Hellboy, Abe, Liz, Myers and Atlantis walked down the corridor after being dismissed from the meeting. The Professor, Manning and Kraus stayed behind to discuss
more mission details. After walking in silence for a while, Liz spoke," So Atlantis, what made you come to the meeting room? The library is near the other end of
the compound." Myers perked up a bit and added," Yea, one minute you were looking through the professors books, and the next, you got this weird look on your
face and ran out." Atlantis did not look at anyone as she spoke, not to be disrespectful, but because she was still learning human etiquette. " I felt Abe's
discomfort, and was able to hear through him." Her matter-of-factly tone of voice confused the others. When the others stopped walking and stared at the female
sapien, Atlantis turned and blinked. Hellboy said," What the hell does that mean?" Atlantis shook her head and gave a raspy laugh," I forget humans are unaware
of these things. Due to my cohabitation with Abe, I have had many opportunities to touch him. Before he left for the meeting, I had extended contact with him
when he was helping me adjust my human garb. A lingering connection to him made me more aware of his feelings and thoughts." Abe was interested, but slightly
concerned with what Atlantis said," Does that mean you know what I am thinking?" Atlantis shook her head slightly and said," No necessarily. I only knew that
you were in distress and it had something to do with me. I heard part of the conversation as I approached the room and that is how I was able to know what the
man said. Are there things you are afraid I'll find out Abe?" Atlantis gave him a pointy tooth grin before turning and walking back to the library. Hellboy elbowed
Abe and laughed," Finally met someone who can't get into your head, huh Abe?" Abe ignored Hellboy . Liz spoke up," Shut up Red. Anyway, about this mission,
we'll have to start training Atlantis formally now." Hellboy shrugged his shoulders and called over his shoulder as he walked away," Don't worry about it, I got this."
The three remaining agents looked at each other with looks of concern.
Three days after the meeting with Manning, the group of agents found themselves in a large open field near a small lake. Myers, Hellboy, Liz, and Abe were all
dressed in their regular mission gear. Atlantis wore a black two-piece spandex suit, no shoes and no water apparatus like the one Abe wore. She reassured the
team that she could withstand being out of the water for extending periods of time. Today was the day the team pushed Atlantis to see what she could do. Hellboy
and Liz would be testing combat ability, while Myers and Abe observed to check for flaws. Liz stood across from Atlantis before speaking," Ok Atlantis, I will be your
first opponent. The fight will continue until someone yields or is unable to fight anymore. Give me everything you've got, because I will be. Are you ready?" Atlantis
nodded. The two women took several steps back, eyes locked. Myers shouted out after a few tense moments," Ready!... FIGHT!"
Liz made the first move; she made fireballs in each hand before throwing them towards Atlantis. Atlantis easily dodged but did not move in to attack. Liz continued
this fireball attack a few more times until there was scorched earth all over the field. Atlantis then suddenly rushed forward, so Liz erected an intense firewall
before her. When Liz noticed that Atlantis had not come through the fire or around it, she allowed the flames to die down . Atlantis had not intended to attack Liz
directly; instead she had run towards the lake. Liz threw more fireballs at Atlantis, and one hit the female in the back. Atlantis still managed to reach the water and
disappear. Liz approached the water cautiously, but did not get near the shore. Liz engulfed her body with flames and watched the water closely. Suddenly, a rush
of water came towards Liz. The female agent lifted her arms to block the wave of water with the heat of her flames. When the two opposing elements clashed a
massive cloud of steam and mist emerged. Liz's visibility was close to zero and she knew this is likely what Atlantis intended. Liz kept her flames strong around her,
even if Atlantis got near her, she wouldn't be able to touch her.
Atlantis on the other hand was lurking in the haze with no visual impairment. Atlantis could see the flames surrounding Liz, so Atlantis planned an attack
specifically for dangers like Liz. Atlantis got as close as she could to Liz before closing her eyes and reaching out her palms.
