---

Regal Square, Prince-Edfield_

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---

"They don't pay us, yeah..." Meifeng said, as she briefly looked at her fingertips, she appeared to be uninterested. "... But, remember, we gotta look good. And you can't put a price on that."

She laughed for a moment, before she took a quick look around... God, these events felt so empty without Cindy around. Well, a lot of things felt empty without Cindy, but after the death of Lihua, she couldn't stop for a moment to even appreciate these moments. She was so distant to her fellow RAVENS, she clenched her fist for a moment as the sheer frustration of it all got to her. But, then she realized what she was doing, then caught herself. She turned to face Reed, and kept smiling.

"Y'know, I'm going to get the weirdest-ass carnival food I can find, then we can split it!" Meifeng said, as she took steps towards the door. She heard of things like donut burgers, and fried butter balls (Yuck!), and wanted to try them. If that was the pinnacle of All-American cuisine, then she was going to try it. "And by the time I go see Lijuan, I've already vomited it all out. 'Kay? Bye!"

She was already out the door, and left a confused Reed questioning what Meifeng was even talking about.

Meifeng just decided to get some fresh air, as she marched through the stalls. Honestly, she also didn't want to deal with Maximilian Cornell, especially when it came to mind. She sighed as she walked. The situation with him was... complicated. Probably something that she needed to sit down, and have a talk over (And someone like Quentin or Reed needed to be the moderator).

Actually, Meifeng was going to go see Lijuan first. It wouldn't hurt, since the Lius are doing such a good job taking care of the youngest Zhao.

Audrey spotted the Chinese lady called Meifeng exiting the big building and strode towards her. Her hands were in her pockets, the cap on her head low as she walked in step with Meifeng. She raised her head and acknowledged her with a nod

"Agent Meifeng. It has been a while, babushka. Not since Verthaven have we seen each other. I hope you are well."

To say that the mix of emotions within her was confusing would be an understatement. On one hand, she was grateful to the government forces for the evacuation effort and for keeping the monsters of the Disaster at bay. Indirectly she owed her life to them. On the other, the loss of her friends weighed heavily on her heart. She wanted to give agent Meifeng a hug, then sock her in the face for abandoning those she considered near family.

At first, Meifeng was annoyed that somebody was interrupting her.

Normally, she would had ducked into a the crowd, and never mention any of it again. But, the mere mention of Verthaven... it made her stop on one foot, and turn around. She faced the stranger with a weary look in her eyes, and looked her up and down. She was big, but Meifeng wasn't intimidated. It wasn't about size, but how you used it. The woman was fairly old... Meifeng couldn't, for the life of her, recognize this weird woman.

"Sorry, ma'am," Meifeng tipped her ballcap, "Verthaven was ten years ago... you're gonna have to jog my memory."

With a raised hand, Audrey gathered the smoke from her cigarette into her palm and swirled it into a ball, no subtle use of her powers but small enough to not attract attention. The stream of smoke from the burning cigarette tip wove its way round her fingers and balled into her palm, before she released it into the air in a puff.

"Ten years ago, a NEST agent arrested two young men. Marcus Rowland and John Cole Sykes. They helped the agency fight the Hands of Science. I considered them my family in Verthaven. But now, they're dead. I'm all that's left of that little home I had there. In part, I have you to thank for, at least, helping the survivors out of the city."

This woman was feeding her a sob story while talking about something that Meifeng had no part of (the NEST part). She was a dumbass teenager back then, she had no part of NEST or anything that happened. In addition, this broad talked to her like she knew her! She probably only saw her on TV and thought that she was some omniscient God that had a part in all things RAVEN. She only rolled her eyes.

"Sorry, lady," Meifeng said, as she stared at the woman with a look of contempt. "But, you're barking up the wrong tree. I was just eighteen when Verthaven went down. I had nothing to do with NEST, or it's internal affairs."

That wasn't true.... when the shield went up, she was considered a defacto member of NEST during their attempts to get the hell out of there. She had no idea about Marcus, or John Sykes... while many of NEST activities were declassified, Meifeng just had better things to do (Like figure out just what the high hell just happened).

"And I guess..." Meifeng shrugged "... You're welcome?

"Not you? Hmm...must've been a young lady that looked just like you...the resemblance is uncanny, miss. Did you have any older siblings who were in NEST?"

A part of Meifeng got defensive the moment when she finally realized just who she was talking about (and another part of her wanted her to get her eyes checked).

"I know just who you're talking about;" Meifeng started off. "... My mother."

"Your mother...well she was an exceptional agent, miss."

Audrey sighed. Her saviour was this young lady's mother. A sore point for her. The whole situation became rather awkward, but she could sympathise with Meifeng; after all, she too was a mother. At the back of her mind, she wondered how her daughter was doing. Probably better than she was, drifting between jobs and friends and homes. But...she couldn't imagine a world where she was missing from her daughter's life. She couldn't imagine the phone call that would ensue if she'd died in Verthaven. The tears that'd inevitably follow. She could only imagine what it was like for her.

A hand dove into her back pocket and produced a worn brown leather wallet. From within one of its folds, she pulled a dog-eared business card for her cafe. With a hand, she gave it to Meifeng.

"I'm sorry, agent Meifeng. I didn't know, but I owe your mother my life. Come by my cafe if you're looking for a less...expensive place to eat. For you, on the house. It's the least I can do to honour your mother."

Meifeng shrugged.

The way she speaks implies that she knows Lihua's dead... maybe I should keep an eye on her. Meifeng thought to herself as she stared the woman down. She briefly looked at the card she received, and raised an eyebrow. She was going to head there later, after work was over.

"Yeah, I'll swing by, Miss..." Meifeng tried to get her name.

"Audrey Novalik. But everyone calls me Aura."

I'll be sure to look up that name, later.

Meifeng nodded her head.

"I just have much work to do here," Meifeng said as she started to walk away. Reed was probably wondering what in the hell she was doing if she took this long... maybe she'd get Reed that nasty food she wanted to, then go find Lijuan.

That girl needed whatever love and support she could get after Lihua's death...

"I shall leave you be then, agent. Come visit me in my café if you have the time."

With a tip of her cap, Audrey vanished into the crowd, the only thing visible being the glow of her cigarette, before that too melded into the lights of street lamps and phones. Her work here, apart from nabbing one more greasy chili dog, was done.

---

---

---

After putting distance between herself and that shitshow, Wendy was leaving the whole festival. They stood outside the brick gates, and Wendy leaned up against the walls, and looked at the boy. He didn't seem like a bad guy, though she wondered what was what with the DOVE symbol on his shirt. He looked waaaaaaay too young to be a DOVE, unless he was apart of some deal... and, while this was a bit mean, he lacked the confidence to be a DOVE. He was awkward, dorky, as she was about four or so years ago. That was what appealed to the butterfly in a way.

"So... I'm Wendy," Wendy introduced yourself, "I'm... someone who just came back into town. Nice to meet you...?" She tried to probe for his name.

"I'm Rein. Pleasure to meet you too," the Chinese boy replied, right at the moment where Wendy had trailed off. He also caught her staring at his shirt, probably curious about the DOVE symbol and lanyard.

What a funny little name. Wendy thought to herself. "Nice to meet you."

"And... um, I'm just a volunteer for this," Rein then explained, fiddling with the lanyard strap. "Most of the students from the academy are here as... 'free labor' for DOVE, yeah." Then he shrugged, and turned his attention to the older woman and another guy next to Wendy with raised eyebrows.

"They are...?"

"This is Rowan... he's a close friend of mine," Wendy said, as she pointed at the close and personal friend of hers. Before she turned her attention to Kumiko. "And this is Kumiko, my mother."

"All the cool kids call me Kumi."

"So you're not really with DOVE?" The same guy asked, raising an eyebrow, "Guess they had to rope the academy folks into something."

In which Rein merely shook his head to reiterate his point.

"Well, that makes sense," Wendy said, and awkwardly looked away for a moment as if she expected Cindy to pop out at any given moment. "DOVE always liked doing that with the students, hehe..." She scratched the back of her neck awkwardly for a moment here. Thankfully, they probably didn't care about Wendy anymore - that, or Rein had no idea who Wendy was. Both worked in her favor.

Kumiko leaned up against the wall with her arms crossed, the chains that hung from her hips rattled for a moment there. "And go on with your conversation, kids. Don't mind me."

Wendy nodded her head. "Now that you're acquainted with us," She started off. "I have to say, even though it was... kind of pointless, you were still brave for speaking out against those assholes... I just hope that a night in a jailcell will even them out."

"...I guess," was all Rein could say. Those two men must have been on bad terms with each other even before Kannix swiped away the hat. That girl was just the catalyst, the perfect excuse for those two childish, uncivil hotheads to start a cat fight in the middle of a supposedly peaceful event. People like them constituted to more than ninety percent of the conflict between humans. He let out a small sigh at that thought.

"I think we're safe here," he said, glancing around. Wendy was right - let the actual DOVE and RAVEN agents to handle that situation. Sometimes avoidance would work better and help to resolve the issue quickly than being stubborn over it, only to make the matter even worse.

"Yeeeeeeeeeeah, really safe," The words 'we're safe' really struck Wendy as DOVE would probably want a nice long talk with her and Rowan. One that she would probably want to avoid. At all costs. "We have nothing to worry about-"

Rori had followed the four out of the festival, but not wanted to interrupt the conversation and just circled overhead. They still didn't want to interrupt but, well, their wings were getting pretty damn tired. It wasn't like they were planning to actually interrupt or anything. Sighing internally Rori dropped down, pulling in their wings and silently landing square on Wendy's shoulder in bird form. Wendy was a gasp, her speech completely came to a halt when the bird landed on her shoulder. She was frozen, afraid to move or else she would scare away the bird. This was like a beautiful moment... she felt like a Disney princess.

"Woah, shit!" Rowan exclaimed, and brought Wendy's attention over to him. As there was only one thing on her mind.

She reached inside of her satchel slowly as possible not to disturb the bird, and pulled out her camera, and she extended it to Rowan. Rori stood perfectly still, turning their head to look at Wendy curiously.

"...Take a picture," she commanded him. "Quick! This is a one in a lifetime shot!"

Rein watched the frantic shuffling between Wendy and Rowan - who seemed more like her boyfriend than a mere close friend - with amusement, before turning his attention to the bird on Wendy's shoulder...

Curious. Rein could feel that this was no ordinary bird - his power only worked on humans - but he chose not to say anything. He contemplated about leaving them behind to whatever they were doing, maybe to look for Kannix, but he wasn't close with that girl anyway.

He glanced around again, wondering what he should do now...

Fumbling with the camera, Rowan his stomach tense as he recalled just how seriously Wendy took her photography and the last thing he wanted to have done was ruin a perfect shot. Raising it up, he eventually managed to line up a good shot of both Wendy and the strange bird that had perched itself on her shoulder. After a moment's pause, he took a snap, taking absolute care not to let the slight trembling of one's hands or allow the magnetic interference that he was occasionally prone to give off ruin the shot. "Got it." He exhaled with relief, the coils in his stomach unwinding.

Rori stayed in bird form as the picture was taken, but once it was done they hopped off Wendy's shoulders and flew over to the side. In a few moments they had changed back into a human midair, having to flap their now longer wings while in this form to land (not without stumbling as their feet touched the ground). "So was it a good photo, huh? I like to think I'm pretty photogenic as a bird!" They grinned, folding in their wings tight against their back. They were still a nuisance but with them folded Rori could at least move closer to the other three without hitting them. "Sorry that it wasn't an actual bird." Rori ran a hand through their auburn hair with an apologetic look shot towards Wendy.

"Long time no see, though, Wendy!"

The bird that turned into a human being would had been a surprise for Wendy... if she wasn't very familiar with the ability. She looked at the woman with a raised eyebrow, before her mouth went agape.

"...Rori!" Wendy loudly said as she ran over to Rori, and tightly hugged her. Rori hugged her back just as tightly. "I haven't seen you in so long... we have so much catching up to do."

Wendy was going to keep this sentiment to herself, but she had the fleeting suspicion that Rori was a victim of the Founding Family's human conversion programs. Rori did disappear after the Founding Family, after all... or was it Wendy that disappeared? It didn't matter.

"I'm... sorry I didn't keep in touch, and that I left Baybridge without a word..." She awkwardly looked off to the side, and chewed on her nails, "But so much happened that... I just needed time."

"Don't worry about it," Rori shrugged. "I can understand needing time and all. I've hardly been about Baybridge the last few years, anyway, what with school and all. I think it was both of us, yeah?" They smiled again. "I was hoping to bump into you, or someone else, at this rally! Looks like I was pretty lucky."

"I... am just glad to see you again," Wendy answered as she looked towards Rowan, for a moment. "... I kind of left the Academy program, because I've been seeing the world with him."

"Wow," Kumiko said to herself. "Didn't know you had a girlfriend." She snickered underneath her breath.

It took a few moments, but eventually Rowan recognised Wendy's old avian friend - one neither of them had seen in three years. "Hi, again." He said, idly waving at Rori.

Rein wasn't surprised at all when the bird transformed into a girl roughly around - or maybe even slightly older - than his age. He had seen that coming, though with how the other three were too busy fussing over the newcomer (or old friend, from the looks of their interaction), no one seemed to have noticed his odd calmness at this scene. He opened his mouth to try and greet this stranger, but closed it in the end and simply went with a curt nod.

"I'm glad to see you again too." Rori bit their lip, unsure how to respond to the second thing that Wendy said. Or what Kumiko said. It wasn't normal for them to be lost for words. Instead they didn't say anything, and waved to Rowan. "Hi!"

"It's great to be back in Baybridge... when I personally never thought I'd even be coming back here..." Wendy turned around as a gust of wind hit her and blew her hair and dress all over the place. "I only came back because I'm looking for someone..."

"Well, I'm pretty happy that you came back - I wouldn't have gotten to see you otherwise," Rori shrugged. "If you don't mind me asking... Who exactly are you looking for?"

"Well..." Wendy awkwardly looked at Rori, as she reached into her satchel, and pulled out a hefty book. One that was filled with research notes, and whatnot. "A man called Sean Rosier... he was a scientist."

Well, that was underselling it... both her interest, and the man's talents.

"Not just any scientist, but he specialized in dimensional travel. He was close to actually doing it when he disappeared... I want to find him, or the rest of his work, and finish it."

"Ooooo," Rori hopped forward, closer to Wendy, and tilted their head down to look at the book. Not that it was their kind of thing, especially if it was filled with research, but they were curious anyway. "Never heard of him, and I don't know anything about science... but it sure sounds interesting! Dimensional travel, huh." Rori's strange, yellow-brown eyes widened. "I wonder what different kinds of dimensions there are. I hope that you manage to finish his work and find out."

"Well..." Wendy said. "...Are you busy, Rori?"

"Not at all." Rori grinned again as they got an inkling as to why Wendy was asking. "Just art and music, but I don't have a job so I'm as busy as I want to be."

"Well... would you like to help me- help us, I mean, find this man?" Wendy tried her best to convince Rori. "There won't be no danger attached. Though, there miiiiight be a few pissed off DOVEs after us... heh. But, you don't have t-"

"...Pssst. Earth to Wen," Kumiko finally chimed in, nodding her head at the academy kid... with a DOVE logo on.

"Oooooooooh, yeah," Wendy said to Kumiko, as she turned towards Rein. She was so caught up in the moment that she forgot that he was even there! Well, she might as come clean. "Could you like... not tell DOVE or anyone that we were here. Remember when I mentioned we left the Academy?"

"I'll help," Rori quickly replied, before Rein got a chance. It didn't take much convincing - it sounded fun to them, and they didn't have anything more important to do. After responding Rori didn't say anything else, turning to look curiously at the boy that they didn't recognise at all.

Finally getting the attention from the older teens (and woman), Rein twirled his finger around the lanyard strap again, averting his eyes from their stare. Though, Wendy's plea struck as odd to him. Why would she make such a request? Did she do something wrong that got herself on DOVE's wanted list?

The thought pushed the nervousness he felt from their attention away, and now it was his turn to look at Wendy in the eye - not with suspicion, but with pure curiosity.

"I don't have a reason to tell DOVE about you guys, since I don't remember you doing anything wrong from our short encounter so far," he began, his voice surprisingly clear and steady for a meek boy like him. "But I am curious why you're trying so hard to avoid them. Leaving the Academy is one thing, but that isn't serious enough for you to be afraid of them like this."

"Well..." Wendy looked off to the side, she played with her fingers. "You know that deal some kids get? Y'know, the whole 'go to the academy, so we don't send you to prison' deal?"

Then she realized that made her sound really bad. "Oh, no, I don't mean I did anything serious-" That librarian had it coming. "I just... trashed a library with my powers when I was young and stupid, heh..."

"Yeah, same deal, I guess." Rowan muttered, after a moment's hesitation, earning him a brief glance from Wendy before she focused her attention on Rein. "As for why we left... well, I don't feel comfortable talking about that right now."

"Hmm..." Rein considered the chorus of reasons that Wendy and Rowan tried to give, and his brows furrowed a little, wondering if this was how the people here speak. To talk in circles. Not like he had the right to comment on it either. Everyone has their own secrets to keep.

"...Alright. I'm sorry if I sounded like I'm poking too much, but, well... you know." He glanced behind him, tilting his head in the direction where they came from - where they ran away from the dumb fight just now.

Which brought him to the next question, something about what Wendy said to the avian girl. "I heard you saying something about this 'dimensional travel'." He was looking between the three older teens, his eyes shining with intrigue. "I'm interested to know more about it." There were many mysteries about Metahumans and their superpowers that were yet to explore, to discover. Including the abilities his family possessed. While fearful of its dangerous potential, maybe through better understanding it could help to find a purpose for having such a power.

"Oh, really?" Wendy was surprised about it. "I mean... I can show you this book sometimes, there's a lot of interesting stuff on it."

Wendy nodded her head. "But, the problem is that the information is... incomplete. Someone else has the rest of it, and I'm hoping to find out who has it."

She looked at the book for a moment. "If you're willing to help, then that's great."

"Wow, Wen," Kumiko finally chimed in after much silence (she didn't feel like she had a place talking to all these youngins'). She walked over to her daughter, and slapped a hand on her shoulder. "Aren't you a bonafide leader now?" She laughed, as Wendy laughed too (but awkwardly). "As much as I respect your leadership, heh..."

She leaned in close to Wendy's ear, and said.

"You still have a lot to learn."

Wendy, however, had another idea in mind. She looked at the camera for a moment, and shifted it around in her hands to look at it from different angles. She looked at her group.

"...Want to take a group shot to commemorate this moment?"

Rori nodded fervently. "A group photo sounds perfect - it's exactly what we're meant to do in these situations, right?" They grinned, shifting their weight onto another foot and unfurling their wings slightly. "Lets do it!" One of her wings was on Rein's shoulder, signaling that he had to join this awkward unfolding of events - which put a stop to any thoughts he might have to excuse himself from getting his photo taken.

Wendy smiled for a moment, as she raised her camera in the air. Being the tallest of the group made this quite easy as she angled it juuuuust right to get everyone in. Kumiko had thrown the peace sign all the way in the back. Rowan stuck his head behind her, and threw some gesture as she closed her eyes.

"... Smile!"

Wendy pressed the button, and this moment was forever kept in her camera! The time when she gathered her own team to tackle this conspiracy. She had the utmost faith that they could do it.

They were going to accomplish great things.

---

Regal Square, Prince-Edfield_

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---

Yeah, real small world.

Too bad they had to meet under such shitty circumstances, but that was the way the cookie crumbled. The way these things went, Jackson would probably get a slap on the wrist. After all, this was (likely) his first offense. Francis would see to it. As for the other man... his rap sheet looked fairly long. Though, he wasn't sure if Jackson was telling the truth. Despite the fact that they were friends, Francis wasn't here to see it for himself. So he knew that it couldn't take things at face value.

"It's okay, Jackson," Francis started off as he carted the taller male off to the car. "I'll get things sorted out fast as possible, promise."

Jackson was finally placed in the back of a police cruiser.

"In the meantime... just be patience, and let bureaucracy take it's course."

Hopefully Jackson won't get beaten up or anything, but right now RAVEN had to do damage control. The rally was ruined!

---

Siberia, Russia_

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---

"Brrrr!" Megan covered her chest with her arms as she walked behind the massive woman in a cloak. "It sure is cold up here! How do you live out here!"

Ada didn't respond, and merely shook her head as she continued forward towards the destination... the Coven. They were approaching a large mountain, and Ada seemingly walked into it, and disappeared. That left Megan standing there, as the mighty Verschlinger disappeared into thin air! Before a cloaked arm poked through the "mountain" and her hand gestured for Megan to come along. The woman slowly but surely stepped inside of the "mountain," and realized that it was nothing but an illusion.

Inside the illusion was a large mansion that looked a little bit like a medieval castle, with power and lights and everything! But from where? Well, Megan was never one to ask unnecessary questions, and Ada's power was vast... and it wasn't important as Ada opened a door, and held it open for her. Megan quickly scurried inside.

Wow! This place was incredible! Well furnished and everything! Reminded her of the Academies she used to teach in... ahhh, those were the good old days! But, now, she had to get to work. There was a large amount of young women marching through the halls of the place, which served as a further reminder of the Academy, but there was a question in Megan's mind.

"So, these kids are your new Coven?" Megan said.

"Yes, Megan... but, the Coven has changed..." Ada sighed as she looked down. "... I am merely guiding young Magi, and nothing else."

"But, that has to change, right?" Megan implored, "With all these Metah- Magi here, especially the ones you so graciously 'rescued' from the Founding Family, you could do some good for a change."

"They are inexperienced... but, I must decide where I am going to stand..." Ada said as she walked through a door, and there was a large dinner table before her and Megan (who was peering over Ada's shoulder). There were many dirty plates, even some with food on them. Somebody was collecting plates... a young woman that had no be no older than twenty-five. With... large, brown, reptile-like claws for hands and feet (but no other features). She was European in facial features, and had brown hair neatly tied into a ponytail.

"Adora," Ada said, "We need to return to Baybridge...."

She approached the woman, who seemed nervous about leaving.

"... The sisters will take up your duties while you're gone."

"Yes, Ada," Adora said, as she quickly whipped around with a claw raised up into the air. She slashed downwards, and "cut" the air itself. Large tears in reality floated in front of her face that looked brutal and reckless as an animal. She stepped aside as Ada stepped up, and sighed.

"Are you ready Ada?" Megan said as she cheerily skipped past Ada, stood in front of her.

Ada sighed.

"Let's not waste anymore time."

Ada pushed Megan aside as she stepped in - whom hopped in after Ada. Then Adora climbed in.

What this means for Baybridge is not currently known.

---

---

---

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DOVE/RAVEN Joint East Coast Headquarters, White Coast_

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---

Headquarters was alive this day.

Maximilian called a majority of RAVEN to the meeting room for an urgent mission, and Meifeng knew that when that happened, real shit was about to go down. Shit like the Beast of Prague, and the Founding Family. She ran through the halls of headquarters fast as she could, since she wasn't going to miss this for anything. She threw open the doors of the meeting room to see Francis and Maximilian. She looked at the two of them, as the room started filling up with people.

"Okay," Maximilian said, as he leaned back in his chair. "Agent Jean-Pierre found a major lead on the Devil case." He nodded his head at Francis, and the Caribbean man took scene.

"My team and I have tracked the sole piece of the Devil here in Baybridge," Francis said as a projector image appeared of Baybridge. It zoomed in on Oakdell harbor. "It is currently being held by the Russian mafia presence in Baybridge."

