‘CHA!’‘HA!’‘LEFT BUTTON, LEFT BUTTON!’‘WHICH ONE KICKS UP!?’‘UP!’‘OH, THAT!’‘YOU GOT ‘IM!’‘OOOH-!’Freya Cameron sat, somewhat bored, breathing at an empty table beside the arcade cabinet where Jelena Dias was trying to teach Mayra McCullough how to play a fighting game against a computer. Freya was an underdeveloped 16-year old, with
short black hair and currently wearing a Japanese kimono for no other reason than that she liked its style. Mayra, a
tall 15-year old with wild black hair and casual pink sweater that doubled as a dress because of the length, was from a world without technology like this and as such was having a blast. Meanwhile, Jelena was transformed, because that was the only way she could move about.
Jelena was physically seven years old, yet
had built herself a metal body that was far taller than that. The physique she had built herself was closer to 14 or so. That was, of course, because Jelena’s limbs were metal. They were currently shaped like prosthetics, to give the illusion of simply a girl that had been in an accident, but the rest of her didn’t help. She had white hair, a large, black coat wrapped around her body, a metal eyepatch and her hair combed over her left eye. She had a hood with bunny ears currently resting on her back. Metal hands were trying to help Mayra play on an arcade game. They were both significantly enthusiastic, while Freya could but watch.
… Freya was from a world of war, and as such could only see what the other two were doing as a meager waste of time. This world in general was way too entertainment driven, these citizens couldn’t defend themselves worth a damn were they to be attacked by the monsters of her home. Mayra and Jelena were both sinfully innocent when it came to the evils they faced, despite being the servants of a horror. Freya silently judged them, as the time she had granted them to play came to an end with the match and Freya stood to speak to them.
‘THAT’S HOW YOU DO IT!’‘AWESOME…!’At the end there, Mayra had been about to lose and as such Jelena had stolen the controller and thoroughly defeated their opponent. The girls stood with hands high in triumph, and that was the time Freya approached to cut into their fun.
‘Girls, it’s time to leave,’ Freya told them.
‘Agh, already!?’ Jelena threw a frown at her, very unsatisfied.
‘Ooh, okay. Thank you, Jelena, for showing me this. It was a ton of fun!’ Mayra grinned happily, more than satisfied.
‘Keh. Sure. It was a crime that you didn’t know anything about digital sports before this, had to be rectified.’‘Sure. I think I still prefer sports where I move my whole body, but this was fun too! Thanks! Let’s play for real, next time!’‘What do you mean, for real!? Games aren’t real to you!?’‘Mayra’s idea of “playing” involves transforming and going all out on each other with magic powers and hopefully surviving,’ Freya idly informed. Jelena was taken aback and threw a hesitant at the widely grinning Mayra.
‘Ah-hah-hah-ha… I’ll consider it…’‘GREAT~!’Yeah, they were having a good time, but… Freya sighed again, and looked to Jelena.
‘Jelena, I’m going to have to ask you to detransform.’‘Wha- why!? What for!?’ Jelena looked to her angrily.
‘There are those in this city that might detect a transformed individual. I’d rather that not happen when we’re walking around peacefully.’‘Grrgh.’ Jelena obviously wasn’t happy. Still, to not be seen by someone’s Third Eye, it needed to be done. Fortunately, the Trespasser was on their side, but there was nothing saying there wasn’t someone similar that was an enemy. As they made sure nobody watched, they sealed Jelena into a bathroom for the moment, while Mayra and Freya waited outside.
‘Hey, they work with a bunch of fancy cables and stuff, right?’ Mayra asked, curious finger on her lips looking out over the arcade machines.
‘Yeah, why?’ Freya frowned, asking. Mayra gave a stupid, mischievous grin.
‘I wonder, if I just burn a wire here and there at night, and then come back in the morning and get to see them all when they try to-’Freya swatted her fingers into Mayra’s face, the girl flinching back from the cold expression of her companion.
‘No. Bad Mayra. It’d attract attention, and Jelena would hate you.’‘Aw, ow, okay, okay! Hahaha!’ Mayra laughed a little, clearly not entirely figuring it to be a bad idea. Freya sighed again. This girl was powerful, but she needed to be kept an eye on so she didn’t get up to no good.
