(Skullgirls OST: Destiny In Her Hands)

Parasoul firmly frowned with her arms crossed on her chest. "How long until all communications gets back online?" She asked as patiently as she could muster. The brilliant maintenance engineer of the Black Egrets, Roxy, took a short moment while focused on several computers before giving a reply. "The maintenance process should be done within the next hour, Sir." Roxy paused with a surprised look before looking at Parasoul with a smile and adding. ... Actually... No. Less than an hour, to be exact." Roxy replied in assuring tone.

Parasoul gave a small nod and replied. "Very well. In the mean time, I will get back to Molly to continue discussing about counter tactics against the Skullgirl minions..." She paused shortly, as if remembering something, or perhaps, someone on the back of her mind that she couldn't just put her finger on it... "... Just let me know once all communications are back online." Parasoul finally added to Roxy, who gave a crisp nod in reply.

But suddenly, she was interrupted with all of the Peacock's loud shouting near the main bridge, connecting both Lab 8 and Lab 0 together... Annoyed, but slightly curious, Parasoul made her way to see what the commotion was all about...

To her surprise, she found Peacock overreacting while shouting and bouncing up and down. On clear sight, was Squigly's unconscious body being carried on a stretcher by Lab 8 personnel... Even Leviathan himself, was unconscious... Parasoul then approached Peacock and decided to ask. "What happened to Squigly..?"

Peacock stopped shouting and replied rather quickly. "Squigly and Leviathan came along with me when Stanley sent me to call ya back into Gramps' room to talk stuff about Marie! Then while we were takin' and walkin' here, Squigly just went limp..!" The gremlin's response confused Parasoul... Why would Squigly even go limp, let alone be unconscious, when the current Skullgirl still hasn't been put down..?

Parasoul cleared her throat and finally spoke rathet quietly. "Let's... Go after her..." Parasoul slowly said quietly, and Peacock joined her after Squigly...

Seeing Stanley already tending to Squigly's unconscious body, the shark doctor was surprised to see Parasoul. "Ah, Parasoul! Doctor Avian was requesting to see you and discuss about the current Skullgirl's possible whereabouts -" Stanley was immediately cut off when Parasoul spoke. "I'll be on my way to see Doctor Avian shortly. But... What's happening with Squigly..?"

Stanley's face clearly showed that he wasn't sure how give a response, to which he slowly gave an unsure reply. "I... Don't know, Parasoul... All we know as of now, is that Squigly's consciousness depends on the Skullgirl's consciousness. Much like the rest of her minions - Connected to the Skullgirl's consciousness like a hive mind - which Squigly and Leviathan are very much the same, despite retaining their own consciousness..." Stanley paused as he began to think. "... We may have to run full diagnosis and analysis on Squigly..." Stanley said before looking back at Parasoul before continuing. "In the mean time, you and Patricia should go see Doctor Avian. I will inform you once we find anything about Squigly's condition."

Without a word, since she didn't really have much to say, as she doesn't understood what was going on with the undead diva, Parasoul gave a slow nod before leaving with Peacock to see Avian. But as they left, Parasoul began to wonder... Why would Squigly be out unconscious already, when they haven't even taken down the Skullgirl..? Perhaps the Skullgirl is already aware of Squigly's defective state above her lifeless minions..? After all, this isn't the first time that the young Contiello and her parasite have come back to life... And what then, when they do put down the current Skullgirl..? Parasoul didn't wanted to think of the outcome that she already knew of... The thought of the poor Contiello would be put back to sleep again for another seven years... Somehow bothers her... It seemed like a punishment that Squigly had to bear. Punishment that she didn't even deserve...

That tragedy, and the Fall of the House of Contiello... One that Parasoul had been aware of during the Grand War's early days... It was an unsung tragedy that left the young diva singer silenced within a casket. Only to be brought back by her own Skullgirl mother, to face her for committing such harm to many other people. All in the attempt to destroy the Medici. One that the Contiello unfortunately had such bargains for their fame and fortune... And now, the young and orphaned diva, bears such a punishment that she never deserved; to be rejected from peaceful rest, and put to sleep, only to be awakened during another Skullgirl uprising...

