Three's a Pair

by Fro Ninja

Young orphan Huey Jones has lived a life of servitude for as long as he can remember, often feeling cursed by his powers. But when he is freed, he is finds himself at the center of a supernatural war that has been ongoing for more than thousands of years. Joined by two unlikely allies with similar gifts,he vows to protect the world from this ancient threat, and most of all, end it.

29. Chapter 26

Fro Ninja; Hey, hey, hey. Guess who's back for another round in this messed-up place I've come to love as my own child! I'm really excited to keep this story going, and with what's coming up, I know you lot will love it too. A few things before we get started. Jester, who normally co-writes this story with me, will be taking time off to focus on his own work as well as handle life stuff. So I will be handling the next odd-numbered chapter until he returns, but it will still be a joint effort between the two of us. This chapter is a lot longer than usual, but I just couldn't make it any smaller than I wanted, but I think you'll enjoy it just the same. So without further ado, let's get it on!

Third Person POV

Days turned into weeks as the town became the origin of a national emergency, with headliners coming out around the clock detailing the mayhem. This, fortunately, made for an effective smoke cloud for Huey to escape with battered and bruised through the streets seared with crimson flames and civil unrest, he clung to his will long enough to locate Fisk, Red, the Valentine's, along with Tessera and Furball(with a severely injured Karina in tow). A reunion that was spent recounting the long list of events for the night. The escape of the two remaining Trexwell remembers, the destruction of the base, the appearance of the strange group that attacked Huey and Kote at the hospital, and the wild card being the mysterious figure that attacked them in attempts to claim Kote. Fisk could sense the eagerness from Huey to identify all of the figures standing in the dark, but stood firm in his belief that all things would have to come later. Folding and holding wasn't the young cat's style, although getting nearly beaten to death by an angry Russian did entice him to give the play a try. 'There is only so much you can do with a hand that's been given by a drunk dealer', as Fisk told him.

By what could be sheer omnipotence on The Boss's part, the group was able to escape the town in a small humvee, procured by her, which blended in perfectly with the various military transports securing the perimeter of the town. More than half a day later, traveling on the seemingly endless interstate roads, the group finally arrived in the arid wastes of New Mexico, to the last bastion they would know. Aegis Base, the official headquarters of P.I.T.T. and the home of The 13 Blades.

To the uninformed individual, or a passing tourist looking for photos of wild coyotes, it simply stood as a huge unassuming black block or the remnants of an ancient civilization. However, to the trained 'professionals' such as Fisk, Red, it was a high-end installation designed to house, train, and deploy the most qualified individuals for assignments and missions that concerned the future of the world. In terms of size, Fisk stated that it beat out Fort Knox by about three or four square miles, almost encompassing over the Bernalillo county of the state. The security was also top of the line as well, guarded by handpicked Marines, U.S. Army officers, and any PMC that was looking for a paycheck to be excused to fight off any suspicious target that got even within twenty meters of the premises.

It was to be the kids' new home. The only one they would be welcome in for a long time.

One week later

Aegis Base Mess Hall

The air around the table was tense, even with the aroma of slightly burnt toast and sunny side eggs that could spark a conversation. A task that nobody wanted to bear the burden of. Huey ate at a frantic pace while trading looks with a silent Fisk and Red. It was no surprise to Huey for the silence, given the intimidating aura of Boss's eloquent table manners. Every move of carving up her plate was calculated, from every strip of bacon and egg placed in her mouth, to swabbing her mouth with her cloth, all in perfect motion.

In between chewing, Huey would pull out his new phone, checking the latest news updates, and social media debacles, anything that kept him from the stiffness of the room. Ironically, his searches only netted him forums on the recent destruction caused by Trexwell, as well as the presence of the task force that he and that strange Type-Nicosia- fought together at the hospital. It produced a hazy feeling in Huey's head for a couple of days; for such a domino effect to occur in the same night, only just a few weeks after the destruction of Happy Garland. It was too convenient. The strands that connected all seemed tangible, but very loose considering that the groups involved couldn't be more different in origin.

Huey believed that Trexwell was, in short, monsters that caused nothing but chaos and mayhem for reasons still elusive to him. Despite their small size, the Types involved were capable of causing a ripple that wiped an entire town off the map, as well as escaping from a top military-grade facility, and taking out Karina in the process. Yet they were a fraction of the strength that the Forsaken possessed-Nicosia and his tremendous combat prowess and ability as a Type was strong proof of that.

Was he really a Type though? Huey mused. The way he fought, his powers. It was like something out of a CG horror movie. It was a rational thought. Granted, he hadn't seen the full extent of abilities a Pure-type, let alone a Cryptic-type for that matter could display.

Huey's thought was cut short as his teeth bit down a cut while chewing. Fisk sharpened his eyes in concern, offering him a napkin as blood drew from Huey's mouth.

"The food isn't going anywhere kid. Slow it down" Fisk said, nodding at the copious amounts of nursing injuries wrapped around Huey's body. As the doctors put it, Huey's injuries surprisingly weren't critical despite the punishment he took just a few days ago, leading them to theorize that a Cryptic-type's body durability was higher than most. Also confirming this was the short period-two days at most-at which he recovered, which implied he possessed a healing factor. Although Red was convinced Huey just finally learned how to take an ass-beating. Despite the number of Types fought thus far being small, their reluctance to pain and the recovery from it supports this hypothesis. This was an exception for Karina, whose injuries were not the only cause of trauma, but self-inflicted. Even stranger, the muscles and bones in her body had amalgamated into a fusion of parts that held her together, a mending done of her own accord. Nobody sitting at the table was normal, at least by conventional standards, but that was yet another weird aspect about Karina that made Huey's mind stir.

Huey silently refused the offer, grabbing a napkin from the dispenser, and wiped the inside of his mouth clean of blood. Fisk heaved a small breath. His body language was obvious, despite no words being spoken. Huey and Fisk weren't on much-speaking terms as of recent. As a result of the topic on the task force, Huey encountered, not being up for discussion. It was a sore spot, given how much responsibility Fisk entrusted to Huey when he made him a team leader. Huey wasn't upset, but he was disappointed at the stagnating level of trust between him and Fisk. Fisk wanted to open up to Huey about this, but reluctance to do so ate at him, which had little to do with the safety of the kids. The days of keeping the kids in the dark were becoming numbered, ever since Fisk replaced Anthony as their handler, as well as their teacher. The world was producing more questions than answers, but not all of them were ones that easily be broken down to a team of thirteen-year-olds.

Red, after taking a swig of her pulp orange juice, let out a chuckle at Huey's table manners, saying to Fisk"Leave him be. The carnivore needs his protein after all." She took another bite out of her food, and said: "Besides, I've always wanted to see someone pull a ligament trying to eat a grand slam."

"Breakfast of champions," Huey said, mouth stuffed with food. He suddenly swallowed his food after seeing the familiar face of Ellen enter the dining hall. He took note of the bags under her eyes, as her face formed a faint smile at the sight of him enjoying his breakfast, which he returned. For her, it was a reminder of a very brief time of peace the two had shared.

"Good morning everyone." Ellen bowed deeply to everyone at the table, with Fisk and Red returning the warm greeting. Huey was privy to her graceful demeanor from his time spent at the orphanage, although he could sense something different behind the gesture. It was more obligatory than respectful. The sight of the Boss gazing at her with expectations had made it click for him.

"Good morning Ellen, and welcome back" The Boss responded. She placed her utensils down, excusing herself from the table, and made her way over to the First Blade. The Boss held out her hand, receiving a firm grip from Ellen in return. Her stoic expression didn't always illustrate it, but she displayed genuine respect whenever she addressed someone, regardless of their station. The gesture wasn't uncommon, but it spoke volumes of her character, given her position as the head of P.I.T.T. "I am pleased to see you have made it back from your assignment. Your dislike for travel must make it even more difficult to carry out."

"I was able to make due ma'am," Ellen said.

"I can have the mission assigned to someone else for a time, you know." Boss placed her hand on Ellen's shoulders, which startled her a bit."I understand you have been meaning to visit Huey and your godson Kote for quite some time now." Boss looked back at Huey, who had stopped feasting. He hadn't seen her since he had changed, or in his case had reverted, to a personality much different than she had remembered him by. A quiet timid soul, to one that was loud yet confident in expressing his thoughts. She picked up on such a change at first glance, with the aura emanating from him being a supplement. It didn't matter, she was still the same boy that Fisk brought to her doorstep.

