Unsurprisingly, I find myself an hour later in the training room, acting as if I do not know that Tigress and Kaldur'ahm are traitors.

"Today we'll be covering the art of defending yourself against two attackers. You may often be outnumbered, but that does not mean we will give up. Tigress, Kaldur'ahm, please join me. We will spar for one minute, or as long as you can."

The two exchange glances, and join me on the elevated surface of the training pad's platform.

"And that minute begins right now." I say, unsheathing my daggers and charging at Tigress. She flips backwards at the last moment, surprise sneaking it's way onto her face.

"I thought you'd go for Kaldur first." she states, taking out her crossbows.

"Why? Because he's not as much of a suspect of being a traitor?"

Tigress halts, jerking forward. "Wha-why would you think that?"

I smile. "Because it's true."

Slamming into her, I force her to the ground, grabbing her hair in her ponytail and tilting her head back, exposing her throat. My dagger settled against her pale flesh, just begging to be drawn across.

Kaldur'ahm halts in his tracks, eyes growing wide. "You wouldn't."

"I would, and you clearly know I will. Now put your weapons down, or we'll see what her blood says about her, in full. Not that I don't already know, of course, but the others who you've been leading on will most certainly wish to know."

Hesitantly, Kaldur'ahm releases the water his weapons are made of, sorcery becoming undone.

"Don't harm her, please."

"Why? Because her boyfriend would be angry at you if she was? Not that he already isn't; he's not at all pleased that she's so deep undercover, in such a dangerous, dangerous place. Oh, I do wonder what she tastes like. Please, let me. I love biting into sacrificial flesh of those unworthy to live because of such lives that they lead."

A contingent of Reach security tumbles into the training room, aiming at Kaldur'ahm.

I lick my lips. "Perhaps, another day, I will taste you both. I shall look forward to it very much."

I watch both of them being dragged away from the room, both of them struggling, and I see the Ambassador and Black Beetle enter the room.

Approaching me, the Ambassador speaks. "We've reviewed your request, and we've decided to approve it. If you'll accompany us to the Science lab, we'll start the processes."

I smile under my mask.

"Understood."

In the Science lab, I'm waiting for the procedures to start.

"We have, indeed, found a Meta-Gene in your DNA, which was exceptionally difficult to map. We haven't even found nucleotides that exist in normal human DNA, and some one that are more closely related to our own sequences. An intriguing challenge, but it will take some time. Onto the procedure." the Scientist says.

The Ambassador ducks out, stating, "I'd love to stay and make sure you'll be fine afterwards, but I do have several things to take care of, including Gordon Godfrey."

I look at Black Beetle. "Who's Gordon Godfrey?"

He growls. "A talk show host, as the meatbags on Earth call it."

"Ah. Are we ready?"

"For the Scarab attachment, simply wait over there, and Black Beetle will start the process."

I nod. "Anything else you need to warn me about?"

Black Beetle alights down next to me. "You will need to take off your armor, I need to access the Scarab once we've placed it and fine-tune it to your specific bodily functions and requirements."

I smile slightly under my mask, and shed the top half of my armor, exposing my back and spine.

The Scientist walks over, carrying a Scarab, I assume, and lays it over my upper back.

She walks away, and activates the Scarab. I gasp as the tech reaches out tiny appendages and digs into my back, attaching itself to my spine. My head spins, and Black Beetle's Scarab extends into mine, reprogramming it to my specifications. I feel it extend into my brain, up my nerve stem, and supplies my body with a new source of strength.

I feel it's power coursing through me, and within seconds, Black Beetle withdraws, and I'm in tune with the Scarab on my back.

My body twists and turns, cracks issuing from my stiff form from bending over and staying in one place for so long.

I straighten, and pull on my armor. My hands linger in front of my face slightly, and I speak. "Black Beetle, is it always this fun to feel that strength, or just at the beginning?"

He chuckles. "Always."

My fists clench. "Good."

The Scientist runs a few tests, and I don't mention the fact that I can't hear a voice in my head that's telling me what to do.

I like being in control of myself.

In the training room again, I test out my new strength, Dawur watching.

He chuckles again as I take out half the objects in the room. "You are now more than a formidable opponent, meat."

I turn to face him, pausing my actions and walking closer to him.

"I thought I already was." I purr, circling him. "Does that mean you want a rematch?"

He grins. "Always."

Dawur charges, smashing me back into the wall. I stand and grin, my cowl masking my face yet again. "Is that all you got, Reachman?"

His eyes narrow, and he re-quips into a huge stapler gun, as I thought of it. He fires several times at me, trapping me effectively against the wall with my hands restrained.

Dawur smirks and approaches, slinking forward with a predatory gleam in his eyes. "I have you now, meat."

I grin, and when he's about a half a foot away or closer, I slam my feet into him and throw him backwards, breaking free of the staple simultaneously.

He gets up, and growls. I simply stand there, looking at him. "After all these sparring sessions you really aren't on the in as to how to beat me, are you?"

He casts a sidelong look away from me, and comes closer to shake my hand. At the last second, Dawur slams his head into mine and swipes my feet out from under me, pinning me down on the floor.

"Give in yet, meat?" he growls in my ear.

"Aww, and here I was thinking we were on good terms." He can hear the smirk in my voice, and tries to restrain my feet. Before he can, though, I slam them into him, for the second time that day, and push him off of me, rolling away.

I pounce on him, trapping his body effectively, and lean down to speak in his ear.

"It'd be a shame to hurt you, Dawur, but if it's necessary, I'll accept my consequences."

His eyes widen and he growls. "Fine. You win."

I smile. "Nice of you to acknowledge that."

Rolling off of him, I get up immediately, finding him still on the floor where I left him. I offer my hand, which he takes, and I pull him up, then close.

"You were close; that deserves a reward. My quarters, later." I whisper in his ear, and he nods once.

Just then, the door opens, the Ambassador stepping in. "Ah, Listener, I was just looking for you. What were you doing with Black Beetle?"

"I was giving him some sparring tips. He still can't beat me. Although, that is hardly a failure, as I am a master."

He smiles. "Good to know we have such powerful allies on our side."

"Indeed." Black Beetle chimes in in the conversation. "Ambassador, I'm afraid I must go oversee security details at once. However, I was wondering if Listener would be willing to join me, and if that would be acceptable."

The Ambassador pauses for a moment, considering the request. He obviously wanted to have a discussion with me about Sithis knows what, but I don't know nor care.

He nods once. "It is permissible, as long as no sensitive information is viewed in her presence."

"No offense, Ambassador, but we're all on the same side here. Why would that be a problem? It is my understanding that we are allies, are we not?"

He pauses again. "Yes, of course, you're right. Nevermind that order, Black Beetle. Show her your duties as well, if you'd like. Listener, Black Beetle, good day."

"Farewell, Ambassador." I say, exiting the room with Black Beetle behind me.

A close one, no doubt, but strange.