Meifeng crossed her arms, as she leaned up against the wall. Russian mafia, eh? Most people thought they were only villains in the movies, and TV shows, about crime and other bullshit. But, to her knowledge, the Russian mafia has a lot of Metahumans. In fact, she heard that a majority of Russian Metahumans go into a life of crime. The problem here? Is when the Russian mafia imports their metas to the states, and they become a pain in the ass for her. She fought a few of their goons, and it wasn't pretty. It was almost like they don't know fear.

But, what in the all are they doing with pieces of the Devil?

"But, they're planning on selling it to somebody overseas... going off shipping notes, Russia," Francis said as he shrugged, going through his notes. "'Course, that isn't going to go as planned, as we are going to go in, and eliminate them, and retrieve the Devil's body."

"This is a RAVEN priority," Maximilian said. "We are collaborating with the BPD, and many other government agencies... but we won't be heading this operation..."

He looked at his RAVENS.

"Any questions?"

---

Rosalyn Street, Silver Hills_

---

---

Since what happened at the rally, Daniel spent the next day to himself. Maximilian was disappointed, but that was how these things went. He couldn't get caught by the Valos family. He knew that they would want revenge in one way or another. He sighed, and lied down on his bed as he stared at the ceiling. He couldn't lie here forever. He had to take what Shizuka said into account.

Embrace your past.

He sighed again, and got off the bed. He looked down to see he was wearing a t-shirt, and sweat pants. He didn't take a shower since this morning. He really should take better care of himself. Daniel ran a hand through his hair, as his phone buzzed and shook for a moment. He reached over to his nightstand, and looked at it.

And ooooh boy. It was Penny again.

Daniel, I made a breakthrough!

Get your white ass over to my joint

we don't know who could be listening right now

Uuuugh. Maybe Daniel will stir from his den for this. Besides, if he didn't go, Penny would blow up his phone... then start breaking his windows again. He sighed, as he ran towards the shower in the apartment, and by the time he came out, he was squeaky clean. One habit that the Founding Family put into his skull (the one lesson he probably won't forget) is to take care of yourself. Look clean and presentable at all times.

And present himself to a girl who probably couldn't care less.

---

DOVE/RAVEN Joint East Coast Headquarters, White Coast_

---

---

Well, that was a load of bullshit. Mr. Fruity McGayGay steals his hat, then got good old Johnny arrested. Thank God that Johnny didn't have any guns on him... that would be awful. Next time, Johnny was going to shove his pistols of Michael Cera's ass. Well, he probably wasn't going to ever come across him again.

He's probably busy getting double ass blasted by Bubba and Tiny at the same time.

Yeah, that'd be great. As he lied on this comfortable ass prison bed, with nothing to do but play with his thumbs. No hat. No swag. No nothing. His balls probably stank like no tomorrow! Johnny needed to take a shower twice a day, get a fresh change of clothes, and some high classed bitches, every twenty four hours! Actually, how long can the bird-brains detain him? The second they realized that Johnny was a Meta, police and RAVEN traded him. Not that RAVEN prison was any better.

Actually, nobody charged him with shit. How long are they going to keep him imprisoned?

The cell doors opened, and Johnny hoped that it was Gabe, Jake, or whoever, ready to get them out of here. It was two RAVENS, and Johnny grinned.

"Why hello there, officer!" Johnny loudly said. "Am I free to go?"

"Yes, someone posted bail for you," The RAVEN said, and Johnny didn't even hesitate to hop off the bed.

"See ya later, suckers!" Johnny said as he just about stormed out the door, but the armored RAVENs stopped him. "Don't go out and cause anymore trouble, okay? We'll walk you to the door."

Johnny rolled his eyes, and mumbled under his breath, "The jackass out there started it." Before they walked out, and Johnny was escorted to the lobby. Well, who posted his bail? Johnny looked around, and saw Gabe leaned up against a wall. She saw him, and walked over to him.

"Yo, Gabe, you coul-"

And before Johnny could finish that sentence, Johnny was seeing stars! He stumbled back a few steps, before he caught his balance, and processed the flash of pain.

"... You jackass!" Gabe hissed at him as the RAVENs and DOVEs in the lobby looked at them. "Could ya' use your damn head for once?! You got Jake arrested trying to save your ass!"

"Well, I never asked for help-" Johnny said before he got another punch by Gabe. "Would you stop hitting me!?" He shouted. He looked at Gabe, and saw the red aura of anger around her... he could feed off it if he wanted to, but decided against doing so. He didn't want to get pissed off, and feed into a cycle of stupid anger.

"I'll keep hitting you until you get the point into your head!" Gabriela said, before she took a step back, and crossed her arms. "My God... we're not here to do stupid shit, y'know! Remember them!"

Gabriela whipped out her cellphone, and went through the gallery and pressed the Valos family portrait that was taken all those years ago. When they were all lil' kids. Jaska was a lil' bit, Jake was trying to be professional, and composed. Johnny was even throwing up a gang sign! She pointed at Ivete, and Camille at the far end, with their shoulders on each other's backs.

"We're not kids anymore, Johnny!" Gabe shouted at Johnny, and he realized that her emotional aura changed to a heavy sorrow. Blue... she felt blue about what happened. "We have to save them!"

And it hurt so much, Johnny clenched his fist. Those memories he had of Sylvia... he didn't want them to end on this note. When he opened his eyes, he placed his hands on Gabe's shoulders, and said,

"Look... I'm sorry, Gabe," Johnny apologized. "I'm sorry for all of it. I promise... I won't do anything stupid like that again... promise."

"I'm glad to hear that..." Gabe said... and her aura turned green (for amusement). "... Because while your candy ass was in jail, me and the others got shit done."

"Shit, really? Tell me about it, oh Gabriela."

---

"So, we just gotta find this bitch Linda?" Johnny asked as he marched down the stairs of headquarters next to Gabe. "Heh? Heh?"

"Yeah..." Gabriela said, as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "According to Miranda's notes... she was a former head scientist on a biiiig project. Not only that, she sucked the dick of the Founding Family to further her own ends."

"Disgusting!" Johnny said. "Whoever sucked their dicks should get themselves checked out!"

Gabe rolled her eyes.

"Also according to the notes, she likes to attend to a White Spider Society club in Strongriver Plaza," Gabriela said, as she stopped on the last stair.

"Uuuuugh, the society?" Johnny rolled his eyes. "Please, oh please, don't tell me we have to deal with those weirdos."

Papa Valos did a lot of work with the good old White Spider Society. The Valos co-own many of their clubs... but that didn't make relations between White Archne's family, and Jason's, any good. Fact, they probably won't even let Johnny in the club for what he did in Philly. Somebody's gonna be pissed about that for the rest of their lives. It ain't gonna be Johnny.

"We're gonna have to deal with them regardless... just for one night." Gabe shrugged. "And for the love of all that is holy, do not pull what you pulled in Philly."

Johnny's white hummer rolled up, and he looked at the vehicle... in the front seat was Jake, fully dressed to go clubbing. With Lin in the passenger seat, and he can only presume Jaska in the back.

"Hey, wait..." Johnny said. "How did he get out before me?"

"Well..." Lin shrugged her shoulders. "... my father pulled a favor to get you all out."

"... Just that I thought you needed a little time out." Jake grinned cockily. "That's all."

"Nig-" Johnny shouted, before a gym bag hit him, and he caught it. He looked up the car, and Jaska had threw it at him.

"Picked out clothes and everything for you, Johnny!" Jaska said.

"Now get in... we have work to do."

Johnny just shrugged his shoulders, and decided to be the bigger man. He just walked towards the video with an indifferent look on his face.

They had too much work to do.

---

---

Aaron Chandler woke up at six AM to the gentle buzzing of his alarm. He sat upright and took in a deep breath. Sunlight streamed into the room through the slats of the wooden blinds. Gently he untangled himself from his sheets and slipped into his moccasins. The old wooden floor creaked as he stood and looked around the small square bedroom. He turned to the bed and ripped the sheets off to be washed. He folded them carefully, placed them in the hamper, and then pulled a second set of sheets, this one a nice wine color, out of a chestnut drawer.

After replacing the sheets, he walked into the bathroom, where he urinated and then showered in cool water. Some days, Aaron wished he could take hot showers like he did when he was a kid, but it was one of those pleasures of life that he knew he could live without. After showering, Aaron stepped out of the shower, meticulously dried himself off, and brushed his teeth for exactly two and half minutes. He flossed, rinsed with mouthwash, and then washed his face with cold water. He dressed in a white button-down shirt, a tweed vest, and khakis. He left his bedroom and walked down the main hallway of the rectangular flat to the kitchen, where he fried up two eggs and a pancake. Aaron used to use bacon as part of his morning routine, but he decided he was going to cut some red meat out of his diet to better his life expectancy. As he sat down for breakfast, Aaron turned on the radio to 105.7, The Baybridge Sound. As usual, the most popular morning talk show in Baybridge came in through the crackling radio speakers.



The radio suddenly cut out into a storm of static. Startled, Aaron dropped his fork and dove for the radio. He fiddled with the antenna for a few moments and turned the knob back and forth until the radio cut back in.

“This goddamned radio,” Aaron muttered. “I should really go buy a new one.” He finished his breakfast silently, with the radio humming in the background.”



Aaron turned off the radio and put his dishes in the sink. He washed them in hot water and placed them carefully onto the drying rack. He left the kitchen, slipped into his brown oxfords, and turned off every light in the apartment. As he walked down the stairs to the first floor of his building, he crossed off a day on his calendar with a black sharpie. This was the 695th day in a row that he’d lived his life following almost that exact morning routine. Thinking about that made Aaron quite satisfied.

At 8:20 AM, Aaron walked out of the back door of The Chandlery and walked to church. He attended the 8:30 AM mass at St.Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church. He sat in the third row, in the same spot that he sat in every week. When church was over, he took a bulletin and walked back to the store to open up shop. He read the church bulletin on his way home.

---

The rest of the morning passed in the exact same way that it had for the last 695 days, barring holidays and one three-day vacation trip to San Francisco. He walked into his shop, said good morning to Katie, his cashier. She was a slim, tall blonde-haired woman who shared Aaron’s dislike of large spaces and large amounts of people. From the bottom of the stairs, he turned left and walked into his workshop.

The Chandlery, as the store was called, was a small candle store on an old commercial street in Roseview. It was wooden and rustic, with beige walls and walnut floors that were impeccably clean. The store was long and rectangular, about fifteen feet wide and twenty feet long, with walls covered in cabinets and shelves that held dozens of different candles. Every candle in the store was beautifully designed, covered in beautiful engravings or in well-made mason jars. Several small tables in the interior of the room held wax sculptures and metal candle brackets. The front was glass, with wooden double doors and a small canopy over the front. The words “The Chandlery: Homemade Candles and gifts” hung over the canopy in silver cursive letters.

Aaron walked into his workshop and took out a yellow legal pad from a drawer. The workshop was roughly square and was impeccably clean, with everything in its exact place. A long marble countertop stretched the center of the room and covered the exterior of the room. At the end of the counter in the middle of the room, a laptop held the list of orders that needed to be completed today. Most of these orders were from rich citizens of Baybridge who wanted custom candles for their homes or from societies who wanted candles for banquets. There were five custom orders today, a grand total of one hundred candles that needed to be custom-made. Aaron took a large block of wax out of a cupboard near the door and sat it down on the countertop. One hundred candles of this detail would take him...an hour, maybe two.

The store stayed open from 11 to 6, just as it did every Sunday. The day was exactly as Aaron expected it to be. He worked until noon making candles, finishing all of the custom orders in the process, and ate a turkey sandwich in his kitchen at exactly noon. During lunch, he listened to the radio and looked out of his kitchen window at the landscape of Roseview. His store was on a busy street just east of Rosemaple Lake, so when he ate every day he could watch the waves bob the boats up and down on the small lake. After lunch, he went back downstairs and worked on stock for the shop for two hours, making about one hundred-twenty candles to add to the stock. Everyone he knew, from employees to regular customers, were absolutely baffled by the speed at which Aaron worked. No one knew his true secret, of course, as he didn’t talk about it, but some customers had figured it out over time.

For a few hours, he worked the cash register while Katie stocked shelves and cleaned the store. A few regulars came in, to which Aaron said hello and talked with briefly, and some new faces showed up to browse the shop’s impressive selection of wares. He talked with one or two of them briefly who complimented his craftsmanship, and only dodged one question all day about how he made candles so fast. It was the kind of calm and predictable day that Aaron loved to have.

At six PM sharp, Aaron turned the sign on the door from “opened” to “closed”. Katie left through the back door a half hour later, after she and Aaron cleaned the shop. Aaron left the front door of the Chandlery at 6:51 PM, locked it behind him, and walked down to The Cool Beans, a small coffee shop on the corner of the street. Like The Chandlery, it was a rustic and well-kept place, with wooden walls and mason jars filled with freshly-baked organic cake pops. He sat in his usual seat in the corner, just past the storefront window, and had his usual medium green tea latte. He browsed Reddit while he drank his coffee in pleasant, relaxing silence. Little did Aaron know that this latte would mark the beginning of the worst night he would have in the last 696 days.

7:05 PM

At The Cool Beans worked a woman named Lily. Lily was a short pale redhead, a college hipster who worked part time on weekdays to pay for her graphic art degree at the Roseview College of the Arts. Lily also had a crush on Aaron Chandler, and today she would finally get up the courage to make a move and ask him out. She stood behind the counter, her arms crossing her chest, her face sheet white and sweaty. She watched him sip his coffee and smile in that reserved, fleeting way that made her heart jump with delight. Sarah, another worker at the shop, leaned her back against the wall of coffee grounds behind her and put a hand on Lily’s shoulder. Her grey beanie nearly touched the blackboard on which was written the day’s specials.

“I’m telling you, Lil,” Sarah said. “He’s gay. It’s soooo obvious!”

“You don’t know! He could be straight or bi!” Lily whispered angrily.

“Lil! He runs a candle shop! The only thing that would make him scream ‘raging homosexual’ any louder would be if he ran a boutique!” Lily frowned and looked down at the tip jar. Her and Sarah had a fifty dollar bet running on whether or not Aaron was gay.

“He could be bi!” Both girls laughed together. Aaron looked up from his latte and then quickly back down. He suspected the girls behind the counter talked about him some days, but confronting them would draw way too much attention to him so he let it slide. He looked at his watch. Soon he would go back home and finish making the eggplant parmesan that he had done the prep work for the night before. Then, he figured, he would eat dinner, watch the Verthaven Sharks play, maybe read a book, and then go to bed at exactly 11 PM to get his full eight hours of sleep. As he looked up from his watch, Lily and Sarah approached his table. Lily looked nervous about something. She put her hands on her hips and tapped her fingers when she was nervous, he had noticed over the past few months.

“Uh, hello,” Aaron said.

“Hey, Aaron,” Lily said. She sounded very nervous. “H-how’s it going?” Aaron didn’t like people being nervous. It gave him anxiety.

“It’s going okay, I guess. Can I help you with something?” He asked. He leaned back in his chair to keep the sunlight from hitting his skin. He could feel beads of sweat form on his forehead. Quickly he wiped them away with a napkin.

“Uh, yeah actually,” Lily paused and looked at Sarah, who smiled at her smugly. “So, you listen to Rebel Diamond in the morning, right?”

“Uh, yeah. I do most days. He’s cool.” Aaron inhaled and sighed. ‘I don’t have a reason to be nervous,’ he thought.

“Cool! I’m a really big fan of his. He’s doing a guest DJ and signing tonight at a club called The Golden Throne. I won two guest passes to get in cover-free and see him perform. I was gonna take Sarah, but she can’t get off work.”

“Yeah, no way,” Sarah said awkwardly. She looked like she really wanted to laugh.

“So, uh, would you, like, wanna go with me?” Aaron’s eyes went wide. She wants to go to a club, a nightclub, one that will be filled with people. Aaron hated being around large groups of people.

“Uh,” Aaron stammered. “Uh, yeah, I’m not sure that’s the best idea. I don’t really like clubs all that much. Places with lots of people make me nervous, and my psychologist says that it’s not good for my health…”

“I mean, there won’t be that many people there, I think,” Lily replied. “It is a Sunday, after all. Like, it’ll probably just be the normal amount of people that are in a restaurant most times.” Aaron wiped his forehead again. He could feel the waxy sweat beads form. Sarah looked like she was about to explode. Lily’s eyes looked down and the put her hands in her lap. “I guess if you don’t want to go with me, though, that’s okay,” she said.

“Uh, uh no, it’s not that,” Aaron said. “I just,” Aaron stopped mid-sentence and looked down at his cup. After a short few seconds that felt like longer, he looked back up at Lily, who looked like she was either going to laugh or cry. Sarah had walked a few steps away and was heaving with silent laughter. Aaron felt extremely embarrassed. He didn’t want the workers at The Cool beans to hate him, though, so he decided he would at least go for a little bit.

“I guess I can go,” Aaron said. “I don’t have any other plans tonight, and I guess going someplace new would be fun.” ‘No it won’t. It really won’t. Oh God, this is going to suck.’ Aaron thought. Lily’s face lit up in a brilliant smile.

“Um, awesome!” She jumped a little into the air. Sarah turned around and looked at her, shocked. Realizing how stupid she looked, Lily stopped jumping and crossed her arms back across her chest. “I mean, yeah. Cool. Wanna meet up at eight?”

“Uh, sure. Yeah,” Aaron said. “I’ll, uh, go get ready. I need to do some laundry and check on some candelabrum orders. I’ll, see you in a bit.” The two smiled at each other awkwardly and then Lily walked away. She bumped into Sarah on the way back to the counter.

“You owe me fifty bucks,” Lily said with a big ol’ smirk on her face. Aaron left the coffee shop and walked back to the Chandlery, wondering on the way there about what one wears to go clubbing.

---

---

---

The Cheng Household, Spring Town, Hedgemount
The Night Before_

"Is that a bullet hole!?" Kannix's mom yelled as she pointed sternly at the perforation in her daughter's jacket - which she had never seen before, she'd like to add. It was nearing midnight, but that was no excuse for noise and activity to go down. Crime and petty life wasn't going to stop when the sun went down, so much so that the annoyance from it all sort of became ordinary. Emma would know this, but this was all of Kannix's life - the one she knew, and only knew. Everything else to Kannix was a jarring comparison.

"I'm fine, it's no big deal," Kannix's hand on the stairway handrail, ready to pounce up to their compact apartment. Kannix's mom had waited for her downstairs, spitting venom at passersby, staring them down with the ferocity of a caged tiger.

"Fuck off it's no big deal! Nevermind where the fuck you've been. Why do you still come back home this late? You know it's far too dangerous to be out here alone!"

"Mom, did you forget that I'm like invulnerable? I shrugged off a shotgun blast last week!" Kannix marched upstairs heavy-footed. Her mom followed suit.

"It's not that! Do you not realize the implications of the trouble you're causing? I've seen people from outside our window looking at our building. They know you live here and they know you have a single mother who isn't invulnerable! People who'd very much like our apartment!"

A neighbour swung his door open.



"You shut the fuck up!" Kannix and her mom yelled back simultaneously.

The neighbour slammed his door back shut after the Cheng's did. Kannix wanted so bad to just get to her room, shut herself from her mom and the rest of the world. She was tired, and she didn't want any more bullshit as much as the next Cheng. Her mom reached for her shoulder to turn her around. Kannix wouldn't dare use her powers against her. She gave in.

"What? No smart retort?"

No, there wasn't. Kannix just looked down at the floor, unwilling to look up to see her mother's face. It wasn't just the anger she was scared of; it was the shame and disappointment she knew she would be able to see through the sharp steel eyes. The softness that is the reason for her mother's harsh care for her.

"We can't exactly move out of her, Kannix. No place to go. I don't want to say those fuckers would want a piece of us and come after us; but I'm saying those fuckers would want a piece of us and come after us."

"Then fucking let them come! I'll take them all on!" Kannix finally replied, frustration and despondency in her voice, struggling to hold back her tears, choking on her spit, hands quivering. People's hearts would melt if they saw Kannix cry; a tiny, cute, upset little thing. Emma needed more from her, though.

"And then what? Suppose you do take out an entire neighbourhood. You rid Spring Town of its crime and evil dudes. What are you going to do after that? Have you not, for once, thought about your future? The future that you are so willing to risk and lose because you think you're nigh-invulnerable that you can have the world on your platter. No, that's not how it works!"

"...Then what am I supposed to do...?" Kannix (barely) attended school and was very much average. She could go through the plentiful causes and reasons, but she knew that Spring Towners almost never have a good future.

The two were silent. People at the opposite street were gambling from the sounds of it, and someone just lost and flipped the table over.

Her mother fixed Kannix's dishevelled hair and brought her face up to look at each other eye to eye.

"...Do something more. Be something. Not this. This isn't it. This can't be only it. You're so much more..."

God Kannix wanted to refute, to refuse, to reject. How? How? How was she supposed to be more than something? She started crying in her mom's hands. Her plump cheeks shook as she blubbered, snorted, and went all out.

"I thought someone here was nigh-invulnerable. Loooooossseerrr." Kannix smiled and laughed at the tease.

"Go to bed. You're still in trouble, trouble-maker. I ought to whip your ass, honestly."

"Goodnight, mom."

... ...

Morning came and the two had breakfast together. Kannix talked about how she went with a neighbour ("Do I know this neighbour?" - "Probably not, mom.") to see the DOVE rally at Regal Square. ("You get me anything?" - "No, mom.") Kannix chose not to talk about how she might have gotten two dudes into trouble and probably arrested. She did mention her meeting a boy named Rein ("The fuck kind of boy is called Rein?" - "I don't know, mom.") and how the two talked for a while. ("He cute?" - "Mom stop.")

"Can I go out later?"

"And fucking leave me alone again?"

"I'll get us some stuff before I get back home."

"Where are you goi-" her mom stopped half-way and gasped exaggeratedly. "You going to see Rein, aren't you? Aren't you!?"

"Mom stop please I jus-"

"He cute?"

"Mom, pl-"

"Is he cute?"

"...Sort of. A bit of a freak though."

"You're a freak."

"You're a freak too. You raised me to be a freak."

"Still a freak."

"So can I go?"

"Hmmm..." Kannix's mom kept making odd gestures of contemplation, all fake and attempts of comedy considering the request. "You may go. You must bring me some things though."

"Okay, I wi-"

"And!! And... I want to see how he looks like. Take a picture."

"Oh for fuck's sake." Kannix took that as the prompt to be able to leave. Her strides were long and meaningful. She wanted to talk to Rein, if he could find the heart in himself to want to talk to her again. Yes, he did look cute, but... she wanted to talk to someone about last night. Not that many friends, Kannix - hopefully Rein is around.

"Ahem."

Kannix turned just before reaching for the doorknob.

"Hope you don't forget about last night."

Kannix nodded, solemnly and briefly, before reaching for the doorknob again.

"Have you thought about the Academy? You know, the one we talked about last time?"

Kannix had given it some thought back then but she just wasn't so sure or ready to leave her mother alone in a place like this. She wasn't sure about the arrangement because she was too scared to ask. There is that bit of arrogance in her saying that she did not need to be taught by some oppressive dickface who probably couldn't do anything to her physically (literally) She's heard of it, but like, like... she couldn't think of a reason to go or not to go. If on-

Aahhh!!

"Rein's from the Academy! I remember now! I can go talk to him about it!"

Kannix's mom gave a vicious smirk, and Kannix returned the smirk with an even bigger smirk, crinkling her nose, and widening her smile to expose an evil grin.

"You may leave."

---

Academy 61, Roseview_

Her tiny butt raced for the shuttle bus, stopping and nearly breaking the door as she got on. Her time in Little Seapond was very brief what with the clashing bus schedules but man what a peaceful, almost boring sight the town was. It was like two different worlds, Little Seapond and Spring Town: one's a piece of shit and one's the grass that the piece of shit would love to ha- wait, no one's going to want Spring Town. Fuck it. Let's just savour the moment, she thought. Through the noise of the hustle and bustle of the passengers, Kannix watched - not look, watched - as the scenery would present new, delightful things to her. Lakes, ponds, people swimming - swimming! - and being so relaxed. Gosh she knew she was making a weird face but she couldn't help it. The others were used to it, she wasn't. It was like a documentary. She'd switch off from it and see what the people were talking about next to her, but something would catch her eye and BAM! A squirrel!

