"Power… Finally… Real power."

The dream… The same dream? No. It felt different from the last time. It felt lucid, beyond creative imagination going wrong. It was 'her' again, bloody in form. The crimson however was enhanced with an ominous turquoise glow. A windstorm of large white feathers, all stained at the tip with red, blew past her.

Eliza checked herself, and felt that she was indeed her own separate entity. 'She' was her own as well. Perhaps everything around her was a word of warning, but she couldn't make out what the details meant. But she knew that this was a sign of bad things to come… A statement to Reala's worry earlier.

The doppelganger approached from behind, not wanting to draw attention to herself. There was a pause… Looking at 'herself' left a bitter taste on her tongue, one she couldn't describe. Every second she stared just added to her distaste. With every passing second, the urge to kill the dream incarnation strengthened. "How vulgar… I should just get this over with, even if it is a dream."

"Oh… And who do I have the pleasure of speaking to…?" She speaks. And directly to the clone as well. As she turned however, Eliza palmed her by the back of her head, forcing her to look ahead. "Oh, I love surprises."

"I'm sure you do. But I'm not the kind of person for that." The clone noted as she forcibly held 'herself' by the back of her head. "You're a monster. Haven't you a sense of humanity?" A question that she knew 'she' wouldn't of cared.

"You sound familiar…"

"Oh yeah? Hmm. Interesting." She tightened her hold. "Listen here… I ever see you, I'll kill you myself. Something like you would ruin the place."

Reaching behind her back with a slab of blood turning into a sharp piercing pillar, Eliza quickly dived to her right, whilst the monstrous Sekhmet laughed manically. With a quick glance, she turned, smiling unnaturally wide. "Oh really?" She giggled. "I'd like to see that."

The Doppelganger stood from her kneeled position. There was no denying it: Two Eliza's exist, and only one of them had kept the name. Staring right down the face of Sekhmet, Eliza was disgusted by 'her' form. Another tense moment of silence… And then… She turned to look directly at her. One might mistake that moment for looking into a mirror. It was far from it.

A quick jump from her bed, body racing and panting for as much air as possible, Eliza nearly had lost it there. "Kuso…" She wouldn't be sleeping again tonight.

Having been invited by the likes of Reala, Albus and Horus followed the tall, bulky Commander to Eliza's designated room. When the two were informed that their operations would be transferred command from DL to this man, they were at first surprised. Of course, they were still promised the pay and shelter as DL did, though it would be over a different location. Horus didn't ask a single question, but Albus was openly curious about the whole thing.

Despite his eerie appearance, Commander Reala happened to be a friendly face, ironic as it may seem. Since the two will be working with the Egrets and Reapers, for the while, Reala was very open about the new world around the two. There were no secrets to hide, only answers to questions, from mundane questions about 'food', to the bigger questions like the Reapers purpose.

Of course, that last question hadn't a definite answer, but Commander Reala tried to answer it nonetheless. "Well… I created the Reapers as a means to survive, but my priorities shifted as it slowly evolved. But my reasons don't exactly mean it applies to everyone part of it, does it?"

"Everyone is different, I get that." Albus added.

Horus shook his head. "I don't see how you could be so…"

"Informal? Unprofessional?" The owl nodded in response. "I understand where you're coming from, but I think I've grown sick of it."

"Is it because everyone calls you somethin' like Boss or Commander?"

Reala scoffed. "Kinda. But it goes way back…" He paused, and his face was plastered with a solemn stare… And the world returned to him in a second as he bumped into a passing Egret, who apologised as she walked by. "Sorry… My mind slipped."

The owl raised a brow. "Something on the mind?"

Reala was silent, before continuing on. "Moving on… You two… You were Sekhmet's former bodyguards, weren't you?"

"Yes. But our contracts were terminated when we were found to be… Inadequate for the desired tasks." Compared to the likes of soulless and emotionless Stygian, these two, while a force to be reckoned with, were outclassed severely. Perhaps that's why DL was so adamant about training when they were assigned any. The day they met DL was a day that would change their lives, a curveball swaying aside the bat's path. But the two went far back.

Beforehand, they worked life and limb as Eliza's bodyguards. Sure she is more than capable of defending herself, but the stigma against theons would prove her undoing if she did. The both of them were strong men who worked different careers, ones that weren't desirable. Albus was a former Bouncer for a casino downtown, but the pay was bad and the horrible customers further exacerbated his disdain for the job.

'She' passed by that club, and contrived as it may be, 'She' witnessed his capabilities first hand when a few rowdy customers started a fight, that went as far to include a broken bottle, a pen knife and a chair. Bare fisted, big, and determined, he simply demolished the troublemakers. He could say that it was the height of his career at the time, but it ending up being the last straw when he was promptly fired for falling out of procedure.

The Crimson Scourge of course took the opportunity, and gave him an offer he couldn't hope to refuse… A wage that triples that of his old job, a lush home to stay with everything provided for him (which was Bastet's Den), and all he needed to do was act as a personal bodyguard. There was one condition: he would need a partner. The first few days was of course, his induction and introduction. Being ethnically Nilian himself, he understood the ancient motif that 'She' set for herself.

He would also come to know the creature behind the facade: her parasite, Sekhmet. Of course there was some sort of string he didn't notice, but the offer still stood. He probably wouldn't have found anything as good as she provided.

Horus was a different case. His past remains a mystery to the others, but not to himself. The past isn't something he wasn't proud of, in fact he was glad. Horus also hailed ethnically from Nile, but resided in the Chess Kingdom. In his younger years, he trained as part of the Chessian military, which took two years of dedicated training before he was put in to service. At the time, was the Grand War; the Chess Kingdom was disadvantaged due to the technological disparity versus the Canopy Kingdom and the general inferiority of physical power against the Gigan Nation.

