The city is in an uproar.

Big Band hadn't greenlit the lab's alarm system under the simple assumption that a noise so loud and jarring would just end up causing more panic than necessary. It didn't stop the system from being implemented, but at least he could throw in his own two cents about it. Only a few low-sensitivity instruments in the room were able to withstand a Skullgirl awakening right in the heart of the facility, and even they had been pushed past the limits of their capabilities. Priority one following the accident was making sure nobody had been terribly injured in the blast. Smartly, most of the lab's personnel had decided to remove themselves from the room when it became obvious that time was running out. Those whose curiosities had commanded them to remain were left with only minor burns in need of some ointment.

The critical moment had approached after an unfruitful attempt to somehow reverse the effects of the Skull Heart on a human host. Peacock and Leduc made no objections when Big Band ordered the two of them to track the Skullgirl's movements, their normally jovial attitudes dissolving into a sudden appreciation for their intended purpose. Cecil had left the room of her own accord, thankfully without meeting any resistance on her way out, but as a result was now loose on the streets of New Meridian - where the lab's alarm had probably just woken most of the city up. All in all, it isn't shaping up to be the greatest day in the history of the Anti-Skullgirl labs, nor does it seem like Big Band is going to be getting his beauty sleep anytime soon.

Naturally, the call had already been made to Princess Parasoul. The Egrets are going to be collapsing towards the lab's position within the next half hour or so, likely with orders to terminate the Skullgirl on sight. While Peacock and Leduc are technically under the lab's jurisdiction, assimilating into an Egret operation like this puts them somewhere near the bottom of the command chain. Any orders made by Big Band could simply be overturned at the drop of a hat, meaning any effort spent trying to encourage a non-lethal approach would just complicate matters - as if something like that would really be possible.

"They're gonna want me out there too, I bet." He sighs, "I'm gettin' too old for this..."

Keeping these complaints to a minimum had always been his attitude towards this new lease on life he'd been given. While he may be stronger than ever in this brass body of his, the unspoken contract that was formed between him and Dr. Avian on that day has shackled him permanently to the Anti-Skullgirl labs, at least until the violence drinks too deeply of his body's capabilities.

"Wonder if that kid did what he wanted to do..." Forlorn in that way, he stomps towards the door, "Hope he doesn't have to see this."

A shrill sound erupts from Cecil, the air around her body briefly shimmering in the low, yellowed light of the streetlamps. A smoking casing hops burning hot on the ground nearby as the Skullgirl continues to walk, unsteady, towards some unknown destination. On the street corner just moments behind her, a disorganised infantry line tumble over one-another in various stances, some standing, some crouching, all with their rifles focused squarely on the otherwordly light at the end of the street. One of the masked grunts, clicking his tongue secretly, grabs the bulky radio from his belt and reports clearly into the speaker.

"This is supply squad - small arms fire seems to have no effect on the target, over."

Seconds later, a grainy, feminine voice responds.

"Roger that, supply squad. Maintain a safe distance from the target and await arrival of the Anti-Skullgirl squadron, over."

"Is it really a squadron if it's just one guy...?" As the radio cracks out, another muffled voice leaves that question hanging in the air.

"Oh!" Another exclaims, hands occupied with a pair of binoculars, "Ooooh!"

"What the hell are you so surprised about?" Another asks in response, as the peeking soldier scrambles to grab the radio out of his hand.

"Update on that report - a group of civilians are approaching the target!"

"Huh!? Give me those things!"

Now just as surprised, the first soldier swipes the binoculars and has a look for himself at the commotion. Sure enough, nearabouts the end of the street, a loose trio is approaching the Skullgirl front-and-centre. Strangely, none of them seem wholly terrified of what they're looking at, their expressions closer to puzzled, or worried.

"Those idiots. They're gonna get themselves killed."

"I swear I've seen one of those girls somewhere before..."

"A Skullgirl...?" Squigly's voice is barely a whisper, "Or, is that not the case?"

"There's no denying it." Leviathan confirms, "Listen closely..."