"There's no need ma'am." Ellen shook her head."This assignment is important to the organization. I can still carry it out."

The Boss formed an expression on her that said Very well.

Fisk and Red traded looks across the table. Despite her best efforts to mask it, they could sense the unease coming from Ellen. Fisk looked over to Huey expecting him to comment but was surprised at his lack of it, with him resuming his morning meal.

Nothing to say to her kid? Nothing at all? Fisk thought out loud, knowing Huey would hear it, which he did judging by the look of irritation that grew on his face. It was supposed to be one of imitation, but all it served to Fisk was a throwback to how he used to glare at his mother as a boy. 'If looks could kill' was a mantra Fisk was well versed in given his relationship with his mother, and by extension his wife. It was a cute gesture, to say the least, for Fisk that almost made him crack a smile.

Huey sensed Fisk's refusal to budge, buckling down from his staring contest with a shrug. "What do you want me to say? Huey spoke through Fisk's mind, establishing a telepathic link. How would anything I have to say to her matter that much? That goes double for you, in case you can't read the room."

Fisk shook his head at the youngster. Despite the boy's erudite intelligence, he still had much to learn about the world around him. His mind stretched back to Anthony's first impressions of Huey that resonated with such a thought.

He has plenty to say but doesn't know how to say it. Unfortunately for him, learning to speak from the heart isn't something you can find in a book.

Fisk felt a grin form on his face when he realized how right on the money Anthony was, and how even from the grave he was still running circles around him with this job.

"You still have a lot to learn about the world kid," Fisk told him. "And about people."

"People lie, hurt, and keep secrets. Not unlike somebody I know."

"That's true." Fisk shrugged."But a person has their own reasons for doing the things they do. I'm no different, and Ellen isn't as well. Sometimes, they can't always be explained with just a few words."

"Let me guess. You want me to ask Ellen instead about what I want to know. What a way to shift the responsibility."

"That's not it. You can hear the truth, but it would only be one side of it from me. Ellen has the other."

"What?" Huey felt the link severed between him and Fisk, an act that boggled Huey. Fisk then cleared his throat as Ellen was turning on her heels to leave.

"You know Ellen," Ellen turned her head. "Huey was just about to see both Kote and Karina in the medical wing today. It's been a while since you two have talked. Maybe you can tag along with him" Fisk said, giving a wink to Huey

Although hesitant to trust anything he was saying, Huey went along with Fisk's intent." Y-yeah! Totally. We can-" Huey began to scarf down the rest of his plate, drawing a look of disgust from Red, which sounded worse than it looked. He wiped his mouth, hopped out of his chair, and dashed over to Ellen. "We can go together."

Ellen gasped at the haste of Huey's actions and, even more, taken aback by his suggestion. She had little room to refuse, which did end up putting her on the spot.

"Well, I guess that's fine," Ellen said. "Although I do have to report my findings of the-"

The Boss cut Ellen off with a slight wave, giving a reassuring nod.

"Come to my office at 1600 hours, Ms. Mao. I will expect a full mission report detailing your findings." Boss said with authority.

Ellen pressed her lips together, shocked by the words out of the protocol-oriented Boss's mouth.

"Very well then." Ellen nodded and exited the hall with Huey in tow. The table then returned to the anxious atmosphere of before as the Boss returned to her seat, with breakfast continuing as if the past two minutes were non-existent

The Boss chuckled, sensing Fisk's intent of his suggestion.

"You're becoming soft Black. Neither of them can afford distractions right now." The Boss said to unfazed Fisk.

"With all due respect ma'am, distractions are exactly what the both of them need right now."

Aegis Base

Commons Sections

Huey and Ellen kept at an even pace with one another walking down the hallway after exiting the medical wing. The interior had a high-end futuristic aesthetic, having a chrome-like design, along with the flare of bright lights that illuminating the hallways. Although he had explored it briefly, Huey's head twisted in every direction, mouth, and eyes agape, as he further examined the angles he couldn't see from the cameras he hacked a couple of days after arriving. Ellen couldn't help but form a smile from Huey's enthusiastic behavior.

Huey cleared his throat, checking out the trotting soldiers' information passing them by.

"I guess we don't have to worry about any rogue pizza delivery boys with these joes on the job, huh?" Huey chuckled with a glance at Ellen, looking for confirmation of his jab.

Her remiss, or rather distracted, expression lingered for a while before shifting into a faint smile, taking a second to process the joke. "Ah, yes. Very clever." She said in a calm tone."I believe those men are here under the Boss's employ."

"Mercs?"

"No. They are a privatized military force that she has been financing, and even assisting with the training of. Most of them are handpicked from various service groups, internationally as well domestically."

On their way to the common area, they took a shortcut through the hangar area. Huey rolled his eyes at the ostentatious display of such resources from the Boss. Top-of-the-line CR2 tanks filled the area- all of which modded with platinum steel armor and equipped with thermal gunsights that can pick up fast-moving targets. Even though it wasn't told to him personally, Huey could tell that such ballistics were meant for a Type, himself included. Despite being a regular-looking person on two feet armed with little to no weapons, he would still feel a modicum of fear for the panzer crew that would have to manage that encounter. His lack of experience didn't give him relief from being a potential threat.

"So she has her own private guard?" Huey started to walk a little faster, shoving his hands in his pockets."What does she need me, Kote, and Karina for then?"

"As Fisk mentioned before, you and your friends are assigned to a special ops group. You are our eyes and ears when it comes to all things related to The Forsaken."

"For the Forsaken?" Huey looked back at Ellen who had stopped in her tracks."It seems like you guys do a better job at that than us. We've only gone up against one of their smaller groups, and we got our assess handed to us."

Ellen pressed her lips together, sensing Huey's frustration and doubt. She was all too aware of the discrepancy of power between Huey, Kote and Karina compared to the Pure Types of the Foresaken. It was a power difference amassed of raw ability, and such odds could not be slighted after only a few encounters. Ellen walked up beside him, fighting the hesitation from earlier, placing her hand on his shoulder. It felt broader than she remembered, with the muscles feeling more defined.

"Are you telling you don't believe you can win against them?" Ellen asked. In terms of fighting ability, she knew he would need a lot more polish in comparison to his peers. Although uncertain of the amount of time required for that gap to be filled, she was assured of the boundless potential that could factor its expedition. Given that he was able to keep up with a Forsaken member, engaged with an elite militant squadron-with a battle-hardened leader at the helm- it was only a matter of time before that potential would be realized. It would have been easier for Huey to convince himself that it was all luck, but the fact remains that he fought and survived those situations proved otherwise to the First Blade.

"I never said that I can't."Huey felt his stomach turn a little with that comment, even more so trying to offer a response. Was that what he truly believed? It would go hand in hand with the impression of Fisk keeping further information from him of any future threats that he would have to prepare for. "If you hadn't noticed, Kote and Karina's run-ins with Pure-types didn't exactly do them any favors for their health."

"Do you still think that even after you fought one, and are still standing after the fact?"

Huey began to open his mouth, only for it to be blocked by Ellen's finger.

"I won't allow you to say it was simple luck, young one. We all possess abilities that merit us a fighting chance. You are no different."

Huey took her finger off his mouth."Maybe...but how am I gonna find that out just sitting here and waiting for people to think about filling me on everything so far. If I wanted to, I could just hack away until I find what I want to know, but I was expecting trust to be a two-way street here."
Ellen felt the doubt emanate from Huey, not just in himself but in the ones he called his allies. She brought herself to Huey's level. For once, her face was not filled with her usual idyllic smile, but a fierce expression determined to ferret out the degree of hesitation from him. It was an expression that brought a downtrodden Huey to attention.

"Listen to me young one. I have seen your strength displayed time and time again. It has allowed you to save your friend not just once, but twice. You have a will to survive and persevere, that has sparked into a flame that is yours to command." Huey then thought back to his battle at the hospital. The blue flames exploded from his fingertips and helped him win the fight. "Your reservations of being kept at arm's length over the involvement of our enemy are valid, but they are done merely out of concern, not distrust. You must understand that Fisk is a man of virtue, and will do whatever is necessary to protect those that he loves, even keeping them in the dark. He recognizes your ability, despite your own ignorance of it, and trusts you a great deal. Which is a stellar feat for one so young." Ellen said. She saw his expression begin to change, opening up to her words.