(God Eater OST: God and Man (Vocal Version):

Another cold evening came by, and the news about New Meridian's siege only worsened... Even more so, nobody was seemingly capable to try and do something about this... Not that she would try to do anything now... Valentine knew that she's all lost, in this City, within a slowly crumbling nation, slowly being devoured by the Skullgirl's wrath... And here she was... Only awaiting her ticket to the afterlife, or to Hell...

~"Memories keep flooding in showing the paths I should've taken, but
now that time has run away from me I cannot change a thing."~

Wearing proper attire, Valentine wore a black pencil skirt, and a black long sleeve polo shirt, with a large, rose red scarf all over her neck, covering her scarred face on the lower half. And lastly, her ocean blue hair, tied on a proper bun, visibly exposing her pale white skin, and her white eye patch... Disguised, in her own fashion choice of clothing, Valentine had spent her time gone rogue from the ASG labs, by visiting private pubs. Trying to dose herself with such delicate alcohols. But even her dearly preferred poison, couldn't help her mind to be put at ease. Her lovely appearance from her usual scant nurse clothing, was appealing to all men. And as far as drunk, blurred eyes could see; she was formal, and well collected on the outside... But on the inside, within her mind - She was a complete mess, mentally, and emotionally...

~"I remember how you'd counsel me with wisdom of the ages true:

"Live your best life" you told me and "You walk the earth but once"
And now you've come, to see me once again, I feel safe at last; Although I feel the end is coming closer unto me.

If I could only travel back in time, to peaceful days gone by."~

Sipping on her favorite cocktail, Valentine closed her eyes, trying to find any peace of mind as she remained quietly thinking and motionlessly seated on her booth... Her mind held so much thoughts. But out of those thoughts were a few selected ones that had been plaguing her mind, ever since her old friends left her. More likely, ever since she, lost her old friends... Last Hope... Then, there's the amount of painful things that she had done to Painwheel... Trinity... How low had she come to stood..? A simple, innocent girl, caught up with a simple rescue mission, only for her to try and do what she wanted to do; to help - Resulted Painwheel, being dragged into Lab 0... Then entangled into Brain Drain's sadistic experiments to add on to his list of personal living weaponry. All created, just for the Skull Heart... Valentine frowned bitterly... What can he do..? Did Brain Drain seriously think that obtaining the Skull Heart, would put an end to the vicious cycle of Skullgirls..? She wanted to scoff in remark... No matter what... The Skull Heart will keep coming back every seven years... Perhaps that's what Lab 8 already saw long after the Grand War, and focused on combating Skullgirls instead, rather than sticking along with Lab 0's endless researches to put a permanent end on the Skullgirl cycle... But to do such an act, by ending the Skullgirl cycle permanently, is something not of Brain Drain's character... She knew the director of Lab 0... He doesn't give a single damn about anything, but science, and only science...

~"But this is my price to pay: to not survive beyond this very day.

Oh, the pain is lessened when you're near, there is no fear.~"

"Remember, girls. No civilian casualty." Christmas firmly ordered. Looking directly to the largest member, Easter, who was simply grinning with a stuffed body bag slumped on her large shoulder. "Easter..." Christmas firmly added as she crossed her arms on her chest.

Easter just grinned widely before giving a lazy wave, clearly dismissing Last Hope's leader. "Don't look at me, Christmas. Little Patty over here is the one you should keep reminding that of." Easter said with a grin. the shortest day and youngest member of Last Hope, Patty, who happened to be right next to her, glared and angrily remarked. "Look who's talkin' 'ere... Like I ever use one of 'tem bloody body bags ta slam on 'em pansies..?" Patty bitterly remarked while holding her IV pole with one hand.

~"I'm whole again as in days gone by, if only for a while."~
But it hurts to have to leave you so, I don't want to go.
Could this sacrifice cost me my life?~"

Christmas rubbed her temples at the two other nurses. "Enough, you two..." Christmas warned with a firm stare. But Valentine only snickered as she casually passed by her team. This ultimately gained Christmas' attention as she placed both hands on her hips and spoke firmly. "You're late again, Valentine... How many times do I have to repeat myself about being on time for mission briefing..?" Christmas scowled with a frown.

