The Third Seo had to get out of there.

Right now.

She kept trying to bat away her other two selves, who were hauling her back and shouting at her that she'd get herself killed. But screw it! Did it look like she cared about getting shot? At least then, she'd have a chance!

If she met Glory… she'd have none.

None at all.

"Listen, we're all in the same situation," the Second Seo said, trying to calm her down. She had that really nice English accent, too, and that way of being able to mediate between extremes, and—

Did she have any idea how freakin' lucky she was?!

Why the hell had Second-Her been so stupid as to die and regenerate? Couldn't she have waited longer? Kept herself alive for longer?!

"We have to devise a strategy," the Second Seo continued. "For when we meet Glory. Some way she won't realize we're designed to—"

That was it.

Screw Little Miss Philosophy-And-Sweetness.

Third Seo was getting the hell out of here. Pronto.

Third Seo managed to elbow the guard, then snatch up his gun and plummet herself off the edge of the car. Rolling in the sand, trying to avoid stray shots. They were almost at the town, by now, and if anyone noticed her little secret, Third Seo knew she was dead. Dead as in really, seriously, properly dead.

Then she realized one of the cars had stopped.

And someone was getting out.

Okay, Seo. Time to leg it, girl!

She sped up. Dashed away fast as she could. Trying to get her ring to work — even though it wouldn't. Or just get away! But the sand was the wrong texture, seemed to both stick to her and suck her down below with every step. No, worse. She thought she could hear voices, within the sand. The wail of a thousand voices, all chorused together… screaming at her…

The man, his three-legs perfectly designed for this sand, caught her up easily. But he was unarmed.

Third Seo spun around, pointing the gun at him. Put on her best scary-face, and growled, "You don't want to take your chances with me."

The man took this in. Then decided, "It is an honor to die for my Goddess." And advanced towards her, ready to grab her back.

Third Seo darted out of his grip, but slipped and fell in the sand. "I'm not bluffing!" she warned. "I'll shoot!"

But he didn't seem to care.

Just wrestled her into a headlock, and disarmed her. Making it so she couldn't break free without doing this guy some serious harm — and no thank you, she wasn't that kind of Seo. Not now, not ever.

"You got lucky this time, punk," said Third Seo.

Sometimes, she wished she were as mean as she seemed on the outside.

"It is said that legions of evil keep Glorificus from returning to us," said the man. "You three are that evil! You have prevented our Glorificus from returning to save us for a thousand years!"

The Third Seo froze.

"Wait, you mean… she's not there?" Third Seo checked.

"Glorificus promised our ancestors that she'd save us all," the man replied. "But the evil ones prevent her return. They brought the Great Plague down on us, and they seek to wipe us out. Only the truly devout will receive the blessing of Glorificus."

Now… this was starting to get interesting.

"Okay, okay! Slow up," said the Third Seo. "Great Plague?"

The man didn't seem all that interested in answering, though. Just began hauling her back. "Your trio of evil must be sacrificed upon the altar of Glorificus!" he said. "Only then shall she return! Only then shall she…!"

The Third Seo managed to struggle out of his grip. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" she said, flailing around and finally finding her footing on the sand. Held up her hands. "Look at me, here!"

"You will be—!"

"I said," the Third Seo hissed through her teeth, grabbing him up by the shirt and dragging him towards her, "just look at me."

And gave him her toothiest smile.

He did a double-take.

Then stared. Taking her in — for the first time. Looking past the dyed and flattened hair, past the black clothes and the overdone makeup. Past the alterations that Seo had made to her own appearance.

He looked at her.

And his mouth fell open.

"First time this wreck of a regeneration's ever actually been useful," the Third Seo muttered, setting him down gently on the sand.

Then had to catch him, before he fell over. She glanced back at the other two versions of herself, still perched in the car, looking out in surprise. They didn't get it. Wouldn't.

Lucky them.

"You…" said the man. "You… are…. You look like…"

"Yeah, I'd appreciate it if you kept that on the down-low, know what I mean?" said Third Seo. "I'm under cover. Don't want my two… friends over there… finding out. Secret mission and stuff."

She looked out at them, again.

Baby-her and Plato-her.

Yeah.

They'd both find out soon enough.