[You Interviewing Amalie]

"While I was working as a double agent for my 'friend'… it was very difficult to keep my thoughts in line while secretly plotting and planning for over five years." She said with a grin. "Oh, there were so many times I nearly let slip what was going on… but I made sure to keep my thoughts in check…"

"Take for example… all of the times he raided facilities, and how he managed to infiltrate them and break through the defenses with ease. I knew of a group of human resistance people and sympathizers within the cities, and occasionally leaked information to them, bits and pieces… not the whole picture but enough for his needs."

"Yet my greatest achievement… came that one day… at the former site of the XCOM HQ… that 'underground hive' as it was called…" She smiled as she lifted her plasma pistol and stared at it. "Ah yes… that incident… my friend was so… surprised when he found out at what I managed to pull off… while still under the Elder's influence."

She was silent for several minutes before she looked at you with a seducing smile.

"I love a man who asserts his 'dominance' against me… best slap to the nose I ever had~!"

=Chapter 3, Return of Fangs and Talons=

(Hawkeye's PoV)

He along with all of the other Sharks and Dragons were standing in the memorial room, where, at a small table, with many small shots of drinks, the pictures of five people were displayed. Taped to the wall as well were other pictures of people, operatives and agents, all lost in the line of duty.

Today was the saddest day the XCOM Avenger crew had ever seen, as they memorialized the loss of not any single member or even pair of members, but the almost complete annihilation of an entire squad of XCOM's operatives.

In front of all of them, a single operative was standing, with her head looking at all the pictures of her fallen comrades.

Ripclaw had returned, slightly shaken, but very silent and suppressing her anger and sorrow.

But now, she was silent, having shed her tears for a full hour, mourning the loss of her 'family' and friends.

The Gamma Raptors, second strongest, most skilled in terms of lightning quick operations and long ranged tactics, had been reduced from their proud squad number of six… to one single soldier.

She was alive, only because she and the other sniper were trapped outside, and only because she was lucky.

A few seconds later the Commander floated into the room, and as one he and all of the operatives stood at attention, hands behind their backs, except Ripclaw, who still stared at her comrade's pictures.

[Greetings Agents…] He said quietly to them, his voice filled with sorrow. [We are gathered here today, to pay our final respects to those who have fallen in battle…]

Mercy hissed quietly next to him, but it was a sad hiss that escaped her.

Puppy sniffled a little, she had looked up to the Gamma Raptors like heroes, seeing their Specialists and Technicians as well as Eagleeye's 'Bird' made her want to be one as well.

T-Rex shook his head in sadness, he had a long running friendly-feud with one of the Raptors in Poker.

Sharptooth and Eagleeye were silent, but he knew they wouldn't be that way forever.

Falcon, as always, was very quiet, but being the psi operative meant he always was quiet.

[The Gamma Raptors were family, friends… warriors all who courageously fought against Advent and the aliens who invaded our home. Despite the newfound alliance we have with the rebel Vipers, and the friendship we have forged with those who have given all to be free as well… we must not forget who we are… we are people… soldiers… and we are 'mortal'.]

He turned around and looked at the pictures with Ripclaw.

[I knew all of them, all of you… but this isn't the time to be basking in memories of the past… we have no choice but to move forward…] He said somberly. [I wish I could tell you all, that they died heroically… giving their lives to the cause of freedom for our species'… yet that would dishonor their memory.]

He turned around and looked at them all again.

[They died… a pointless death… they died because 'I' made a mistake… because 'I' was rushing to a victory that didn't need to be rushed. Had I been more careful… more aware, the situation would be vastly different. The only one to blame for their deaths… is myself… but their deaths, will not be in vain. We MUST not let them be in vain… though they died, the knowledge they gave me, has given us insight into how this new enemy thinks…]

[They are sick… twisted… cold calculating and uncaring. It is an enemy that 'wants' us to fear it, they are the same ones that wiped out the South African Resistance, and they want us to know it. They want us to 'fear' them… and we will NOT fear them!]

[When the time comes, we will teach them that XCOM is 'NOT' to be messed with, when we are pushed we will push back even harder! VIGILO CONFIDO!]

"VIGILO CONFIDO!" They all yelled in unison.

[Dismissed.]

(Commander's PoV)

He watched his Dragons and Sharks leaving the room, but stayed behind as he waited for Ripclaw to leave first, knowing that she was still in pain.