After a while, the route had it so they were passing a large fence and contained itself was the massive, she surmised, Academy 61. Everyone was pulling out their stuff, ready to get off. Kannix was flattening out her white dress. Even she couldn't believe the work she was putting.

Everyone knew where they were going. Streams of people headed in different directions but a large group went to the, again she's guessing here, main building. Luckily for her, she got it right. There's a lobby, for starters.

"Hi, uhm. I'm looking for someone. His name is-"

Shit. How do you spell his name?

"Rein. It's either R-E-I-N or R-A-I-N. Definitely a He though. About... 'yay' tall."

The receptionist perked up from her boredom, her daydream rudely interrupted by Kannix's sudden appearance at the front desk. Forcing herself to straighten up, she peered at the girl through her round glasses, not bothering to hide the annoyance written loud and clear on her face. "You're looking for someone? Student or staff?" She was completely unfazed at Kannix's overly eager chatter.

"Student! I... think! He's a bit too young to be staff, hehehe." She pointed and gestured to reach for the microphone she could barely see jutting out from her short view of the high counter. "Here, I'll call him." Before the receptionist could even react, Kannix pulled the mic down, loud and sharp as it sounded all over the hallways.

"Rein! Rein! It's me, Kannix! Come find me at the Main Building with the old lady!" As she let go, the metal stand snapped back, and the noise was painful for everyone to hear. She smiled and winked at the receptionist, and the receptionist could do nothing but stare blankly, shocked - a truly "What the fuck?" face.

---

Though the rally event was technically over, there was still the corollary to sort out - another tedious part of the volunteer work that most of the students weren't happy with. Not when all of their weekend break were gone for something they were pretty much forced to do, whether it was for a good cause or not.

Rein was one of them, but he was careful to keep his face impassive. No need to whine and bitch about it like the others around him. He was amused at the school's decision to keep that lame banner as a memento, but he'd be lying if he didn't feel a slight pleasure at the indirect praise for his work. Definitely not something he felt proud enough to show off to others, but who wouldn't feel a sense of elevation at the recognition, no matter how small it was?

By the time they were finally released from the long, boring debrief, it was almost three in the afternoon. Half of their Sunday was gone, and majority of them had lessons the very next day. Talk about a tight schedule. Rein would like nothing better to head straight back to his dorm room and knock himself out.

...Or not really. There were a few things on his mind he had to mentally sort out before he could really call it a day.

He pulled out his mobile as he strolled towards the dormitory building, raising an eyebrow to see that he had a text message. From Wendy, the strange, tall girl he had met back at the rally. About a meeting in a cafe quite a distance away from the academy later in the evening.

It's going to be a really long day today.

He winced at the sharp, metallic screech that shot through the school building, which made him glared up at the intercom. The irritation quickly turned to a mixture of shock and embarrassment when he heard the familiar, energetic voice of Turkey Leg Girl - Kannix - paging for him before it was cut off by another ear-piercing noise of someone who didn't know how to handle the microphone with care.

What's going on now?

With an exasperated sigh, he pocketed the phone, turning around his heels to head towards the main lobby area.

---

Rein found Kannix easily; she was seated at the sofa a short way in front of the receptionist's desk, wearing a dress... that was a disastrous sight with the way her legs were wide open. She didn't seem to care how the receptionist was throwing eye daggers at her. He exhaled slowly, then walked towards her.

"...Do you need me for something?" He was too tired to keep up the meek act, nor did he had any mood to make a witty comment.

"Come on now. Don't be a droopy little freak! I'm not disturbing you, am I? 'cause it'd be cool if you were done for the rest of the day, hang out with 'le moi.'" Kannix twirled her dress, accentuating the hardcore army boots she donned underneath. She had to look up to speak to Rein and though it was common practice, over time the strain on the back of her neck would never go away.

Rein wasn't pleased to be constantly called a 'freak' by Kannix of all people, but he merely pursed his lips for a second before he raised a hand to scratch the back of his head. "Sure, I don't mind." Then he stared at Kannix in the eye. "...Is there something you want to talk to me about?"

Kannix could only stare back. If it wasn't a challenge, she was going to make it one.

"Oh yeah. Lots. I'd take you somewhere but I have never been here. So..." Kannix stepped aside and gestured for Rein to lead the way.

"Sir." Kannix could not help but snicker at herself, and smiled a broad smile.

Rein didn't seem to pick up Kannix's attempt to start a staring contest - or he simply didn't care - and broke the eye contact. Raising an eyebrow as Kannix appeared to be in a weird, giggling fit, he simply pointed a thumb over his shoulder: at a cafeteria behind him. "Are you hungry? We can grab something to eat while we chat, if you want."

"Oh. Hell. Yes."

... ...

Kannix wasn't particularly hungry at that point in time. However, if one was given the opportunity to have good food (and for free too!), one ought to savour such a chance. Kannix didn't want to embarrass herself or Rein by going back multiple trips.

So instead, she brought multiple plates and trays with her - a bit of everything, and keyword is everything. What a delight. Kannix was happy. It really beat having cold food all day back home.

"So, can I ask-" she gulped down some peas, and downed some mashed potatoes with a chug of water. "What is it that you all really do here? Students, and all? I've heard things, but maybe you can shed some light." She waved her spoon over her head, emphasizing the 'light' being 'this place'.

Rein, on the other hand, was hungry, and simply got himself a main course - seafood aglio olio pasta! - with winglets for side dish. He thought for a moment at Kannix's question, his fork twirling around the spaghetti, then he started off, "Well... the Academy Program is set up to give Metahuman children like us an opportunity to go through some form of education - both the normal curriculum that non-Metas have, and a place for us to learn how to control and use our powers safely."

Kannix could not help but roll her eyes at the mention of 'normal curriculum'; she was already doing bad enough in the crap-ass school that she went to. Assert herself, actually try to learn something? Fuck that. How is Math and Literature supposed to get her the fuck out of Spring Town? No one is going to hire a Spring Towner. No one is going to even bat an eye at a Spring Towner. The future was so bleak for everyone there. What mattered was the day and the day itself. It was a blessing to live another day. It would have been a good day. They - regular people - still hated Metahumans. They hated her. Fuck 'em. The fuck was she supposed to do about all this?

"...A place for us to learn how to control and use our powers safely? I mean, yeah, I get it. The tragedies, the baddies we do get every now and then. But I guess I have the hang of my powers!"

She had no idea how to think of this. What exactly... god she did not even know the questions she should ask herself. She wondered: why would she need to be in the Academy? She thought back to what her mother told her. What good would it do? What good could it do? She played with her food, head down, leaning on her hand.

"Is it not pointless? Not just for me - though especially for me - but for everyone else?" Her face wasn't exactly grim, but the seriousness on her face betrayed hints of sadness through her wide-opened eyes.

Rein shrugged. "Maybe for some, it seems pointless," he replied, taking a bite out of a prawn. "But as far as the public is concerned, they'd feel more at ease knowing that we're kept in here, rather than wrecking havoc out there." He sounded resigned - he didn't know if it was due to weariness from the long day, or the idea that the academy was a figurative prison to keep Metahuman kids away from the rest of Baybridge.

"..."

Kannix remained quiet. She chose to stay quiet. She was thinking. So even the Academy isn't an option.

"...You... probably wouldn't get it." The message hopefully got across to Rein through the racket of the cafeteria, still packing people at this time. It's probably never empty here.

"...I... don't know what choices I have. I wreck things, but I'm a bit of a wreck myself. Here I thought..." The food on her third plate no longer seemed appetizing. She collected herself.

"Here I thought maybe the Academy was an option, you know? To-... To-... Can we go somewhere quieter?"

Rein raised his eyebrows at her, with confusion written loud and clear on his face. He glanced down at his half-finished food before looking up again to frown at her. "What do you mean? Did you do something that you have to come here?"

Kannix sat up straight and looked Rein ferociously in the eye, then fervently smiled, donning a new set of emotions so polarizing to what had just been. It's a mechanism she picked up from her mom - smile through the pain. "You're my only, I wouldn't say friend, but something close. The others I had left when they found out I was a Meta and the daughter of a prostitute. I'm not a butterfly, you might have noticed, but I'm not exactly... a cockroach as well. Ugh, identity issues. Annoying, right? You might not be able to help fix my dilemma, but at least you're listening, and that helps.

"Heh...Do you think I should be a student at the Academy? Do you think I can be a student at the Academy?"

Rein listened as Kannix talked. Unlike the previous time, he gave her all his attention, weighing every word she had said in his mind. Ah, so she had been through the typical prejudice that most people had towards Metahumans. And her family background wasn't pretty, either. The girl sounded like a lost soul, trying to find something she could hold onto. Something that would make her feel like she belonged in this world, like she existed.

That probably explains why she likes to show off, likes to seek attention and approval... Why she talks and acts in such a funny way.

...A bit like me. Not the same, but he could share the sentiment, even if it was just a little.

"This is a school for Metahumans," he responded with a small smile. "You'd probably fit in quickly with the kind of power you have. At least most people here would think your ability is something cool. Unlike mine," he added with a slight chuckle - to mask the look of pain that almost showed on his face.

"Oh come on, now. I think you're cool! Speaking of cool, smile."

"...H-Huh?"

Hurriedly, she pulled out her phone - the phone her mother had saved for a while to get for Kannix, and that was a while back - and loaded up the camera app. It took a while, and Kannix almost cursed when it finally showed her face and a confused-looking Rein. She framed and took the shot before he could say anything.

"You don't look half-bad, Rein! It's R-E-I-N, right?"

Rein cringed at the way Kannix emphasized her pronunciation, trying too hard not to make it sound like the other word. "Well... 'Reinald' in full, but you can just call me Rein, yeah."

"Alright, Rein-ald. Take my phone, add yourself to the contacts, would you please?"

Rein was surprised at himself for getting too comfortable with Kannix's hyperactive personality. He hated to admit it, but her randomness, the way she seemed so confident of herself even with the hardship she had been through... he couldn't help feeling attracted to that vortex of positive energy.

"Sure, alright," he said as he took her phone and keyed in his number, making a missed call to his own mobile so that he could record her contacts later... Which also reminded him of something else.

"Hey, um... are you free for the rest of today? I'm thinking if you want to come along with me. Something about dimensional traveling. Are you interested?"

"You asking me out already? Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn you got game. I don't know what the fuck dimensional travelling is, but if it's more time with Clairvoyant Rein then why not? I've just got to get home first, do some errands for my mom. Message me the details, if you would be so kind."

"Ah... sure?" Maybe he should take that back about getting used to her eccentricity.

She stood from her seat, and ruffled out her dress. Oh, and wiped her mouth, of course - she looked down at the plates of food she gobbled up and she was mighty impressed.

"Oh, and, Rein-ald: from the deepest of my little heart, thank you for this." With that, unaware of whether they were allowed to use their powers inside the cafeteria - if the school premises at all - energized herself, and with instant acceleration dashed away. She remembered how to get back to the bus stop - managed to pick up a leaflet and application form on the way too, just in case. Before she knew it, she was back on the bus, deep in heavy contemplation her way back to Little Seapond, leaving a bemused Rein watching her disappear in a gust of speed.

There was a lot to think about. Nothing's truly settled, but at least... she's got a pair of ears that are willing to listen. She won't admit it, but Kannix is a little more than excited to receive Rein's message.

Now, to read the leaflet to pass the time...

---

RAVEN/DOVE Joint Headquarters, White Coast|

---

---

The previous day was something of a nightmare for more than one reasons. First of all being that it was a DOVE rally meant to promote peace and unity and the cooperation between meta-human and non-meta communities instead of breeding resentment, and it was utterly sabotaged by two dunderheaded men who just happened to be registered metas. That would of course send a variety of messages, one being that the meta-human community is not interested in being equals to non-metas, and another being that meta-humans are naturally drunk with power and ego that they think they can do whatever they want – it was a giant political quagmire. The one that was dressed up like a pimp, for instance, definitely gave her that impression. The both of them were acting pretty stupid, but mister “Johnny Valos”, as the processing told everyon definitely had a chip on his shoulder. Andrea could tell when he was struggling as she held him in stasis. The man was coming up with some plan to overwhelm her or something, so he didn't have any respect for due authority (not that she was in any way considered authority, but he wouldn't have known that – thank God anyways, there'd be hell to pay if RAVEN discovered her getting involved in their jurisdiction). Although she'd applaud his effort, she wasn't a stranger to stress. She was actually worried about the three men straining themselves.

Nightmare reason number two, the whole brouhaha in general nearly looked like a God-forsaken terror attack and, as a result, the scene was swarmed with press like they were starving locusts. With the acts of barbarism by the Founding Family a couple years back still fresh in the mind of Baybridge's citizens, paranoia was at an all time high. All it takes to breed a new terrorist organization is distrust, prejudice, and good reason – and this city had all of that in surplus. Not that Andrea would ever have to guess; her scrying on the meeting yesterday had already revealed to her that fact. She would try to pay it no mind. The burden of such knowledge and the responsibility of withholding it was well above her pay grade. Her job was to follow others around, write reports, and crunch numbers.

As for nightmare reason number three?

Andrea's supervisor, Mrs. Bayard, dropped a couple of folders into her arms, and looked quite frazzled with her hair sticking out every other inch or so. Andrea didn't feel as though she was faring much better than her.

“One more report and you're free to go, Pasternack.” She told her. Andrea sighed as she took them and set them on the desk she was leaning against.

“Another...” Andrea groaned. She looked as though she were spacing out for a moment and she spoke. “For... the rally mishap... to... relevant interested party. Reason for arrest.... bail. All the processing in between.”

“The line between your supernatural powers of deduction and the fact we've been working on this since this morning is beginning to blur.” Bayard commented. “Anyways, thank you.”

“No, thank you for the opportunity.” Andrea inserted, sounding almost sarcastic as she sat down in her chair and started reading over the papers. It is true what Bayard said, though. They've been at this all day. Technically, Andrea should've left two and a half hours ago – the 9 to 5 grind – but the offices have been hustling all day, and Andrea had the advantages of, one, having been present to witness the scene as it occurred, and two, had a knack for completing and filing paperwork efficiently. Not that it was a skill she'd ever find herself bragging about. Still, it was something of an honor that she was trusted enough to perform the same kind of work in litigation support and receive the same rate of pay for the job as existing employees. It was just a shame that she's been at it all day now, and she felt herself getting a little flustered.

“Being the sole eyewitness account in these offices sure is a bitch, isn't it?” Bayard said offhandedly.

Before resuming her work, Andrea shot her a look of surprise and marveled in a forced tone, “Ms. Bayard! Language.”

“Don't get used to it.” She remarked. “When you're done, let me know and I'll give it a once-over before calling the case closed.”

“Consider it already done.” Andrea droned, reading the documents as she picked up a cup of black tea from the desk, and cringed upon a sip. It had gone cold. She set it down and picked up a pencil and idly began fiddling with it instead, twirling it between her fingers. Her eyes seemed to space out again as she answered her supervisor's questions before she could even ask them. “You feel... doubtful. Suspicious... this document features requests almost identical to the local Department of Corrections case, so I can recycle an earlier report to a different address for this one. Voila, filler is out of the way... yes, it's legal... no. Not lazy... shortcut, yes. I know, it's not like me, but all discrepancies will be accounted for. Give me ten minutes.”

“This time it's supernatural for sure.” Bayard remarked dryly. “Thank you.”

Andrea nodded as her supervisor walked away.

“God, at least half of these pencil-pushers can't do half the work of a single intern,” she heard her think, watching her stomp off back to her own desk with Andrea's apparitions trailing her. Her eyes fell down to her lap, and a slight smile crept onto her face and her cheeks flushed rosy red as the faintest sign of pride welled up in her chest. She never imagined that she'd be at this point a couple years ago, and who would've imagined that this crazy ride was the one she'd be on? Now, she learned that every time life threw her a curve ball, she'd think about why she's still here. Her mind fell back to Poland, back home, every time where she had a family who was probably worried sick about their daughter. Andrea took a deep breath and captured the image and imagine the scent of home cooking. Łazanki sided with mama's pierogis, precursored by barszcz with uszka...

What would mama ever say about her if she learned of what actually happened to her daughter? What kind of mess she got into? Forget the taste of home, they'd probably disown her and forget to ever speak of her again... Andrea took a deep breath. In through the nose... out through the mouth.

'Now's not the time for that. It doesn't matter. I'm getting better.'

She punched in the password to her computer, “Let's get today over and done with.”

True to her word, Andrea spent a few minutes on her final report, and before long she punched out her time card and was out of the front door and throwing her coat on. Her sights fell on her car in the parking lot and she sighed. Straight home? No, no, she had no time get groceries. No energy to get any tonight, either. She needed some place quiet to eat to stop the pounding in her head. There was some chit-chat going on about a Thai dive – quiet atmosphere, aromatic food, affordable food, hardly recognizable from the outside – somewhere in Strongriver Plaza, down the road from the Golden Throne, so it wasn't that far. It meant less risk of her car breaking down on the way there. Taking all these things into consideration... looks like she knew what she was doing for the evening.

---

---

A bubble of panic had welled up in Aaron’s chest by the time he reached his bedroom. He threw open his closet and began to go through his clothes, trying to figure out what to wear. In the back of his mind, he felt dread slowly rising. He had just agreed to go to a nightclub, a place normally packed to the gills with people, on a weekend. As he dug through his closet, neatly folding each shirt he unearthed and replacing it, he thought of how he’d escape the place if he had a panic attack. They’d have to get a table near the front of the club, near the doors, preferably (that said, he hoped it had multiple exits). He wouldn’t drink, that way if he got trapped alone he’d have a clear mind. Maybe he’d get a coffee - no, coffee would just make him jittery and more likely to panic.

‘Oh god, I just don’t like crowds,’ he thought. ‘Please, God, don’t let too many people be there. Don’t let too many people be there. Don’t let too many people be there.’

Aaron found a light grey button-down shirt and black slacks. He changed his underwear, pulled on the slacks, and, remembering he had forgotten to do laundry, ran across the room to his hamper with one arm in his shirt. As he pulled his shirt on, Aaron ran across the apartment to the laundry room, a small closet just adjacent to the kitchen. He started the laundry, put on his shirt, and stood in the bathroom mirror for five minutes, staring at his forehead. A single bead of sweat had dropped down from Aaron’s hairline and was crawling down his forehead towards his eyebrow, accumulating wax as it fell. Quickly he wiped it off and scrubbed his face with a rough washcloth. Then he brushed his teeth. Six minutes later, he looked up from the running water to see the brush limply hanging from his mouth. His face was white as cotton.

After leaving the bathroom, Aaron sat on his bed for fifteen minutes and drank a cup of chamomile tea from an oversized clay mug. He put on grey socks and black loafers. Aaron stood in the mirror for four minutes and breathed slowly. He thought about whether his clothes were too formal, if he should wear a blazer, if a tie would be too much, what kind of drink he would order, what color the tables would be, what color Lily’s dress would be, if Lily would wear a dress, and if people at the club would think he was on a date with Lily. It was about this time that Aaron realized he had probably been tricked into going on a date with someone he had no romantic interest in. This, as one could imagine, only added to his anxiety, and Aaron decided that this much stress and uncertainty was too much for him. He picked up his phone to text Lily and tell her he couldn’t come. Maybe he’d fake a headache or a cough or a big order coming in for the shop. He then thought about how many orders came in today that he would have to do tomorrow morning, and how long they would take to do. Aaron thought about payrolls and taxes and health insurance and by the time he shook himself from his frenzy of anxiety a lime green Toyota Camry was double parked outside of The Chandlery.

“Here!” The text from Lily read. Aaron got the sudden feeling of being trapped on a rollercoaster at the top of the high hill, waiting for the drop and knowing there is nothing he can do to escape his fate. He resorted to stuffing his right pocket with a cloth handkerchief and running down the stairs. By the time he left The Chandlery and locked the door behind him, Lily was standing outside of her car, her arms crossed about her chest. She was wearing a frilly seafoam green cocktail dress that ended an inch above her knee, and gold heels. Several thing, golden bangle bracelets hung on her left wrist. Her makeup was shocking well-done considering she’d had only an hour to prepare, and her hair was done in a French braid. She looked quite beautiful, Aaron thought.

“Hey!” Lily shouted. “You look great!”

“Uh, thanks,” Aaron replied. “That dress goes so well with your eyes.” Lily blushed and shuffled to the driver’s side of the car. Aaron opened the passenger’s side door and sat down. Luckily, the sun had begun to go down and the night was quite cool, otherwise he would already have started melting. He buckled himself in and Lily took off down the street towards Strongriver Plaza and the Golden Throne. The radio was playing a pop song that Aaron did not recognize.

“So how was work?” Lily asked. Aaron looked up as if startled.

“Oh! Uh, yeah, it was okay,” he replied. “The shop has been doing really well lately.”

“Oh, good to hear,” Lily’s voice trailed off. Aaron looked extremely nervous. She knew him to be an anxious person, though, so it wasn’t particularly surprising to her. Aaron, meanwhile, racked his brain for a nice way to say that this was not a date. The last thing he wanted to do was upset Lily, especially when they were driving down a busy street in a busy hour of the evening. Accidents happened all the time on this street, and who knows what causes them.

---

They drove mostly in silence. Occasionally Lily would ask Aaron small questions, and he would reply with small answers. A song would come on the radio and Lily would gently hum it for a few moments before stopping and putting her eyes back on the road. Aaron stared down at his feet, his face stark white. It was terribly awkward. They pulled up to The Golden Throne a few minutes after eight and parked the car. Before they got out, Lily looked over at Aaron.

“Hey,” she said. “You seem a little nervous. Is something up?” Aaron’s eyes grew wide. He wiped his brow with the handkerchief. ‘Tell her now!’ Aaron thought to himself. ‘Tell her that you don’t like her before it’s too late! You can still save yourself man! This rollercoaster hasn’t gone over the hill yet and you can unbuckle that seatbelt!’ He opened his mouth, then closed it. Then he wiped his brow again.

“Uh, it’s nothing,” Aaron said. “Just, uh, shop stuff I guess.”

“Oh,” Lily said. In her head she heaved a sigh of relief. “Well hey, none of that matters right now. Just take a deep breath and get that stuff off your mind. We’re here to have fun, y’know? Everything’s gonna be alright.” She put her hand on top of his and squeezed. He gasped when she grabbed for his hand, but the gesture succeeded at making him feel calmer. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then the two of them got out of the car and walked towards the club. On the way there, Lily tried to hold Aaron’s hand, so he put them both in his pockets and pretended not to notice. One thing was for certain, though; this was a date, and somehow he had to get out of it. Whatever confidence Aaron had was slowly draining as he thought of how he’d get out of this situation.

By the time they arrived inside the club, DJ Rebel Diamond had begun his set, and there wouldn’t be another set of autograph signings until the set was over. The two got a table and ordered drinks. Lily ordered a margarita, and after thinking on it for a few minutes Aaron just got a water. They sat near the front of the restaurant, not far from the front doors. Lily wanted to be closer to the dance floor, but Aaron insisted. He looked much more nervous now that he was in the club, and she didn’t want to push it. Aaron still didn’t have the courage to tell her how he felt, and it was starting to make him feel awful embarrassed.

“This music is, a little loud,” Aaron said. “But it’s not too bad from over here.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Lily said. She sounded let down.

“I’m sorry,” Aaron said. “Clubs aren’t really my element.”

