Frozen Memories - 1-8 Bridge

by Xeir Zith

Hidden Past - Back Cover. Hidden Past remake! This is entirely overhauled with missing dialog added to inital scenes with expansions and spelling fixes to the original writing from Hidden Past. In Bridge we see exactly what happens between Frozen Memories and War of the North - Frozen Memories. Xeir dreams and Elsa lives in a simulated city. Light works, Jarius writes Xeir sleeps

17. Xeir Awakening: Chapter Seven

Frozen Memories 1.8 Bridge

Hidden Past – Back Cover

Xeir Awakening

Chapter Seven: Love Builds Up

19 October 2057

Pond District

Outdoor eatery

830 PM

"Ah, he arrives" Taztan spoke after a good ten minutes or so of watching the street after Xeirs fight with the soldiers. He didnt want anyone to follow the blood trail and started using shadows rather subtle in the process to hide the blood as best possible. But it didnt work as Kiyori wanted the woman caught and jailed, or at best, caught and destroyed entirely. "I was starting to worry he wouldnt show up"

"It seems that womans street fight got his attention" Hans mused softly

"He seems more focused on the fact she survived the fight, as well as the condition of the models nearby over anything else" Tastan replied with a smirk.

"That he is" Masor said taking a seat from nowhere. "Those models took him many days of long hours to make each one"

"The antimagic is set ?" Taztan mused

"It is, but it did nothing for that womans magic." Masor replied

"That wasnt magic that we can counter or nullify. That was raw draconic power" Taztan mumbled. "Raw draconic power like hers ? Yeah right, think again, there's no way we can counter it, you're lucky you werent seen by her to begin with."

"You recognised her ?" Masor asked the somehow cowed Taztan where the Shadowling sat.

"You didnt ?" Taztan retorted. Masor shook his head. Great, either Masor had a brain shit issue or something else had occurred. "Hans and I agree, it might be... her... daughter."

"You mean ?" Masor asked, he then remembered how his Master, Draco the Shadow Lord himself, had forbidden speaking of Xeir, or her mother, ever. Because he would know it. Taztan simply nodded. Masor ordered a coffee. This was gonna be a long night.

"We can at least speak with the Priest" Hans said, the other two men nodded in agreement as Kiyori spotted them and headed their way.

Kiyori howewver saw the dead bodies laying in the street and stopped. Turning to the Jaegers around him and his bodyguard he commanded. "I want you to find whoever did this, and destroy them, do not just arrest, simply, destroy. Am I understood ?" The soldiers nodded and a squad of Jaegers began searchign for clues and then headed off following Xeirs blood trail deeper into the district.

Kiyori then instructed his bodyguard to remain at the door of the eatery and to remain on watch as he moved over to the table where Hans, Masor and Taztan sat. "I do hope I am not intruding when I ask if the man I am speaking with is Prince Hans of the Southern Isles ?"

"One and the same" Prince Hans replied he eyed Kiyori carefully, a bishop ? "I presume then you are the High Priest that I keep hearing about ?"

"That I am, might I join you ?" Kiyori replied, Hans nodded and allowed Kiyori to have a seat. "Before we get down to plesantries I want to be clear and ask thus, Did you see who was in the fight ? Who took down my men in the street ?"

"No" Hans said casting a unseen shake of his head to keep the two others quiet, "We only just arrived here and ordered our drinks. By the time we got here, flies were upon the dead. Whomever it was that fought them, they fought them well." Hans had a point. "But it also seems that the fighters that survived were also injured in the fighting. Which then means that whoever attacked or was attacked, managed to get away."

"They left a trail, and my men are tracking them as we speak," Kiyori smirked. He then eyed Hans carefully. "Question answered. Master Hans, do tell me then what your visit to Arendelle is ?"

"Simply to meet with you at this time, enjoy the sights, and the lack of its queen and princess" Hans said. Elsa was dead, Kiyori smirked, Anna was somewhere people could remember her, but they never remembered her as a Queen just a princess. "Maybe try to take over again this time more subtle when I try it. I dont know at this moment honestly. Truth be told, this tea is exquisite" Hans took another sip of his tea as he spoke. Kiyori simply gave him a dirty look.

"I heard there was a fight in the street there" Kiyori said

"There indeed was" Taztan replied "Two groups of soldiers, against a lone woman. So says word on the street"

"And here I was thinking you had seen the fight" Kiyori said to him, Taztan smirked. "You have been in Arendelle for some time, and yet, you claim to not witness the fight in the street."

"We only said we arrived at this location. Do not think we're stupid" Masor growled at the man. Taztan also threw his "brother" a look. Kiyori however got the point.

"Word on the street confirms what you said, a woman against my soldiers. But also according to word on the street, the woman barely managed to flee the scene of battle after she defeated my men ?"

"Yup" Taztan replied

"Great" so he had a new unknown woman in the playing field it seemed. But the High Priest didnt care too much

-8-8-8-

There were six of the Jaeger type soldiers working to track the blood trail left by Xeir through the backstreets and dark alleypaths of Arendelle. The six men didnt know what t oexpect when they came upon the two servant girls. Both incredibly skilled fighters in their own right instead of the woman they sought.

Initally they let the two women pass them by. But the two women had turned the corner and briefly peeked back, seeing the six men tracking their lady's own trail of blood. The sasme trail she had left after the last fight. These men planned to ruin her entirely.

Which meant the Sparrows got to play dirty for once. Shifting her vision slightly the younger of the two girls noted the men were all identical in their skills, and also in their weapons and gear.

Basic fighting ability would be a disaaster if it went sideways so they had to plan it carefully. Shifting slightly she opened her bag, three smoke grenades. Looking to her fellow Sparrow the two women planned the battle, they'd have to split their targets up The two nodded to each other and one of them quickly flew to the rooftops and then to the other side of the group of Jaegers. It was nearly time!

Bird calls began as the six men spread through the alley. "You hear something ?" Said one of them.

"Just the sounds of you being an idiot" Said another

"Not that is just hurtful" Said the first

"Ah shove it dickweed! We got work to do, we find the woman, kill her, and bring back her head t othe High Priest, the person that does that gets a bonus and a week off duty top spend on their own." Said a third

That was all the incentive the men needed to continue their searching for the injured woman. Again the bird calls went off

"I swear I heard something," Said the first Jaeger.

"Alright, fine, what did you hear ?" Asked the apparent leader of the bunch. If anything this stalled them, and if he let it stall them any longer there would be hell to pay.

"I sounded like a bird" Said the first Jaeger

"Birds are all over Arendelle, so what ? What sets this one apart from any other bird in thje kingdom ?" His leader replied, giving the younger man a look. Well gee, if he was hearing birds, maybe he got hit in the head ?

But that was as far as the question went before a reply call was heard, this time even the leader of the group asked "Alright what gives ? Now I'm hearing things!" it was clear the two Sparrows were dribing the men crazy and a call came from a ways back the way they had come.