It's quiet. Almost inaudible. But closing her eyes to focus, Squigly can make it out as well. In the background, some visceral sound beats in tune to a silent melody, neither front or back, above or below, it persists in every direction, undetectable but unmistakeable. The sound of twin heartbeats, pumping as one. The sad sight of this girl, wandering unknowingly through these rain-slicked streets, creates a storm of emotion in Squigly's chest.

"But... how?" She isn't sure what to ask, "Bloody Marie appeared only a year ago!"

"Somethin's different about this one." From behind, Cerebella watches the girl approaching with her arms crossed, "How come she's not attacking anything?"

"Where the Skullgirl walks, destruction will soon follow." Leviathan muses in response, "And yet, this one seems rather docile. Worryingly so."

"The city is in danger!" Squigly adds, "Under the Skullgirl's influence, New Meridian will be overrun by the undead!"

"More to the point, why's she walkin' so slow?" Cerebella points to the girl's shaky feet to emphasise the question, "Don't Skullgirls normally... you know- float?"

"There's certainly something off about this..." She replies, "Do you suppose she might be open to conversation?"

"I-I'll talk to her."

That shaky voice, which teeters on the line between confidence and apprehension, continues to elicit a respectful silence from the others even in a situation like this. Carol's gaze is lost in the tragedy of this azure puzzle wandering the roads, questions abuzz but unanswered. A profound irritation boils up from beneath her skin, where the misplaced blood of Skullgirls past roils and thickens. There isn't a doubt in her mind about what she sees. Something like a twisted kinship seems to conjoin them at the hip, or is she only projecting that thought, witnessing one of the few who can share in her pain? Somehow, a responsibility wells up inside her, forcing her forward.

Squigly's expression softens. A piece of Carol's agony reflects onto her, "You needn't push yourself, Carol. I was simply saying whatever came to mind."

"I want to try it." She replies quickly, "...Maybe we can help her."

It's such an innocent, well-meaning wish. But how many times must such a thing have already been said? No doubt, there had been many before who wished that Skullgirls could be redeemed in some way. Wronged by the Heart as they are, it's only natural that there would be those who desire to stand against the unfairness of the system. But any hope that could be drummed up for such a wish has been battered by years of fruitless effort. Moving towards violence as the only reasonable answer, the Skullgirl becomes removed entirely from the human it once was, reduced to a creature that is without soul - without any meaningful emotion.

Unable to overcome that, Squigly can only hide her hopelessness, almost envious of Carol's struggle for happiness.

"Please, be careful." So, in that way, a plead is all she can manage, "If anything happens, Cerebella and I will back you up."

"Well, if I swung by the circus and grabbed Vice Versa, maybe..." Cerebella trails off, averting her eyes, "...Uh, yeah. Be careful, short stuff."

Carol can feel their worry. Altogether, she herself sees no positive outcome. Simply throwing herself into harm's way like this, expectant of some miracle - is this all she can really do? At Lab 0, she was optimised for the purpose of pushing along this perpetual cycle of death and rebirth, never given a chance to even consider an alternative. If that girl - that 'Painwheel', was still who she was, would she be capable of seeing a Skullgirl for the tragedy it really is? All of these incomplete thoughts of hers dissolve away as her footsteps carry her swiftly towards a question without an answer, eyes watching for any activity - any glimpse of the person that exists beneath this blue, otherwordly veil.

As their paths cross, Cecil's stumbling body comes to a stop. Not one other sign points towards her being aware of her surroundings at all. From this close, Carol can spot her ragged, blue-tinged whisps of breath, and the form hidden beneath her uniform, trembling as if freezing cold. In brief intervals, their eyes meet, and a shred of consciousness seems to awaken in Cecil before disappearing again. In her own world, devoid of sense and direction, perhaps the stark redness of Carol's unnatural pupils is enough to stir something within her.

"You're not attacking me." She notices, "Are you really... a Skullgirl?"

The words flow in and out of Cecil like a wind tunnel, only barely perceivable in the storm of her mind.

"C-Corpus..." Through the fog, her tired eyes can spot only imitations, "You're not... Corpus."

