Daily Life of Monster Girls in Alabama

by GoatManofAnime

It's time for a MonMusu fanfiction that takes place in sweet home Alabama, nuff said.

59. Bonus 9: Side Pieces

Bonus 9: Side Pieces

It was another average day in the Bizzell household, as Caleb entered the kitchen after finishing up his part in a design project for work. He opened the fridge for a well-deserved ice-cold diet Dr. Pepper. He noticed a few down on the lower part of the door and started to bend over to grab one.

Unbeknownst to him, a looming dark figure appeared behind him. Its menacing purple eyes glowing like bright gemstones as a wide grin spread across their face, staring at his rear. They reached out and -

Caleb jumped, startled, nearly dropping his drink, as he felt a hand slap his butt cheeks. He turns to see Mirabelle smiling mischievously and giggling over his shoulder.

"Seriously? You have to do that EVERY time I bend down?" Caleb remarks, not even angry or annoyed anymore.

"It's not my fault it's so tempting to slap," Mirabelle innocently remarked before groping his rear, making him flinch again.

"How do you always know? I thought you were in your room just now."

"I'm not sure, really. I just got the sudden jolt feeling."

"Ugh, that reminds me of a coworker. His wife apparently does the same thing to him. Maybe that's a super power all girlfriends and wives get after getting themselves a man," Caleb remarked, closing the refrigerator door.

"I'd say that a proper good ability to know when you're bending this tight, round arse over. I come as quickly as I can!"

"Well I hope you at least have time to clean your hands," Caleb smirked.

Mirabelle blushed then pouted before squeezing harder, making Caleb tense up.

"Ayooo! Why so salty?! That's still my ass you're grabbing!" Caleb said.

"No! My arse!" Mirabelle playfully said, groping him a bit more gently.

"Guess we can own it jointly then. Well, at least I can say I'm still my own man."

"No! My Caleb!" Mirabelle exclaimed dramatically, releasing her grip then hugging him from behind, making sure to mush her breasts into his back. He grinned, letting out a small chuckle.

"You better be glad I love you."

"I am, like you would not believe," Mirabelle hummed, nuzzling her forehead to his back.

"Hey! Can you guys turn the VANILLA down a notch?! I'm trying to concentrate here," shouted the voice of Zwei from the living room, who could be seen on the couch playing a game on Caleb's PS4 called 'Elden Ring'. The man was still hunting for a PS5 and refused to go to Gamestop.

She was currently fighting a boss called Margit, The Fell Omen. Next to her was Drei, reading a book on medicinal plants found in the Southeastern U.S. and providing moral support to her sister.

"You health bar's low," Drei commented, not even looking up from her book.

"YOU THINK?! Come drink the potion! Why are you drinking so slow?! Come on dodge the-" Zwei yelled as her character rolled over but the enemy came down with a huge hammer made of light, killing her instantly much to the Karmaitachi's disbelief, "NOOO! I DODGED that! I FUCKING dodged that! How does he STILL hit me?!"

"So, how has she been doing since I was back there?" Caleb walked up to them, watching the screen.

"I'd say she's graduated from laughably pathetic to...utterly hopeless," Drei reported.

"I'm rolling and I'm dodging and STILL losing! And what's with these lesser enemies?! I was fighting a guy earlier that could turn invisible, FLY, STAB me behind, AND could phase through walls! And to ADD more 'fucking' to the 'bullshit', turns out there were TWO of them! Now there's THIS asshole?!"

"Hey, I warned you these Souls games were NO joke. After dying fifty times to the same dumbass shit, you kind just gotta make peace with it. Pretty sure that's FromSoftwares slogan at this point. In fact, how many losses doe this make?"

"I lost count after seventeen," Zwei growled through her teeth.

"Twenty-nine and counting," Drei informed, still invested in her book.

"Alright, so you've probably learned his patterns by now, I say try running his pockets again. Thirty times the charm as they say," Caleb encouraged taking a sip of DD Pepper.

"I'm not done! Fuck this guy! His name's MARGURETTE!" Zwei yelled in determination before respawning.

"What bloke says that anyway?" Mirabelle skeptically asked.

"Any guy that spends half his weekend grinding so you can FINALLY get through Lothric Castle and defeat a no-hit box JUST to get a dragonslayer armor set which may as well be made of fuckin' CONSTRUCTION PAPER compared to the FINAL boss!" Caleb says with a noticeable amount of disdain.

"...That is...a hyper specific example," Mirabelle commented.

"It saw it on Reddit."

"No ya didn't," she replied knowingly.

Before Caleb could deny it, the front door flew open and in stepped Lyca in her gym attire followed by Ein in her usual clothes.

"Heyy! We're back!" the she-wolf greeted happily, her body covered in sweat.

"Hey Fuzzy, how was your run?"

"Great! I think I cleared a good few miles!" Lyca said while stretching her body out.

"Five miles to be exact. Ten, if you include the run back here," Ein clarified.

"Cuz why wouldn't you?" Caleb shrugged then teleports into the kitchen while Mirabelle adjusted the couch to observe the game, "Thanks for going with her."

"It's no problem. Honestly, I was able to get a bit of cardio in as well," Ein admitted as Caleb then teleported back with two bottles of cold water and cool clean face towels he had on standby. He hands them each a bottle and Lyca quickly downed half her bottle.

"Mwahh! Better," Lyca exclaimed at the cooling beverage with the towel slung on her shoulder.

"GAHH! FUCK YOU, MARGURETE!" Zwei exclaimed in frustration.

"Is she STILL playing that game?" Ein sighed looking at her sister, who was too enthralled with the battle to reply.

"Yep, and going about as well as ANY first-time Souls game player," Caleb remarks before Lyca watched Zwei play while cheering her on.

