Hi guys, thank you all so much for those who have commented on this story and asking for me to continue. It really does mean a lot to me. So, without further ado, let's finish The Consequence of Wariness. All rights to Marissa Meyer, I only own the plot.

"Ruby, the wedding isn't for another two months." Nova Artino, now fully functioning with only a scar on her right wrist and side says, trying to hide her wide eyes from her zebra-haired friend.

"Yeah, but Oscar and I were just wondering when we should start looking for cribs and baby clothes." Ruby Tucker responded, flourishing her free hand to the left, as if 'well duh.'

They were walking along a small outlet mall in the heart of Gatlon city. On the hunt for bridesmaids dresses that Maggie wouldn't hate, Ruby would be okay with, and Nova wouldn't be embarrassed to stand in front of at the wedding. In other words: they were looking for a diamond in the rough that tilted more towards a myth.

Watching their steps as they crossed the cracked old pavement, the soon bride-to-be searched for a way to escape the talk about reproduction. Distraction presented itself nicely in the form of a small mom-and-pop diner straight out of the last century. They both agreed to stop, as they had been hunting for two hours with no luck.

Sighing a heavy and greatful sigh of relief, Nova sat down in the old plastic seat of a blue and white checkered booth. She was sure the danger had been avoided, but then Ruby set their food down with a thunk. "So, how is your wrist healing?" And suddenly talking about having kids seemed a whole lot easier.

"It's going good. I can almost scale the training wall without the pulley." She could still feel the pulse in her wrist from her last training session. The angry red scar glaring at her. An insulting reminder of the weakness she's been showing.

Red Assassin only nodded to her comment with an encouraging smile, but not without noticing Nova shift her weight to the left, opposite of where she was stabbed. 'Your father would be so disappointed.' The dark voice loomed, echoing around in her brain ever since she saw a figure behind their couch.

Ever since the night Adrian proposed.

"And how's the Great Uncle?" Ruby asked, her face showing the obvious distaste at a man who said Nova didn't deserve to be called a renegade. The bride-to-be merely shrugged, "He isn't talking to anyone."

Ruby only hummed in response, giving Nova an opening to take her meal from the tray and bring it in front of her. Just as they started to unwrap their burgers, a series of vibrations erupted from the Renegade watches curled around their wrists. They both paused, each peering at their respective bracelets of plastic as a citywide Renegade alert flashed across.

WARNING:

Crime: Armed Robbery

Suspect: Two prodigal males; one with invisibility, other with chemical psychometry. Last seen exiting warehouse wearing black clothing and on foot.

Detailed description here

Danger Level: High

Description: Evaded capture with two tote bags of test vials from previously shut down experimentation labs.

ALL RENEGADES BE ON THE LOOKOUT AND BE PREPARED!

———

After moving past the alert, the two girls managed to finish their burgers and fries, before hitting two more shops with no luck despite being on edge. As they prepared to call it a day, a strange cry was heard from down a narrow alley to their left.

In seconds, they were back to being Renegades, checking surroundings before pulling out a hook and dagger, wrist watches at the ready.

Slowly the pair crept to the opening, hugging the buildings as the fading sun exaggerated shadows and impaired their vision.

"Check the back." Ruby whispered, tilting her head back to the way they came, hoping to enter at both sides of the 'L' shaped alley. But before Nova turned around, she heard a snap. In seconds she was in a crouch and kicking the person behind her's feet from under them.

"Ruby, I got the-" She was cut off by a scream. Leaving the form on the ground, Nova sprinted down the alley, her dagger forgotten with her feet flying beneath her to reach her friend. She came only to find a mountain of a man holding her friend by the neck against the building at the curve. He hadn't seen her, but Ruby spread her fingers warning 'stop' as a glimmer of a ruby dagger slowly moved itself closer to her attacker's thigh.

Nova blended into the shadows, preparing to circle Ruby's attacker after one final glance towards the unmoving form she had disarmed. Just as the dagger pierced his leg, a chemical smell came from behind. She smelled him before she heard him. Turning, Nova was once again face to face to the scar-faced man from that dreadful night so many months ago. "Why, hello again." Nova took a swing with her left hand, while pulling a disguised knife from its sheath at her waist.

He blocked her arm and twisted the other, forcing her to drop her knife with a clatter. "I wouldn't advise that." He said in a mocking tone. She started to kick but he turned her. He had his arm around her neck and a cloth to her face before she could scream. A sweet chemical smell filled her airway, causing the alley to blur around the edges. Her fists instinctively swung out, hoping to hit something, anything.

"Drop the girl," Scarface bellowed to Ruby's attacker, as Nova strained through her now tunnel vision. Faintly she heard a thud, assuming it was Red Assassin being dropped to the ground. In a moment of clear vision, Nova saw Ruby laying on the dirty ground, her lips starting to return to their normal color while her eyes stayed shut. The looming man stood over her friend, arms raised prepared to crash down, as her vision went out of focus and everything was lost.