Regardless, he pushed himself through those hard times, and proved himself among many his worth. Rifle in hand and a sense of unbeatable determination made him nigh unstoppable, and served him promotions to Sargent, to Lieutenant in a very short time. By the end of the Great War, he found himself fighting the Undead Legions of Queen Renoir, who had become the Skullgirl. The Great War ended, and another one started when all three major kingdoms banded together for the threat. While fighting off the Gigans and the Canopians was difficult, the undead legions proved a real challenge. His division struggled to hold against one assault alone that lasted hours…

And yet they did. And finally, that war ended with Queen Renoir. The rough experience he had with the military steeled him, and from there, he began moving up the scale with his skills. His services offered to anyone who could offer him the right pay. His services however were at the time, contracted by a popular singer in New Meridian, who had heard of his reputation among the few who have come across him.

That only meant 'She' was actively looking for him… And when she did, the offer was the same… All the small time jobs meant nothing at that moment, and he accepted.

The job the two shared was well paid for, with the luxuries making it an extreme pleasure to work their backs for the diva. Driving her around, keeping the paparazzi away, and proving their toughness against the determined fans who try to get too close. Other times, they're carrying her pedestal, but given all the benefits they're given, they were happy to.

As they stayed alongside their employer, she would fondly re-tell stories of her past, of how she dominated many, including two prominent Trinity members. Eventually, she would expand her horizons when she collaborated with the Medici Mafia, and she was given an exclusive spot to overview the underworld in its glory. The two were brought along for the ride, and boy, was it fun… The casinos, the lush riches and the ever so pleasing sounds of the Medici's (and by extension, their own) enemies being taken down. 'She' didn't have to rely on her blood drive charities any longer, but she held them to keep her public appearance up.

The partnership was permanently solidified when the Medici's offered Eliza something that she had been itching for… Real power. The offer wasn't as simple as a division of Voltage or the Mafia, they claimed it was far beyond that. When it turned out that the Medici's found themselves in a bind with the Skullgirl and the Trinity, she was more than willing to call it off… But it was a truce, and Valentine had the offer in hand. To fight a new enemy, the Trinity needed every asset they could find… And The Crimson Scourge, their once sworn enemy, became an important ally.

"We never saw it coming that day…" Albus noted.

It would come as a shock for the both of them when a few years later, their services would be superseded by the demonic forces, thanks to the unholy collaboration between The Crimson Scourge and the Skullgirl. The both of them knew of her disdain for the Trinity, but it was obvious that what happened changed her. Valentine gave her power, because it was anyone's guess that 'She' couldn't dethrone the Trinity because of Valerie herself. Valerie instead intoxicated her with power, a legion of demons under her control.

The Scourge had always wanted more power, to be adored and idolized… But the woman who ditched the two was someone entirely different: She was given a taste of a power she didn't expect to ever have… While she couldn't have the world, she could have a slice of the pie, a big one at that. Where did the two fit in? Not anywhere at that point.

The day they would meet Diana-Linda, would be the day they took to a small bar around the Pit-Stop between New Kord and the Canopy Kingdom. Couple drinks and contemplations of where to go from there. Despite the two differing in experience and expertise, they were well adjusted to each other's presence… They had become brothers in their own right.

Couple of the patrons were crowding a feral, a vixen by the looks of it. She had some bulk to her, but from a distance, most couldn't tell. At the time, she was wearing her usual setup of baggy combat denims, an unbuttoned shirt with a tank top underneath and a pair of black training gloves with metallic knuckles embedded. A glass of whiskey complimented her gruff.

Three guys, one lady. These patrons were eager, and tried to coax the vixen to come with them, and for horrible reasons of course. Even the bartenders couldn't get them to stop, but the lady was unfazed and apathetic to their demands. Eventually, she grew tired of their failed flirtation techniques, and she simply introduced them to a couple friends of hers: two fisted friends, 'Leftie' and 'Righty', and her best friend, 'Glassy'.

After giving the three men a good beating with few hits, she turned to the two… Her approach was hefty, every step a blast of thunder, the smile on her face that could unnerve a cold professional. 'I hear you two were pretty big in the Underworld scene… I have a proposition for you two…'

"I see…" Reala nodded, acknowledging the story. "Well. Sounds like you got more than you've bargained for."

"Really have." Albus agreed. "So now what?"

"I'll handle your operations from here on." Reala explained. "Though DL will be your go to once she's back into commission." He stopped. "So… This Eliza… What do you think of her?"

A moment of thought from Horace, but Albus was quick on his answer. "She's cool. Different, and granted that working with her means actual work." Though most of the work was assigned by DL, which involved moving a lot of stock and asking around town about anything going on in the underground scene. Most of the information the two could gain was garbled. The only place they never checked was Bastet's Den, since Cerebella had a handful of information, but of course they could blow their cover.

Working with DL and Eliza also meant working with Dima. Despite his size, Albus knows that his smaller stature meant very little. Dima was no powerhouse, but he had more than a few tricks up his sleeves, both shirt and pants. But back to Eliza, her quiet demeanour was a welcome change from the 'Original'. A complete contrast, this Eliza was both sarcastic, and conservative. At other times, she's fiery aggressive and yet oddly refined for it.

"I mean, sure we had a good time workin' for 'her', I'll admit that. But still, I feel like we're on a level playin' field."

Horus could agree on that. Rather than a subordinate, he was an equal, a comrade. "Where we run our strength carrying supplies and walking through the course streets of New Meridian with questions to spare. She works her magic, flaunting her borrowed fame in homes of delving deeper into finding the truth." DL's proposition was plain and simple: find all the breadcrumbs to the loaf. The truth about the Casino, and the murdered Angel.

"She doesn't like it. Hell, I'd love to be famous." Albus smiled. "The attention, the love from all those fans… The money!"

Horace nodded but grimaced. "Perhaps it's because she doesn't want to be famous with the former image. It wasn't earned."

Reala stopped himself, and the two behind him stopped as well. From his thought filled stare to the ceiling, he really knew why she didn't want fame. "Let's go."
The owl adjusted his glasses. Something about Reala intrigued him… More so than 'She'.

"Hey. You guys mind if I join?" A familiar voice asked. The nightmaren turned to see it was…

It was another day, and another sleepless night. Eliza woke abruptly from her harsh slumber a few hours earlier. The room's chatter of machinery and medical devices beeping and chirping however kept her calm, accompanied her whilst she remained alone. That last dream… A stare to her, looking into a twisted mirror. 'She' was looking at her. But both knew it weren't a reflection, and both knew they were cells divided.