"Ha! Yes! Stab him! Ok, he's at half health and HE'S WINDING UP AGAIN! Dodge, dodge, DODGE!"

"Oh. It looks like she's making a bit of progress at least," Mirabelle acknowledged, not really enjoying the gory actions.

"You can do it Zwei-" Lyca cheered before Zwei's character was suddenly hit with a triple sword slash combo and died, "...Oh."

"Nevermind," Mirabelle added.

Zwei's jaw dropped in shock, her eyes staring at the screen.

'Put these foolish ambitions to rest', the Margit on screen said as Drei mouthed along to the words.

"Even after thirty times it doesn't get old," she said.

"UGH! I hate this game so muuuch!"

"Yep, heard that one before," Caleb remarks as Ein lightly giggled.

"I THOUGHT I WAS GOOD AT VIDEO GAMES!" Zwei cried out to the ceiling as Lyca patted her thigh with a comforting smile.

Caleb shook his head in shame at another scrub gamer wannabe.

"WILL JU SHUT THE FUCK UP?!" Camila fumed, stomping out from the hallway into the living room, "I am working on a new spell and that SCREECHING is making it hard to concentrate!"

"It's not my fault this guy's a piece of fucking shit!" Zwei retorted, pointing at the screen.

"Ugh, he is shit. Hideous, even by human male standards," Camilla said in disgust at the Margit's design.

"Excuse you?" Caleb said, raising an eyebrow.

"Ju know I don't include ju," Camilla clarified, snapping her fingers and creating a yellow magic seal, causing a bottle of strawberry banana smoothie to appear in her hand, "If it were me, I would lay that abomination to waste."

"I'm almost positive you'd fit in well in the Dark Souls universe," Caleb pointed out.

"A plethora of magic to bewilder and frustrate any opponent," Mirabelle added.

"Pension for gratuitous violence," Drei chimed in.

"You'd be right at home."

"Hmm, I suppose it will be fun to BUTCHER and OBLITERATE foolish humans that dare encroach upon my domain," Camilla spoke in a demonic voice with a wicked, gleeful grin at the idea.

"Aw, geez, why would you guys enable her?" Ein sighed, hands to her hips.

"But I will have to decline," Camilla said, coming down from her murderous fantasy as she took a seat with her back against the counter and leg crossed then pops opens the smoothie bottle, "This is mi true home and mi familia...and I annihilate anyone or anything that threatens it."

"I love our home and family too, Cami!" Lyca blissfully stated as the others grinned dubiously.

"She completely filtered out the whole 'indiscriminate killing' part," Ein said.

"Love is Helen Keller," Drei commented, still reading.

"Alright! Thirty-one times the charm!" Zwei stated, starting the game again.

"Well, I can certainly say she doesn't give up easy," Mirabelle pointed out, intrigued.

"We Karmaitachi are known for our tenacity. It's kind of in our nature to keep pushing forward. A valuable asset during hunts or long missions," Ein replies.

"Or, in this case, torture," Caleb said in a malign tone, earning a chuckle from Mirabelle, Ein, Lyca and even Camilla.

Suddenly, Caleb's phone started playing 'Lost in Paradise' in his pocket and he quickly took it out. He gestured to the others that he had to take it, seeing that it was a call from Rodney. He walked off to the hallway where it was quieter. The girls could still hear him though.

"Hey, Rodney, I finished the models. I'll send them-huh? Hey hey, slow down, what?! What happened?!...Jesus Christ...what network is it on? All of them?!" Caleb gasped from the hallway as the others looked worriedly between each other, "Hang on!"

Caleb stormed into the room. He grabbed the remote from the coffee table, shifting the TV back to satellite mode, subsequently pulling Zwei from her game.

"Hey, whoa! Boss, what's going on?!"

"Hang on, Zwei! This is important!" Caleb said quickly, inputting the number for CNN News.

"What's wrong, Dear?"

Before he could answer the screen changed to the new feed from North Carolina. On it showed groups of humans and liminal protestors called LiL'SiR (Love is Love, Species is Irrelevant) in the streets and a group of white nationalist people dressed in strange militia-like outfits with banners featuring racist rhetoric toward liminals; they called themselves 'Monster Hunters'. Caleb and the others were fixated on the screen, not prepared for what happened next.

Someone had opened fire on the group of liminals and humans as they scattered for cover and others fell to the ground after being hit.

The new reporter showed footage of several dead humans and liminals, people sobbing hysterically over them, and others that were injured being escorted by MON to safety. All the while the nationalists and hunters cheered before shouting angrily at the gunmen being apprehended, demanding to be set free.

"Gods...", Mirabelle covered her mouth then looked away while Caleb sat, trying to process what he had just seen.

The Zyklons watched the screen with melancholic expressions, reminded of similar experiences back in their home. They had become familiar with it by now.

"They...they killed them. Why?" Lyca expressed, trying to understand what had just happened.

"Lyca... it's... it's OK," Zwei spoke, trying to ease her.

"OK?! Those humans just killed them...for no reason. They weren't attacking them or even approaching them! But they just... HOW is THAT OK?!" Lyca stated in frustration to Zwei's surprise.

Camilla gave a look of sheer disgust, "It is the way of their kind, Señorita. Killing others not like them, including each other, is the nature of humans. It's always the same, everywhere. All of them make me sick."

"...even me?" Caleb uttered as the Elder Devil's intense expression melted. Lyca and Mirabelle looked to him in shock.

"N-NO! Of course not! Ju know when I say that I DO NOT include ju!" Camilla vehemently stated.

"But you have to, I AM a human too, Camilla," Caleb retorted as the Elder Devil was taken aback, "That said, sometimes even I HATE it. I don't like this country I salute to...or the species I was born to."

