Tridon was being tended to by a nurse while Tiffany looked through the files on the usb drive Erica gave Tridon.
"Well, there's a lot of information on this thing, but too much to look through with the time we have with it." Tiffany closed her laptop and walked over to Tridon, "How's he looking?"
"Despite him saying that he's fine," the nurse responded, "I think he shouldn't fight mass amounts of soldiers at full throttle for a while."
"Thank you nurse. I'll handle it from here." The nurse nodded leaving the two alone, "That training has been helping hasn't it?"
"More than ever, but now Robert actually has someone competent fighting for him. Someone better than me."
Tiffany stared at him and explained, "Jason Whitherspoon or as you know him by his codename: Epsilon."
"Jason Whitherspoon? Never heard of the guy."
"He's an ex-marine. Fell into a life of depression and crime after some tours around the Middle East. Robert picked him up and he became very useful in several body enhancement experiments."
"Is that the reason he's so skilled in combat?"
"Pretty much. He also wasn't born as an enigma."
"What?"
"Part of the experiments Robert has done.. He was given his power by Robert. That's when he became is right-hand man. Epsilon's ability is invisibility."
"So he can turn invisible whenever he wants."
"Yes, but it's incomplete."
"How so?"
"He can only turn invisible for 10 seconds and it's cooldown is 2.5 seconds. However, he can use it as he please without using energy."
"I see." Tridon looked at Tiffany and asked, "You know a lot about Epsilon. I had never heard of this guy before, but you seem to quite a bit about Epsilon."
Tiffany faced away from Tridon with her arms crossed, "That's because I know Epsilon from training. Before I had joined he FBI."
"You trained with him or?"
"The two of us worked well together, but he was always reclusive. He kept to himself a lot and didn't click with a lot of people in basic training. I was the only one who could hold a decent conversation with him."
"So he was an outsider?"
"An outsider who was a monster in the field. However, they saw more in me and I was hired in as a special operator for the FBI."
"But if that was before he was deployed, how do you know so much."
"My team and I raided a facility Robert owned. This facility had all the information on Robert's experiments on people. Including his only success: Epsilon."
"Does he plan to duplicate his findings on Epsilon to others."
"He does. He's ironically calling it Project Epsilon. That's why he wants you. You're the final piece of his project." Tridon hopped off the operating table he was on and scratched his head while Tiffany continued, "If you're captured by him, who knows what kind of monsters he'll be able to create with you and Epsilon at his side."
"I'll make sure that doesn't happen."
"Making sure it doesn't happen is hard. Epsilon was created to be a fighting machine. You have training, but that's nothing compared to what Epsilon is capable of."
"I think I got a taste if what he's capable of. All I gotta do is train harder. I'll eventually have to fight him again. I just have to be prepared to fight him then."
"Tridon, Episilon is a killing machine. The fact that you were able to go toe-to-toe with him for a short time is already bad enough. I can't see you risking yourself more to fight Epsilon."
"Don't be worried for me." Tridon lightly nudged Tiffany's back, "Despite every setback we've had, we've always had a way around it. Almost like someone writes it that way." Tridon smirked making Tiffany chuckle, "Ah there you go."
"Sorry. It's just what I've read and seen about Epsilon. He's not like anything I've ever seen."
"Yeah, but I always have tricks up my sleeve to handle any setbacks."
"Like with this trade?"
"Yup." Tridon crossed his arms and said, "It might have to do with a little bit of misdirection, but I think we can pull it off."
"Okay. Explain."
"First, get the girls gathered together. This will be an interesting plan."
Moments later, Tridon stood in front of the girls while holding the usb, "This is what Doctor Voltrov wants. It holds his research on extracting an enigma's power from them. However, this is also what Robert would want. He just doesn't know it yet."
"What are you getting at?" Sayori asked.
"We're going to see if we can knock out two birds with one stone." Tridon paced around while tossing the usb into the air over and over again, "Both people want the same thing. However, only one of them can get it. If we can get both of them to fight for it during the trade, we can have them take each other out while we save Jen and escape while they're dealing with each other."
"How do we do that exactly?" Chelsea asked next. This caused everyone to look at her, "Why's everyone looking at me." Moments later, Chelsea sat in front of Tiffany's laptop while holding the usb, "I didn't agree to this."
"You're the only one that could convince Robert to be at the trade spot for this usb." Tridon explained, "He can't turn down two things that'll help his experiments."
"What do we do then?" Natsuki questioned.
"Both of them will expect you girls to be hiding somewhere to sneak attack or something. So we're gonna use that paranoia to our advantage."
An hour later, Tridon, accompanied by Tiffany hovered over the lake where Doctor Voltrov waited with Erica, Jen, and a handful of soldiers near him. All while Tridon explained the plan.