"Should we follow it ?" Asked a Jaeger

"We should split up, you three" The leader pointed to three random Jaegers, not including the first to hear the bird calls "With me, you two, keep tracking that blood trail and we'll catch up to you" With that the group split into a set of four and two.

As soon as the four had left, the Sparrow on the rooftop was soon joined by another, her original sister Sparrow servant had lured four of the six away. Without speaking the two women seemed to convey a message. Xeir was safe, and could fight if she had to. The new arrival then sped off to aid their sister as the Sparrow on the rooftop watched briefly before easily jumping from the rooftop.

"Great, leave us to track this blood trail ? Word was that two of us couldnt last against that bitch in the street fight!" Said the first Jaeger t ohear the sparrow calls

"Will you relax ?" His fellow said "Look, say we sneak in while tracking whoever left this trail, we could take out said target easily. But we can only do that if you keep your trap shut!"

"Well sure fine, this would be better if we had any thing else to do!" The first Jaeger retorted before their worlds went black as something landed on the mfrom above. Silver blades of steel driving home, killing them both.

Two down, four to go.

The third Sparrow to arrive on the scene as her sister was luring the remaining four Jaegers into another alley alighted quietly next to her. Without speaking the two women made their plan. With a smirk one of the women chose to step from a doorway as if simply passing through the alley, a basket in her arms filled with cloth as if doing laundry.

Briefly this distracted the four men as they apepared in the alley. "Pardon me ma'am, but have you heard a bird call in this alley ?" the Jaeger leader asked the young appearing girl

The girl looked confused, she could act it rather well. "Bird call ? No, no bird call. Only me"

"I see, thank you" The Jaeger answered before moving on. Apparently one of his men heard the sparrow bird call in a offside alley. "Lets go men!" The Sparrow smirked as the group ambled off. Leaving one man at the cvorner to patrol. "You" the leader said to a Jaeger. "Patrol this corner, see anyone ask them what they heard, but do not detain."

"Yes sir!" the group moved on leaving the lone Jaeger at the corner. He never saw the Sparrow coming as she rounded the corner, stabbed him silently, then set him in a seated pose as if keeping watch. That was that.

It did not take long for the now three Jaegers to come across another woman dressed like the first three. "Something is wrong here" the leader said softly to his men. "Spread out. Stay on alert. Never know whats going on in this back roads area." He said, the two others nodded and began to search the alley

There was only one doorway, and only one window. THUD came a sound, a pair of thuds actually. A woman had landed atop both of his men. Killing them, daggers driven deep into their necks.

"hey you!" The Jaeger leader, the last man standing said. Drawing a sword and a pistol he aimed the gun, only to dive out of the way as a woman gave off a battle cry and barely slammed down ontop of him.

He struck at her, she blocked and parried before backing off. Both women were trading blows with him. He could make this worth his while. Moving fast he fired a shot, catching one of the women in the side, she went down hard. "Run!" her sister another woman, screamed in an unknown langauge. The injured girl struggled to her feet and started running.

A third woman appeared, briefly the three once more fought before the Jaeger struck at one hard enough to stun her, the woman slammed aganst the wall of the building that bordered the alley and laid on the ground, out like a light.

Turning to the last one the girl had her hands up, there was no real way she could fight the guy one on one, and she knew it. "Your men are destroyed, you're the only one left. Leave this area, and never come back." She said simply.

"And if I dont ?" The Jaeger asked, drawing his pistol again, he had to love the Americans, them and their glock 17s were great weapons.

"You dont have a choice" the woman said, slamming out of nowhere a smoke grenade, thick heavy smoke filled the alley, making the Jaeger cough like mad as the woman grabbed up her stunned companion and quickly disappeared into a portal.

A moment passed and the smoke cleared, the alley was empty. The Jaeger saw his two fellows dead on the ground. Great. Just wonderful. He doubted the rest of his squad had survived back in the alley where the blood trail was. He did not want to tell his boss about how this mess ended up.

Arendelle

Hovertrain Hub

9PM

Mark had wandered to an interesting part of Arednelle he hadnt heard of. In the last year the Hovertrains from the Equator City had reached up into Arendelle quicker then thought.

*I was beginning to wonder when you showed up" Came an older sounding voice. "OF course I knew you would eventually come back"

"Haversham ?" Mark said in reply seeing the old tom leaning against a pillar. He hadnt see nthe old man since his dream world year "What are you doing here ?"

At that same moment a hover train pulled into the station without a sound other then the hissing of the doors opening and people exiting. "Ahh, right on time, this is our ride" He said, he bade Mark to enter with him and the two did so.

"Alright old man I'll play your game, something going down that I need to know about ?" Mark asked him as the two were in the front of the last car of the train

"Yup" Haversham said, good, they were the only ones on that car.

"You gonna start telling me or do I have to guess ?" Mark said to him, giving the old man a pointed look.

"You can relax my boy, once this train gets underway I can explain the plan, you've been elarning more with that bow of yours ?" Haversham didnt see the weapon. Stubinz was right, the new toys Irie had thought up on his adivising worked and hid the bow nicely.

"I have when the time was allowed to, lately things have been far too busy for me to really focus on it." Mark admitted he hadnt really been able to fully practise his shooting skills over anything else. He missed his desert eagle.

"That's fine, I suggest having the bow ready just in the case we might need it. Its not often when she goes down and you need to be ready, the enemy wont wait for you to draw a blade or a gun, they will aim to make the shot first. So be ready." Haversham advised, the old man went over to a computer console screen and started typing in some commands as ther train got underway.

Mark drew his bow after activating his armor and cowl. Iries toys did indeed come in handy and he picked up incoming hostiles. But with the train moving that meant trouble didnt it ? Focusing his vision slightly he saw that they were the High Priests men, but his cousin Sapphire was leading them. Obviously on assignment as part of the Honor Guard ? No, Mark then saw that Sapphire was cloekd off duty. She was going home to sleep. And that train was hers to take home.

So why was the rest of the Honor Guard squadron coming aboard at the back end of their car while the train was moving ? "Haversham, care to tell me about your plan ?" Mark said simply

"Oh, its easy my boy" Haversham said as he typed in code after code. "Soon as we get control of this train we can have a mobile base of operations that will never be in the same place twice." Suddenly the panel disappeared. Mark punched it, with his armored fist it helped greatly, the panel reappeared.

"I do not like riddles" Mark said simply, puzzles were fine, riddles not so much.

"Noted." Haversham replied, he got back to typing in the codes, Mark saw his cousin come closer. "Hello madam, nothing wrong here just making sure the codes work and the air conditioning is running" Haversham said

"You can spare me the details, Haversham. Its me Sapphire" Sapphire said, Haversham only knew her as Sapp in the dream world. "What are you two doing here ?"

"Hitching a ride it looks like." Mark replied

"Yeah, but you got a combound bow ready to go at the drop of a hat, whats going on ?" Sapphire asked

"Arent you going home or going on duty ?" Mark asked her, he didnt see her at dinner. So where was she going ? "You look dressed in Honor Guard uniform."