"Dear...", Mirabelle touched his arm comfortingly. She didn't like seeing him this upset.

'Caleb', said the voice of Rodney from Caleb's phone, catching him and the others by surprise.

Caleb winces in realization that he had accidentally put it on speaker, "S-Sorry! Forgot to hang up...uhh...talk to you later, Rodney."

"Take care bud," he spoke on the other end before hanging up.

...

Across town, in a large mint green two story house with a pool in the back, Rodney could be seen putting his phone away, still in shock at what he was seeing on TV.

"Who were those people, darling?" spoke a woman who was sitting pressed beside the human male in casual jeans and red t-shirt with andIncredibles symbol. Upon second glance, one could make out a large serpentine body with snow-white scales coiled around the couch. Her top human half, which was cut off at her thighs, was objectively attractive. An elegant figure, G-cup breasts, and bodacious alluring hips. Her skin was pale and she had long, silky white hair and straight bangs with pointed elf-like ears protruding from her head. She wore a white robe with light blue wave pattern features with red sash and white Zelda TriForce t-shirt underneath. A Shirohebi.

"That was my coworker I told you about. The one with the purple Centaur. Those were his other houseguests. They seem pretty torn up about this too," Rodney answered staring at the screen as the reporter kept talking. He honestly couldn't put into words how horrible this was.

"Can you blame them?" the Shirohebi asked incredulously.

"Not at all. It's just hard to take in."

They looked back at the screen, seeing a couple of humans and a owl Harpy on camera. The two humans were in tears and inconsolable while the Harpy tried to her best to calm them.

'THESE FOLKS LYING DEAD IN THE STREET! THEY WEREN'T DOING NOTHING! NO NO SHUT UP! YA'LL THE MONSTERS! Y'ALL THE MONSTER! COME UP IN MY TOWN WITH THAT SHIT! GET OFF ME, NO! I LIVE HERE MY WHOLE LIFE AINT NEVER HAD THIS SHIT! LIMINALS CAME HERE IT WAS STILL PEACEFUL! Y'ALL THE MONSTERS!' shouted the human woman on TV at the hunters and nationalists while Owl Harpy desperately tried to pull her away.

Rodney and the Shirohebi go silent for a moment, seeing the pain and fear on so many humans and liminals' faces.

"I...I can't...that's enough," Rodney shook, not wanting to watch anymore and switched from cable to stream services on his smart TV.

"It's...JUST awful!" the Shirohebi stated, clutching the bottom of her robe, "Those people were murdered all because they want to be with liminals!"

"Aki...I don't know what to say. Stuff like this has been getting worse all the time. You wouldn't believe the stuff I read about these 'Hunters' do to human/liminal spouses."

"I don't understand. Wasn't the point of legalizing marriage to UNITE our worlds?!" Aki stated in disbelief.

"Sadly, that's not the case hun. There are some, not just 'hunters', that just don't want that for a number of reasons; religion the most common. Since my company started hiring liminals, I've been seeing more people leaving because of it or because...well..." Rodney trailed off, trying to put it nicely.

"They don't want to be seen as equals to animals...like me?" Aki said in a weak tone, her shoulders slumped.

"Hey! You are NOT an animal! You understand? You may have a snake body, but that doesn't make you a animal. I may be a primate that doesn't make me an animal. The difference is a SOUL. You have that. I see it in your eyes everyday," Rodney assured, cupping her face.

Aki looked at her human host with soft ruby red eyes and smiled warmly, "Thank you, darling."

"Yeah... honestly, I agree with Caleb. I don't like this country sometimes either," Rodney admitted.

"You should come live in Japan with me and my family, then! I bet they'd love you and we live much closer to water. Plus, I hear interspecies marriage there is quickly becoming the norm."

"Not a bad backup plan. Right now though, I'm happier as an Alabama man. Plus, it's not like my family doesn't love you too. I think mom got herself a new shopping buddy."

"I suppose that's true," Aki sweetly giggled, nuzzling his shoulder.

"Yep, and I still have another year on my contract at the firm. Can't leave until it's up. The others and I still have to train the new liminal staff. Luckily, most of these girls seem pretty bright-"

"Wait!" Aki stopped him, pulling away and looking him in the eye, "Did you say...girls?"

"Yeah? Most are girls but there are a few guys too...why are you staring at me like tha-ooh!" Rodney flinched as the Shirohebi clasped the sides of his face staring at him with menacing red eyes.

"You didn't say they were mostly women, Darling. So you find them pretty, Darling? You find them attractive, Darling? You want to DATE them, Darling?" she hissed, becoming more unhinged by the second as her tail slinked behind him, making sure he couldn't escape. Dread started to fill the young man's senses upon realization of what he had just done.

"N-Now calm down, babe! It's not like that! That's not what I meant! Ah!" Rodney exclaimed as his legs and arms are quickly bound up by her tail. She pushed him to the couch, straddling him as familiar light blue flames begin emanating from her pristine scales and white hair. They didn't burn his flesh or even hurt but he could feel heat gradually growing within him, especially in his lower region.

"Darling, you know I love you, right? That I'd do anything for you, right? That you're mine and I'm yours, right?" she emphasized, grinding herself against him.

"Y-Yeah, of course! Aki, just-"

The Shirohebi shushed him with her finger.

"Yes. I wish to keep it that way. I can't have you becoming unfaithful. I have to, once again, show you why you don't need another woman," Aki spoke in a manic, almost desperate tone as she unzipped his pants, sliding her hand inside. Rodney winced at the heated pleasure realizing, he couldn't stop her at this point and decided to stop resisting.

The man won and lost at the same time.