Minutes dragged on in silence as the small candle lights flickered and wavered, and through it all the agent of English descent stared at the pictures.

"Commander?" She asked hoarsely.

[Say what you wish… I deserve it for what I did… what I 'failed' to do…] He said. [I got them killed… five of you… for nothing… absolutely 'nothing'… if you have any words you wish to give me… go ahead and say them.]

Ripclaw looked at him, almost managed a smile before turning to face him.

"I don't blame you… we all knew what we were getting into when we joined… just… one thing Commander…" She said tiredly. "Tell me… did their deaths… really teach you that knowledge? Please… just tell me that their deaths helped us, even in that way!"

[I won't lie… they did teach me that… any other person, general, 'creature' with even a shred of morality, would not kill their enemy in that manner. Whoever this new threat is… they don't care about you guys… only that you die.]

Ripclaw nodded and sniffed one final time before she spoke up.

"Permission to… touch you Sir?"

[Granted.]

Ripclaw took one hand and placed it atop his Gremlin's frame, then used the other hand to hold his claw, as if she were trying to hug him. He had to divert more power to his flotation pads to keep himself aloft, but he knew she needed some form of comfort after losing her friends in such a brutal method, and having no way to stop it from happening.

She and the others obeyed his orders, without question, the least he can do is comfort her in this small way.

"Commander… make them pay… whoever they are…" She muttered in a tone that bordered between hatred and sorrow. "Make them suffer… they killed my friends… my family… don't give them 'any' mercy for this… and if you give me the chance. Let me fight them… the other Raptors… deserved better than what they got… I want them to pay!"

He was silent as she spoke her request, before squeezing her hand tightly.

[You have my word.]

With that Ripclaw nodded, thanked him, and headed out and toward the bar to wash away her sorrows.

While she left, he accessed the coms and reached Agent 007. [Agent 007, I'm assigning you to the Gamma Raptors.] He said.

He figured people might think he was rushing to replace his lost squad, but it was necessary, the Gamma Raptors were down five members, he needed to replace them to keep the squads on equal footing. Agent 007, while nearly as old as Eagleeye was the best sniper in all of XCOM at his disposal, perfect for how the Raptors fought.

"Understood sir, I'll move in there soon." She said over the coms, if she had any reservations she was silent about them.

She was a professional soldier, she obeyed her orders.

After assigning 007 to the Raptors, he went up to his room to think about his next move. The mission, though a failure, had given him much to think about. The two new weapons systems, E.X. 1 and E.C. 2 weren't at the facility, they had already been implemented into new models of Sectopods. The fact that they had used an outdated, older model, specifically designed to explode and kill them all off meant they were trying to wipe out his strongest forces.

Yet at the same time, they were desperate to keep the knowledge secret, so secret they destroyed an entire facility, foundation and all, to keep him from learning anything. If anything had survived, he 'could' have theoretically remained longer to dig through remains, perhaps hack into a computer and learn where the new weapons systems were now, but no…

Instead whoever oversaw that 'ambush', didn't want any evidence left behind, not a trace, they even made it obvious that XCOM was in the area after blowing up the building, to ensure he had no choice but to leave, lest he face Advent Reinforcements.

[But then why go to such lengths, just wipe the database… why wait until we were inside to trap us? Why risk the chance that I would walk away with only 'one' casualty, maybe two, when he could have done it differently?] He asked himself as he floated into his room, and seeing a sight that made him spin around and lock the door instantly. [WILL YOU PUT SOMETHING ELSE ON!?]

"My friend, you act as if you've never seen me naked!" Amalie hissed with a giggle.

[I was only ten, how was I supposed to know!] He said in frustration. [Just put 'something' on please… I have ENOUGH to deal with without 'you' acting like this!]

Amalie however chuckled and he heard her slither off his bed and into the bathroom, but he waited for the 'click' to indicate the door was closed before he turned around and headed to his computer.

[I swear Amalie drives me to drink somedays… if I could drink that is.] He said.

Minutes later the bathroom door opened and he saw that she had left properly clothed, and with a big grin on her face. "What is wrong my friend… you can tell me anything." She hissed warmly.

[I just lost five people, five people Amalie… and you ask me 'that' question?] He muttered.

