resisted.



It lifted one massive hoof and smashed it down on the group in an attempt to crush them, well, underhoof.

Mandate snuck a glance upwards, and noted the size of the creature's magnificent horns. Then, she noted the hoof lifting.

After that, she did not note anything, and simply acted. Her body was upright in a moment, her foot dragging easily through the earth as her fist reared back, a metallic grinding filling the air as her hand clenched tightly enough to become audible.

An internal weight, a sense of power, shifted. Ten tons? It seemed sufficient. Without a sound and without hesitation, Mandate's fist met the descending hoof with earth-shaking force.

The noise of their collision was that of a thunderclap. The pressure tore the ground around them. Herne, or rather the construct of Herne, was surprised. Even more surprise registered on its giant deerlike face when the force of Mandate's punch shattered the leg of it. It reformed some second later. It backed away slowly, trying to devise a new angle of attack.

Mandate's powerful strike rippled around them, Bach and Odette dropped to the ground. When Herne recoiled the two dashed out of the immediate area scrambling out of the way of two giants.

"Here's our chance to test her strength!" Bach commented huffing out a a shaky breath.

"Mandate! Destroy the Guardian!" Odette commanded raising her voice. She turned to Bach, "I can sense the power of the piece, it's underground right in the center of the site. I hate to do this but we need to dig. Possess me."

They gripped each other's forearms and in sync began chanting the spell, Odette felt out for the power of the Arcane Stream and it reacted so quickly and nearly overwhelmed her. Bach compensated for the immense energy, they shared it among themselves. Blue light brightly bloomed around their bodies. The tattoo on her back glowed through her jacket, the spell reached its end when Bach's form began to fade his soul combining with his pact partner.

His soul entered her body in a whirlwind of leaves, she bent over holding her sides a singular roar ripping through her throat. Blood trickled down from her temple where the small horns appeared through the skin, her skin darkening with green tints, yellow tints washing through her eyes. The possession happened within a minute, the skin along her hands roughened, turning into bark. She stood back up, then clicked her heels.

Mandate would have blinked if she could, her eyes following the deer's -the golem's?- leg as it was shattered, and then began to simply reform. That was tricky, but more importantly, it was irritating. Singular in her focus, the mercury golem did not look away as she rambled aloud.

"It lied to me, Miss Ambassador! It's not a deer at all, it's rock! Lots of rock! How am I supposed to look inside of you and find something interesting if you're rock, Mr. Herne- If that is your real name?" Mandate lowered herself into a crouch, mane bristling as she planted a foot behind her. Her smile was gone, replaced with its reverse as she focused her power once more. It was as easy as flexing a muscle.

"I'm going to kill you for not being able to die! It's rude!" Her stance adequately explained in her own rambling manner, Mandate threw herself forward. The ground beneath her exploded as her strength was focused into a kick, hurtling her forward into a barely-human, though uncontrolled, sprint. It was a tumbling, wild gait, but quickly focused into a steady rhythm as she charged for the massive 'deer', aiming to simply ram herself into its other leg at full force.

Herne's golem-like body flinched. The thing was charging him like a locomotive with a deathwish. It overcame its doubt and began charging the other golem head on. When the collided, the shock wave was enough to rip a few nearby trees into pieces. In that moment, the golems body shattered in a million little peaces and reformed into a half man, half deer. It raised its arm and smashed down on Mandate with enough force to crack the ground.

Odette sprung from her spot, she flipped in the air then landed along the stones on the outer edge, with complete mastery of earth magic it would make the expedition easy and if time is permitting a chance to put it back together. Bach's psyche crawled at the thought of destroying the site.

A short few seconds of concentration she felt out the presence of the piece, it was unrelenting with ancient magic pouring out of it. A singular piece held so much. It fired up her imagination. First, however was to help Mandate with the Guardian.

Leaping off the stone again she landed deftly on the back of the Guardian. Grass grew between the stone rooting Odette's feet in place as her hands glowed green a spell for a trap coming directly from memory. A layered circle appeared beneath the Guardian, roots spiraling around it's legs and up its chest from the broken Earth. When the trap took hold she cut the grass at her feet leaping away again, safely out of reach while it worked.

Within a few more leaps she arrived dead center of Stonehenge, the air was alive with energy from the Arcane Stream. All around her she could feel the immense power, allowing Bach to possess gave her room to spare for storing the high input. Now, there was cause to use it. Summoning on the Arcane Stream, her arm brightened with green light as she plunged it deep into the Earth.

Mandate's sleek, mercury form was at odds with the furious energy with which she struck at Herne. She clawed at the pieces of the golem in the moments before it reformed, irritated by her inability to do more than throw the stone -albeit a great distance- through the force of her blow. "Rude!" But then her opponent was physical and vulnerable again, and all was well.

Mandate only registered the blow in the sight of its approach, and the movement it forced upon her upper body; her durability was unassailable to something that merely broke earth, but her weight required a moment to compensate for the force. Briefly weighing in at 450 kilograms, the golem slammed her foot into the ground, and felt satisfaction in the way in which it crumbled even further.

More satisfying, however, was that the kick drove her forwards and upwards, into the construct's personal space. Utilizing the opportunity presented by the interference of mysterious roots, her hand tore through the air with a vicious swipe. It was an open-handed slap aimed at the construct's torso that fully utilized the sharp tips of her fingers. She wanted to tear it apart, even if it was not flesh and bone; It had threatened Miss Ambassador.

The binding magical roots did more then just slow the construct. It strengthened its density and structural integrity. This would have been a boon against any other opponent then Mandate. Mandate had enough power to make it a moot point. Instead, the roots made it so that it couldn't separate its pieces upon impact, and Mandates claw dug in deep, tore chunks that was flung to the ground and held there by the roots.

Vicious satisfaction flared inside of Mandate at the great rends her 'slaps' left in the construct. It was so vulnerable, parting like flesh under her hand. But without anything interesting inside, she noted grouchily. Pulling her arms back and twisting her body, Mandate clasped her hands together, and drove them forward with a sharp twist and a fair fraction of her strength. A double-handed hammerfist, aimed for the construct's side. "Lying gravel!"

Twenty tons. I want to see you blown apart.

Mandates punch did better then blow it apart. With the rocks having nowhere to go, kept in place by magical roots, they could not disperse the shockwave. Instead, each rock cracked and cracked again. The ones closest to the impact were turned into fine dust, then the ones further back into fine grained gravel and sand. All but the pieces further back were smashed into pieces. It appeared, that the guardian could not reassemble from such a state.

Slowly drawing her fists back, Mandate peered suspiciously at the seemingly-destroyed construct. One more time, just to be sure. With a smile upon her fist, Mandate drew her fists back once more, and sent another devastating blow into the opposite side of her apparently defeated opponent. Then, satisfied, she called out. "Miss Ambassador, I think I broke it!" She sounded proud, rather than repentant.

Odette hardly acknowledged the fight or Mandate speaking, her lips moved as she murmured an on-going spell. Her full concentration was on the task before her. Hands dug deep into the Earth, her energy pushed through the soil in the shapes of long vines. The very ground around Stonehenge absorbed all the magic and life energy provided by the Arcane Stream. Felt akin to a sponge. Odette felt out the area for the piece buried away, the vines stretching further down. Trying her best not to disturb the ancient site. Not sure what exactly she was looking for but the closest guess she had it would be preserved in magic, if not magic then at least some sort of casing or box.

In spite of her hope to not disturb the site, the site itself reacted to her poking around. A forceful push from the piece of Solomon's Cube, sent the sorceress back several feet disconnecting herself from the vines. She skidded right into one of the stones. The wind knocked out of her she coughed, squeezing out a couple tears.

That is going to bruise.

She continued to cough pushing herself up to stand again, achingly squaring her shoulders she strode toward the spot again. Rasping out the words, she warded herself against further attacks building several layers around herself as she did. The Earth trembled at her feet, reacting to her words and within a blink of an eye she was swallowed up by the ground disappearing from sight.

"Miss Ambassador?!" Mandate had begun to move almost as soon as the Ambassador had been repulsed by some unseen force, her hurried steps flattening the dirt beneath her as she sprinted towards her companion. Naturally, it did nothing to put her at ease when the ground seemed to eat the human. The strange changes to the Ambassador hardly even registered to her, as concerned as she was.

What do I do? The ground's taken her. Or maybe she made the ground take her. She's probably alright, yes? She knows fae things. Mandate skidded to a stop above where the Ambassador had been taken, kicking up dirt and grass as she twisted to stare at the ground. Her feet carried her restlessly to and fro, an anxious pacing as she considered solutions to this conundrum, or whether a solution was required.

It could be trying to bury her. The thought was what finally set Mandate to proper action. She could suffocate. I won't let it take her. "I'm coming, Miss Ambassador!" The golem dropped to her knees with a powerful thud, her fist punching into the earth without an ounce of resistance. With barely a tug, several handfuls of dirt were sent flying off behind her with one swing of her hand.

With a goal in mind, the golem began to dig ravenously at the ground, a fruitless endeavour that was nevertheless making an impressive hole. Her mane bristled as she kicked up a cloud of dirt and stone, uncaring for the mess she made. I hope you're okay under there.

Burrowed deep, no sight, no real sense of direction. The only real guidance she had was in the vines of magic searching again for the piece. Further down she moved through the Earth searching and searching.

Minutes passed as Mandate continued to dig and Odette did the very same. The pressure began to increase as did the pressure of the magic surrounding her, the ward protecting her from every side. Finally the vines wrapped around a piece of irregularly shaped metal, as if it was a corner to a cube. She cleared away soil and rocks creating a pocket surrounding the piece of Solomon's Cube. Instinctively she reached with her bare hands but a sharp snap from Bach reminded her to lock it away. Unknown artifacts could not be trusted to be touched. Struggling she reached back to her purse fumbling through the deep confines of the enchanted accessory. She pulled forward a little red memory trunk. Perfect for protecting it's contents and keeping the likes of ancient magic under wraps. She pushed the trunk into the pocket with the lid open carefully scooping beneath the piece catching some of the dirt as well, she closed the lid around it latching it.

Allowing the dirt to collapse back into place she made the steady ascent. The noise of Mandate's activity reached her ears and her hand burst through the surface.

By the time the Ambassador's hand emerged, Mandate's excavation had reached the height of a man in depth. That she had done this with her bare hands and over the course of several minutes was of no concern to the golem; her great strength allowed scooping motions to kick great sprays of dirt loose with each swing.

Said golem barely stopped herself from cleaving one such motion straight through the newly-emerged hand, yelping as she drew back. She had yet to find anything to be scared of in the world, beyond her own memories, but it was quite startling all the same. A fairy?! No- "Miss Ambassador!" Mandate's hands hovered over the limb, as if preparing to begin digging around it, but she paused once more.

What if I dig through Miss Ambassador? Pulling will probably just hurt her, humans are usually really soft, and Miss Ambassador is soft too... Uncertain of what to do, Mandate reached down, clasping her metallic hand upon the Ambassador's own, and simply holding it. She probably has enough breath, somehow. She's been down there awhile.

The motion was mostly just to calm herself.

Odette patted the metallic hand uncertainly then gripped it. Another bark hand pushed through the Earth, the soil shifting at her command. Using Mandate's hand she pulled up wriggling free of the ground. Her head shaking free the loose dirt and looking up at the red eye. Slowly she kicked her legs free as well emerging fully from the ground.

Covered head to toe in no small amount of dirt she took a look down at herself and tsked.

"Come Mandate, we've made quite a mess. I will try to fill in the hole the best I can. Much good that will do..."

She used Mandate's back to get out of the hole, using her arms to haul herself up and her hips to step. When she found herself on solid ground she turned back to Mandate, waiting for her to move as well.

Mandate acknowledged the Ambassador's words -and the human's subsequent use of the golem's back as a stepping stool- with a simple, pleased hum of acknowledgment. She waited until the negligible weight was removed from her back, then stood to her full height, her head and shoulders easily clearing the edge of the hole. "Of course, Miss Ambassador! I'm glad you're alright, I thought another construct had taken you, or something. Or a fairy!"