...Elsewhere...

Across town, Sterling could be seen finishing up at the house of a recently added host family; an older couple, possibly in their fifties, and a Weresheep girl.

"Alright, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact our office using the number in the care package," the agent said, going off the usual script.

"Thank you sir, we will. We'll be sure to take good care of her," the husband assured with a hearty grin to which the Weresheep girl smiled back.

"It'll be nice to have a sweetheart like her around. Son's grown up and married, hardly ever come by. Thank you again," the wife said in appreciation as the Weresheep girl touched her shoulder warmly.

"No problem folks. Take care now and welcome to ICEP," Sterling said with a grin, waving them goodbye as he walked away to his car.

He watched from his car as the couple and their houseguest walked inside. He then took out his phone and opened an app that looked like a combination of the ICEP logo and fairy wings.

"Are you in position?" Sterling spoke.

'Yezzir,' answered a high-pitched male voice. Inside the house, hidden inside a house plant was a male blue fairy in a tiny ICEP suit speaking into a small communication device strapped to his waist, 'So far I sense bad intent from them. They actually don't like her.'

"Good to hear. I'll check back in a week. Keep an eye out until then."

'Can do, zir!' the little fairy guy affirmed before signing off.

Sterling mused for a moment about how it was good ICEP didn't suspend the fairy spy program in spite of...that one incident. They simply restructured training and support programs for the fairies to minimize future trajedies.

He pulled out of the driveway and headed down the road. The man sighed tiredly to himself, glad that he was done with his rounds of all twenty-three clients under him in area. He made his way back to the office to complete some paperwork before clocking out. Warranting another sigh.

Suddenly, he got a call and was surprised to see who it was. It was one of his superiors from I.A. headquarters.

Sterling answers the phone, "Good afternoon, Agent in charge Greenley."

"I'm afraid it's anything BUT good, Agent Sterling," came the grim voice of the elf man on the other end, now in a dark green I.A. suit.

Sterling still found it crazy how quickly the male Elf went from being an Alabama homicide detective to one of the department heads for Interspecies Affairs LLC.

"Why is that, sir?" Sterling curiously asked.

"Haven't you received the notification on your phone? It's all over the news media right now."

"No sir, I've been busy today with getting a two new host established and checking up on five current hosts "

"Ah, well there's been a terrible incident today and I've been requested to discuss it with you and the other agents in your branch. I'll arrive in about ten minutes."

"Alright, I'm on my way back as well. I'll be there shortly," Sterling affirmed.

"Very well. See you then," Greenley replied before hanging up.

Sterling slowed to a stop behind a large truck and four other cars. He used the opportunity to check his phone and clicked on his news app, immediately seeing a breaking news warning.

The agent's jaw dropped, so shocked by what he was reading that the phone nearly slipped out his hand. There was even a video. He pressed play, listening to the reporter woman describe the grisly events that had unfolded. The screams of panic and gunfire permeated the inside of his car.

The light turned green. Sterling continues the drive to the office, listening to the video with a heavy heart.

As he was driving, he passed by an apartment complex.

Inside one of the single bedroom units, was a bedroom filled with anime and magic memorabilia, Fairy Tail and Harry Potter posters and plushies, Dungeons and Dragons monster figures and mage spell books, and Magic the Gathering cards and buttons. The room itself was kind of a mess with empty McDonald's and Starbucks cups stacked on a desk around a laptop along with half eaten bag of Takis. Shirts, bras, and panties could be seen on the floor or dangling on the furniture and even the door. There was even a Gray Fullbuster body pillow on the messy bed for night time cuddling.

The rest of the apartment was relatively neat, save for the living room. Which, admittedly, was a bit messier. Pants and underwear was strewed on the couch of chair with empty takeout boxes and bags stacked in different area for some modicum of order.

It was not like anyone (aside from the landlord) would complain. The tenant has been living alone for years now.

Sitting on the couch was the tenant of this unit, Cheryl Banks. She was currently watching CNN news and eating a bowl of cereal for dinner as she didn't feel like cooking after coming home from a stressful day at work. It had gotten worse when she had found out online about what had happened in North Carolina.

She sat munching on her Golden Grahams, looking at that screen in disgust at a white nationalist running his mouth.

'WHEN GOD CREATED MAN, HE GAVE HIM DOMINION OVER ALL THE BEAST OF THE EARTH! YOU CALL THEM 'PEOPLE' BUT THEY'RE JUST BEASTS IN HUMAN CLOTHES! YOU LIBERALS WANNA GIVE THEM JOBS, TAKE OUR PRIDE, AND HAVE US MARRY THESE GODDAMN CREATURES?! Y'ALL MAKING A NATION OF ANIMAL HUMPING SHITHEADS!'

"Yeah, spoken like a tiny man with even tinier pride! I bet you drive a big lift Chevy asshole!" Cheryl fumed at the TV with her mouth full, accidentally covering her phone in half-chewed cereal, "Oh shit."

She wiped off her phone as the news finally switches away from the nationalist guy. Cheryl then sees the various LiL'SiR protestors hurt by the incident and immediately extended her condolences for them.

"God...what is wrong with people? How could ICEP let that happen? How did NO ONE see two guys with guns on a roof?! Fuck," Cheryl expressed, flopping her back on the couch, looking up at the ceiling. It was times like this, she wished she had someone to vent to. She then looked at her phone, going to her contacts. Most of the people were former co-workers and classmates she never really talked to anymore. She stared at one pensively.

'No...I shouldn't bother them. I don't wanna ruin their day or make it worse if they already have their own problems," Cheryl thought to herself before scrolling away landing, with widening eyes, on another titled 'Mom'.