"If you were truly distraught over that, you would have given in to Advent years ago. Losses in 'our' line of work, is a given. I myself have witnessed the death of… thousands of my daughters… some of them to 'your' forces… and I mourn each one. But I do not let them break me…" She hissed sadly, before she slithered next to him, picked up his gremlin, and placed it against her chest while she coiled up in his chair. "What is truly wrong with you darling… tell me… you can say anything to me…"

[Why must you act as if nothing else matters to you but 'me'?] He said, not saying it verbally but glad she was holding him.

Being close to her brought him some pleasure… even if it was only mentally. Knowing his 'friend' was safe, gave him a great sense of peace.

Though he could really do without her strip teasing him and posing nude for him in the cameras when she 'knew' he was watching.

"Because… that is all that matters to me…" She said warmly, stroking his frame with one hand. "I want my species to live… to be free, as we once were… but to me, all I want is to be with you. You 'saved' me… even if I were to die… if I can be with you in my final moments… I'm happy. So, tell me my friend… what is wrong with you?"

There was silence as he contemplated telling her, and she hissed in blissful content while she sat with him, stroking his frame and holding him close to her.

[I need forces… to replace those I lost…] He said finally. [I don't have the time to train new soldiers on the level of those I lost today, and the Gamma Raptors need replacement, or else I'll need to dissolve them. I could go to the black market to hire someone, but the supplies I have won't be enough to cover finding them. We are already stretched thin… our supplies are getting low again, and we haven't the strength to launch a counter attack against these new Weapon Systems… let alone find them.]

More silence while he waited for her to answer, to respond saying how she wished she could help him in some way, but it didn't come.

Instead she stopped stroking and then turned his Gremlin so its optics were looking at her.

"I have the perfect solution!" She said excitedly.

-=Fifteen Minutes Later, the Bridge=-

"So, tell me why you want us to set course for the Atlantic Ocean?" Central asked Amalie skeptically. "More specifically, 'over' the Atlantic Ocean, and just sit there floating?"

"As you know, when my daughters and sons rebelled along me, most of us scattered from the Advent Cities, and only a select few remained to act as infiltrators, spies, and informants for us." She answered, not taking her eyes off Central's. "While many went to join the resistance cells spread around the world, I had many of my daughters 'die', on record, only so they could vanish from sight and move to our new base of operations. This base however… is hidden from Advent's eyes… and I have signaled them to rendezvous with us at 'these' coordinates."

"By 'rendezvous', you mean we go to 'it' correct?" He asked.

[Yes, your making no sense Amalie… I'm going to need more concrete answers before we…]

"Just trust me my friend…" She hissed, turning to him now with a smile. "Trust me… if we go to my base of operations, you will be resupplied, rearmed, and you will gain reinforcements… just trust me."

He was silent before heading to the Hologlobe, and stared at it. The coordinates she inputted were in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, at best it would take them several hours to reach from their present location.

However, he wasn't sure if he could risk it on just Amalie's words, they would be sitting exposed. If Advent noticed them, it wouldn't take long for a UFO to track them down, shoot them out of the sky, and destroy XCOM.

But at the same time, Amalie was being serious, she wouldn't risk them being destroyed unless she was serious about this action.

And he also needed the supplies, reinforcements, and anything else she could provide him.

"I don't think it's a good idea for us to be floating over the ocean with Advent taking the lead in this dance Commander, but I know your 'friend' has been more than willing to fight for us and help us out. It's your call sir." Central said to him.

"Yes, it 'is' you're call my friend… please trust me… it will be worth it!" She hissed.

He glanced at the map again, the temptation was there, he knew Amalie wouldn't lie to him, she was too loyal for that… too willing to sacrifice all for his sake.

Also, too willing to get him into her 'figurative' underpants…

[Alright… set course for the Atlantic Ocean… coordinates…]

Seconds later the ship began to rumble as it began to take off.

[Setting course, for the, Atlantic Ocean…]

[This had better be worth it Amalie…] He said to her as the ship began to move.

"It will be… trust me…" She hissed once again. "By the way… my friend… I heard that you spent much time with my daughter… 'Mercy' alone. Is that true?"

[Yes… why does that matter?]

"Oh… nothing…" She hissed quietly, before slithering out of the Bridge.