The golem clawed her way out of the hole with ease, dirt sliding off of her smooth form save where it gathered at her joints. A quick clap of her hands -accompanied by a loud, metallic ringing- cleared most of it off of her arms, but her mane in particular was in need of cleaning, though she did not yet know it; she had been quite agitated amidst her digging, and a portion of the flung dirt had caught on it.

"Say, Miss Ambassador, do fairies steal people into the earth?" she asked, tilting her head and lowering her hands back to her sides.

She flinched at the noise, her heightened senses doing her little favours. "No no, my dear. I went voluntarily into the ground, the magic in the area was pushing me away. I decided a direct approach was better suited for the job." She dusted her arms a bit, rather fruitlessly. "I did retrieve what we came here for. The piece of Solomon's Cube." Finally noticing the pile of the defeated guardian, her eyes widened at the destruction then a sly smile.

"Good work dealing with the guardian, Mandate. You reduced it to dust. Your strength is proving to be an asset." She complimented the golem.

Mandate, initially concerned by the flinch from her friend, pushed it aside as the smaller human noticed her handiwork. She preened quite visibly, her hands finding her hips in an instinctive gesture as her V of a smile returned full force. I'm an asset. No, my strength is an asset. I'm a friend.

"I punished it for lying about being flesh, Miss Ambassador! There was nothing interesting inside of it, so I was done before you were even in the ground." she announced proudly. The idea of humility was somewhat lost on the golem; hers was a job done well, and the praise was absorbed happily.

Then, she tilted her head. A thought occurred. "Miss Ambassador, have I been missing your horns? I've never noticed them before!"

Absently her bark-like hand reached up and touched the horns. "I am currently possessed by Bach. Some of his features show through when we are together like this. A draw back to the power it affords me." Odette explained, pulling a face. "We really should clean up the area the best we can and leave. Our actions here tonight will draw quite a bit of attention, unfortunately."

With that said she went to work cleaning away the remnants of the guardian, filling the holes created by Mandate and herself. The disturbance of Stonehenge would surely create international stir, even if she was able to return every stone and pebble back to its original state. The very air around them had changed. Bach stirred, irritation radiating forward.

It was the best they could do.

With the business settled and Queen Titania at large once again restored with unknown amounts of magic. It was time to return home to Paris, rest, then tackle Lost Haven.

4 Years ago, Alfheim. The Eternal Seasons Palace.

"Rune. Why do wish to leave for the mortal realm so badly?" The King asked him, leaning forward in his massive oaken throne. Once, they had both despised the way that throne represented missuse of power. But the King of the Isalfar and Alfheim seemed to favor it these days. It made Johan sick to his gut.

“Because the King I love, the man i love see my love as a plaything. Because while I can never be sure whether or not my feelings are ever going to reciprocated by you. When I first met you, I found I was moved by your drive to bring peace to the realms. Now look at you. YOu wear the fancy clothes and jewelry of kings past..”

“You would talk this way to me, your King?”

“I would tell you off if you were the god of all creation, you knew this when you took me as a champion!” Johan all but roared in the face of one of the most powerful Fae alive. His face was red with anger. “EXECUTIONS?! ON THE ROYAL SQUARE? I AM YOUR CHAMPION, NOT YOUR BLOODY EXECUTIONER.”

“They question the Winter Crown, and we had evidence they plotted to assassinate the human champion, that is to say you.” Neuvan said loftily, shooting a dazzling smile at Johan. “I did it to protect you, and me.”

“Then you present the evidence in a trial. You do not drag them out and drive cold iron spikes into their temples without due process.” Johan snapped. He could hear the screams. “Even I offered the frost giants mercy if they lay down their weapons.”

“Due Process? I am the king, This is not a democracy. My kind is not like yours, Fae are incapable of organization under anything other then a fist. The Skogsalvar sit in their damn forests, crying fowl if we as much as touch a tree. The Ijusalfar won’t shut up about their all important magical library and don’t get me start on the Mörkalfar. If I were to give every backstabber a trial, I would have no time left to RULE.”

“You are not the man I love. You have let that crown destroy that man.” Johan spoke in a low hiss. “You are just another petty tyrant.” That got a rise out of his beloved King. Neuvans eyes had a dark storm behind them as he rose to his feet. The two stared at one another, either refusing to budge before Nêuvan sighed and leaned back into his throne.

His eyes seeming unfocused, he spoke. “Very well, Johan. I shall grant you your wish. Go be my eyes and ears in the world of mortals, police those of mine who would make that realm their home and keep them in bay so that we may avoid conflict with your kind. You are bond between me and Midgard, you act on my authority and with my blessing.”

Johan simmered but nodded quietly and took a knee. “In your name, I shall keep your subjects safe and bring them to justice should they violate the royal decrees of secrecy. “ He glanced up at Neuvan who simply looked away, that faraway look in his eyes still.

“Go forth.” The king said. Johan left without another word, shoving one of the royal guards to the floor when he didn’t get out of way fast enough. His eyes were red with tears, and he felt them trickle down his face as he moved towards the closest gate. By the time he reached the gate, he was shaking. His fist impacted the wood with enough force that he felt a knuckle crack. “Fucking Elves” He all but sobbed.

Pain surged through her right shoulder like blasts of lightning. She could feel every pull and it was a bit#$ as she cringed and mashed her teeth together to push through the anguish slicing upwards with a quick stroke. The construct’s arm was severed and an odd energy leaked out. His head tilted towards her and although he had no facial features visible through his helmet she could feel the angry gaze he laid upon her as he retaliated with his friend, before a second sword slashed at his back. ”Okay. Like I need more problems.” She dodged and sidestepped each swing as she noticed the third construct was not attacking her but they began to fight amongst themselves. With a thrust she pierced the second one and slew it with a downward slash, her left arm drawing back her blade and causing undue strain on her wound. But she had to fight back, Dickens was inside fighting alone. Against a being capable of slaying demons and while Dickens is different from what he kills in game Doom Marine Excels at killing. There was a green blast as the windows shattered, Dickens was blasted back through the windows and into the street. His flesh regenerated as fast as it could but Doom Marine kept firing with more and more weapons, as rockets were launched from his rifle Dickens retaliated whipping Doom Marine into a wall.

As his hand gripped the rubble he dashed out kicking up dirt from his left heel as he shed his gun to reach for a grenade cooking down the timer as he went in for a lunge fisting the live explosive down Dicken’s throat. Goo splattered everywhere as his hind legs thrashed his tail back into the Demon Slayer while his head regenerated. The Doom Marine pulled out his BFG a second time and climbed his back before leaping off and twisting his body to fire his shot at his backside. The blast sent green rays outwards eradicating the surrounding landscape as Doom Marine stood over the pile that was Dickens his head reformed and rose up from the puddle of goop with Doom Marie in the middle. As he struggled in his throat Doom Marine was quickly crushed from the pressure as his form dissipated Dickens finished regenerating his foot stomped the ground and with a rumble his roar resounded throughout the empty streets.

There was a relief as Eva focused down her single opponent, as the third Watcher continued to aid her for how long she did not know. ”Okay, need to wrap this up fast.” She said as her feet stumbled, the pain through her shoulder was causing more and more issues, her consciousness was beginning to fade. As she slipped in and out of focus she cut down the last Abyss Watcher before her as the third one stood there, for a second she was glad it was over but just as she thought she had room to breathe it’s eyes let aflame and engulfed his sword in fire. ”You aren’t done yet, are you?”

Meanwhile further down the street on his way towards City Hall, a slender man with an outrageously long Pompadour stood before a beast twenty foot tall at least. The Young Handsome Man, reached his hand into his pocket and ran a comb through his hair as the beast broke into a full on sprint directly towards him. “You’re a real Party Pooper Clyde. I’m bout to lay down some sweet sounds you’d go ape for.” With his left hand he lifted a CD case from his breast pocket, whipping out a cheap CD. His left hand levitated it and began to electrically charge it up as he fully extended his right arm as if to punch the beast before him. With a mighty show of force Goliath bounded from the ground lifting his arms to crash into the street. “Clyde.” He said with a tisk. “Why you gonna do that. I had a big bash for you all planned out.” As he ran the charged CD down his right arm he was abuzz with energy lightning zapped the nearby light posts as he held his left palm right behind the disk and as if he fired a gun the disk shot off in a blinding display as the sheer force of the railgun annihilated Goliath’s upper torso as his digitized corpse dematerialized before he ate pavement. “Ain’t everyday you fight a monster from a game, totally unreal man. Spent enough time playing round though, time to meet the Daddy-O behind all this.” The man picked up the pace lifting his heels faster with each step the City Hall came further and further into sight. As a young girl with an incredibly tattered Hoodie fought against a flaming swordsman. The Hoodie might as well have been rags as it did nothing to conceal her face but he continued further taking a mere coin from his wallet and began to take his aim. That was when the girl’s sword collided with the flaming knight cleaving the rest of it in two, he could see her pained breathing and as he came closer could see her wounds. “Hey. Hey. Baby you don’t look alright, you look grody. And not just your clothes.”

Eva quickly responded by pointing a blade his direction, her breath heaved and her arm weighed heavy. ”Stay back Yank! Hero or Villain!”

“Baby cool it already, all Hero. All the time. Name’s Hound Dog, and you. Yeah you need a Doc.” He spoke vocally concerned for her well being.

Eva wheezed, as her arm quaked.”Tell me something I don’t already Bloody know. I. Need to get back inside, need to find Dickens. He’s. He’ll, Dickens.” She said as her hand reached out towards the paley white Monster walking towards her.

Hound Dog was taken back, ready to shoot off his coin just like that CD earlier, yet as he come insanely close to the girl she slumped onto his beaked head. As he lifted her up and onto his back. Excalibur fell to the ground as Hound Dog picked her sword up. “Something tells me this is more important than a typical sword. Righto. Oughta keep this safe, and you. You must be Dickens.”

With a snort Dickens turned to acknowledge man before him, before turning towards the doors. Eva laid on his back unmoving. Hound Dog held his hand towards Eva, and smiled. “Still beating, good.”

Eva’s eyes popped open, as they felt like iron doors she patted the side of her companion and he moved forwards. ”I ain’t done yet. Jedi wannabe still has to answer to me.” Her body still slumped on top of Dickens as she forced herself upright although her equilibrium wasn’t cooperating.

“You’re a crazy Cat, chassis is totally creamed. And you’re still cruisin’ for a bruisin’. I dig that, but don’t push yourself hard Babe.”

Location-Natural History Museum, NYC
Time-Noon
@fdeviant @Fallenreaper@Demonic Angel

Continuing to stay in Ben’s way, she had prevented Ben from being seriously injured or even worse, killed. Ji was close to relaxing when a guardsman had walked in. Ji tensed up, internally panicking at this, only to hear an all clear from the male before he left. She snorted when she heard Barron peak his head back in and say. “Welcome”

Ji finally relaxed and looked at Ben, who also seemed to calm and relax as well. Smiling she patted his head lightly, a nostalgia feeling filling her as she felt the familiar sensation of fur against her bare skin. She always loved the feeling new born fur was, even if it was rough.Ji sat down near Ben and sighed.

”That was way too much of a close call” Just a few seconds after saying that, avery familiar scent filled her nose, but before she could react, her twin tumbled into the room. For a few moments, Ji didn't say anything, until her mind caught up with reality of who just came in and was currently by her side. She had missed the gust of wind that her sister had created.

”YEONG HU, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO BE AT WORK!” Ji shouted, but kept it low enough so it wouldn't harm Ben’s hearing, oh she didn't care that she was harming her sister’s hearing right now. Hearing her sister’s excuse.

Location: National History Museum
Time: Late Afternoon

Yeong's lips curled into a mischievous smile. For once in a very long time she had successfully surprised Ji with her unexpected entrance granted that there would soon be yelling to follow. In her opinion it was still worth it dispute the scolding. At first the young woman hadn't noticed the new werewolf, mainly because he wasn't upright like she was used to, then again she tended to keep away from the pups. The girl’s eyes flickered to the right when Ben released a snort. Her eyebrow raised upwards, hands staying at her side, while watching the newest member of their pack move forward. The youngest twin wanted to move away just to see what would happen. Then again the kid was just a newborn werewolf.