It had been months since she last talked to her foster mother. Not since the falling out they had prior to her moving to Huntsville. When the missed calls just stopped appearing, Cheryl took it as a hint that the damage was done. There was no going back.

Cheryl put her phone to the side, sighing heavily to herself in the semi-quiet room. She grabbed the remote and flips the TV to a random channel, already having enough depressing info for one day before resuming eating.

She sighed to herself again, feeling as if a part of her soul carried out with it.

...Elsewhere...

In a familiar building in downtown Georgia, a certain Baphomet entered from a portal on a balcony with her scythes in hand. She had just come from hospital in Alabama that Nikolai was being held in. Naturally, to her annoyance, the barrier was strong and he didn't show any sign of waking up anytime soon. But it wouldn't stop her from checking. They had to let their guard down sometime.

She looked out over the balcony at the city, seeing all vehicles and humans below. A feeling of nostalgia came over her remembering...how she and Sterling had always enjoyed views like this.

Fantina quickly shook the memory out of her mind.

"Dammit..." she sighed placing her scythe on her back.

She made her way from the balcony, going down a large hallway. Suddenly, one of the doors flew open, almost smacking her in the face.

"Hey! Bozo! Watch where you're go-"

She stopped upon seeing Ivan, one of Mama Rosé's adoptive sons. He looked back at her surprised as well as Fantina noticed his pants zipper down and belt undone. A strong odor also caught the Baphomet's attention, wafting from the room.

"Whoa, what's all the commotion out here?" Acula inquired, walking out of the room, buttoning her shorts and adjusting her shirt. One of her eyes lay upon the surprised goat girl, "Oh, if it's isn't the goat Loli?"

"What the hell is THIS?" Fantina said, already piecing things together.

"Oh, just a couple of grown ups having some fun. You know what that is right?" she taunted as Fantina gave her a glare.

Ivan wore a look of regret and embarrassment on his face as he zipped up his pants.

"I'll be going," he spoke plainly.

"Kay, see ya, stud muffin!" Acula chortled, giving his butt a good slap as he protested before quickening his pace. She looked back to Fantina who shook her head, "Oh, don't gimme that look. I'm just having some fun."

"With the Boss' son."

"Nothing wrong with a little romp in the office every now and again. That's how thirty percent of human marriages happen," the Gazer shrugs.

"Is that what this is? You think he'll fall in love with you if throw yourself ass first on his dick enough?" Fantina said in disgust.

"Pfffff, HA! Who said anything about 'love'? I just wanna get my rocks off and he does too every now and again. Not that you'd get it. Of ANY for that matter."

"How about you watch that tongue before I CUT it out myself," Fantina threatened, reaching for her scythe.

"Yooo! You gonna cut me down because my pussy pops and yours is dryer than Death Valley? Someone throw her a bone, goddamit. She's so horny, she turned mean! OH, maybe one of those child lovers you bring in can help you, Pedo Goat," Acula mocked with a sneering chuckle.

"I said SHUT UP!" Fantina shouted as a red aura emanated from her body. Acula smirked, her large red eye in her head glowing brightly.

"There you are!", stated one of the Malone gangsters, catching their attention. Further down the hall behind Acula, they could see him approaching, "Mama Rosé requires your assistance, Goat!"

Fantina could sense the derision in his tone, which she was already used to, then looked back at the cocky Gazer.

"Can't keep the queen bee waiting," Acula shrugged.

Fantina scoffed at her, walking ahead.

...Back to Sterling...

Sterling had arrived at his office and was quickly escorted to the board room where Greenley was already waiting along with three ICEP associates. There was a large monitor with several other I.A. and ICEP Directors and their lead agents seated on a Teams call.

"Thank you all for joining today as representative of the Central U.S. cultural exchange. My name is Director Albas Greenley. Of course, you all know why I've called you all here. It's to address the...tragic events that have transpired in North Carolina and our strategy for a public address."

"First off, HOW is it that things escalated that far?! Weren't MON's aerial patrol surveying the entire protest?!" the representative of Wisconsin furiously questioned.

"There was only two aerial personnel, both of them Harpies, and from what we've gathered, the assailants actually fired from a balcony just out of their survey view. A balcony blindspot, if you will. Whether or not it was their intentions is still unknown."

"Whether it was premeditated or a fluke, all that matters is the effect!" the representative of Indiana stated, "Who even ARE these 'Monster Hunters'? Where'd they come from?!"

"They didn't come from anywhere," Sterling spoke up coldly, "They've always been here. We already knew there are people who wanted to undermine this organization as much as possible. All it took was the right catalyst on our part."

Greenley looked to him realization, "You're referring to interspecies marriage being legalized. It's true, we knew there would be…complications once it was put into place but it was for the good of the organization."

"He's right. It's the quickest way for liminals to gain citizenship. The more legal liminal residence means more consumers and an increased labor forces with taxable income," the representative of Ohio pointed out as Sterling gave the monitor a side eye.

"We already know that but if this would be the outcome, I'd have preferred we had delayed approval for at least another two years. At least until the public had acclimated enough to their non-human counterparts," the representative of Wisconsin stated.

"It's been over seven years already! Many HAVE acclimated to liminals in their daily lives and vice versa. I see Werefoxes working in dollar stores in my town for God's sake! We need to be doing something about these damn so-called hunters!" said the representative of Georgia.

"That's right! We have a growing number of species-related hate crimes happening all around the state. Most victims are liminals with their own businesses or working as employees," stated the representative of Kentucky.

"Yes, and that is precisely to point," Sterling spoke, getting their attention.

"What is it, Agent Sterling?" Greenley asked.