"I'll move up a few cars, Duty for me is five hours, I got third watch, soon as its over Im going to bed in the barracks this time. See ya" With that the woman went through the connecting door and headed t othe next car.

That left Mark and Haversham alone, and the squad of Honor Guard was getting closer, but the problem was, they were all marked, in red. They worked directly for the High Priest, and from look of things, they looked like high end skilled soldiers too. Jaegers

"It seems a friend of ours has made some enemies" Haversham mused. The holo panel on the wall showed the recent happenings in the kingdom, there was a street fight, a dozen and a half men dead, and the attacker somewhere lose in the kingdom, badly injured.

Mark kept his eyes on the squad. "How long is this gonna take ?"

"'bout six minutes" Haversham replied as he typed in some more codes.

"What if we dont have six minutes ?" Mark said simply. There was something of urgency in his tone.

"Well then we'd have to figure out a faster way to get from this car to the main front car in order to access the main control board to gain total control of the train. Why ?" Haversham said after detailing the possible lockout codes the doors could possibly have.

"Because I seriously doubt that we have six minutes" Mark replied, his voice deadly calm as he readied a handful of arrows. Haversham smirked and took a look.

"Cover me" He said simply. He activated a holoshield network, the hexagonal patterend device floated between him and Mark. Mark grumbled, sure, trust Haversham not to cover him too. Then again it took a lot to damage his own new armor..

Mark scanned the new soldiers, each was armed with a glock 17 pistol, and a machete for close combat. All Mark had was his sword, and his compound battle bow ready for use. His right hand held five arrows. He could make this work.

He hoped.

Arendelle

Marketplace Assassins Den

Just after midnight

Diamonds words rattled in the womans brain as she left. "Go get him" Diamond of course had never asked who Irie was in love with, she had her eyes on Mark of all people, and Diamond didnt bother to ask who she loved. There was just Mark, herself, Irie, Iries mother Vaeyuko, and also Lady Blackmane at dinner when Diamond revealed the star shard she carried.

So who did Irie love ? And why did Diamond of all people simply say to go get him ? Irie didnt know it then, and she wasnt sure about it all to begin with. But Arendelle was never going to be the same. She had her eyes on Mark. All sorts of men tried to woo her over the past year, but she only made friends with the men she trusted. And at that point she trusted Diamonds words. And she had her eyes locked on Mark.

So looking sexy wasnt going to do shit and she knew it. Which meant that Irie had to get creative, So she snuck out of her room, quietr as a,... aheh. Cat, and snuck into Marks room. His sisters, Serena and Serneity, both Bengal tigers, were away, in China helping Georgina and the others retake the country from the Templars.

Which meant that Marks room was empty entirly and it allowed Irie to sneak into the bed. This was her first try at getting her cousin. He was her cousin, but not by blood. Adoption sure, but blood, nah. She wanted him and didnt care if they were even blood relatives or not.

Irie could smell both girls scents, though faintly, they had been gone almost a full year, leaving around the time everyone had forgotten about Mark being married to Elsa, and Elsa being the Queen. She wasnt sure how long she had to wait for her cousin to come back, but somehow she knew she didnt have to wait long.

Irie smiled, her cousin was in for one hell of a treat for sure. Of course she was in her favorite black nightgown, the thing was more or less a one piece black swimsuit with a skirt short skirt that barely covered her butt. Was it not modest enough? No actually wasnt modest at all unless she was going swimming when it was perfectly presentable and actually preferred.

It was infact better then swimming naked. Or sleeping naked. Irie knew her cousins tended to sleep in the buff entirely and that just made things easier for Irie because with the girls gone helping their friend, Irie wasnt sure of what to call Georgina, other then a Princess from another country.

But she waited for her cousin to return, not knowing just how the night would play out. At that moment however, she was more focused on getting closer to her cousin. She hoped it could work.

Arendelle

Hovertrain through Greensky District to Marketplace district

Two am

It was a running battle, the many troops of the High Priest seemed to flood the train as Mark and Haversham were forced to get onto the rooftop of the train and start for the engine control room. The hovertrain was built however more like a subway system, instead of an actual engine controlling everything it had a basic control panel at the front. One that Haversham tried to hack into before the screen was shot to shit.

Once on the rooftop of the train, Haversham got a good look at Mark, the man had stabbed himself ? "What happened t oyou boy ? Get in a fight " Haversham asked

"What ?" Mark looked at him confused. Haversham pointed at the scar on Marks chest. "Oh, that, yeah, guy got me good before I broke his neck." Mark lied, it was a simple white lie, but Haversham didnt buy it.

"Are you sure ? You're too well armored for a guy to get a mark like that on you. What gives boy, you planning on offing yourself somehow ?" Haversham gave him a pointed look. Mark looked like a deer in the headlights. Haversham waved him off and both men ducked "Nevermind kid, its not my place to pry." The gunfire started. Haversham started running "To the front of the train, come on!" He said, the two started running quickly.

As they ran, gunfire was shut upwards through the rooftop. Mark came to a fast halt. Dodged a bunch of shots before dropping to the traincar rooftop, barely dodging a shot. "Hello to you too" Mark smirked. He got to his feet and took off the rest of the way before jumping upwards, anything to get through the sudden lattice work of pipes and bridges ahead. Easily freerunning across three buidges and four pipes before getting back on the train.

He moved into a car and cut down Honor Guard that were ringed in red. Othes ringed in white he left alone. Most of them were trying to simply go home from working. But there were some who were trying to kill Mark. He hated having tro kill fellow Arendelle soldiers, but then he realised these guards were not wearing the Arendelle patterns nor were they wearing the Arendelle colors.

Which meant that Mark could have at it without too much of an issue, if that.

It also meant that the soldiers worked directly for the High Priest, who refused to see Mark as anyone important other then an outlander, when he really was a resident, an Arendelle native, in Egypt, men werent as big as Masrk ,he stood out in a crowd easily. But here in Arendelle he blended right in. possibly too easily. In Egypt it was cameras to worry asbout, but thanks to his cousin, and hius aunts, cameras werent a worry when magic, and technology could become fused.

As he fought his way through the train, Haversham was at the front hacking into the control panel. If they could take control of the train entirely it would allow Mark to have a mobile base of operations, with such a base, he could be anywhere in Arendelle without worry of having to get out of or into different districts.

Haversham looked up confused at what he saw, a cloud of smoke ? Was there a fire ? He heard what he thought were pistol shots. He went back to hacking the train as Sapphire joined him. "Uncle" It was the only tyerm for the old man she could think of.

"Yes lass ?" Haversham asked her with a brief glance.

"Mark is taking out the High Priests men on this train, if we're to use it as a mobile base, it will need repairs." Sapphire said as if giving the old cat a status report. Within a momenthowever the train rolled to a smooth halt in a station, the hovertrain rested there on its bouys.

"There, we have control" Haversham said with a jovial tone to his voice. Sapphire saw the district sign. It read Marketplace District. Making this vast network in Arendelle was insane she knew, but somehow it happened, over the course of a Arendelle year, which was a long ass time compared to everything else going on. It was clear other things happened.