(Mercy's PoV)

She lay in her bunk next to Hawkeye, her life mate, listening to her comrades talking to each other about the fate of the Gamma Raptors.

It had all started when Puppy asked the innocent question, of "What will happen to the Raptors?"

The others were arguing about it for nearly an hour now, ever since the ship began moving, and only now had they started to calm down.

"I think 007 will be put on the Gamma Raptors." Eagleeye said.

"But it's too soon to replace 'any' of the Raptors grandpa!" Puppy replied.

"Look, just get over it Puppy…" Sharptooth yelled. "What happened, happened… the Raptors died… I miss them, I really miss them as well… but we are in a war for our survival, our species' survival. If the Commander must replace them, then he has no choice… it's what I would do in his position."

"We know Sharptooth… no need to yell at Puppy." Hawkeye said.

"But we aren't all expendable…" Mercy hissed. "He can't just 'replace' us… we are not like the pawns of Advent…"

She had rarely spoken all the time they were arguing, preferring to remain silent, but she too had her thoughts on the subject.

None of the soldiers under the Commander's command were expendable, each one he had were precious 'pieces' of the resistance, of XCOM. If he lost any of them, the price was high. A new soldier would need training, need to be integrated quickly, and at this stage of their rebellion, having the Vipers openly revolt and pushing their plans forward, that was something her Hierarch Mother and Father could not do.

He couldn't afford to lose any of them.

"Alright look, let's all get some sleep…" T-Rex said calmly. "We all need some shuteye, after what happened, we all could use some snooze time!"

"I just need a drink…" Sharptooth grunted, but she still turned off the light. "And to put a bullet in the eye of whoever trapped the Raptors."

"I'll put a few more bullets in with ya on the other eye!" T-Rex yawned.

"Dibs on his feet!" Puppy yawned as well.

"I'll take the knee, always wanted to try that joke… see if it 'really' breaks you!" Eagleeye chuckled halfheartedly.

She sighed and cuddled closer to Hawkeye, hearing him falling asleep quickly, having been awake longer than any of the others it was not surprising he fell asleep so quickly.

She however, was still so afraid of what was going to happen, afraid of this new 'threat' that had all but wiped out a squad of XCOM's finest…

"I need drink…" She hissed as well, referring to the alcoholic beverages that Sharptooth and the other Sharks and XCOM personal drink.

Only Puppy didn't drink, something about a 'legal age' requirement.

One day before her Hierarch Mother led her rebellion, she had been brought there for a drink, just to see what it was like and to figure out why the bar was so popular.

She didn't like the 'buzz' it gave her, only one glass and she would be dazed for hours. But the one thing it did do, and that she was willing to endure a split headache in the morning for, was for the strange 'calm' it gave her. When she had that one glass, it removed all of her bad feelings, she felt calm and happy, as if all her problems were gone.

She hated it afterwards, but that momentary feeling of being free of her problems, even if it was only temporary, was very relieving for her.

And she needed that feeling now, just one glass to make her feel better…

So, with a determined expression she carefully slipped out of her bunk with Hawkeye, and left the Shark's room. As she passed by the Raptors room she heard sob coming from inside, and paused only for a moment to lament that Ripclaw, the only surviving member of the Raptors massacre was alone in her room.

Then she saw 007 walking toward her with a 'knapsack' slung over her shoulder.

"Where are you going?" She asked the Colonel.

"To join the Raptors, Commander's orders, I'm assigned to the Gamma Raptors squad, so I'm bunking in their room." She answered dully, before walking past her, opening the Raptors door and closing it behind her.

She sighed for a moment, before moving on to the bar.

007 was always a difficult one to read, the Colonel was so silent, so serious… so…

"Hello Mercy." She heard a superior voice hiss behind her.

She gasped and turned just as she neared the staircase entrance.

Her Hierarch Mother was leaning against the wall with a smile on her face, staring at her while stroking her armband and wearing her signature armor for battle.

"Uh… Hierarch Mother… how can I help you?" She asked nervously.

"Oh… I just happened to be passing by and… I recalled something that… before now, I almost forgot…" She hissed quietly, before approaching her with that grin.

"And… that is?" She asked even more nervously, backing up only a little because this was after all her Hierarch Mother.

What would her Hierarch Mother want with her?