Liz felt a numbing pain in her head for a split second before it disappeared. However, soon Liz felt scared, irrationally scared. She started shooting flames into the
mist, trying to flesh Atlantis out. Liz then turned and tried to run out of the fog. But she found that she couldn't move her feet. Soon everything went dark.
Atlantis pushed her way into Liz's mind and began to focus in on her fears. Liz was more rational that Atlantis had assumed but that was irrelevant, Atlantis would
crush her.
Liz fell to her knees and grabbed her head. She became to murmur," It's in your head. This isn't real." But a voice in her head kept telling her that it was real and
Liz was alone. " This isn't real !" Liz yelled out into the mist. But the harsh voice in her head said," Yes it is, and you are all alone."
Atlantis continued to probe Liz's mind for her fears and weaknesses. Liz was strong but her fear of being rejected by those she cared about was intense. So was her
fear of being totally alone. Atlantis made it so that Liz "blind", losing her ability to see. Then she proceeded to whisper in Liz's head, filling her with fear and doubt.
Atlantis wanted to end this quickly. She just needed Liz to drop her guard a little more.
Liz was started to lose her concentration, her flames would burn powerfully one moment, and then disappear completely the next. Liz could barely focus on the
sparring session in real life, let alone the battle going on in her mind. As Liz felt herself lose control, the oppressing voice in her mind spoke to her again," Do you
seek release?" Liz was unsure how to answer. Before Liz could respond, she was able to make out some light; she wasn't in complete darkness anymore. Liz took
timid steps towards the light, but as she got closer, the light got brighter. Liz continued forward.
Atlantis made illusions in Liz's mind, by doing so; she was able to get Liz to move herself into the perfect position to end this fight. Atlantis then moved back
towards the lake to prepare for the finishing blow.
Liz's vision was coming back and the voice in her head had been silent for sometime. Liz was regaining control, when she felt water lapping at her shins. Suddenly
Liz wasn't in the field anymore, she found her self in the lake. Liz was confused, how did she get here and how long has she been there. Liz moved to leave the
water when her feet were taken from under her and she was dragged deep into the lake.
Atlantis dragged Liz deep into the lake. Even though the lake was relatively small, at its center it was still at least 13 ft deep. Once in the center Atlantis grabbed
Liz on both sides of her face and looked her in the eye. " Yield." Through their physical contact, Atlantis was able to speak to Liz's mind directly. Liz was starting to
panic. Atlantis spoke again," Yield, and I will make sure you are fine. If you do not, I will make sure you drown. Nod if you wish to surrender or say it with your
mind." Liz's eyes went wide.
Liz could feel her lungs starting to burn; the water was suffocating and cold. Atlantis seemed unfazed be the distress she was causing her. Liz struggled for a few
moments, but this was Atlantis's domain, and her grip was solid. The raspy voice was in her head again giving her instructions. As Liz looked into Atlantis's large
dark eyes, she realized Atlantis was in her head the entire time. Liz tried to think of some way to get out but her flames would be of much use with her being so
saturated. Reluctantly, Liz nodded.
Atlantis could see and feel the turmoil Liz was going through. When Liz nodded her head expressing her submission, Atlantis immediately took her to the surface.
As the two broke the surface, Atlantis could make out the men searching for the pair. The fog had disappeared by this point and their disappearance had become
known. Upon making it to the show, Liz leg go of Atlantis and trudged back onto shore.