"The marriage bill brought out those who are readily accepting liminals into their lives. Not just as coworkers or bosses but also as, aquaintances, friends, siblings, lovers, and especially spouses. Many of these of people are also followers or supporters of 'LiLSiR' whose organization has been trending nationwide. And since most of their followers is from a generation of telling on yourself, it's common to see human/liminals couples posting images of themselves across social media platforms, flaunting their relationships. It's like a shooting gallery for our wannabe terrorists."

Greenley and his associates, particularly the female elf, looked to him curiously.

"In other words, they're painting targets on their backs for the Hunters in an attempt to prove their ideals false," the Ohio representative said.

"Classic millennial thinking right there. We need to get this Loser movement under control as well. They're literally doing more harm than good!" the Wisconsin representative stated.

"It's pronounced 'Little Sir' actually and yes I.A.'s media market group has been working with the movement to "censor" certain material on their platforms," Greenley assured.

"Director Greenley? Concerning the Hunters, how much data have we gathered on them? Motives? Leaders maybe?" the Kentucky representative asked.

"It's difficult to trace their movements since their members are so spread out. Their motives are to simply quote 'Show the beasts that Man is supreme.' Essentially, human supremacy," Greenley spoke with a hint of disdain, "However, we've managed to uncover their leaders identity who incites his followers on social media in different parts of the country to commit heinous acts against liminals of all kind; except for Angels, apparently."

"Fortunately, many of HIS followers also like telling on themselves through social media like TikTok, so it wasn't difficult to trace his identity," Sterling added before one of Greenley's assistant clicked a button on the large screen, sharing the screen to show the picture of the man's face. A pale skinned, thirty-something looking man, ballheaded with curly brown beard, "His name's Thomas Newton Taylor and we're already working on a warrant for his arrest."

"Why not go after him now?! The man is a menace and a terrorist!" the representative of Georgia demanded.

"He's also a human who is, intentionally or not, protected by your own human-made laws and enforced by human law officials!" Greenley pointed out, "Despite my reservations, I, like MON, have to abide by police protocol while following our own. We can't have one side undermine the other now, can we?"

"Then we need to expedite the process! The longer we delay any semblance of justice, the higher the tension will grow among humans and liminals! The last thing we need is the possibility of certain groups withdrawing completely from the program out of fear!" the Mississippi representative stated.

"If we speed things along, in the midst of this chaos, we will lose a huge chunk of our resources that could be spent on damage control! What you're proposing will just make us look desperate!" Greenley denounced.

"There are several people dead! Some of which belong to 'Key Markets' Species! What do you think will happen to our revenue if they decide to pull from the program?" said the representative of Wisconsin.

"Forty-five percent of our funding is dependent on liminal products and mining of territorial resources!" added Indiana's representative.

"Not to mention the possibility of the merfolk in Atlantis and Dark elves in Scandinavia restricting their supply chain with the U.S.! Our branch would lose MILLIONS!" Georgia's representative stated.

"YOU?! What about the funds for our research centers? Our market value for Holstaur milk, cheese, and other dairy products just reached seven and a half million in the last two year! You really think WE'RE giving that revenue up?!" Wisconsin representative incredulously said.

"Those figures don't hide the fact you're FEEDING thousands of grown people breast milk from other living people! WHY did the FDA ever approve that?!" the Ohio representative snapped.

The conference call erupts into a full tirade of individuals furiously talking over each other. Greenley tried to get them all under control as Sterling leaned back in his chair with a sigh.

'Here we go again. Back to what it really all boils down to; protecting their investments,' he thought bitterly then noticed one of Greenley's female elf assistants had been staring at him. When they made eye contact, she looked away shyly.

"EVERYONE!" Greenley shouted, his elf ears twitching, silencing the room, "We can worry about our revenues later. What matters right now is maintaining goodwill with the public. Denounce the protestors and the gunmen in custody to create an image of justice prevailing, give our condolences to the families of humans and liminals who lost their lives, but most of all, present ourselves with DIGNITY…and integrity. Any objections?"

Sterling nods to the elven man as one of the assistants proceeds to exit the room for a moment. A silence fell into the room.

Ok then, we'll conclude this meeting for now. Take care of your respective branch in the meantime.", Greenley says as the other representatives all sign off leaving a black screen. The elven man gives a tired sigh plopping down in her chair running his hands through his hair, "Fuck."

"That definitely could've gotten a lot worse. How are you holding up there?", Sterling inquires as the female elf returns with two mugs on a tray.

"It could be worse. Thank you.", Greenley says, accepting the mug from his assistant, "I'm not even sure if we're really taking the proper course here?"

"Only time can answer that. Thanks.", Sterling replies, accepting the mug from the elf woman who grins at him warmly, "The best we can do for now is keep our Agents and MON forces updated so we can move our people more fluidly."

"Indeed. First response is our priority, we cannot falter from uncertainty and carelessness. Not now, not ever.", Greenley spoke, staring down at his coffee, clenching his fist at the table. Sterling could see guilt in his eyes knowing he must still be grieving his partner.

"Do what you know is right, it's what I'm sure she would have wanted, I'm assuming.", Sterling says as Greenley gives a surprised look, "That is why you took this position?"

"I took it because I wanted to be on the right side of history. My fellow light Elves are still divided in our views towards humanity but that only means they have a chance to be amazed by the experience of life with your people and vice versa."

Sterling raises an eyebrow at him, "You are unbearably naive sometimes."

"Well, at least you know I didn't join because of the retirement plan.", Greenley smirks earning a chuckle from Sterling and small giggles from the assistants.

"Heh, yeah. The matching system is absolute dogshit.", Sterling remarks, shaking his head earning another chuckle from Greenley before standing up, "I'll be in my office. There's a few homestay requests I need to review."