The young woman stood completely still as he examined her. The scents of different flowers would flood the young man’s nose. Which would blend into the jasmine body lotion that was applied before work. The girl continued watching him until Ji shouted like a two year old.

”It's official. With your two year old fit I can no longer hear anything. Congratulations Ji. Now you won't be able to scream around me anymore.” she said in a smart ass tone. Yeong lifted her hand and rubbed her ear as gently as possible while scanning the room for anyone else. When her eyes meet with the mysterious woman she nodded in greeting.

“I was going to save you guys but it looks like I missed one hell of a party. As for the answer to your question I was told to go home. Our little adventure last night mentally wore me down so I was falling asleep at work. Eric said that he would send over my share when we get paid. I texted you from his phone.” the young woman said shaking her head.

The Wanderer worked on the machine over the course of the night. He had been familiar with the workings of the machine his father made for the purpose of going back in time, but to work on it was taking time. Sure, dismantling the part of the machine where the fuel was supposed to go was simple enough, but to get it all back together and to fit with the length of the fuel rod that he brought back from Arkansas Nuclear One, that was something that took some time. But he finished it, exhausted from the concentration needed to ‘tweak’ the machine. Sitting back down in the chair, he rewatched the message his father left behind, more importantly to the information about where everything started to spiral out of control in the past. I’m… about to go to the past? was the only question that went through his mind. He didn’t know what to expect from the past, seeing as there were little texts from the local library that had survived these years. I wonder what the past would be like? Is there actual tree life in the world? Is there less fighting in the world? These were all questions that ran through his mind. The more he thought about it, the more… excited he was. Sure, it’s a terrifying change from the life he has lived so far, but there was nothing left here for him to be anchored to.

His rambling thoughts were changed when he heard movement in the main power room. Thinking the mutants were back to wipe out any of the people that weren’t there at the first attack, The Wanderer slowly got up from the chair, his revolver in his hand ready to shoot once he entered the room. Taking a deep breath, he burst through the door. On the other side was not a mutant. It was something much worse. “All this is your fault, Mutant!” The frame of The Officer stood in the doorway, with two of his personal entourage in the room, assault rifles trained on him. “That would have been what I would have said if I had been there. Alas, I can now say that one of our own betrayed us, killing all the civilians in here.” Throughout the settlement leader’s taunts The Wanderer was shaking with fury, the thoughts of the lone hand in the doorway prevalent in his mind. “You leaving a few days ago had been awfully convenient for my plans, makes the transition all the sweeter. However, I see that the loose end of this string is still around seeing as the men I sent to kill you are not here.”

”All of this just to get back to me?” The Wanderer spat at The Officer, fury within his eyes. ”You slaughtered all the men, women and children in this place just to get to me? You are more pathetic than I had anticipated.”

“Of course I didn’t do all of this just for you. Of course, you’d think that I’d do all of this because of you. But I have to admit… your abilities intrigued me.” That took the mutant by surprise. “You think you were so handy with the little amount of, now what was it called… psionics? Well, you were not the only being who has knowledge of them and it just so happened that I would have been capable of wielding them. However, my ‘benefactor’ told me the price. A hundred of people or so was a little cost. They even offered to throw in the Behemoth to help wipe out a particular problem for free, so much for a freebie. No matter, you will not live long enough to see this place become a mutant paradise!”

As The Officer finished his spiel, the entourage began firing. The Wanderer didn’t take long for his own psionics to activate and was speeding towards the first one, landing a solid punch onto the man’s chest with enough force to crush the man’s ribs. However, the punch connected with a little thud. The entourage seemed to have been a part of whatever deal their leader was offered and had gained mutant abilities as well. This became apparent when a punch was thrown to his chest that caused him to stagger. It hadn’t been enough to overcome the enhanced strength his psionics gave him, but it was enough to leave a bruise in its place. ”Well, seems you wanted your men to be modelled after me,” The Wanderer chuckled, his voice audible to The Officer. ”Well, I do remember a book from the library having a nice quote: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” Finishing the quote, he sped up to the punching man and grabbed him by his garments. Using the full force of his strength, he threw the man at the other one, both of them hitting the wall with a loud clang. Without breaking stride, he raised his arm and fired a beam at them, incinerating them before they had the chance to get back up.

The Officer gritted his teeth, taken aback by the relentlessness of his nemesis and, supposedly, a new ability. “Curse you, Mutant! I suppose I better finish you off.” Much like The Wanderer did moments ago, the man raised his hand and fired a beam at him, seemingly hitting the man at full force. The dust from the room flew up into the air, making the room seem turbid in air quality.

Thinking that he had finally vanquished, The Officer trembled when the dust cleared and The Wanderer remained standing, his left hand creating a barrier between them. ”Seems your benefactor hasn’t told you about the extent of psionics now, didn’t it?” The Officer, seeing how outmatched he now was, began to stumble out of the room, but a blast to his back slammed him against the wall opposite the power room entrance. Getting back up onto his feet, he didn’t know what hit him when he was whipped around and pain erupted in his right chest. Looking through now broken glasses, he saw The Wanderer had another ability showing – his psionic blade – piercing through the right side of his nearly-collapsed chest. ”And one more thing, child killer. Mutant is such a derogatory term to me. Just call me by my other nickname, one that you’d be familiar with: The Psionic Warrior.” With his nemesis seemingly vanquished, The Wanderer deactivated his psionics, allowing the man to collapse into a heap, and walked back into the office.

Moments to get everything ready, the mutant was ready, strapping himself into the machine. Beforehand, he attached a bracelet-like devise to his left arm. He remembered everything his father told him about the machine before learning about the possible fuel problem that he got sent out to do. ”This device is to help you confirm that you arrive at the correct time that is set to the machine. This should be fine after you teleport to the past, but metals like your revolver will be superheated and can burn through anything if it hasn’t melted on the other side.” He also remembered one thing about the machine that would deter any man. ”While we do have the coordinates and the machine should be able to get you back in time, there is a huge chance that with the power needed to send you back will be spent and you’d be unable to get back here. And we can’t get that much power from the power room here. In summary…” ”Well… let’s see if this hunk of junk works.” Without another word, he pressed the button and closed the capsule. He hears the machine whir up in power and sees the display showing the machine building up energy. After a while, the machine suddenly stopped making any sound and everything seemed to be frozen in place. Thinking that the machine didn’t work and that there was nothing he could do to stop the nightmare he was in, sparks started flying everywhere in the power room as things started to explode. Shortly afterwards, a bright blue light stung his eyes as his conscious and subconscious simply melted away into nothing.
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This galaxy has a lot of prospects. On a planet where the sky was, unlike Earth, had red skies in the middle of the day and the folia was orange in leaves to absorb the light coming onto the planet, a wolf-like creature was standing on the edge on what was the equivalent of a forest, the trees being fungi in appearance. Unlike a lot of the creatures seen on this planet, this wolf seemed to be on fire, blue flames covering its entire body. It looked all around to observe the creatures that roamed the planet, the majority of them primitive in appearance. Even the more intelligent species were primitive, using crude weapons to try and chase others around the meadow. This planet doesn’t seem ready yet to have my gifts.

The wolf looked towards the sky, as if something got its attention. Without a trace, it disappeared from the edge of the forest. It reappeared later several thousand meters from the surface of the planet, its black eyes scanning the vast darkness in front of it. It seems that something is coming to this very time, it thought to itself, eyes focusing on something in the darkness. There’s a planet that looks like it’s about to receive something big to it. It paused for a moment. This planet… Earth. Seems that there are a group of beings on it that are capable of feats that transcends above the main population. It paused again, concentrating on something. It suddenly chuckled. And it looks like these beings had fought back against Umbraxis. That’s something that it will never let down. This will require some observations. Now judging by the distance, it looks like it’ll be some time before I reach the planet’s vicinity. What this planet would call 2 weeks.... I suppose I could do with the travel time to get more information on this curious planet. Not before long, it began to run, charging off into the unknown and leaving a blue and red trail in its wake.
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The sun was waning towards the end of the day, though still high up in the sky to keep the sky blue. As the wind gently whistled through the leaves on what was once the Esper Family estate, a point in the nearby wood had shone a bright blue light. As the light faded, The Wanderer appeared, collapsing onto the ground. As it took a moment for him to get to his senses, the various tones of green was the first thing he noticed when he regained his vision. Then, as his sound returned, his hearing was filled with the chirping birds of the summer evening. As he got up, he touched the living grass that he was lying on, his eyes looking around in wonder. Being the first experience in the past, he was taking in what he thought was utopia, seeing living trees and flowers for the first time. While he did think about pinching himself to see whether he was dead or not, the intense heat from the revolver was enough. ”I’ve made it back,” he croaked, his mouth seemingly dry from the journey.

Before he got carried away, he looked at the device that was on his left arm. The time on the device seemed to match at least the position of the sun in the sky and judging by the warm air, it looked like he was also in the ball park of the day and month. However, he was not sure on the year. As he got up, ne notices a building through the trees, recognizing it from the former picture he had seen in the news article. It looks like this is the Esper family estate, he thought. His mind steeled itself back to the reason why he was back here in the first place. He remembered reading that the Espers were powerful people that had psychokinetic abilities, so they might be aware of his sudden appearance on their estate. He made his way through the wood to get a closer look.

However, as he drew closer, the sinking feeling started to fill his stomach. The building looked damaged from what seemed to be a battle, with plastic tape still surrounding the building. He left the wood and walked through the damaged door. Looking through the wreckage, his heart sank as he sees the outlines of where the family had perished. He looked up at the clock, though the cracked face didn’t help with his time dilemma. Walking through the building, untouched from the destruction, he looked and saw the date and time that was on one of the clocks. Apart from the few minutes he had been here, the time the teleporter was set too worked. But The Wanderer looked worried. The Esper Family was to be in peril next year, yet they were already dead. Did something change in the timeline? was now the main question in his mind. He needed answers and he needed them soon. If the family’s death was the starting point of the chain of events that led to the apocalypse of his time, then something had triggered the events much sooner and he needed to find what caused this and fast. He walked out of the damaged doors and looked on at the city that was nearby. ”Somewhere in this city, someone has the answers to what has happened here and who did this.” Without another word, he walked on the lawn of the estate and began to approach the city, the name Pacific Point unknown to him.

“I will make you Nohrian scum pay for poisoning Corrin’s mind and convincing him to betray his true family!” The red-garbed samurai shouted before he lunged forward at me. I had zero idea what the heck he was talking about. Who was this Corrin person? I remember my red-haired retainer, I think Selena was her name, mentioning that name before, but she never explained who he was. You know what, I blame Talus for this. He’s the one who made me look like this video game character.

When the man’s blade began to descend towards me, Selena immediately jumped in front of me and threw up her own sword, parrying the blade’s blow. For a moment, they locked their swords together, applying their strength against each other. However, Selena was able to exert enough force in order to push the red samurai back.

“Be careful, Lady Camilla.” Selena called back to me as she held her ground, preparing to defend me if the man made another attack. “The high prince of Hoshido has weapon advantage against you!”

“What?” I asked her.

“Swords beat Axes, Axes beat Lances, and Lances beat Swords.” Selena replied. She still held out her sword in front of her in a defensive stance.

“Wait, so you’re telling me that the only type of weapon that is good against swords is the one weapon we don’t have!” Great. This would happen to us.

How are we going to beat this guy? Sure, we could just trade blows until one of us keels over, but that does not sound like something that would be productive, especially since we still need to figure out how to stop that Game Genie guy. I guess if we know what video game these characters were from, we might be able to exploit a weakness or find an easy way to defeat them or at least make them yield. Unfortunately, at least in this situation, I never got into video games. Sure, I do have some casual knowledge, but not enough to know from what game this samurai guy is from. I wonder who would know.

“Hey, Talus.” I called out to our resident metal man, “You wouldn’t happen to have a phone in that tin can of yours, would you?”

“What do I look like, an all-in-one machine?” He snapped at me after looking up from one of the cubes he had been busy working on.

“Well, sorry for asking.”

“Oh, I’m just messing with you, Vol.” Talus answered in a much more positive tone. Turning his attention away from the cube, Talus unscrewed a circular panel on the side of his head and slide it across the floor to me. “Just make sure you’re calling a cell phone that would have your number in its contact list. That why I can spoof your number so that whoever is one the other line will know it’s you.”