The mirror shattered from 'her' smile, and a flash of neon blue… And that dream was cut short. Still, it was unsettling… Did 'she' know that she existed? She sighed at the thought. What did the Commander mean last night? A powerful look of concern, but it wasn't just for her, it was like he was a leader fearing for their people.

Alas, train of thought was broken… The door knocked. A familiar face opened the door. Speak of the devil, it was the Commander. His worried face replaced with a welcoming smile yet again. "Sir?" Behind him, he was accompanied by Albus, Horace, and Dima. "Guys?"

"Hey Boss." A force of habit from the jackal's part. "We got your favourite!" He lifted the plastic bag, a familiar whiff of soy sauce, chicken, pork, duck…

The albino feline groaned. "Now I'm hungry." Steeling himself however, he approached the dark skinned amazon first. "You feeling alright?" He kneeled at her bedside.

"Yeah… Just fine." She nodded… Lightly.

The owl hummed at Dimitri's gesture. He was acting a little strange lately. At first he ignored it, but it's become persistent. There were no more visits from 'friends' since a few weeks back, and Dima became much more home bound at the warehouse. Upon their first meeting, he always found the feline leaving for the night, and returning with a 'guest'. While he was mutual with Eliza around their first few months, as time flew by, the two became a common sight as they walked and talked together.

But this was all from Dima's end. He knew the amazon hadn't a clue, or perhaps she only saw hints of it. That train of thought was interrupted when the Commander slapped his hands upon the two's shoulders. "Horus, Albus, I think we need to discuss certain matters. Dima, could you make sure that our good friend here is well fed and ready to go by tonight?" The owl could see in the nightmaren's eyes that they sent messages in volumes to the feral. He knew more than anyone what he was going through.

"But the boss… The food!" Albus complained.

"We'll buy some on the way. It's on me this time lads…" And the three made their way out, leaving Eliza and Dimitri behind.

Eliza shook her head. "A bit of an oddball…"

Dima agreed with a simple nod. Taking one of the boxes, he offered it to the Doppelganger. "We might as well not waste it. We should eat." He even placed a pair of chopsticks atop the foil box, for her convenience. As she reached out for it, he noticed that her hands were barely holding on. He didn't let go for her sake, and took the chopsticks by his left.

"Dima I'm fine…"

"Can I be the friend you need right now?" He asked rhetorically, popping the lid of the lid. A box of Fried Rice… Eliza was mesmerised as always by its dark tan of light soy sauce, the many bits and pieces of pork, chicken, garden peas and tidbits of egg. "Plus it saves you the trouble of dropping it everywhere, right?"

The Doppelganger grunted, but obliged… "Ahhh…"

With a mound of rice and its condiments held by his chopsticks, he brought it to mouth. "Good, huh?" He teased.

Eliza chewed, and nodded solemnly. She nodded once more as a thank you, staring at her friend. Dimitri couldn't help but notice that she was grinning as she did. Swallowing, she closed her eyes as she opened her mouth again.

Dima looked through the other boxes of Dragonian food, and found the bag of korokke's… Her favourite. Picking one from the bag, he brought it to mouth, and Eliza immediately realised what she had tasted. The sensational juicy taste of the potatoes which had been in turn, blessed with the juices of minced pork. "I knew how much you would love these… Tasty, huh?"

The Doppelganger nodded and chewed hurryingly. Half swallowing, she cleared her throat. "This is nice… A quiet dinner."

"Not exactly considering where we are."

"But I have a friend with me." Eliza retorted. At first, she didn't realise the impact of what she had said, but Dima paused as he was about to bring another korokke to her. Not just a simple pause; he was a petrified gargoyle! 'Was it something I said…?' "Dima?"

He shook his head. "Nanda…? Oh! Sorry I was… Just a little phased out there."

"I… Noticed." She raised a brow. "Something on your mind?"

"Nothing about the Reaper's at the very least…"

The Doppelganger reached out to Dima's hands. "I'll be fine… You don't have to worry about it." He probably didn't, but still… Something was bothering Dimitri and it had to do with her. What was it…?

"He's 'fang-whipped'…" Reala noted to the two.

"Eh? What's that?" Albus asked.

Horus removed his spectacles, using his sleeves to clean out the mist that had creeped up on the lenses. "I believe it has something to do with Dima." He raised a brow.

"It's a saying we use for Vamps… In love." Reala smiled as he walked with the two. He could tell just by looking at him, but for those without that savvy capability, he could feel his heart rate race, his body heat up at the presence of Eliza. The one visual cue that he had to see, one that wouldn't be noticeable to most, but noticeable from experience: The elongated fangs.

He had seen it the first time with Takamichi, and again for Dima's father. Both were at the time, trying to hide it from everyone, but they were noticeable in the presence of their lovers at the time. Dima was barely able to hide it; they weren't at their longest…

"In love? Dima? You seen the guy?" Albus noted. "He's been taking men and women for a little 'lovie-dovie' time like there's no tomorrow." The jackal chuckled. "Makes me jealous."

Horace however shook his head. "Perhaps we should consider the facts… Have you ever seen Dimitri show such gratitude to anyone as much as she?" A keen eye would notice it. To others, Dima may be just showing a spurt of minor affection, the hollow one he gives to those he had provided to those one night stands. Horace looked beyond that: Dima was alone in the world. He hadn't anyone to turn to, not in his blood at least.
Sometimes, to be alone with someone else meant a lot, but this Eliza understood more than others, perhaps as much as Dima, what it means to be alone. "How contrived…"

Reala nodded, but smiled again. "Sometimes, good things just happen for no other reason hmm?" He stopped as when he noticed a feral, clad in his lion armour, outfitted with gauntlets and greaves to match…

"At least one person isn't too happy today…" Reala murmured.
"Who's that guy?" Albus could tell he was asking for trouble. But Horace held him back… "What? He looks like serious business."

"One that doesn't involve any of us…" Reala explained. "Kazuo. A good friend of Dima… Was there when he went down…" He followed the feral as he made his way to the room. Dimitri was going to be given a very warm welcome from his former best friend. "Captain."

