The water flooding the antechamber quickly drained allowing the group to enter Dionysus Park. Fred immediately unscrewed his copper helmet and suit while Stanley struggled with his gear. Eleanor proceeded to assist him with his gear but backed away at the horrible stench in the suit.

"Stanley I think you may have soiled yourself," she stated with a green face.

Stanley looked down at his feet pathetically. "It's actually just gas. It happens when I get nervous." He turned away in shame. He did not want to be here but more than that he did not want Eleanor to be in Dionysus Park either. "She might remember my horrible past," he whispered.

Eleanor removed her helmet but kept the suit on. The suit fit surprisingly well although it was the female version and she felt she might need its services again.

"You look just like a big sister," Fred commented with a smile. "Glad you're on our side."

Eleanor looked confused. "A bit like what?"

"Ah-um… never mind."

Eleanor shrugged off the comment for the moment. She was too enthralled with the area. It looked like Siren's Alley in an advanced state. Pink and white choral covered just about everything. Banks of sand collected in the corners of the rooms where the currents deserted them. Everything was tranquil until an explosion echoed throughout the area. A series of shots could be heard even closer.

Stanley crouched like a frightened rabbit. "What was that?"

"Stanley if you want to find out I suggest you follow the noise," replied Fred sarcastically. "But if you want to live then look for cover because I think it's heading this way."

"But what if they-," Stanley began but was cut off as a boulder flew past him.

Stanley hid behind a steel structure while Eleanor and Fred hid behind a couple stacked crates. Rapid gunshot could be heard even closer suggesting someone was carrying a machine gun.

Suddenly a body flew through the air and crumpled into the crate Eleanor was hiding behind. He peered from behind her protection and got a good look at his face. He had long blonde hair and a clean shaven face. She thought he was dead until he groaned softly. A bald man wielding a shotgun ran up to his friend.

"You diiiie," exclaimed a charging brute splicer.

Eleanor watched the bald man unload his shotgun into the big guy but it only enraged him all the more. The brute splicer picked up a boulder and tossed it at the bald man who was struck in the gut. The brute was about to finish off the poor man when Stanley suddenly got up and shouted at him.

"What the hell," exclaimed Fred who retrieved his revolver. He shot the brute but it only turned the splicer's attention toward himself.

"I kill everyone," shouted the brute splicer.

The brute bull-rushed Fred but quickly stopped when hot lead pierced his shoulder. His attention again reverted to Stanley who held a machine gun he had borrowed from the blonde guy. Finally fixed on his first target, the brute splicer walked over to a trembling Stanley and picked the man up by his head.

"No you don't," screamed Eleanor. She fired three balls of fire simultaneously at her friend's assailant. Her head began to swim but she ignored it.

The splicer cried out in pain and even Stanley had to blow out a portion of his sleeve that had caught on fire. The brute dropped Stanley and rushed to a pool of water. The heat engulfing his torso sizzled away. He growled loudly but then his mouth ran dry.

Eleanor stood before him, her hand sizzled with electricity. The bolt of lightning grew upon itself. The static grew around her and her hair stood on end. The brute stared at the pitch black hair and saw what looked like a raven come to pick his bones dry.

"Nobody hurts my friends," screamed Eleanor. She thrust her hand forward freeing the electricity from her grasp.

The attack struck the brute with such force he flew back into a rusted steel structure. Electricity arched across the structure and back at the brute. His eyes rolled back and drool poured from his flopping mouth. Five seconds later the fried brute splicer's body hit the ground with a thud.

Fred was the first to say something. "Eleanor that… that was amazing! I didn't realize you were that strong."

Stanley did not say anything but his mouth hung open in shock.

Eleanor would have accepted the praise but her head began pulsing and she took a misstep backward. She waited for the sting of hitting the ground but it never came. Instead a pair of strong arms caught her just in time. A face with blonde dangling hair looked down on her and smiled. His masculine lips began to move but her eyes had over ridden her senses.

The blonde man inquired again. "I said what is a princess like you doing here of all places?"

"I-I'm searching for answers," Eleanor replied with quivering lips.

"What a coincidence, so am I. The big question that has me in a pickle is: what's your name?"

"El-Eleanor."

"Eleanor hmm. It's Greek in origin. Means pity. But why would someone like yourself need pity."

Fred rushed over and roughly shoved the blonde man off Eleanor. "She doesn't need your pity what we need is for you to let us pass through."

The blonde man never answered but walked over to his comrade who still lay where he had fallen.

"Chief," the man said as he coughed up blood. The bold man shook his head then saluted.

The blonde man saluted back. He pulled out a small pistol and abruptly shot the bald man in the forehead.

Fred ran over to the man. "What are you doing?"

The blonde man dodged Fred's punch then held him back with his extended arm. "It is what he wanted. Will you deprive him of a soldier death?" A flame lit in his other hand and he burnt the corpse until nothing was left but ash. The sweet smell of burning flesh and sulfur filled the room. The man sighed quietly. "I am sorry you had to see that, Eleanor. It is necessary to burn the corpse so splicer's do not drain it of ADAM."

"Who the hell are you anyway?"

"He's Mathew Parks," Stanley surprisingly replied. "A pompous cop with nothing better to do than force his ideals on others."

Mathew combed back his blonde hair and smiled. "Ah, Stanley Poole. I thought I smelled the stench of a rat. Is this your new sewer? I might have to take issue with that. And you," he directed toward Fred. "You seem like a honorable guy but do not let this sewer rat tarnish your image like he tried to do with mine. Either way I see that you have come a long way and I am willing to accommodate you. Hot water, good food, and…," he paused motioning toward Stanley, "favorable company."

Eleanor turned to consult her friends. "I think we should take him up on his offer. We are short on supplies and I could use a bath. Well, what do you think?"

Stanley was about to refuse but Fred pushed him away. "Of course we take him up on his offer. I could do with a shower myself. Right, Stanley?"

Stanley shook his head no but changed his mind when receiving an elbow to the ribs from Fred.

Eleanor's eyes widened in delight of her companion's approval. "Well Mr. Parks, it seems that we would be obliged."

"Please call me Mathew," he replied smiling. "Please, this way."

Author's Notes: Just a little anoucement that I have recieved 1,266 views to this story. And while that may seem like a very small and minute achievment it is the first of my stories to recieve over 1000 views. Sad but true and never the less i shall enjoy it. Thank you.