"Is that someone's name?" Carol asks, "Are you just looking for them? Is that why you haven't destroyed anything?"

"Hurts..." More than afraid, her tone makes it sound like a complaint, "Only him..."

"If you find Corpus, will it help you?"

"Help..." She repeats. Another tinge of humanity shines in her dull eyes, "Help me..."

"If I help you-" Carol pauses, weighing her response, "I-If I help you, will you promise not to hurt anyone?"

Even she understands the absurdity of a question like that. Asking such a cold, unfeeling thing if it would make some kid's promise with you not to cause any trouble. But, how much of this person had been lost to the Skull Heart already? Her answers are meek, without the malice one would expect to hear from an avatar of hatred like the Skullgirl. As dangerous as it may be to foster, the situation plants a seed of hope in Carol's heart. Her thought process is broken as Cecil's mouth gently opens to whisper, "...Promise."

"Uh..." She stammers, before taking a few steps forward, "Then, please! Come with me!"

Without thinking, She reaches out a hand to wrap around Cecil's, eyes widening as the freezing coldness of her palm shocks Carol into momentary silence. Beneath her skin, a teeth-grinding sensation of pins and needles removes all feeling from her arm, the misplaced Skullgirl blood in her veins rushing up as if to meet Cecil's touch. Only a surprised "Ah..." comes from the girl as Carol marches the two of them back to Squigly and Cerebella, Cecil only barely able to place one foot in front of the other to match her pace. Squigly's look of horrible surprise as they approach is almost enough to make Carol giggle.

"C-Carol, please hold on for a moment!" She tries to get out, "This is extremely dangerous!"

"It's much too risky to treat a Skullgirl so brazenly! She might attack at any moment!" Leviathan follows up, caught by surprise for once.

"You guys..." Carol grimaces, "She's not hurting anyone. We can try to help her."

"Mm..." Squigly hums, puzzled, "It would be rude of me to have any objections. But I insist you keep a close eye on her!"

"You're playin' it up too hard, Squigs." Cerebella leans forward to have a look at Cecil's face, "Look at her. Nobody's behind that wheel..."

"Cerebella!" She shouts, "...Actually, looking closer, haven't I-"

"Ah, come on. I didn't mean anything by i-" She begins, but cuts her sentence short.

Following Squigly's line of sight towards the far end of the street, where Cecil had been approaching from, she spots it. A cavalcade of dreary, grey uniforms has suddenly appeared in the distance, the marching tones of their boots heavy against the cobblestone as they sprint, weapons raised, towards the four of them.

"Stop right there!" One of the faceless soldiers shouts, "That girl is a hazard to public safety!"

"Egrets!?" Squigly observes, "W-What should we do!?"

"No chance to decide after all, huh?" Cerebella sighs, "Looks like running's the only thing for it."

"Excuse me!? Won't they help us!? Furthermore, would we even be able to lose them!?"

"With all that equipment they're haulin' around, I don't see why not." She answers cooly, "You really wanna see this girl get shot down?"

"How can you know they've been given orders to kill her!?" Squigly persists, "Unless... perhaps this 'training exercise' was really..."

"Sounds like we're startin' to put the pieces together." She remarks, before turning her back, "So, you comin' or what? Looks to me like Carol's already made her mind up."

Hand still firmly intertwined with Cecil's, Carol has a resolute, uncharacteristic look about her. As the Egrets draw closer, Squigly can't help but sigh in resignation.

"On the off-chance I would ever decline, would you really leave me here alone?" She asks, pace quickening to match Cerebella's.

"I probably would've just dragged you along anyway. You're all skin and bones, you know."

"I-I would appreciate it if you could come up with some more tasteful jokes!"