“That’s okay,” Lily said. “I just thought this would be fun I guess.” There was a lull in the conversation. Lily was feeling nervous now too. She didn’t want this date to be a flunk. “So, what do you usually do for fun?”

“Uh,” This was a tougher question than it sounded. “I don’t really go out much, and work takes up a lot of my time, so I don’t have a whole lot of free time these days.” This was a lie. Work was incredibly easy for him and took little time, but he didn’t want to admit to spending his evenings watching Netflix and playing video games.

“Oh yeah, I figured,” Lily said. “Running a business must be so tough.”

“It is, really,” Aaron replied. “But I really enjoy it. I love making art for people.” Lily’s eyes lit up at the mention of art. The drinks came. Lily and Aaron both ordered the same cobb salad.

“That’s such a wonderful thing, though!” Lily shouted. “I would love to spend my days making art for people!”

“I figured as much. You’re a graphic design major, right?”

“Yeah! I dream of one day working in concept art for Sony.” She closed her mouth and looked down. “Oh god, that’s really nerdy though, sorry!”

“Really?! That’s amazing!” Aaron exclaimed.

“Yeah, I’m a total Playstation baby,” Lily replied. “I guess that’s not so weird to you, though.” They talked about game companies for a solid ten minutes until their salads arrived. Though Aaron still strongly wished he wasn’t out in public like this, Lily was really fun to talk to.

‘Maybe this won’t be so bad after all,’ Aaron thought.

‘No, it will be. You’ll fuck it up soon and then she’ll realize that you’re leading her along.’

‘I mean, I might as well have some fun talking to her.

‘Yeah, before you break her heart and tell her you like dick.’

‘You always put that in such a crass way. Just leave me alone.’

‘I’m inside your head. I can’t leave you alone.’

---

Strongriver Plaza, Hedgemount_

---

---

It was a rather brief and uneventful ride. The most that happened was that Johnny was trying to put new clothes on in a crowded hummer. At least Jaska knew what Johnny would wear! He got him jeans, a sky-blue button-up, with a black leather jacket over top of it. With no hat. Johnny rolled his eyes. Wish he got a shower before he came here, but the place is probably going to smell of cigarettes, and sex. It's going to drown out his ass stank.

They arrived at the club, the Golden Throne... it even had that annoying spider symbol that broadcasted that they had prostitutes here, right underneath the sign. Either that meant the White Spider Society had no shame, or the police around here had their heads up their ass. Not Johnny's problems, because you never touch a society's hooker until you want to catch a super venereal disease.

The hummer parked in the lot in the side, and Johnny figured that it was gameplan time! Going into a club like theirs with no fucking plan would be smart as driving this hummer through the front doors... Hehe... just like he pulled in Philly! But, he leaned forward, and folded his hands.

"Well, boys, and girls, and boys... you guys probably had lots of time to make up a plan!" Johnny said, with a cocky grin that showed his gold tooth. "So, I'm ready for some James Bond level spy shit!"

"Yuuuuuup, we do," Jake said, as he took the keys out the ignition. "Lin is going to find Linda, and we're going to have a talk with her..."

"I'm going to bring up the Founding Family, and see what she thinks," Lin nodded her head. "Nobody knows about my telepathy except for the group of us, so she shouldn't even be on guard."

"Then if ya'll got this shit locked down, then am I even here?" Johnny raised an eyebrow.

"We're going to have the exits locked down in case shit turns sour," Gabriela noted, "You just need to stay close to them. Mika's already in the club."

"Are we really going to rely on fatass?" Johnny asked, and earned groans from his family. "What? I'm afraid she must eat all the food!"

"Just focus on staying incognito, Johnny," Jake said as he stepped out the vehicle, then walked around to Lin's side and opened the door for her. The rest of the Valos got out the vehicle, and Johnny looked at Jaska.

He pointed a thumb at his younger brother, "... And what's he gonna do?"

"I'm keeping watch," Jaska said, as he did some stretches, before he dropped to all fours. "Don't worry about me." He shot off to the rooftops of the opposite buildings, and Johnny shrugged. They probably would be all over him, since the Society had a hard on for animal-type Metas. But, Johnny liked Jaska without every STD in the book.

He reached to the top of his head, as if he was grabbing his hat... only to realize it wasn't even there. He shed a tear as he moved forward. It was all Johnny could do.

"Alright, Valos..." Johnny grabbed his cane, doing a flip with it. "... It'sssssss showtime!"

---

---

After getting past the bouncers in masks, Johnny was introduced to the familiar dancefloor. Techno music! Flashing lights! Dancing babes! That he hadn't touched this place in years. Not since what happened in Black Fall... he wished he could enjoy it, but he was here on business. Once business got sorted out, then it was time for pleasure, baby! He just needed to find that bitch Linda, and then let Lin-

We'll stay in touch. Johnny heard the mental voice of Lin, as Jakey carted her off arm in arm! While he had to question some of the choices Jake made in life, he had to say that Jake bagged a good one! Oh wait... she was probably reading those thoughts.

Um.

Moving on.

Gabriela was close to Johnny, but the eldest Valos had some questions. Questions that Gabe should be able to answer. Well, he used should loosely since you can't hear shit in these clubs (It was still poppin' though).

"Wait, why is Lin talking to this broad?"

"Remember Johnny... her dad's the top Savior," Gabriela answered. "She apparently met Linda in one of those Savior parties."

"Ahhhh, now I get-" Johnny was cut off when he felt a terrifying presence as he walked through the club. So much happiness coming from someone very close to him. He turned his head, and saw someone with an intense green aura. Meaning happiness. But, shit ain't right. It was too green.

He must be trippin' on that new drug.

Johnny made sure to give that bastard a wide girth. Because happiness and actual positivity saps away his power. It was retarded enough that a drug just makes someone the happiest motherfucker on the planet with one pill, but now he was in a club full of people tripping off it.

"Know what, Gabe?" Johnny asked his sister, "Let's get some food, I think that prison slop poisoned me."

"Fine by me."

The two siblings grabbed a seat.

Jackson Drake’s Apartment — New Raygate, Prince Ed-Field

---

After last night’s debacle with the guy that Jackson would later find out had the whitest white boy name ever: Johnny. Jackson didn’t catch a last name, though. If he did, then he had already forgotten.

Whatever.

When he got home later that night, Jackson remembered that weird feeling he had when the voice of that woman entered his head. It was like she not only invaded his mind like some kind of weird alien probing, but had completely froze his movements in every way imaginable. Something like that doesn’t escape you. It stays and lingers for a while. And because of that, JAckson found it difficult to sleep through the night. Tossing and turning one hour, waking up the next. It was continuous until Jackson figured enough was enough, and stayed awake just a little past daybreak.

It was clear to him that sleep wasn’t going to come, so Jackson got an early start to the morning. As mundane as it sounds, Jackson had a few rituals that he had to do. It wasn’t a matter of budging on them, either. One could say he’s got a bit of OCD when it comes to those things.

The first on the agenda(after he showered and such, of course), was going for his morning run. It usually takes him through a series of turns within a few blocks of where his apartment is.

In the two weeks he has been back in Baybridge, the people around had missed seeing a familiar face around. When he would pass by the friendly neighborhood mailman, Thomas, Jackson simply would wave as he had his earbuds in his ears, focusing on the pulsing beats of Dre. As he would go straight and only turning left after three block, Jackson would find himself arriving just in time for Ms. Applegate’s fresh batch of apple-cinnamon bagels. She always set out one that was extra chewy just for him. She knew how he liked it. There was extra essence of apples in his. Jackson always did feel spoiled by that woman, but he didn’t dare to speak up. She was one of those that had a warm demeanor but would also whoop your ass into shape. Jackson probably knew she wouldn’t do that to him, but he didn’t want to take the chance.

After Jackson had his brief snack, he circled back to his apartment. Afterwards, he would head off to would meditate for a full hour. His form of meditation was a big different than what most would think meditation was. To others, sitting still, and concentrating on their “zen” with soothing music playing at a low volume was their form of meditation. To Jackson, however, it was a little more complicated than that. Back in Brazil, he was taught the best way to properly find your center was not through the sounds of waves crashing on the shore and slowing your breathing but rather through the beats of a bonga while feeling the spirit of Brazil flow through your body. He was taught to keep his body in a constant rhythm, never letting a single motion be wasted.

For his meditation, Jackson would do what he always had done since he set back into the swing of things in Baybridge: find an unused corner in Courtbridge, take a 90s boombox with him, and play his usual meditation music. As it would play, he would let the music overtake him, filling him with the rhythm of the people whose art form he spent a decade learning and mastering. Each pulse and each drum beat would fill him up with such energy that he would move side to side, twirl, corkscrew, backlfip into a handstand, hop on one hand for a few times, land on his feet, and repeat for a full hour.

As he had been going for about ten minutes, a crowd started to gather. They seemed to be into it, so Jackson would give them a show. As the kids would say nowadays, he turned up.

---

What seemed like hours later, Jackson had made it back to his apartment. That street performance he gave(as some called it) had given him a little extra pocket change. Apparently some int he crowd found it to be so good that they left him a few bills here and there. Most of them left $1 bills, but there were a few $5s and $10s. In fact, at the end of it, Jackson accumulated about three-hundred dollars.

All of that just for an hour of dance. Sounds like a career change is in order.

As Jackson contemplated on that, he shrugged. Besides, it was a bit past 7:30, and Jackson had yet to decide if he wanted to go out tonight or not. Sure he could stay inside. That was always an option. And maybe it would be the smart option. After all, after last yesterday, there was no doubt that he would be more closely monitored by either RAVEN, DOVE, or perhaps both. Nevermind the fact that he knows someone who works there - well, two people. One of them, of course, is missing, and the other is that Japanese fellow. Okay, so maybe he’s not exactly close to that guy, but he does know him. And he heard him out(somewhat) about Levi. That has to count for something, right? Right? Right.

Jackson quickly changed his focus from the above to his hunger. His stomach was growling and god-forbid if he was going to wait any longer to feed it. But the question still remained…

“What to eat, what to eat.” Jackson murmured to himself as he opened his tiny fridge and came to the sight of - well to the sight of nothing really. Aside from a possibly-expired carton of milk and some Chinese leftovers he picked up for lunch earlier from Courtbridge. If he were to eat that now, what would he have for breakfast tomorrow?

Decisions, decisions…

“Fuck it.” Shrugging, Jackson took it out, and went to the garbage where he knew the chopsticks that came with the half-an-order of chow mien and pork dumplings.

He walked and chowed down on his meal. He came to a stop as he took a seat on his poor person couch. It was old, stiff, and not very comfortable, but Jackson found it on the cheap. Literally. He found it on the street, and paid a guy ten bucks to help him lug it into his apartment. Jackson’s pretty certain that there’s a bug living in it. As long as he doesn’t bother Jackson or eat him while he sleeps, he can crash on the couch any time he wants to.

Scrolling through whatever was on, Jackson found himself incredibly bored. Nothing but reruns and shitty lifetime movies. There’s a marathon of Law and Order: Special Metahuman Victims on USA network. They’re doing a special about the sexual assault victims through use of telekinesis. As bad as that was, Jackson didn’t feel like sobbing tonight, not when something had to be on the horizon. Something had to have been coming his way. Please oh please--

And as if like clockwork, Jackson’s phone buzzed. He took a look the caller ID, and saw it was an unknown number. Shrugging, he answered it. “Hello?”

“Jackson Drake?”

“Yeah, that’s me. Who is this?”

“You have a collect call from Baybridge State Penitentiary. Do you accept the charges?”

Jackson paused for a moment. He didn’t have the money to accept any charges, but there was a part of him that was curious who he knew in prison. “Yeah sure.” He simply replied, waiting to be connected to whoever was calling him.

“Jackson, it’s been a long time.”

“I’m sure it has,” Jackson sassed, “who is this?”

“What? You don’t recognize my voice?”

“Should I?”

“Oh, well I don’t know. It’s been years since we talked. You were dragged out of my house from Children Protective Services, so perhaps not.”

Jackson was a bit freaked. Either this was some prank and Jackson had fallen for it hook, line, and sinker, or it wasn’t, and some creepozoid was playing with his head. Either way, it needed to end.

“Look man, I don’t know who you are, but you’re costing me money that I don’t really have. So, can you just get to the point. I don’t have the time —”

“You don’t even have time to speak to your own father? My, how Brazil has changed you.”

Jackson felt the pulsing beat of his heart increase rapidly in the seconds that passed. So much so that he nearly dropped his phone, but instead he took to looking at the ceiling.

It wasn’t until thirty seconds later and words that the man claiming to be his father had said that was just white noise to Jackson that he finally would speak. “L-listen bub, this is past the point of it being funny. I’m hanging up now. And if you call me again, you’ll regret it.”

“But don’t you want to know about Levi?”

And he said it. The magic name that would get Jackson to halt in anything. The name of his lost friend that hasn’t been seen for a week now. Disappeared without a trace and in suspicious circumstances, too.

“Talk.”

---

Strongriver Plaza, Hedgemount

Long day Jackson has had and that phone call earlier didn’t help. He needed to let off some steam. And a night out on the town was exactly what he needed. To think that some guy that was claiming to be his deadbeat, drugged-out, no good man that happened to be his father. He hadn’t heard from Leonidas in years. The last time he even remotely heard from the asshole was about five years ago when he found out that he was in Brazil. Jackson didn’t know how, but he fucking arrived there, and tried to appeal to Jackson for a second chance..well, more like fifth chance. After JD had decked him a good one in his jaw, that was the last time he saw the man.

So, why after all of these years, was some man trying to pass off as him? It just didn’t make sense to him. And to top it all off, he had the gall to know about Levi. That fucking asshole. I swear, if I ever hear from him again, I’ll—

Mid-thought, Jackson saw that the line to the Golden Throne was moving and Jackson was up. He showed his ID -his Metahuman ID - and was let in, if not from a judging look from the bouncer.

“No funny business, you hear?” The bouncer said. Apparently being Metahuman meant one couldn’t joke.

“I’m going to need a live audience before that happens.” Jackson laughed.

The bouncer was stone-faced.

Jackson shrugged, and stepped into the entrance of the club.

As per usual to this kind of club, it was one of those places that had a mix of three things: stench of cigarettes, leftover “essence” from the private parties, and of course, sweat from every prostitute dancing away and from every old, desperate man hoping get a small taste of women way out of their league.

Truth be told, Jackson wished he wasn’t this desperate, but he needed distractions,and the women here were of the finer variety. Hopefully his poorness isn’t a dead giveaway.

As he took a seat at the bar, Jackson gestured to the bartender. “A Jack, please. Neat.” He said turning around.

Moments later as his drink was set beside him, Jackson took it,and sipped it slowly. After a few more sips, he found his head kind of bogging side to side. Whatever song it was that they had playing, it was kind of catchy, so much so that Jackson wasn’t just moving his head anymore. He was sort of grooving in his seat.

And it would ended up getting to the point where Jackson would down his next drink, and go out to the dancefloor.

Fistpumping his arm into the air, Jackson obnoxiously shouted, “Turn up, Baybridge!”

Just like that, Jackson became the most obnoxious guy in the room, proving that white guys can’t - and shouldn’t - dance.

Way to lay low.

---

Strongriver Plaza, Hedgemount_

---

---

While Johnny and Gabe were getting food, Jake and Lin had their own plans. The former just hoped his older brother could control himself while he got things done. He held Lin in close as they searched for the woman... what was her name? Linda. Jake learned all sorts of things about her when Lin and Gabe was running things over with him. It was disgusting to know one of the Founding Family's favorite dogs was just living her life. Jake would love to turn her life over on her head, but Jake also knew that it'd be counter intuitive at this point.

Do you see her? Jake sent the message over to Lin, as he looked around... and realized he was in a busy club. Well, I take that back. Let's check the bar.

The two moved over to the bar, and hoped that Linda was there. Lin sat down first, and Jake right next to her. He smiled at his girlfriend as he looked her in the eye. The bartender walked up, when Jake said, "Long island iced tea."

"I don't drink, so do you have water?" Lin said, and the bartender nodded, and prepared Jake's drink. When he took one look at the other people at the bar. Usually young folks out clubbing, but there was an older woman all by herself, with a drink. Jake narrowed his eyes... she was fair-featured, freckles, curly brown hair, and wore jeans and a vest.

Oh, that's Linda.

Far ahead of you, Jake. Lin said, as she looked at Jake, and said (out loud this time), "Oh, Jake, that's one of the employees for my father's corporation. Let's go talk to her." Jake immediately got why she spoke out loud (and it did look weird two lovers staring at eachother).

Just follow my lead. Lin sent him the telepathic message as she got up and walked over towards Linda. "Hey, Linda?" She said to the older woman, and got her attention. "How are you doing? I haven't seen you in awhile."

The woman awkwardly smiled, and Jake could tell she knew something was up. Or was it just guilt? Either way, long as she wasn't running, everything was gonna turn out fine.

"Oh, hello Lin... I... um," Linda trailed off as she scratched the back of her neck.

"Oh, what's wrong?" Lin asked.

"I just never expected to see you here... I mean you are one of the daughters of Jiao-Long... in this dump?" Linda explained, and Lin just smiled.

"I wouldn't have come here, but Jake dragged me here," Lin said as she grabbed onto Jake's arms, and he smiled confidently.

"Yeah, I just thought that coming to a club once wouldn't hurt." Jake said, "It's nice to meet an employee of Jiao-Long."

"Want to go to the VIP lounge?" Lin asked, "I can't hear anything!"

Linda nodded her head. "Lead the way!"

The trio went over to the VIP lounge, but Lin had a few things to tell Jake. Something that she wanted to do...

I don't think we should jump the gun... lemme see what her thoughts are, and at least confirm she's with the Founding Family. Lin sent Jake the thought, and he nodded. It wasn't long before the trio got into a booth that Lin was able to secure with a wave of her fingers. With Jake and Lin on one side, and Linda on the other. The two kept smiling, and steady eye-contact with the woman.

"Well, Linda, how's life?" Lin asked. "I imagine you're quite the scientist!"

For a moment, Linda pondered, "Life's been going well, it's been a little tough with the Saviors upping their standards a bit, but I've managed."

"That's great," Lin asked, and Jake wondered when she'd pop the question. His mind could only take so much awkward small talk.

"How's your father been doing?" Linda asked, "I know it's tough getting to the top minds of the Savior Foundation... but, I've been curious."

Lin grinned slightly, as if Linda entered her trap, "Well... life's been really hard on my father lately. He's been really stressed." She started off, "He wants to help people... but ever since what happened with the Founding Family... it's been weighing down on him."

Why is she telling me all of this? Linda thought to herself.

Lin shook her head, while keeping her eyes on Linda's mind, before she continued, "I think he's developed a mild obsession with them... he just keeps pacing around in his room repeating...."

She briefly glanced at Jake, worryingly.

"... Serve perfectum est imperfectus."

That was when Linda's eyes went wide, and she thought to herself.

Mr. Liu is with the remnants... that doesn't any sense. He fought against the Family to the bitter end...

Perfect. Lin thought to herself, before she looked at Jake. She's with the Founding Family. She sent a mental message to everyone in the group.

Johnny was currently eating shrimp when he heard Lin's voice. Oh baby! Just when Johnny thought it was a waste of time coming to this clusterfuck of kids twerking on each other. He was just about ready to explode! Now, it was showtime. The Valos was going to show this bitch why they set the bar for excellence so damn high that nobody can reach it.

He ate the shrimp, and pushed himself away from the table, and closed in on the VIP lounge. Now, all they had to do was capture the bitch, and then they'd get some interrogations done.

Maybe Johnny will get Mika to give her a lapdance.

Nothing will break a human mind faster than Mika's disgusting fat body moving sensually.

---

The bathroom of the club however was lively as the dancefloor, but in it's own way.

"... I'm not going to take that," A boy said to his friend, who offered him a pink. "You know what that shit does to people?"

"This is the problem, bro!" His friend answered, "You're too tight, too weighed down... you just need a little bit of... Happiness."

He shook his head, worried about the stories of people getting aggressive and attacking people when on that shit. He couldn't even fathom taking it. He merely turned away, and walked out of the bathroom.

"More for me," He said to his friend as he took the pill, and smiled like a fool as he fell backwards. Every second the effect of the Happiness drug got even more enjoyable for him. He felt a pleasure overcome him, as all he could think were happy thoughts. He felt a joy like no other as all of his pain, all of his worries, all of his fears, utterly disappeared. That was the power of a simple pink pill, after all.

One of the things the drug did, however, was mute his ability to sense. He couldn't even notice that somebody had walked into the room, and stood over him for a moment. Before he felt a sting in the side of his neck, and something entering him.

"H-huh?" He asked, as he looked around. He tried to push himself to his feet to face the woman.

"Hey, sweetie, I think you're really cute," A feminine voice spoke, he couldn't process it. He felt someone grab his hand. "How about we go dance?"

"Yeah..." The man said, believing that he just bagged a girl, the drug warping his mind to the point where he had no idea what was real, and what was fantasy. He was pulled through the crowds, until he was in the center of the dancefloor. He just went with it... and started dancing to the flow of the music.

Before he came to an abrupt stop, freezing like a stone, as he stared straight up at the lights above him.

Something was wrong. The pleasure ended without a warning, and not only that... he felt his entire body burn. He was so hot right now that it felt like he was on fire! But, there was not a single flame on him. He dropped to his knees as he stared at his hands, patting his arms and legs.

"Oh my God, somebody help me!" The man shouted as everyone stared at him. He killed the party vibe.

"What's wrong with him?"

"Is he tweaking?"

But, that wasn't the end of it. He began to experience a pain like no other, and was forced to drop to his hands and knees. He loudly yelled as he uncontrollably spasmed. Steam began to come off his body as it began to... bloat. He underwent a transformation that caused massive tumor-like growths to form all over his body. His head and torso merged into one large, deformed bodypart that was similar to a block in appearance. His right-arm grew several growths until it was no longer an arm, but a hideous club. His legs were also bloated in comparison to make up for his increase in size and weight.

His head was still topped with the same black hair that he had, but his face was not even there anymore. His eyes were black and beady, his mouth was merely a bloody opening with a mass of deformed teeth. There was nothing else. No nose, no ears, nothing. Just a horrid abomination.

He was oozing blood from the transformation. Everyone had screamed, and gave him distance... but, once it was over. He stood high and mighty, and stared everyone down. He used to be overcome with happiness, but all he could feel was....

... rage.

The former human let out a wail that no human being could make, and ran at the crowd of people with surprising speed. He threw one blow, and someone was sent flying into a wall, killing them instantly.

Everyone ran for the door.

---

"Holy shit."

Johnny and Gabe were unfortunate enough to witness the transformation that took place. It looked painful... and honestly, they were too shocked to even move. Johnny's seen some shit before, but this takes the cake. It topped shit mountain in terms of what-the-fuck factor.

"... That is the most horrifying thing I've ever seen in my entire life."

The beast went on a rampage while everyone was running around. Why does mayhem and destruction always follow the Valos wherever the hell they went? Johnny was starting to wonder if they were a magnet for this shit. Well, no matter... They had to get the hell out of here.

Jake and Lin looked on in horror... before Linda got the hell out of there. "Wait, Linda!" Lin said, before she hopped to her feet. She tugged at Jake, and said, "We can't lose her now!"

The two ran after Linda, as Lin sent a message to the others.

She's running for the exit!

... And that was what Johnny was worried about. Just when everything was going so well. Ugh! He'll just have to handle this himself! Gabe pointed both hands at the monster, and they glew with a red light that burned Johnny's eyes just by looking at them. And the firestarter was being herself....

Johnny pushed her hands down, before he said, "Heeeeeey there, firestarter," He started off. "Let RAVEN handle this, Linda gettin' away!"