Valentine just lazily shrugged and replied. "I'm a very busy nurse. I had to do rounds too, you know..?" Valentine simply replied with a side smirk under her surgical mask. And as she prepared her signature hacksaw, her closest friend, Hallow, the member of Last Hope with decayed, and most pale looking skin suddenly, or rather creepily, appeared behind her... "About time you arrive, Val..." Hallow said in a slightly muffled voice through her custom made gas mask. "... I was hoping when you'd show up so I can proudly demonstrate my new syringes..." Hallow added, in a very creepy tone and chuckle.

Valentine just sighed and crossed her arms. "Again with this, Hal..?" She asked a little bluntly. Hallow just chuckled again before giving a reply. "Hmm... I've been working on these vials for quite awhile now... And I've been dying to do practice medicine with them during mission..." Hallow paused shortly, chuckled creepily and suddenly added, in a rather different voice... "... I can't wait to test them out... Time to operate." Hallow said, in a complete mimicked voice of Valentine. This ultimately made Valentine uncomfortable due to her closest friend's usual, creepy behavior...

"Hal... You really need to stop mimicking other people's voices... That's really creepy, you know..?" Valentine slowly said, in a completely creeped out tone. But regardless, Hallow has always been the second, closest dear friend to her... Almost treated her like a sister, like her first, and former best friend...

~"Oh, just to live my life again, to treasure every little moment then,
satisfied, I'd leave you all behind, accepting of my fate."~

Their brief, creepy history started with Nurse Hallow's flesh-eating bacteria disease, or rather known as 'Necrotizing Faciitis' which was somehow unexpectedly caused by the modifications condone by Lab 0 to each Last Hope member, and Hallow had a rather unfortunate result, which led to Lab 7, kindly taking Last Hope as their own responsibility to give enhanced modifications to help them in their field missions. Hence, their inhumane speed, stamina and strength... Hallow's skin disease was then treated, although the damaged done to her proved irreversible, thus her entire skin made her looked like a walking corpse resurrected by the Skullgirl. But even so, despite the uneasy feelings of Christmas, Patty and Easter, Hallow was never singled out. And Valentine made sure that Hallow wouldn't be, as she was the one that ended up getting to know Nurse Hallow, which ultimately led to them being very close friends. Even to the point of Nurse Hallow, replacing Parasoul as Valentine's former best friend...

Valentine opened her eyes, after that quick flash of memory... She slowly took another sip from her cocktail, while trying to wash away the amount of emotions weighing her besting chest...

~"But I am full of grief, to leave this life so incomplete.
My dream is coming to the end."~

"Valentine! Quit hogging the view! You're gonna get yourself hurt..!" Big Band scowled and quickly rushed after her to block several led being fired by Medici goons... Eventually, they cleared out the small group of Medici on one side of a hideout, holding children to be sold as slaves... After clearing the small group of Medici goons, Valentine snorted and gave a simple remark. "I can handle myself, old man. You should be the one to 'Quit hogging the view. You're gonna get yourself hurt'."

Big Band, rather looking offended, only snickered and replied. "This 'Old man' can still do plenty of beatdowns. I'm old, but never obsolete. Experience always outranks everything." Big Band simply replied, with his gas mask removed, showing a smirk on his face. Valentine looked annoyed. But as she parted ways with the veteran ASG operative, she found herself chuckling. Knowing that a simple, rivalry never really hurt. She in fact enjoyed competing with Lab 8's veteran operative, especially to her favorite part of competing with Christmas in their own little rivalry...

Valentine took a deep breath, and quietly exhaled. She ordered another cocktail... She remained completely composed and collected. But her mind, only seemed to get worse, even when she took the last few sips on her current cocktail, trying to wash such thoughts, emotions and memories away...

~"And now the light is fading,
broken wings have brought the journey's end.
Your voice, that led me safe thus far is fading from my ears."~

"I've done all I can. This child is beyond saving..." Valentine slowly said, sounding a little mournfully even to the tiniest bit in her tone. But Big Band, looking at the limbless, eyeless child that happened to be one of their rescued refugees, gave her a stern look and firmly replied. "Valentine, she is still alive, and she can still walk. We will take her back to Lab 8." Big Band firmly stated in a much reasoning tone.