"Maybe you're right." Huey shook his head. "All I want are answers dammit. A reason to keep on doing what I'm doing."

"Very well then. I will convince you of this another way." Ellen pulled Huey's arm, guiding him through the hangar, to a section where the cars-exotic and casual in nature- were placed.

"Wait, where are you taking me?"

"I'm going to do something for you in which someone did for me long ago."

Huey's mind wandered for a second, and soon a blush-colored in on his face.

"Listen, I'm honored, but I kind of think of you as the mother I never had, so it wouldn't really-"

Ellen playfully yanked Huey's arm along, preventing him from finishing his very obvious thought.

"You are such a young boy, I swear..."

Huey's POV

Ben's Pool Bar and Chips

12:05 PM

I held my cue stick about a couple of inches from the ledge of the pool table, measuring up the distance from the seven ball to cue ball. It was a risky maneuver, trying to hit from the upper wall into the hole far left side of the pool, but advanced physics makes this shit so much easier. With a few feints to make it seem like I'm struggling with the hit, I let my stick fly. My back had already been turned by the time the sound of the seven ball ricocheting against the wall and finding its home at the bottom of the hole, even tipping the five-gallon hat I scored on the way into this joint. All for the panda mommy shaking her head at me across the table.

"That's right! Tell all your friends about me. Let them know that when it comes to balls, no one scores it better than Huey Jones." I got a fair share of looks from all of the other patrons around the bar but kept trucking on with what I said which got me a good slab of discipline from Ellen's own pool stick, which thankfully didn't crack my skull open in two. It didn't hurt much, and she made sure of that. I almost wish it did just to get a taste of punishment that was done with love rather than to break my spirit. She had a parental face of disapproval that I've only seen done on family sitcoms and Ms. Valentine's face whenever one of her kids were acting up. It was a fresh look that I was taking a liking to.

She moved around the table to get in a good shot with the cue ball. I took a swig of my ice tea, sadly not spiked, and got a feel for the whole place. I have never been inside a pool bar before, especially one that lets in minors. It had a homey atmosphere that put me at ease. I even started bobbing my head to the new age country rock that was blasting from the jukebox placed a couple of feet away from the counter, where the bartender had masterfully been serving orders left and right from the patrons. Even though the place was packed, very few thoughts came through my head, which was a shock seeing how it was a bar. Drunken thoughts are usually the loudest. Suffice to say, I've gotten better at filtering in thoughts that I might intercept.

Ellen cleared her throat, most likely seeing my attention drift off, and shot the cue ball off her stick. My eyes followed the two balls fall neatly into the holes on the top and bottom sides of the pool. 'Two balls in one hole', I thought and trying my best to hold back a snicker, which caused a grin to grow on my face. I muttered "Nice shot..." under my breath. Ellen snapped her head, raising an eyebrow at my lame joke. Instead of getting another pole whacking, she gave a nod.

"Thank you, young one," Ellen said.

"Wow, I was expecting to get whacked for a second there."

"Whacked for what?" She said with a more authoritative tone

"N-nothing!"

As my turn came up to serve up my side of the pool, I decided to get a better angle, but my short height was keeping me from getting a good grip. Ellen then came over by me, holding me up slightly by my arms a few feet off the table. Resisting the urge to coin Leo for a second, I took my shot. Boom. Corner pocket, the first one I've made for the past half hour we've been in this bar. I couldn't help but thrust the air with the amount of awesome that spilled out from me just now.

"Excellent job, young one," Ellen said. Her smile beamed through my eyes so much I thought she had laser vision since it felt like my face was melting. I nudged her to put me down, no doubt because of the pack of concerning eyes the rest of the patrons were throwing us, despite us being in the furthest part of the pool section.

After getting the hint of my nudging, and with a heavy heart, Ellen placed me gently back on my feet, with me going over to the opposite side of the table, waiting for her to take her shot. While not outright downtrodden, I did see something was bothering her, even if our whole reason for coming here was to cheer me up. Maybe it was from the constant sighs that would come out on the car ride over here-an Audi A3 with a souped-up engine and bulletproof glass and casing, complements of the Boss-and more so when she set foot in the bar. She glanced at me before taking her shot, straightening her poise to allow for an easier time shooting. It was perfect, and her focus even more so.

I placed my finger on my chin, pretending to muse, focusing my mind's matter on seeing into Ellen's. I trusted her like...no as if she were my mother, but she was still a Blade first, as she would no doubt say. She was a left hand to The Boss, and a confidant to Fisk and Red, which spelled a very tight circle of info neither me, Kote(maybe Karina) weren't a part of. There was very little that Ellen would tell me about, and the only reason she wouldn't, would be if some made her keep quiet about to me, or maybe like Fisk, she was trying to keep me safe. The former I could understand, the higher they put you up on the ladder, the tighter they make your lips. The latter on the other hand, was where I drew the line, and had to change. This was selfish and childish, but after what I've been through so far, I couldn't stand being in the dark anymore. I had to be sure of something.

Slip out. My mental projection manifested before me and dove straight into Ellen's mind. Within seconds, I found myself in the familiar stream of consciousness that leads into Ellen's core.

Find the exit, Find the exit. Those words echoed throughout my head once more.

I hadn't done this since Kote went berserk, who had walls of aggression and anger to hide his emotions. Not only do I not know what to expect with Ellen-whether she had mental walls, resistances. I didn't face any of that so far, which brought me closer and closer through the confines of her memories. So far, it was a smooth entry, seeing as that I didn't run into any problems against Ellen's subconscious. I could fathom that this was her way of saying that she had nothing to hide from me, and was letting me see what I wanted to. Having somebody trust you this much, who wasn't your lover, for the most part, was definitely new to me.

The stream of light from her mind warped into a familiar, yet unfamiliar, setting. It had looked a lot like my house boy years in Somalia-foliage surrounding me as far as my eyes could make out, and dredges of fauna trotting all around the field, open and was all there, even the nasty heat. I guess even in a flashback, I wasn't safe from the weather conditions of it.

I came to a clearing with several wooden stalks laid out in rows with spikes sticking out through, I touched the spike, getting a small but sharp prick on my finger. They were refined to the teeth, all the way down to an absolute edge, where causing lacerations were as easy as flipping a switch.

I heard sounds of fighting above me. Looking up, I saw two girls, dressed down in small clothes that looked rustic in origin, exchanging blows with one another. They were covered in tribal tattoos that looked and reeked of aged blood, with the shapes and patterns being reminiscent of the ancient South American civilizations-warriors that fought for the glory of their people through fatal combat. Both of the girls looked to be at least my age, maybe a little older, fought on the stalks with perfect balance, shifting from one stalk while keeping the power diverted in their stances. It was a style that I've seen Kote use before, allowing for not only precision and speed, but raw strength as well. One of the girls fighting was a wolf-black hair long and luscious tied in a loose braid by the end, although the other that caught my eye was a young panda, which my mind immediately shouted Ellen. She looked younger, with her hair cut so short she could be mistaken for a boy from the back, with her face being more fierce and aggressive. A far cry from the gentle and maternal smile she would normally carry around.

"Do you believe you'll master our style with that kind of messy offense?" The wolf girl shouted with authority in her voice, as well as her powerful strikes. Even fifty feet off the ground, I'm able to hear her loud and clear."You have pluck for an outsider, I'll give you that. But it takes more than mettle to be a part of our people. You must be tenacious, fearless, relentless. You must be a force of a nature that exists only to fight!"

While I couldn't put my finger on it, I did get a sense of deja vu from the wolf girl. As if I knew her from somewhere. She came at Ellen from all sides, vaulting over the arena, delivering fierce thrusts from her palms, and following up lighting fast elbow strikes, connecting with skull and ribs multiple times. Ellen began to catch hell from the wolf girl, which made me tempted to hop in myself before I remembered that this was all a dream, a flashback. I was then brought out of my daze, when I heard a cry of war come from Ellen, responding with fierce punches and palm thrusts toward the wolf girl. Little by little, she found momentum in her steps, intercepting wolf girls' punches and kicks, even replicating the fundamentals of her style. Ellen's movements became more fluid, jumping from one stalk to the next with the same level of ease that the wolf girl was showing off earlier. Soon it began to turn into a slugfest with neither of them giving an inch until it came to close with both girls agreeing to a draw.