While Gabe wanted to fry this thing, and get it over with, she knew it sure as hell wasn't a Valos fight. She just nodded her head and followed Johnny as they ran after Linda.

---

---

The date had fallen into a lull. Lily and Aaron ate in mostly silence. Things felt horribly awkward to Lily, but Aaron seemed worse off. Not long after they had sat down, the club started to fill with people, and the number of people coming in began to make Aaron more nervous. The room got much hotter with the crowds of people travelling to the dance floor, and the DJ cranked up the music. Aaron's face grew hot, and he habitually wiped away beads of waxy sweat from his forehead. He felt his chest grow tight and his hands begin to shake. He nearly dropped his glass of water. 'Oh God,' he thought. 'Oh god, this is bad. I'm gonna have a panic attack. No! No, you're not! Not here! Not now! You'll be okay! Just talk!'

'Talk to who? The woman you've been deceiving for a half hour?' Aaron tugged at his collar and wiped his forehead again.

"Hey, are you feeling alright?" Lily asked.

"Uh, um,"

'Let's be honest with her, yeah,' Aaron thought. "I'm just, uh, not feeling very well."

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Lily said. "If I knew you weren't feeling well we could've gone home!" Aaron sighed.

"I just, uh, didn't want to like, ruin your fun or anything." Aaron said.

Then he heard a scream from the other side of the room. The dance floor exploded in fear as some kind of horrific monster reared up in the center of the crowd. People stampeded from the dance floor, pushing others aside and turning over dinner tables. Aaron's face went white as paper, and he gasped. As he tried to get up from the table, he was shoved over by the wave of people. He crashed into a four-person table and winced as a boot stepped on his chest. He moved to get up, but before he could a person running from the dance floor kicked him in the ribs. They fell over him, shoving him to the ground, and scrambled back to their feet. In the background, he could hear the monster roar. 'Jesus Christ,' Aaron thought to himself. 'Oh god no, no no no no no...' He felt his skin grow burning hot. His skin turned to burning hot wax beneath his clothes, and glowed a dull yellow. He shoved up to his feet, pushing the table over, and ran towards the exit. As he ran, a large man bumped into him and recoiled as boiling wax stuck to his shirt, burning him. Aaron's eyes were fixed solely on the "EXIT" sign ahead, and anyone who bumped into him was quite literally toast.

Aaron was already hyperventilating by the time he shoved out of the restaurant and into the street. He ran down the street as fast as he could. He wasn't sure where he was going, but he was getting as far away from that cursed place. As he ran, he could feel his skin drip, leaving a trail of wax behind him. Several people in the fleeing crowd cried out in pain as drips of wax burned their skin, a result of getting to close to Aaron's flailing arms. Aaron ran several blocks down the street before he dove headlong into an alley next to a restaurant. Others still ran past, heading further down the avenue. In the distance, Aaron could hear a barrage of sirens heading towards the club.

Aaron curled into a ball behind a trash can. He was hyperventilating and shaking uncontrollably. His skin had begun to cool down, leaving his hair in a mess and his skin badly wrinkled. Several holes had burned in his shirt and pants. He started to cry, and a mixture of snot and wax melted down his face. His mind was racing. His skin felt freezing cold. His heart pounded in his chest so hard that it hurt his ribs and made his chest ache. He grabbed for his phone in his pocket, but the joints in his hands, cold from lack of blood, seized up and cracked. The phone tumbled from his hands and landed on the asphalt. He began to feel light-headed from lack of oxygen. Then he tipped over and collapsed to the ground, half-conscious, still hyperventilating, still crying.

---

Strongriver Plaza, Hedgemount_

---

---

Down the road from the Golden Throne sat a building with a simple sign out front, The White Elephant. Though despite it, the restaurant was practically invisible. It had little to no presence, was interconnected with other establishments in the same structure, and appeared to be more like a dingy old dive than anything else since, on the outside, it didn't look anywhere near as decorated as the nearby popular haunts. Entering through the door, though, revealed a hidden gem. A savory aroma of rich foods and spices, while perhaps an offensive odor to those not conditioned to such flavorful dishes, there was at least no denying the quaint atmosphere inside. A deep shade of red cloth draped the tables, napkins folded neatly to hold the silverware, water was delivered to the tables not by pitchers, but by tall glass bottles, giving the restaurant an inexpensive albeit classier experience. The dim lightning could be enjoyed by recluses and romantics alike.

Inside, Andrea was seated with the company of her Happiness notes, so she wasn't alone if you consider binders and folders of records covering the drug history of Baybridge to be suitable companionship. To be totally honest, not even Andrea thought so, and sometimes looking at her own stockpile of work made her feel sick to her stomach... but then she would recall her own history of trauma and measure it against what she knows of the current drug epidemic, and its significance becomes too much for her to ignore. There is one thing that helps her get through it though: it gave her purpose. Some people, some much older than her, are still out there looking for purpose and there is no telling what will happen after the Happiness problem gets fixed. She might as well latch onto that purpose while she still has it.

She continued to stare down her notes, tapping a pencil against her forehead as she tried to make sense of everything. There were things that she knew for certain: conventional drugs produced chemicals in the brain to make the consumer feel a certain way, but it was done at the expense of the body. It broke down tissue and sometimes deprived key nutrients. Medical records of certain citizens have shown strong correlations between Happiness usage and tumor growth, which meant that it promoted uncontrolled cell growth. Supposedly they were non-malignant, at least in the sense that it wasn't related to cancer, but instead reacted to some compounds. It wasn't an exact science and couldn't get the samples to grow in the same manner and speed as one could post-ingestion of the Happiness drug. Even with a sample, the scientists couldn't make heads or tails of the real issue of it. All they could really figure out was that the pills were made up of mostly concentrated dopamine and sugars, with the center being what was essentially extremely dense glucose, or a glucose bomb, saturated in an acidic, but unregistered mystery chemical. The center was isolated from the rest of the pill in an indigestible shell of raffinose. The concentrated hormones would probably burn holes straight into the brain and create some early onset dementia.

Most of the information after that much started to read like Greek to her – she took the wrong classes in school to be figuring out biochemistry. The minute someone needed to represent them in court or give legal advice, she'll be all over it. In the meantime, she'll just do what she can with online resources. Anyways, one problem was that there was a reason for the growth and it was difficult to pinpoint how these tumors were developing to the degree they were growing at. Cancer cells typically developed in a body exposed to stress and an acidic environment, could grow by absorbing glucose, it was just a matter of figuring out the mystery chemical... Andrea narrowed her brows, then went onto her phone to make an online search, “raffinose”. Reading an article, it said “Raffinose can be hydrolyzed to D-galactose and sucrose by the enzyme α-galactosidase (α-GAL), an enzyme not found in the human digestive tract.”

She wasn't going to pretend that she understood most of that, but what she did understand was that there was something that could break through the raffinose shell in the pill, presumably long after the soluble outer half was dissolved. Then the acidic mystery chemical could be exposed, alter the body's pH and whatever else it did, and the glucose bomb could... be digested. The gears were beginning to click into place in Andrea's head. It took several doses before serious effects took over, but it could explain why a single dose would promote tumor growth so quickly – but how would α-GAL get into the system?

The hair on her body began standing on end out of nowhere, and suddenly the world around her livened. The apparitions in her field of vision were antsy, moving about, and Andrea could faintly hear the crying of a young man and the flux of his emotions were such that even she was nearly overwhelmed. God, this... it reminded her of the time she... of four years ago. He was right outside the restaurant. Quickly, she payed her bill and left her tip and gathered all of her research into a messenger bag and hurried outside, where she saw the man laying helplessly on the ground. She felt his mind beginning to slip. He was hyperventilating and in blind panic, but wasn't suffering any bad injuries. She rushed to his side and lifted his head off the pavement and into her hand instead. “Hey, hey! Stay with me now, okay sir?” She cooed in her efforts to comfort the man, but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't feeling panicked herself. “Look at me – look at me, try to relax! Try to stop for a second, then take a deep, long breath. Okay? Can you do that for me?”

She'd issue a request to dig deeper for more information, but there was so much to sort out in this man's head that it was like trying to walk straight forward through a maze. There was no doing so unless she tore down barriers, and that would be as traumatic on her as it would be on him. All she could do is let the images and sounds come as they came – anxiety. Anxiety, anxiety, anxiety – death, dying, fear – hate, hating himself, guilty, girl – girl left behind, friend – monster. An image flashed in her head of grisly abomination. Abnormal growths, blood bubbling to the surface from beneath the skin's pores, a wretched face, and tumors everywhere on the surface of this creature's body. She raised her head and her eyes darted toward the direction of the Golden Throne where the faint sound of screaming crowds could be heard, and soon, also sirens. No, no, no, no, no... there was no way, she didn't want to be right, but God... something was telling her that something was very wrong. Something incredibly fucked up was going on. She looked back down to the hyperventilating man who was in her lap now. His skin felt chilly and waxy to the touch.

“Hey, it's alright,” she insisted, “you're safe now. I'm helping you.”

---

---

RAVEN/DOVE Joint Headquarters, White Coast_

---

---

Before the majority of the RAVENs could file out of the room, however, Director Reed Taylor stepped into the room from a side entrance, whilst a broad man of stocky build stepped into the room, donning an unmarked variation of the RAVEN field uniform, a telescopic baton resting on his hip. "Agents Taylor, Zhao, Takashiro and Jean-Pierre - can I keep you for a short moment?"

It wasn't exactly unusual for Baybridge's local DOVE authority to personally involve himself in the affairs of RAVEN, but it was still an act which probably raised a few eyebrows - save for Maximilian Cornell, who was fully aware of what his intentions were. "Sorry for keeping you, but given you're among our senior field agents, both Max and I decided it was worth making you aware of this and, well, involving you. As you're aware, both DOVE and RAVEN ares currently participating in an exchange program with our counterparts in Britain, Germany, France - etcetera. We've already sent a few of our agents from various branches overseas for this purpose, but we're also playing host to several foreign agents as well."

Reed briefly turned towards the stocky man behind him, then gestured towards the rest of the room. "Everyone, this is Frank Marshall, one of our counterparts in the MISW who will be working among us for the foreseeable future. Agent Marshall, this is Quentin Taylor and Meifeng Zhao, both part of RAVEN's field command structure and, as you might've guessed, Quent here also happens to be my brother," Director Taylor briefly flashed his elder a smile, before gesturing to the other two agents in the room, "We also have Shizuka Takashiro, one of RAVEN's senior field agents and Francis Jean-Pierre who, I recall, was actually recruited from another one of our counterpart agencies in Brazil not too long ago. I expect you'll be working together rather soon."

"That is correct, sir," Francis nodded his head as he looked at the man. Well, this was certainly a surprise. Francis wasn't informed of this ahead of time, but it was maybe because he was too busy with this case. Making sure the Devil of Verthaven didn't return tends to do that. He made sure to react to Frank Marshall the same way he did with everyone: with a smile! "It is great to meet you, Agent Marshall. Shall I get you up to date on our case? There's a lot to it."

"Please, I'd appreciate it." Frank nodded to his counterpart, who happened to share the same name. Then, Francis quickly ran through an explanation of the case to Frank, though in truth he probably ended up missing a a few things because of the need to keep within a short timeframe.

The MISW... Meifeng raised an eyebrow as she looked at Frank. It was common knowledge what the MISW did for a living, so there was no point in going over it. It wasn't something that Meifeng approved of, and she wasn't in the mood to just go 'Oh, okay, it's the past,' and forget about it. While she sure as hell didn't approve of the actions of terrorists, she felt like the MISW had got what was coming to them. Then again, it came from far above her pay grade, and Maximilian's big fat pockets, so there wasn't much she could do. She merely looked over at Frank, and remained silent.

Shizuka rolled his eyes at how Reed had introduced him to their new comrade. "Well, if being the head of the more back-end intelligence department counts as a demotion from front-line duties, yeah." Though, there wasn't a hint of sarcasm in his tone. He wasn't really complaining about taking the 'backseat' in most RAVEN operations now - it seemed that way in the eyes of most (not helped by his lazy, laid-back reputation), because none of them truly knew the huge responsibility he had to shoulder in his current job position.

Not like anyone would care, anyway. It was all either about getting the job done, or be the scapegoat for the failure.

He wasn't as easygoing as Francis, nor bitter like Meifeng was; he'd be lying if he didn't feel mixed about MISW due to their past relation with the Founding Faggots, but at the same time it wasn't entirely the organization's fault that things had to turn out that way. He merely greeted back with a quick wave, leaving it to the rest to deal with the awkward silence.

Quentin was the first to step forth to exchange a firm, albeit formal handshake with his MISW counterpart, before getting straight to the point as always. "Forgive me for asking, Agent Marshall, but... you're aware of the kind of threat we're dealing with at the moment, right? The last few years have seen us facing dangerous individuals with backgrounds in paramilitary and terrorist organisations, resourceful and well-equipped at that." The veteran RAVEN wondered just how this Brit would deal with the likes of the Hound, or even the Changeling Unit, after all, particularly given it was an open secret that the man's superiors had at one point been tied to their kind.

For a moment, Frank was tempted to feel slightly offended at the notion, before realising that neither of these men (or the woman) had spent a great deal of time with the likes of him or his lot. "Absolutely. I suspected you might have had your concerns - we Britons aren't exactly known for our militaristic approach towards things, but I can assure you I've had my share of training and experience in similar matters." In fact, Frank was willing to bet that he'd dirtied his hands in business that none of the men in this room would have - after all, the DOVE/RAVEN twin agencies weren't exactly known for dabbling in the undoubtedly unethical areas of espionage, subterfuge and manipulation as the MISW had come to be thought of. "That said, I'm as much here to observe and learn as I am to contribute. I'll defer to your lead - this is your operation, after all."

Meifeng had the same sentiments as Quentin. She was somewhat tempted to ask Frank if his experience beating Metahumans would transfer, but that was more than a little snide. But, she couldn't help herself but ask one question. "How long have you worked for the MISW?" His answer would lead into her next question, or if Meifeng would relent.

"About ten years, more or less - but I was picked up for training two years before then, so I've had twelve years under their wing." Frank said, after a moment's thought, picking up on her skepticism (and perhaps noticing the apprehensiveness in the room). "I take it you're well-versed yourselves?"

Ten years... Yeah, Meifeng couldn't just say that he did nothing wrong while working for the MISW. Even if he was just another tool of the Founding Family, he was probably complacent in some degree. She would keep her eye on him, at least for now. For now, she managed to force a smile as she said. "That's great." She shrugged, as she said. "I'm as well-versed as any other RAVEN, so let's do some good in this operation."

"Alright, are we done with introductions?" Maximilian Cornell said as he crossed his arms. "We need everyone to suit up and roll out."

---

Oakdell Harbor, White Coast_

The drive there was brief for some of the RAVENs, but for the likes of Meifeng, it felt like an hour. Even though it was ten years ago, the greatest tragedy in the world; the Verthaven disaster, was still fresh on her mind. The idea that somebody out there wanted to use what was left of her to create more abominations was frightening. Meifeng lost many close friends of hers to her. She merely sighed as she sat in the back of this armored truck with the RAVEN symbol as everyone who wanted to prevent anymore bullshit closed in on Oakdell Harbor. She merely kept her rifle in close as she gave everyone else in the vehicle a glance. She smiled for a moment there, as she remembered all the other bullshit they made it through. The Founding Family would had destroyed the world if it wasn't for them.

They had this.

The truck came to a stop, as the back doors opened, and Meifeng quickly grabbed her rifle. She heard Maximilian's voice in the comms,

"Remember, we're going to be supporting the BPD," Maximilian started off. "You are only to engage any Metahumans that the Mafia may have, and you'll be bringing the arm back to headquarters."

"Understood, sir," Francis answered, and tightly grabbed his shotgun. Well, that made their job easier. Just wait for the BPD to handle the goons. The only problem is that Francis had little idea what Metahumans they had at their disposals, or if they had any Metahumans to begin with. They didn't have a whole lot of time to find out. Either way, Francis was going to make sure that everyone gets out of here without a single casualty. He slid down his helmet's visor, as he looked at his team, "We should get a move on," He smiled, "It'd be a shame if we kept them waitin'."

On that note, the group got out of the armored truck, and went into a single file as they stuck to the walls, the BPD's finest SWAT moved far ahead of them. As RAVEN was merely there for standby, after all. They missed all the action too, but they saw several of the Russians being taken down, and arrested. Not a single shot fired, or a single sound. Meifeng was impressed. But, the group pressed on.

"We have a Metahuman!" One of the police said over the radios. "He's by Docks B... you really, really, can't miss him! He's a monster!"

"That was fast," Meifeng said to herself. "Let's get a move on before anyone gets killed."

Quickly moving over to Docks B... it became pretty obvious what the police were so worried about. A truck was overturned and punted into a nearby warehouse. That made them pick up the pace. They stopped at a corner where they heard the most stomping, and Francis looked around it... he saw a massive Metahuman that looked like a man made entirely of muscle fibers. He was getting shot at, and shrugged it off like it was nothing. He continued his rampage like it was nothing. He tore the doors of yet another

"Strong, impervious to bullets, big..." Francis explained as he slid back towards his group. "We're gonna have to containment foam him... but we have to get close. Any of ya'll got a gameplan?"

"Counterpoint here, I suggest we draw him away from the SWAT teams first, then into range of our containment foam," Quentin's voice hailed in over the comms, after what felt like hours of radio silence on his part. As they spoke, the veteran RAVEN was seated in the passenger compartment of an armoured truck with the organisation's logo printed across the body, a team of his own stacked inside as they moved to intercept their target. "Wave, can you get a team ready to lure him our way? We're just coming up to Docks C."

"Yeah," Meifeng answered. "But, how are we going to subdue him...?"

It was a valid point, though there wasn't a great deal of time

"Copy," Quentin affirmed him, lurching forward in his seat for just a moment as their truck rounded yet another corner, "Wave, we're moving into position now."

Meifeng nodded, going through the motions in her head : take out this Meta, then find the Devil's arm at any cost. She peaked around the corner... she had the feeling that this guy was just a big distraction, and they were just going to use this moment to get the hell out of dodge.

"Francis," Meifeng got her coworker's attention, "With me. You're going to lead a team that'll flank the bastard from the back while I go in from the front. Got it?"

"Loud and clear," Francis answered, "Captain."

Hmph. He had a lot to learn, but in the meantime, Meifeng would make good use out of him. She nodded her head at the RAVENs behind her, and gestured for them to follow her. She was, once again, going to lead the charge. They got in position behind (and on top of some) some shipping crates, while Francis took the other side. She peaked around the corner and saw the bastard go on a rampage. They needed to stop him now. She pressed her earpiece.

"Fire!" Meifeng shouted as the RAVENs opened fire on the beast from all sides. The bullets don't pierce him, but it was becoming apparent that it was hurting him. He covered his face with his muscular arms as he swung around to find an opening to escape, shifting his great mass towards the far side of the docks as it proved that at least one of the alleyways between the warehouses hadn't been fully locked down by the fireteams.

---

Quentin's team quickly deployed from their response truck, taking up positions in preparation for the behemoth-sized target that was heading their way. Two men were immediately positioned at either side of the open space that was the emptied dock, each equipped with an M4 rifle and M203 launcher, followed by three men (including Marshall, who had been attached to Quentin's team for the course of this op) positioned in the center - Quentin himself among them. Whilst Marshall and the other man beside him were equipped with the typical AR pattern rifles, the veteran RAVEN firmly held an M23 MGL in hand, along with a slung Remington M870 that had been loaded with slugs, just in case.

"Once the target crosses into sight, fire on my mark - but hold the containment foam until I call it, upon which I want you to hold back on lethal force unless the situation calls for otherwise," he said, keeping a finger pressed against his transmit button, "Remember to check your fire for friendlies as well, they're pushing the target our way." Then, he relinquished his grip, turning to either man positioned close beside him, "Crown, I want you to put a fireball down if he gets too close." He received a prompt nod from his colleague, before returning the same gesture to the Briton in their ranks to acknowledge him. Hopefully this would pan out well enough, even with an unknown such as Marshall on their team - Reed had vouched for him, as had Max, so that meant something at least.

"Target's heading your way." Meifeng spoke.

"Acknowledged, Wave - hold your team back, but make sure he stays on-course."

Soon, as expected, the behemoth-sized man made an appearance, lurching forward into their line of sight. "Fire!" Quentin squeezed back on the trigger of the launcher, projecting a metal canister towards the target - inside was a fast-acting mixture of metahuman suppressant and tear gas, intended for use against the likes of their rampaging target. This, combined with a volley of fire from both Crown, Marshall, and the other two agents under his command seemed to suffice in at least staggering their target, causing him enough disorientation that he almost seemed to lose his footing, slowing him down enough to enact the next tier of Quentin's plan of attack.

"Contain, contain!" He barked again, then fired off a second canister into their target's mass. It ruptured upon striking him in the arm and from it burst forth a dull grey foam which quickly began to expand, coating the rampaging metahuman's arm in the substance - at the same time, the two men that Quentin had positioned at either side of the dork a mere minute before had fired off their own canisters from their underslung launchers, coating the target's leg and mid-section in the same substance which too began to expand and harden against his mass, only this seemed to spur him on to fight even harder. Quentin let off a low grunt, then fired off more canisters, covering the target with more of the expanding foam yet even then he still fought wildly, trying to cut loose and flee elsewhere. Containment foam was always a godsend to see in action, but even then the big bastard was making it a hard-fought battle - and Quentin knew from experience that the foam needed time to harden, time which was scarce if the target managed to force himself enough leeway. Dropping his M23, he reached for his slung M870 and levelled it towards his target, just as Crown got ready to put a fireball downrange towards their target.

Yet before the veteran RAVEN could resort to firing off a series of decidedly lethal slugs at the target's exposed vital areas, Frank intervened, stepping forward, "Marshall here, I'll try and calm the target down, hold fire!"

It was at that point that Quentin recalled from the brief glance at Marshall's file that the man possessed some form of empathic abilities, the details of which he was not particularly aware of, though if it worked it would work, "Copy, check fire, check fire!" Nonetheless, he kept

As Frank closed in, he could feel the sheer rage and blind panic that seemed to seep out from the foamed behemoth, No doubt he'd probably been dosed up with something in order to spurn him on - it was like watching a steroid junkie on a rampage in a gym, only instead of weights and barbells the man had taken to punting cars and chunks of scenery all over the place. And, if he wasn't too careful, he'd have wound up on the list as well - not exactly the best start to his time in the states. Pushing these thoughts aside, however, Frank forced himself to concentrate on the matter at hand, delving into the depths of the man's drug-addled, twisted mind, reaching inside and plucking at whatever strings he could, forcing his way in past the rage to bring the man to submission.

From an observer's perspective, it was strange to see Marshall in action. It was like watching a man taming a wild mustang yet at the same time was also reminiscent of watching the same man smother someone with a pillow as they fruitlessly fought against the attempt. In some respects, it was almost unsettling to see - yet it got the results needed. Slowly, but surely, the behemoth's fighting resolve seemed to weaken, the hardening foam further suppressing any spirit that had been within him and preventing him from lashing out as he had before. Quickly, Quentin moved in, weapon at the ready.

"Keep him down, get a collar on him." Once the metaphoric dust had settled, the team moved quickly enough - one of the agents who had been on foam detail hastily returned with a collar and snapped it on around the man's comparably diminutive neck, eliminating any remaining (albeit minute) chance of further resistance on his part.

"Counterpoint here," Quentin hailed in, yet again, "Target's been contained but we'll need a transport detail for this one. Might need a medical unit on standby too, looks like another overload dosage." More derivatives of the infamous drug once used by the Founders' agents had spilled into the criminal underworld over the last few years and it was an easy guess for Quentin that this man had been subjected to one of the many examples out there.

"Good work Agent Counterpoint," Maximilian answered. "Other agents will take it from there."