Kazuo paused and looked back. "Commander…"

"I'd advise you leave them alone for the time being… He's helping a friend recuperate."

Foxhound turned forwards. "It's an invitation, sir." Opening the door, he entered slowly… Steps were far from quiet, instead they planted with a thud, invocative of thunder. His eyes first turned to the dark skinned patient… A striking familiarity, the eyes of clear skies, the tall, voluptuous, bulky yet elegant build and short hair down to her cheeks. The visual appeal didn't hide a dark secret either, unlike the last one who had that appearance.

The albino feral however needn't much to describe. He looked just about the same as he did a year and a half ago. The hair slightly longer. Both were interrupted from their meals. Most of it had been eaten anyways. Dima had the chopsticks, but this woman had the hunger. The woman was unfamiliar with the dark and reddish feral. The albino feral however…

He stood, slowly setting aside the half eaten container of food. An ever so slight turn: the red eyes were the dead giveaway. It was a standoff…

"Kazuo…"

"Dima…"

The dark woman would've stood, but Dima halted her. It was their fight.

"I mourned you… I was there at your funeral."

"I know." There was a pause… Then Dima turned to his old friend. It was him alright. No doubt about that. Kazuo hadn't changed much, but he donned the armour he once felt uncomfortable with, with a sense of pride matched only by his determination. "If you have a tooth to pick outta me, we do it outside, and later on."

Kazuo's response? His body already charged itself with its blue, ominous lightning, his right hand tightened. "I don't like waiting…"

Dima tightened his own fist, and took an everlasting breath as his body glowed a golden blonde… Both smugly grinned.

Filia and Sienna rode in towards HQ. A couple days ago, word travelled fast of Squigly and Micheal's recent plans. The start of something new. They will be leaving next week. Leviathan was nestled in to his host's head, but had fallen asleep at least halfway through the drive. Samson followed suit, which both Squigly and Filia could tell from the loud snoring. Either that… Or the constant chatting about 'plans' for the two bored him to death.

"So the Chess Kingdom seems like a great place, but the Dragon Empire has so much culture behind it." Filia said, nodding to herself as she parked her 4x4 directly outside the tower HQ. "Then there's the Nilian States."

Sienna nodded. "I hear that the popular singer, Alex .A will be at the Dragon Empire."

"Alex Ahad?" Filia asked, pointing to the popular artist who wasn't a singer by any stretch of the imagination… Unless he was.

"No, Alex Aguinaldo! You know, she's a new hit sensation."

Filia's mouth smiled wide as she nodded to herself. The name hit her immediately, a voice that had become popular for her wide vocal range. Singing probably wasn't the only thing Aguinaldo could do, that voice could cater to millions! Her next tour will be at her home town of Pacific Island within the Dragon Empire. Nikki liked her for having a taste in rock music.

But the decisions were varied. She didn't know which to pick. Mick wanted Sienna to pick their honeymoon venue, before the wedding comes around. Though that would leave the rest to work with the current case at hand, and whether it follows them out to where they go for their time off was also another consideration.

Still, Filia was worried for her friend. "I mean… you guys have only really been together for a year. You really sure you guys are ready for it?" Anyone could pop the question. Could one really be ready for it when they do? Medici acknowledged how Micheal was loyal, his drive stemming from an emotional attachment. Who else would fall for a dead woman walking like Contiello? Who would go that far to give her a sense of life when she was undead? Who would listen to her harsh past and stick by her as close as possible?

Perhaps Mick was more than ready to ask the question. Sienna… Accepting it was brave on her part. Maybe saying yes wasn't such a bad idea. Mick was very happy to stand to Squigly's side as she leads on as his Captain, and certainly it applies in the relationship as well. Even Nikki is confident in their choice.

There was a strange parallel between Squigly and her mentor/mother in-law, Nikki. Both lost their family members, and yet both came back stronger and tougher. Contiello's attitude had evolved from the pure, innocent lady-like attitude to the elegant, refined and yet rough attitude she has today. Anyone can tell she had changed… All she needed to do was pick up a gun willingly and use it. Perhaps Nikki's influence was responsible for that. Or perhaps this was her way of crushing her former fear.

A far cry of what she used to be, Sienna Contiello returned from the dead stronger than before, for better or for worse.
A turn, and a change of subject was also in order. A call back to recent events. Medici had moved on from the incident at the hospital. The nurse that was hurt, Kyanna, was alive and well. A broken leg but nothing permanent according to the doctors. The surviving attacker, Buxton, was still incarcerated at the main HQ. All that anyone could get out of him was that he was hired, and that the person who had paid him didn't show a face but gave the name 'Abacus'.

Whoever this 'Abacus' was, she would have search for the clues. There had to be breadcrumbs somewhere. Cerebella might have an idea of where to look, and Yu-Wan certainly knew some shady characters. "I'm still wondering… Why would an Angel such as Charmaine and Anya go rogue?"

Sienna shrugged. "I'll take a shot at the dark. Perhaps they're sick of how people only get worse… In general, I mean."

"Yeah… But there has to be something more than that."

"Anya did say she didn't care about humans anymore. So what was the motive then…?" She asked, the question applying to herself and the Medici Detective. The Conference apparently did nothing during the last fight with the Trinity, perhaps they didn't care for it.

Sienna sighed. "I just hope another Skullgirl doesn't pop up anytime soon." It'd only serve to escalate the situation at hand.

Passing through the security checkpoint, Egret Soldiers led the vehicle towards one of the available parking spaces. The 4x4 stopped right outside the building, and one masked Egret soldier gave a thumbs up. The usual procedure. Filia was first to leave the vehicle, Sienna following suit. "We miss anything?" Medici asked.

The egret soldier nodded. "We heard that two operatives were going at each other in the medical ward. Might wanna get up there, I think they're with you."

"Huh?" Strange. Perhaps Kazuo knew what was going on. "Let's go."

"I wonder who's going for the other's throat."