Something even more amazing at the level of fighting they displayed, was the sudden dissipation of the warlike expressions they wore, into softer ones as if it were friendly greeting. They gave each other a firm handshake, the kind that ensures the confidence of one's character.

"How was that for being a force of nature?" Ellen said. Her voice even sounded younger than I was accustomed to hearing.

The wolf girl heaved an amused breath and said "It wasn't terrible, but the fact that an outsider like yourself can take to the Southern-style so quickly entails that you are much more than you appear to be. Color me impressed, pequeno."

"Will it kill you to call me Ellen already? For god's sake, we're even the same age!"

"In my eyes, you're nothing more than a baby. Until you can prove to me otherwise, pequeno for you. It's a better name than the one you got, that's for sure."

"I'm gonna knock your block off one of these days, you know that right, Lisa?"

Before my mind could register that the Lisa that I was looking at might be Kote's aunt, the scene shifted to another environment. Contrary to the jungle setting, I now in what looked like a city. I stood in the middle of the cracked asphalt street with flickering streetlights, with nary a car in sight. The quiet stillness of the jungle was replaced with the restless noise of a bustling American boomtown, although replace productive busybodies with back-alley criminals, whores laying their trade on frustrated househusbands. Beyond that was the familiar presence of a particular cat that was standing in front of me, eyes looming into my soul from the intensity of his expression.

"Da-" I stopped myself from uttering a total lie. "Harmon?" It was Harmon, but he appeared younger than when I first laid eyes on him, although the boogeyman intimidation was still there. Following the direction of his eyes lead me to look at an approaching Ellen, albeit slightly older and more built than the last both stared daggers at each other in the vein of lifelong rivals before Ellen started to open her mouth.

"You didn't think I would find you after all this time did you?" Ellen said tightening her fists so hard that they could beat bricks off a wall. "I prepared for this day, honing my skills so that I may one day defeat you, humiliate you as you did me. And here I find you playing detective with that impractical joker, Black?" Black? Were Fisk and Harmon friends, at one point? The way Fisk always talked about Harmon gave me that impression, but to hear it said out loud drew even more questions.

"If this is your attempt to force me back into the Landsmen, you're doing a slipshod job. Also, I am not 'playing' anything. What I'm doing here is making a difference in other people's lives, one that involves giving rather than taking or killing." The Landsmen? Who the hell are they? Wait a minute. Was it that group of militant psychos that tried to kill me and Kote at the hospital?! Ellen was a part of it?! No, no, no. Calm down, dude. This is a flashback, nothing more. I can't let my emotions get the better of me here, but I felt more in the dark than ever. This is more than a tidbit that Fisk, let alone Ellen herself, skipped out on telling me. Karina, I could see being privy to that info, given more closely she was involved with P.I.T.T from the beginning. Her currently eating beans through a straw is keeping me from asking her, but that's neither here nor there

"You would insult our order by labeling us, insurgents?" Ellen responded.

"What else would you call an army that fights under no banner? That dedicates their entire existence to the extermination of an entire race of people, hiding behind the fallacy of them being a threat to the world? When they are simply trying to survive?" Huh. I guess I had Harmon pegged a little wrong there.

"That's certainly rich coming from a former slave trader." I change my mind, I hate him even more now."Do you think rescuing pets from trees and finding the lost pocket watch, will ever wipe the lives you've ruined?" Ellen's words were cutting like razors, which Harmon hardly seemed fazed by. It would be something if anyone could offer a retort after a dose of reality like that, which Harmon was about to prove as his mouth opened.

"I don't believe it, not one bit, that any of what I'm doing will make up for anything I've done. In fact, I still think about all of those people that beg, plead not to be separated from their families. Their cries and screams were a lull, and their lives were priced goods. Add to that the lives I took when I was a part of that man's...cult. Each night, they call to me all at once, and it drives me to take my own life only as partial reimbursement. But then I remember."

Both me and Ellen were taken for a shock as Harmon's pained voice and expression matched, and his stoic face cracked, displaying one that I have yet to see him make. It was a smile, trudged with pain(pain that comes from surviving, rather than suffering)

"That fact that I have people here that give me purpose. To keep on living. Friends. That impractical joker changed me for the better. To spend the rest of my life, not in fear and shame of what I've done, but acceptance. It doesn't bring me solace, not completely anyway, but it does remove doubt."

"Doubt, what doubt?" I was mouthing the words Ellen spoke as if we both had the same thought.

"Doubt that I can be more than what I was forced to become."

Ellen then reached out as I did as Harmon turned around and began to walk off. I found myself chasing after him, but his body kept moving further and further until the ephemeral setting around me swallowed me up. I quickly pulled the plug from my mental projection and exited out of consciousness.

Soon, I was back at the bar, with nothing seeming out of place. I looked at Ellen for a while before she returned the gaze with her usual smile-which looked to hold pain than her pleasantness.

"Do you want to talk outside young one?" I nodded.

We leaned against the side of the building, watching a ball of dust kick around as the wind blew in front of us, with a setting sun setting over the desert. She cleared her throat before speaking.

"I did not mean to hide things from you Huey, and I'm certain that Fisk has the same intention." Her calling Fisk by his name seems to get a little chuckle from me now. It's a step up from impractical joker.

"So why do it? To keep me and my friends safe? It's a little late for that don't you think?"

"What happened to you and your friends thus far are a string of coincidences. We did not mean for you to engage with The Forsaken this soon." She said.

"So then why train us? Make us a unit? Is it to have us as a backup for the Blades? Make sure no one is peaking through the blinds when the grownups go out skating?"

Ellen gave a pained smile."You've certainly inherited your father's sharp tongue."

"So you know that I know."

"I figured you would try and gain answers from my mind eventually. Which is why I didn't offer up any resistance to you doing so."

"You knew, huh?" I said, trying to act surprised. I had a hunch that that was the case from the beginning, although being right about it still made me feel stupid for some reason.

" I had faced many Mental users from my time in the Landsmen. Many had sought to break my psyche, turn my own trauma against me. Although through discipline, and with help from Har-your father, I was able to develop methods to combat that sort of attack. When I want to, that is."

I'm getting the feeling that there was more to her and Harmon than she was, now that it's clear, allowing me to see. She played with a loose end of her hair before speaking again. "You and your friends were placed on this team to combat the Forsaken, that much is still true. But this new event, the resurfacing of the Landsmen, is a new factor that we didn't attribute your involvement." So she knew about the attack on the hospital as well. Figures.

"So I take it these guys are some kind of mercenaries, who go after Types and kill them?"

She nodded. "That's only half right. Mercenaries are dictated by whoever pays them for their service, and they follow those orders to the letter. The Landsmen answer to no authority, and are certainly not seeking money or renown. It is a group that embodies hate. Hate for the Types and anyone who they deem as a pure being. The group is composed of former soldiers for an international firm that dealt in supernatural cases."

"Supernatural cases?"

Ellen then held her hand in front of me, looked around the surrounding area, and directed me to the car. The engine gave a quiet hum as it came alive, with the acceleration notching up in speed in very little time. Within minutes, we were already on the expressway, heading back to the base. Ellen popped open the glove compartment, fishing out a laptop computer, and placed it in my lap. The contemplation on her face requested me to open it, and I was immediately brought to a file archive of sorts. It contained a plethora of information, detailing closed case files and black records that could be handled on an international scale. Ops in Vietnam, Cold War proceedings, Desert Storm experiment results. I felt like a cheeky high school chick that just got the scoop of a lifetime, and wanted to start some shit.

"I trust you can keep such matters to yourself?" She asked me. I nodded.

She gave a silent nod and then told me to click on the file that was labeled 'Ashgate Facility', with the author's name shocking me even more than the brush of the contents.

Studies and Reports directed and performed by Professor Karel Van Zalwyck. Dated March 15th 197X. On-Site at the Ashgate Research and Development Facility in Feldkirch, Liechtenstein.

I swallowed the weight of that name hard. My immediate thought was to ask questions on if he was related to Karina and Tessera in any way, but I want to at least see how it all lines up first. It took all of my strength to hold onto that line of questioning for Ellen.

" I assure you now Huey, what is written there is only a small piece of a much larger puzzle."

"And you just happen to have this kind of classified information in a glove compartment?" I raise an eyebrow

"It was not there originally. I received it on my way back from abroad from an old informational source. They almost lost their lives to get into more secure hands."