"Heh, knew we could count on you, Counterpoint,"Meifeng answered. "Let's hurry up and get back into position. The BPD will be waiting for us."

---

Okay, it had sounded like Mr. Marshall there was a Domination-type... specifically when it came to one's emotions. Meifeng wished that she could have known that a little earlier during her little issue with him in the meeting. Eh, either way. She would worry about that much, much, later.

"Target neutralised," Meifeng reported over the comms with a press of her earpiece. Oi, he wasn't that tough. Probably one of those bastards who thought they had big dicks because they-

A bullet came from out of nowhere, and pierced the head of one of the RAVENs under her command. "What th- Find cover!" She immediately jumped into action as she, with a swift movement, swung her hand upwards, and summoned a wave of water. However, once the wave reached peak height, it froze solid. She slammed her back against it, and prepped her rifle. She was just afraid to stick her head out in case the bastard take it off.

Francis, on the other hand, punched the ground, and summoned his psychic-shell, which gave off a lilac, transparent hue. Bullets rippled off his shell, just as he was confident they would, yet he knew that he couldn't take too much. He'd only chose to do this instead of running for cover because he wanted to see who in the hell was shooting at him. No mobster could have fired with this degree of...

He looked at the rooftop, and saw men and women in helmet clad in armor. He saw the faint red glow of their goggles... and the emblem of the dog.

"ZODIAC!" Francis shouted as he rolled behind the wall of ice.

"Fuck, those animals..." Meifeng knew it was just about time that the ZODIAC fuckers show up. She was ready for them, and she was going to kill the Hound this time. She pressed her earpiece. "This is Agent Rogue Wave! ZODIAC has been sighted by Dock B! I repeat, ZODIAC has been sighted by Dock B!" She shouted into the comms.

"Damn it!" Maximilian said. "All RAVENs, you are to engage ZODIAC and keep their fire away from the BPD at any cost."

"I'm wondering where in the hell their portals are!" Meifeng added. "Or..." Maybe they're mixing up their tactics to throw all their enemies off. Whatever the reason, Meifeng had to make sure that RAVEN were the ones who acquired the Devil's arm, not ZODIAC. That was the important task here.

On top of the same rooftop, the massive and terrifying frame of the ZODIAC group's leader... Sovereign, stood tall and mighty above the growing chaos. He grasped his own M23 Grenade launcher, pointed idly towards the sky as his digital goggles gave off a dull, glowing red shimmer. Sovereign pressed a button on the side of his helmet, and said,

"Everyone here is a combatant..." He trailed off. "...Which means everyone is fair game. Bring me that arm..."

He stared at the RAVENs below him.

"...And kill anyone in your way."

The Golden Throne - Strongriver Plaza, Hedgemont

---

Jackson had gone through a few dance partners as the songs the DJ was playing had went on. One song and partner required Jackson to respond a certain way and another required him to respond a different way, but regardless of what the situation demanded, one thing that was clear to anyone on the dancefloor was that anyone within the periphery of Jackson’s vision was that he was having the time of his life. There wasn’t a single worry on his body, nor hinted at in his graceful movements.

In the last seconds of the most recent song that was played, Jackson felt the call of capoeira beckon him, so he gave a little tease to those who had been dancing with him for almost ten minutes. He transitioned his footing into a back handstand, and pushed off of his right arm and twirled around. He came upright to the sight of - well, at first glance, it looked like Doomsday from that godawful Batman v. Superman film that completely ruined the character.

Jackson couldn’t find himself to move. Not because he was scared, but he thought the screams he heard as he transitioned upward was the screams of delight because he was giving the crowd something to cheer about, not because of whatever-the-fuck-this-thing was brought fear and terror to their eyes. EVen before Jackson knew it, the club had been emptied.

Well, probably save for a few people. Like for one, the bartender was frozen still. Out of fear, no less. And to make matters worse, the behemoth of a man was heading straight for him. Obviously out of blind rage.

With Jackson behind the bar and the beast-man making a bulldozing b-line for the bar, Jackson ran as fast as he could, taking the bartender to the ground just a mere pace out of the lane of the Abomination’s path of destruction. But just Doomsday from Dawn of Justice, it seemed this beast was a one-man wrecking crew, and wasn’t going to stop, so Jackson would, instead of running away, give the bartender a brief window to get to safety. As for Jackson himself…

“Hey ugly!” Jackson called out, jumping the counter. “You want some of this!?” Jackson, ungracefully, shook his gluteus maximus at the beast.

No matter how far-gone the mind has gone, there is something universally disrespectful about getting an ass being shook right in your face and having to lash out in a fit of rage. Call it a pride thing.

And that’s exactly what Jackson had intended to do. By doing what he did, Jackson lured the beast away from the bar, which would allow the bartender a brief window to get the fuck out of dodge. This meant that Jackson was alone with the beast. What fun.

As Mr. Pride himself came at Jackson, the male would wait for the right moment. Just as the beast was a pace or two away from him, Jackson flipped forward, an arc of fire trailing along his body. As his leg came down dead center on the beast’s head, the fire surrounded his foot, giving it a much needed boost of power behind it. The end result was that Jackson had halted the beast where it stood. And, as if time stood still, Jackson thrusted his arms forward, producing two streams of fire to strike the beast in its ugly head, forcing it back to the bar. The fire would set the wooden counter ablaze - and possibly the beast itself.

---

Strongriver Plaza, Hedgemount_

---

---

Rage... anger was the only thing the mutant spawned from Happiness could feel.

It's ability to feel pain was nullified by the drug. The flames that grazed against it's being burned it's tumors, but it couldn't feel a hint of pain. It swung it's club-like arm and splintered the bar into small, small, pieces as it continued forward. Jackson fired more fire against it, and it became painfully obvious that it wasn't going to stop it's berserk charge.

However, Jackson didn't account for his ability triggering a stable in modern day architecture: the sprinkler system. It came down and soaked the entire room as if it was rain. Depriving him of his superpower, and doing nothing to the mutant.

It looked at Jackson with beady eyes, before it used a sudden burst of speed, and brought down its club like hand on him.

The Golden Throne - Strongriver Plaza, Hedgemont

---

Jackson had jumped the gun. First, he should have known that a club - even one such as the Golden Throne - would have a sprinkler system in place. Second, based off of the look of things, Tumor Man wasn't even affected from the bursts of fire that he had sent forth at him. It didn't even seem to stop him.

As he had thrashed about, crushing the rest of the bar where the fire hadn't touched, Jackson studied it, hoping to gauge what exactly it was going to do next. He had never encountered such a beast in, well ever. He's encountered humans who had a lot of anger, but never living tumor-like monstrosities. Thanks a lot, God, you've finally shown me a first in my life time. I hope you're proud.

And while Jackson simply waited, not even ten seconds elapsed, and the Human Tumor came charging at Jackson. Surprisingly enough, it had covered the gap between them at alarming speeds. Its large club-like arm came down at Jackson, to which the male darted back into a handstand, kicking off of his legs, and extending the gap between them once again.

Doubtless, the beast would come charging again. Unfortunate. Jackson couldn't use his power because of the sprinklers. He would lead it outside, but that would put people in harm's way. So, Jackson either had to outlast this beast - which seemed unlikely - or try to find the sprinkler system control panel. Of course, this would be in-between not trying to die.

Fucking wonderful.

---

Greencrest Heights, White Coast_

---

---

So, today officially began Wendy's adventure to figure out what exactly in the hell happened to Sean Rosier!

Being somewhat backed by the Philosophers was not really much of a help as Wendy thought it'd be. Well, she also had to backtrack and ask herself "what was she expecting?" A fully equipped team of scientists? Bah, this was like some high school project. She shrugged as she raised a hand over the book that was rested on the table, and used her paper manipulation to shift through the pages of the research notes. She already went through them thoroughly (a few hundred times now). But, she wondered what would've been the best way to present it to Reinald. Maybe it might have been a bad idea to rope him into this... but far as she could tell, he seemed trustworthy, and it wasn't like there was some government agency coming after them, right?

Riiiiiiight?

Wendy took a sip of her blackberry tea that she got from this cafe that Kumiko had frequented. She invited her friends here to discuss the research notes... in a public place! How ingenious. Well, to be fair, Kumiko goaded her into doing it. Only because she wanted some free drinks... ugh. Wendy shook her head as she looked around, activity seemed fairly low, so there wasn't much to worry about to begin with. Maybe the barista might be listening in, but Wendy picked a table far away from everyone else. Now, she just had to wait for everyone to assemble.

Already seated beside her was Rowan, idly nursing a cup of hot chocolate that had been topped off with cream and the usual cocoa powder. He wasn't one for tea, or coffee, but there was something to be appreciated about downing a fresh hot chocolate after some time out in the sobering air of Baybridge. Much to Wendy's amusement, when he'd first raised the cup to take a gulp of the stuff down, he'd not realised at first that some of the cream (and the cocoa powder which had been sprinkled across it) had slung to the tufts of beard which had grown around his mouth during their three year long roadtrip. Though, a quick lip of the lips seemed to remedy that, at least.

Entering the cafe that Wendy had arranged to meet them in, Rori glanced around to see if anyone else had arrived. They weren't surprised that Wendy was already there but hadn't expected to be the first of the other three to arrive. They had been certain they were running late when they hurried out the door. Then again travel as a bird did always make things more efficient (unless they wanted to carry large loads around). No public transport or traffic.

"Hey Wendy," Rori waved a response, and grinned, as they went over to sit next at the table their friend was at. They had to sit sideways in the chair, a little bit uncomfortable, but there wasn't much more to do with the irritated wings attached to their back. They were pretty much used to this by now. "This cafe looks nice." They turned their head to look around with a sharp gaze as they spoke. "I've never been here before - do you come here often? I wonder what I should have to drink..."

"You should try the peppermint cooler! It's one of our most refreshing drinks, like a mojito without the alcohol."

The big-sized man waiting on tables nearby them threw out a suggestion. He brushed a lock of messy, curly hair away from his tanned face and smiled.

"My creation. The cafe puts it out from time to time. If you want I can get an order of that for you."

"Uh, sure," Rori just nodded, not sure what else to say.

The barista shouting from the countertop threw Wendy off guard just a little bit, but she nodded her head as she focused on Rori. "Kumiko hangs out here, and she suggested we use it as a meeting place because..." She looked over at Kumiko chatting to the barista, and getting a fancy drink that Wendy never heard of. "...She wanted me to pay for her drink." She rolled her eyes.

"So, uh, all we have to do is wait for Rein... but, in the meantime, would you like to talk for a moment?" Wendy said. "There's... so much to talk about, I don't even know where to begin."

"Yeah, we've been all over the states, I guess," Rowan interjected, reclining in his seat, "Seen a lot of stuff, y'know?"

"Talking sounds good," Rori grinned at them, raising an eyebrow at Rowan as he spoke. They weren't really sure how to take that. "I imagine you have a lot to talk about... it's been three years. That's a lot of time, so much can happen. I'm sure you'll be glad to find out I haven't become any less talkative, though!" Rori laughed slightly. "I haven't, uh, been all over the states like you two so anything I've done is probably boring in comparison. You'll both have so much more to talk about." They tugged on a strand of their shoulder length hair. "I did go back to school. Well, not really back I was hardly there in the first place. But I went and all. It was fun. But that's not as interesting as travelling."

Wendy knew that Rori was having a good life, she was fulfilling her dreams, and living a better life than Wendy... here she was still being hung up about things that were long over with. Things she couldn't help, but felt as if she could... she shook her head. Maybe she should just get that off her chest, instead of bottling it up inside of herself.

"That's great... our travels were also great, but I think I should tell you what prompted our trip..." She looked at Rowan briefly, as if she was looking for his approval, before she just went ahead anyway. "Three years ago... the Founding Family took my sister..." She sighed.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Wendy." Rori wasn't really sure what else to say. They couldn't sympathise and respond with 'I know how you feel', though that wouldn't help anyway. Sure they had lost their cousin - and Rori had been close to Max. But that had been Max's line of duty so it was... different somehow. They couldn't imagine how hard it must have been for Wendy, or how hard it must still be.

"It... gets worse than that... me, Rowan, and some friends, did everything we could to get her back, going up against some truly monstrous people," Images of the Hound (or Sovereign as he now called himself), Ezekiel, and Blake... the mere thought of Blake made Wendy clench the sides of the table in a silent rage. She exhaled, and then continued, "But, in the end..." She then rolled up her sleeve, and displayed the tattoo;

DIANA LUCKER - 1997 - 2022. I get stronger every day.

"You... I... Well, I'm sure you did everything you could," Rori responded, somewhat weakly as they looked at the tattoo, still a bit at a loss for words - quite different from their normally over talkativeness. Though that was because they knew rambling on in some cheerful manner wasn't going to make Wendy, or anyone, feel better. They'd learned that in the last three years. "I don't think it's your fault."

"And with what we did tryin' to get our friends back, we..." Rowan paused for a moment, dwelling on the past. Ezekiel's blood had been on his hands, even if he'd been an asshole. The same could be said for the mercenaries, and Secretaries, that Wendy had torn apart in a fit of rage after Diana's death. "We figured DOVE, or RAVEN, or whatever would come for us. They wouldn't get it."

Rori just nodded in understanding as the big waiter returned at that moment with a tray loaded with a few glasses of the drink he'd promised; a clear concoction topped with mint leaves and filled with ice.

"I've been trying to put it all behind me... on the plus side, I gained a lot from the endeavor," Wendy moved Sean Rosier's journal, and Ezekiel's notes. It wasn't just the books Wendy was referring to, but she was more than certain that Rori got the hint. "These two books contain so much knowledge that I... I don't know where to start. But, there was something bugging me about this book." She willed Ezekiel's notes over towards Rori. "Perhaps I can explain it to you, and I get another point of view?"

Just then, Rein had finally arrived to the scene. He had requested for a curfew extension just in case, which took much longer than he wanted to get it approved and over with, resulting in his lateness. Seemed like Kannix was running late, too - she was nowhere to be seen. Either way, he had already texted her the meeting place, and he would know the moment she reached here. Knowing her, she probably would try to make a dramatic entrance...

And he hoped that she didn't end up causing another fight in the process.

"Um, hey," he greeted them, breathless from the rush. Glancing down at the book between Wendy and Rori, he asked in a meek tone, "...Did I come in at a bad time?"

Before Rori had a chance to respond to what Wendy had said, about giving a point of view, Rein - the final one of the group - appeared. They looked down at the notes and then back up at Wendy. "How about you explain it to me another time, Wendy?" They suggested. If Wendy wanted to explain it in front of Rein that was fine and Rori could try and give their point of view. It just seemed like a better to do at another time. Turned their head too look at Rein, Rori offered him a bright smile. "Hey! Nah, it's fine."

"Yeeeeeeah... another time." As much as she wanted to talk to Rori about it... she knew that it was best that she didn't talk about it in front of Rein. No offense to him, but Wendy knew it was sensitive information. Rowan knew about it very well... but, this was an instance where the less people knew about it the better. So, Wendy just pulled Ezekiel's notes in a little bit, and folded her arms in front of it as she looked at the man of the hour; Reinald. "No, no, not at all!"

She nodded her head, and hoped that she could place enough trust in him to share her secrets. She had no choice, as she already roped him into it. "So, in anticipation of this event, I broke down all of Sean Rosier's research into neat little notes." She said as she opened the book, and pulled out a few pages of paper. "It's the basic stuff so you can understand it..."

Until they were rudely interrupted by the sound of something hard knocking on the glass window in rapid succession, bad enough that a cracking noise could be heard.

---

Kannix had received the message mid-running errands. The ugly ass shopkeeper who'd known Kannix for the longest time asked why she was smiling. Normally the response would have been "none of your long-nose ass business you ugly witch," but the this time there was no comeback. She was jittery. Why was she so happy? Getting a text from a boy wasn't exactly new to her. No, sorry, that's a lie. No boy has ever texted her to meet him at a place at a time like in the movies. She could only look back up at the shopkeeper - eyebrows raised, eyes and nose crinkled, smile so wide her molars could be seen - and paid what's due.

She wanted to take this opportunity to be with someone so badly. The few times that she did hang out with him, it was so much fun (at least for her, she giggled) and she was getting a lot more comfortable with him. Truly, she wanted this to be a fun thing between the two, not like the others she's lost. It's... been so long... Was she being too aggressive with him? Perhaps she owed it to him, at least once, to be the simple, quiet girl she can be. Maybe Rein'd like that side more. So after Kannix dropped off her groceries and showed her mom the picture she'd taken (Must you always take ugly pictures of people? - Mom, please) she asked if she could go out. At that time of the day, mother would have probably said no. But, oh no, this was something else. Rein-ald didn't look like the bad types that no ruffian of a lady should be hanging with, so she wanted to give Kannix and the boy a chance. So, the mother agreed: Kannix could go, but be home as soon as possible. No specific time, but as soon as possible. She fluttered as she remembered her own romances when she was a young age. Kannix deserved the same. Kannix playfully saluted, went to her room to retrieve the hat she'd taken from that one pimp dude at the DOVE rally and ran out. (Where'd you get that hat?! - Later, mom!)

It could be nothing, but it could be something! Who knew?! Kannix just wanted to spend more time with someone who was willing to spend the time with her. Kannix wanted to make his time worthwhile. She readied herself. She was going to be funny, open, everything that a good girl could be. The cafe was right around the corner. She let him enter first, just to tease him when she'd be by the window, looking in on him. So she dashed forward and peered in... only to see Rein with four other people.

Kannix was internally screaming, and her face betrayed her shock. Her eyes struck wide open, lips pressed so tightly, nose flaring with quick breaths. WHAT THE FUCK, she thought to herself. She rapped on the glass window, head tilted to her right side, and waved at Rein and company. A crack appeared on the glass. Her smile and "gregarious" eyes could not be any more forced.

The ferocious rapping sound of someone's knuckle against the glass made Rein jerked his head up in surprise, and even more so when he recognized Kannix beyond the window. She had a ridiculous look on her face, distorted by a visible crack that ran down the center, the crooked smile seemed more unsightly than ever.

It would have been a hilarious sight if it wasn't for how her wide eyes were piercing into him when his eyes met hers. He could feel anger even through the transparent pane between them. Is she furious at me? Why?

Rowan too, was stirred from his thoughts by the obnoxious raucous made by the banging on the glass, tilting his head towards the girl's direction, only to realise that she had a familiar face - though he couldn't quite figure from where. Wendy merely raised an eyebrow at the crazy-looking girl. And in some sort of automated defense mechanism; she pulled her books much closer to herself. Rori had to turn completely around in their seat to see what the commotion was about, and just turned back to the others with a very confused look on their face.

At this point, Kumiko came back to the table, and leaned in, whispering to the group, "I think she's an escaped mental patient," She started off, "Don't make eye contact, I got a pistol in my purse just in case shit starts to look ugly."

"S-Sorry, give me a moment," he excused himself from the group, and walked out of the cafe towards Kannix, bracing himself for whatever she might throw at him.

Walked out towards Kannix he did. She looked up to see Rein in the eye, still maintaining that wide smile and open eyes, though now there emitted a fiery intensity in her stare - so hot and steeled that she looked manic and distraught.

"HI! HOW ARE YOU?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Could they hear her from the other side of the window? Fuck it. Her voice was rugged, stifling a scream she knew was irrational and uncalled for. Too late now, because she wanted to vent. She felt a hint of betrayal. Why the fuck shouldn't she be yelling?

Even if he was mentally prepared for Kannix's outburst, Rein couldn't help wince at the vocal assault. He shrank even further as he noticed the curious stares from around him out of the corner of his eye, making his ears go red at the embarrassment. Though, there might be a way to make sense of this situation.

"Uh... Hey Kannix," he greeted her back, still maintaining eye contact with her. "We're just getting started with the 'Dimensional Traveling' stuff I've mentioned to you before, so you haven't missed out much. But... are you okay?"

Kannix gasped, maintaining her forced happiness, though her anger started to show, saturating her face with eyelid-twitching, head jerking, and hands gripping the air. "Wah-Wah-We!? WE?! I thought 'we' were 'we'! Who's 'they'-'we'?! I thought this was a da--ha-ha-ha-hay...." her voice gave out, hands shot up, curled and covered her mouth, stopping herself from saying the word and thought to herself. Was this even a date at all!? Wait. Didn't he say- Oh God no he didn't. Why did I think- Oh fuck. She fought with herself internally, all the while still looking at Rein. The embarrassment this is causing for him and her was unreal. She fucked up. Please get me out, oh god...

That was one problem resolved. Rein relaxed, relieved that Kannix had finally stopped shouting, but that still didn't disperse the confusion he had towards her temperament. "Uh... 'Da-hay'?" he asked, tilting his head to the side a little, a frown on his face.

Kannix calmed down just enough that her face no longer had that 'stalker' crazy face that must have been freaking out the people watching them- her, whatever. Despite the fact that at this point impressions were made, she wanted to behave well enough for them to see more to her than just the manic girl that Rein brought.

"I thought... this was a... date... - just the two of us, you know?" Kannix's eyes darted between the group, the ground, and Rein continuously, not fully sure of herself at the moment. Her big, wide eyes glistened with a wet sheen of embarrassment and sought for understanding and just that hint of sympathy that was wanted but not outwardly spoken. Don't hate me, don't hate me, please stay, please...

Rein couldn't help doing an internal facepalm. It was just a misunderstanding after all, one that originated from one of Kannix's own wild fantasies... No matter. Now that Kannix had calmed down, Rein gestured her to follow him. "Come on, let's not keep the others waiting. I'll introduce you to them, and we can get started with the discussion."

All the while ignoring the strange looks the other four in the shop were probably throwing at him. He just hoped they wouldn't ask weird questions and make the situation even more awkward than it already was...

Though deep down he was still amused that Kannix actually thought he was asking her out when they barely knew each other. Kannix on the other hand could not help but latch on to that fantasy of hers. Whether it was outrageous or not, it was the one thing that kept her relatively sane right now, to let her escape the relative awkwardness. Rein was bringing a person he barely knew to an outing with his friends.

Way to go, Kannix.

---

Okay, it was finally time to review the notes. She wanted to get the basic stuff out of the way to win Reinald over, before she moved over to the more advanced stuff at a later date. She hoped that he got his girl problems sorted out, because she had zero intention to stop once she started (and that girl freaked Wendy the hell out). She sighed, as she willed Sean Rosier's notes over to herself with her paper manipulation. She opened the books, and traced her fingers over it... though, she honestly knew it from heart.

"Okay, here we go..." She nodded her head, as she began to recite the notes... word by word. "Dimensional travel is a concept that not even I thought was possible... even in our strange, strange, world full of people who can bend the world at their fingertips. But, that changed just a few years ago."

The mention of people who can "bend the world at their finger" made Wendy shudder a bit, as she wasn't comfortable with sharing that just yet. Perhaps Sean Rosier knew the secret of Metahumans, too. However, she had to continue.

"I learned that there actually are different universes, connected to each other... but at the same time, separate in a way," She started off. "There are 'barriers' of some sort in place preventing all but the strongest Metahumans from breaking through them. Some of these universes are quite similar to each other. They're basically different versions of the same universe. They have the same people... but different in some ways. Maybe they made a different choice that changed everything, or have been born to different parents, but they're, at their core, the same person."

That was what interested Wendy... she would love to see what her alternate universe clone or whatever, would be like. Might be fun.

"How do I know this... well, I don't like sharing my secrets, but a few years ago...?" Wendy paused for dramatic effect. "...Somebody came into our universe from another, and I had the pleasure of meeting this person myself. They told me everything I needed to know to form my thesis, and from there, I seek to use Metahuman potential to break the barriers from one universe to another and make history... I just need more time."