Sienna nodded as she pushed the door closed from her side. As the two walked towards the main doorway, they halted at the loud crash of shattering glass. Both looked up, and saw the sparks of blue, coupled with shades of yellow. Kazuo definitely knew what was going on. Filia took a close look at where the sparks flowed from. Judging by distance, probably the sixth floor. Medical Ward.

Taking the first elevator up, Medici tapped on her head to wake the mop of hair. "Samson, you switched on?"

"Five more minutes…" He groaned.

"Fine then. We got this." She nodded to Squigly. Leviathan was awake himself, and shook his head at his lazy friend.

Contiello nodded as she rolled up her sleeves and tuned her synthetic left hand. They had to be prepared of course, it could be a real enemy attack! Two… Three… Four… Five… "Six." As the doors opened, both Medici and Contiello prepared themselves to rush to the fight. Instead of running out and bolting to assist their comrade, the fight came to them as Kazuo, and an albino feral, went at each other. The unknown feral was familiar to the two…
As they stepped out, the two halted at the sight of a dark skinned amazon, who wore only a hospital gown. Leviathan and Samson particularly halted as the woman looked exactly like the woman they detested the most. She didn't react to them however. It was that same woman Filia saw at the school… She hadn't a reason to fight her. This woman wasn't the Eliza they knew.

The woman took to the downed feral.

But it seemed as though the fight stopped there as the two knelt down, panting for air… Kazuo stood after a moment to catch his breath, though still slumping over with hands resting on his knees to keep him up. "Two years… Two fuckin' years…"

The albino, panting, still struggling to stand, nodded. "Chalk it up to complications. We can go like this all day Kaz." Though there was a hint of doubt in his own words.

The woman shook her head, perhaps to dissuade him. "That's enough."

Kazuo declined the offer and shook his head. "I'd just kick your ass again Dima… Have to admit, you got better."

Dima…? Filia approached and offered a hand to him. There was something she and Sienna missed, but she wanted to know more. Dima took the offer, and stood with the woman by his side. "Dima… Dima Roy?"

He nodded. The dark skinned amazon had him wrap his right arm around her shoulder. "I can walk…" Dimitri said sheepishly. She ignored him. "I'm guessing you're also gonna give me a lecture about how my father died."

Medici shook her head. "We should be celebrating you're here. Your father would've had it him more than you." It's not as good as having both alive, but at least someone made it. "So you didn't die then?" Something she missed?

"Almost… Actually…"

He was a hybrid preternatural. Of course the way his body worked was different to how hers and Sienna's did. Did he die and revive by chance? Was there intervention? Questions for another time. "For now, I think you need some rest."

The woman shook her head. "Irony Dima…"

"At least you're feeling better…"

"World's in good shape… Remnants of the Medici are bailing out, trying to move towards the outskirts of the city, Voltage is in ruins, and not a Stygian in plain sight. That's all the good news." Parasoul noted to herself as she read a report conjured by Minette. Good news aside, now the bad news. "Two FNGs, completely fresh FNGs…"

Her reading was interrupted when she bumped into Adam. The apathetic look on his face said it all: He wasn't looking forwards to giving the two the run down. "Sorry if I'm putting you on the spot for them Adam. Reala needs to get them up to scratch. They have basic Civilian Training."

Civilian training however isn't what the Reapers and Egrets needed. "We'll set up a CQB test today. What's on the news other than them?"

"Reala has initiated a Code Red, Skullgirl. Not even seven years and we're dealing with another one. I'm arranging a meeting with the Gigans, the Chessians and Dragonians tomorrow. We all need to be aware of the situation."

Adam nodded. "Should we expect another big company to back the next Skullgirl?"

"Whatever we're dealing with, it's not going to be good. I will also speak to Reala. He has a feeling that someone else is playing foul." She sighed. "As for the two new ones, I'll oversee their CQB test later on. Make sure they're prepared for the worst." A nod, and the Queen continued on as Adam took a left turn.

Conveniently, Adam bumped into an old comrade… Gabriel. "Magilligan? Didn't expect to see you around these parts. Wouldn't you usually be workin' round at New Kord?"

"Got assigned to this place."

"Assigned or you assigned yourself?"

"Both." The feral noted. "Gonna be workin' wit' the new lasses hmm? Lemme help you out on that."

Adam chuckled. "Just try not to make their lives a pain." He knew how hard he pushed Carol, but Carol was capable of handling it. Could these two new combatants handle what they were about to face? Perhaps, but from what was said, they were both normal humans, their only saving grace was Ripple energy.

Gabriel was always specific of what was needed in the kill house and range. He was also specific to how the two should be kitted out, and in most cases, anyone under his wing are given heavy vests, with munitions and equipment. This would be coupled with a full run through the standard course, not even Egrets were forced to wear full gear in standard training procedures.

Weapons for the shooting range are always based around the standard UF45 and the Vladof rifles. Both M1 and M2 models. The Kill House however will have a selection to cater to their taste. Something bothered Adam however: "Why do you guys bother running through military training?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you guys are powerful beings capable of taking on demons in one on ones or more, and yet you continue to use standard procedures and equipment." To a degree of course.

Gabriel scoffed. "Can you imagine the damage that could be done if we all went about and used it? If a bullet, or a hail of them, can kill stygian, we prevent unnecessary damage. It's basically a last resort." Knowing the many preternaturals that are now part of the Reapers, the chaos that can ensue if they were allowed to brandish their abilities would be catastrophic. "We can't individually match the Skullgirl and her minions, but in our groups, in large numbers, we could."

If one Skullgirl was capable of city wide destruction in mere seconds, another force capable of matching her would only escalate the situation to a beyond recoverable state. The Egret Captain acknowledged, and nodded as a token of gratitude.

Perhaps that's why most of the Second Generation of Reapers had to go through the Academy program before they were allowed to join. Few exceptions of course, but they were given important crash courses in the matter. The Reapers were mildly military, not formally.

Aching legs, one can deal with. Aching and heavy? Not a combo anyone would want to handle; unfortunately, Maud found herself on the receiving end of some very unforgiving training. 'Luckily', she was accompanied by the dark skinned amazon from yesterday, who was just recently released from the medical bay. A surprisingly quick recovery from what she took yesterday, perhaps it wasn't as bad as it looked.