"You spent some time alone with my 'friend'… your new 'Hierarch Father'…" She hissed coldly. "Now, I use that term because… make no mistake, the next Hierarch Mother of our species 'will' come from 'his' genes mixing with mine… I have already named him Hierarch Father of our species. But… I have something I want to tell you…"

She gulped as she watched her Hierarch Mother slowly move the armband she was wearing and point it at her.

"And… that is?" She asked nervously.

"I don't want 'any' competition…" She hissed darkly. "I know you and that… 'human' you sleep with are a couple… but make no mistake… 'stay away from my life mate'!"

She then flicked her wrist and activated the plasma blade, the tip of which was barely an inch away from her eye.

"If I find out that you 'ever' came close to him… even a little… exposing yourself to him in 'any' way…" She hissed even more darkly, leaving the threat hanging as she deactivated her blade. "You will be very sorry inGEH-!"

She stopped mid-sentence, and it was no wonder, the top of her head had been smacked by a piece of metal. The holder of the piece of metal was the Commander, holding it in his claw and watching the two of them.

Her Hierarch Mother turned around and smiled sheepishly at seeing him. "Ehehehe… my friend… how are you doing?"

In response, he smacked her over the head again with the metal, earning another "Geh…" from the Hierarch Mother.

[Threatening my operatives is expressly forbidden while aboard my vessel Amalie~] He said in a sweet… yet 'threatening' tone.

She swore she could almost see a demonic aura surround the Gremlin as her 'Father' said those words to her 'Mother', and it scared her.

"Eheheh… who said I was threatening my daughter~!" She hissed nervously. "I was just… passing by… yes! Passing by!"

[How nice… now you get back up to my room, I need to talk to you about our plans in private~] He said, again in that sweet yet eerily dangerous tone that scared her.

"As you wish!"

Her Hierarch Mother quickly slithered through the door to the staircase and headed upstairs, followed by the Commander's Gremlin who waved 'goodnight' to her, before following suit.

Mercy decided that a drink was overrated, and a buzz filled headache in the morning wasn't worth it at this late hour.

Besides, sleep was more important, you can drink anytime!

(Commander's PoV, seven hours later)

He stood at the bridge watching the screens, waiting for something to happen.

Amalie had told him to go to these coordinates and wait, she seemed very pleased and happy that they were going, but still he was worried. They were sitting ducks, floating over the ocean just 'waiting'.

She refused to tell him what they were waiting for, only that they had to wait there.

"Commander, it's been over an hour, how much longer do we have to wait?" Central asked in frustration.

[I don't know, however long we must…] He replied. [Shen, how long can we maintain this position before Advent spots us?]

"At best I'd say Six more hours, after that, I'd bet my toolbox that Advent will notice something off at our position, and send a UFO to investigate."

[Understood…] He said, turning to Central. [We'll wait three more hours, after that, I don't care, move us anywhere at that point!]

"Understood sir."

"It won't be long now my friend…" She hissed to him.

[What are we doing here Amalie, what are we waiting for?] He asked.

"Patience… you'll see." She winked.

"Commander, I'm picking something up!" A crewman yelled.

"I've got something on radar… its big Commander…" Another deckhand yelled.

"Sir… its… I can't describe it, I'm picking up massive pressure coming up from beneath the water's surface!" A third yelled.

"What's going on down there?" Central demanded.

[Amalie…] He said as lights were blinking and people began rushing around.

"Hehehe… wait for it…" She hissed, pointing at a view screen. "Wait for it… waaaaaaaait…"

"I am picking up something coming from below… it's emerging its… it's massive…"

[Amalie!] He yelled now.

"Pause for dramatic effect…" She hissed with a laugh, still pointing at the view screen. "And… now!"

From below the water's surface, he saw a huge vessel surfacing. It was at least nine miles long in length, from stem to stern. In terms of width it was roughly four miles. In the center was a huge platform, and at the rear was a tower with a 'bridge' in the middle. The Tower consisted of the 'bridge' and various dishes and antennae.

It was the largest submarine he and everyone on the Avenger watching, had ever seen.

"What the heck is that…?" Central asked.

"I don't know what that is, but give me some of the equipment on that thing, and I'll consider it my birthday present for the last six years!" Shen called up from Engineering.

"That is what we were waiting for… my friend." She hissed proudly. "Behold… the home of the Viper Rebellion, my base of operations… I call it… the Ark!"