Valentine placed her hand on her chest, mournfully eyeing the poor child... "... But look at her... She has no arms, and her eyes, completely gouged out... Don't you think -" She tried to reason, but Big Band cut her off and sternly spoke. "No. We will take her back to Lab 8. I'm sure Doc Avian will figure something out. The rest of you clear out the building, we're heading back home..." But as Big Band was still finishing his statement, Valentine caught sight of another girl... Perhaps a little older than the badly mutilated child, was lying on the open road with a visible gunshot on her shoulder... Valentine felt her heart skip a beat as she stared at the wounded girl.

"Valentine..? What're you..?" Ignoring Big Band's voice... Valentine suddenly whispered to herself... "Trinity..." And then, she made a mad dash toward the wounded girl, ignoring Big Band's shouting from behind. "Wait..!"

After adding pressure on the girl's wound as she began to work on stopping the bleeding, Valentine noticed the girl open her eyes, faintly looking into hers...

~"You were everything to me, a light to guide me in my darkest hour;

don't want to say goodbye just yet, don't want to be alone."~

"Who is this..?" Christmas suddenly came questioning and Valentine noticed her approaching. Valentine sighed and replied, her focus was still on the wounded girl. "She doesn't look like Medici captive to me." Valentine said, but all of a sudden, while she was still working in the wound of the girl, Christmas suddenly spoke behind her. "Probably a civilian... We'll leave her here. Big Band's gotten a word that the authorities are on their way, they'll sort her out -" Christmas was slightly surprised when Valentine immediately looked at her with a sharp stare and spoke. "Christmas. She is just a kid... We can't leave her here..."

~"And then you come, to hold me once again, I feel safe at last.
Although I feel the end is coming closer unto me."~

Christmas didn't looked pleased to hear what she said as Valentine watched Christmas fold her arms on her chest and firmly argued. "You've already disobeyed orders earlier, just to save a badly mutilated, eyeless child. You're going to disobey orders again?" Christmas stated as she gave Valentine a very firm stare with her arms folded. Valentine, on the other hand, let out a sigh and replied, to reason with her strict teammate. "Look, I don't care about any disciplinary action. My priorities are to extract refugees. If that mutilated child can barely be saved, I can certainly save this one."

Christmas gave Valentine one final firm stare, and then her expression softened up slightly. "I admire your nobility, Valentine. But let me remind you, that you are on your own with this one as your full responsibility..." Christmas then slowly said, with a little warning tone at the end of her statement. Valentine, seeing no logical reason to further argue only sighed once more and finally replied. "Fine... Of course, Christmas..."

~"If I could only travel back in time, to peaceful days gone by.
But this is my price to pay: to not survive beyond this very day."~

Valentine, now served with a new, fresh cocktail began taking another sip. She closed her eye once more, as she tried to savour the sweet flavor taste, but all of a sudden, a bitter aftertaste plagued, bit not her tongue. Rather, in her mind...

~"Oh, the pain is lessened when you're near, there is no fear.
I'm whole again as in days gone by, if only for a while.
But it hurts to have to leave you so, I don't want to go."~

Standing in front, and blocking the view of the wounded girl, who ended up being strapped down an operating table, Valentine glared hard at Brain Drain, who idly stood in front of her with a calm demeanor. "I brought her here, to save her! No! I won't allow it!" Valentine bitterly spat in such venomous tone. But Brain Drain began slowly shaking his head and cautiously relied. "Nurse Valentine, need I remind you, that you have brought a civilian, who has nothing to do with the rescue operation? She wasn't even a Medici captive. Therefore, she has no reason to be here."

Valentine looked down shortly, and frowned bitterly before speaking rather quietly... "Brain Drain, I can't just leave her out there to die... She's only -" Brain Drain suddenly crossed his arms and interrupted her... "A child? Your emotions are one of the things that keeps compromising Last Hope, Nurse Valentine. And let me say this straight, that your emotions are prone to making you disobey orders. You don't think I am aware, that you've disobeyed Nurse Christmas' orders again, just to save a mutilated child, over fulfilling your assigned objective? Or do I have to file a report to the joint chief of staff to have you reprimanded..?"