I scooped up Talus’ make-shift phone and frantically began entering into it a ten-digit telephone number. When I held it up to my ear, I could hear the dialing sound that would play as you waited for the call to connect. At that same time, the red-garbed samurai charged again at us. However, instead of repeating the stalemate that Selena held him at in our first encounter, the samurai showed off his acrobatic skills. Using his katana to keep Selena’s sword at bay, the man leaped up and landed on her shoulders. He then used her as a spring board and leapt towards me, shoving Selena down to the ground in the process. The samurai would have had a clear shot at me, since I had one hand dedicated to the phone. However, Odysseus reacted quickly and used his bow to shoot the man out of the air. Although the samurai was able to parry every arrow that Odysseus sent in his way, that distraction allowed me to roll under the man’s attack so that he would land behind me.

“Hello?” I heard Will’s voice through the phone.

“Do you have a minute?” I asked my boyfriend, while I dodged another one of the man’s sword swings.

“Do I have time? I’ve been trying to call you ever since I heard about the situation in Pacific Point! Are you okay?”

“I’ve been a little busy. But do you know of any video games with a red samurai?”

“Umm…that description could describe any number of characters.”

At the same time, Beruka jumped up to help me out against the samurai. At first, she was able to block his attack without much difficulty. However, with each swing of the samurai’s electrified sword, he began to gain the upper hand on her. If Selena had not scrambled to her feet and jumped into the fray, he might have overpowered Beruka.

How was I going to better describe this situation to Will so that he would know what game this guy was from? Unfortunately, he hasn’t said his name yet. But I guess that would have been too easy. What else is there? While I was watching my two retainers struggle to hold back the high prince of Hoshido, it finally hit me. Selena and Beruka are probably from the same game, as they appear to know what’s going on.

“Do you know of any games that have two girls named Selena and Beruka?”

“Well, there is Fire Emblem: Fates.” Will responded over the phone, now that I had some more concert information for him, “And I guess you are probably facing Ryoma, the high prince and heir of Hoshido.”

“Alright, so how do we defeat him?”

“Well, all the characters in that game have a specific amount of HP and if you reduce that to zero, then the character is defeated.”

With one fell swing, Ryoma knocked both my two retainers to the ground. Although the two of them were still moving, they seemed as if they were in great pain.

“We’ll be back up soon, Lady Camilla!” Selena reassure me, although she was wincing as she spoke, “We just need to take a short breather.”

“They’re just flesh wounds.” Beruka muttered in her laconic style.

“You have trained your retainers well, Nohrian. However, they cannot hold up against my righteous cause.” Ryoma prepared himself for another lunge towards me. “Prepare for Raijinto to taste your Nohrian blood!”

At this moment, unless I tried to use the ax that Beruka had given me earlier to block his attack, Ryoma had an opening against me. Both of my retainers were still out for the count and Odysseus was not close enough to help. Ryoma leaped up into the air with his sword raised high above his head. But suddenly, I realized that Talus has slide one of the cubes that he had been working on right in front of me. It began creating a humanoid wireframe until a blonde-haired woman with a short sword and a small shield stood in front of me. Since she was just summoned from the cube, she had little time to throw up her sword and shield to block Ryoma’s attack. After his attack was stopped, the red-garbed samurai performed three backhand springs in order to place some distance between himself and us.

“Oh, hey, Arachne.” Kyra told me when she first realized that I was standing behind her. “I like what you’ve done with your hair.”

“Nice to see you, too. But we have some bigger problems at the moment.” I then pulled the phone back up to my ear and continued my conversation. “I’m still here. Is there any other way to defeat this Ryoma guy?”

“Well,” Will paused for a moment to think about his answer. “Since Ryoma is technically a good guy, you could possibly talk him down, although it might not be an easy task if he thinks you’re a Nohrian.”

“Any ideas on what I should say? Other than a vague ‘we’re all good guys here’ speech?”

“I’ll give you a crash course of the game and its lore, although it probably will be the sparknotes’ version.”

While my boyfriend was filling me in on some details, I saw Odysseus jump into the fray. He hooked his bow to the quiver on his back and drew the sword from its scabbard. Ryoma, turning his attention away from Kyra and towards Odysseus, gripped Raijinto’s hilt as he readied his fighting stance. For a moment, the two swordsmen stood still, waiting for the other to make a move. And almost instantaneously, both men rushed forward and clashed with each other’s blade.

“How fast did you say you could tell me all this information?”

When Alexa Winstone saw the images of the destruction of the Downeast Mall, she immediately cancelled all of her appointments for the rest of the afternoon and left her office at Winstone International. Once she explained to her assistant that she was leaving the office a little early, she went back to her penthouse apartment in Sherman Square that she had been more or less sharing with Scott for the last couple of months. The elevator ride to the 79th floor of her building seemed to take an eternity, and when the door doors chimed and finally opened, she quickly made her way down the hall toward her apartment. When she unlocked the door and pushed it open, she was surprised to find that the apartment was dark. No one was home, and from the looks of things, nobody had been in the apartment since they both left that morning. At this point, Alexa had begun to get worried about Scott. When she first saw the news, the first thing that she did was call him. However, he didn’t answer. He also didn’t answer the subsequent fifteen calls she made to his phone.

“Dammit Scott, where are you?” She said aloud as she slipped her phone back into her purse and then rushed back out of the apartment. She suspected she knew where he might be, and as soon as she got back to her building’s underground parking garage, she took off in her black Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG and headed west out of Sherman Square.

She raced through the city streets, or she got as close to racing through the streets as rush hour traffic would allow. The stop and go traffic had her cursing under her breath while regretting her decision to take the car rather than just use her abilities and simply fly over from her apartment. However, after about forty minutes fighting through the hellish city traffic, Alexa finally pulled into the parking lot for the hot midtown nightclub, The Hub. After she climbed from the car and locked it, she made her way around to the back entrance of the club, which led to the residential apartment upstairs. When she reached the narrow staircase that led up to Scott’s apartment, Alex leapt up the stairs two at a time until she reached the top. Once she got to the top of the stairwell, she went straight to the door to Scott’s apartment and opened the door with her spare key and went inside where she was met immediately by Scott’s little sister, Jenny.

“Is he here?” Alexa asked.

“No…sort of.” She said as she extended her index finger and pointed upward indicating that he was up on the roof.

“How is he?”

“He’s taking it really hard. I haven’t seen him like this since Dad died.” Jenny told her unable to hide the trepidation in her voice.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Alexa said as she turned and went back out of the apartment door, this time making her way up the stairway that lead to the roof access door.

Scott stood in silence at the edge of the roof looking out over the city just as the sky had begun turning majestic shades of orange, pink, and purple. He had been there for most of the afternoon, at least since leaving the ruins of the mall. He had just stood there, staring out at the city he had sworn to protect, as he went over the events of earlier in the day in his mind. Blow by blow, he recounted the encounter with the maniac who called himself The Hybrid, asking himself if there had been anything else he could have done to save all those people. He didn’t like the answer that he kept coming to. He knew that perhaps if he hadn’t held back like he has always done, afraid to seriously injure, or even kill an opponent, then those three thousand people that were lost in the mall on this day might still be alive.

He was aware that someone was coming up the stairwell behind him, and from the sounds of the footfalls, he knew that she was a woman. Then he listened to her heartbeat. Since his powers began to manifest as an adolescent, he learned that each human heartbeat has a slightly different sound, and that if he concentrated, he could differentiate individuals from one another by the sounds of their heartbeat. It was because of this, that he was able to identify the heartbeat, and thus, the person who was on her way to see him. It was a heartbeat that he had come to know over the last few months, one that he had memorized…one that he had grown to love. It was someone he didn’t know that he could face, not now. Not after his failure at the mall.

So he didn’t. When Alexa opened the door to the roof and stepped out to join him, he never turned to face her, he didn’t even acknowledge her. He just remained frozen in place, looking out at the Lost Haven skyline, at the smoke which was still billowing into the sky from the site of the disaster that had occurred earlier. He just stood silently as she walked towards him. Neither said a word as she wrapped her arms around him and getting up on her tip toes, kissed him on the back of the neck. And even though she wanted more than anything to tell him that she loved him, and that everything would be okay, she remained silent, and together, they stood in a quiet embrace and watched the sun sink out of view in the distance.

Beware the Depths

Someone was screaming. It took a while for Riley to realize it was her.

She didn't know what had happened. She had been standing over the oddly dressed man one moment, and the next she was ripped off her feet as something grabbed her around the waist and lifted her into the air. She just caught the glimmer of the Knight Girl's sword before the battle in the hall was swept out of her sight, the cold rattling of a chain and the sounds of groaning metal flooding her ears. Colors and shapes blurred past her as she was thrown into the sky, and as she felt herself beginning to head towards the ground, she heard a voice. Deep and powerful, it echoed through her head as she caught sight of a pair of great glowing eyes, burning with a soulless anger. The words came to her, reverberating as though from the bottom of her heart as the great hooked weapon holding her like a vice swung down into the ground.

"ALL....WILL....DROWN...."

Then with a jolt, everything went dark.

----

Riley was floating through nothingness. She opened her eyes. Colors and shapes swam dimly in front of her, obscured in the dark mist. Sparks of purple creased through the blackness, echoing with strange unearthly sounds.

Was she dead? If this was death, it didn't feel too bad. It felt...calm...warm...she felt safe here. She looked down at herself, and saw the purple sparks were coming from her, flowing around her like water. She could only see her body from the shape that the sparks made when they wrapped around her. Riley wondered why she wasn't scared. Maybe in this place, she reasoned, there wasn't any reason to be afraid. It was like...she belonged here.

"-Forethought-"

"Is someone there?" Riley didn't open her mouth to speak, the words instead resounding from somewhere distant, yet close. Like she was projecting her thoughts on a speaker. The odd shapes seemed to intensify with the sound of every new voice, some in languages she never heard before. A few words jumped out from the mire at her, though...

"-change the world."

"-storm coming in."

"-killing us, send the-

"-no Zhanya don't-!"

"-who sends people a bleedin' alien--

"Miss Jordan? Is that you?" The shapes began to move faster now, becoming more distinct as the whispers cascaded over one another into a dull roar.

"-never seen power like this-"

"-protect her-"

”-I’ve made it back-”

"LOOK OUT, THE ANCHOR!"

Riley opened her eyes with a start as the world rushed back to her. The darkness was gone, replaced by the blue-orange glow of the setting son. She was back in Pacific Point again, lying spread-eagled in an intent on the road. Realizing what was around her, and what woke her out of that state in the first place, she spun to her side and missed the heavy metal weapon coming down on her by mere inches. Rolling back to her feet, she watched the massive iron being drawn back by the chain, spotting people dotting the sides of the road, taking in the spectacle of Riley fighting whatever it was that wrenched her from the city hall. Some were in uniforms, some protected others with their bodies, some held up strange electronic devices she had never seen before. Any other day she would have been in a panic because she had been seen publicly, but as Jordan once said, she had bigger fries to fish. Or something to that effect.

The ground shook violently as the great metal weapon was drawn back, its owner obscured by the settling cloud of dust and debris. Riley could see the town hall quite a distance away, with a great chunk of the wall missing after being cleaved by what must have been the hook thing, what she heard someone call an 'anchor'. Bracing herself for the fight of her life, Riley planted her feet and prepared to give it her all, fighting through the sharp pain resurfacing in her leg.

A massive hand reached out from the cloud to grab the anchor as it stepped forward. Riley's heart sank as she recognized the hateful red eyes through the smog, and as they approached, a massive metal man emerged onto the street. Encased in rusted metal, it crushed a car underfoot as it approached her, hoisting the anchor into the air and planting on his shoulder as he lumbered forward. Riley faltered as the shadow of the rusted metal monster fell on her, daring her to try and fight back as it took one last great step to get into a fighting stance, its great red eyes peering from underneath the wrought iron brow.

"YOU'RE IN THE DEEP END NOW," the great monster roared at her, the soulless rage in its voice slamming into her heart like a rusted iron spike. Riley's every instinct told her to run, to save herself. She couldn't beat something that could rip her from the inside of a building and throw her halfway down the street. Nothing could.