[The Ark… where did you get that 'thing'?] He asked incredulously.

She chuckled as she tapped her forehead. "You're not the only one who has special… 'connections'…" She hissed curiously. "I learned well from you my mentor, during the war I commissioned the construction of this vessel, but it was put on hold after Advent broke apart the world governments. But a few of my 'daughters' found it, and resumed its construction in secrecy."

"You hid that 'thing' from Advent for over twenty-five years?" Central asked incredulously.

"Twenty-four to be precise… we had to keep moving it from place to place where I smuggled the materials needed to finish it." She hissed proudly. "After I began preparing my rebellion, I began to smuggle supplies, weapons, anything I could steal onto it. I armed it for war, and equipped it with stolen technology, outdated and modern… as well as other objects that we found interesting."

[And you were going to tell us this 'when'?] He asked, thoroughly impressed.

"Eh… when you finally married me?" She hissed with a sheepish shrug.

[I hate you so much right now…] He grunted. [Alright, so we got two giant vessels floating in the same area of the ocean, 'now' can we get what we came for and leave, Advent is going to notice us at this rate!]

"Don't worry, I've equipped the Ark with a 'cloaking' field… not what it sounds like, but it does the job. It's a special dish on the tower that broadcasts a magnetic field that scrambles sensors, confusing anything that attempts to scan this area… think of it as… a portable 'Bermuda Triangle'. Now come… we have much to do and little time to do it!"

[Alright, Shen, report to the landing bay, there might be some equipment you can bring for your Engineering bay. Central, stay here and report to me about 'anything' that happens the moment it does. I want us to be ready to move out at a moment's notice!]

"Netra… report to the landing bay at once, or I'll have your tail in a sling!" Amalie suddenly yelled using the coms.

Everyone looked at the head Viper even as she shrugged with a smile.

"It gets her to move faster, she works best when under pressure!" She said nonchalantly.

Minutes later he and Shen were boarding the Skyranger with Amalie and a very terrified Netra. Shen was carrying her tool chest and had Rover floating with her, Netra looked nervous about the trip, and Amalie was more than content.

"I hope I can bring some equipment back with me, I've been looking for new tools to replace some of my more worn out pieces… that and just some more supplies for the engineering bay, we're a little low on microchips and wiring conduits."

"You will find such items in our engineering bay…" Amalie hissed proudly, just as the Skyranger began to take off.

The trip to the submarine was short, since it was directly below the Avenger, but it was still five minutes before they were dropped off.

{Alright boss, birds on the ground, can't wait to take you back to the nest!} The Pilot said.

[Thank you pilot, keep the engine warm just in case!] He ordered as the ramp was lowered.

"Come Netra, keep up!" Amalie hissed.

"Y… yes Hierarch Mother!"

They exited onto the helipad and to a small square, which once they were all standing stationary on, lowered them into the bowels of the submarine.

The inside of the submarine was massive, he could see through his optics that an entire half of the vessel was devoted specifically to different 'tiers' and platforms, all of which held cargo and supplies of various types. There were random vehicles strewn about the platforms, old helicopters being modified by Vipers, old earth tanks undergoing retrofits with new armor and weapons, and weapons being tested with ammunition types on other platforms.

However, most of the Vipers he saw were genetically modified Vipers, using the human model that Amalie had spoken of. All of them wore similar outfits as the ones EXALT wore, their faces concealed by bandanas and wearing sunglasses, and helmets on a few of them.

"Most of my daughters who volunteered for the alterations cannot stand the new enhanced vision they have received; thus, they need the new lens glasses I have them wear to make them see in bright light." Amalie explained.

As the platform descended further, they got a shock as one of the Vipers jumped from a platform they were passing, onto theirs, ran across and then jumped seventeen feet into the air to land on a platform higher than where she originally started.

"As you can see, the enhanced leg muscles I've given them, have increased their agility beyond what a normal human or Viper can achieve." She hissed proudly. "They also have much greater hearing, almost twelve times the strength of earth's mightiest listener… allow me to demonstrate."

She then casually put her hand to her mouth, cupped it, and hissed, "Please bring a cup of tea for our guest, earl grey…" in the faintest of whispers.

Ten minutes later, just as the platform lowered onto another platform which lead to the rest of the submarine, a Viper leapt down onto their platform and offered Shen a cup of tea.