For what reason do they even run? On a senseless and ill-founded wish, their spontaneity once again forces them into a situation clearly about to reach its boiling point. With no regard for the time, or for their own safety, they exist only ephemerally here - in this cold city of reason, searching for the solution to an impossible problem. And yet, even still, their hearts beat with that magnificent spark which had long since vanished until today. Do they truly belong here, in the heat of the moment, or do their errant souls simply stick them to trouble like magnets? Squigly could never find herself comfortable with her fate, destined to stare down Skullgirl after Skullgirl. However, this miraculous encounter fills her with none of the fear that stiffened her veins in the past. Rather, the cool wind brushing against her face, and the tired gasps of her friends beside her - for a moment, she can spot the perfect innocence of such a situation. Like a gaggle of school children deciding to skip class all at once, that feeling of excitement has found a way to root itself yet again.

And so, wild and free, towards an unknown conclusion, they run as fast as their feet can carry them.

Filia holds her side.

As she pulls her hand back, a crimson smatter streaks across her fingers. When she breathes in, the pain makes her body want to double over. Rather than dwelling on it, she begins to focus entirely on the amorphous lump fidgeting grotesquely in front of her, a single, sharpened tendril of flesh poking out from the mass freshly dripping with her blood.

"Squigly's not here to bust us out of trouble this time..." She mutters.

"Whatever." Samson replies simply, "I wouldn't let that smart-talkin' snake get one up on me a second time, anyway."

"You're not worried at all, are you..."

"Just calm down, kid." He advises, "You're not actin' as cool-headed as you did back then."

What's there to have a cool head about? Double isn't just some hot-headed street fighter trying to get Filia out of their way. Even when she risked life and limb moving through New Meridian that day, not even Bloody Marie made her fear for her life as much as this freak of nature did. Her heavy, unnatural body betrays a deadly speed that overwhelms any attacker. Where a clean hit would land, a dripping hole in Double's body appears - where hers would miss, another flap of flesh or shard of bone detaches and swings around to extend it. Nothing about the way she approaches or retreats seems remotely like what a living creature would think of doing.

Like that, Filia only has just enough time to backstep as Double leaps forward with primal accuracy, lashes of undulating skin retracting only inches from her body.

"Somethin' on your mind?"

"Is this really the time, Samson...?"

"You won't be able to fight if you're focused on stupid stuff."

"It isn't stupid!" Again, she moves back, out of Double's range, "...I'm just worried about everyone!"

"Don't think they can handle themselves, do ya?" Samson continues, "I was just jokin' about the other one, you know."

"You know that's not it!" A thick wave of black hair forms in time to block another hit, "If Cecil goes on a rampage, how many people will die!? All because we couldn't move fast enough!? If the others get hurt because of it, then that's only on us!"

"You haven't learned a thing, huh?"

"What do you mean!?" She yells back, "I came here, didn't I!? I finally spoke to Lorenzo after all this time! So how can the world expect me to handle something like this after that!? I can't stop another Skullgirl! I can't even stop this thing!"

Her world turns upside down.

For an instant, she can spot it - a single tendril from Double's body that had creeped below to sweep her off her feet. Before either she or Samson have the time to react, the monstrous nun's form launches like a cannonball towards them, knocking the wind out of Filia's chest as her body is sent flying towards the altar stairs, landing with a thud near the bottom. For a moment, her vision dissolves into flat shades of grey, Samson's voice barely audible over a sudden, deafening pitch.

"Kid..." He begins, "Who said anythin' about you stopping the Skullgirl?"

"Urgh..." She moans, "W-What's that supposed to mean?"

"It ain't all about tryin' to do everythin' yourself, you damn moron." He replies, "Ask yourself - would you have even gotten this far if it weren't for the others?"

For a second or two, Filia remains silent, "...But, none of them deserve to get caught up in any of this."

Samson chuckles, "So what? And you do?"

"No! But... why should they be forced to suffer more than they have to?" She answers, "Maybe Cerebella can't get enough of this kind of stuff, but Squigly and Carol don't need to be put through something like this again. Why shouldn't I try to take some of the weight off their shoulders?"

"Whether they've had enough of it isn't somethin' you get to decide, kid."

"H-Huh?"

"Get up. This ain't exactly the best time for a therapy session."

Working her way through the pain and back onto her feet, Filia clenches her fist as Samson's words echo in her head.