I could tell that wasn't the full story, but I rolled with it, and decided to address the big ass elephant in the room."This guy, Karel van Zaldwyck. Is he related to Karina and Tessera?"

She gave me a firm nod, not taking her eyes off the road for even a second as we came onto the expressway, which overlooked the entire layout of Santa Fe and its bustling cityscape.

"They are, but not by blood."

"Adopted?"

"Only Tessera is."

"Wait, what? But you just said."

"Karel van Zaldwyck was a young upstart of a genetic researcher. He had a fervent belief in how they can be altered to produce a far greater lineage. He dedicated his entire life to bringing this belief into a tangible capacity, and so he went as far as to perform an experiment that would allow him to establish an elite bloodline from different origins. He did so through two children. The first was an orphan who had been conditioned and influenced by a traumatic upbringing; born into war and death, which he could then mold into a superior being. That child was Tessera."

"Judging by what Tessera is capable of, I'd say the experiment was a success?"

Ellen gave a frown that reached all the way to her eyes.

"On the contrary, it was a failure."

"Are you serious?"

"Tessera's capabilities were enhanced through the experiments. However, she didn't possess a certain 'factor' that Dr. Zaldwyck desired, one that the offspring of the race he idolized was able to possess from birth. It doesn't have an official name, but he dubbed it the 'Berserk factor'."

"The Berserk factor. I'm guessing this is where Karina comes in?"

"Yes. After noticing that his first daughter wasn't able to possess the factor that he was attempting to recreate, he decided to experiment through another method. Which was through his own genetic code."

I don't like where this is going.

"He used the remains of one of a member of the ancient race and attempted to recreate it through a cloning chamber with an accelerated growth enhancement. The remains, however, had an incomplete DNA structure, and so he used his own DNA to allow for a smoother recreation. Within the span of three years, it was a success. He had produced a being that not only had enhanced physical capabilities but possessed the Berserk factor that he had been looking for."

"You're telling me that..." I felt my throat tighten with anxiety as the words left my mouth."Karina was created?"

"Indeed she was," Ellen said, in a cavalier tone. Something about this didn't surprise me for some reason. Karina has been a little, actually very, strange with how she acts. She whupped both me(when Terry was still around) and Kote combined, and she's wicked smart as well. But I would never chalk her up to being some kind of lab experiment, not even as a joke. The weird nature of her injuries holding together, and becoming worse during the fight, might be where my lack of surprise is coming from. But another, question kept knocking on my head.

" Okay then, tell me about where the Landsmen come in."

"Around the 1980s, began receiving death threats for his research. Some calling it inhumane, sacrilegious, to say the least. He then decided to connect with a U.S. official that had access to the rosters of several active-duty veterans."

Probably lured them in with promises of giving them opportunities to better serve the country. New challenges to their skillset and all that.

"Zaldwyck was able to bring them on board, assuring that his experiments were to combat an eventual threat."Eventually, the facility came under attack by the Forsaken, and the majority of the soldiers that were assigned there lost their lives. By that time, they had been made to recognize them as a blight on the face of the earth. From that day forward, the remaining soldiers had banded together to form an organization that is solely dedicated to the eradication of anything resembling a Type. Innocent or otherwise."

"That answers why they attacked the hospital. They wanted to eliminate me, Kote, and that other Pure-type that was there."I was getting deeper within the rabbit hole of the shit. The more I kept digging, the more I started to put things together. Like this for instance."And I take it, you were a part of them at one point."

"I was a different person in my youth, with different beliefs and ideals. Although their methods were cruel and sanctimonious, they helped me survive in a very turbulent time in my life." Ellen said as if she was baring what she was right in front of me as if she's never done it before.

"What about Harmon? Was he someone that needed help from them?"

"He was different."

I gave a silent nod to that statement, immediately understanding the nuance of it. Different, huh. That's a funny way of putting it.

Close Third POV

12:45 PM

Aegis Base, Medical Wing

Room 204

The incessant beeping of the heart monitor was the only thing that kept Tessera awake through the night, which was a restless affair. Looking at the sleeping face of her little sister wasn't an arduous task as it was fighting off her raining thoughts of doubt, of being unable to protect at a time when she needed her the most. It was a repeating battle that went on and on even after receiving reassurance from Furball, even Osgood of all people.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket, which had given her a light jolt. She sighed looking at the seventh(or was it the fifteenth?) text she had gotten from Red since yesterday. Tessera figured that was only going to be a matter of time before Red would march down and pull her out of the room, commanding her to get some sun for once. It would be a welcome change. She thought, bending over to Karina, lightly placing her forehead against hers, eyes closed whispering messages of love to her.

I guess I should at least rest my eyes for a few minutes. Tessera thought, sitting back into the leather resting couch on the far side of the room, which had been decorated with clothes and bags for staying overnight. While the hospital wing had visiting hours, The Boss was kind of enough to extend an exception to Tessera and the Valentine family. 'It's better than you lot raising hell over a couple of regs', Tessera remembered her saying.

She slowly closed her eyes. She didn't look forward to her dreams. They would always be the same, no matter the day or the mood. Images of sterile white rooms with identical doors flooded her mind once, along with doctors wearing the curious smiles of children prodding a bug on the floor. The sounds of muffled screams were as clear as she remembered, walking through the halls of that funhouse of horror. The Ashgate Facility. Her origin and the only "home" that she chose to run from.

The years of experimentation that pushed Tessera to her very limits, stunted her of any possible emotional connection with anyone, especially with the man that she was told was her father. And Karel was anything but that sacred title to her, with the foundation of their relationship being a means to an end for his twisted ambition. Being the wandering orphan she was, Tessera felt her complacency to such an upbringing was exactly what she deserved, as well as the only world she knew. Thinking that the world was no bigger than the days of mandatory shots-dosed with untested enhancement formulas at an abnormal capacity- and image training. A constant experience that would leave her being unable to sleep for days, even weeks, at a time, along with the drugs coursing through her body. It was all a vivid blend of days to her until her reason to keep on fighting had finally been conceived as a result of her suffering.

Tessera, to this day, kept a mental image of the ecstatic smile shown in the reflection of the glass tube. The sight of a fetus rapidly growing to a stable form from only just a few days of being cooked inside of the confines of its chamber, the glance of her Karel's joyous smile. She didn't even flinch in fear when Karel placed his hand on her shoulder, the very hand that had been the method of his discipline. This moment had frozen her in a state of happiness that had yet to be replicated since then.

"Tessera. From this day forth, this girl is to be your sister. She shall be the first of her kind. The dawn of a new age for the world."

"What's her name?" To this day, Tessera never figured out why she had asked such a question. To her surprise, Karel van Zaldwyck did actually humor such a question. He said he thought of her existence as a pure being, created on the idea of providing a new type of prosperity that the world had yet to experience, unexpurgated of any flaws and limitations set by God. The closest thing Tessera could think of that matched that description was Katherine, which had meant pure in the Greek language but instead modified it to fit the more Scandanavian root of the name, Karina. Karel couldn't help but laugh(a step away from his usual morbid mood) at the close likeness of their names, seeing her as an extension of his will. How wrong he was.

1:45 PM

Tessera's eyes shot open when she heard a sharp knock on the door, with her body immediately springing into action. She armed herself a nearby knife she used for some apples earlier and brought it to the neck of an entering Red, who stood unfazed by Tessera's reflex.

"Still got that twitch I see." Red chided, gently patting Tessera's tense hand. Tessera took a second to collect herself before retracting the knife. She wiped the sweat from her face and threw the knife on the nearby table.

"Sorry, sorry. You caught me at a bad time." Tessera rubbed the back of her drenched neck and sat down in the chair by Karina's bedside. She took out her phone, shocked to see the number of messages that Red had left had doubled from a meager seven to grand twenty-seven."Guess that'll teach me not to have it on vibrate."

"Don't play dumb. You knew I was going to come down here sooner or later." Red smiled.

"I knew that. I was just resting my eyes for a little while."

"Looks like you need more than that, Tess," Red said, taking note of the black sags hanging under Tessera's eyes. Red felt proud of her former bunkmate, witnessing her as a vigilant sister, but she could sense that that position was dictating her life, as well as her health.

"You need a break from guard duty. A sizeable one."

"Karrie could wake up."

"If she wakes up, she'll wake up," Red said, placing her hands on Tessera's shoulders. Tessera could feel the rough texture from her palms, and felt an odd comfort from it."Tess, your sister is a thirteen-year-old war vet with a degree from Oxford. You don't need to keep looking over her shoulder."

