"Milady? Lady Korsica? Can you hear me?"

Korsica suddenly awoke with a start as CNMN, wearing some surgeon gear, was right in her face. She jolted upwards to her feet off a makeshift operating table, but she stumbled around and clutched her chest in pain, seeing that she gained numerous scars, ranging from a temporary cut under her eye to some on her arms. Her jacket's sleeves are also ripped, exposing new robotic implants. Her jacket is cut shorter, and is now void of the v-shaped button, thus exposing her shirt and the newly sustained injury on her chest. Her pantyhose also received an assortment of rips, and she now wears shoes with yellow laces and black soles.

"Glad to see you're okay, Korsica," Connor said as he came up with Hilda and Lysithea. "When Chai brought you back after Kale tried to vaporize you both, things were pretty tense, as you took a hard shot to the chest. So, we had to act quickly, and hook you up with some support implants."

"Your wound was really bad… We didn't have a choice." Peppermint followed up.

"Luckily, Miss Peppermint and Sir Macaron are familiar with robotic implants. And, with my steady hand…" CNMN started.

"You…. saved my life." Korsica finished.

Chai cleared his throat from the couch. "Well, keeping you alive was essential to our plan."

"That's Chai for 'we need your help' if you wanna know." Hilda corrected.

"And I'd think you're more than willing to help us now more than before, now that you've seen your boss's true colors," Lysithea added.

"FORMER boss." Korsica corrected. "I joined his company because I believed it was the only one doing things right. When I read those files on SPECTRA… I've been such an idiot!"

"Hate to say it, but Connor told you so." Chai piped in.

"Chai!" Peppermint chided.

"Hey, it's okay. Regardless of what happened back there, Korsica's with us now, and now she's got a good reason to go against Vandelay like us." Connor said.

"A team is stronger with a common goal." CNMN agreed.

"And, like we said, another hand would help," Macaron added.

Korsica was a little reluctant, looking back to Chai as he saluted, but the former head of Security nervously agreed.

"C'mon, why don't we tell you everything we know?" Peppermint asked.

One quick recap to Korsica later…

"All of that, right under my nose…" Korsica received the information loud and clear.

"Kale manipulates. It's what he does. And now he plans to do that with SPECTRA." Peppermint explained.

"SPECTRA is almost a manifestation of his personality!" CNMN added.

"And it's gonna backfire in his face if we don't shut it down," Hilda said. "So are you in to help us stop him?"

"He used me and tried to kill me. I won't let him get away with it." Korsica assured. "So of course, I'm in. And I think I know what to do next."

With Korsica entirely on board, everybody prepared for their next move. While Connor was checking his guns, Korsica looked at him.

"Connor, you… got a second before we head out?" she asked.

"Sure, what's up?" Connor asked.

"So, Connor, I um…wanted to apologize for not listening.

"Can't blame you. You were all riled up, and I wasn't that convincing, what with Chai cutting in back there." Connor said.

"I was so caught up, I couldn't see it. I should thank Chai later …for saving me." Korsica admitted.

"He's something else, huh? But despite his quirks, I think he's coming into this whole teamwork thing." Connor said.

"He may not be slick, but he gets it done. It's the same with you. Everyone else you know might be a bit embarrassed to say it." Korsica said.

"I'm no big shot, but maybe someday I'll be in the same league as the other guys I know who kick butt out there." Connor nodded. "So, I gotta ask. Why Vandelay, out of every company in the Future Universe? Why work with the bad guys?"

"You know as well as I do, they didn't seem like the bad guys," Korsica sighed. "When I was growing up, my home was the site of a major ecological disaster. Roxanne Vandelay led the environmental cleanup and helped everyone in my city start again. She changed my life. She inspired me! Working here was all I ever wanted."

"And now today… things aren't quite what you thought they'd be." Connor understood.

"I had my doubts after first meeting with Kale, but…I thought that's just how things were done. Now I know that's not the case. This isn't the company I idolized growing up." Korsica said.

"Hey, I get it. I used to work for people I thought were doing the right thing, but they were pretty awful. Disbarred me when I botched a mission up." Connor said. "But that came back to bite 'em in the ass. They were taken out, and I was left to do what I wanted. Now I've got my own Hero-for-Hire business and I'm known as one of the strongest people alive." Connor said. "I'm still workin' my way up, and how I got to be the strongest was just by luck, but I'm not planning to stop any time soon."