Time in Arendelle was weird, and hard to explain. Because of the magic in the kingdom, there was a strong chance of a few other important things to get missed. For one, time was slower, which allowed for construction of a vast hovertrain network to connect Arendelle to London and Oslo to get built in the sdpan of seven months. Dozens of trains at all hours.

But it also made the woman slightly nervous in the sense that vertain parties could begin using gangs to run their own trains, and protection rackets to protect those trains on their routes to ensure things ran smoothly.

So if they were to take over a train, would doing so put them at odds with the local gangs ? Or did Mark have a plan for that ? Did anyone have a plan for that ? The gangs operating in Arendelle mostly worked with the Assassins anyhow. So that mean they could work with them and even give some of the gangs a mobile base of operations as well.

At least, that was the hope. Sapphire didnt know it then, but Mark didnt have a plan for the train, the train capture and comandeering was all Havershams idea. So repairing it was up to him.

Mark finally joined the two in the lead car after the carnage in the following cars. "I think we might need a cleaning crew t odispose of the bodies and clean u pothe messes left by the innocent." Mark then explained that he had only killed the people wearing the High Priests designs and colors and not touching those wearing the original Arendelle colors and patterns.

Havesham nodded. "Works alright, I will have a crew come in and do the deep cleaning, in the mean time, you two head home and get some sleep. This train will be here in the morro for further use." Hasversham had a plan, and as he spoke two other young men showed up, both of them Mark coulpodnt recognise but they appeared as blue rings, allies in his heads up display.

So that meant Haversham was in good hands. That allowed Mark to head off in the direction of the rooftops to get to the Assassin Den, his room had a skylight. He bid his cousin good night as he climbed to the rooftop over his room and slid open the skylight.

He was not ready for the sight that awaited him.

At all.

Arendelle

Marketplace Den

Just after 3 am

Irie was starting to wonder if Mark was even coming home that night and was about to get out of the bed when a shadow passed over head, she looked up, she had forgotten that her cousins room had a skylight. And he was coming into the room through it!

She knew it was Mark because of his scent alone. He filled the room with his scent. And she was ready!

As soon as he hit the bed however from dropping in. He reacted like a cat that hated water who would claw the air to try to keep from landing in the pool when he heard a muffled shriek of what had to be joy.

"What the hell ?" Mark asked

"I didnt think it would work, but waiting paid off!" Came the happy voice of...

"Irie ?" Mark asked when his eyes adjusted to the light.

"You were expecting someone else ?" Irie asked him, an oddly nearly feral almost predatory expression on her face.

But he ignored the fact that she was dressed in apparently her favorite nightgown as she looked at him and he asked her "What are you doing in my room ?"

"Waiting for you" came the honest truthful answer. It was an answer that Mark didnt like, had Irie said something of missing her own bedroom door and found the neasrest bed to sleep it, he might have accepted it, but it was her expression that made him nervous.

"Waiting for me ?" His tigris side's voice echoed in his ears "shes in heat man, and you're blind to it! She is blossoming into womanhood, shes beautiful." Mentally shaking his head he looked at her as he waited for her answer. He stood from the bed before she could grab him, causing her to fall off it as she scrambled after him, reaching for his belt.

"Yup! Now come here!" Irie was wanting him directly. But it didnt work. Mark dodged out of her reach a second time, cuasing her to slip sligfhtly on the wood floor, no traction even with the rug, and that gave Mark an idea.

"Why were you waiting for me ?" Mark asked her as he dodged a third time, aiming his path to end in front of his door. Her next dart for him could send her into the hall.

She tackled him however. "Isnt it obvious ?" She asked him in his ear. Her hot breath on his neck. What the, oh that wasnt good

"Are you really that desperate ?" He asked her as she clung to him, she nibbled on his neck. "Will you let me breath ?" She let up slightly that was all Mark needed as he managed to somehow get out of her grip. Once more standing in front of the door.

Irie didnt respond, instead, she made to jump him as he kicked his door open and ducked. Irie sailed into the hallway and smacked agaionst the wall as Mark closed his door. What the hell had gotten into his cousin ? Somehow he didnt want to know the answer to that question.

Irie knocked on the door then tried the handle, Mark had locked it. "Mark, let me in. please ?!" Mark didnt answer. It made the girl slightly upset. A tear slid from her eye, she was so close! She could have had her own cousin! But he outsmarted her. Diamond said to go get him, and it didnt work. But was that the best advice she had ? Irie sniffled slightly and went to her room. Gently closing the door behind her.

Her first attempt to get her cousin had failed, and she knew it, but she knew she'd get him at some point. Somehow.

Irie curled up in her bed and cried herself to sleep.

20 October 2057

Arendelle

Marketplace Assassin Den

Sunrise

Dawn broke, and it found Mark wide awake earlier than normal, which somehow became his new normal. The night was a strange one, weird dreams concerning him, his cousin Irie, and his aunt Blackmane were just too vivid to try and ignore, somehow he was there, and he wanst

Blackmane somehow approved, and somehow didnt really care much to begin with and was more worried over things outside the kingdom which thanks to the Essence Flames allowed Blackmane to use her own portals to go do missions outside Arendele.

About an hour after sunrise was breakfast, so it was around six am. Or so. Looking at his watch, it was just past six thirty, so that meant that breakst that morning was going to be at seven thirty or closer to eight if nobody showed up right away.

However from the room over there were strange noises, somebody speaking, or singing, or something, in a strange language, that of the Dragons, and with Kalda out of the fight, Mark couldnt hope to understand or even know who the two people in the other room speaking in Draconic so well were before their voices went quiet as if someone hit the mute button.

Mark got out of bed and got dressed. When his sisters were there they all normally slept in the buff, but lately he'd been sleeping with a pair of boxors on and occasionally a pair of gym shorts. They did the job just fine at the very least. He put on a dirty tank top, checked his hair in the mirror. And briefly his mind wandered back to the events during the night. How had Irie gotten into his room ? Had his aunt let her in ? Did he forget to lock his door again ?

Did it matter ?

Irie said she wanted him, she was waiting for him, but she was dressed in her sleeping gown, that black number showed off a lot of leg, possibly too much leg. But then it was also a swimsuit, Mark remembered that even aunt Blackmane had one of a beautiful midnight purple hue.

He dismissed the thought then, Irie had asked to come back into his room, and he heard her sniffling ? Was she crying tghat he wouldnt let her back in ? Should he apologise ? No he didnt have time for that. He had to get breakfast and then get back to the train to help wit the repairs to the damaged and shot up cars on the length of it. Unless Haversham had any other ideas. Mark was currently on his own.

Mark left his room and headed down the stairs. "You are up early" Came a soft voice. A voice Mark only remembered from the time he first got his Hood as an Assassin. Turning about to face the owner of the voice he was staring a woman in the face. A woman he had not seen in nearly twenty years. "Grandma Snowblood ?" Mark said in greeting, the woman. The woman, a good head and a half shorter then her grandson, nodded in greeting. "What are you doing here ?"