"Chelsea, you'll be video calling Robert about the usb while I inform Voltrov about our place to meet. You give Robert that same information. As for Tiff, you'll be with me because it's quite obvious he's not going to be alone. For the rest of you... just do what you usually do."
"Are you sure this plan will work?" Tiffany asked while looking Doctor Voltrov.
"There's a high probability that this goes down the drain, but there's also the very slight possibility that this goes as planned."
"So it'll fail."
"Probably."
Once their helicopter landed, Robert's helicopter arrived a few seconds later. He stepped out with Epsilon and Lola.
"Hey wait a second!" Robert shouted, "What's this old fart doing here."
"Real mature." Doctor Voltrov groaned, "So much for a grown man running a big-shot company."
"Shut it old man. What are you doing here? I had a deal with them."
"So did I."
"Wait," Robert turned to Tridon who the usb in his hands, "you're setting us up."
"Am I?"
Robert growled and looked around, "I don't know how, but you have those stupid girls hiding around here." Robert turned to his soldiers to say, "Find them."
"Sir," one of Voltrov's soldier started, "should we look for them?"
"Go on. Make sure we're not interrupted."
"Yes sir."
"You remain here Erica."
"Yes sir."
"Looks like we all have our partners." Tridon called out, "Seems like this is all even."
"I'm not your partner idiot." Tiffany growled.
"Just roll with it." Tridon whispered.
"But I assure you that Epsilon will be able to take all of you out all by himself." Robert boasted, "So you should just hand over so nobody here dies a horrible death to Epsilon."
"I assume we all have someone with us that can fight." Voltrov commented, "Tridon, Erica, and Epsilon."
"I don't know." Tridon started, "I'm pretty sure I can handle the both of them perfectly fine."
"Erica," Voltrov started quietly, "you're still not ready to go toe-to-toe with these individuals."
"I know."
"Still. You can still take them on if they were fatigued." Voltrov looked at the two and said, "Wait to make a move."
"Yes sir."
"You might as well give up the facade Tridon." Robert called out, "I know you have those girls somewhere hiding to sneak attack us. I'm not stupid. I doubt it'll take long for my soldiers to find 'em."
A gunshot was heard in the distance followed by Monika shouting, "Sayori!"
"It wasn't me!" She shouted back.
"Or they'll be stupid enough to reveal their position." Robert sighed and pressed his earpiece, "Head to their position and take care of them."
"Roger that."
Robert's soldiers moved over to a nearby set of shrubs and bushes where the gunshot was heard, "Bunch of idiots." One of the soldiers comment, "This'll be too easy." They shot into the bushes until their magazines were empty. They moved aside the shrubs to notice that the only thing they shot were a pair of Sayori and Monika plushies that were now riddled with bullets and destroyed, "What the hell?"
"By the way," Sayori said in a lower quality tone. One of the plushies fell over revealing a radio laying on top of a stack of C4's, "gotcha'."
The soldiers stumbled back, but were blown up. This was followed by multiple other explosions around the area.
Robert looked around in panic while Voltrov still stood stone-still with Erica at his side, "You bastard." Robert growled, "Epsilon, get that boy and that usb."
"Go." Tridon told Tiffany as he shot at the rope straining Jen, "Your two trainees will handle this."
"But..."
"Just go." Tridon pushed Tiffany onto the helicopter and closed the door to it. He whirled his arm in the air to signal the driver to head off, "Keep that usb safe!"
"Tridon!" Tiffany shouted from the helicopter, "You idiot!"
Tridon turned around to be met with a knee that he narrowly blocked. Tridon blocked other hits before making space between himself and his assailant, Epsilon. Tridon popped his neck and got into a fighting stance.
"Alright. Bring it."
This was all while Jen broke out of her bindings and attacking Erica who pushed Voltrov out of danger. Erica quickly overpowered Jen and sent her flying towards Tridon, who looked at her for a split second. This was long enough for Epsilon to get a good combo on him and send him flying and landing next to Jen.
"Get out of here." Both Erica and Epsilon say in unison. Both Robert and Voltrov nod and leave their two right-hand soldiers to fight for them. Lola watched for a moment before joining Robert on the helicopter.
Tridon and Jen looked at the two and stood up while grasping their abdomens. They stood up with their backs against each other. They looked at one another before nodding and charging at their opponents.
Jen attacked Erica with a flurry of kicks that Erica either blocked or dodged. Erica eventually grabbed one of Jen's leg as she kicked and lifted her up before punching her to the ground. Erica tried to punch again, but Jen grabbed her and flipped her over.
Jen quickly moved to mount her and tried to punch her face, but Erica dodged each hit. Jen eventually stopped and flipped off of Erica who stood up and glared at Jen. Jen gulped sharply as she prepared to fight Erica more.
Tridon and Epsilon circled one another until Tridon attacked Epsilon with sweeping kicks and wide punches. Epsilon blocked and parried one of Tridon's punches and attacked swiftly. Tridon winced and stepped back. He scrunched his face and tried to attack Epsilon again, but Epsilon caught Tridon arms underneath his own. He the lifted Tridon over his head and slammed him.