Then, Wendy closed the book, and nodded her head. Her friends probably had plenty of thoughts on the matter, and she wondered what Rein and Rori would think. Rowan had already been a party to one of Wendy's earlier study sessions and was, for the most part, aware of the book's contents, as much as he might have struggled to understand some of the more... technical notes.

"Okay... what do you guys think?" Wendy finally said, after a moment's pause. "There's a lot more in depth stuff later, but I'm just trying to sell this to you... heh."

She awkwardly pulled at her collar, before she said.

"First thing I noticed when I read this is that it sounds like he's made this for someone else to... you know, read and make usage out of. Like a college textbook. Or maybe that's just the way he writes..."

"I don't understand all of it, but it sounds interesting for sure," Rori responded before anything else did, shrugging. "If we can go to one of these different dimensions, imagine all the possibilities. We could meet ourselves... or see things differently. Wow. That's a lot to take in. I definitely want to try doing it."

Rein, however, was in deep thought. Science fiction about interconnected worlds between the realm they were now living in with external, unknown territories was one thing, but to think that such thing would actually exist in reality. What's more, parallel universes that mirrored their current world?

To the pessimistic realists, they were likely to snort and brush this off as a dumb fairy tale; to the adventurous dreamers like the excited Wendy before him, this was the kind of thrill that they had been looking for all their life. But to Rein, it was more of a possibility that could lead him to better understand his own power.

What if Scape had a clue, an answer, to what Wendy - and Sean Rosier - were seeking?

...Did he want to risk telling them the truth about his ability?

Wendy was probably gambling on her trust for a stranger like him on this 'secret' about parallel worlds, but was this good enough to reveal who he really was to her in exchange?

Exhaling slowly, he chose to hold back his tongue. Trust takes time to build, and there's no need to rush. "I'm with Rori - did I pronounce your name right? - on this. It's definitely intriguing, but I wonder where you get this information from. I mean... I don't think it's not public knowledge yet?" He felt certain that this wasn't something that anyone could find on the internet, not even digging through old library archives.

The more he thought about it, the more he wondered who exactly Wendy was. Was this why she seemed so afraid to get caught by DOVE?

The big burly waiter placed a big jug of iced water down on the table and several glasses for the group of young adults that were talking rather excitedly by the counter. Intrigued by their words, but he was on the job so he paid them no mind.

How did Wendy know about this? That was a tough question... she just didn't feel comfortable telling Reinald such a crucial piece of the Lucker girl's past. And she definitely didn't want to start a pity party. But, he had to know. By being unnecessarily secretive, all that was going to happen was that a wedge was going to be. "...A few years ago, me and Rowan tangled with the Founding Family," But at the same time, it was best that she didn't tell him everything. "And we stole these books from them..."

She looked at the group. Research by the Founding Family was in high demand these days, and it was one thing that DOVE/RAVEN would love to get their hands on to stop some other lunatic from abusing it. What they didn't (and wouldn't) understand was that Wendy had the best interests at heart (she always had, always will), and only wanted to follow his work because of that adventurous mind of hers. Besides... this whole endeavor was an extension of her road trip. Even if it turned out flat, she still would have spent plenty of time with Rowan.

Even if Wendy had taken a lighter tone to discussing it, Rowan couldn't help but shake the feeling that they were treading on unstable ground - what had happened those three years ago was still catching up to them, even now.

"Ha!" Kannix broke her silence at the mention of the Founding Family. She hadn't a clue what dimensional travelling was. She was even very hesitant to believe in 'dimensions' to begin with. Another you? Come on, now. But despite her steadfastness, she chose to behave - if not for herself, then for Rein, saving face for being the elephant in the room. But here! Founding Family! The passive look she donned for the past few lines in this conversation swiftly turned into an aggressive one.

"What the fuck? Founding Family? You lot fucked with them!? That shit is bad news, like, you know they're bad!" Kannix's face crinkled in confusion and the slightest hint of disgust. Pfft. The fuck am I still doing here? Goddamnit, Rein. Use your head - you can't do this, we can't be here. She could only hope that her face said all that she wanted to say, and that Rein could read it.

Wendy immediately turned her nose at Kannix, with her eyes narrowed, she gave the girl a "what are you even doing here" look. Before she just responded with, "...It's a long story, and one I don't want to tell right now..." She answered.

Kannix picked up on the bitchface, and replied with her own - accompanied, of course, with Mr. Middle Finger. "Like me or hate me, whatever - but The Founding Family," Kannix looked to Rein for reassurance here, before looking back to confront Wendy, "should not be a matter you should bullshit with. So what the fuck, yo?"

"What the fuck?" Rowan echoed, seething with irritation. "You don't know us, and you don't have to be here if you've got a problem with that, but don't talk shit down to us." He said, lightly slapping a palm down on the table.

The middle finger was what killed it for Wendy. She briefly glanced back at Reinald for a moment, and because of White Trash™ right here, she questioned whether or not it was such a really good idea to include him in her little circle. Your friends say a lot about you, after all.

However, Wendy wasn't going to tolerate it even for a second.

"One; if you're going to act like that, you might as well leave," Wendy made her point very clear when she stared Kannix dead on. She faced the likes of the Hound, Ezekiel, and Blake, three monsters... Metahuman or not, Kannix wasn't going to frighten her. She couldn't frighten her. "And two... I don't have to tell you anything, as I don't know you from a stranger on the street. So, please, drop it."

She looked at Rowan, who was probably pissed as she was.

"...For everyone's sake."

Rori glanced between the four others, unsure whether to say anything. They weren't exactly in the same boat as Wendy and Rowan, having not tangled with the Founding Family, but they didn't like the way this new person was talking at all. Not to mention arguing was not something they liked seeing (it brought back memories). "Hey, I don't really know much about this stuff, but I think it's better not to accuse about things you don't know everything about." Rori added their piece quietly and in a non-confrontational manner, but still solidly taking Wendy's side.

Well, things just had to get from bad to worse. Rein could take Kannix's rotor mouth with a huge pinch of salt, but not everyone else here had as much zen as him. Even so, the Chinese girl seemed oddly rude today. Was she still salty about the misunderstanding? No, it was more than that - he was probably overthinking this, but the mention of 'Founding Family' was what made Kannix lose her head.

Maybe he would ask her about that... not now, but some other time when she could tell him calmly without flying off the handles like this.

"Kannix," he finally spoke up, feeling weary at the unnecessary hostility among the group. "Not that I'm taking their side or anything, but you have to admit that that's really inappropriate." He gave her a look, a non-verbal sign pleading her to apologize so that they could get back to the main topic.

"Inappropriate, but not without ground," Kannix spoke while facing Rein, but the message was directed to the group. Everything in her literal power wanted her to power-shove the table off its base and through the glass window. But, in the crazy way that she wanted to be in Rein, she had to give in. The fierce, metallic glare that she had held melted, and she leaned back into her chair, not defeated, but resigning to cooperation. Kannix crossed her arms and looked at everyone present. "My apologies." It was sincere and genuine, just like the doubt that could be read in Kannix's demeanour, and her concern for Rein.

Rein returned Kannix's hard look with a small smile, showing his quiet gratitude to her for not making the situation any worse. Though, he had more to add on, especially towards Wendy and co. "Please forgive her insolent behavior, but it's natural we'd feel cautious towards you all since you're involved with the Founding Family incident. I do understand we aren't exactly on 'friends' terms yet, and you don't want to tell us much about it at the moment..." He let the remaining unspoken words to hang in the air.

Shaking his head with another tired sigh, he turned his attention back to the books before Wendy.

At least Rein can put her on a leash. Wendy thought to herself, as she sighed. "It's alright." Wendy answered. While she was still annoyed that Kannix started this in the first place, she ultimately decided not to be petty. Reinald was right. She was vague about her whole thing with the Founding Family. She had a right to be. After everything that happened, she didn't want to announce what had happened from the heavens. She once again, sighed.

Kumiko leaned into her ear, and whispered, "If she didn't like you two 'tangling' with the Family, wait til' she gets a load of me." She chuckled as she leaned back in her chair.

With the whole deal with Kannix resolved, Wendy can finally get back to the matter at hand... Even though she didn't want to say it out loud, but she thought a little bit less of Reinald right now. No matter! He was already in this, and Wendy was going to see it through to the end. But, she knew that, even if she showed him everything in this book now, it'd be hollow as it was all incomplete.

"But, even though this is a treasure trove... it cuts off," Wendy said, as she willed the pages aside with her paper manipulation. All the way to the end of the book...

Continued in the next book...

"Which adds to the theory that he wrote this for someone else to read," Wendy started off, then said, "But, we don't know where the other books are... and..." She scratched the back of her neck. "We only had time to take two books."

"Hey, this dude's name is Sean Rosier, right?" Kumiko chimed in.

"Yeah?" Wendy replied, wondering where her devious mother was going with this.

"His wife works for the Hope Foundation, like she's a really big player there," Kumiko said, and grinned like a fool. "She doesn't do anything but sleep, eat, and work, but sometimes she forgets to do the first two!" She laughed.

"So, I doubt she's going to be home right now," Kumiko answered. "So, how about we go take a peak?"

"Like... break in her house?" Wendy raised an eyebrow. "That's... not a good idea."

"I mean, your boyfriend can turn off-"

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Whatever lovergirl," Kumiko scoffed,, "Rowan can turn off the alarm system, and we can have a look around. I mean, long as we don't do anything stupid - well, stupider than breaking in someone's house - then we should be okay."

Kumiko could see it in Wendy's eyes, she still was on the fence.

'I mean, you probably did soooo much illegal shit while on that roadtrip of yours that this is light in comparison," Kumiko said. "And how are you going to get to the bottom of this if you don't take a risk?"

She had a point, Rowan conceded. Taking risks was the only reason that they had managed to get here in the first place and they had still been burned because of it. And Kumiko was right in guessing that they hadn't exactly kept on the lawful side of things whilst out on the road, their three year trip itself technically the first of their crimes, given they had gone off the grid and out of sight of DOVE. "I can get us inside, probably." He finally said.

"It may not be that useful, but I can be really really small," Rori put in with a shrug. Not that they had experience with doing anything illegal, but if Wendy decided to they'd go along with it. "Well, as small as a small bird. That's beside the point. I can also fly." They waved their hand. "That's all a bit obvious, what I'm trying to say is that I can get in ways that other people couldn't. Oh, and nobody would suspect a bird, right?"

"You'd be surprised!" Kumiko noted. "Lossa' people are paranoid about 'them damn Metahumans' and will shoot at their own shadow if it moved funny." She laughed.

"Like you wouldn't believe," Rowan added, "Ask Wen', we saw some crazy assholes out there."

"...Too many to count," Wendy agreed, but she was surprised Rori was so willing to go along with it. Maybe the little birdie wasn't all that different from Wendy! "How about you just peek through the windows and make sure nobody is there?"

"That's definitely something I can do," Rori responded with an enthusiastic grin. "You're in charge here, and have way more experience than me, so I'm quite happy to do whatever bird things you think are best." They paused momentarily. "Though I'll definitely be less conspicuous as an actual bird than like this." They indicated to their body as they spoke. It wasn't exactly easy to hide that they were a metahuman. "It's probably a miracle nobody has tried to shoot me yet... but that's getting off topic, I can definitely look in windows!"

Rather than jumping straight into the excitement the other four were raving about, Rein considered the haphazard plan they babbled in between their teasing conversations. "I don't know how much my power would be of use to what you guys are planning to do... Well, I'm a clairvoyant in a way, but it only works on people. I guess I can help to keep a lookout then?"

"Yeah, that'd be a great help," Kumiko said, as she leaned back in her chair.

"Wait, you're actually going to- My go- f- ah!" Kannix thought Rein was maintaining some kind of neutral stance about the whole thing. Why was he now all about doing this? This! A bunch of strangers associated with the Founding Fucking Family. Imaginary hands leaped up and aimed to strangle that pretty neck of his. Stop being so thick! She would have said with every slap to his head. Of course, the actual reaction she had, the others had taken notice, which prompted a response from her, but first:

"Founding Family, and a bunch of criminals. You really sure about this, Rein?" Kannix whispered ever so lightly, craning up to his ear.

Rein raised an eyebrow at Kannix's whispered accusations. "They might be involved in the Family incident, but I think it's too soon to jump to conclusions that they were members of the Family," he muttered back to her. "I'm really curious about the whole 'dimension traveling' theory, and whoever this Sean Rosier is." Kannix only grunted, a crinkle of her nose so adorable like a pissed-off kitten.

The brief conversation between the two didn't go unnoticed by Wendy, who merely narrowed her eyes at them. She couldn't hear a thing, but she choose not to raise a fuss. She had to pick her battles here.

Seeing that Kannix didn't rebuke further, Rein pulled himself away from her, then spoke in a louder tone, "I'm hoping you'd join us. Uh... you know, doing the lookout together... yeah." He had something else in mind, but he didn't feel like explaining it before the other four.

She cocked her head - a gesture towards interest and/or confusion. Was she really just going to agree like that? I mean... if not for him, then... for him... wait what? What she was trying to say to herself was: do it for his sake, not just for him.

"Heh. Someone's got to protect your scrawny ass - might as well be me," Kannix announced aloud like her companion. From others, and them. "When do we go?"

"We should go now," Kumiko noted. "We can all fit in my minivan, c'mon, let's go."

---

Greencrest Heights, White Coast_
5 hours ago

---

---

Thanh was being a nuisance again while Lihn was trying to work. It was becoming a more regular occurrence – Lihn would settle down in her office to do some work when the bangs and clatters began to ring around the house. Some part of her missed years ago when Thanh had been a quiet child, as calm as Lihn was, and if she was full of energy for one day Kei was in the house to keep her entertained.

Of course, she understood that this was just her daughter growing up. She was glad than Thanh was becoming more adventurous and confident, even if it meant she was always making a mess or talking to her dog. And she’d never wish for Kei to move back in with her. It had taken long enough for her to get him to do something with his life.

Thankfully she had very little do right now, and she got it done while trying to ignore what hopefully wasn’t her daughter injuring herself while playing. The noise stopped just before she finished and she let out a sigh of relief. She wouldn’t have to go down and check on Thanh, at least not right now. Lihn had plenty of other, more personal and less work, things she wanted to get done which she’d rather not put on hold. Getting just a little bit of time to herself was difficult enough these days. She hadn’t realised how much she depended on her brother to help with Thanh until he had left.

God, being a single mother was hard.

She wasn’t too long into the research she’d decided to take on herself when her phone started ringing, an annoying buzz that interrupted her stream of thought. Well, that was just great. She reluctantly answered after checking the caller ID.

”I hope that this is important, Kei, because I’m very busy right now.” She slipped into her native Vietnamese easily, rolling her eyes at the laugh at the other end of the line.

“Sorry to interrupt you at a busy time, though you always seem to be busy,” Kei sounded amused as he spoke. “I’ve got a bit of a problem.”

“What kind of problem?” Lihn frowned. She hoped that it wasn’t work or college related – Kei had been doing so well lately and last thing she wanted was for him to have to move back in.

“I got an email from our cousins saying they were coming over on holiday, and asking to stay a week or two. I don’t really have the room to put them up so…”

“You were hoping I could? Why did they email you and not me, and which cousins? We do have quite a few of those.”

“I can’t tell you the answer to that first one, because I have no idea why. The one’s visiting are Minh and Tuyên, I believe.”

“Phoung’s youngest?” Lihn mused. Well, that was certainly something she hadn’t expected. She had hoped after the events in Vietnam last year she wouldn’t have to see any of the extended Phan family again. “They were better than the rest, I’ll give them that. I’ll give them rooms if you’re the one who spends time with them.

“I guess that’s fair, but I have work too sometimes.”

“We’ll work something out.” Trust that side of the family to cause problems again.

“I’m sure we will. How is it going for you? Busy, as always?”

“Between work and Thanh I have my hands full, but you already know that. I was just taking a break now when you called. Really, I could do with more breaks.”

“Hmm.” Lihn could tell that Kei was thinking. “I don’t have work for two more days. How about I pick up Thanh in an hour and give you tonight and tomorrow off? I’ll take Chi too, if you give me some dog food.”

Lihn smiled.“Thanks Kei, I appreciate it.”

“No problem! Well, see you in an hour.”

“Yup, see you in an hour.” Lihn hung up and turned back to her laptop.

---

The Golden Throne – Strongriver Plaza, Hedgemont_

---

It had been a long time since Lihn had a chance to kick back and relax. Between work and looking after Thanh she was lucky to even get a quiet night in. But with her brother promising to look after Thanh for the night, taking her to stay with him and all, she had a few more options for something to do to let her hair down. She wasn't the kind to normally go out for a drink, or go to a club, but it was something she had always enjoyed when younger. Being saddled with a child after one of those times had been enough to stop her frequent visits. But there was no harm in going somewhere like that just once on a while.

She didn't exactly plan to even drink enough to get drunk, nevermind to the point where she'd been making bad decisions.

Lihn didn't know why she had chosen the Golden Throne. It had seemed popular enough, and she was yet to be hit on by any sleazy guys. The clothes she wore were practically prude for a club like this - so no one was going to mistake her for a prostitute or anything of the like. She'd been enjoying herself sitting off to one side watching what was going on, only on her second drink of the night and not even near being tipsy.

She'd been absentmindedly checking her phone when she first heard the screams, immediately followed by an overwhelming anger that broke through the quiet buzz of emotions that Lihn had grown to ignore. Then there was fear stabbing through it, a sharpness through the throbbing pain that was the rage. She froze, unable to process what was happening as her eyes moved to whatever that thing was. Most people were running out, a sensible reaction to the fear she knew they felt. Lihn knew she could definitely follow them too. But she was stuck, her brain caught up in the anger emanating off what looked like a monster and her legs too weak to move. Her head hurt from the sheer force of the emotions she was sensing, but she was sure that a migraine would be the least of her worries if she didn't get out. Yet she sat still, barely seeing a man hit the beast with fire through her crowded vision.

It was the sprinkler system turning on that snapped Lihn out of it. The water hitting her allowed her to rip herself out of her own mind, offering a clarity around the fog of anger than hung densely in the room. She stood while looking for the neatest exit. Her search brought her gaze to the man that had tried to fight the monster and whose abilities had now been rendered useless.

If she left, he was probably going to die. If she stayed? Well, they'd probably both die. She knew she should think about her family, really the last thing she wanted was to leave Thanh without a mother, but she couldn't leave with her conscience clean. Lihn wasn't the kind of person who could just abandon someone to die. And anyway, she might just have an idea.

"Hey, keep it distracted, I can try and calm it down," Lihn called out, hoping that her words would get through to the man engaged with the beast but wouldn't draw its attention to her. She needed to be able to be able to focus and couldn’t exactly do it if it came running at her.

Not waiting to see if it’s attention had switched to her Lihn concentrated, easily finding the anger that was resonating off the tumour covered beast. There was no need to concentrate on reading the emotion and finding out what it was – that much was way too obvious as it railed against her mind. She forcefully took hold of it, throwing her will against the creatures to push the anger down. If she could reduce it just a little maybe it would stop its rampage. Then she could increase some more calming emotion in it, and maybe also extend her reach to the man fighting it.

That was the plan at least as she forcefully took it’s anger and decreased the intensity of it, without any of the subtly she normally had. She didn’t have time for subtlety.

All she could do was concentrate on using her strength as an empath to forcefully calm it down.

---

Strongriver Plaza, Hedgemount_

---

---

Aaron’s mind was so engulfed in panic that he hardly realized Andrea approach him. He felt her touch his cold, hardening skin and move him into her lap. In his mind, he wanted to say that there was a severe danger nearby, but he was so overwhelmed that he couldn’t even put together words to speak. He breathed in rapid gulps, inhaling three or four times in a stuttering manner and then quickly exhaling before he started again. His face was an utter mess, but his arms had grown so stiff that he couldn’t move to wipe the tears and snot away. In his pocket, Aaron felt his phone vibrate. Remembering Lily made his mind only overload worse, and his state of panic severed and his shaking worsened. Cracks formed on the joints of his hands as he clenched them into tight fists. Andrea, after going to the 218 Academy and working with DOVE, could identify his status as a metahuman. Knowing what the hell it is supposed to be was an entirely different story, and to be honest, it was beginning to freak her out a little.

What she did know was that he wasn't getting any better. It seemed that with each passing moment, his mind got more and more chaotic and wild, patterns were out the window and, God, paranoid. She had an idea - whether or not it would work was up to question, since she hasn't tried it in this kind of context before - but if she could just… connect their minds, almost like the forums she practiced in 218, but maybe this way she could implant her own thoughts and emotions into his mind so that he could at least take a breather. That also meant that she'll still be feeling part of what he was. She watched his condition only become gradually worse and figured - what the hell - there wasn't much time to debate the pros and cons. Her eyes darted around, looking toward the apparitions and with apparently a single look, relayed this idea of her’s… and crossed her fingers that it would work.

The next second felt like a punch in the chest, and one of her hands immediately clasped over her mouth as she felt bile just seconds away from spilling out. A little bit of vomit in her mouth, okay, that sucked - but she'll live. She was more concerned with the man in the panic attack and looked down at him expectantly, trying to shake away the inexplicable (albeit familiar) sensation of dread that overcame her and caused her skin to buzz from head to toe.

“Hey, it's okay. Everything’s okay. Say it back to me.” Andrea encouraged.

Aaron felt strange as Andrea entered his mind. It felt as if something foreign, something not of his own, had wrapped tentacles or fingers around his brain. Though it felt strange and invasive, he felt some of the panic engulfing his body dissipate, as if someone else had taken up part of the load. He tried to control his breathing and found it difficult, but manageable. He coughed hard. Then he tried moving his hands. They moved without hindrance, and color returned to his skin. Quickly he wiped the melted wax from his nose with his sleeve and forced himself to take a deep breath. His breath was still heaving in short bursts and he was clutching his chest, and to someone on the outside looking in it probably appeared as if he were having a heart attack. He let the breath out slowly. Then he rolled to his hands and knees. He looked around the alley, then up at Andrea.

“Everything’s...okay,” he said. “Everything’s okay. Down the street is… some kind of monster.”

At the mention of the monster, images flickered into Andrea’s mind as Aaron recalled the creature - the Golden Throne being trashed by something unnatural. Her thoughts immediately went to alerting RAVEN, but then… looking at Aaron, she realized that she should probably move him to safety first. “Can you stand?” She asked. “I'm going to get you someplace safe. Where do you live?”

“I… I live in Roseview,” Aaron replied. He attempted to move to his feet, but fell down and caught himself against the wall of the restaurant. His feet were still stiff due to the cold wax skin. He closed his eyes and tried to redirect blood into his feet. Slowly, they loosened up and he was able to stand. The panic attack had mostly passed by now, and Aaron could feel the buzz of adrenaline flowing through his system. He had stopped crying mostly, though his hands still shook. He took his phone out of his pocket and looked down. He had three missed calls from Lily.

“Come with me then, I'll drive you home.” Andrea promised. She took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, which posed some difficulty given their vastly differing size and weight classes, and her knees wobbled a bit due to the load of stress she had taken off of Aaron, but she was able to at least help stabilize his balance. The two slowly started moving toward the direction of her rather old Mazda Miata, which looked as though it had seen better days. Aaron used the opportunity to steal a glance at his phone before they made it there.

“Are you ok?” a text from Lily read. He touched the screen and tried to send the text, but his fingers were still cold and stiff. He finally managed to text back, “I’m okay. Just worry about getting yourself home.”

”Are you sure?” Lily responded.

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

Andrea fiddled with the lock on the passenger side door, and helped Aaron down. Right about now, he felt his wits returning to him. He found the small space inside to be a tight fit, but given the circumstances, he wasn't going to complain. The fact that this stranger found him and was willing to help him at all was a gift horse he wasn't about to look in the mouth. She went around the other side and sat in her own seat, and placed her thick binder on her lap. My name is Andrea, by the way. You?