Glaring at Brain Drain even more, Valentine tried her best to remain calm and gave a calm response, or so as she tried to make it sound one... "I... Brain Drain... Anything, or anyone... Just... Not her..." This response, of course, didn't work to stop Brain Drain, who only scoffed and replied. "... Unless you want to face such consequences, Nurse Valentine... But... How about we come to an alternative agreement..? For this child... I am willing to give a sum in exchange... You don't have to let Last Hope know about this. Just between you and me, I will... Pay you... In return, you will leave this child here within my lab, and under my responsibility. How does that sound..?" Brain Drain's tone suddenly changed into a rather, calmer one. And by the sound of the end of his statement alone, Valentine easily got what he was trying to say...

Valentine suddenly clenched her fists as she slowly muttered... "You're not suggesting..." And to see Brain Drain scoffing once more, the Lab 0 director replied. "I am. You know me well than most of my colleagues here. After all... The impending uprising of a new Skullgirl is only for a matter of time before we have to face another threat. - And not to mention, the girl's blood is suitably match for Nancy Renoir's Skullgirl blood... The possibilities to use her as a test subject for the replicated blood of the former Skullgirl is an opportunity to create another powerful weapon like Project Filia Medici and Robo Fortune. Think of it... As doing the lives you want to protect a favor. Not only you get to fulfill your beliefs to serve the ASG labs, honor Lab 7, but you will also receive such a handsome raise for your contribution. All I ask... - Is to let me have the child..." Brain Drain's full statement, and especially the middle and last part made Valentine's heart to almost stop beating. Then all of a sudden it came pounding harder within her chest. She glared at Brain Drain for such a statement the he made..

~"Could this sacrifice cost me my life?
Oh, tomorrow will not ever come, my night's begun."~

Valentine was very reluctant... But to reconsider such potential breakthrough against the current Skullgirl... Trinity... She held her hand over to her chest as she looked down at the girl that she saved... Or wanted to... The girl's innocent eyes, watering. More than enough to hear the girl begging even with her mouth being tightly sealed with tape... Valentine tried to breathe... She felt so heavy within the chest that she struggled to breathe as she stared down at the poor girl... And finally... She looked down, facing the floor... "I'm... Sorry..." Valentine painfully whispered... She couldn't look the girl on the eyes, and had to turn away...

She knew Brain Drain took note of this, taking it that she's accepting his offer... To hand over the girl, despite the offered exchange... But as she made her way out of Brain Drain's lab, Valentine could hear the painful, gagged screaming of the girl from behind... But Valentine didn't looked back...

She couldn't believe what she just did... She couldn't even stomach the fact that she simply allowed it... But desperate times required desperate measures... But show could she..? That was NEVER her responsibility as a nurse... Her responsibility was to care for the people that need to be cared for... And she just did the complete opposite... Valentine couldn't take it... Leaning against a wall within the dark, empty corridors of Lab 0, Valentine sat on the floor while her back pressed against the wall. Curved in sitting position, Valentine removed her surgical mask before burying her face within her gloved palms...

Then she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders... Valentine lifted her face up to see Hallow looking at her softly... "Something's wrong... I know you when you're too quiet, Val..." Hallow gently spoke, despite her creepy, muffled voice. Valentine stared into Hallow's eyes. She wanted to open her mouth to say something... Anything... But she could barely speak even a little sentence... "Hal, I... I..." Valentine couldn't continue... Then she finally looked down with her eye closed...

Hallow didn't said a word. Instead, gently wrapped her frail arms around Valentine, who in return, accepted her arms in comfort...

~"And I must travel far beyond, to places yet unseen.
Remember me, and treasure everyday;
even come what may forget not the precious gift of time, I pray."~

Valentine stared at her cocktail... Her mind was completely away from reality at this point at the very moment of this cold, grimly night... She closed her eye once more... And then... In a quick flash... Like rippling lightning over the clouds... Hallow was no longer holding her... It was just her, on her own, until one, final but painful resonance, stuck her like a bolt of lightning...