After a bit of time, Jelena was ready.
‘I’m done,’ said a very unhappy Jelena, and so Freya opened the door the the bathroom. There was Jelena, frowning from the wheelchair she built out of her own magic within the bathroom,
completely limbless with white hair, white shirt and red shorts. No arms or legs, a pitiful existence had it been her only form. Freya nodded to her, and waved to Mayra to take the handles on the wheelchair.
‘Sorry, but we need to not attract attention,’ Freya stated, as they turned and left the arcade out onto the busy streets of Penrose.
‘Yeah, ‘cause a completely limbless white-haired girl in a wheelchair and you in a friggin’ kimono attracts less attention,’ Jelena retorted, more than a little annoyed.
‘Let’s go!’ Mayra went before Freya could respond, and suddenly dashed in full speed down the street with Jelena’s wheelchair, the limbless girl unable to hold on and giving semi-panicked remarks of slowing down while Freya was left behind.
Freya sighed, with a slight smile. Okay. Relatively under control. She brought up her phone from her pocket, because neither of the other two could handle being the phone-girl. One because lack of knowledge, the other because of lack of limbs. She typed the message.
‘“Black Rabbit”, “Demonborn” and “Union Beast” are on the way.’
There, she thought as she put down the phone. Now they just had to get to the rendezvous and-
Her eyes went wide, as a sudden emptiness from within shook her core. It needed something to fill it. Something with meat in it. Every humanoid walking the streets… their long limbs, their tender torsos, their juicy heads. They looked so tasty…
Wait, no, ALREADY!?
She had already satisfied the beast just yesterday when she feasted on that old guy! She generally tried to aim for older people, those who already lived their lives and only had death to look forward to. Within, she felt that was a relatively morally acceptable compromise. But, could it be, the beast was not fully satisfied by that? Did it desire the blood of the young and fresh?
Freya internally cursed. She knew, with this beast within her, only a Horror would truly want to work with her.
But, fine. She’d just have to pick a young, fresh and innocent sacrifice for next time. What did it matter?
They’d all be dead soon, anyways.
"Is that true, bat girl?" Lily shouted towards Valerie, her bow drawn and aimed towards her.
"If you don't answer quick you'll get shocked and awed!" Unlike her playful and fun-loving self, Lily went serious when human lives were endangered. She wouldn't kill unless given good reason...But that wouldn't mean she can't paralyze her enemies with jolts of crackling justice. She drew back on her glowing bowstring, about to loose an arrow, when she heard the distinct sound of a heel clacking against the pavement.
She turned, and her eyes widened upon seeing the woman who emerged.
"Whoa...She's so cool..." Lily mumbled as Amaryllis spoke.
Lily blinked at Amaryllis' words.
"Wait, a scavenger? But who attacked these people in the first place?" She looked back to Valerie, and cursed when she fled, coated in effluvium that blended into the dark alleys around them.
"She ran away! You cowardly jerk! What should we do?" She looked towards Alex, as if expecting some kind of answer, and only got a facepalm in return. She jumped down, and took one of his runic chunks.
"Right, we need to rescue lives!" And so she began running around the place, using the item on nearby victims and carrying them to Alex for first-aid. Alex would notice that the wounds on the civilians were unnatural, lacking the usual scarring on the skin; it was only possible for a spirit...or more accurately, someone capable of controlling spirits.
At one moment, Lily stopped to quickly salute Amaryllis with a big smile.
"You're really cool! I'd like to talk more later!" She then quickly ran away, and soon returned carrying another patient, only to run off again in search of more victims. As she did this, she realized she needed more people who could help. Even with her, Alex, Katarina and Amaryllis all saving folks, it wouldn't be enough. She then gasped out loud.
"Shannon! Oh geez, she must be so worried about me!" She slung a middle-aged man groaning in pain over her shoulder, and took out her phone with her free hand; she tried to call Shannon.