"But- isn't that what C said!?" She responds, "That, he'll put himself on the line if it means someone else doesn't have to suffer!?"

"Who cares. You ain't him." He states calmly, "-And he ain't you. Only reason he's actin' like that is 'cause he's got it comin' to him."

"But..."

"Let 'em do what they wanna do. If they ever start feelin' like they've had enough, you'll probably be the first one to hear it."

Double's shifting body draws closer to them. Above the steps, the perfect visage of the Trinity stare down at the two of them with their unfeeling eyes of stone.

"We're really..." Filia mutters, "A bunch of idiots, aren't we?"

"Those girls are probably gettin' themelves into some other kinda messed-up trouble right now."

"Yeah. That's just how it is, right?" She replies with a deep sigh, "...They probably, don't really need my help, do they?"

"Doesn't mean we can't meet up with 'em later." Samson answers, "After we're done moppin' up this mess, obviously."

The fog in her mind clears up a little. Enough to spot, through all the grief she'd caused over the past few days, just a sliver of what she can remember from that time one year ago. She follows the familiar routing of Double's roiling flesh, watches for the telltale twitches and shivers that electrify its muscles. In the distance, she can still spot the attacks which seem unavoidable, the lashings that it seemed only Squigly could cover her from, and wonders if this time, she'll be able to see them coming.

"I hope C knows what he's doing..."

"You don't think he can pull it off?"

"Hm..." She pauses, "No."

"Were you even listenin' to me?"

"-But." She continues, "...I guess it can't hurt to have a little faith in him."

As Samson's tendrils unfurl, something like a smile manages to find its way onto Filia's face. Taking a stalwart step towards Double, her anxieties - even if it's just for this one moment, seem to fade away.

"Well, even if he messes up somehow..." She smirks, "The others will probably find a way to yank him out of trouble."

Like rats in a maze, they tumble through streets and alleys with sharpened gazes, admiring every street for signs of the blackened militia on their trail. Such is their speed and spontaneity that, after a certain point, not one of them can tell whereabouts in the city they've managed to run to. Without considering the time or even their own wellbeing, it's only natural that despite their circumstances, the pull of exhaustion eventually forces one of them to speak up.

"Carol, Cerebella... please..." Squigly pleads through pants, "I'm not certain how much longer I can go on for..."

"Hrmph." Cerebella, who seems almost eager to run some more, slows her pace to a brisk walk, "...Alright. We can take a little break."

Too polite to speak up about it, the relief on Carol's face is apparent as she moves to lean against a streetlamp, Cecil's hand still firmly intertwined with hers.

"I think it's safe to say that we've managed to lose the Egrets..." Squigly points out, "But, the question remains of what to do with this poor girl."

Her eyes fixate sadly on the affectless Skullgirl, "Would searching for this 'Corpus' help? Or would that only worsen the situation? What do you think, Cerebella?"

Seconds pass, "...Cerebella?"

Looking over, she spots the diamond-faced performer wandering towards the middle of the road, her attention diverted elsewhere. It's only a distant, mechanical sound that's loud enough to break through the wail of the siren. Heavy, hydralic impacts threatening to put holes in the tarmac, the hissing sound of gas rushing for a breath of fresh air. To Squigly, the noise is familiar enough to give her pause. It's only as she follows Cerebella's gaze that she spots the towering form stomping its way towards them, bell-shaped outline flashing streaks of golden brass through the occasional glimpse into its incoherent internals.

Running to Cerebella's side, Squigly can hardly believe her eyes, "Is that...?"

A dry chuckle comes from the gargantuan man, "Soon as I heard what happened over the radio, I figured we might end up runnin' into each other."

"Huh? Squigs?" Cerebella's shoulders relax, "You know this guy?"

"Aren't you familiar with Ben Birdland? He seems to be quite the celebrity here in the city."

"Sienna." Big Band interrupts, "Sorry to say, but I ain't here to give you any good news."

"Hoping for any is wasted effort at this point, it seems." She replies, "...Although, I can hazard a guess at why you might want to speak to us."

