Armblast sighed.
"Of all the times for a new assignment. Haven't I suffered enough? I mean, it's not as if we're short ES members. Why does the auditor have to suffer?" he complained to himself.
"Do stop talking to yourself. It looks weird," Fuyu, or Kale as he claimed he was, commented from beside Armblast.
Armblast glared down at the cat.
"Okay. So exactly how is it Artemis seemed to have totally forgotten me?" he demanded.
Kale sighed.
"Okay. After you so coldly dismissed her, Artemis started shutting down. Her body couldn't process the multiple emotions you introduced her to. In other words, she had a meltdown. Her powers malfunctioned and she became unstable again. So her memories were simply erased. That is why Eclipse wanted to speak to you. She needed to test how well Artemis's memories were blocked," Kale explained.
"Wait. What emotions could I possibly have introduced to Artemis?" Armblast asked.
Kale looked up at him.
"Love." he replied.
"Wait. What about you?" Armblast nearly yelled.
Kale smiled.
"I gave her friendship. The feeling of having an older brother. You know, someone on her side," he replied.
Armblast ran his fingers through his hair.
"And she doesn't remember a thing," he grumbled.
Kale sighed impatiently.
"No, you oaf. Now hurry up. I need some milk," he said.
"You know. I liked you better when you couldn't speak."
Armblast studied Kale as the cat sat across from him, trying to fit his head in the glass to reach the last of the milk.
"I could put that in a bowl," Armblast offered.
"How dare you! I am a human and I will act like such," Kale hissed.
"Yes. Because suddenly humans have fur, four legs, paws, tails and pointy ears," Armblast retorted.
Kale glared.
"Watch it auditor or I will use Kitty Fu on you," he snapped.
"Kitty Fu?"
"Kitty Fu," Kale confirmed.
Armblast hid a smile behind his hand.
"I see that smile," Kale hissed.
"Of course you do," Armblast said sarcastically.
"That's it!" Kale yelled.
Eclipse looked up as Armblast dropped Kale on her desk.
"Problems auditor?" she asked.
"I just remembered I'm not a cat person," he said.
Eclipse took in the scratches on his face.
"I can see that," she remarked.
There was a knock on the door.
"Who's there?" Eclipse called.
"Artemis."
Eclipse suddenly looked panicked and she threw Kale at Armblast.
"What am I suppose to do with him?" Armblast demanded.
"Put him in the case," Eclipse ordered.
Armblast obeyed and quickly took his usual seat on the left couch. The doors opened and Artemis entered. She nodded at Armblast and then focused on Eclipse.
"Good morning Chief," she said.
Chief Eclipse smiled and waved at Armblast.
"Artemis. Now that you are a member of the Global Union, Armblast will be your partner. Say hello," she said.
Artemis looked at him and smiled.
"Nice to see you again. I hope we'll work together and produce great results," she said.
Armblast looked at Eclipse.
"Your sense of humor sucks," he said.
Armblast felt strange, having to give Artemis another tour of his apartment. She seemed less fascinated by everything. She was nothing like she was weeks ago. As he watched her explore her bedroom, he wondered what Dvergr had done to her. Had she programmed everyday life into the girl's head? Or had she wiped the slate clean and started over, teaching Artemis everything? "Auditor?" Artemis called.
Armblast looked up.
"Yes?" he asked.
She smiled.
"I'd like to take a nap. Would you mind getting out?" she asked.
Armblast left, still pondering what had been done. As he opened his suitcase to let Kale out, he made a terrible discovery. The feline was gone.
"Oh Eclipse is going to have a cow," he mumbled.
Kale slipped through the cracks of the lab and he glanced around.
"Impressive. Alv changed nothing," he said, darting across the stopped when he came across an ice like chamber. "Ooh... something new."
He leapt onto it, claws sliding a little and his face came to rest right against the glass.
"I don't believe it," he gasped, his words muffled by the glass top.
Kale was staring right at Artemis! He leapt off the chamber, stunned. Then the lab doors slid open. Quickly, Kale hid under a table.
