"So he accepted, and he's on his way?... that's fantastic." He said with a nod toward one of his secretaries.

"Yes, yes I spoke with one of your supervisors last night, Margaret... yes... I can? is that even legal? But he's an exchange participant... Well, I NOW know that he's under my jurisdiction, but I thought he was just an exchange participant. I know it's our policy for most other employees, but he's still a kid and you're saying that not only should we test him, we should increase it... well if you say he can handle it... but why? I'm fine with him not doing it... well if you say so, but the MON team is not going to be happy about this... alright, thank you. Bye." The man ended the call with an abrupt exhale.

"Well he's coming, so that is a success of sorts, however his previous boss expects us to put him through the ringer in order to prove to us how capable he is, or something like that." He said with pursed lips as he reached for his coffee cup.

"Well, I think that's excellent, sir." One of his secretaries voiced.

"How is the test going to change? And would you like me to send this to Smith." The second horned secretary asked.

"Well, I think it's going to need to be more violent, testing his physical capabilities more his mental ones... maybe a hostage situation, where he's the hostage or something. I'll come up with something." he finished by taking a long sip of his steaming beverage.

"And no, this exchange has been in development for a while as well as on everyone's minds, I think everyone should hear the good news... actually, schedule a program-wide conference, in an hour, and I'll share the news there." He finished as his secretaries started typing the new meeting into the building's schedule, as well as emailing all specialized people on the update to there daily schedule.

As he looked out the window and pondered to himself on how this is going to play out, and if he made the right decision.

o0o

"Before I start, I would like to congratulate all of our coordinators, On 100 successful liminal integrations into human society this quarter. As well as all the other branches and coordinators in Tokyo have done a stupendous job. The MON team is also commended for there efforts." He finished and was followed by a round of applause.

"Now…. the reason I called this meeting is because as most of you know about this ongoing project about acquiring an exchange participant, Well I'm here to say that he has accepted and is on root here." The CEO looked down at the papers in front of him and dapped at his forehead with a cloth that was inside his suit pocket.

"He is one of the top minds of his country. Responsible for many of the innovations we use, as well as much of the music, and videos we watch." He said as he read slowly off the page in front of him.

"The government of Canada has sent this young 'prodigy' in answer to our request for an exchange participant, We will be testing him just like all normal to see how he fairs in day to day life with liminals, however his previous employer has heavily requested that we increase the physical aspect of said test... and based on his success we will proceed as appropriate." He said finishing by looking at the MON team, who grew more anxious the more he stared.

"His name is Zackary Axel, or also known as Ballistic to the online community and he is a month or two from turning 17 years old, but just because he's a little on the young side does not mean we are treating him like he's a kid. He was sent here because he was resourceful, talented, and bright. Not to be babysat." Everybody in the room visibly tensed up at CEOs words however nobody objected.

"Now he is scheduled to land in Japan 30min give or take, Our…. or your mission *he said while pointing at the MON team, including Smith.* is to test him exactly like as procedure, that is all you may continue your schedules." He concluded. "MON team you stay."

And with that everybody cleared out except the MON team which he motioned to stay.

"You will conduct the regular test out in public and not in a control area, unlike how you normally do it...to see how he reacts, After that you and your team will move to stage two were you kidnap him and see how he fairs in a high-stress physical situation where his life is at risk." the CEO said while using finger quotes on the last section.

"Sir your suggesting kidnap, to a kid... why would you allow this, and change our test just for him," Smith asked as sweat started to accumulate on her forehead.

"It's not me, I mean it is but his previous boss is suggesting this, to show us how capable he is... I would never suggest anything like this but I fear he will pull him back if this does not go through... and he's expecting the results."

"I had a mission report dropped at your office, you guys better get going, he'll be landing very shortly."

As the MON team was leaving the boardroom he said one last thing that made all of the liminals blood run cold *except Doppel*. "Remember he's not a kid, and you WILL be expected to intimidate and injure him just like in a real hostage situation, you must only not take his life, other than that you are free to do as you please." The CEO concluded as he closed the doors.

With that the CEO was gone, closed were the doors to the large boardroom. and the MON team was standing in the rather spacious hallway alone, With them exchanging nervous glances at each other.

He didn't phrase it with any room for an option. It was an order.

o0o

As the MON team was getting 'suited up' along with Smith, they all were extremely nervous *except once again Doppel, who might not have any emotion in her*. But they soldiered on. As Smith briefed them on their responsible roles, and how to play them out when Zack was nearby to see how reacts and assists liminals in need. She then got the section where if he was successful he would get kidnapped.