Both of them were clad in standard Egret gear, including fully loaded magazines, training grenades and other bits and bobs that a typical soldier would wear. They were tasked with running the standard obstacle course, one where Egret soldiers would run without the equipment. Of course it wasn't mandatory in the field… whoever assigned them this task was either sadistic, or was testing them beyond their comfort zones.

Rihfort spent the whole run complaining, which conflicted with her constant breathing. Her Ripple energy would've allowed her to keep going with little ill effect, but required controlled breathing. This 'Eliza' however, did keep a constant breath, and pushed through. From what she could feel, Maud deduced that the tall dark woman's Ripple wasn't as powerful, and she only made it through pure determination.

Eliza… She looked the part, but according to reports the stories from Kazuo, this 'Eliza' wasn't the real one. The 'Real' Eliza was a ruthless theon user, who assisted the last Skullgirl, and nearly wreaked havoc upon New Meridian. A self-centred megalomaniac who sought it out through any means. The details were sparse, but she'll take their word for it. Whoever this Eliza was, she was different: a conserved and yet implacable woman. Her ripple may not be strong due to the lack of formal practice, but how she was able to hold herself in that last fight, and today's run without exerting her aura spoke volumes about her.

By the end of the run, tired and panting for air, she did not however thank the relief. She was quiet, a barely visible grin swiped upon her face.

The two were allowed to take off the gear beforehand, and were directed to the 'Kill House', a warehouse with a speed oriented obstacle course, with live use of ammunition. A popular test according to Egret soldiers and some of the Reaper members. The walk was silent, which wasn't much of Rihfort's style.

But to the surprise of the Chessian, 'Eliza' spoke first: "You're new as well, huh?"

"Pfft. If only by a day or two." She scoffed. "You're a Ripple user too? Not bad, with the blood thing back there. Icky, but still."

"Well, it's better than getting too close when you don't have an opening to work with."

That was true. "So, how'dya find out you had it?" The amazon hummed to herself, her eyes looking into the sky for an answer. A shot in the dark: it was a spontaneous discovery. Ripple was a strange power, and who can utilise it, it was never guaranteed to anyone. For the people who can use it, all have come from different backgrounds, all have run into different roads. Perhaps Eliza was just one of those who was chosen by the random draw from a hat.

Eliza sighed. "It's not that I asked for it. But I guess it fits me. Not exactly normal…"

An echo that she didn't expect to hear, but it called back for its spotlight in the young Chessian's mind. She wasn't normal herself, at least not anymore. "Pfft. A load of shit. No such thing as normal. I mean, if you think about it, if we were all 'normalized', we'd be the fuckin' same."

The doppelganger nodded. "Perhaps. But you know, I once had a thought: what if it were the roads that split people like us, from the people who don't fight, the people who are too busy to realise the danger that befalls their world?"

It felt like there was some sense of normalcy with that idea. When she thought about how she had coaxed herself to be a Reaper, it started to feel much more apparent. Normal people, the masses of civilians, all were just humans/ferals that want to live their lives, and didn't have a great as a responsibility. For all intents and purposes, both Ripple users were initiating themselves to be 'freaks'. They had a responsibility to save the world from its dangers, something that a normal army couldn't do, but at the same time. They had a responsibility to help the people.

"So if you ever met your 'real' self, what would you do?"

"Honestly, I don't know. She's leagues above what I can do." She adjusted her cap. "But if she pisses me off, I won't hesitate to step in her way." Maud stopped, and took a moment to review the angered tone of voice… She wasn't kidding.

The two stopped in front of the warehouse, one with a large red 'KH' on it, exactly as marked. Maud and Eliza paused for a moment as the shutters before them opened. As the darkness flowed out from the contents of the building before them, so did several masked Egrets, and a familiar face back at the school. Maud knew him as Gabriel, others noted him as 'Frost'. A feral who stood as tall as the doppelganger, wearing a custom sewn long trench coat. One of the Egrets before them wore no mask, with short grey hair, pale skin and blue eyes. They all stared.

"The FNGs." The unmasked Egret noted.

The feral shook his head. "Right. Welcome to the Kill House lasses. Personally my favourite place to shoot some steel, and prove a point. You two will run the course. One at a time of course." He sent the other Egrets behind him aside, the unmasked one stayed however. "Maud and Eliza, right? Heads or tails?" He produced a small coin.

Eliza hummed. She nodded to herself. "Heads."

At the flip of a coin, the unmasked Egret caught it. With a quick peak, he nodded. "Maud's up first." Both were invited to climb a set of stairs to oversee the course. "I'm Captain Adam, and you already know Frost. This is the 'CQB' scenario, you have ten positions to work with. You got bad guys, and good guys. Easy to tell since we marked the bad guys as blue, and the good guys as red."

"Red is the heroic colour in my opinion." Frost added. "You have a selection of equipment here, all carbine sized. Got your MP5S1, nine millimetre goodness, compact. Got your U2, slightly bigger but packs more punch, and standard sidearm."

Maud shook her head. "More running… Oh my God…" At the very least, she was finally allowed to shoot something.

"On your mark lass. Best time is currently held by Filia for first try. Good luck. Grab the rope when you're ready." Once Maud was kitted out with an MP5S1, she rappelled down.

Gabriel nodded at the facts: Rihfort was mildly military at best. Her stamina allowed her to keep pace and push on through the dirt and turn corners effortlessly, but when it came to laying down the law, her shots were off centre. A lousy shot, it could cost her a great deal with the standard fair of equipment. She didn't lack in the melee department however when he saw her cleave through one of the targets that popped in front of her.

Maud rushed in head first, and took her shots close to compensate her lack of formal firearms training. That will be something she'll need to work on. There were a few 'civilian' casualties that she had caused due to her inaccuracies. Then there was a second glance. He then realised, that the shots were indeed well placed, at least for what she was aiming for. She attacked non-vital points of her targets, points that would leave them incapacitated. The shoulder, the left or rightmost, around where the arms would be… However, whether it would be wise to implement such tactics against the enemies they will be facing is something they will find out.