"Maybe you're right." Tessera politely brushed Red's hands away, going over by the window. She had a bird's eye view of the training course for the base from the hospital wing-complete with low crawl barbed wire trenches, balance logs, along with horizontal ladders that would stretch on for at least 300 feet across the yard- looking at the diligent recruits run through the obstacles with apt skill and teamwork. It was a call of home for Tessera, and a sign of what she had missed from days gone by for her. She turned around to Red with a pained smile, while giving a glance to Karina.

"Maybe I am being too overprotective." Tessera said, struggling to run her fingers through her unkempt hair. "But when I think about how this is the second time I've been unable to protect her because the world needed something else for me." Tessera's fist tightened with such pressure that her nails slightly punctured her palm."I get frustrated, angry with myself that I have finally had this power to protect who I want, and yet I can't even do that for the one that matters most to me. It gets to me, you know?"

"You need to learn to let go Tessera." Red came over to Tessera, holding up her bloodied hand like crime scene evidence."This frustration you have. This burden that you feel on your shoulders to protect Karina, and do your job. You need to let it go. If you don't, it's only going to get worse."

"But what can I do?!" Tessera said through her teeth, as to not raise her voice in the room."How can I just let something like that roll right off my shoulder, Red? You don't know what that's like. Having a reason to live in this shit-filled world, promising to protect it, fighting tooth and nail for it, and not being able to live up to your responsibility to protect it, and watch it slowly crumble before your very eyes!"

Tessera took a second to collect herself and apologized to Red. 'Never hold your own pain above others', the mantra that Anthony drilled into her head would always water down her emotions at times like this. Red shook her head, signaling that no offense was taken.

"You're right." Red shrugged. "I don't know what that's like. I got a bad hand in the form of a fucked up father. I got my own problems. I'm not telling you how to live your life, but I can't just sit here and let you destroy yourself like this." Red said with concerned eyes.

Tessera wore an expression that spelled her intent to give up on her fight with this emotion, this intangible desire that draped over her. "I'm not really in the mood for a therapy session Red."

"Oh." Red produced a pair of red sparring gloves from her jacket pocket, and put them towards Tessera's stomach."I got something even better than words."

Aegis Base

Gymnasium/Training Area

Third Person POV

Red lead with a right straight that grazed off of Tessera's tough guard, and a series of jabs that hit air within a few seconds. A low sweep came for Tessera. She jumped over it but ran into a left hook that she managed to block in time. Red felt the intense pressure that her assault was putting on Tessera, who had yet to venture out from her defensive tactics for the past thirty minutes they've been sparring. The assault was simple in concept, quick strikes that aim for points that force a guard at all intervals, which will eventually open up a spot to take full advantage of. It was the kind of relentless, yet calculated attack that made Red a fearsome opponent in close quarters.

Tessera was blown back by the force of the hook but came to a full stop on the balls of her toes just a few feet away. Red flew towards her with more jabs that hit various spots of Tessera's turtle shell of a guard, right upper head side-blocked, mid-section-blocked. Tessera moved with more fluidity to keep Red at bay with her strikes, making her attacks futile and only served to wear her out. Red came into Tessera's space with blinding speed, grabbing her by her training bra strap, throwing her over her shoulder. Instead of feeling the impact of the throw on her back, Tessera took the brunt of it on her feet, putting her in a crab stance similar to pro wrestlers balancing on their toes to create flexibility. Red's right fist rained down with punches aimed at Tessera's stomach to kill her strength to stay up. Tessera, given the durability of her stomach, endured and slipped out of the position, finding balance in her stance once again.

All the other soldiers in the gym ceased their own training and stared in awe at the scene before them, not just for the combat prowess both women displayed, but that a Non-type was able to have a Blade, one-person armies in their own right, on constant defense. There was more to it than they knew, however.

"So are you gonna guard me all day, or are you actually gonna hit me?!" Red said in a labored breath before resuming her attack; two hooks from each direction, into an elbow aiming for the mid-section, all of which Tessera deftly parried, but did not raise a counter. Red raised her right for another hook; Tessera readied her guard, only to faint and throw out a quick left straight, scoring directly on Tessera's nose. A smirk formed on Red's lips as a swell of pride washed over her, seeing the astounding look on Tessera's face. "Got you with that one again!" Red chuckled as a stroke of nostalgia filled her head, taking her back to Basic in the training ring, facing down the infamous recruit that had been unruly, defiant, and something of a philander among the camp. The last thing the rumors didn't mention, was her being a fighter.

"That you did, Red." Tessera said.

Red clicked her tongue at her friend's indifference. The feeling of pride that swelled in Red was turning into aggravation as more and more strikes were merely blocked or dodged, with no intent to capitalize. It didn't take Red much thought to figure out Tessera is letting up a great deal, a gesture that Red took offense towards.

"I was hoping to pay you back for that right hook all those years ago. Really make you work for it," Red yelled, throwing several jabs that found their mark on Tessera, whose vigor drained after each punch."Will you fucking throw a punch back at me already?!" Red said although she could barely contain the sadness seeping into her voice, seeing her friend in this state.

"We're sparring, aren't we?"

"I want to spar with you goddammit! That's the whole reason we're down here!" Red unloaded with a fierce jab-hook-uppercut- a combo that scored cleanly, knocking Tessera down flat on the mat.

"I guess I'm just tired. Like you said, I need more sleep." Tessera said as her arms drooped down by her waist. Despite the degree of swelling on her face, she felt little pain from the exposure of the hits.

"Fuck that," Red hoisted Tessera by the straps of her top, bringing her closer to her face."You're not tired, you're running." Red gave a series of hooks that blew Tessera's head from right to left and put her back on the mat with a roundhouse straight to her solar plexus. Tessera laid flat on the ground, staring at the blinding lights from the ceiling, with her mind wandering back to Karina's condition.

"Are we done?" Tessera said.

"What happened to you, Tess?" Red stood over Tessera. Red felt a growing level of disgust coming from it looking down at Tessera, in this pathetic state. It clashed with her original perception of her old friend. Strong-willed, tenacious, and an absolute beast in combat. "I thought you were dead when you showed up MIA all those years ago. You disappearing like that made those times at basic training a dream. And when you showed up, out of nowhere, it was like someone woke me up from it. You seemed, cooler, more refined than you were before. I could tell you had changed and changed for the better. You became the badass that I saw you turn into one day."

Tessera gave a deep sigh, covering her face with her arm.

"What you want me to say Red? That the world changed me? That I left to become stronger to protect what mattered most to me but ended up finding something else that took me away from it?"

"Isn't that exactly what happened?" Red said.

"It was a fucking fantasy." Tessera said. "I've always been weak. I've never been this impenetrable force of nature. I've never been good at fighting for myself, as I am fighting for someone else. And guess what? One of the reasons for me fighting got his head chopped off by a psycho, and my other reason is breathing air through a tube right now."

"None of that was your fault. You're not invincible Tessera, and feeling that your will tied to someone else's well-being is the farthest thing from living your life."

"I know that! But it's all I have!"Tessera felt her feelings erupt out of her mouth, reaching the ears of the soldiers that were still in awe, and now in shock at the sudden inclusion of emotion. However, the best possible recipient, Red, became relieved.

Red, smiled, holding her hand out to Tessera. "You have me."

Tessera removed her arm, looked up at Red with curious eyes before grabbing it.

"It's not much, I know," Red laughed."But I want you to know that you won't be alone. No matter what may happen."

"You're just patronizing me." Tessera said.

"Dammit, girl. Will you just be honest with yourself this once?"

Tessera heard Red's words this entire time, but actually listening to them took time for her. Never shying from her thoughts, bringing her actions front and center whenever she wanted something changed. This was who Tessera was to Red, ever since they made up in the ICU tent after their fight in basic. The mutual look of staring at each other in bruises and bandages set the record that they could meet one another on even ground.

Tessera looked down her hand clasped with Reds, gripping it as if to sense that it was indeed real.