"Just be glad I got to you before Panzerfaust did." He warns, "That guy wouldn't have been askin' any questions."

"Ah, man... I think I saw that guy on TV once..." Cerebella grimaces, "Scary lookin' dude."

"If you've come for the Skullgirl, then I'm afraid we can't hand her over." Squigly follows up simply, "Carol is convinced she can still be helped."

"Carol?" Big Band raises an eyebrow, looking over to where she and Cecil are standing, "...Ah, so it's her. Thought I recognised that name from somewhere."

Grimly, his eyes remain on Cecil for a few seconds more, before he returns his cold glare to Squigly and Cerebella, "Doesn't look like she's tryin' to hurt anyone."

"Isn't it strange?" Squigly asks, "And neither have the dead risen. It's almost as though her powers are weakened, somewhat."

"Looks that way, huh?" He mutters, "...But, believe me, this is just the tip of the iceberg you're lookin' at."

"However do you mean?"

"I mean that what you've got there is a ticking time bomb just waitin' to go off." Big Band continues, "All she needs now is one spark to set her off."

"I was kinda worried it'd turn out to be somethin' like that." Cerebella folds her arms, "But if that's the case, then what is it? 'Cause we've been pulling her around the city like nobody's business."

"It ain't you three she's interested in." A plume of smoke expels from his jacket, "If I'm figurin' right, there's only one person that can turn this whole situation upside-down."

"Someone else..." Squigly pauses, "You're speaking about Corpus, aren't you?"

"Well, if you already knew that, why're you draggin' her around tryin' to look for him?" He questions, "Kinda funny, when you think about it."

"Funny?" She tilts her head.

"Well, maybe it's more 'coincidental' from your point of view." He answers, "It's that same fella you brought to the bar way back when, after all."

"Brought back to the-" Squigly repeats, before her eyes suddenly widen, "A-Are you talking about C!?"

"Huh? Ah, come to think of it, you were callin' him something like that, huh..." Big Band mutters, "Yeah, that's the one. Tallish kid. Kinda scruffy."

"Hey, hey, hey, hang on a minute. That's him!?" Cerebella's surprise catches her a few seconds late, "What kinda stupid name is Cor-"

"I knew it!" Squigly suddenly shouts, "I've seen this girl before! When me and C- I mean, Corpus, came to the city by train!"

"Quit callin' him that! It sounds weird!"

"How strange..." She quietens down, "To think he plays such a large role in this girl's fate. The two of them must be close."

"That kid's probably turnin' the city upside-down looking for her." Big Band notes, "It's our job to make sure he doesn't get that far."

"Now, hold on. There's no need to be so hasty." She answers, "How can we be expected to help her without C- erm, Corpus' help?"

"He ain't gonna help." He answers coldly, "Matter of fact, he's only gonna make things worse."

"T-That's preposterous!" Squigly snaps, "For what reason do you believe that to be the case? Who's to say bringing this girl to him wouldn't be a step in the correct direction?"

"Sienna..." Big Band lowers his head, "The girl wants revenge on him. That was the wish that got her caught up in this mess."

"Wish?" She repeats, "Do you mean... the Skull Heart's wish? Is that true?"

He nods, "Told me herself. And now that she's past the point of no return, there's no tellin' what might happen if we let the two of 'em see each other."

"Is that so..."

Cerebella steps in front of Squigly, "So what? If that's the case, then what's your plan?"

"I'm not gonna deny that there's still a chance." He answers, "But we've got to secure her first, or else the Egrets are just gonna 'pacify' her."

"Secure her where? Gonna stick her in a jail cell?" She presses, "You think the crown's gonna let a Skullgirl just sit there in the middle of the city?"

"As long as we can keep the situation under wraps, you won't have to worry about that."

"Under wraps!? You know how many bathrobe-wearin', slack-eyed folks were peekin' out their front doors when we were high-tailing it from your damn Egrets!?" She shouts, "Got the siren to thank for that! This'll be all over the papers by the time you can 'secure' anything!"

"Cerebella, please calm down..." Squigly urges.