"Have they suspected anything yet?" he heard Alv asked.
"No. Nothing. Those planted memories were enough to trick the GU," Dvergr replied.
Kale peeked at them from under the table. They were standing over Artemis.
"Little brat only has the auditor on her brain. Damn him," Alv growled.
Dvergr crossed her arms.
"Be thankful that she did pick up some information," she pointed out.
Alv sprawled herself across the chamber.
"True. And with information like that, we can rebuild Artemis from scratch. We can make her better, stronger," she said.
Kale slinked out a little, silently headed for the door.
"Well, hello there. Kitty kitty."
Kale froze as he heard Alv stand, turning around nervously.
"Alv," he hissed.
Alv glanced at Dvergr.
"Get the cat," she ordered, nodding sideways at Kale.
"You bitch. You've cloned Artemis and sent that clone back to GOTT."
Alv smiled.
"Well, clever kitty. Unfortunately, that means you have to die," she said, leaping at him.
Kale meowed and leapt out of her path, slipping out the lab doors.
"NO!" he heard Alv yell as he fled.
"Armblast! Hey auditor."
Armblast ignored the persistent poking and rolled over.
"Auditor."
Armblast let out a sigh and slipped back into deep sleep. For a second, it seemed the pest was gone. And then came the bite that had Armblast leaping out of his bed. He glared at Kale before poking his neck, trying to see where Kale had bitten him.
"Armblast. Just forget about the bite. That girl isn't Artemis. She's a clone!" Kale hissed.
"What?" Armblast asked.
Kale rolled his eyes.
"Dvergr dropped off a clone in place of the real Artemis. They've been prodding the real Artemis's mind for some information. But all she knows is her time with you," the cat said.
Armblast stared at the cat.
"And you didn't tell Eclipse?" he demanded.
"Do you actually use your brain? If Eclipse alerts every ES member, Dvergr is bound to report back to Alv and they will inevitably move Artemis away."
"So, you basically want me to go in alone?" Armblast asked.
"Exactly. I knew even you could figure that out," Kale praised.
Armblast sighed.
"One condition," he bargained.
Kale sighed.
"What?" he asked.
"We bring Éclair and Lumiere."
"So. You're going to save Artemis because a deranged Alv who's come back is still working with her crazy mother and they've created a clone which Eclipse unknowingly sent back with you and the talking cat figured this all out by tailing Dvergr," Ricki asked.
"Well. That is the long version," Armblast confirmed.
"Why is she even here?" Kale hissed.
"Well, I couldn't just leave her alone at my place," Éclair said.
Kale sighed and sat on Armblast's shoulder.
"The sooner we get Artemis, the sooner I can get away from these crazies," he mumbled.
"A little harsh, don't you think?" Armblast said.
Éclair smiled.
"So auditor. The fact that you're even considering rescuing Artemis means you're fond of her. Who knew you'd ever rescue someone? It's quite gallant," Éclair remarked.
"Elegance, Éclair," Lumiere scolded.
"Sorry," Éclair replied.
"We're here," Kale declared.
"How do you know?" Ricki asked.
Something hit La Muse, causing the ship to jerk forward a bit. Ricki and Kale fell to the floor, Kale landing on Rikki's head.
"That," he replied.
"Hold on!" Éclair ordered.
La Muse jerked to the right, sending Ricki, Kale and even Armblast crashing into the wall.
"I just love Éclair's piloting skills," Armblast muttered.
He grabbed Kale just as La Muse spun to the left.
"I think I'm gonna be sick!" Ricki declared.
Armblast grabbed her as well. With both cat and girl clinging to him, Armblast managed to grab Lumiere's piloting seat and stand.
"Strap yourselves in!" he ordered, pointing to the seats.
"Really?" Kale asked doubtfully.
Ricki obeyed and she was strapped in quickly.
"Catch!" Armblast ordered, tossing Kale to her.
He then leaned over Lumiere's shoulder.
"What's going on?" he demanded.
"We've been hit," Lumiere announced.