Excelling in close quarters meant however was good, and her Ripple focused training meant that the closer she was, the better chance of her gaining control of a situation. Physically, she went above and beyond some of the members in the Reapers, he'd go as far to say that her own physical strength overshadowed mainstays, Kazuo and Sienna. From a mortal, that's incredibly rare, even more so that her body wasn't huge to match her strength.

Maud was a diamond in the rough, and a little bit of polish and fine tuning, and she could wow the world. An unflinching charge against the world, to firmly grasp at its saving grace.

By the end of the course, Maud caught her breath. Gabriel smiled at her time, and while she didn't beat Filia's of twenty-eight and a half seconds, Maud was trailing over three seconds behind. Eliza was up next. "Just come up back to the stairs. 'Liza, you're next. Grab the rope when you're ready."

Eliza was quick on the draw when it came to kitting out. She went for the U2, and was already at the rope once she secured it around her shoulder by its strap. There was a big difference in how Maud and Eliza handled the course. Whilst Maud ran in and took close shots, Eliza was methodological in her approach. Whilst she ran head first to enter the course, she instead she knelt to take shots at the targets. Whatever training DL provided was proving its worth, as she was smacking down targets and missing civilians.

By the first few rows, she was already moving up, and still moved at a slowed yet hasty pace. With each group of targets presented, she went for two or three-shot bursts, centre mass or a single round to the head. Her slower pace allowed her to take in the situation around her, and she remained calm enough to be both a quick shot, and a good one.

Much like Maud, targets that popped in front of her at close quarters didn't last more than a second. And that short display of physical power was beyond mesmerising. Using a tube of stored blood, most likely extracted earlier, she formed a flurry of fists. Her Ripple made use of thinly spreading and shaping the blood, and she speedily smashed at the target before her. A show of unnecessary brutality, it was however nonetheless effective. Even Maud was left speechless…

While Eliza didn't brute force her way through to a resolution, she was indeed a brutal fighter. Of course, it was due course for whom she is attacking, but there was a hint of honour, she was holding back. The blood punches were precise as they were fast, but Maud cut through her target, and would've killed a man if applied the same, Eliza however preferred a show of percussive force. There would be a chance her target would live.

A stark contrast to Sekhmet, the Doppelganger was an honourable fighter; she was however not afraid to show excessive force. Neither was the former spoilt brat, perhaps her first kill matured her. Both however still have long roads to go, and have untapped potential.

And the clone finished two seconds shy of Rihfort, but all were impressed by her balance of different skill sets despite her lack of formal training. Adam nodded. "Not too shabby. They both did well on their parts."

"Right." Gabriel nodded, and raised his voice: "Alright, you two are done for the day. Nikki will pick the both of you up." The two ladies nodded as they left their equipment on the table, and were lead out the warehouse by Adam.

The unmasked Egret was more than impressed by the two. It's easy to forget that they had been employed just recently. "I'll be looking forwards to working with the both of you in future."

The red head smirked as she folded her arms. "Of course."

Eliza simply adjusted her cap as she silently nodded in acknowledgement. She didn't overstay her welcome, and walked on.

Maud followed. "Bit hasty there, huh? What's on the mind?"

"Bit of a thought on the mind."

Rihfort tutted. "Don't tell me this shit's getting to ya already."

"Not that kind of thought. It's something that popped up earlier." She adjusted her cap once more. "He's a good friend, see."

The red head raised a brow: "That guy who kinda look like a chick?" While he was no manly man, there was some sort of odd charm to him that she liked. "Would bang. Would you?" Eliza hummed at the question. "Well?"

"I'm speaking as a friend of his, and right now I'm worried about him."

"Well you're no fun." Rihfort murmured. "So? Like what, he acting like an idiot or something?"

The Doppelganger rolled her eyes. "No, not that. It's something more personal." She slipped her hands into her pockets. "He's kinda alone in this world." Maud stopped herself. The hint of playfulness faded as she folded her arms, turning to her comrade. The dark skinned amazon stopped as well. "I understand it all too well."

Rihfort folded her arms. "Lay it on me."

Eliza sighed as she looked to the sky. She had a long story to tell.

Adam passed the warehouse once more and gave a nod to the Egrets who had stepped aside, and Gabriel joined him as the two left. The masked Egrets revealed their faces. Filia, Kazuo, Klo and Knee, hidden in plain sight. The two Captains nodded and acknowledged the fresh meat that they have acquired. Gabriel had them watch in the first place to have their say.

Foxhound hummed. Both had their strengths and weaknesses, but for new blood, the both of them were well above the average. "Eliza's scoring hits left and right, but a bit slow for that matter."

Samson agreed. Though he was hesitant about this 'Eliza' due to the uncanny resemblance to her origin. Regardless, her calculative skills were notable. "That Maud chick was pretty head strong, a little clunky though." But she wasn't too far from his host's record. Perhaps being knee-deep against a horde of demons or dead, being careful wouldn't matter as much due to the chances of civilians sticking around being low. It could put her at a disadvantage against hostiles who prefer to think first then attack.

Medici took note of her theon's thoughts. Eliza may have to think to achieve goals, but this would prove useful when taking on tougher, calculating opponents. But Carol did explain how ferocious she was when she took on Ariel back at the school. Perhaps she was driven by anger in such instances. Would it be a weakness, or strength?

Klo pointed out the differences in their shooting. Both could be counted as civilians, and for Maud, it shows. For Eliza however, she was well within centre mass, some were headshots. "Eliza's shootin' is quite good. Better scores on target than your last run Kaz." He affectionately mocked his Captain. But Kazuo agreed.

The red skinned demoness smiled. "A good eye perhaps? For shooting that is."

"Well then, she's under your charge then. Show her a couple extra ropes, accentuate that strength." He turned to Klo. "Maud can be under your charge. She's mean, lean and I think she'll love to get her hands on a machinegun."

Samson scoffed. "A bitch though."

"Don't be so mean Samson." Medici cleared her throat. "Kazuo'll work with the two in the 'close encounters' part. We're crash coursing at best, so make the most of what we can teach 'em."

Foxhound nodded with eyes closed. "You're visiting the Den today?"