"You get it alright. I'm sure you won't stop after you're done here." Korsica assured.

"Got that right." Connor nodded back before turning to the others. "Okay gang, time to pick back up on this campaign. Korsica, tell us what the plan is."

"Right. Mission Briefing." Korsica said.

"Actually, we say 'Mission Report'." Peppermint cut in.

"Isn't that basically the same?" Korsica asked.

"Yeah, but it's kinda our thing…" Peppermint explained.

"Semantics, Peppermint," Lysithea said. "Now, with Korsica on our side, we have 3 out of the six keys we need to deactivate SPECTRA. That leaves only 3 targets left, the remaining two department heads, and Kale himself."

"That's right Lysithea. As for my plan: we go after Mimosa." Korsica said.

"Head of Marketing…" Macaron piped in.

"She's on campus preparing the Project Armstrong Festival." Korsica continued.

"It's a huge party, sounded awesome," Chai added. "Wish I could go."

"Mimosa's scheduled to perform, so now's your chance," Korsica noted.

"But security…" Macaron reminded.

"That's why we're taking a back route: The Vandelay Museum. Connects right to the concert stage." Korsica explained.

"And being the Head of Marketing, this lady's bound to advertise the heck out of her performance, and make sure nobody misses it, so the museum will be empty," Hilda said.

"Her narcissism will lead to her downfall," CNMN said.

"Eloquent, CNMN!" Korsica complimented. "We only have a small window of opportunity, so we must be careful."

"Dang, Korsica, you sure know how to plan. You remind me of a couple of guys I know who can make that kinda stuff happen." Connor said.

Chai scoffed. "I don't get compliments on MY plans…"

"Aaanyway, I've synchronized Korsica's new parts to 808's frequency," Peppermint explained.

"What's this, now?" Korsica asked in confusion.

"Don't worry, you're gonna love it!" Chai said.

Nighttime in the Marketing Department sector of the Vandelay Campus. The whole place was lit up festively, looking like an entire city, as fireworks went off below them.

"Quite the spectacle," Lysithea noted.

"Yeah… fireworks and everything. Marketing budget now is higher than even development." Korsica explained.

"What happened to this company…?" Peppermint asked.

"I know what you mean…" Macaron slumped.

"Sir Macaron, your negativity is ruining the festive mood," CNMN said with a bright anime expression drawn on his face.

"On that note, let's get going." Hilda suggested.

"Alright, heading in," Chai said as the four of them departed to head to the museum.

(Cue: Through the Halls of History- Hi-Fi Rush OST)

The quartet landed on the festival grounds and soon got moving.

"Everyone, there should be a back route nearby leading to the museum." Korsica directed.

"One day, I wanna take the front route," Chai replied.

Peppermint sighed. "How about next time, we shoot you out of a cannon right to where we need to go?" she replied sarcastically.

The group made their way through the path to the back route and then heard Mimosa on the PA system.

"This is the night you've been waiting for: the Armstrong Festival! I know you're eager to get home to a better life and spread the word about your fantastic enhancements. But this is your night to celebrate! And for the highlight of the night…a special performance by the one and only ME! See you on the main stage." Mimosa said on the screens around the area.

"Geez, she's like Constance but MUCH worse," Hilda said.

"Is this concert for the Armstong Applicants in attendance, or her own self-indulgence?" Lysithea sweated.

"Honestly, I don't know," Korsica admitted.

The group eventually found the way into the back route, but flamethrowers were blocking the way.

"We found the backroute, Korsica! But one problem… it's on fire." Hilda said.

"Our anti-human security. And I think this is where I come in." Korsica affirmed.

"You're prepped, so get in there!" Peppermint confirmed as Chai called Korsica in.

"I'll have to charge up enough energy to blow out the flames, but you'll all only have a few moments before it starts up again." Korsica informed, before rapidly spinning her escrima staff. After building up enough energy, she let loose a powerful cyclone that extinguished the geysers.

"Impressive!" Lysithea said.

"Way to go, Korsica!" Macaron also complimented as the group went through the door before the flames burst again.

"Peppermint, this tech is amazing!" Korsica complimented.

"Thanks. I, uh… it wasn't much." Peppermint replied nervously for some reason.

"Miss Peppermint, your face is turning red. Are you having an allergy attack?" CNMN asked.