"Obviously," Armblast remarked.
"By who?" Ricki called.
"Me," Éclair said as a large screen appeared and they were all looking at Éclair.
An exact copy too.
"Whoa. More Éclair clones," Ricki said.
"No. It's Artemis," Armblast declared as the forms shifted and they stared at Artemis.
"Art! Hey, are you okay? We came to get you!" Éclair cheered.
Artemis said nothing.
"Auditor. Are you certain that's Artemis?" Lumiere inquired.
"Yes. It's the eyes," he announced.
"He's right," Kale chimed from Rikki's lap.
"Well then. Artemis, it's me Éclair," Éclair yelled.
"I know who you are," Artemis said.
"Good. That makes my job a whole lot easier. Listen, we came to rescue you. Now just land your ship and board La Muse," Éclair instructed.
"Why? So I can return to an organization of people who blame me for the death of a member? So they can all fail to overlook the few glitches I have? So people can perform more tests on me and not treat me as a human girl?" Artemis demanded.
"But you're not human," Kale objected.
Armblast glared at the cat before turning back to the screen.
"Artemis, you're a human but you're a special human. Like Éclair and Lumiere. And no one is blaming you for killing Mecredi," he said.
"You are," Artemis snapped.
Her eyes narrowed.
"You let Dvergr have me. You threw me back to the sharks. And after I saved your life," she hissed.
Armblast sighed.
"Artemis. I'm sorry. Just come back. I thought I could get use to not having you around but it feels weird. In so short a time, you've come to matter to me more than even Mecredi. Return to GOTT. Please," he begged.
Artemis blinked and then a tear escaped her eye.
"Artemis?" Armblast asked.
And then it was like an entire dam had burst.
"LIAR!" she screamed.
La Muse was hit from the side and red lights began blinking.
"Critical hit. We're losing altitude!" Lumiere reported.
Éclair clutched the controls tightly.
"Everyone," she yelled. "HOLD ON!"
La Muse began a nosedive towards the ground.
"We have to get out," Lumiere declared.
"No! We can make it!" Éclair declared.
"Éclair, don't be stubborn!" Lumiere snapped.
"WE CAN MAKE IT!" Éclair yelled.
Just as La Muse was about to hit the ground, she pulled up and skimmed low across the ground until she stopped. Éclair glanced over at Lumiere and broke into a goofy grin.
"What?" Lumiere asked, the ominous feeling that something bad was about to happen hanging over her head.
"HA!" Éclair laughed.
Nearby there was an explosion.
"And there it is," Lumiere muttered.
Armblast pried open the door.
"We have to go," he said, grabbing Kale.
"Onward!" Kale meowed.
They all ran for the forest around them. More explosions could be heard. Suddenly, Éclair stopped.
"Go on without me. I need to get something," she said, running back toward La Muse.
"Éclair!" Lumiere cried.
"You heard the lady. Run!" Ricki ordered, giving Lumiere a gentle push.
With no other choice, Lumiere ran.
Artemis landed her ship beside La Muse. It laid, damaged, in its own dirt path. Artemis approached the ship and placed her hand on it.
"HIYA!"
Artemis turned at the sound seconds before Éclair's kick connected with her face and sent her to the dirt. Artemis turned angrily to face her. Éclair stood over her, on La Muse's wing.
"Why did you do that?" she demanded.
"Because I can!" Artemis snapped, leaping at Éclair.
Éclair caught her fist but she didn't anticipate a leg sweep. Artemis managed to get Éclair off La Muse's wing and onto the ground. Each delivered a punch, which the other caught. Now they stood face to face, fiercely locked in a power struggle.
"Tell me where the auditor is and I'll let you and Lumiere return home," Artemis offered.
"Oh how nice. What about your orders?" Éclair snapped.
"Screw them. I have a score to settle with the auditor," Artemis hissed.
"Oh so now you won't use his name?" Éclair demanded.
"He's not worth it," Artemis snapped.
"Not worth what? Your time? Your patience? Your strength?" Éclair spat.
"My heart!" Artemis screamed.