"Ok, I'll keep you posted on the branches next move. ", Greenley shakes his hand, "We're going to need as many train MON agents on deck. You should also look into recruiting some of our trainees and show them the ropes, as they say."

"Thanks but I work alone.", Sterling brushes off.

"What? You're turning down having your own team again? From what I looked up, you'd make an excellent squad leader! It'd be a waste if you didn't at least give them a chance.", Greenley insisted.

"I'm sure they're talented but it's just not what I'm into, not anymore."

"...Sterling…you have to move on from that. Agent Fan–"

"DON'T!", Sterling aggressively stated startling Greenley's associates as said elf give the irritated human glaring at him a neutral gaze, "Say her name."

"Alright…Agent Sterling, as you wish. However, I am still your superior and will not tolerate insubordination. If it truly is required, you WILL train and lead the new recruits. That's an order.", Greenley says in a serious tone.

"...Understood, sir.", Sterling replies before turning to leave but the elf man stops him.

"Oh, and Sterling…you're right, it IS in honor of her. I want others of my kind to experience what I had with Hammond."

Sterling pauses a moment then forces a grin, "I had a feeling…"

He then walked out of the room as Greenley and his associates watched him leave. They could've sworn he sounded sad near the end.

'A feeling I am all too familiar with,' he thought.

Sterling walked down the hallway towards his office, passing other ICEP staff, nodding and smiling at them politely. It faded as he approached his office door and looked behind him at a door right across from his office.

The door had been locked for a very long time ago and the name had long been expunged from the door.

Sterling remembered the excitement on her face when he had first surprised her with her own office. He remembered teasing her on her terrible taste in furniture to which he was promptly punished with a conjured water bucket dumped on his head. He even remembered her constantly nagging him over whatever stupid thing he did.

He shook his head, breathed a heavy sigh then entered his office, closing the door shut.

…Meanwhile…

Fantina and Acula could be seen in a large meeting room with Ivan, several members of the Malones organization either standing around or seated on the couches. Mama Rosé was seated at a desk with Krasni the Red Slime by her side, pouring her a drink. They were observing, on a seventy-inch TV, the news feed of the North Carolina Massacre.

Fantina stared at the screen in pure shock while Acula and the Malones seemed relatively unfazed.

"Well, this is definitely an interesting development," Mama Rosé said intrigued.

"Ha. This will certainly going to set those ICEP retards back. Look at how they scattered like vermin the second those rednecks lit them up!" Elijah chuckled as Fantina shot him a glare. He noticed her and said, "What's your problem? Do you feel bad for them or something?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I just hardly feel it's dignified to be giggling at something so…barbaric."

"Oooh, Elijah. She just called you a Neanderthal in front of your mama! Actually, I can kinda see it with that jawline," Acula taunted.

"What?!" Elijah snapped, shooting from his seat.

"Ignore her! That's not what I meant!" Fantina said.

"Then what did you mean? It definitely sounds like you're siding with them," Elijah accused before reaching behind him, putting Fantina on the alert.

"Enough! Both of you!" Ivan stated, catching their attention as they noticed Mama Rosé and Krasni glaring menacingly at them.

"Boooo…" Acula poked her tongue out, giving a thumbs down to which Ivan ignored.

"This may be good for us actually. These 'Hunters' may be the perfect pawns to keep ICEP from meddling in our affairs," Ivan pointed out.

"Oh? And how is that?" Mama Rosé inquired.

"We all know that the biggest obstacle affecting our trade of liminals goods is ICEP's marriage bill that allows non-humans to obtain legal citizenship. However, if they were…halted or discouraged from obtaining citizenship through fear…"

"And you believe that these…'Hunters' could be the key to that scenario?" Mama Rosé raised an eyebrow.

"As things are now, we hardly have the resources or speed to do so on our own. It would be best to let the delusional warriors do the heavy lifting. We only need to keep in the shadow a bit longer, rebuilding our infrastructure for liminal goods by having them continue put as much pressure on ICEP as possible," Ivan suggested.

"Are you suggesting that we ally with the Hunters? I REFUSE to work with those shotgun stroking, white claw chugging rednecks! They'll ruin this organization!" Elijah vehemently stated.

"Not at all. It would merely benefit our organization by nudging them in the direction WE need. We have plenty of incentives; our large supply of gluttony fang. They'll likely become more clients for us strung out on the good stuff while keeping MON busy. Then we'll take any unattended liminals species."

"So, we gain more clients for the drugs, bring ICEP to its knees, and obtain more liminals to harvest goods from? Yes. It's brilliant!" Mama Rosé stated as Krasni grinned.

"And THAT'S why he's the favorite! Good job, gold star for you," Acula jubilantly said, levitating upwards and patting Ivan on the head.

Elijah grumbled something under his breath in Russian.

The other Malone members expressed their approval of her plan while Fantina looked back at the TV screen, seeing a human woman sobbing while ICEP medical staff loaded a male Satyr on a stretcher. A sickening feeling started to rise in her chest before she quickly buried it down.

"By the way, Fantina…" Mama Rosé said, catching the Baphomet's attention, "Have you been tracking Komanda Monstra's progress in their new mission?"

"...Yes, they appear to be making good progress in their planning to obtain that rare Centaur," Fantina informed.

"Is that right? Good. It must be…since you have time to visit Nikolai at the hospital," Mama Rosé said with a displeased glare.

"I…how do you know?"

Acula hid a smirk, curling up her eye tentacle that was missing an eye.

"Call it a hunch. I am just telling you to stop doing it. The last thing I want is for those ICEP dogs to catch wind of my scent because of your carelessness. Besides, I don't like the idea of something like you visiting my brother, when I myself cannot. He brought you into this organization but I have final say over everything. Do well to drill that into your skull or it will be done for you," Mama Rosé threatened as Krasni glared menacingly at Fantina.