But that wasn't going to stop her from trying, was it?

"You don't scare me," Riley cried out defiantly. "Give me your best shot, leadhead!"

---

"What do you mean 'you lost her'? How the bleedin' hell could you lose Riles!?!" Jordan Fletcher aimed a frustrated kick at a diminutive mage in a red robe to vent her anger, sending it flying across her street.

"I'm not sure if you looked out your window today, but the entire city has been under attack by Atari rejects," Dr. Martel explained over the phone, sounding exhausted and irritable. "I couldn't exactly let the generator go up in flames, and since you weren't around-"

"It's not my bleedin' fault if a bunch of Tetrinos barricade me in my own foockin' FLAT!" Jordan all but shouted into her cell phone, her accent becoming more and more pronounced the angrier she got. She considered aiming another kick at the group of little red minions flowing down her street for the hell of it. "Took me ages to clear enough lines to squeeze out the window. So you don't have any clue what happened to her?"

"Well if she managed to get caught by the...oh bugger..."

"What now?" Jordan demanded, hearing the sound of a television set having the volume turned up.

"Our friend is making the six o'clock news."

"WHAT!?!" Jordan's shout made a few of the minions jump and look at her nervously.

"There's a report on a new superhuman fighting one of the characters this Game Genie is throwing around. I recognize the tentacles, it's definitely our mutual friend." Martel exposited in a hushed tone, clearly not wanting to reveal too much to the other Poseidon personnel nearby. "I don't recognize who she's fighting, but it's certainly....big."

Jordan swallowed nervously. "Well, what does he look like?"

"Well he was throwing an anchor on a chain around...oh, the camera zoomed in on him. He looks like he's wearing one of those old fashioned diver's suits..." Jordan glanced back at the parade of little minions, now flanking a tiny wooden tank that trundled along the street path. She recognized the game they came from, and that meant...

"...it's Nautilus. Fuck me, she's fighting Nautilus."

"The submarine?"

"No, it's a character from a game called League of...never mind, too long to explain, where is Riley right now?"

"The main road leading to City Hall, should be a couple minutes away. Fletcher, you aren't going to try and fight that thing, are you?"

"No, but I have an idea of what to do," Jordan replied, hanging up before Martel could offer a rebuttal. If Riley was fighting Nautilus, that meant she must be considered a Champion. Jordan hadn't played recently, but she still remembered that the key to beating any opponent was using the right build. And for that Riley needed a good item. Something good against tanks.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an explosion. The minions that passed by her had bumped into something that exploded in a purple mist. As she watched them slow down and dissolve into pixels, a crazy stupid idea popped into her head. If Nautilus was around, that meant other Champions were running around Pacific Point, and that poisoned explosion could only have been the work of one of them.

"Teemo?" Jordan called out, feeling both desperate and incredibly stupid. "Captain Teemo? Are you around here?"

There was a little puff of smoke as a fuzzy little creature appeared in front of her, bedecked in scouting gear and wielding a blowpipe. Standing no taller then her waist, the yordle lowered his weapon upon seeing Jordan, looking up at her red hair through his squinted little eyes.

"Miss Fortune?" Teemo piped up, sounding lost. "Why aren't you in your lane? Is Draven giving you trouble?"

"No, Draven's fine, but our...mid laner is having trouble against Nautilus," Jordan explained, running with Teemo's misnaming and trying desperately to remember all of the jargon. "Do you have a...Liandry's Torment?"

_{banner credit to Hellis}

---

Time: Present Day - Night
Location: Paris, France

Vienna had her tired feet up in the reclining chair, black frizzy long hair out of its bun. She was half dozing in front of the tv with an American reality show on. English speaking humans fighting over something she could barely understand, it was interrupted by a commercial for exercise equipment. Vienna had made some effort to understand French but English seemed absolutely pointless. She didn’t much care for what was happening on the television but simply liked sitting in front of it.

The cozy little den was her space, immaculately clean. Comfortable. Warm sunset orange painted the walls and the carpet had no stains, soft as if it had been recently shampooed. A handwoven blanket was draped across her lap, a glass of warm milk on the end table beside her. Vienna let herself drift.

The chores had all been done for the day and she had no real idea when Odette would be coming home. Most days were like this when the master of the household was away.

The household Fey let out a long yawn, it was cut short by the arrival of Odette. Vienna knew as soon as she arrived on the rooftop of the building, footsteps crossing the garden above her.

Her eyes focused, she pulled back the blanket and turned off the tv. All the drowsiness disappeared.

She bustled out of her den heading straight up to greet them.

She stepped through the doors to the outdoor terrace, night air greeting her with a cool breeze, “My Lady, Bach, Mandate. Welcome home.” Speaking in Common Fey.

Vienna immediately noticed the awful mess that was her Lady. Covered in dirt from head to toe, Odette looked as if she had rolled in a mud pile. It wasn’t often she saw her as disheveled as she was now. Mandate even looked like she could use a rinse off, not much of anything really settled on the golem.

“If My Lady would like, I can run her a bath.” Vienna offered, allowing them to trudge pass.

Odette quietly replied, “Please.”

The household Fey nodded curtly once then went straight to preparing the bath. Odette followed behind her, stripping tenderly while the blue and purple bruise on her back throbbed with the movement. She scrubbed off the worst of the grime, washed out the soil from her hair then removed any makeup still on her face in the shower. Then stepped into the bath mixed with epsom salts and fragrant lavender oils.

She sunk down into the claw footed porcelain tub with a drawn out sigh.

Vienna stood by waiting to be dismissed, “Is there anything else-”

“A glass of cranberry juice and my tablet please. Prepare a healing spell for my back. I want that ugly bruise gone. When I’m out of the bath please be sure to have the files that goblin dropped off on my bed, I want to read them before I go to sleep.”

Vienna bowed her head, “Yes, milady. That funny little goblin didn’t accept the extra loaf of bread either.”

Odette’s chapped lips pulled back into a tight line, “Zut.”

Vienna tilted her head at that word, “Is something amiss, milady?”

Odette shimmied further up to her chin into the water. Dismissively she said, “That remains to be seen.”

Vienna bowed again then hurried off leaving Odette to contemplate on her own. As Vienna let the door close behind her, Odette sighed again submerging herself completely underwater. The warmth of the water a stark contrast to the underwater trip to Ville d’Ys, the sorceress held no regrets for putting Lassantra back in her place, even so shortly after she had helped her with divining the mysteries behind the White Witch.

What she did regret was not seeing through Titania’s ruse. She was back on the playing board, while her bargain had smoothed out some previous wrinkles in their association. Queen Titania was a horrible wrench in the works in the bigger picture.

But now, she had a piece of Solomon’s Cube, guaranteeing her slice of power from the artifact and a favour from The Broker. Give a little and gain a lot.

She needed to review all those nasty prophecies in depth, tear them apart and pull more concrete interpretations from them. Connect Puck’s Prophecy and what the oracle said. Then try to decipher Titania’s rare prophecy. Odette couldn’t remember the last time Titania had prophesied anything, let alone anything in the past century.

Odette reemerged from the water in time for Vienna to return. Placing the juice and tablet aside Vienna went about healing the sore muscles and tender bruises first, in her hands was a thick green paste. Vienna spoke the healing spell and visibly Odette’s back muscles relaxed unknotting itself. Without a word when the spell was complete Vienna passed Odette a hand towel to dry her hands.

Tablet in hand and a sip of juice Odette went to searching the news for the results of the fight in Lost Haven’s Chinatown, not willing to wait for Captain Esen to report back to her.

One article she skimmed through,

-Both combatants, one known as War Pulse and his target - an unknown woman in the metal mask had collapsed. Upon the authorities arrival, her body had disappeared. Multiple social media livestreams and eye witness accounts confirm a unidentifiable vehicle arrived shortly after the fight was finished. Taking the body of the woman away.

Odette checked several online news sites swiping left and right. She watched the fight closely from grainy low quality cellphone videos. Reading through the Twitter hashtags. It wasn’t clear who had taken Racheli away, she’d have to double check with Jacque, her main contact for The Shroud Syndicate here in Paris. He would know the details if they had scooped up the metahuman. Even if it was… the results of the fight confused her.

She pulled keywords and timelines of the fight aside to save them away under some notes, screenshots of the fight, etc. Setting the tablet aside she finished off her drink and relaxed in the bath for another hour. When she finished she pulled on a pale pink soft silk robe, carefully towelling her blue hair dry. Exiting the ensuite bathroom into her bedroom, crossing from heated tiles to hardwood floor. Large king sized bed awaited her expertly made up by Vienna with the envelope presumably from Lekh on the bed.

Changing into a sleepers tank top and pajama shorts she settled under the blankets turning on the lamp beside her. Pulling out the files she saw immediately the extensive research he had done. Reading through his handwritten summary, neat and tidy. Easy to read, no grammatical errors or spelling errors. Bundled with the write up was newspaper clippings, old medical history including her time spent in the CDC as of this year, copies of school records, employment history. Racheli Desdemona’s history in her hands. She flipped through the pages unable to hide the smile of satisfaction. She stopped on the photo of Michael Garth staring wide eyed. The very same face Racheli’s virus projection wore, her father’s face. Her smile grew wider.

Lekh was successful in releasing Racheli’s father from confinement and now she knew exactly what she sent to an unsuspecting Racheli. Her father was a monster stalking around in human skin and it was just such a delightful coincidence that Racheli’s virus appeared to her and others as her horrifying father.

This information was invaluable. With this she’ll surely be able to tear Racheli apart at the seams. This meant Lekh had more than earned his payment, she’d need to work on something else to reward him.

Rereading the summary again she placed the papers back in the envelope then moved it to the end table, turning off the lamp. She settled into to sleep, tired but satisfied.

For Amanda Allen-James, nothing would ever be the same. Her life was changed forever the night that the so called Meta Domes encased Los Angeles, altering the very DNA of many of those trapped within the spheres. Though her powers did not manifest immediately and she was fortunate enough not to suffer physical changes, as many of the others had, she indeed was changed. She may not have developed claws, a tail, or even gills, but she suddenly found herself able to move faster than the speed of sound, able to move up and down the entire West Coast in mere seconds. At first, her new found abilities were not only exhilarating, they were frightening. While people with amazing abilities seemed to be more and more commonplace, there were still certain stigmas attached to those with powers. Amanda did not know how her friends and family would react, so initially she decided not to tell anyone.

Then her life changed again one sunny day in Pacific Point’s Huntington Park. While enjoying the day with her friends Izzy and Gemma, she saw a yellow Hummer jump the curb and veer directly toward an old man. The old man had no chance of getting out of the way. Before she new it, she was racing toward the old man, pulling him out of the way, and then rejoining Izzy and Gemma before they had even known she was gone. The entire ordeal happened within the blink of an eye, and the exhilaration she felt was unlike anything she had ever felt before. Soon after, she decided that she was going to use her abilities to help others in a way that she never thought possible. She had decided that some good was going to come from the horror that the Pax Metahumana terrorists had spread after all.

The first thing she did was something that she had originally decided not to do. She told both Izzy and Gemma everything. At first her friends didn’t believe her. However, a quick demonstration of her abilities, in this case, zooming out of the apartment and back in a matter of seconds with a bushel of strawberries from the farmer’s market across town proved that she wasn’t making it up. Her friends were naturally in shock, but they were nonetheless excited for her. Once the initial shock had worn off, she told them everything. She told them about how the dome over LA had been responsible for her new reality, and she told them about the old man at the park. She also told them how she planned to continue helping people. From there, she set about preparing for her newfound calling. Each day she would go out and test her abilities. She would push herself to see just how fast she could move. While she was preparing herself physically, Gemma was putting her artistic costuming talents to good use. An avid cosplayer, Gemma went to work creating Amanda’s costume.