"Hi Shannon! I'm super sorry for ditching our meeting. You see, some stuff happened, I got captured by a maniacal bat girl out to destroy the world, had to teach her how to love, you know how it goes. Anyway, could you come over to downtown? We could really use your help."
Kimble grinned. "Nice to meet you too, Nyaa!" She stood up, and immediately walked over to Kyle. She leaned forward, and sniffed him. Sally gave an awkward giggle in response. "Oh, please don't mind Kimble; she can be a bit, uh, strange." Kimble then crouched down next to Sally, searching through the basket the green-dressed girl still held on her arm. "Oh, Penny joined us earlier than Kimble. I don't know the exact details, but it seems the Beckoners allied with a Deity." She looked up at the ceiling in thought. "What was it again? Laat...something or other. She can be a bit cold, but once you get to know her she's a nice girl."
Kimble purred, and nudged Sally's side. "Nyaa, I'm bored! I want to play!" Sally petted her again, but then joined her hands in surprise at Kyle's next question. "Oh, I know a good place where we can talk. Follow me."
Kimble cocked her head to the side as she was crouched down on the couch with her back straight, legs hooked and arms right before her as the group settled down in the rec room. It was a comfy place where Beacon members could relax after a mission. There was a table that could be used to sitting around or playing tabletop games. It was also engraved with runes, allowing it to magically transform into table tennis or even a pool table. There was a small bar stocked with juice of various flavors, wall with a target sign for darts, and a big couch in the corner fitted with a TV and video games.
However, even there the girls were reminded of their duty; the walls were fitted with posters of Beacon slogans such as "Burn the Witch, Kill the Mint, Purge the Unclean" or "In Beacon We Trust". There were also small portraits and busts of "famous" Beacon girls; all of them except Alicia's had the time of service engraved, and none of those had a service longer than three years. They all had an honorary title fitted under their name, and Alicia's picture was the latest, titled "Seraph".
"So, do you like it?" Sally asked Kyle and Summer as she sat down with a drink in hand. "There's some games back there, but nothing interesting, whioch is too bad. it's all. If one were to search through the box of games, they would notice all of them shared a singular theme of slaughtering horrible monsters or evil cultists in gory fashion; the genres were mostly shooters, fighters and slash-e'm-ups...And a simple hockey game from 2014.
"I like playing card games more, anyway. So who's up for poker?" She suggested, giving a little giggle.
Just outside the Beacon headquarters, the two girls guarding the entrance waved with a big smile upon seeing Alicia. Their eyes opened wide upon seeing Janet following after her, and they summoned their weapons; a hammer, and a pair of revolvers. "Alicia captured Janet!" They could be heard shouting. "The traitor? Oh my god! Call Sylvia!" The guard with the hammer walked towards Janet, and gave her a mean look. "Didn't expect to find yourself back here, did you?" She smirked. Suddenly, the guard punched Janet in the stomach, causing her to fall. She turned to Alicia with a thumbs up, and wide smile. "Great job, Alicia. I'm sure the boss will be pleased. We'll take it from here." The other guard tied Janet's hands behind her back with golden rope, and lifted her up to stand. She then shoved her violently through the entrance. "Come on, move it, traitor!" The other ordered, her voice very high-pitched.
"You'll soon face judgement for your sins," the grade-schooler-looking girl said with a cheerful smile on her face.
Helga blinked at Sue's words. "The terrible one's champion?" She seemed confused at first, and nervously buried her fingers into the folds of her dress. She then drew in a sharp breath when she mentioned the ship. "They destroyed Sky Bast-!" She raised her volume before she realized it, and quickly put a hand to her mouth.
"I mean, Earth Bastion?" She nodded quietly as she listened to the rest, and bit her lower lip at mention of Beacon. "But Amber never had any beef with the lampers!" She took a hasty step. "Why would they have done it? Still...We need to go." She grit her teeth when Sue stopped her, and asked for her to stay. "But..." She struggled with her feelings of duty to Boteg, and her loyalty to Amber's memory. Finally, she sighed, and took Sue's hand. "Promise me you return the moment you find something, Sue. As much as you'd want to fight all on your own, don't make the same mistake...she did..." She squinted her eyes, holding back tears. "...and leave me behind."