She looked at him and said, “My name is Andrea, by the way. You?”

Aaron considered the question for a second, as he watched her pull out her own phone and begin dialing a number and turn a key in the car’s ignition a couple times in vain, since it was stalling every time. Then he looked confused. “How the..?”

“Right…” Andrea muttered softly before Aaron could finish his question. It seemed she was reprimanding herself. “Our minds are loosely connected right now… Aaron, right?” It was to help you calm down. “It was to help you calm down. I can't take credit for the best coping methods…”

Suddenly unfamiliar images flashed in his mind, never-before-seen scenes of wet and miserable alleyways and corners of city blocks beneath the canopy of a cloudy night sky, next to dimly lit street lights - peculiar baggies exchanged, a girl in a coat down to her thighs and a purse at her side - the scene stopped there. Aaron felt like he had fallen somber. The images were foreign in a way that scared him. He felt as if he was watching a horror film in a different language, the true nature of its terrors veiled to him between languages. He couldn’t bring himself to speak. The panic inside of him felt distant, as if it had been spread across several people. Andrea continued, “...but I get by. I thought I could use some of my thoughts and emotions to distract you from yours.”

She turned the ignition again, and this time the engine roared to life. He thought he heard her say Finally, but she was non-vocal. She was was waiting patiently for someone to pick up on the other end of the phone. Aaron looked down at his feet. The detachment made him feel like he was high. It was something he hadn’t felt since high school, the comfortable but terrifying feeling of one’s mind floating away should they move their head too far up or down. This was a mix of Andrea’s own thought sharing, he figured, mixed with the feeling of all-consuming calm he felt after a panic attack ended.

“So, you’re like me, then?” he said very slowly. “You’re a metahuman?”

“Yeah.” She answered back. “I mean, the whole term is kinda gaudy. Being born with some power… cool… I guess.” Images of ghostly apparitions flashed in front of Aaron’s eyes, almost as if they briefly flickered in and out of existence. If he weren’t so calm, he would have screamed. “...But that shouldn't make me inherently more valuable than any other-- hold on a moment.”

A RAVEN dispatcher was on the other side of the line. It would appear that this strange woman knew a few people. Andrea continued, “There's a situation at the Golden Throne at Strongriver Plaza, Hedgemount - there's some, I don't know, abomination? God, it's gone ballistic… yes, I'm certain. Understood. I'm down the street, I'm safe... thank you. Thank you, thank you! Bye.”

Andrea took in a deep sigh and set her phone down, taking in the mental images of the monster she got from Aaron. Looking back him, she finally asked, “So then, show me where to take you.”

f

---

Stonecliff, Silverhills_

---

---

Well, there was one thing Kumiko was wrong about.

Her minivan couldn't fit everyone.

But, they made it work in the most awkward way possible: by stacking everyone on top of each other! Part of Wendy realized that they should have just taken the bus. Well, they were already here in Stonecliff. Silver Hills was probably the last place a group of Meta-kids wanted to be... and ones with the intention of breaking into someone's house. But, hey. They were going to be swift and silent, and then they'd be gone in no time! They parked around the corner, and Kumiko unlocked the doors. The first thing Wendy did was open the door, and almost ran out. It was beyond awkward for her... sitting on Rowan's lap. She turned herself weightless for most of the ride just to alleviate the awkwardness. She smiled, as she felt relieved!

"Uh, yeah," Kumiko said, "I was about to say get out the car, kids, but Wendy was waaaaay ahead of the rest of ya'll."

She chuckled, before she shrugged.

Kannix was one of the faster ones to get out of the minivan. What a stupid fucking minivan, Kannix thought - the whole ride was so goddamn uncomfortable. Like Wendy and dude whose name she either did not pay attention to or already forgot, she also had to sit on a person's lap. That was fucking weird. Weird, but in a weird way Kannix also really liked it. She won't admit it to herself, but getting to sit on Rein's lap made her almost feel naughty, already crossing out an item on a long list of things she'd like to do with him. It was lower down the list of course, so to be able to skip to that part so early on... She was screaming internally.

But she had to act nonchalant about it! She wasn't sure at first, but with every bump on the road Kannix would energize herself as a reactionary reflex, she knew that Rein would feel it; her physics-defying mass was hitting down on Rein's lap like a full-weight microwave-oven, if not a little heavier, and with every groan of pain, Kannix would smile just a little bit. "Sorry," was a very common word. When they finally stopped, Kannix could not have gotten out of there faster. She turned to Rein and flicked her head, donning a smile of forced comfort and reassurance after the travel. Crossed arms, legs ready to pounce, and eyes ready to roll at every stupid statement, the familiar reverb of power passed through all of her body.

Rein was the last to pile out of the mini-van, wincing a little at the soreness from the combined effect of Kannix's weight with her force-repelling ability. He sucked in the cold air of the night, grateful that the uncomfortable, awkward ride was over... For now. Glancing around, they had arrived in a rather dim, deserted area save for the odd group he was with.

"Alright," Wendy said, as she raised her arm above her head, and grabbed it. "Where's her house?"

Kumiko pointed at a nice, three story, house around the corner. They were angled well enough to get a clear view of it. It was surrounded by a tall, brick fence, and there were cameras with coverage all over the place. They couldn't get a good view of the house from this angle. Wendy turned towards Rori, and said, "Want to get a closer look for us, Rori?" She asked.

All they needed to do was get Rowan in close, and all those cameras and fancy security systems would be rendered useless.

"Sure can do," Rori smiled, narrowing their eyes at the house first. Their vision was better than most and they figured they might as well check to see if there were any decent spots to land, or look into. They could get over the fence easily enough at least. "I'll be back in a few moments." They swiftly turned into a bird, sticking to their typical form as an american robin, and flapped off towards the house.

"I got your back," Wendy said, as she quickly looked around. Before she slowly moved towards the house, with Rowan in tow. She couldn't do anything until those cameras were out.

Tugging at his hood, Rowan was quick to pick out the cameras with direct coverage of where they were moving. Concentrating, he subtly raised a hand, then clenched it into a fist as though to cover his mouth when he coughed, only instead of coughing... whatever display those cameras fed into, they'd have found nothing but a distorted image at the other side. Then, as they crossed the street, he picked out other cameras and did the same with varying, subtle gestures, until he was certain that they were under the cover of (electronic) darkness.

"C'mon, Wen'." He said, gesturing towards the house. Wendy nodded her head and stopped just at the wall. Part of her wanted to turn into paper, but that would've been far too obvious. Then, she got another idea. She turned her whole body weightless, hopped, and pulled herself over the wall, then heard Rowan pull his weight over the wall just afterwards. She knelt down, as she looked up at Rori. Waiting for that signal.

While several of the rooms had lights on, there was actually nobody home. The house was desolated.

"Can't make anyone out," Rowan whispered, in a low tone, "You see anyone?"

"I don't know, we'd have to wait for Rori to get back," Wendy answered.

Rori had made sure to go round the house a few times, checking each of three floors carefully to make sure the coast was actually clear. They got back to Wendy and Rowan when finished, changing back and taking a moment to catch their breath before speaking (changing twice in a short space of time wasn't particularly pleasant). "All clear, couldn't see anything while up there," Rori spoke quietly, panting slightly. "Want me like this, or back to a bird? Cause if I change again I'm going to have to stay like that." Otherwise they'd probably end up fainting.

...And here was where Rein could shine to this group of misfits in such an impulsive raid. Both him and Kannix had followed the group to the perimeter of the house. He chose to stay behind rather than jumping over the wall (or flying) like Wendy and co.; even so, he could hear their conversation from the other side, their whispers sounded louder than intended in the dead silence around them.

He decided to speak up, "Um, I don't think you should overexert yourself. Let's go back to the minivan - I can help to keep watch with my power while you take a rest."

"Thanks, that would probably be better idea," Rori responded to Rein. "I can't really talk when I'm a bird anyway, so it's not as useful!" They were really tired and hungry, so it would be more sensible for him to keep watch.

"Yeah, just stay behind while we look around," Wendy nodded her head. "If anything goes wrong... uh..." She probably didn't think this far ahead, and come to think of it, it was stupid and risky.

Then again, the same argument could be made for half her actions for the last three years.

"Turn the hi-beams on!" Wendy said, suggesting something that totally wasn't inconspicuous at all. "We'll work something out... just go back in the van before someone gets suspicious." She ordered. Kannix rolled her eyes so far back she swore she could see her brain. Her crossed arms were still crossed. She turned to Rein and again looked to seek comfort in him. If he was really in this, then she was too.

Kannix's sour reaction didn't go unnoticed in Rein's eyes, but he chose not to comment on it, and merely replied to Wendy in a quiet tone, "Yeah, Kannix and I can help Rori back to the van. I'll keep you posted." With that, he gestured at the two girls, and turned to head back towards where Kumiko was waiting for them.

She turned to face the house, the alarm, and cameras should've been off so long as Rowan focuses. She wondered which way would be the best for entering. Perhaps the windows? She pointed at the window, and said to Rowan, "Can you pop the lock on that window?"

It probably wouldn't have mattered which window they entered, since they didn't know the layout of the house. Worst case, they could have just popped a window in the back, and Wendy just paper the two of them out of there.

"Think so, just uh... lemme get up close." Rowan nodded, still speaking with a low hush - he made his way across the garden, accidentally treading on a few of the flower patches dotted across in the process, though his footsteps were light enough that it would've taken a microphone to make anything of it out here. Eventually, he was hunched low against the wall, besides an unlit, frosted-glass window which was probably just above his chest height. After taking a moment just to concentrate, he placed a palm against where the lock would've been and slightly tilted it sideways, before using his ability to prop the window open, wide enough for him to crawl through - he wasn't exactly the scrawny teen he was jut a few years back, but he was still of small frame.

Once he'd slipped in, he reached back out through the opened window and gestured for the others to enter, and Wendy seamlessly passed through the window with the ease of her paper manipulation (even though she'd wanted to say something about stepping on those flowers). Okay, they weren't here to steal anything - except for the books. She pulled out her cellphone, and turned on the flashlight - as she knew turning on lights that weren't already on would be suspicious from an outside perspective - and revealed... the bathroom. Not that it had been much of a surprise - why else had the glass been frosted?

"Let's give the study a look, and let's go." Wendy said. "Let's not overstay our welcome..."

---

"...Okay, so!" The girl with the artificially red hair said as she stormed down the street arms swinging. "We have a lead on those stupid cultists..."

She waved the cellphone that belonged to the very same woman the Valos was after in another part of Baybridge as they spoke. "What kind of fuckin' moron has a phone full of incriminating evidence?"

"Trust me, she's apart of the Family," Daniel walked alongside Penny. "It's arrogance and stupidity combined."

"Either way, we just have to track down what's left of those dipshits," Penny said, "And see who the hell is their leader, and what the hell does he or she know... and if they know about him."

That was what made Daniel stop, as he reached over and grabbed onto Penny's shoulder to stop her.

"Heey, what the fu-"

"Penny, don't get ahead of yourself," Daniel said, "Even if they're not as strong as they used to be... they're still dangerous."

"Yeah, yeah, I thought that far ahead," Penny answered, "What do you think I am? Some dumbfuck that charges dick first into danger?" She scoffed.

Daniel crossed his arms, and asked.

"Then what's your plan then?"

Penny's brows furrowed, as she put her arms out. "Um, Earth to Daniel," Penny said, "Did ya' fall on your head, or forget what city we live in?"

Daniel remained quiet, as she continued.

"There's a goddamn army of knuckleheads willing to do stupid shit for like five dollars," Penny first said, then continued. "Or, if that doesn't work. Aren't you cool with Maximilian? Maybe we can sic his RAVEN shitheads on them, and see where we can go from there... I'm sure they'd have a giant hard on for the Family."

Daniel shook his head, as what Penny said was pure idealism.

"...And even if we do all that, and it goes well for us..." He trailed off as he reached into his pocket for a cigarette, and lit it with his fire powers. "...Who's to say that they even know anything?"

Penny narrowed her eyes at Daniel, as she put her hands on her hips.

"The Blessed Three are dead," Daniel said, blankly. "It's unlikely anyone knows anything about what happened to Sean except for them... and they took a lot of secrets to the grave."

Penny shook her head and sighed.

"...Look, Daniel," Penny said in a low tone. "I know all of this shit is wishful thinking. I understand that I should just go home, and stop giving a shit. But, I'm going to try. I want an answer, I'm going to get an answer. And hell if any faggot from that cult is going to get in my way."

Daniel smiled, as he shrugged.

"I guess nobody can stop you then?" Daniel turned sideways, with his hands in his pockets, and glanced at her. "...But, I guess I'll stick around to make sure you don't do anything stupid." He joked, before he chuckled.

"Haha... knew you'd come around," Penny said as she started walking. "Let's go, we got much to talk about!"

---

Meanwhile, back in the van...

Without Wendy and Rowan around, Rein finally had a seat to himself. He needed the personal space to use his power; while he wasn't as opinionated about Kannix as the rest, she would be more of a nuisance than assistance if she sat on his lap again.

Reclining back into his seat, he closed his eyes; his consciousness withdrew from the reality around him, sinking deeper into the fluid, surreal world of dreams. The sorry state of the minivan disappeared from his vision, replaced by the silhouettes of the people around him in a sea of darkness.

Rori. Kannix. Kumiko. They were the nearest - and the brightest in his mind's eye.

Then he expanded his sensory reception beyond the vehicle, picking up the location of Wendy and Rowan moving around in the house.

...So far so good.

He continued to expand his power outwards, picking up more people from the other properties nearby, even some scattered strangers strolling down the streets... Until a certain someone piqued his interest.

It was that guy he was asked to find back at the DOVE rally. 'Daniel Forsythe' was the name.

It's a wonder how fate works.

Rein couldn't help focusing on this teen, following him and his companion (seemed like a redhead girl through Daniel's perception) and wondering where he was going. Then a bad feeling began to gnaw at his paranoia.

...They appeared to be heading towards the house that Wendy and Rowan had broken into.

Pulling himself out of his trance state, he woke up with a start, shaking his head to clear the dizzy feeling from suddenly sitting upright after a period of stillness. "This is bad," his voice sounded a little raspy from the anxiousness as he leaned forward, his attention on Kumiko in the driver's seat. "They're coming back. Two people; one of them looks like my age."

"Aw, shit!" Kumiko said, and didn't waste a second in climbing forward to look. The two teens were clearly walking towards the house. Oh boy. This wasn't apart of the plan. She had to think quickly to warn Wendy... wait, she had to buy some time, first. Thankfully, Kumiko had the perfect plan! She reached into the glove compartment, and pulled out a heavy holy bible. She threw it at the kids, and ordered, "Okay, stall them. You all are a group of Bible thumpers that want to inform people of our lord and savior, got it? Go."

Rori caught the bible, just about, and shrugged. "Sure thing, I can do this." Their family had been just about part of a religious cult, so they knew a bit about religion. Said cult had done the whole stalking the streets to get people to join, so Rori was sure they could copy that. "I sort of know what I'm doing with this, I've been part of a Christian group before... anyway, let's go do this."

"...Maybe you should stop talking about, AND JUST DO IT!" Kumiko shouted, not in an annoyed manner, but more of a cheesy, pumping up, style. As she gestured towards the two heading straight for the house.

Rori realised they were rambling (as always) and went to open one of the van doors and hopped out.

"I'll go with you," Rein volunteered. Not out of impulse, but he felt that it might be less suspicious if they tried to preach about religion as a group than letting Rori to do that alone. Though, he hoped that Kannix would stay quietly in the car instead - he had enough drama to last for tonight.

Kannix had been on her phone. It was getting late and she was expecting her mom's message - just the one, for she wasn't the type to barrage Kannix with many senseless questions; just the one statement, along the lines of: "...You're still not home." She was now distracted, but that would actually be implying that Kannix wanted to be here in this escapade. She did not. But here she was, for Rein.

"I'm coming too." She wasn't exactly the biggest threat; she was small and was wearing a white dress with a pimp's hat hung by the string on her neck. But two people, she knew she could take them on without a doubt. Kannix gave a 'pre-game motivation slap' on Rein's shoulder, a little too hard at that, before getting out of the van.

Rori approached the two teenagers, adopting a calm and (hopefully) confident walk. They stopped the two by standing in their path, holding the bible so it was visible. "Hello! Would you like to hear about the word of our Lord and saviour?" Not that they were going to give them a choice about hearing about it. Behind her, Rein nodded, trying his best to look eager to go along with the act better. Right next to, and very close to, Rein, Kannix had her arms on her hips like Superman, and held her grimace - if not, a look of defeat and laxness. Her phone vibrated right then and there. Just the one moment. Shit.

"Sorry, sugar tits," Penny rudely said as she gave Rori a glance, and put her hands on her hips. "But, we don't have time for this."

Daniel jerked his head back, and looked at them, then back to Penny. Before he raised a finger. "What my crass friend here means is that we're in a rush, sorry about her tone."

Rori spread out their wings to further block both of them from moving forward, giving them something of a sickly sweet grin. "Oh it's fine, I understand that you may be annoyed at being stopped. But time is nothing in the eyes of the lord, and you should really spare a few minutes to hear his word." For once Rori's ability to talk about anything was coming in handy. Kannix inhaled deeply, looking down at the ground, kicking her combat boots at the hard concrete slab of the pavement. Her look of disgust and disapproval at the cheesiness of this all betrayed her supposed collaboration with the other two. Thankfully, her hair just about covered her demeanour, and just kept silent.

"What the fuck?" Penny asked, with a raised eyebrow. "Did Jesus give you wings or some weird shit?"

"Yes," Rori responded, trying to not let their internal discomfort at what they were saying show. "I am made in the image of the angels in heaven. If you considering joining the church we are part of them then maybe you will get a similarly god-given power." Yeah, like their own power was God-given.

Rein cringed at the insults the redhead had thrown at Rori, refraining himself from shaking his head at the mindless rudeness Penny had sprouted from her boorish mouth. What's with people nowadays, who think that being vulgar would make them look remotely 'cool'? Not like Kannix was any better, or maybe he just couldn't comprehend this terrible culture in America.

Penny just gave her a flat look, tilted her head back, and had her eyes wide open.

"Okay, okay, sweetheart," Penny said as she reached into her bag, and pulled out a large canister of pepper spray. "If you don't get the hell away from me right now, you're going to get a faceful of mace, got it? And don't test me, this shit will have you on the floo-"

Penny was cut off by Daniel just putting his hands on her shoulders, and just carefully leading her around them. "...Sorry, we're not interested. Thank you for your time."

Rori froze, eyes moving to the canister of pepper spray. Well, that was not nice at all. The last thing they wanted was to be knocked out. They could only hope they'd bought enough time for Wendy and Rowan. "Uh, I'm so sorry for wasting your time. I can only hope that one day you see the light, but I understand that is not today." They turned so they could still look at the two, wings completely unfurled so that it still made it awkward for both to get past Rori. "I wish you the best for the rest of your day."

"Jesus... what a freak," Penny said to Daniel, not caring about her own volume, as they powered past the three.

"At least they're happy, I guess," Daniel shrugged. "Let's just forget about them, and move on."

"You tellin' me, right?"

"...You need to work on your diplomacy," Daniel said, and Penny said nothing in return.

Rori tried not to let the very loud comment get to them - after all they were being called a freak for pushing Jesus onto people; not their appearance, right? Sighing softly, and with nothing more to do to stop the two, they made their way back to the van. Rein gave Rori a tap on their shoulder - a gesture of encouragement that they had tried their best, and shouldn't take the coarse language from the redhead just now to heart.

"It's okay, Rori," Kumiko said, "You did your best!"

She gave the bird-girl the thumbs up. "I'm certain Wendy will love you for trying!"

Rori brightened up considerably at that, grinning slightly. "Hopefully! It would've worked better if I hadn't been threatened. So, uh, what's plan B?"

"Don't worry, I am the most cunning woman in the world... I always have a plan." Kumiko said, as she had the perfect plan. She focused on the girl pulling out the keys to unlock the gate, and since good old Kumiko had her metal manipulation ready, she extended a hand and... made her drop her keys.

"What happens when she picks up the keys? Are you going to make her drop them again?" Rori looked slightly amused - though they guessed it was a sound enough plan to keep them distracted for a while. Just a little suspicious.

"Butterfingers." Kumiko said with a grin as she made the keys slip out of Penny's hand while she was scrambling to pick them back. But, Kumiko couldn't do this for long. "One of you go warn Wendy."

---

The two moved through the house very carefully... while Wendy knew it was a little wrong, there was a certain layer of excitement to it. Maybe she was just sheltered for far too damn long, but Wendy thought it was exciting to be doing this. Especially the danger. Okay, maybe she should just keep this to herself. They slowly stepped down a hallway, and they ended up in a large living room, with two lengthy couches, a large TV practically embedded in the wall, and... a bookshelf! Wendy's inner bibliophile made her gravitate towards it. She quickly shifted through it, and searched it thoroughly. She briefly looked over her shoulder at her loyal friend, and said,

"Keep an eye out for me," Wendy ordered as she continued to go through the books, as this was literally the only place she had in mind.

Nodding wordlessly, Rowan took a few silent steps back and turned his focus towards the direction of the hallway, just in case anyone else came upon them - it was strange, after all, how the lights had been left on in parts of the house and the last thing they wanted was for someone to be getting the drop on them.

Wendy kept going through the books, until her fingers rested on one. She used her paper manipulation to pull the book out of it's place, and levitated it in midair. She shifted through the contents, the pages seemingly turning by themselves as Wendy's hand was raised above it. Wendy reached into her satchel for the other book. The first edition of Sean Rosier's notes. She quickly compared them, and looked at Rowan, with a dumb smile on her face.

"... This is it, Rowan!" Wendy tried to contain her excitement. "This is the second edition! We have it!" Her panties were soooooaked.

"Yeah?" He asked, glancing over his shoulder with a raised brow.

But, while she was excited to have the next step at long last, she didn't want to leave any obvious evidence they were here. She opened up her satchel yet again, and pulled out a large block of paper. It was stuck together like a block. She sliced it into pieces with just a thought, thin paper sheets. Before she carefully pulled the paper out of Sean Rosier's notes, while replacing them with blank sheets of paper. Wendy was a genius! Everything was looking up for her. Though, she just thought about taking the book, and leaving, she didn't want to leave one obvious trace that they were here behind. She wanted to make it look like the cameras were just malfunctioning for a moment.

However, down the hall, the sound of the door unlocking pierced the air, and Wendy panicked. Everything was going so well! She just grabbed both books, and pointed at the window. "Rowan!" She whispered even though she wanted to shout, and hoped he got the message.

Wasting no time, Rowan hastily gesticulated with his arm towards the window, prying it open for them to make a hasty escape. Wendy fluttered down first, near enough weightlessly and once he was certain that she was out, Rowan quickly followed, clambering through the open window space and scrabbling down the wall behind them, making sure to pull the window back shut on his way down. Wendy hauled ass out of there the very moment she got out... but in her panic, and rush, she didn't notice the stone that bordered the edge of the garden.

She didn't even realize that she had tripped. Her vision just went from being parallel to the ground, to being facedown in it. She yelped - but caught herself. Her glasses were on the ground, and the books had fallen out.

Rowan had near enough made it to the wall when he'd realised she'd taken a tumble, and near enough bolted back towards her, hoping to hastily pull her up. "Shit, shit, c'mon!"

"...Hey, what the fuck?" They heard as the window was opened, and they saw a curious looking girl with pigtails dyed a bright red color. Wendy was frozen, a mixture of being stunned and shock tended to do that. But, the girl's eyes narrowed, her lips tightened, and she shouted, "...Daniel! Get your ass outside!"

Her eyes were on the books, and she pointed at them.

"They're stealing the books!"