In the middle of the lifeless No Man's Land, after Last Hope's mission to track down and fight the Skullgirl went compromised due to an unexpected ambush of a shape-shifting nun and the very current Skullgirl herself... Valentine held Hallow close within her arms... Valentine couldn't do anything as the wound on Hallow's chest, was a direct impalement through her heart... "I'll be okay, Val... I'll be okay..." Hallow's weakening voice echoed through her ears, and Valentine looked at her closest friend, and sister figure in the eyes... "Hal... I'm so sorry... I'm so -" Valentine was cut off when Hallow gently placed her hand, wrapped with various chemical syringes all covered with large bandages... Hallow's bandaged hand reached into hers, and Valentine paid attention only to her closest friend... "Promise me, Val... You will use my syringes... Think of them... As fragments of my soul... Keep them, and carry them with you... And I will be by your side..." Hallow's weak voice broke Valentine's hearth for the second time... First, Lab 7's demise at the hands of her old best friend... Now... Hallow, in her final moments within her arms...

Valentine closed her eyes. Ignoring Christmas, Patty and Ester, all fighting the Skullgirl and the shape shifter... She but didn't wanted Hallow to wait, seeing that she no longer had any time left... Valentine finally nodded... And spoke, with her voice, completely sliding heart broken... "I... Promise, Hal... I promise..." Valentine gently said as slowly opened her eye... Hallow gave one, slowly nod and gave one final reply... "It was a treat to serve with you, Val..." Hallow's voice finally went hushed, and just in time as she finished her fault words... Valentine held Hallow's lifeless body working her arms... Trying to hold back her sobs... "It's was a treat to serve with you... Hal..." Valentine whispered in a broken down voice as she held her lifeless friend gently.

~"Oh, just to live my life again,
to treasure every little moment, every little moment then,
satisfied, I'd leave you all behind, accepting of my fate."~

"Valentine..!" Christmas shouted from afar. Valentine saw the heartbreaking sight of Patty and Easter's lifeless bodies... And Christmas, barely holding her ground against the Skullgirl... "... You need to go, Valentine..! Warn the ASG labs..!" Christmas shouted. But Valentine was about to disobey orders again as she gently laid down Hallow's corpse and got up with her hacksaw, and Hallow's syringes in both hands...

"Christmas... I'm not leaving you -" Valentine was them cut off. "No! You will withdraw..! I am ordering you, Valentine..! I will stall the Skullgirl and the shape shifter while you will retreat back to the ASG labs to warn them..! Go..!" Christmas loudly shouted while dodging several large skeleton projectiles from the Skullgirl... Valentine watched reluctantly. A look of guilt and shame was on her masked face... "Christmas..." Valentine tried to reason, but then Christmas gave one filly shout.

"This is my final order, Valentine..! Withdraw NOW..! I'll buy you some time, and you go warn everyone in the ASG labs..! Do it for Hallow! For Easter and Patty! - For me and Last Hope..! Avenge us...!" The final shouts of Christmas rang into Valentine's ears, as she watched her leader giving all her best to stall the Skullgirl and the shape shifter... One to mean death for her... Just for Valentine to live...

~"But I am full of grief, to leave this life so incomplete.
My dream is coming to the end."~

Finally deciding to follow Christmas' final order... Valentine made a dash in retreat... Leaving Christmas to her fate at the hands of the Skullgirl and shape shifter... She felt crying even when she couldn't do so... She wanted to stop and turn back to fight with Christmas... And die with Christmas, for Last Hope... But she didn't stopped. Valentine carried her order to retreat and warm the ASG labs... Until she was suddenly apprehended by the nun... The shape shifter...

Valentine remained seated on her booth in silence... Her mind... Drifting into that final piece after those painful memories... It hurt her mentally and emotionally to be held by the neck to do what she had been doing...

(God Eater OST: New World)

Forced on her knees, Valentine was facing the mercy of the current Skullgirl... She was by far, as Valentine could see, the youngest of all Skullgirl incarnations to ever add on the thousands of lists of past Skullgirls...

With the sharp, large bone scythe directly inched away from her neck, Valentine closed her eye... Waiting her end, ready to accept fate as is... But the Skullgirl suddenly spoke... "I did not wanted to put such an end to your colleagues... But to acknowledge the fact that you were getting in my way... I had to do what needed to be done." The young Skullgirl paused. Looked at the shape shifter in a rather firm way, before looking down at Valentine and continuing... "... Perhaps I may spare your life... You may be of good use to me..."

Valentine opened her eye. Looking at the Skullgirl, she then scoffed and replied. "I would rather join Last Hope." Her response made the Skullgirl sigh. But surprisingly... The Skullgirl put away her scythe off Valentine's neck and replied. "... I figured you would say that... But it's not like you have a choice. But regardless... I will let you keep your life - And in return... You will carry out tasks from me, involving people within the Medici..."