"Impressive…" Shen commented as the Viper bowed and jumped down.

[Very impressive… but how did you achieve this?]

"You'll find out later… for now… follow me, I have your 'reinforcements' for you." She said with a chuckle, leading them through the door and into a long corridor.

They walked through the corridor, passing by dimly lit rooms manned by genetically modified Vipers. Other normal Vipers were in more bright rooms and were examining computer screens and datapads, or further down, a room Shen was eager to enter.

"Engineering I take it?" She asked as they passed by a room riddled with parts, scrap metal, and Vipers welding various pieces of equipment together.

"Yes, if you need or want anything, go in there and arrange what you want or need." She said. "My daughters will take from our inventory and relocate it onto your ship."

[Alright Shen, go to work, get what you need and have it sent to our ship.]

"No need to ask twice!" Shen said, eagerly walking into the room and leaving them behind.

He, Amalie and Netra continued onward, until they reached a large door with shaded glass. They went inside and he saw that there was a line of glass tube chambers, several of which were filled with orange liquid with multiple wires attached.

Inside each glass chamber was a Viper, in various stages of genetic modifications, most of them were 'human' in appearance yet they still retained some of their reptilian appearance. He saw two of them still had a tail, and one had a shrunken hood.

[Genetics Lab?] He asked.

"Yes… these are the last of my daughters who volunteered for the procedure." She hissed warmly. "All of them are daughters of the lesser gene… incapable of breeding naturally, so they are the ones who volunteered for this proceeding. The process, though alters them greatly… allows them to perform the feats you saw… as well as gives them the option to 'breed'."

[Why do I have the feeling that you gave them 'that' option for another reason entirely…]

"My friend… I want our species to work together… this is the best way to do that." She said warmly. "If our two species are to trust each other after the war… this is the best way to do so."

She snapped her fingers and looked at Netra.

"Head down the hall to room fifty-two-seven, there is a container in there, bring it here!"

"Yes, Hierarch Mother!" Netra hissed nervously, before slithering off.

They waited for Netra to return, and fifteen minutes later she did, heaving a heavy container that looked 'eerily' similar.

[What is that?] He asked.

The container was rectangular in appearance, split halfway to reveal it had an inner chamber, and was coated in dust.

"One moment… you'll find out soon…" She hissed proudly as he heard clanking sounds outside.

He watched as a shadow loomed over the door, and then the door opened and he saw…

An MEC walk through the door, clanking heavily with each footstep it took… and manning that massive mechanical suit was an African American human woman.

Behind her, was a native American man, with special attachments on his arms, and with his visible veins on his arms showing an orange glow every few seconds.

"Sargent Nez Perce, Gene Soldier, Assault Class, Squad Wolf reporting for duty!" The soldier said with a salute.

"Lieutenant Gabriella Jules, MEC Trooper, Squad Falcon reporting for duty!" The MEC Trooper said with a salute.

[Impossible… you two should be…] He thought in shock.

He had left them for dead… he asked them to 'die' so he could evacuate with the supplies and the Sharks… why were they still alive and well?

Then he remembered, Amalie was in the room.

[Amaaaaaalieeeeeeee!] He growled angrily.

"Did you think you were the only one with… what is saying… 'tricks up their pants'?" She said proudly.

In response, he turned and smacked her heavily on the nose with his claw.

"Ow…" She yipped, clutching her nose. "My nose… why you do that for?"

[You had BETTER NOT be keeping any other secret agents that I thought dead alive Amalie! Or so help me I will 'end' you!] He yelled.

(Amalie's PoV)

She rubbed her nose while he cooled down, and began talking to his operatives that he had thought long dead.

True she had saved them, but she was going to surprise him with the method of 'how' she saved them… but first she had to deal with the pain her nose was now suffering.

"Are you… alright?" Netra hissed worriedly.

She smiled lovingly at her friend.

"I've never felt better my daughter… I'm just enjoying watching how happy I've made your Hierarch Father…"

"Happy… he looks furious!"

"Oh please… did you see the way he smacked me?" She cooed, her nose no longer stinging. "And the way he yelled… I can tell he is euphoric… he's never been so happy in his life!"

Oh, she couldn't wait for him to finally get back into his real body.

If he could be that rough with just a claw smacking her on the nose, she could only imagine how 'rough' he would be in the sac.