"You all know your roles, and what to do?" Smith asked her team, as they were about to leave

"But he's just a kid, I don't want to hurt a kid," Tio Whined on the verge of tears with her hands in a fist above her chest.

"YOU THINK THIS IS WHAT I WANT?" shouted the voice of commander smith, laced with heavy emotion."He's just a kid. But we must do as the boss orders…. On the bright side, Seras will be with us so none of his injuries will be permanent."

"I will do this, but only for the bosses orders. Hopefully, we are just overthinking things, and all will be ok." Vera the Wyvern of the group said trying to keep her team's spirits up.

It worked to some degree as a few of them put on a half smile.

With a mindset that kept their spirits up *At least just a little bit*. The MON team set out to Zack current coordinates.

o0o

I after leaving the airport I have started aimlessly wandering around downtown Tokyo. So far I have come to the amazing realization that almost every street block looks exactly the same, and so far I have noted that aside from there being more street vendors, this place could be easily mistaken for Toronto.

While I was walking I was multitasking by messing with audio tracks on my AMX by using the mini turntables to scratch and manipulate the tracks.

I decided that I had enough of crowded sidewalks for one day, glancing down at my phone I looked at the GPS to locate the nearest open space. I found a park of sorts on the nearby some water, "sweet" I said to nobody in particular and headed off down the street to see some greenery. Although I lived in a city, I lived in a portion right beside a large park, so I never had to deal with the concrete jungle.

I found the park with ease and started walking along a path that ran beside the water, I saw a few liminals around the park, a few harpies and dragon type liminals flying around and a few canine species running around playing with their hosts or exercising.

I saw a centaur blaze past me, and the only thing keeping me from sprinting after the horse girl was that I had a 50kg backpack on and I was not about to leave all my valuable equipment just sitting around.

As I watched the horse girl run along the path I started wondering how fast she was actually running. A faint scream that was barely audible over my music brought me back to reality. I paused what I was listening to, and began searching for the owner of said scream.

Turning around I saw a flash of brown running towards me with a purse swinging behind it, Without thinking I moved my arm up so that the object in pursuit got clothes-hanged, making it fall and roll in a tumble along the grass.

Instantly I ran over to check if she was ok. It was then that another girl about 5.2ft with her hair and hat covering her face, walked up and thanked me for stopping the thief. It dawned on me at that moment that this girl was the source of the scream and that I guess I just stopped her purse from being stolen.

"I guess...I'll call the police," I said confused as not knowing what to do. "Oh think nothing of it, I will handle it. You just enjoy your walk... Thank you." the girl…. No woman said as she looked up at me, and smiling slightly. Revealing her face to me and the world.

I froze momentarily noticing that this woman of an undetermined age, definitely older than me, only had one EYE. But due to my being MPL spitguard being on, appeared that I was taking this like this was a common occurrence... in actuality this was my first encounter with one, and I had no idea how to react, my mind was doing a million calculations a second.

I landed on the smartest of all, *or at least I thought it was.* I disengaged the magnetic locks and let the mask fall around my neck, I smiled and said "Glad to be of service, and Thank you Ms…. Ummm - Manako," she answered before I could finish, she then blushed suddenly pulling her hat down in the process, hiding her face once again.

"Are you sure, I can wait for the police? Or maybe just stay." I asked.

"Ummnoitsok... youenjoyyourwalk." She spoke very quickly tripping over her words.

"Okkk, you have a good one," I said with an arch of my eyebrow.

She glanced up a little, blushed then looked back down. "Ughhhh….you to," she said very quickly.

I nodded and continued my waterfront walk, in relative peace until I felt. I glanced back to see Manako and the thief now nude? Running off around a corner. Huh weird, because they didn't look like they were chasing one another, it looked like they were running side by side, I thought. Facing forward again.

"LOOK OUT." I heard as I was walking making me look around frantically trying to find the voice. Looking up I saw something black falling towards me, like really, really fast. Next thing I knew I was knock on my ass, sitting on the ground in a mess of feathers, skin and talons?

The girl was dazed but perked up almost instantly. She looked around all confused then noticed that she was lying on top of me. She got all flustered and stood up immediately. Refusing to give me any eye contact. "Are you alright?" I asked and that seemed to put her into shock. "Am I alright?… are you alright? I landed on you and appear to have cut you with one of my talons." She said flustered in a surprisingly non-childlike voice.

