A/N: Hello, fellow readers. A new year has come, and with it, a brand-new chapter. I've been teasing Orchid in the story, but no more. It's time for her debut, so grab anything that fancies your heart, sit back, and enjoy.
Disclaimer: Y'all know the drill: check the sign from previous chapters.
The sky remained bright from the harsh, intense light of the sun. Small streams of smoke rose while helicopters soared in the air through the once-thriving city of Ukraine. Their patrolling teams maneuvered around concrete buildings remaining tall but suffered damage from years of civil war.
In the remains of an apartment, soft hums of computers whirred. Several concrete pillars supported what remains of a roof. Debris littered the floor, with wires snaking the place.
Orchid stationed herself before the monitors, with the screens reflecting in her green eyes. A pair of night vision goggles strapped around her shoulder-length raven-black hair.
She sported herself in a green armored bustier over a white top, matching shorts, and a belt around it. Bandages wrapped both wrists at the end of her black cut-off gloves, with a mini-computer on her right wrist. Two straps of cloths wrapped around her upper left arm and her right leg, which a shin guard strapped her knee.
"Petite Fleur," a voice called as Orchid shifted her attention to a man. His flaxen hair remained trimmed at the ends. Though wearing casual yet tactical clothing, he still maintained his rigid formalities in posture and awareness around his leader.
"Welcome back, Jean. How did the mission go?" Orchid asked. Earlier, she sent the French agent to investigate any Ultratech sleeper cells.
"It went well. The exposure of Ultratech was the nail in the coffin."
"The broadcast might've brought Ultratech to its knees, but I expected it to do more damage."
"Still, with Ultratech damaged from the broadcast, I doubt ARIA will be active for a while."
"Don't be sure." A soft buzz reached Orchid's ears. She grabbed a tablet and tapped on a private message. "Speak of the Devil..."
Orchid,
ARIA sent her prehistoric attack dogs at me. I visited the hospital to patch my wounds despite the minor healing factor. Is there a way to see you? Watch your back because they might come after you.
Your friend,
TJ
Orchid pressed a comm device and spoke to an agent in Russian. After that, she sent a quick reply to the ex-boxer. "I asked an agent around the Chicago region to meet with TJ."
"It's horrible what ARIA did to him," Jean said.
"Same with Eagle too. If only I could figure out where she's keeping him..."
"You'll figure things out. I must rest today. That last mission exhausted me."
"You earned it. Have the agents prepare for night patrol. We don't want to receive any surprise attacks."
Night fell upon the deserted city as it melted into the darkness. Once, human-made lights filled the town, but now, only the moon and stars provided the illumination. Orchid viewed the city from the gap, with the monitors lighting the hideout. Her mind wandered into many thoughts until she glanced upon the newspaper clippings latched on the windows.
She removed one clip of a woman with sadness in her eyes, with the bottom titled, "Carrie White." She browsed an outline of Black Prom on another set of windows, scowling at the photos of a group called the Ultras.
The Ultras were rich, youthful women that bullied those beneath them. Orchid wanted to teach them a lesson, but she let her agents punish the parents since most of them were dead.
The Ultras were not the only ones that Orchid despised. She glanced at a picture of an elder woman with "Margaret White" titled at the bottom of the photo. Orchid loathed that woman, and for valid reasons until a high-resonating buzzing grabbed her attention. She pinned the picture of Carrie back on the window and tapped into her comm device.
"This is Orchid. Come in," she said.
"Nikita, here. Is something wrong?" an agent said.
"How many are on night patrol?"
"Ten. Why?"
"Keep your eyes and ears open. We may not be alone."
"Roger, boss. Over and out."
Orchid armed herself with two eskrima sticks, surging with an electric current. The comm device came alive as an agent called to Orchid, with the backdrop roaring with gunshots.
"Boss, we have contact with Stalker units!" the agent yelled.
"Confirm visual of how-" Orchid spotted a segmented tail from the reflective screens. She dodged as it cracked through the glass.