When Amanda first saw her new costume, it was love at first sight. The purple and chrome suit had pink highlights on the arms, legs, and chest. At first Amanda was skeptical that it would allow her to move comfortably, however, a quick test run around the city proved her fears to be unfounded. Her favorite part of the costume was the mask and wig. Amanda had wanted to safeguard her identity, and had decided that a simple domino mask might not be the best way to do that. She had wanted to incorporate a purple wig into the costume; however, keeping the wig on her head had proven to be problematic. Gemma went to work trying to solve the issue, and to Amanda’s surprise, she had pulled it off. Instead of having the mask and the wig as two separate pieces, she managed to integrate them into a single, cowl-like piece that slipped on over her head.

Amanda took her time putting the costume on, relishing each moment as she suited up in the finished costume for the first time. Then she slipped on the wig and mask, and stood in front of her full length mirror and gazed at her reflection, and felt a sudden pang of excitement.

“Looks like you’re needed.” Izzy’s voice came from the living room.

“What’s up?” Amanda asked.

“Well, there’s a bank robbery in LA, it looks like the suspects have some sort of advanced firepower.” Izzy told her.

“Really? Cool!” Amanda said. “Uh…I mean, that’s terrible.” She corrected herself, embarrassed at how over eager she sounded.

“….and there’s videogame characters running around downtown. But it looks like that spider chick and a couple others have that under control.” Izzy offered.

“Yeah, I think I’ll let them take care of that.” Amanda said as she bolted out the door of the apartment in a purple and pink streak. As she raced toward LA, Amanda Allen-James would finally introduce the world to…

_{banner credit to Hellis}

---

Time: Present Day
Location: Lost Haven, Maine

Ms F
I am sorry for the late reply, I have been out of town.
Care to meet somewhere quiet to discuss what I have discovered?
-L

The text tone on the Ambassador's smartphone rang, she had been awake for several hours going about her daily routine, having taken the past couple of days to relax and pick away at deciphering the prophecies. She was surprised but pleased she wouldn't need to track him down. She read the text then quickly replied.

❀Quite alright.❀
I have been rather busy myself.
I can be in LH today, meet me at my hotel. I'll text you the address and room number.

Until then ¸¸♬·¯·♩¸¸♪·¯·♫¸

She tapped SEND then called for Bach to get ready. The meeting with Lekh would need to be played with caution. Depending on how she presented whatever information he wanted to know, could result in either losing him as an ally or keeping him as a tentative friend. She safely assumed he would ask about the Soul Mark, a little red thumb print on his wrist months ago, when they first met. There was no real way around explaining away the mark's more invasive properties. Regardless it would be removed one way or another, there wasn't need for it anymore.

The time it took to call a hotel in Lost Haven, create a portal and check in, it was considerably short. With everything she could ever need stored in her enchanted purse, travelling was really never a problem unless she was forced to keep up appearances.

Lost Haven awaited her return.



Silence had quite the trip. Uncovering family secrets, discovering mysterious government sanctioned research labs, high octane jail breaks, it wasn't quite the vacation the Pole had been looking forward too but it was certainly one to write home about. Unfortunately, that wasn't quite what Lekh had in mind. The Ambassador had commissioned him for the job with a rather tantalising reward offered in recompense, the truthful answer to a question of his choosing. The criminal's mind was abuzz with the sort of things he could ask a woman like Odette, who manifested powers the likes of which he had only read about, wouldn't have even believed existed until a few months prior. Still, there was the small matter of the goblin.

It had been transported directly into the back of his car to receive the dossier. Lekh was by no means familiar in any way, shape, or form with magic or its uses, but his memory was sound. Odette had told him that he had only to press his finger to the mark on his wrist and speak her name and she could come to him. Yet, seemingly, without any of these actions taking place she had known his exact location and by extension where to send her little servant. It would seem she had misled him in regards to the exact nature of this little gift she had bestowed upon him. Though he was hardly surprised.

Dressed in shirt, dark green jacket and jeans the chameleon of a man waltzed through the Ambassador's hotel. It was a nice place, not overly special as such but certainly comfortable. He respected the place's lack of defining features, something which he shared with the building, and which made both of them useful in certain circumstances. His hair was a mousey brown today, but not much longer than the last time he and the Ambassador had met, which was only a short while ago.

He found the room with no real trouble and his mind harkened back to his first meeting with Ms Favre, the sense of deja-vu palpable as he knocked lightly at the door.

"Room service, Madam."

Odette stood from the small sitting area at the sound of his knocking, then peeked through the eye window. She motioned for Bach to leave with a dismissive shoo motion, he shrugged.

"If you insist, My Lady. I'll be close if you need my assistance." Bach replied in French then shrunk down to six inches. He scurried out under the door frame casting a tiny glower up at Lekh as he walked by, invisible but indignant.

She opened the door giving him a chipper greeting, "Bonjour, Monsieur. Please come in we have quite a bit to discuss today, non?"

She had settled on wearing a close fit black cross strapped tank top, ruffled pink skirt and on her feet were fashionable flats with small golden studded toes. To top off the outfit she accessorized with a intricate drop necklace with pale rose quartz. She opened the door wide gesturing for him to come inside. "Bach will not be joining us today."

She studied the career criminal and noticed his hair colour had changed once again, he still dressed rather casually if not a bit plainly. She appreciated his efforts to at least be neat and tidy.

"Quite a bit, yes," Lekh replied as he crossed the threshold, taking in the Ambassador's rather extravagant sense of style. Just once, he wanted to see her wearing an old hoodie and jeans, but honestly, he wasn't sure if he would recognise her in such casual attire. He almost cocked his head when she told him Bach was not present, resisting the urge to look around furtively for the sneaky little imp. He and Silence did not see eye to eye, for whatever reason, though the criminal suspected there was some degree of jealousy and over-protectiveness involved. Exactly what relationship Ms Favre and Bach shared was still unknown to Silence. Perhaps he would ask about it?

He wasn't all that taken aback by the hotel room, in fact he gave it barely a second glance as his eyes settled on a neat sofa. It was a business executive suite, with a large hardwood desk and leather chair. The bedroom was behind frosted glass doors and the living area was roomy enough for the sofa and coffee table. On the coffee table was a pitcher filled with iced water and two glasses. He turned and waited for Odette to give him the indication to sit down, and to show where she herself was sitting.

She strolled past him gesturing to the sofa. "Please make yourself comfortable, there is water if you would like a drink. Unfortunately on such short notice I have not much else prepared in the way of refreshments." She walked around the coffee table folding her skirt beneath her legs as she sat. "There is actual room service if you are hungry." Genuinely she was concerned at playing the part of a good hostess. Fey hospitality was legendary and this was quite embarrassingly meager to those standards.

Silence cocked an eyebrow as he caught the edges of a large tattoo on Odette's back, perhaps of a tree though it was difficult to tell for sure. Though a tree was certainly what he expected, for her to have a tattoo at all was not something he would have reckoned on. It was interesting how little he really knew about his temporary employer.

"I will, thank you, and water will be fine." He eyed up the jug beside a couple of smooth glasses and poured for himself as he sat on the sofa, feeling a lot more comfortable with a glass in hand, even if he would have preferred the clear liquid within to be a tad stronger stuff. "I will pass on room service, if it is all the same, Ms Favre."

She nodded, pouring a glass for herself as well setting it on the cardboard coaster for when she was ready.

Silence sipped from his glass, his mind awash with thoughts and feelings, and as always that slight pinprick of pressure in his chest that he had always had around the Ambassador. He identified it as fear.

"So, Ms Favre, I would assume by now you have had time to glance through the dossier I left with your interesting companion?" He paused, for a moment, as his brow furrowed at the thought of the little creature's sudden arrival. "Though if you would prefer it, I could give you the full, debriefing if you will, of my travels?"

"I have, very thorough as I expected. You did well in collecting all of the essentials. I would like to hear the full report, though before you begin. When we first met with Racheli, do you remember seeing..." She paused looking for the appropriate English word. "The projection of a man? He looked exactly like Racheli's father, Michael Garth." Hoping to validate her seeing the virus's psychic image.

"I remember seeing... something. A hazy image appeared before me as I attempted to sedate the girl, a man's voice warned us away. I assumed it was something the girl had done." He swirled the liquid in his glass in an unconscious gesture that was somewhat unfitting with simple water. "I remember the... 'projection' only hazily, but I believe it bore some resemblance to the man. Michael Garth. Though he was not in the best of conditions when I met with him. We seem to be getting ahead of ourselves here though, no?"

She nodded again relieved she wasn't alone in seeing that pesky visage, "Yes, of course. Please go on."

"Well then, it would be best if we start at the beginning. I will keep this as short as possible. After meeting with you at the coffee shop, I did some digging in the CDC for files on one 'Racheli Desdemona'. Interestingly, it was not the matter of her stay there that drew me, but rather that the state keeps certain census files in the building's database." He shrugged. "Or perhaps not so interesting, hmm?"

"In any case, it was there that I discovered the birth date and location of Rach, and the names of her parents, Jackie and Michael, in Jamestown Nevada. I had no particular desire to head out of state and across the country for what I believed was a dead-end, but after speaking with some contacts they revealed to me some interesting information. Her parents had both been murdered, albeit Michael met his end through government sanctioned execution. I decided that was interesting enough to warrant a personal visit of sorts, and so I went.

"In Jamestown, I asked around and found some interesting tid-bits about our friend Rach's past. It would seem her dear Father was a serial killer of sorts and Rach was right in the middle of it all. When he was finally arrested, and incarcerated she was moved with her Aunt, on account of her Mother being killed, presumably by Michael though considering the circumstances. He was later apparently executed on death row. However, I investigated further into his sentencing and uncovered some old files that detailed his time on death row. It turned out he had been selected by some government sanctioned geneticists for a trial run of some experimental process to active a dormant meta-human gene, though I do not pretend to fully understand the science behind it."

She remembered reading the notes about Michael's nasty streak of killing young women. When he mentioned Michael's metahuman status her eyebrows lifted, surprised at that. A serial killer with manifested powers and a motive to see his daughter. Things were about to get very interesting for the likes of Racheli.

He took a breath, keenly aware that he might have just said the most he had spoken to any one person in quite a while. For someone so used to manipulating others, Silence wasn't the most talkative of people in his own time.

"What I do know is that Michael was very much alive, though I dare not say well. I tracked the lab he was being held in down to a location just north of Jamestown, after uncovering some additional details from a less than voluntary doctor. From there it was simplistic to infiltrate the lab and break Michael out of confinement, and with a few pictures and words, to direct him like an arrow at Ms Desdemona. I suspect he will be with us soon in Lost Haven, using his newfound power to shapeshift into creatures to wreak a path of destruction. One that I have no doubt will force Ms Desdemona out of hiding." He paused one last time. "She is still in hiding, correct? I would hate to think this effort had been for naught."

He infiltrated a lab and broke him out? At the drop of a hat, he continued to impress her. She smiled as he summarized his success in sending Mr. Garth off to Lost Haven. It disappeared when he asked of her whereabouts.

"Colour me impressed, Lekh. Infiltrating a government facility and sneaking out one of their experiments with no time to prepare, I would find that difficult even with cheating security with illusions. Unfortunately..." She took a sip of water her brow furrowing. "While you and I have been abroad Racheli got herself into a high profile fight with a mercenary by the name of War-Pulse. Tore up Chinatown and dragged two other metahumans into the conflict. When the dust cleared an unknown third party swooped in and took her body aIway. No confirmation on who it was nor if she's still alive. Incredibly irritating."

She frowned replacing the glass on the coaster. "I believe the Syndicate is still searching for more clues while my own eyes are roaming for any signs of her."

"Thank you for those details. Mr. Garth's appearance in Lost Haven will hopefully draw her out or have this third party act against him." Her smile returned this time, more sinister than kind or gentle. Genuine. "Now armed with this invaluable information, I can finish the job. Make her pay."

A moment passed and she took a deep breath in through her nose shifting back to neutral. She was glad she kicked Bach out of the meeting, he would have surely had words for showing so much personal attachment again. Bach failed to understand how much Odette needed to ruin Racheli Desdemona.

"I assume now you would like questions about my world answered? I believe you've more than earned them."

Well, that was ominous Silence thought to himself, keeping his own face expressionless as he once again confirmed just how much Racheli seemed to aggravate the Ambassador. As for the other things, frankly, Silence was unconcerned. Rach meant nothing to him, she would either be caught, escape, or die.