He then picked Tridon up with one hand and repeatedly slammed him into the ground over and over again. Tridon managed to wrap his legs around Epsilons neck, but he couldn't tighten his grip.
Epsilon counter by grabbing Tridon's legs and throwing him to the ground. Tridon surprisingly bounced off the ground in which Epsilon followed it up by driving his heel into Tridon's sternum.
Tridon spat out some blood while Epsilon continued twisting and digging his heel into Tridon's sternum. Jen tried to help him by lunging at Epsilon, but he caught her mid-air by her neck. Epsilon squeezed her neck while she gasped her air.
However, he dropped her when he was shot in his arm. He looked at who shot him and it was Erica. Epsilon looked at his arm and the bullet wound completely disappeared in seconds. Erica looked at him with wide eyes and stepped back.
Tridon watched and mumbled, "What the hell?"
"Tridon," Jen whispered as she crawled over to him, "are you okay?"
"I think I might've broken a rib or two, but I think I'll manage."
"Should we help her."
"Jen," Tridon stood up with Jen's help and said, "did you see that?"
"He can heal himself."
"Tiff didn't tell me everything about Epsilon."
"Tridon!" Sayori shouted from above them in a helicopter, "Cover your ass!"
Tridon tackled Jen down and covered her with his body and tried to cover his own ears. From the helicopter, multiple flashbangs fell in between Erica and Epsilon. They went off blinding and deafening both Epsilon and Erica.
An SPIE rope fell in front of Tridon and Jen. The both of them quickly latched on and were taken off. They were able to get away despite the beating they took from both Epsilon and Erica.
When they were back at Tiffany's hideout, Tridon and Jen were being tended to while Tiffany stood with her arms crossed.
"You didn't tell me everything Tiff." Tridon started, "You didn't tell me Epsilon could heal himself."
"I didn't think they got that far in their experiments."
"So you did know?"
"I knew they experimenting with it. I just didn't think they actually went through with injecting him with this healing factor."
"Well just great. Ah..." Tridon winced when the nurse popped his shoulder, "We have Epsilon. Some sort of super soldier who has a healing factor. Then we have Erica who can fight just as well as me and Jen. The hell do we do now?"
"I was able to to gather some information while I was in their possession." Jen answered, "They have things planned."
"Well," Tiffany started, "I think it's time Tridon focuses on school again. However, Robert and Voltrov will be looking for you. So for now, you'll be taking private classes here. You'll also remain in my hideout until further notice."
"What about the girls?"
"We'll be here too." Natsuki answered as the group joined them in the room they were in, "Since we're kinda in the crossfire of all this, Tiff thought it'd be better if we're all in this hideout until this blows over."
"Which means we're still together." Yuri added, "Just stuck in this hideout."
Tridon looked at Chelsea and asked, "Are you fine with that?"
"Robert definitely has it out for me. More so now that I tricked him with that video call to convince him to go to the trade spot. So it's for the best."
"So you two made up?" Tridon asked while pointing at Natsuki and Chelsea.
"We have some catching up to do," Natsuki responded, "so what better way than being in this hideout."
"And Sayori," Tridon looked at Sayori to ask, "how do you feel about this?"
Sayori walked over to Tridon and grasped his hand, "Me, just like everyone else here, is ready to follow wherever you go. No matter what. Besides, you and I are inseparable. Where you go. I go. We're best friends for a reason."
"Sweet."
"What about there condition nurse?" Tiffany asked.
"Tridon will need to lay down and rest for some time. Jen will need to regain some strength and will need to go through some rehabilitation."
"Alright." Tiffany shifted her glances at everyone and said, "Your lives will change now being here. This means all of you need to be prepared. With how dangerous Epsilon and Erica are, we'll need to be able to handle them in order to end all of this. I'll decipher what's in this usb so that we can finally free Tridon and Sayori from their enigma clutches."
"I'll help with their training." Tridon offered, "Once I'm better that is."
"You still need work yourself." Tiffany added, "So you and I will still need to do some training. Epsilon will be your biggest challenge yet. You need to be prepared."
"I will be. I want to end this once and for all."
A/N: Oh. So now they're all living together in some sort of secret hideout. Tridon is going to experiment with the date trial thing soon, so maybe things might get spicy if I change the rating to M. Oh my~. Anyway, I hope you all have enjoyed my uploads so far. I will be taking a much needed break. I need to settle my mind down because, I don't mean for things to get serious, I've been diagnosed with onset depression and I'm seeing a friend who is a psychiatrist to try and help with it. I will probably be gone for a minute until I get my mind right. So for now, I will leave this here in case I go under the radar for a few weeks. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope you look forward to the ones to come. For now, I'll see all of you later.