Regardless of CNMNs inquiry, the group pressed on through the back route before finding themselves at the front entrance to the Vandelay museum. But just before they could head inside, the large Vandelay statue was smashed to pieces by a new type of robot. It was tall and bulky, with a crimson red paint job and an obvious connection to fire.

"You're all supposed to be at the show," it declared before a piece of rubble fell on its head, quickly recovering thereafter and putting up its dukes. "Prepare to get burned."

The new robot then rapidly threw a few punches before its fists caught on fire.

"Okay, that's a problem." Hilda admitted.

"Don't worry, Hilda. I'll handle this." Korsica piped in.

"You sure, Korsica?" Hilda asked.

"Putting out fires is my specialty. Figuratively and literally." Korsica said.

And so, the group engaged in combat with the BL-1Z5 unit, dealing with its flaming fists as it ducked and weaved like a boxer as it tried to hit the group with its red hot fists.

"Korsica!" Chai called.

"Leave it to me!" Korsica replied, warping in and blasting two cyclones at the BL-1Z5, putting its flaming fists out and allowing Hilda to get close and pummel the hand-to-hand fighter with her Heroes' Relic.

After it was demolished, another BL-1Z5 appeared along with two SBRs.

"Just so you all know, I can soften up some of the tougher enemies. Don't forget to call me in on those heavies!" Korsica advised.

That they did, using Korsica's techniques to soften up the enemies and stun them. Korsica didn't do direct damage, but her skills were useful, in both stunning smaller enemies, and putting out fire-type enemies.

After dealing with the SBRs, the group ganged up on the BL-1Z5. Korsica put out its flaming fists as the group did damage to it, but it soon turned enraged as it pulled Chai into a standoff.

FISTS OF FURY

The BL-1Z5 wound up a 5-hit combo before going at Chai with it, but he parried all 5 strikes and cut the boxing robot down.

"Impressive!" Peppermint said.

"I am so glad we didn't have to tragically destroy you, Lady Korsica!" CNMN added.

"Alright! And into the museum, we go." Chai said.

The group entered the museum and saw displays of all the Security Bots they fought so far. Although, their descriptions were repurposed for more general uses than fighting.

"Smells like history!" CNMN said.

"Welcome to the Vandelay Historical Museum. Explore the journey from its humble roots to the behemoth it's become today!" Mimosa's voice was heard through the speakers.

"Ugh, she did the announcements herself, too? She is SO full of herself." Korsica said.

"Well, I for one am very interested!" CNMN said.

"Guys, that exhibit takes us to where we need to go. Head there." Peppermint said.

"Mimosa believes Connor is still captured, so if she checks in, make sure he's covered," Macaron noted.

"I'll find a way to stay outta her sight," Connor asked.

As they made their way through the museum, the group heard Mimosa's voice through the speakers as they made it to the first display.

"We all know Kale Vandelay, our prodigious leader, but where does the story start?" Mimosa announced as they saw it was the garage of a house with the silhouette of a woman inside and a truck outside. "Originally 'Vandelay Solutions,' we were once a small little startup. Roxanne Vandelay, designing chips and robotics in her garage, would sell them out of her car. Not impressive, but you have to start somewhere, I suppose. Look, that is the original truck on display!"

"Wow," Connor said.

"Okay, forget what I said about Mimosa being worse than Constance. I'd take her over this lady any day, at least Constance respects others." Hilda said.

"They don't mention those robotics led her to solving a global energy crisis. It's almost like they're mocking her!" Peppermint said.

"Peppermint, let's focus." Korsica reminded.

"Okay, moving on," Chai said as they headed out of the display room.

"I feel like this exhibit will favor one side only." Lysithea noticed.

"The winners of the war write the history books, unfortunately," Korsica said.

The group continued before red-colored SBRs broke through the windows as they had goggles and backpacks on their backs and their blades were enflamed.

"Fire Squad reporting in!" one of them said, directing the other two to their enemies. "Stop it right there!"

Though these SBRs were fire typed, they were still just as simple to destroy. Korsica was called in to help with their flaming swords and stun them so all three could be scrapped. After that, the group headed into the next display in the exhibit.