Once outside the gym, the two had walked down the hall for a while, until they reached a viewing port just a couple of floors below the cafeteria. The sun had been burning a foggy orange in the distance over the mountains, overlooking the dune in which Aegis Base was located. Red then got some sodas from a nearby vending machine, both diet. Tessera made an astonished face at the choice of drink when Red handed one to her, recalling her telling Red that carbonated drinks had made her sleepy. The two began to chug their drinks down, and finished at the same time Red ran to the vending machine for two more, then two more, and another two, until the floor around them became littered with cans, a sight that drew ire from the janitor that happened to be walking by. They both exchanged looks before bursting out laughing, one so harmonious and loud that the entire base could be forgiven for thinking that they were using the P.A. system to broadcast it.

As the laughter ceased, Tessera leaned against the railing, looking out at the sunset. She took a quick sniff at her hair and was appalled by the stench.

"Wow, that does not smell good. Like, at all."

Red nodded in agreement before patting it.

"Hopefully this doesn't become a new look for you." Red chuckled.

"Fuck you." Tessera said, lightly punching Red on her shoulder."You know something?" Tessera looked over at Red, who looked eager to hear the upcoming confession"I always thought that from going through Basic, leaving to join the Blades, and re-uniting with Karrie, I finally took the position that I thought Anthony wanted me to. Being a protector above all else, and being strong enough to do that. If I couldn't reach that point, I thought there wasn't any significance to anything I did ."

"That's called being normal Tess," Red said. "We all have our limits. We can spend our entire lives trying to surpass them, but it takes a lot to admit them first."

"When did you become a philosopher?"

"Around the time that you left. That, and Fisk never misses a beat for a lecture when we're on missions."

Tessera rubbed the back of her neck. "Listen Red. I wanted to tell you I was leaving,"

Red shrugged. "It's cool. I just realized a tearful goodbye would have been the worst thing at the time."

"I never stopped thinking about you though, and those times I whupped your ass in the circle."

"Sheesh. Give a girl a couple of superhero pills, and she thinks she's invincible."

"Hey, you said you wanted me to start being honest." Tessera let out a breath. "Man, can you believe that Karina is already thirteen years old? Damn, where do the years go huh?"

"I take it this revelation means you're going to ease up on her some?"

"Oh hell no." Tessera giggled."Master Chief or Magna cum laude, her ass is mine until she's eighteen."

Red shook her head at her friend. She leaned against the rail, close enough to Karina that their shoulders rubbed, gazing at the sunset. Suddenly, Tessera pulled Red in closer, touching cheeks before outright hugging her.

"Hey Red."

"Yeah, Tess?"

"Did you know that I was the one that gave Karina her name?"

Aegis Base

Administration Section-Boss's Office

6:45 PM

The Boss sat on her desk cross-legged, patiently waiting as Osgood fished for his documents out of his accordion folder. Her desk was layered from top to bottom, with various knick-knacks of countless cultures- a small Japanese daruma sitting on top of a mint conditioned vinyl, a tiny sphinx sitting near the edge, a handmade laced tapestry that leaned neatly on a jasmine painted teapot right next to a beer stein crafted out of stoneware. She tapped the nub of her finger on the wooden finish of her desk, creating an incessant noise that echoed through the room, which made Osgood search more fervently for the document in question.

"Here it is." He pulled a stack of papers out as Boss began to open her mouth, handing it to her. He then took a second to wipe his sweaty palms on his slacks.

"You didn't have to rush on my account you know," Boss said.

"Just figured I wouldn't keep this news from you for too long, that's all."

"How considerate of you Jack."

Osgood felt taken aback, hearing Boss says his name in such a formal tone, feeling as if she were addressing someone else entirely. It was a ringer for a forgotten time of his life he'd prefer to stay below water. But he knew that such an omittance was hardly a challenge for the Boss to uncover. Boss had information on every person under her employ, even The Blades, whose personal information became encrypted upon entry, and she was able to do with it whatever she pleased.

"I'm just doing my job ma'am." Osgood saluted.

The Boss skimmed through the file while booting up a fully 3-D holographic display on her desk. On it was navigational information for every American road leading to every city that had ever been geographically recorded via satellite. She pulled out a slim-sized keyboard that was connected to the system powering the display, entering an assortment of numbers that formulated a geographical location onto the map, which triangulated the position she requested. Within seconds of entering it, the display pinpointed two separate locations from two different coordinates-the first being in Michigan, and the other in Georgia. The location of the two remaining Trexwell members Kaos and Zana Amucus.

"Is there any reason they've separated? Have they agreed to a rendezvous at a later date?

Osgood pulled out a small thumb drive from his jacket pocket, plugging it into a small port that opened up from Boss's desk. The 3-D display brought up windows that were video files of the Pure-types escape from the previous base

"That's unlikely. According to the timestamps on the footage," Osgood zoomed in on the video, highlighting the pale white cat with long pink hair. "The Trexwell member-identified as Kaos Amucus- had abandoned her teammate- also identified as Zana Amucus, fleeing the scene by about five minutes out. After Lieutenant Zaldwyck engaged with Zana, the latter had fled in the opposite direction. The two have not crossed paths since."

"Looks like the bonds between the Forsaken's groups are more fragile than we were lead to believe," Boss said.

Osgood cleared his throat.

"Actually, this is a special case."

"Oh?"

"Yes ma'am. A source of mine tells me that they are both the children of the Supreme Leader of the Forsaken, however, they both have different mothers. A source of constant friction between the two, so a betrayal would not be out of the question"

"Ah, your contact within the Russian Parliament. I had thought this info seemed too detailed, even for a simple scouting job."

Osgood felt sweat forming on the back of his neck, but managed to hide his shock from her.

"It was a favor he owed me," Osgood said. " I had done various jobs for his organization in the past. When I told him that I was seeking info on two possible fugitives from his region, he was more than willing to accommodate me."

Boss waved her hand.

"At ease Jack. I was not accusing you of anything. I've always been impressed at your resourcefulness, especially when it comes to Types in general."

"It's why the First recruited me." Osgood bowed, giving a faint smile.

"She has a superb eye for talent. Makes me wonder where she picked such a feat from." Boss said. Osgood knew where the statement originated from, but he refrained from following up on it. Out of respect to his leader, most of all. He removed the thumb drive and collected the documents from The Boss.

"You've done a fine job Tenth. You do your contemporaries proud."

"I'm honored to hear you say that, ma'am." Osgood bowed.

"I will call you should I require anything else. In the meantime, please let the Seventh know that I have a new assignment for him."

Osgood had to pinch himself to hide his disgust. The Seventh Blade of all people? He thought. But it did make the most sense-Tessera and Furball requested time off, and Ellen had just returned from an ongoing assignment to deliver her findings. He was also closest in the area of Georgia, which Boss would most likely stage an attack for Kaos Amucus. In terms of skill, there was probably nobody better.

The Boss began to make calls to the respective law enforcement of those areas, requesting an inspection, as well their offer in assisting her own forces to enable capture. Osgood took her activity as a silent dismissal, saluting her, and leaving her office

Once outside, a large breath of relief exploded from him. He then checked his phone for any new messages. One came from Tessera-she texted that she would be with Red in Karina's room for the remainder of the evening, even offering thanks for his words of encouragement. It took him aback, with a smile creeping upon him at the thought of gratitude from the Fourth Blade.

He made his way down to the lounge on the second floor, being greeted by many passing soldiers and guards of various checkpoints. He plopped down in one of the many open leather seats, sinking into the cushion, drowning out the surrounding chatter. The lounge, at this time of day, was filled to the brim with soldiers looking to unwind from stressful days of drills and patrols- doing so with a cold beverage, followed with heated discussions football season and democratic attritions. They were Osgood's favorite things to gab with the grunts, but the temptation to turn his brain off for a while was stronger than his usual pastime

"She wore you out that much, huh?"

Osgood flashed open his closing eyes, hearing a voice go off above him. The sight of Fisk staring down at him with his usual poker face put him at ease.

"I feel like I just did a college presentation with the dean watching." Osgood yawned. "At this rate, I'll want desk work rather than being out in the field.

"Look at it this way, being a dependable guy to a woman in power like that? It comes packaged with its own benefits." Fisk said, despite having his own reservations about a woman who seems to have almost every political outlet in her pocket and can amass several battalions to work for her exclusively. Even as a cooperation effort, his own organization seemed like it was in a losing bout with her own.

"We're not fucking, Fisk."

"Must be a slow game." Fisk shrugged.

"I got enough to keep me up at night, trust me.

"You're doing good work, Osgood. More than anyone else could do."