"Yes, I do believe that was the term of our arrangement." He swirled his glass around for a moment longer, revealing the mark on his right hand as his arm dipped for a moment. He allowed his eyes to settle on the mark as if by chance, squinting with his brow furrowed."Something has been bothering me though, Ms Ambassador. When you marked me with this, you said I had but to speak your name and you would come to me, and yet I seem to remember a strange creature appearing in the back of my car without any such requirements being met." It wasn't a question, he wouldn't come right out and accuse this woman of anything, not here, and besides which he wanted to save his question for what he really wanted to know. Yet the unasked question still sat between the two of them.

Replying, a little sheepish casting her eyes away, "[color=thistle]I was afraid that would happen. Good help is so difficult to find. I do apologise for the unconventional courier. Goblins have a bad reputation for being impulsive.[/color" Then looked back to him. "Your memory serves you well. That is what I said. So, what is your question?"

"I sense whatever you're going to ask is going to be a bit more involved than the whys and hows of a goblin poofing about." She said her tone growing more serious.

"And an impressive capacity for finding people, it would seem." Silence replied, though there was nothing cheerful about it, his voice was like ice. "Still, I do have a question for you, yes. As you no doubt recall, when we first met you promised me an artefact of sorts to carry out an additional service, one that proved invaluable after our business was interfered with. The item in question was a healing salve, I believe that is what it would be called." He let his glass sit on the table, and leaned back in his chair."I need more, tell me, where can I acquire similar items of greater power than the salve you gave me?"

"Hoping to dip into the magical artefact's market? It's certainly not like drugs or smuggling weapons. But..." She tapped her chin in thought, The Barron came to mind immediately. The Broker mentioned bringing his undead criminals into the cabal but nothing was quite official yet. It would be up to Silence how well he managed against the undead and their market for moving magical items and how willing he was to ask for help.

"You have no doubt heard of the vicious new gang moving against the Syndicate yes? They're operating out of Las Vegas. The Barron is the head of this organization, an old and powerful Vampire. His ehm... associates are none other than the undead blood sucking creatures straight out of a nightmare. His organization capitalizes quite famously on their involvement in magical items." She went on, "I would suggest to carrying a litre or two of holy water."

"Something along those lines. I must admit, though I expected it to be a dangerous prospect, I would not have suspected the undead between my goal and I. Up until this very moment I had not the faintest idea that Vampires existed." Silence looked taken aback by this information, wondering just how many creatures from nightmare were out there abound in the world. Were meta-humans not enough?

"Still, it is fortuitous that the Syndicate is at odds with this Barron, perhaps it is time I spoke with the Cowl personally." And while doing so, use the distraction of a large scale assault on this organisation to achieve my own aims. "Is this all you can tell me in regards to such items, I assume you did not acquire your own from this Barron?"

"You assume correctly. I have other means of acquiring items like the salve on my own. I loathe to involve myself with the undead. But... If you are in need of my assistance against The Barron I am available. The Cowl, knowing him, he has some plans to defend his territory against The Barron." She offered, sincerely. It would be a shame if Silence was turned or bled dry.

"I have no doubt. So, to be clear, I will find items like the healing salve being transported by the Barron's people? But stronger, ideally?"

Odette about to reply paused then cocked her head at him, noting his focus on the healing salve. "I woud not know for certain. Hoping to find a magical cure all? I can't imagine it would be for yourself. You seem rather healthy." She said a small curious smile brightened her expression.

"Does such a thing exist?"

"There are a few things like that in existence, a few rare people with gifts of healing. You can certainly hope to find something like that among Barron's things. You would need to do some research to be sure. We both know you are rather skilled in research." She replied.

"This is a little out of my area of expertise, Ms Favre." He looked thoughtful, his fingers tapping the surface of the coffee table rhythmically. "Still, you have given me much to think on."

"As I said, I am available to assist. This is very much my area of expertise. A chance to snub the undead would be motivation enough for me. A push back, even." She commented eyes flicking again to the mark on his wrist.

"In that case I would gratefully accept your help, Ms Favre."

"Anything else you would like to discuss? Still under the terms of our arrangement, open and honest answers for your questions." She had prepared for this discussion. Knew the goblin's impulsive decision showed her hand too soon.

"I suppose there is something." His entire body tensed. "What else does this mark on my wrist do?"

Sighing through her nose she took a deep drink of water, brushing some hair behind her ear. "It's a bit more than just a mark. It's called a Soul Mark. I do admit that I placed it a bit hastily when we first worked together. I am a shameless opportunist." Letting out a little chuckle.

"However, Soul Marks are typically placed with a pre-prepared spell more often than not, a location spell. Allows the bearer of the mark to be exclusively tied to the spellcaster. In our case, I had no such thing prepared." She admitted and held out her hand.

"May I see your wrist?"

Hesitantly, the man passed his hand over to the woman, though his eyes were harsh with disapproval.

Gently she held his wrist and brushed the sleeve back to reveal the mark wholly, her eyes on the mark. It was lightly red and a small print of her thumb. "I used a small portion of my own magic to coat your soul to substitute for a customized spell. It..." She pursed her lips. "Gave me an idea of your general location at my will. While if you used the mark it would have given me a direct link to what you were seeing and much more specific idea of where you were."

Silence moved suddenly, interrupting her in the most direct way possible. He twisted his own hand to grab her wrist and released his aura, full force, as his left hand shot up from under the table with an iron knife in hand. As his right hand clamped around her wrist he yanked her toward him, drawing that knife towards her flesh.

His power hit her full force like a hammer of nausea, her mind scrambled. Her instincts reacted faster than her own thoughts and with her free hand she pressed the mark on his wrist. "Oh-... Words were immediately difficult. Willing with every ounce she nearly spat out her own name, "Odette Favre!"

The connection was instantaneous, through his eyes she saw herself frozen at the edge of an iron blade. Felt his thoughts racing now with confusion of her immediate invasion, but felt as if she'd been thrown into a raging storm the only sliver of stability was the Soul Mark. Overwhelming might have been an underestimation, she knew the mark was a mistake but activating it was so much worse. She had to sever it. Now.

Feebly she broke the connection forcing her own magic to sever the tether. "I! I was going to remove it!" Her breathing was heavy and her eyes wide with alarm.

Silence regained full use of his faculties and held that dull iron blade to the Ambassador's throat, keenly aware that for just a moment, he had all the power.

"Yes Ms Favre, I believe you may have, but now you will remove it because you have no choice, as I had no choice when I accepted it. Consider this a warning, Odette, I am not an ordinary man, never treat me as such again." He looked at her, his gaze unwavering as his aura saturated the very air around them, though very much invisible. As suddenly as it appeared, the knife slipped away into his sleeve and the room returned to normal, his aura safely trapped within the vaults of his mind.

She stared at him hard and her fists clenched. Jaw set. She held her wrist where he had gripped it, chewing, and gnawing, at the inside of her cheek.

"Now we sit as equals, you and I, and we will have trust if we are to continue to work together. You have seen what I am capable of, and I have seen what you are capable of. Will you work with me? Or can you only accept subservience in your associates?"

Standing up from the sofa he followed suit as well. He stood a little over an inch taller, she glared before pacing over to her purse, not saying a word. Tension knotted in her shoulders, stiff. She opened up her purse slowly, measured not to put Lekh back on edge. "Equals."

She tossed a small cloth case at him, "This was originally to soften the mistake and equalize our standings."

"I came into this meeting hoping to carry on under new..." She paused thoughtfully, "New terms. Wasn't expecting you to react so strongly." She rubbed her wrist, squinting. Her heart was still thrumming away and the effects of his aura felt cold.

Lekh caught the box as it was thrown over to him, but he made no move to open it immediately. "I have done my research, you associate with tricksters and liars, Miss Ambassador. I am surprised you have forgotten how it feels to be manipulated among such company. Perhaps you are the puppeteer, but do you wonder if some of your friends on the other side are perhaps using you?”

She pointed to the box, "Those will grant you the ability to see the likes of my tricksters and liars." She said venomously, not taking his comments in stride. "Without opening the floodgates to seeing the Fey full time. I worked rather hard on enchanting them. Get them appraised, throw them away, do whatever you like. I have repaid you in kind for the work." It was diffcult to hide her irritation. This wasn't going how she had imagined at all.

"I will get them appraised.”

Shutting her purse with a scoff, "Such arrogance, because you managed the upper hand today. It would be incredibly foolish to assume anything about the Fey ever again. Like that knife, you asumed I was Fey as well. Iron does nothing to me. I will assure you that I am in complete control of my power as you are in control of your own. Equals, remember?"

"The iron was for Bach, Miss Ambassador, as I expected him to be here. I assumed you would have guessed as much. I know you are very much human, Miss Ambassador, and carry those vulnerabilities with you. It must be strange, to associate with all these powerful creatures from beyond our world, and to be so assured that they will remain under your control. Control, Miss Ambassador." He laughed, genuinely, and it was a frightful thing. "No one controls true power, and if your control goes only so far as my own, then I doubt you fully understand the nature of your relationship with the fey. You are right that I know little of those creatures, but I do know power when I see it. What you have seen here is power that is at a loath to be controlled. My power. Remember it." And for god's sake, Odette, be careful with the monsters you make pact with, I still need you.

Odette licked her lips his laughter unsettled her, today she had seen Lekh at his most genuine and as irritated as she was at having lost the game it was quite the little thrill. She stepped around the coffee table again within a few feet of Lekh again, "I won't forget. You are not the first person to warn me against affiliating with Fey and I'm sure you won't be the last. Perhaps next time we meet will be in Paris, where you will get a better taste of my hospitality." Ending that as something warmer rather than threatening. Where things stood it was arguably better now. Now there was an understanding.

"Perhaps, Miss Ambassador. I hope at least that the next time we meet will be under friendlier circumstances. If you are still interested in striking a blow towards this Barron's organisation, please let me know. I can ensure that you receive a fair reward in what I manage to secure from the shipment. As you know, there is only one particular thing I have interest in." Silence sighed inwardly, but outside he remained stoic, all business. Those his words had taken on a warmer quality, his tone had not.

"As I said before, snubbing the undead is something that interests me. I am still willing to help with The Barron. I would rather not see this new friendship to be for nothing when you're bitten or bled dry by some upstart vampire." She couldn't help but chuckle, "It'd be rather embarrassing."

"Then teach me how to kill them, Miss Ambassador, so we can both avoid the embarrassment."

A few Words of Power summoned power of the Arcane Stream to envelope her hand, the final dregs of his aura disappeared immediately in the blue glow. "There is much to cover but I think today we can cover the basics." Odette gave him a knowing smile. Delving into the specifics, techniques, and lore it would be another few hours before they parted.

---

Marie let out a long sigh of exasperation after Barron’s departure, too mentally fatigued to notice the guardsman who had wandered in and left under the effects of Barron’s powers. She fell to her knees, burying her hands into her face and taking a moment to rest. All of her muscles were tense, this was the closest she had come to exposing herself. She lifted her head and swept back her hair just to do something with her hands.

A swift breeze passed over the group and when Marie’s eyes settled upon the wolves, a third had arrived. She bore a striking resemblance to the other girl. Assuming they must have been sisters or in some way related, Marie didn’t lash out at the newcomer.

Instead, she looked up and, in a rather sarcastic tone, asked, ”Anyone else?” It seemed that this was to be the final arrival for the moment, but it was imperative that those present remedy their immediate situation and remove themselves from the museum, lest the threat of exposure greet them once more.

Marie stood up and walked slowly over to Ben and the twins.

”I would love to make time for some proper introductions and other pleasantries, but with our luck some other other beast will come barging in here at any moment. We need to change him back into a human and get out of here before things escalate. I’ll explain the circumstances that led to Ben’s transformation once we’ve relocated.” Marie kept a level head as she spoke, knowing that the key to keeping Ben calm was to keep herself calm.

She looked at the twins, recalling the first’s earthen barrier and the gust of wind that come from the second’s arrival. ”I saw what you did back there, the stone wall. That you have some level of control over the elements means you’re no stranger to magic. I have a few magical skills at my disposal, one of them being a very limited power of compulsion that I used to delay Ben’s transformation. I’m hoping that I can tap back into that power enough to convince Ben’s human form to emerge.”

