One Problem Ends, Another Begins


Tawny

We made it safely to shore, but we all got separated. I was with Train, and another few sweepers. After a certain point, Train and I ended up alone.

Then we found one of the Numbers. Train called him David. He was in pretty bad shape.

Bad enough to die. Still, his opponent had died first.

"We're really racking up people to avenge, aren't we, Train?"

"Yeah."

So we kept walking. We found Sven and Eve again, and then got into some sort of situation with a Tao-fighter.

Well…Sven and Eve stayed to take him on. I ran off with Train to find Creed.

"You're still following me?" Train teased.

"Of course. I have a score to settle with Creed, myself."

"Just don't think you're going to kill him."

"I haven't killed anyone with a face in my life. I don't intend to start now, not even for a slimebag like Creed." After hitting a few masked creeps, I added, "I'll settle for landing one hit on him, and letting you take him down."


How we got into the building, I'll never know. Following the Black Cat gets me into the most interesting places.

Then Train shot a hole through the wall and said to the man on the other side, "I've come here to deliver some bad luck."

AACK! So that was his Chronos catch-phrase! I was trying not to laugh.

"Tawny?" Train said over his shoulder while Creed babbled on some nonsense, "Now is the time for you to get your revenge over with. You won't get another chance."

I pulled my whip to its fullest extent and swung out. I really did succeed in lashing Creed deep across the chest before he could move to attack, all the guy's attention was on Train.

"That," I remarked as my cat-o-nine-tails reared back over my head, "was for ordering my parents' death."

"Hm," Creed said to Train as his chest healed! "It seems as if you've found yet another witch to work her spell on you."

I saw it coming an instant before he moved, and my whip caught a beam above the hole and I vaulted up out of the way of Creed's attack. "Train, he's all yours!"


I stayed high and watched the battle rage below me. Somehow, though, I didn't think it would go well.

And it wasn't going well. That creep could regenerate himself from getting totally shot to pieces!

The fight took itself onto the roof, and Train was getting thoroughly hammered. I vaulted up onto the roof as well and watched as the two just took a moment to talk. Train was still not going to kill Creed, even though he had an oricalchum bullet that could supposedly do so.

Train…your intentions are honorable, but…couldn't you do something to stop him, instead of getting hammered?

Well…he pulled out the bullet, and a ghostly girl – Saya, probably – floated up near him. "Now, Train, show him how sweet you do things the noble way."

Um…I suppose she's always like that. Even in death.

BANG!

I'm not sure what Train hit, but it worked!


Train

Eve used her nanotechnology to destroy the nanotechnology inside Creed.

I looked up, and imagined I could see Saya. "So now what?"

She smiled. "Now nothing. You're free to live your own life. Though I must say, you and Tawny make a cute couple."


Tawny

What a reunion! Everyone was congratulating Train, and River had Train in a playful headlock.

And when we got back from Kraken, everyone was happy to see the disappeared people return. Including that little girl that River had promised to help.

"It must be nice," Eve said softly, "having a family."

Then we found Tubby again and we all went for drinks.

After a certain point, I went under the table. I didn't want to be considered part of the argument.

But there was no argument! They were all happy with their lot in this! So I came back up and joined them for drinks.


After everyone left, Eve suddenly ran off. I don't know what happened: I was with Train, and he wasn't there.

Somehow, I didn't think it'd be a good idea to let Eve run off by herself, but there was also no point in chasing her. When she wanted to, she could be a great hider.

Later, the bar lady started reaming Sven out for what he said to Eve. Apparently, he'd suggested she go to school and stop being a sweeper.

"Listen," she said, "you always like to refer to yourself as a gentleman, right? Then why the hell are you acting like such a coward?"

"What?"
"It seems like you're trying to run away from your responsibility to care for Eve."

Train suggested we go look for her. I agreed. She shouldn't be running around by herself, and she could have gotten into a situation even she can't get out of.


Called it; when we got information on her, she was apparently with a doctor, and Sven was acting like it was the end of the world.

"Does anyone want to explain what's going on?" I asked.

Train explained while Sven ran off to find her.

So Eve was created as a bio-weapon? Hard to believe, and yet…not so much.


We ended up playing tag in a warehouse. I finally had enough and whip-caught Eve down to me.

She had a glowing red thing on her chest that looked like some sort of floppy computer disc. "Now what do I do, Sven?"

While I sat on the floor with Eve in my lap, we got to hear some pretty interesting stuff from old members of Chronos.

Then…she threw me off, busted a hole in the wall, and hit both Sven and Train. I caught hold of the helicopter they were leaving in with my whip and held on tight. I wasn't going to lose her.

As we lifted further away from the ground, I heard Train yell. "Tawny!"


A/N: Episodes 19-21 get credit.