Valentine scoffed once more, and questioned. "And if I don't..?" Her response earned her a cold stare from the Skullgirl. And then the Skullgirl gave a very cold reply... "The people you care about will suffer the consequences... Would you rather that to happen..?" The Skullgirl's response caught Valentine off guard... What is she talking about..? She just killed Last Hope... Her friends... Valentine then stopped her train of thought... She then realized who the people that the Skullgirl was referring too... The Anti-Skullgirl labs... Not that she would ever give a single damn about Brain Drain and Lab 0... But what of Lab 8..?

Valentine buried her face in her hand. Finally... A tear escaped her only eye... She didn't mean to... All the things that she did... From Painwheel, to Doctor Avian... To betraying the ASG Labs... She didn't mean to... And all that guilt, especially from what she did to Painwheel was slowly consuming her... And Valentine quietly sobbed... "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."

Then all of a sudden, and with a tearful eye... Valentine realized that she still had one backup plan... If not to make things right... Then maybe to help the people that are still fighting the Skullgirl... She didn't even knew why she bothered stealing all those information that Brain Drain had been keeping secret... Perhaps out of shame? Guilt? Both..?

The words about communications being jammed was one thing... Valentine had no way to contact the ASG labs... Whether they are all after her or not... She was still ready to take risk, when she's already lost the people that she holds dear... Perhaps a letter might do, Valentine thought to herself... She wiped the tears off her eye and paid for her series of drinks before heading out of the private pub, and into the cold, grieving night, on the way back to her current hideout...

"Now..?" A slightly deep, and rough voice of a male patiently asked. And standing over a far corner, was a girl in her mid teens. Wearing dark grey shirt along with a dark greed tie, paired with a dark green mini skirt and dark green knee socks... The girl was darkly tanned skin, and had a long, dark green hair. She then spoke on a slightly deep toned voice. "Not yet... We'll follow her for now..." The girl quietly said... Her dark green emerald eyes, staring into the soul of a busty, blue haired woman with an eye patch...

FAQs:

1. It was said as canon in Valentine's wiki that Nurse Hallow of Last Hope was the closest friend that Valentine had before Last Hope met it's demise at the hands of the Skullgirl, with the help of Double.

2. The idea for Nurse Hallow's skin disease was entirely based off the real life flesh-eating disease known as Necrotizing Faciitis and this idea came from the fact that out of all members of Last Hope, Nurse Hallow's skin which appear to be far different and somehow appearing to be decayed, almost similar to Squigly's.

3. Based on the ending of Valentine's story mode; she made a wish on the Skull Heart to become a Skullgirl on purpose, with the intention of conducting researches on herself during her full transformation into a Skullgirl, thus leaving her researches behind for the Anti-Skullgirl labs to pick up where she would left off, in the hopes of helping them. It was not specific whether this refers to Lab 0 or Lab 8, or perhaps to both labs. (As I decided to incorporate parts from Valentine's story mode, I will use some parts that I've already incorporated to try and expand her character further as the story progresses)

4. Little is very known about Fukua. But despite being a non canonical character in the Skullgirls lore, it was said in her wiki that Fukua was a failed cloning experiment habit of Brain Drain. How Brain Drain managed to clone Filia and Samson is entirely unexplained, which leads to open theories as to how Fukua came to be. But considering that she has the malevolent act of chasing after Filia and Samson to replace them of their identities, I have a little theory (rather headcannon) that Fukua is a defective, rogue clone that must've escaped Lab 0, or intentionally released to fight the Skullgirl, but somehow wounded up pursuing Filia and Samson instead.

5. Another piece of fact about Fukua also states that she is, in fact, a Masochist. This implies that Fukua has a wierd kink for getting herself hurt - which is ultimately a sexual desire from both pain, or humiliation - and is also shown in both Skullgirls 2nd Encore and Skullgirls: mobile, when Fukua is defeated using a blockbuster move, she would be shown smiling with her eyes closed, showing clear look of satisfaction.

6. Chapter 28: Love & War! is now in the works, and would be released once ready for publishing.

Thank you for reading!

~Defective Demon 666~