Marie turned from the twins and knelt down to Ben, gently extending her arm to cup his snout. She looked deeply into his eyes, calling to his human half. He had entered her mind before, a broken voice following a disheveled train of thought, but she had heard him nonetheless. Marie hoped that she could reach out to him through that connection they shared and lull the wolf back into its slumber.

Ben inhaled another deep whiff, ignoring Ji’s pa on his head. The scent was similar to Ji’s, but with a subtle difference. While Ji had a deep, earthen smell lingering throughout her wolfen musk, Yeong had a much different one. It made him think of a mountain breeze and complete opposite of earth. Both wolves were related and had shared a womb, so it made sense their scents had mingled since creation giving them a musk both independent and alike to each other. When the wolf mind actually acknowledged the biological link, he began to relax enough further. His interest satisfied for the moment, Ben jerked when Ji shouted at Yeong causing him to growl warningly at Ji for giving him a start.

Snorting in irritation, he turned about and shuffled toward Holt where he finally plopped down to lay down. As the twins began to bicker, Ben casted an eye roll in their direction. Not at all interested in sorting out his pack’s internal issues, he plopped down comfortably and crossed his forepaws over one another. He hadn’t noticed Marie had crumbled to her hands and knees until the movement of her hand flipping her hair caught his attention. Ben jerked his vision toward the witch, seeing her flip her hair back and gradually get up to walk toward his direction.

While he watched her draw closer, his tail wagged rapidly back and forth across his hind legs curled underneath him. His ears perked up excitedly and he couldn’t help but whimper for her attention. His figure had rose to all four and pushed his muzzle out to greet her hand reached out to him, slipped comfortably into the palm. A soft content growl erupted from his throat at her touch, his nostrils drank into her scent again.

Marie’s all seeing eyes looked deep into the new born wolf. At a glance, she would’ve missed it as with newly gain power revealed his true nature. Gradually a transparent image of Ben’s face overlapped the wolf’s, the animal’s bright eyes remained wide and alert while Ben’s stayed closed and dreamed away. As Marie reached deep with her magic, each word made to coax the human part to the surface, the transparent face began to become animated from the magic drifting upon him. Sensing Marie’s desire to bring out his inner human, hurt and rejected feelings filled the witch’s mind for a brief moment. It was then followed by the violent crack of bones, signalling Ben’s transformation back.

Once more flesh and blood decorated the floor when Ben’s wolf whimpered. His paw like hands gripped the ground tightly while fur split in places and fell off the reddish under skin, the mess collected underneath him. With one last howl, Ben collapsed completely exhausted, covered in blood and completely human.

“So, did you get all of that?” Will asked me after he had finished giving me a brief overview of the game that Ryoma was from.

“I think so.” I confirmed. Or at least I understood it as best as I could under the current situation. “I better jump in now because that Ryoma guy is giving my colleague a run for his money.”

“Just be careful.” Will advised me.

“Don’t worry. I will. Love you.” I responded back before hanging up and tossing the little device back towards Talus.

For the last several minutes, Odysseus and Ryoma had been locked into a stalemate. Their blades were flying about, and with each attack that was made by one of them, the other parried their foe’s movement. If I had not known better, I might have guessed that this entire duel had been choreographed beforehand. However, something suddenly changed the swung the momentum into the samurai’s favor. The red-garbed samurai paused for a moment. After that, some sort of purple light that appeared out of nowhere rushed toward Ryoma’s torso and then it irradiated away from him in a ring shape, like those around Saturn.

“May your blood crust my blade!” Ryoma shouted before he launched another attack. However, this time, the samurai slammed his foot into Odysseus’ stomach, which caught the Greek man of guard. Then, Ryoma raised his divine blade above his hand with both hands grasping the hilt and slammed it down upon his foe. Odysseus was quick enough to throw his sword up to protect himself, but it would not enough. Just like the force of a hammer that beat metal on an anvil, Ryoma’s sword crashed into Odysseus’ blade. An explosion of electricity accompanied the blow of the samurai’s sword, and the force of both threw Odysseus to the ground.

“You fought well, Nohrian.” Ryoma told Odyssey as he held the tip of his blade up to his foe’s neck. “So, as your reward, I’ll give you a soldier’s death. Quick and painless.”

Well, I guess this is when I need to jump in. When Ryoma raised his sword arm up in preparation of one last fell swipe, I rushed forward and grabbed his arm, preventing him from completing his swing. While I did get there in time, the armor I would kind of impeded my agility. It was not that the armor was heavy, since I have superhuman strength. Instead, I was just not used to wearing any sort of armor like it. And the heels. My God, who in their right mind would wear heels for running, let alone going off to war! But that’s enough of a rant about that.

“What the?” Ryoma was shocked when he could not break out of my grip.

“Alright, that’s enough of this whole ‘killing’ thing that everyone seems to have now a days.” When I saw Odysseus scrabble for his sword again, I glared out him. “That means you, too.”

“A Nohrian lecturing me on violence? Don’t make me laugh.” Ryoma continued to struggle against my hold on his arm.

“Yeah, yeah. Nohrians are pure evil and all Hoshidans have hearts made of gold. But do you really believe that siding against you doesn’t tear your brother’s heart?” From what Will told me, the protagonist of this game was forced to choose to go with one of their families, either his adopted one or his real family.

“Ever since he became the lap dog for that bloodthirsty kind of theirs who he calls father, I doubt that he can even feel any pain.” Ryoma, seeing that he could not move his arm, tried to pivot his wrist so that his sword might by chance nick me. In response to that, I repositioned my hand so that I had a better grip on the sword, too.

“Could he not be trying to at least keep one hand on the steering wheel when he sided with Nohr?” I think I might have to start using ‘us’ and ‘we’ while referring to Nohr. It probably would be more convincing that way.

“A steering wheel?” Ryoma asked. Great. I forgot that these characters are supposed to be from a pre-modern era. So there would obviously not be any cars.

“Um...one hand on the reins? What I mean is that he might trying to restrain Nohr from doing as much damage as it would have if he were not on our side.”

“If he really wanted to save his Nohrian siblings, he should have sided with us and spared them himself.” Ryoma countered. Well, I guess it’s time to use my last resort, even though the writers of this game made it incredibly contrived. I mean, who would have come up with this?

“Also, apparently King Garon has been transformed into a slime monster and Corrin needs a magical chair in your land to reveal it. And if he were to explain to anyone, he would instantly die.” Very contrived indeed. And quite convenient (or inconvenient, mattering on your point of view) that the main character cannot divulge some extremely important information.

“What?” I was pretty much expecting that type of reaction from the red-clad samurai. That was almost the same reaction that I had when Will explained the plot and lore of the game to me. “What sort of lie is this?”

“Do you really think that someone in the Nohrian royal family would call their father a slime monster?”

“Well, I suppose not.”

“And I know that it sounds crazy, but please trust me that it’s the truth. So, truce?”

“No tricks?” Ryoma asked again.

“None.” I peered down at Odysseus again, giving him a quick glare to make sure he doesn’t ruin everything I have done.

“Fine. Then we have a truce, then.” I released Ryoma’s arm after we came to a compromise. He then took his sword and placed it back into its scabbard.

We then heard a giant boom originating from the other fight that was happening, along with a bright flash of light. The giant cyclops that Gajana and the Son of Osiris had been fight, who was the target of that attack, crumbled to the floor, dropping the trident that had been in his hand.

“Hey, do you all need help over there?” Gajana called out to us.

“Um..I think we have everything under control.”

“Alright, I’ve finished it.” Talus announced before activating the cube that he had taken from the Game Genie while the mastermind behind the attack on Pacific Point was fleeing the scene. Even before the figure of the character had been completed, it began to dash towards the stairs and ascend up to the top floor where the Game Genie was waiting for the Blue Blur.

“And what is that supposed to do?” I asked, since Talus had not shed any light into his plan.

“Oh, you’ll see in a few seconds. Right about now.” Somehow, Talus timed it perfectly so that that the character that he had summoned dropped the Game Genie, who was now tied up with some ropes, on the floor in front of us and then run out of the doors. He was moving so fast that I could hardly tell what he looked like. Definitely blue, of course.

“Blast you, Blue Blur!” The Game Genie cried out in defeat. His black hood had fallen down while being carried down the stairs to the bottom floor, revealing that the villain was just a pale ginger. “I’ll defeat you one of these days!”

“Alright. Time to turn everything back to normal.” I commanded as I picked the Game Genie off the ground. For a few seconds, he tried to struggle, flailing his feet since I was hold him a foot or two of the ground. But when he saw he was beaten, the Game Genie finally gave up.

“Fine! The controls are in my cloak.” The Game Genie told us. Talus then searched the now-powerless villain and found a small tablet that the Game Genie had been using to run his operations. Immediately, Talus plugged himself into the device and began deactivating the video game characters and freeing all the people that the Game Genie had captured. Now that Talus had the controls, I dropped the Game Genie, who landed with a thud.

One by one, the video game characters disappeared. Ryoma dissolved into thin air and Selena and Beruka disappeared right after him. Even the character who had captured the Game Genie only had a few moments left to taunt the villain.

“You’re too slow!” The blue hedgehog mocked the ginger villain before dashing off again until his physical form was no more.

“What!” The Game Genie yelled. “That’s not the Blue Blur! That’s Sonic the Hedgehog! I’ve been bamboozled! This is so not fair!”

As the video game characters were erased from existence, something struck me. SInce Kyra and I were freed by Talus using the same method that the Game Genie utilized to summon all the video game characters in the first place, would that mean we would disappear, too? When I looked down at my feet and over at Kyra, we both started to become transparent as we began to fade away.

For a moment, I found myself back in the same place where I was trapped when I was captured. The dark abyss that had all the neon green ones’ and zeros’ strolling around in every direction. However, I didn’t have a long wait to return to the real world. I discovered that I was back where Kyra, the Son of Osiris, and I first encountered the cubes that started to capture the citizens of Pacific Point and storing them in digital prisons.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it is good to be back to ‘normal’, if being a drider somehow could be considered normal in the first place. While a skin-tight costume is definitely not the most fashionable outfit to wear, at least it beats that armor that I had been wearing. I mean, my superhero costume covers me from head to toe. Now I know that it could be worse

“Arachne!” I heard my name called out from behind me. When I turned around, I saw that Kyra, now dressed in her Firefox costume, hurrying towards me. Her nine fox tails trailed behind her as she dashed over here.

“Thank God that is over.”

“Well, it wasn’t that bad looking like a video game character. It was kind of like cosplaying, except a little more serious.”

“Says the one who did not look like a cross between a knight and a stripper.”

“Guess I was lucky, then.” Kyra smiled at me. Then, trying to change the subject, she started to speak about a more pertinent matter. “I probably should be heading back to city hall. That Game Genie guy must still be ticked that Talus tricked him.”

The doors swung open as Hound Dog led the three of them into the room, the video game characters who had caused soo much destruction had began to disappear however the City Hall was in ruins, walls crumbled and the floor had holes where clean tiles once sat. Hound Dog broke the celebratory silence by yelling.”Can we get some help over here, This Girl is wasted. Took some serious injuries.”

”I’m, fine. Totally.” She said slumping over across Dicken’s back as she struggled to maintain an upright posture. ”Although a Bandaid couldn’t hurt if I think about it, and maybe a bed. Or you know painkillers.” Her own stamina had nearly been exhausted adrenaline was the only thing keeping her body from passing out as her heart beat faster she patted Dickens along.

Hound Dog had more pressing concerns, this girl was clearly severely injured facing a wound that should have already bled out, she pushed through like it was a mere flesh wound but could tell she knew just how much pain she was in, one could see it through her expression as her colorful hair dangled in front of her eyes. “Hey, Coolio, you're the Immortals, seen you on TV. Before we get cozy and hit a diner for lunch, this Crazy Cat seriously needs some medical care, any of you have medical training?”

There was a plop as Eva finally passed out nearly falling onto the ground but Dicken’s tail was there to greet her while her arm went limp she began to lightly snore. Now that all the energy had been sapped from her body she could finally get a little rest.