"Yeah, well, send me a Christmas card." Osgood chuckled, as Fisk gave him a light shoulder tap. They both sat back in their seats, gazing at the T.V. screen supported over them. It was a re-run of a new-age sitcom targeted to middle-class families, or towards housewives that had it on in the background when preparing dinner. Fisk showed enthusiasm in the feature, much to Osgood's shock.

"So how's the family doing these days? Janie looked bigger in the last picture you showed me."

"She's turning five next month," Fisk said as he produced a cigar from his pocket. He offered one to Osgood who refused. He lit it, heaving a puff, and blew out a huge cloud of smoke, before speaking."She's supposed to start track soon. I tell you, that girl is going through so many sports shoes, the warranty people are getting sick of hearing from me."

"Last year it was hockey and basketball, right? The girl's got an Olympic gold medal in her future," said Osgood.

"She might even flatten you in a sprint if you let her."

Osgood chuckled and shrugged."She might do just that. She is your kid after all."

"You still sore about that sparring session?"

"I wasn't until you brought it up again." Osgood rolled his eyes.

Fisk took another puff and winked at a sulking Osgood.

"Guess lower region endurance doesn't come with the package, huh?"

"Yeah, yeah."

The two continued to watch the sitcom until the end credits, with the troops clearing out of the lounge one by one. As Osgood began to drift off, the blaring ringtone from Fisk's phone shook him awake. He then stood up to take the call, talking and pacing back and forth around the room until. After a short call, he gestured to Osgood to follow him.

"Guess who just woke up." Fisk smiled. Osgood had a strong inkling towards Karina, as her injuries were something easily remedied by the finest medical technology the Boss could offer. Kote was in dilemma far beyond something physical. Everything from the receptors in the brain down to his muscles had stagnated, to the point the doctors had coined for it to be a miracle for him to come out of his coma. Thankfully, such news didn't deter anyone waiting for his return, especially the Valentines, who decided to create that very miracle, although the means had yet to surface.

Osgood and Fisk rushed down to the medical wing, arriving at Karina's room, with Tessera, Red, and Huey already present-the latter of whom was getting choked out by the patient in question. Tessera separated the two, and embraced her little sister with the tightest grip she could muster, not even feeling the rapid taps Karina gave her on her back to let up.

"Just let me have this, alright?" Tessera said with a choked-up voice.

"I'm all for hugs sis, but can you please take a fucking shower first?!"

Unknown Destination

Unknown Time

Unknown POV

I fasten my tie before placing my hands on the door to the meeting room, with my heart still as the earth and spirit as free as the wind. The eyes across the table, shrouded in darkness stare daggers at me as I step forth, offering my knee below my head. I'm excused and stand over them as my position dictates I should. I take in the refreshing cold that blankets the fear they have for me, savoring it even in the face of authority that they display.

I speak, suppressing the malice seeping into my voice. "The mission was a failure gentleman. The blame is mine and mine alone."

One of the shrouds cleared his throat before speaking to me."It is admirable that you recognize the responsibility of your station Lord Malgath. But your boast to the success of the Trexwell unit must be repaid in full, should we continue our efforts."

I look down at the mist surrounding the table, gazing at the Lunaag crystals as they sit within my reach. It is a curse, to be the linchpin of power to your own legacy, yet have its true power tucked away from you, just within reach. I have endured it for some time, but its climax is fast approaching.

"Of course, wise one. I shall receive any punishment you see fit for my lack of cunning."

"Punishment?!" One of the other voices-a croaky, disgusting one at that- spoke over me."What game are you playing? What good would it do to penalize the Supreme Leader of our brotherhood, especially when we have yet to arrive at phase two?"

"Perhaps we should give it to him as he asks us." Another speaks. "It isn't unlike our Lord Malgath to be loyal to the jurisprudence of our order. Not even he is above them."

"It is clear you have not been on this council very long! There is a due process that must be handled to secure such requests, and it is not now. We have too much to accomplish to handle the petty failures of Lowborns."

"Mind your tongue! It is not just Lowborns that make up the Supreme Leader's ranks, but his own children as well."

Ah, the two extensions of my will. My heart is none too heavy, being concerned about their safety is a slight thought. They exist on their own terms, so the elder's comment on them-even the one defending them- does not affect me in the slightest.

"They are not just Lowborns, are they? They were from the facility, like all the other rejects before them. How a stain on our legacy remains, astounds me."

Now they speak out of turn.

"Our, legacy?" My voice travels from my soul and reverberates throughout the entire room, rattling the glass and earth itself. One of the elders let out incoherent stammers before finding his tongue once more.

"O-our apologies my lord. S-simply a turn of phrase. We of course meant your father's legacy. We are but humble servants to it" My interest waned as feeble apologies came to me from around the room.

"If you would be so kind, dear elders." I then gained control of the air in the room."Please offer me your punishment for my failure. Despite our lack of progress with the plan, we still must abide by our bylaws." No figure, small or large within the Forsaken shall not be offered impunity of any merit. The guidelines set by my father, and his father, remain strong even today and give my organization the power it deserves.

"Very well, my lord. While it isn't a punishment, per se. We do have a new assignment for your followers."

I then open my ears, ingesting the full amount of their words, coming from their squeamish voices. Soon, my heart is sent aflutter.

"It shall be done." I turned on my heels and made my exit. It was a short trip back to my chambers, but I had already done a journey's worth in my head with the news I received. I sit down in my chair, with the crisp, cool breeze of the night air and the comforting sight of the moon welcomed me. I roll my eyes as I sense a familiar presence behind me.

"You return, Nicosia." I receive silence from him. No doubt his own failure has stolen his voice."I must admit. Failure from you, one of my best agents, is indeed rare, but it is not unwelcome. If anything, the failure is mine."

"My lord," At last he speaks. "The one you requested I bring, he is of no use to us. His spirit remains shattered. Lost in his own psyche and memories."

My mind begins to race at his statement. There's never been an event where Berserker was sealed, yet not succumb to its side effects."Have they found a way to cure him?"

"As of right now, no."

"It is not certain, or you do not know?"

I feel him squirm for an answer. His emotions have always been palpable, even as a child, and mention of the one who went berserk seems to stir him even more so than usual.

"I-I do not know, my lord. But I suspect the son of Harmon could fathom an idea on how to. Despite his inexperience in fighting, he is quite resourceful."

The matter of the spawn of that worm, Harmon, continues to nip at my heel, even narrows closer to being crushed by it. I stood out of my chair, unleashing my hand against Nicosia's face, with enough force that I watched him glide across the room into my bookcase.

"Resourceful?" The word exited my mouth again and again as my hands struck the boy until my hands cried with crimson."A 'resourceful' child got the better of you, my most powerful minion, and let his charge get away from under his nose?" My tone, alas, remained calm even in the middle of my, as I painfully admit it, barbaric outburst."I sent you to retrieve the force that could be the saving grace of our struggle, yet you were defeated by one that we do not even consider a threat?" His lips quiver as he struggles to make sounds with his voice, but he does not break. He wouldn't, not now after all of these years.

"M-m-my deepest apologies, Lord Malgath. Had it not been for the Hunters, I would have ended him, and made off with my charge." I felt my heart stop at the mention of them. The scourge that refused to die, even after all that has been dealt with them.

"The Hunters. They still live?" He nods."And they attacked you and the two Lowborns?"

"Yes, my lord."

Seeing as how Nicosia returns with this manner of news, it wouldn't be too far to guess that he and Harmon's spawn had allied to defeat them. Not only, him not bringing the berserker in tow tells me that they came to a ceasefire, or possibly a mutual agreement based on an outside factor. Either one tells me that the son of Harmon, this boy, is much more than he appears to be if he could sway my most loyal agent. A further test will be applied to see if this speculation is just that, speculation. But first, I command Nicosia to stand up from the scarlet pool he produced. And he does, bringing his head before mine, which I stroke with firmness.

"Very good, Nicosia. Although you have failed your assignment, we have received new knowledge as consolation," I look out to the moon, shrouded in the crimson blanket my eyes detail it to be. "And new direction." His eyes looked at me with renewed vigor, with his body ready to serve me in every way possible.

"Your will, your desire, my lord."

TAP Chapter 26 END.

Fro Ninja; Damn, wasn't that exciting. What could the Forsaken have planned next? Who is the Seventh Blade that will soon encounter Karina, and what other mysteries lie in wait for the Ashgate Facility? Stay tuned for the next update, and remember, One Love.