She said as she pointed to my cheek with a winged arm. I ran my hand down my cheek and felt the tiniest amount of blood drip out of. "I'M SO SORRY." She said hopping from leg to leg and holding her wings in front of her quite 'ample' chest in a 'worrying praying' motion.

"Think nothing of it... it's nothing fatal," I said trying to reassure her that it was nothing.

"Um ok….. Bye." she blurted out before taking to the skies and flying out of my sight line behind a line of trees.

Alright then….. I thought as I continued down the path. Is it just today? Or is thing with multiple liminal incidents a normal thing? Hasn't seemed to happen to others….. Just me…..Weird. I kept thinking like this as is walked on, lost in my thoughts.

o0o

"What do you mean you fell out of the sky and…. Landed on him? How did that even happen?" Smith asked completely shocked.

"I don't know I just….. found myself on the ground and on top of him," Corva said in a timid voice.

"It's fine, although you were supposed to only be scouting...how has he reacted so far to these….. Disruptions." Ms Smith asked. Doppel, Manako and Corva.

"Well… he didn't seem put off by my appearances, and he responded to our disruption without being fazed really." Manako said as she tilted her hat up a little bit, showing a little bit of her face.

"I don't like him, he hit me with his arm," Doppel said with a smirk.

"And he didn't even to seem to care that I accidentally cut him with one of my talons, in fact, he didn't even seem to notice until I pointed it out," Corva added with a guilty look on her face.

"Hmmm, so he's more like Darling-kin then I thought... strong, and resilient... alright this sounds good, Tio radio Balboa and tell her to scrap her current role, and get Widowna….. We are moving to the final test." As she said the last part, everyone in the truck gulped quite audibly.

"Ummmm…..Sure, you got it boss… but are you sure…... you don't want to like reconsider this?... maybe we could just forget about this and say we did so." the crackly voice of Balboa sounded over the radio echoing through the ghostly quiet truck.

"No, we're going through on this.…. Let's just get it over with …..For all our sakes….. Including Zacks…. EVERYBODY GET READY….Let's make this quick." Smith ordered, everybody just nodded while they got ready to head out.

The MON team including Smith walked along the alleyways and met up with Balboa and Widowna, the Lamia and Arachne operatives of the group.

They kept walking along the alleyways until they were met with a section where Zack would cross in a matter of minutes, Or so they were told by Vesp, and Vera the other flyers of the group.

"Balboa, Widowna…. You know what to do… Distract him, tie him up and knock him unconscious." Smith asked and received nothing but two semi-confident nodes from the two larger operatives.

They waited a few moments until Zack came in to view, Balboa wasting no time as she slithered up to Zack with Widowna following close behind on the rooftops. As she got closer and closer, seeing his innocent smiling face made the guilt hit her like a freight train but she soldiered on. As she came within a few feet, he noticed her... How could he not, she was a large snake woman that was slithering up the street to him. He spoke up "Good day Miss. Lamia how may I help you."

"Umm….. I was wondering If you could do me a favour." She asked looking around frantically.

"Sure….. If I am able to then yes." He responded with a smile.

"I need you to… forgive me…... well all of us actually." She said looking at the ground.

"Forgive you… For wha..." but his response was cut short. By webbing wrapping his body up tightly and a gag covering his mouth.

"I'm sorry." Was the last thing that was heard, before the Balboa swung her tail around hitting him in the head and knocking him to the ground rendering him unconscious.

As his eyes were slowly closing, he saw multiple dark thin legs appear, followed by a faint.

"I wish this could have played out different... I'm sorry."

BLACK

MON team members

Zombina: 'Zombie'

Tionishia: 'Ogre'

Doppel: 'Doppelgänger'

Manako: 'Monoeye'

Seras: 'Medicinal Slime'

Vesp: 'Hornet'

Widowna: 'long-legged Arachne'

Vera: 'Wyvern'

Balboa: 'Boa-Constrictor Lamia'

Corva: 'Harpy'

That's a Wrap... BUBBLE WRAP!

The extra MON team members were created by Heatfox in his story. Prey to the World. And a few more were added, but I dont remember where I took them from.

Check it out, it's what inspired me... somewhat. Anyway, more of his characters might be mentioned later... but we will see.