"What?" Éclair asked.
"He's not worth the pain I went through when I realized the one person I trusted, the one I felt safe with, would abandon me so easily. All those things he said on La Muse, he didn't mean anything. One man can't protect me from the Global Union," she said.
Éclair froze.
"He won't be alone. I'll fight for you. And Lumiere."
A sound came from La Muse before Donner emerged. Éclair laughed.
"And Donner," she said turning back to Artemis.
But the girl was shaking her head.
"It's too late," she said, smashing her knee into Éclair's face.
Artemis grabbed Éclair before she fell.
"Sorry.," she said, setting Éclair in her own ship.
She then took Éclair's form and turned to Donner.
"Let's go Donner."
Ricki collapsed onto her knees, panting.
"Okay. No more running. I can't take it," she said.
Lumiere and Armblast also stopped.
"What are you doing? We don't have time for this!" Kale hissed.
Armblast glared at the cat.
"You have no right to talk, kitty. I was carrying you the whole way. I did all the running," Armblast said.
"Well run no more!" Éclair called, riding up on Donner.
"Éclair!" Lumiere cried.
"Free ride! I mean, Éclair!" Ricki cheered.
"TA-DA!" Éclair said as she helped them onto Donner.
"Did you run into Artemis?" Ricki asked.
"Why do you ask?" Éclair asked.
Ricki pointed to her cheek.
"You're bleeding," she announced.
"I just got cut looking for Donner. I didn't think it would bleed," she admitted.
Lumiere stared at the canopy of trees they were under.
"Since the trees seem to grow farther and farther apart, my bet is we're close to the entrance or possibly an exit."
"Hooray!" Ricki cheered.
Kale's nose twitched and he glanced at Éclair.
"Wait a second. You smell different," he said.
All but Éclair looked at the cat.
"You don't smell like Éclair at all. You smell just like Artemis," he said.
"Well, I was fighting her a few minutes ago and she really was all over the place," Éclair said.
The trees parted and they came to an open field of grass waving in the wind.
"Well, hello!"
The party looked away from Kale to see that they were caught. Alv stood just across from them with Dvergr at her side. And behind them as well as to either side of them were heavily armored robots.
"Oh boy," Ricki said as robots emerged from the woods behind them.
"Éclair. I can probably shut a few of them down at once. Can you cover my back?" Lumiere asked. In response, Éclair grabbed the back of her clothes as well as Ricki's arm and she tossed both across the field, both landing at Alv's feet. Kale hissed and launched himself at Éclair. But she only held up her arm, which he bit just as she turned into Artemis.
Ar...Artemis?" Kale stammered.
Artemis pried him from her arm and threw him across the distance as well. Only Armblast remained. Artemis reached for the gun at her side and then she pressed it against his head.
"I'll finish what everyone who's ever wanted you dead, failed to do," she said.
Armblast placed his hand on her wrist.
"You don't want me dead do you? You want me to accept you. And Artemis, I do. For now and forever, I do," he said, standing.
He wrapped his arms around her.
"You sound like you're marrying me," she commented.
"Perhaps I am," he replied relaxed in his grip until a gun shot rang through the woods.
Armblast cried out in pain and pulled away from her, clutching his arm. A red liquid creeped over his fingers.
"Keep away from her auditor. You have no business touching her," Alv said, snapping her finger. Artemis stood stone still for a second and then she lunged forward, slamming the back of her hand into his face. Armblast was knocked off Donner, his hair escaping his hairtye as he fell. Artemis stared down at him, regret written all over her face before two robots grabbed her shoulders.
"You can dispose of her now. We've got what we needed," Alv announced.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Armblast leapt to his feet and ran at the robots. He knocked into one, knocking it over and the other responded instantly.
"GO!" he yelled at Artemis.
She stared at him in wild disbelief.
"GO!" Armblast yelled again.
"I will come back for you," Artemis declared, running off.
Armblast saw a ball of black fur shoot past him and he couldn't help smile.
"Stay with her Kale. And keep her safe."