"You're not gonna let this guy take her away, are you?"

"That's..." She mutters, "Well, I imagine taking her to C- uhm, Corpus-"

"Stop callin' him that."

"Yes, I think that's for the best. I find it a little jarring, myself." She interjects, "-In any case, I imagine taking her to C would be the best course of action."

"You can't go endangerin' the lives of so many people, Sienna." Big Band interrupts, "Where's all this coming from? If I recall rightly, you didn't give Marie any chances, so why start now?"

"Because she couldn't be reasoned with!" Squigly responds, "Neither could my mother! But this girl isn't like the others! Isn't that much obvious!?"

"I'll admit she's not as much of a menace. You've got the Heart's 'early start' to thank for that."

"Early... start?"

"Skullgirl only comes once every seven years. Even kids know that much." He continues, "Turns out, that might be because the Heart needs some time to 'recharge' before it gets another shot."

"Then you agree!" She deduces, "In such a state, who's to say a Skullgirl is beyond saving?"

"And who's to say she ain't about to blow up at any moment?" He fires back, "None of us know enough to make a decision. May as well play it safe."

Taking a heavy step forward, his machine body makes a queer noise, like an out-of-tune trumpet, "We can take her back to the Anti-Skullgirl labs."

Carol, who had remained quiet up to this point, suddenly perks up from her inactive stupor, "A-Anti..."

A sequence of blood-studded memories play out in rapid succession. As she unwraps her fingers from Cecil's, the bubbling in her blood ceases and is quickly replaced by a searing headache that reaches its peak just shy of forcing her to her knees. Over the sound of the alarm, and the voices of those three, a quiet yet all-flushing dog whistle rattles her eardrums. For the briefest of moments, she can feel what it was like to exist there again, in a world drained of all hope, trapped within a writhing, agonising body. A sick sweetness biles up and falls back down in her mouth, breaths too rapid to count. Only as her vision calms seconds later, and the feeling returns to her body, does she notice Squigly rushing over to kneel at her side.

"Carol!? What's wrong!?" She dotes, her voice slightly muffled, "Perhaps, is it because we mentioned-"

"No!" Somehow, she finds the strength to swallow and answer. Something sickly burns in her throat, "Don't take her there..."

Steadying herself, she reunites with Cecil, clutching her hand with enough force to hurt herself, "I won't... let something like that happen again."

"Never would've imagined it."

Hearing that deep, resonating voice, the two of them snap back to see Big Band marching somberly towards them.

"Always tried to convince myself that what I saw that day wasn't real, but..." He pauses, unable to find the right words, "-It, really is you, isn't it?"

He can see it. The faded marks criss-crossing her soft features, the scars running along her arms like wide rivers. But most of all, the piercing crimson in her eyes had been reminding him of something. When things were simpler, and Skullgirls weren't painted in such shades of grey, he had come across it. At the time, he wanted to believe he'd just driven off some kind of cruel monster, but when Brain Drain started publicising the results of his 'Skullgirl Blood' experiments under the greenlight of the Medici, he recognised it - the mask which had been all that remained of his number-one test subject following some kind of troubling disappearance.

A part of her is still there, stuck in that world. He recognises the helplessness, the pure agony hidden in her eyes.

"It's enough to make a grown man cry." He remarks grimly, "You're worried... that Brain Drain's gonna get to her, aren't you?"

Carol's free hand clenches, "You know his name."

"Unfortunately, the Medici ain't gonna be revoking his license to practice medicine anytime soon." He replies, "Though, you'll be glad to know he hasn't been up to much lately. I try to keep an eye on him."

Just hearing him mentioned is enough to make her lose track of the situation. Carol's freezing-cold hand is the only tether that pulls her back from the brink.

"W-When all of this is over..." She strains, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes, "...I want to k-kill him."

It's been at the back of her mind since then. This unfeeling hatred, separated from any of her mannerisms or quirks, focused singularly on a thought that refuses to budge. The root cause of the cancer that pumps through her veins to this day - her sole, intrusive 'reason' which permeates the uncanny light of her newfound freedom. Only now has she put it into words. This absurd, psychopathic dream. Big Band only closes his eyes for a few seconds, perhaps pondering, perhaps afraid of returning her gaze.