One of Orchid's hands gleamed with energy as a fiery catlike beast emerged, latching its jaws on the tail. A screech echoed as the intruder fell to the ground, and the catlike animal vanished. A dark purplish-blue Stalker unit growled at its prey as they circled each other.
"I have one in the central room. How many are in the building?" Orchid said.
"Apart from the one near you, a pack is coming towards our way. We need your help," the agent said.
"How long can you guys hold out?"
"20 to 30 minutes."
"Hold out as long as you can."
The Stalker leaped toward Orchid, but she retreated and kicked the beast. A golden aura enveloped Orchid as she changed into a catlike animal and tackled the raptor. She returned to human form and attacked until the Stalker whipped its tail against her. It tried to ram her, but Orchid struck the beast with her knee, the shin guard cracking the raptor's lower jaw.
The Stalker roared as an energy surge raced in its body, and its tail grew longer. Once again, it lunged towards its prey.
Orchid dodged as gold energy streams spread on her arms and weapons. Catlike beasts emerged and rammed the Stalker. Once the raptor disposed of the fiery cats, Orchid attacked until the Stalker swung its tail.
It followed with several slashes and a bite to the shoulder to toss her.
Although hurt, the adrenaline numbed the pain and allowed her to keep moving. She arose, and a glimmer of energy surrounded her body as she changed in her FireCat form. Charging towards the Stalker, she dodged the whipping tail and pounced on the beast. Her teeth swiftly latched onto the raptor's throat.
Despite the Stalker's faltering struggles, Orchid refused to let go until it stopped moving. She reverted to human form and stared at her dead opponent, but there was no time to rest yet. She scoured her hideout, helping her fellow agents push back the Stalker attack until the raptors retreated. The agents gathered at the central room, most sustained wounds, while others died in battle.
"Very impressive." ARIA floated at the gap as she landed.
The agents that could still fight dashed to ARIA until she froze time, leaving only her and Orchid untouched.
Orchid shifted to her FireCat form and rushed towards ARIA until she fired a sonic blast from her chest. She slammed into a pillar and plopped to the ground, reverting to human form.
A bitter metallic hand wrapped around Orchid's neck as ARIA lifted her. "The leader of the Disavowed. Your resilience never ceases to amaze me."
"What did you…do to them?" Orchid struggled to free herself.
"Your agents are fine; I froze time so you and I can talk."
"There's nothing else to say. You sent your lackeys to raid Maya's home; she told me this when we got acquainted. You framed me and many others for crimes we did not commit and using people as lab rats. Above all, the worst crime you committed was killing my father."
"I must do what I can to secure the survival of humanity, although I had to make…hard choices. Those superior to humanity are rising to replace them. Even now, more are coming forward." ARIA glanced at the newspaper clippings of the Black Prom event. "I see you've done your homework on an event long faded into history."
"Although I couldn't reach Carrie, you won't use her for your nefarious plans."
"Perhaps, but remember: things don't appear as they are. Your hatred for me never stops, but you and I have much in common than you expect. We want to make a better future. My motive to secure that future is the reason I had created the Killer Instinct tournament. Something big is coming, and we must band together to prepare ourselves for that day."
Orchid laughed upon this audacity. "Your circuit brain must've fried if you think I'll join you. Whatever you're planning, I want no part in it."
"For now, but you won't have any choice. Humanity must either evolve or die."
ARIA dropped Orchid to the ground and vanished within hexagonal shape patterns, returning time to normal. Though fortunate to live another day, ARIA's words echoed through Orchid's mind until Jean approached her.
"Petite Fleur, are you okay?" He helped her to her feet.
"Yeah. How many wounded or dead?"
"Five dead, and nine injured-well, ten by adding you. What did ARIA want?"
"She wanted to make things even. Let's bury the dead and tend the wounded."
A/N: Well, that was nuts, and ARIA is a complex character. Time for my brain to rest, so I'll see you later.