"I am only here because Blackie asked me for my advice on something important to her. Once we're doing with that, I head back for Egypt. Its bad enough Natz is overseeing things in my stead." Snowblood's third husband, Natz, was a capable assassin but Mark had never met him. His grandmothers first two husbands, Emile, Aunt Blackmanes father, and Timothy, her stepfather each had long happy marraiges with Grandma Snowblood, Emile was the father of all seven of Marks aunts including his mother Snowfeather.

The only differences was that Timothy was their stepfather after Emile had been killed during World War Two, when the ship he was on was blown up. Timothy was assassinated while running for Prime Minister President of Egypt after only eighteen years of marrage with Snowblow, and Natz, well, he and Snowblood were now going on thirty five years so far and the guy kept a good business

"Aunt Blackie needing help is news to me, I've never known her to ask for it." Mark admitted it felt kind of strange, but then he remmebered, her magic couldnt heal her body as it did before, it just made things worse, at least until Kiyomori had given her the Essence flame the days before. "Unless you mean her magic and self healing issues ?"

"That's it exactly my boy" Snowblood was a good head and a half shorter than her grandson Mark. "Blackies Magic has been going haywire the past year since those models got set up. So once she managed to get into contact with me, and lady Kiyomori helped her with an Essence Flame, Blackie just needs some help to get her own internal energies properly cultivated again. Which shouldnt take too long." Snowblood poured herself a coffee.

Mark got himself breakfast as Snowblood continued. "So, Grandson, what has you up at the crack of dawn ? Normally Snowfeather complained she couldnt wake you up until after lunch"

"Things are unraveling faster then I'd like to admit, Grandma. So last night, a friend and I took over a Hovertrain, hacked into its network, the works. Even cleaned it out entirely as well of certain unwanteds." Mark said as he began cooking his meal

"Hovertrains are dangerous tools, yet they come in handy, good luck" Snowblood replied before heading upstairs to where her daughter, Blackmane slept like a rock. Mark could have sworn he heard her ask under her breath why her granddaughter was in her room crying, but he paid it no heed as he ate breakfast.

Ten minutes later and Mark was out the door as Vaeyuko was at the top of the stairs watching him leave. She had heard her daughter crying as she walked past her door. Irie rarely cried unless something happened or she had a nightmare.

Arendelle

Hovertrain Marketplace Station

9 am

Mark stepped onto the platform, and as promised the hovertrain from the night before was in pretty good shape if not better shape. Going to the door Mark knocked on it twice, "Haversham you in here ?" He called out.

"Over here!" Came the reply, Mark stepped around the door through the car to the connecting hall and found Haversham and two other men from the night before working hard on repairing the floor and dmaged walls. The gun and bow fight ended with a lot of damage to the hovertrain's interior.

"I see you've made progress on the repairs ?" Mark mused. The first car hadnt been heavily as damaged as the rest of the train. But the rest of the train was going to be a problem for sure.

"For the most part, we got three squads per car. This car was lightly damaged from your running fight. But the other sixteen were damaged in various levels of minor to major to nearly destroyed. Thankfuylly those almost gone cars we can easily switch out for other undamaged ones and hook them into our connection and network." Haversham replied.

He tapped the two guys with him. "I'm gonna give this guy the tour., keep at it." He said, the two men nodded and continued working as Haversham began the tour for Mark. "This train is basically new out of Oslo, so now that we got it connected to us, you can use it as you see fit. Come here let me show you something"

Haversham took Mark to the second car, pulling a lever the hammer space system kicked in and the car pretty much turned into a massive basketyball gym minus the huge ring of seats or for that matter the abilkity ot host a monster truck rally safely at the very least.

"This will be your combat simulation room, everything you train in will take place in here" Haversham hit the lever again and the traincar returned to normal around him and Mark

"Whoa" Was all Mark could say. It made sense too, Mark was at a loss for words as Haversham showed him what the train could do.

The next car was accessed and another lever was pulled. "When the train is stopped in the right stations, this lever will open the lower and upper level meeting room." He said, as he spoek the traincar shifted about and expanded into two levels, one upper level that they stood on, the other, the lower levl was dsesigned for more like a courtoom styled structure. "You'd only need this for promoting new Assassins I'd think." Haversham said

The third train car housed the kitchen, and the fourth housed the dining car. Past that was three sleeping bunker cars, and then the normal passenger cars after those. Mark was impressed with the level of technology put into the train structure as a whole and it made sense for the most part. He hoped the ride would be worth it. And it was.

So he had to ask ":How many cars were nearly destroyed ?" the more he knew how much this was going to cost, the better.

"Five of the sixteen were nearly destroyed, thankfully they were at the rear of the train entirely so we only disconnect the most damaged car from the next one, and then pull up five new cars to lock in." Haversham explained, Mark nodded, it made sense for the most part really.

"And the cost of repairs ?" Mark asked

"Nothing, Oslo doesnt even know what happened to their trains whatsoever. So its only a matter of time before things go sideways back there. Until then we have this train as ours, but Oslo reports it as theirs and is working as normal with minimal damage from a brief derailment"

"That was more a battlezone then a derailment" Mark pointed out

"Semetics my dear boy. Xiaoden is waiting, better not keep her much longer. No doubt she is wondering what is keeping you." Haversham said turning on his heel for the front of the train and stepping out onto the platform.

"what, sorry what ? Xiaoden ?" Mark had nearly all but forgotten about he black coated, spikey haired woman, the last time he had seen the black haired woman was in the dream world of Scala ad Caelum, when she woke him up. "She wants to see me ?"

"Xiaoden and Xendras both, Number six, and Number Two Respectively if you wanna get technical on who the two of them are, oh and if you see him, Miyagi has some stuff you might find useful." Haversam said to Mark giving him brief directions to the nearly rebuilt Wolfe Manor two districts away.

Things had changed in Arendelle in a year, with the addition of the train system, districts had been rebuilt on many levels to add in the hovertrain network, some of the tracks, if one wanted to call them tracks, went under buildings that were built over the tracks like a tunnel, others were built through the buildings in the same manner.

But with the laying of the track, if one wanted to get technical and call it a track when it was really just an open concret paving stone panels ten meters wide and hundreds of meters long in both directions of where the tracks went to, then yeah the track laying really did redesign a lot of districts and in one case eliminated a district by transforming it entirely into a network hub of a station system.

So as Mark wandered towards his old home he had to retrace his steps twice, finding the old landmarks he was used to were long gone or merely briefly slightly moved. Mark for one was actually happy for the most part over how things went. The new 'road' was not the right term for the hovertrain tracks that went a long route through the city as a whole before shifting and going in two different directions.

So as Mark finally found a landmark he recognised he followed the road to his old home. Almost shocked to find that it was nearly fully rebuilt yet one wing had people living in it already ? "What is going on here ?" Mark asked. Why were there people living in his home ?