Hellboy, Abe and Myers watched as the two women squared off. Liz was the first to attack. Liz seemed to have Atlantis on the defensive. Hellboy nudged Abe,"
When is Bubbles gonna do something besides dodge? I know she can fight, she tried to kill me before so I know she has it in her." Abe observed the battle silently
for a while longer before commenting, " Atlantis appears to be biding her time, for what I am not sure." Just as they were talking, Atlantis rushed Liz. The trio
looked on, Myers whispered," But she'll get burnt by Liz's flames." Hellboy and Abe remained quiet. Liz summoned a wall of fire. The men then noticed how Atlantis
stopped short of the flames, and then ran towards the lake. Abe grinned," That's what she wanted all along." Hellboy folded his arms," What is she gonna do from
there though?" Some time later Liz's flames got smaller and they could tell she noticed Atlantis's escape to the water. She began to throw fireballs at Atlantis's
retreating form. One caught the female sapien in the back, right between the shoulders. Hellboy hissed," That's gotta hurt." Abe watched on as Atlantis rushed
into the water and saw the water grow still again. What seemed to be minutes passed before a wave of water came at Liz. When Liz's fire met the cool water a
blast of steam blanketed the field. Liz was no longer visible. They strained to hear anything. In time steams of flames would erupt from the fog and Liz's muffled
voice floated throughout the haze. Myers bounced nervously from one leg to the other," What's going on? Maybe we should check on them?" Hellboy grimaced
but held his ground," No. Liz can take care of herself. Besides she'd be pissed if we came barging in and she didn't even need us." After a bit more time, the mist
dissipated and the men could see Liz standing in the lake. Abe said," How did she end up there? Liz knows Atlantis is in the lake." Before Hellboy could voice his
ideas, the trio saw Liz's body jerk, fall and disappear under the water. The three men took a step forward, Myers yelled," Atlantis does know this is a sparring
session right? This looks a lot like her M.O from the seaside attacks!" Hellboy and Abe both wanted to believe that Atlantis was reformed but there was still so much
they did not now about Atlantis. The three hurried towards the shoreline. As they approached Atlantis and Liz both reappeared in the center of the lake. Abe
noticed first," There they are."
Myers went to Liz," Are you ok?" As he reached to touch Liz on the arm, she shrugged away. " I'm fine!" Liz bite out a response. Hellboy noticed Liz's tense
behavior," What's up with you?" Liz turned around and faced Atlantis," She went entirely too far! She threatened to drown me!" The three men turned to look at
Atlantis who looked at them with only a partial interest. Atlantis made no attempt to explain herself, instead she walked over to Abe and presented her back to
him. Abe wasn't sure what she was trying to do. When Atlantis turned to look at Abe expectantly Abe asked," Is there something you need Atlantis?" Atlantis
responded," My back, is the wound bad?' Before Abe could respond, Liz approached Atlantis," What were you thinking?!" Atlantis looked at the other woman
indifferently," I won the sparring session, I do not see why you are feeling aggression towards me know that the battle is over." Hellboy asked," Did you really
threaten to drown Liz?" Atlantis seemed to be growing tired of the questions and turned her back on them to face Abe. Abe asked her in a softer voice," I think
they want to understand your strategy. It may be simple for you to understand but you startled Liz." Atlantis paused for some moments before turning once again
to face everyone, Liz in particular, and presented her back to Abe again. Atlantis explained," I was under the impression that you, Liz, were an experienced agent
able to withstand an assortment of attacks. You also told me to attack you to the best of my abilities, which I did. I let you believe that I would allow you to drown.
I believe humans lie quite often. What ever it is that you feel towards me is unnecessary." As Atlantis spoke, Abe checked the burn on her back and applied some
medicated gel. Myers asked," What did you do exactly?" Atlantis did not look at him; her eyes were closed as she let Abe work the gel into her burned flesh. She
mumbled a barley coherent," After my fight with the red one, I will explain." Hellboy smirked at the pair," Abe, I think you're putting Bubbles to sleep. I need her
awake so I could see what tricks she uses." Abe, who had been absentmindedly rubbing Atlantis's back, blushed before pulling his hands away quickly. Atlantis
rotated her shoulders and yawned before opening her eyes. Atlantis looked at Hellboy before saying," Don't be upset after I beat you like your friend." Hellboy could
see the toothy grin Atlantis gave him and he laughed," Well all right then Bubbles. Let's go!"