"Vandelay grew, and in only 3 years, the company became the Future Universe's largest supplier of robotics. Robots that efficiently- and literally- made the all words in the Future Universe a better place every day." Mimosa said as a cardboard cutout of an older woman was seen moving by a house and a couple of buildings, before a display was shown of Roxanne by the current Vandelay tower, with the campus mountain in the background along with the logo. "We were now "Vandelay Technologies", but we still had a ways to go." Roxanne Vandelay had her hair styled in a sharp bob cut, and she also had green eyes as well as a small pair of glasses on the bridge of her nose. Her outfit consisted of a blue and white dress with sharp shoulder pads and long sleeves, along with gold, hoop earrings. There was a gold and brown belt around her waist, and the right half of her dress was longer than the left. Roxanne also wore black tights and black and gold heels.

"Those were the good old days… Everything we did felt like…well, felt like it made a difference." Macaron said.

"That's because it did!" Peppermint piped in.

"And from the outside, no one knows any better…" Macaron said.

"Roxanne, she resembles Peppermint and Kale," Lysithea said to herself. "(Looks like I was right…)"

The group headed into the next room as all the paintings hung up and shifted to show Mimosa sitting down. Connor ducked back into the previous room just before she shoved one of her assistant bots out of the way to sit.

"The defect, and that outlaw ruffians' sidekicks?! Kale said you were dead and buried." Mimosa said.

"Kale's a liar, Mimosa! Figures you'd side with him." Korsica cut in.

"Korsica?! Oooh, what a twist!" Mimosa said.

"Enough theatrics!" Chai said.

"Oh, there's never enough! And I'm not going to let any of you ruin my performance." Mimosa said before the paintings flickered out as a WA-ES-2 and a SEN-C0 warped in, Connor jumping back in to help out.

"Did she see me?" Connor asked.

"Nope, she didn't. Boy is she in for a surprise when she sees you." Hilda said. "And we'll show her not to call us your sidekicks!"

It was easy to destroy the SEN-C0s shield lance and then junk it right after, but the WA-ES-2 took more effort due to it being a master swordsman with a plasma katana. But they were able to parry its attacks and cut it down after it attempted a Poetic Blade attack.

"Well, glad Mimosa doesn't know I'm here," Connor said.

"But she does know the rest of us are here… Not good!" Macaron said.

"Looks like the alarm triggered some lockdowns," Korsica noted.

"We'll look around for another route," Chai said.

The group ducked into a storage room as Macaron smashed through a Z-Shielded wall, coming back behind the senses to see a power supply area. Korsica along the way, demonstrated another trick she could do with her wind techniques. She could overheat generators so that for a limited time, new routes would be created. They fought their way around the area, junking security as they go, they soon found their way back to the main exhibit path.

"Oh, everyone, you all have quite a view of the exhibit!" CNMN said.

"CNMN, why are you the only one enjoying this?" Chai asked.

"It's exciting and educational!" CNMN answered.

"A notice to all employees: The rumors about the demise of department heads have been greatly exaggerated. Just want to let everyone know we're all in tip-top shape to rebrand our lineup of executives!" Mimosa said on a monitor held by a flying drone.

The group made their way across the platforms as they soon reached the other side of the museum and came across another exhibit.

"Ugh, another one?" Peppermint groaned in annoyance.

"As time crept forward, Roxanne Vandelay saw it fit to retire and pass along the company to a new visionary," Mimosa said as a cardboard cutout of Kale appeared. "Kale, her only child, was the obvious choice. He was as smart-if not smarter-than his brilliant mother. And oh, look at that hair!"

"(This woman sure knows how to spin the truth.)" Lysithea thought.

"What? That's just a lie!" Peppermint said in anger.

"Miss Peppermint, you are more frustrated than dealing with Mister Chai!" CNMN said with dread lines drawn on his head.

"Today, Kales dear mother lives in peace and quiet, enjoying her retirement, knowing the company is in great hands." Mimosa continued.

"Can i be the first to call out on that?" Connor asked. "Weve been casing Vandelay for months, no way would Roxanne just retire and give Kale the reins after she built up her own company sky high in 3 years tops."

"He forced her out…" Peppermint muttered as the group entered the next room as Mimosa appeared on the paintings once more, forcing Connor to hide again.

"Ugh! You all are just as annoying as Kale's been saying." Mimosa said.

"Shut it!" Chai and the girls said.

"Never!" Mimosa said before the screens flickered back to normal art.