Two people stood nearby, one man had a head of white spiky long hair, the other a woman, dressed in a similar black hooded coat with long spikey black hair. "I told you he'd want to fix this fast" the woman, Xiaoden said in a smug tone, "and the boss thought I was crazy to do it too"

"What you showed him in the simulation could only reflect what we had personally witnessed here" Xendras replied calmly. "The boss doesnt need to know further the plans we have concerning this."

"What plans ?" Mark asked as he stepped up to the two, trading looks with them both.

Xendras smirked, but it was Xiaoden who spoke first "Master Wolfe, its good for you to return here after so long. It seems we have squatters living in your home. Some of them however you might recognise as your own soldiers guarding the place and remaining in their wing where they keep their barracks." Xiaoden pointed out the floor map of the massive structure, Mark then realised what Xiaoden had shown him in the dream world to wake him up.

"You were showing me what the workmen were doing, how they were going on their work so far ?" Mark realised, Xiaoden nodded. Finally he got the picture. "So those people who I thought simply living here as I walked into the front yard, were actually making the place look lived in while still working to repair it."

"Exactly" Xendras said, "now, you look like you've seen a ghost, whats bugging you ?" Xendras coyld tell Mark looked shaken from something

"Its nothing" Mark lied, truth was his mind was on his cousin, had he hurt her ?"

"You sure, you look like somethings bugging you and you need to spill it" Xiaoden said as Xendras magiced up a set of chairs and a table for them to sit on while on the front porch of the massive house.

Mark sighed and sat down heavily. "Alright, yes, there is something bugging me. I think I hurt my cousin somehow." He told them of the night before, finding Irie in his bedroom, how she tried to get at him and get him naked or at least snuggle with him for the most part.

"It seems Irie is into you. I'm no expert on mortal doings, but I can tell when someones in love." Xendras said with a smirk as he relaxed on his chair.

Mark just glared at him, "You sound like someone I spoke to recently about the exact same thing, and I still think he was crazy, and you're talking like him so I think you're crazy"

"Alright, fine, real talk here. Irie is in love, she might be in love with you, or someone else, or, she might have mistook your room for hers last night too, or was drunk, or something" Xiaoden said, trying to defend Xendras, who simply rubbed his forehead this was going to be a long day.

Arendelle

Marketplace Den

At that same moment

Vaeyuko knocked on her daughters door, "Come in" Came her voice, Irie didnt sound too good, but as Vaeyuko saw she was working on something at the desk, she hadnt changed from her sleeping clothes, and she looked as if she hadnt slept much, fact was she slept for five hours and had woken up just moments before.

"Irie, are you alright sweetie ?" Vaqeyuko took in the state of her daughter, the brown eyed girl was working on a device, testing it off and on, it was a holographic screen. She tossed it up into the air, it floated there a moment before focusing and remaining airborne perfectly, making a floating TV screen.

"I guess so" Irie said, Vaeyuko saw she hadnt changed yet, the black swimsuit was also good for sleepwear because it also looked nice enough as such.

"Really ?" Vaeyuko asked, her daughter was a puzzle and she was ready to put that puzzle together to figure her daughter out. "Irie, tell me truly, whats wrong ?"

"I spoke to someone last night, after dinner, I told them how I felt, and she told me to 'go get him' So I did" Irie explained, she sat down heavily on the bed next to her mother. "But it didnt work as I had hoped. I think he rejected me. One moment I was so close, the next, I was in the hall knocking on his door."

"You're in heat" Vaeyuko realised, a smile gracing her face as she rubbed her daughters arm and hugged her.

"What ?" Irie asked her confused. "I'm, in heat ?"

"Yes dear you are. Dont give me that look, its a good thing to be in heat, I guess I am lucky I found you as an infant as it is. I've never gone through it myself. Infact, for you, I think it's possibly really just starting. And I think I know how to get his attention focused on you before you reach your limit."

"Momma, What do you mean ?" Irie asked to Vaeyuko, the woman smirked

"You're in love with your cousin arent you ?" Vaeyuko said, Irie was about to speak as Vaeyuko placed a slender finger on her lips., "No, dont say anything, its alright. I understand, it explains why you had him always field test everything you came up with for the Egyptian Assassins."

"But" Irie started to say before her mother stopepd her

"No buts, Mark is a unique man, you have to watch his habits, what was in his room when you were there ? Do you remebmer anything that stood out ?" Vaeyuko asked her, the girl went throughtful for a moment, then shook her head

"I cant remembver, when I went into his room it was dark, but by time he came home, and I was in th hall it was dimly lit from his bathroom's motion sensor" Irie said a sad tone to her voice.

Vaeyuko grunted thoughtfully then, "Alright, I have an idea, watch his habits, dont make any moves, I know it will be hard, I could have Blackie whip up a fast spell to help you maintain a sense of control of yourself if you want" Vaeyuko said, but Irie looked scared, a spell from her aunt was a scary thought. "OK no spell, I can see it wont work."

"So what do I do ?" Irie asked her mother

"For now, watch him, watch his habits when he's home, these little screens, you can see things on your end in your workshop ?" Vaeyuko asked her, Irie nodded, each holoscreen was a two way device, both a camera and a screen that could show different channels easily. "Then there you go, use these screens to watch Marks habits across the den, Maybe even enlist his help in setting them up in places. I recall him muttering recently about a security system for the Wolfe Manor and all its structures, that could help you in observing his bad habits, all men have them" Vaeyuko said.

Irie was quiet a moment ,then she smiled, "Momma, you're right, If I can watch Marks habits its possible I can use them to my advantage and get him to notice me, you saw how he acted at dinner last night, he barely even noticed me"

"Oh he noticed you alright" Vaeyuko chuckled, Diana had gotten a faceful of water when Irie showed up. Irie smiled.

"Thank you Momma, I feel better now, I'll see you at breakfast ?" Irie said to her, Vaeyuko nodded. The older Elisar got up from the bed

"Eggs and pancakes, right dear ?" Vaeyuko asked her

"Yup! I'll be right down as soon as I get dressed" Irie said, escorting her mother to her bedroom door, allowing her mother to leave, Irie felt a sense of relief.

For one thing her mother wasnt worried about her well being, she wasnt worried that she might be doing the wrong thing. She'd always treated Mark more favorably than anyone else when it came t ofield testing her new toys for the Assassins, everything she sent t omass production had been carefully tested by Mark, and he never knew why she had him doing it in the first place.

Back then she had to briefly remember, was she in love with him ? No, she didnt remember it until recently when she started wanting him more and more. But Irie was in a happier mood. She saw on her desk, a key, and she knew what it was for. With Mark gone for the next several hours, that allowed her top sneak into his room and take in what was in it. Find out, as her mother said, what his habits were.

Scanning over everything without touching it she failed on the first glance to notice exactly her cousins recent habits thankjs to certain people, in this case, a woman named Georgina, the Princess of China, had introduced Mark into a unique habit that was oddly a healthier one then initally feared.

Incense smoking. There was a pack of incense sticks on the dresser next to the holographic tv where she set the thing. But she ignored the pack of incense sticks entirely. It was time top put the plan into motion. She'd need to make more of them, right now she only had two. Sneaking out of the room and safely locking the door, she headed downstairs to get to breakfast with her mother. She never saw her grandmother, Snowblood, entering Blackmanes room.