"Gotta speak with Cerebella about something." Samson explained as his host prepared to leave. "If a Skullgirl really is about, something's up, right?"

Knee stretched herself out. "Yeah. Mind if I tag along, Caps?" Kazuo gave a silent thumb up whilst Klo tapped her shoulder before buddying up with Foxhound to leave. A wave goodbye, and the four split into their respective twos.

"Tonight would've been boring. Doc is gonna be busy at the Medical Ward today."

The mop of hair groaned. "They always keep him there late at night, huh?"

Medici shook her head. "They should give him a break. I would've expected him to have bolstered the recovery rates by now."

"New arrivals."

"New arrivals?" She didn't know of any recent major operations. "What happened?"

Knee shrugged. "Squad on patrol. These guys turned up after a patrol down Innsmouth. Apparently someone attacked them." Which should've been unlikely due to the friendly reception from the residents. Whatever happened at Innsmouth, it didn't mean good news. Details were sparse, but the bystanders heard nothing strange at the time. The patrol squad were covered in cuts and bruises, and yet they should've been armed.

Icing on the cake happened to be the strange feather that was found placed atop one of the Egrets at the time. It was taken in for evidence. "Perhaps another Rogue Guardian?"

"That'd be too easy." Medici noted. Or perhaps that's what they wanted the Reapers to think. "Was the feather white like the others?"

The demoness waved her right side to side. "White and red. I don't mean stained red, I mean natural red. At least that's what Doc tells me." Now that she said it, even that didn't sound right at all. A Guardian of any nature would either have black, white or a combination of both, feathers. Doc had black feathers due to his Nephelim nature.

It all sounded amiss. Perhaps there was more to recent events than a few Guardians going rogue. The thing that Filia was interested in, was how Knee didn't make a snarky comment about the Guardians. "Not one to joke about these people, huh?"

"If you think about it, there's very little difference between us. When we're down on the ground, we're just people." The thought made her chuckle. "There was a time where I thought I was better than people."

Samson and Filia both raised a brow, but the theon asked first: "What changed your mind?"

"I cried."

Such a quick response, and without any shame either. There's a saying that Nikki and others love to echo: 'Devils never cry'. It sounded like something from an anime or manga, but of course, emotion makes someone human. "Must've been a very important moment for you." As it were for herself when she cried… The two had common ground.

The demoness smiled, before leading on towards the parking lot.

The Nilian theme of the club was both familiar and yet foreign to the albino. He had visited Bastet's Den previously when he and Diana-Linda found the Doppelganger. He was notified of its refurbishment, and popularity not shortly after his official return. Perhaps he could get a drink, and maybe a… "Who am I kidding…" He said to himself as he took a seat at the counter.

One of the bartenders overheard him, and raised a brow. "Something on the mind?"

Dimitri turned to her, she had mint green hair and darkened skin, nowhere near as dark as Eliza's however. It was more of a hazelnut dark versus the oaken dark. She wore a blazer over her blouse and tie. "Sorry. Just had a thought to myself."

"A very loud thought." She took a glass. "Anything you fancy?"

"Vodka. Actually, Osaka Dry."

Setting the glass aside, the bartender took a bottle of vodka and a bottle of warm sake. She juggled the bottles like an expert, and stopped herself as she filled the glass with the two liquors. Setting the bottles aside, she retrieved cracked ice with her left hand, and then garnished the finished produce with sliced pickled plum. She silently handed the drink over with a smile.

Dima took the concoction to hand, and sipped… "This is good stuff!"

"A lot of people happen to order it here." The bartender noted, leaning her elbows on her side on the counter: "So, tell me your woes."

"Is that what you do when guys or girls like me pop around?"

"My customers are important to me after all." She winked playfully. "Cerebella."

"Dimitri. Call me, Dima. Most people do."

The bartender chuckled. "I know who you are. Just didn't expect you to pop around." She pointed at the small badge that carried the thorny rose insignia over the breast pocket of her blazer. "No discounts though."

Dimitri nodded. "So… Where do I start?"

"From the beginning, perhaps?"

"Then you must know who else had just joined up."

Cerebella chuckled: "Other than Alpha Bitch, yeah. She looks exactly like the real thing, and Sekhmet's a looker." A patron to her right requested a top up for their pint glass, and she delivered in seconds, with the cash returning in due fashion. "I might have to bring her around. I think she'd love the place. Experience the glory first hand of what Sekhmet used to have."

Dima nodded silently as he lifted the glass to lips.

"So what about her?"

"She's a good friend."

"Oh really?"

Dima nodded. "Been there for me the past few months. I'm sure you understand what I'm going through right now." Cerebella nodded. "She doesn't speak too much, but when she does, she's… How do you say…? Kinda like… Wise?"

"Profound?"

The albino feline nodded. "Really understanding too."

"Don't tell me you're…" She leaned in: "Fang-whipped." The feral felt his heart stop, and his body paused along with it. "Was I spot on?"

Snapping out of his trance, he sheepishly nodded. "I know how to talk to a girl or guy. She isn't just some girl or guy though."

Cerebella nodded. "I know how you feel. What you know doesn't always exactly work with certain people, and especially jarring when that person is different." But different is good. Eliza seemed a nice woman, at least from others say. She would like to meet the clone in person. "She was born alone in this world, and you're all alone."

"Of course, but I share that loneliness with friends."

"Perhaps." Dima sipped away… The glass slammed on to the table, ice clinking away. The giggling bartender refilled his glass. "Don't tell me you're gonna sit back and miss the opportunity. You better win her heart."

"How do you suppose I do that?"

Cerebella smiled. "You are her best friend right now. No one knows her better."

And Dimitri quietly took to his drink once more.

"You're happy to be alone. But you really want to share your loneliness with her."

The feral smiled. "Yes… I do."

"I've heard the stories. Of 'you know who' and..."

Dima nodded. "My father. My mother."

Cerebella topped up his glass with another shot of vodka. "Doesn't it get tiring to be alone? I mean, you may be able to speak to 'her'."

"Perhaps." Dimitri took the shot, and exhaled with relief. "That doesn't sound like such a bad idea. But one problem at a time."