The group then continued their way forward as they made their through the machineworks of the museum before entering a room as Mimosa appeared on a screen once more, Connor making sure to take cover.

"Some pests just don't want to go away," Mimosa said in annoyance.

"Show's over, Mimosa!" Chai said.

"Oh, I doubt that. I haven't even hit the stage. Too bad you all won't be able to catch the performance of a lifetime. But at least you all will get a light show." Mimosa said as robots spawned in. These being a BL-1Z5 and a squad of SBR-CURs, the group soon sent them to the scrap heap. Next appeared a KEM-0N0, and following that, a trio consisting of a flying bird robot called a VU-TOR1 and two GNR-FLOs before they were junked too as the group then found themselves back in the museum.

"You're almost there, guys." Macaron said.

"Just open the door for us in the next room." Korsica said as the group soon approached a door with several latches on it.

808 leaped forward and slammed her paw onto the keypad, unlocking the latches and opening the door, letting Peppermint and the others inside.

"Okay, I think the place is clear." Chai said as everyone entered another exhibit room before the lights dimmed.

"Kale took Vandelay Technologies into the next era with his vision for the future: Project Armstrong. He single-handedly developed the robotic limb system, taking the world's biggest technological empire directly into our hearts and minds." Mimosa said as a cutout of Kale popped up before Peppermint grabbed it and threw it to the floor.

"You liar! That's not what happened!" Peppermint said as she stomped her prostheticfoot on the cutouts face.

"Peppermint, take it easy." Macaron tried to ease Peppermint before she slapped his hand away.

"I feel your pain." CNMN said with drawn tears on his face. "The exhibition was not all I hoped for, either."

"She did all the hard work! You stole it!" Peppermint said.

"So it is true then." Lysithea finally spoke up, getting everyones attention.

"Whats up, Lysithea?" Hilda asked.

"Yeah, why do I feel like out of all of us, you're more in the loop?" Chai askd.

"Because I've finally confirmed something that I've suspected ever since we saw Kale on the conference call in Rekka's office." Lysithea esxplained. "I know why you're so angry, Peppermint. Kale wasn't the only one Roxanne raised as her child, was he?"

"Wait, are you saying…?" Hilda asked.

"Yes, Hilda. Roxanne Vandelay… is Peppermint's mother." Lysithea said.

"WHAT?!" Chai asked in shock.

(Cue: How Far We've Come- Hi-Fi Rush OST)

"No way! Roxanne is Peppermints mom?!" Hilda asked.

"And by association with familial genetics, that would make Kale…" Connor started.

"My brother…." Peppermint reluctantly finished.

"Now this makes a lot more sense." Macaron said.

"I'm sorry I didn't mention anything about it." Lysithea said. "I did not want to make things worse."

"He's always taken advantage of people, but I didn't think he'd take things this far…" Peppermint said as she sat on the display stage as 808 nestled on her lap. "I know what you all probably think. You all think-" she started as tears began flowing down her cheeks.

"It doesn't matter," Lysithea said as she sat down on Peppermint's left.

"Lysithea's right. Who cares?" Chai added, sitting down to her right, Peppermint looking t him with years. "Did you think we wouldn't talk to you anymore? We got this far because of you. We're all here because of you."

"Yeah, but…" Peppermint sobbed.

"And we're all here fighting because of what you found, and what you're tryin' to stop." Connor piped in.

"Not to mention Mister Chai, Mister Connor, Miss Hilda, and Miss Lysithea are the ones in the most danger!" CNMN added.

"Well, yeah, there's that. But that's, like, secondary or something." Chai said.

"Your brother doesn't define who YOU are." Macaron said.

"And this doesn't change anything." Korsica added.

"Really?" Peppermint asked.

"It only gives us a stronger reason to fight. As friends." Chai said.

"You're not alone in this, Peppermint." Lysithea added.

"Believe me… it's always great to have friends you trust, to watch your back." Connor said.

Peppermint smiled at this, before they heard fireworks going off outside. "So… you guys wanna go crash a party?"

"Let's do it." Connor said as they headed out.

"Yknow, I REALLY wanted to say that 'crashing the party line since we got here.' Chai said to Peppermint. "But it's okay, you can have it." he said before he held his fist out.

"Alright." Peppermint said as the two fist bumped. Before leaving though, she took one last look at the final exhibit in the Vandelay Museum, before satisfyingly closing the door behind her.