Arendelle

Palace District

10 am

"Manfredd, do me a favor and ensure that our troops are informed of what to look out for, the squad sent t ofind the woman who destroyed those two squads never returned execept for one of them. Ensure he has been given the rest he needs before returning to work" The High Priest wasnt happy, another attempt to find the woman who looked like Elsa had failed.

But the words spoken with Prince Hans last night about a woman fighting with his soldiers in the street and barely getting away, to which he sent his own men to follow the trail of blood only made things slightly more confusing.

"As you say" Manny replied, he didnt sound too impressed but he did as told and relayed the orders. The soldiers waiting outside were told what t odo and a messenger was sent off. Manny went back to his douties as the High Priest got ready for the council session that morning. There was only plans for five people to be there at first, Xercine was planning to announce an heir, someone from the kingdom, someone, he hoped, who could be easily lead as a puppet.

The other four members were Deacons Sax and Dice, a new man named Master Luxord, and a guy named Xeirn, the last two of whom, Kiyori had never heard about, but Deacon Dice had insisted they could be trusted.

Kiyori was briefly upset but did not question his Deacons recommendation, did not know that Deacon Dice was infact a member of a shadowy group called the Star Council, a group of men and women forming a council of deadly observors more intent on ensuring things happened a certain way and in most cases, in their favor.

But Deacon Dice, otherwise known as Xice, was a new member of the Council, locked at a certain level, in this case number eight. He had little to no knowledge of the other members aside from Luixord, and Xeirn, and someone referred to as Number Two.

But the more the man thought on it, the more the High Priest found himself wondering just who the newcomers were and what they really were after. It was simply their plan was to ensure things went a certain weay. History had already been written, and it was up to them to ensure it followed that path.

But there were always times they had to interfere, like in the simulated town of Scala ad Caelum. They had to rush to wake up the four becausae time was running short, and Xeirn had already spoken to the woman known as DiT. It only made sense in a way that things could go a certain direction. Xeirn had made it clear the four had to get woken properly, and quickly.

Waking up Diamond first was the plan, then after her Mark, then Anna, then finally Xeir herself. DiT's initial plan entirely was to get revenge and Xeirns plan was to ensure DiT got exactly what she sought. But not exactly how she sought it.

It made Xeirn wonder however where the All-Mother had gone, He had no idea where she was, and had searched most planets in the Mortal realm already trying to find her to no avail.

Earth, this planet, this world, was his lasdt place to search, and he found the woman named DiT instead of who he sought. And yet somehow DiT remained elusive of who she really was as well as what her plans were.

But the more Kiyori thought on the newcomers the less he felt he knew, so he called on Deacon Dice for information. The Deacon stepped into the High Priests office and took a seat. It was nearly time for the meeting so they only had a few minutes to spare.

"Dice, you are my second Deacon here, I need your information of these newcomers to todays meeting. These men, Luxord, and Xeirn. What do you know of them ?" Kiyori was intent on knowing more of his possible enemies and could find an exploit to use against them.

Little did he know, they knew all about him. Dice was unable to fdully detail the two newcomers, and said that Kiyori was going to have to meet them himself to get an idea of how they worked. Apparently they were familiar with Xercine and even then Kiyori knew very little of the man.

However he did note one thing, each of the three, Xeirn, Luxord and Xercine each had the letter x in their names somewhere. Minutes passed in quiet as Manny stepped into view. "Yes ?" Kiyori said simply to his bodyguard.

"Your guests for the council meeting, sir" Manny said stepping to the side and allowing Deacon Sax to enter, with him was Luxord and Xeirn, but Xercine was nowhere to be seen. The man infact was standing in the window looking out, his hood covering his face in shadows as Xeirn was introduced by Deacon Dice.

"Your Honor, this is Masters Luxord, and Xeirn. They are here on behalf of certain parties they have yet to reveal." Dice said, though he knew full well where the men came from.

"Gentlemen, welcome to Arendelle, I trust your... fellows know where you are ?" Kiyori said as the group sat. Xercine unnoticed execept by Xeirn as the blonde haired Luxord smirked.

The silver white haired Xeirn spoke first. "This council is well designed you must be proud" He said, a smirk in his tone, yet he showed no remorse or any hint of amusement on his face.

Infact he showed more like entirely complete contempt for the man before him. Kiyori ran a council in the place of a Queen. Xercine had told Xeirn everything, Xeirn knew every day of Kiyoris waking life. And it was about time to warn the guy.

It was not often that Kiyori was complimented, mostly complained at, or sworn at, or cussed at. But this was the first time in a year he was infact, complimented. He didnt mind it all that much but it made little sense. "They do their jobs well that I can promise." He said.

"Then that is good, it is what we're here for to witness. Rumor floats of course of the return of the Queen but nobody knows who she is or what she looks like. Or even if she is human" Xeirn said, Lkuxord absently flicked what looked to be playing cards in his hands. Which kind of threw the High Priest for a loop briefly as he wondered where the cards came from. But he paid it little heed as the black coated man put the cards away as quickly as he produced them.

"Let me put into words and actions of what my fellow means" Luxord said, again the cards appeared, this time bearing designs and patterns as he moved them around. It wasnt long before the cards formed details of what Kiyori feared was coming. "At some point in the next week a fight will occur in a district you do not control. You will try to gain control but you will not be able to keep it"

"A fight, with who ?" Kiyori asked, he had already made an alliance with Prince Hans and his retainers. So there was little chance he could find with them.

"The same woman who destroyed your men so easily yesterday" Xeirn spoke, his voice was deep and heavy. Full of nothing more then contempt for the men Kiyori had under his control

"A woman destyroyed two squads of my men" Kiyori asked, he gave the two dark coated men a confused look. "How do youi know this ?"

"We observed it" Luxord replied calmly, almost bored as he relaxed in his chair. "The woman fought like a banshee, nothing I had ever seen before quite honestly. Skills unlike anything of this world, truth be told, if you or your men try to search for her, they wont survive, you wont survive" He said

Kiyori glared at him, but it was Xeirn that spoke up calmly. "It will not be too much longer before things begin to sprial, your Star Formation will falter and come apart before it becomes what it should be."

Kiyori gave him a look, but of confusion. "How do you know of my Star Formation, you have never seen it. So how could you possibly know about it ?"

"Where we are from, they are quite common, for you to have one is no small feat. For they are fickle things." Xeirn replied, it was a lie, they lived in a Star Formation of a sort. The Never the home of the Star Council, where Nothing Met was infact based on a Star Formation.

"Be that as it may, but you confuse me greatly, who exactly do you represent ?" Kiyori asked.

"That is a good question." Xeirn replied calmly. He looked to Luxord who smirked. "Very well." Xeirn said in reply to the smirk. It seems that time has run short, we must take our leave" He made to get up

Kiyori raised a hand to stop him. Xeirn halted slightly, looking to him. "Who exactly are you ?" Kiyori asked

"We are no one to be trifiled with" Xeirn replied, he relaxed in his chair then, a plume of purple and white vinery faded into view around him and Luxord, both men disappeared. Kiyori shouted something but it was lost on the two men.