"Revenge..." He mutters, "Been hearin' about that a lot today."

"You mustn't say that, Carol!" Squigly pleads, "I know that you're above doing something so drastic!"

"Why should I be?" She asks bluntly, "He hasn't suffered at all!"

"Because I understand how it feels!" She can't help but tear up a little herself, "It's too painful, hanging onto the past, living only for some pointless reason like revenge!"

"So, what...?" Her voice breaks, "You want me to forgive him? After everything he did to me?"

"It's not about forgiveness!" Squigly yells.

A dim silence falls. Carol's wide-eyed stare betrays the longing for revenge in her heart.

"I... I could never forgive Black Dahlia for what she did to my family." She sighs, "Even in my final hours, I'm sure I won't be able to forgive her."

"...Then, why did you let her go?"

"What good might it have done for me?" Squigly asks, "I didn't seek any closure or satisfaction, and yet still, I couldn't bring myself to do it."

Standing up, Squigly's wayward eyes fall upon the night sky again, "It was so cruel... that 'acceptance' I felt, bubbling up inside of me."

The side of her head, where Leviathan resides, begins to ache, "I fulfilled neither my ego nor my pride. All I could feel was a dreadful unwholesomeness, letting that woman walk away, leaving her crimes unpunished."

"Squigly..." Carol mutters.

"When - if, the time comes, you will also feel it. A conclusion, unfulfilling and pointless, which contradicts your every though and steadies your hand, indescribable but irresistable. The low, hollow realisation of 'acceptance' will come to you, as well." She finishes, "Of that, I am certain."

Somewhere, Carol desires to put her hands over her ears and act as though she had never heard any of that. This cold, poorly-worded explanation of a feeling she had never even experienced, but which feels so familiar to her. Strangely, in that wicked stupor, she feels a sensation - something pats her gently on the head, only its rigid, mechanical movements can't help but feel like some kind of imitation. She looks up to see Big Band extending some kind of peripheral hook-arm towards her head from beneath his coat. The metal, cold as it might be, reminds her of simpler times spent with her mother, before any of this rotten nightmare had begun.

"Sorry kid, but this'll have to do." He apologises, "My arms are a little too heavy-duty for the delicate stuff nowadays."

"I-It's alright..." Carol crouches down a little, "I... I was saying some stupid stuff."

"It ain't stupid. Don't let that determination leave you." He encourages, "But Sienna's right, too. Plus, the two of you are too young to have blood on your hands like that."

With a tiny whir, the claw retracts back into the maze of Big Band's body, before the brass hulk turns around and begins stomping away.

"What about the Skullgirl?" She calls out to stop him, "...Didn't you want to take her to the labs?"

"Huh?" He turns his head, "Skullgirl? I don't remember sayin' anything like that."

"Hey." Cerebella speaks up, "What the hell are you-"

"Ah, looks like this corner of the city's a no-go, too..." He interrupts, sighing heavily, "Better call it in. Wouldn't want the Egrets wastin' their time looking someplace where they ain't gonna find anything..."

Like that, he just carries on his way down the street, until Squigly steps onto the road behind him.

"Ben!" She yells, watching as he comes to a brief stop without turning around, "Thank you!"

No response. Not even a half-hearted wave like some hard-boiled detective finally unearthing a heart of pure gold on the case. It isn't long before Big Band's gargantuan form turns unceremoniously at the next corner, leaving just the four of them idling on the empty street. As if disappearing with their worries, the wailing siren assaulting the city suddenly cuts off just moments later, leaving a slight ringing in the ears of those who had just begun acclimating to the sound. The silence, falling like a veil over the city, is intoxicating enough to distract them for an instant, before Carol suddenly bolts up straight, and speaks as clearly as she remembers speaking before everything became so complicated.

"C..." She mutters, "We have to find C!"

-END OF CHAPTER-