The two had disapepared entirely. Which had Kiyori wanting answers, standing up with a shout he said "They wore identical coats, who were they, what do they want ? How did they know of the Star Formation ?" He asked, his fellows had no idea how to answer, and none of of them, execept for Dice had seen that Xercine was present the entire meeting. But he had also disappeared the same time that Xeirn and Luxord had disappeared. Only Dice remained with Deacon Sax.

Kiyori sat down "Fine" he said simply, after that days meeting he made a note, he'd go see and speak with Hans, see what he knew of these men in dark coats.

Place Unknown

Time Unknown

Two Darkness Corridors faded open, two men stepped out. "That went better then expected." Luxord said simply, keeping things simple for the most part.

"So it did, Kiyori, a High Priest, has a strong latent magical ability" Xeirn replied. "All it will take is to trigger him to lose his temper, see where his Star Formation is hidden, ensure it is unstable as it is now. Sooner or later it will be useful over many things. As well as important to ensure that his focus is on maintaining it."

"What of the Star Shards hidden across the Kingdom ?" Luxord asked it was a goiod question to ask but not the smartest one.

"For now that wont be a problem, at this moment ensure that Kiyori is focused on maintaining the Star Formation as long as possible while the others help those we seek to regain control of Arendelle find the rest of the Star Shards" Xeirn said before disappearing into another darkness corridor. It didnt take long, but it helped, a lot.

Arendelle

Marketplace Hovertain Station

Noon

It was not like Kiyomori to be late for a promised meeting. And Mark knew she had been having troubles in other districts, based on what Sapphire had told him. A posion attack had nearly reduced the Galasia District to nothing had Kiyomori not been there to begin with. It seemed the Essence flames were more then helpful when it came to healing others too.

Finally Mark spotted Kiyomori as she entered the Marketplace hovertrain station. Over the last few hours since Mark had been given the tour, he had helped repair the damasged cars. So when he saw Kiyomori coming towards him he smiled and excused himself from the workmen and went to speak to his cousin. He regarded Kiyomori as his cousin, even by adoption, she was after all, Sapphires sister. "You are a little late" Mark mused seeing her

Kiyomori regarded her cousin with a amused expression "I I didnt sleep for two days" She said, almost in a joking manner. But Mark wasnt smiling. "There was a lot of sickly people in the Galasia District, we manage to cleanse the district entirely of the posion but it might have spread further. I havent found the person who helped me though, so its not all just me that did the healing" Kiyomori detailed what Xeir looked like at the time

Mark stared at his cousin. "Tell me what the woman looked like again" He said to her. Kiyomori was confused but did so. Mark nodded. "I thought that was what you had said." He he mused.

From the witness reports of the fight the night before in another district, he did not remember which one until it clicked, they had been on the hovertrain at the time. The train tracks crossed under the Pond District's main fountain area in a curved fasion but never stopped as there was no space for a station to be built. So the road was split to be like a canal. But the canal was reall the hovertrain line.

"Great, so the rumor is true then" Mark mumbled

"What ?" Kiyomori asked him, there was confusion in her face and expression. "What rumor ?" Had word of Xeir gotten out ?

"Last night while Haversham and I were taking over this train something happened. We went through the Pond District, there was weird smoke and explosions on one side of the street." Mark explained the night before, leaving out the events at home. "This might be related to the rumor of the two soldier squads getting attacked or being defeated after someone was attacked." Mark didnt have Ulnaus to help him out in this matter to use the birds to find out more.

"Well, there was a person helping me, she went off on her own to explore the kingdom, so she said. Next thing I know, she was gone and nobody had seen her since yesterday in the early afternoon after we had cleaned out the District of the poison" Kiyomori said it was strange, Mark hadnt met Xeir yet. This was weird as hell.

"Alrigh,t we're going to move things along then. Kiyomori, I need you to get back to the Galasia District and get as many bits of information you can find, pack it onto a crystal if you have to. Is there a Hovertrain station in Galasia ?" Mark said, taking charge of the situation at that moment. Kiyomori nodded. "Good, Get everything you can about the fight that happened yesterday onto a crystal, I dont care how big, just get it. Anything you can get will do. Once you have it, go to the Galasia District's Hovertrain station. I'll have Haversham get us there this evening, that will give you plenty of time to get to the district, get the crystal, I dont have one on me, and then get the info. By the time we get there, you'll be all set too"

Kiyomori thought a moment then nodded. "See you this evening at the station then." She said simply turning quickly she left the Marketplace station and headed for the Galasia District, she had work to do.

"What was that about ?" Xiaoden asked appearing out of nowhere behind him.

"There is information I need, my cousin can get it." Mark said never looking at Xiaoden.

"I hope so, two of ours is Arendelle doing something and the Boss just pissed off the High Priest, but nothing happened as he had hoped. So the Bossman gave Numero Dios the job of making sure the High Priest is kept busy." Xiaoden mused as she sat on a gas drum.

"With someone keeping the High Priest busy, hopefully that means we will be able to finish some tasks." Mark said, he wanted to get a route between the Kreen District, Galasia District and the Marketplace District. There was however a problem. The Marketplace District was very close to the Arko Park, and also the Castle District itself.

The last thing Mark wanted was the High Priest knowing they were building up their strength, that was where the hovertrains came into play. With the right portals, one could easily move things from dens onto the train, and then the train would be in various parts of the massive kingdom as a whole to keep Kiyoris men guessing where they were. So that way they could be constantly moving, and the hovertrains made little if any noise too so it also helped greatly as well.

"What are you thinking ?" Xiaoden asked him

"Depends, what are you doing here ?" Mark looked at her with a stern look.

Xiaoden smirked, "Following orders for the most part." She replied simply, it was true, her orders, along with Xendras and Xinxin was to aid where needed those in the dream world. Now that they were awake they could go back to where they were from. But instead they decided to stick around and Xeirn ensured it. Xendras of course loved screwing around with things and that only made things slightly worrysome. Yet Mark didnt really seem to worry too much on that angle itself, so what they did whe nthey did it was not his worry.

"Though, there might be a problem. One of our members is reletively new to the whole following orders thing. Shes used to working with people she is used to knowing. People like us, she doesnt know us like the people she used to know in Napoli" Napoli sounded errily familiar but Mark didnt ask further concerning it. "So, if we see her we're to give her handler new objectives."

"And if I see her ?" Mark asked

"Hope to fuck she isnt hungry." Xiaoden replied, well that didnt make a lot of sense to Mark, but it did make a little bit of sense in the long run. Xiuen was known to eat, a lot, and sometimes when people got in the way she'd try to take a bite before going to the real food.

Xiuen was a Tigris of course, but she was also a beautiful woman too. But Mark had nbever met her so he had no idea who she was or what she looked like. Hans however had met her, and she seemed pretty calm at that point