Fantina started sweating, trying to keep her composure before the doors suddenly burst open, and in rushed one of the associates.

"Ivan! We've got a problem!"

"Hey! Can't you see we're in a meeting right now?!" Elijah chastised.

"Ah…I'm so sorry to interrupt but…we caught some ICEP agents!" he announced.

Fantina and the others looked to him in shock.

…Elsewhere…

Komanda Monstra could be seen inside their base planning their mission. Madoka could be seen with a laptop and a projector screen, showing a zoom in map of Alabama.

"Now, taking this route would be the most optimal since it's furthest from ICEP and highway patrol but also closest to the border. This'll allow the Border Extraction team, Ranka and Nikami, with assistance from Fantina to bring the Nightmare directly to our base. Any questions?"

"It seems simple enough but I feel as there are quite a few variables not accounted for," Ranka pointed out.

"Yes, and I've taken the liberty by compiling a list of contingencies that may arise to make things as flexible as possible," Madoka assured, taking out a small notepad from her breasts.

"Do you have any to idiot proof the plan from the horni-geist over here?" Kulah gestured with her thumb at Heather watching TikTok videos.

"Woo! She got a fat ass!" she hooted as Ember and a few other KM members scowled at her.

"Several, actually," Modaka took out a second notebook marked 'Heather-proof tactics'.

"Eh? WHOA GUYS, YOU GOTTA SEE THIS!" Heather shouted, startling the others, before clumsily moving her human host body over to the computer, shoving Madoka out of the way and started closing out her PowerPoint.

"Ah, hey! What are you doing?!" Madoka exclaimed as Heather opened up the internet browser.

"Trust me! You guys are gonna freak!"

"I swear to God, if I see a big, veiny dick on that screen I'm incinerating that new body of yours. Hush, sweety, cover those eyes," Ember threatened, then spoke to the Mantis in a kinder tone.

Hush, who was standing next to Satella, obeyed, covering her eyes with her hands. The Vampire also noticed Nikami doing the same and raised her eyebrow incredulously.

"Nikami, what the fuck?" Ember asked.

"More eyefulls for us," Vernal said, looking to at screen and fist bumping Kulah.

Immediately, a video showing the entire NC Massacre story was playing on a news website as humans and liminals alike were gunned down in the streets. Nikami and Hush uncovered their eyes, looking at the screen in shock while the other members of Komanda Monstra watched with mixed feelings. The 'Hunters' and white nationalists appeared on screen, spewing the same biblical rhetoric about humans being superior to the 'animals' in the country.

"Huh, not the dicks I was expecting. OK, you can loo–oh you already are," Ember remarked.

"Looks like things in this country are really heating up since they announced that whole marriage bill," Madoka pointed out.

"Yeah, not the fun kind either. Look at these humans who call themselves 'Hunters' and toting their guns like they're hot shit. Who the hell do they think they are?!" Kulah growled.

"I don't know who they plan on hunting. Certainly not me or my kind. They'll get folded real quick! Better take their sorry asses home and HUNT for a job," Vernal added with equal disdain.

"And what the hell is this bullshit about Gods giving humans dominion over beasts?! BULLSHIT! Tezcotalipoca gave females dominion over ALL males! Know your place, fatty!" Kulah berated the overweight Hunter on TV.

"I don't know about all that but they sure look like they came straight from Walmart for all their gear. They're the Walmart Militia!" Heather chided before bursting out laughing.

"It's certainly going to be difficult for ICEP to recover if they don't respond properly. They're like a glass perched precariously at top of a very small pedestal. Any small disturbance and the public's faith will be shattered," Ranka pointed out as the others looked to her.

"Heh, it could seem that everything is vorking in our favor," Satella smirked confidently, "Vhile ICEP is busy vith these reprobates, ve'll move under their radar and carry out our plan."

"I'm still not sure how long we can hide our true goal with Mama Rosé's little goat stooge keeping an eye on us," Ember said, looking at her leader.

"No need for concern, she is not the only one with eyes in the back of her head," Satella knowingly remarked as outside the base, one of Acula's smaller eyes was levitating around the building.

…Back to the Malones…

"Busteeedd!" Acula laughed tauntingly, hovering over the three individuals forced on their knees and with their hands up with the Malones surrounding them at gunpoint.

It was two human men and a female crow Harpy, dressed in business casual attire.

Fantina felt mostly indifferent.

"Well, looks like we caught a couple of dirty rats and a bird in our building," Elijah commented, glaring down at them and taking out a black pistol, cocking it once. One of the male agents flinched at the sound before the gangster pointed the weapon at the Harpy.

"We caught this one skulking around near the PlayPen! It didn't take long for us to round up his little friends. Looks like we got 'em before they could call their backup," one of the Malone goons informed, pulling out three phones in stacks from his pocket.

"You bastards! You won't get away with this! What have you done with Marron?!" one of the ICEP agents furiously asked before that same goon kicked him, knocking him to the floor, "AGH!"

"Eh? Marron?" Fantina muttered.

"Blake! Leave him alone!" the crow Harpy squawked before Elijah pressed the gun more firmly to her head so she'd get the point.

"J-Just stop guys! We're outnumbered here!" the other human agent pleaded.

"See? This guy gets it, even if he is a little bitch," Acula taunted the young man, levitating over him, "Anyway, who's this Marron girl?"

"She's my sister! Her host family says she went missing two weeks ago. I knew something had taken her but I didn't expect to find the Malones' base. I don't care about that, just give her back!" the Harpy berated before Elijah grabbed her by the hair.

"SILENCE, you ICEP trash are getting real cocky now, aren't ya? Think you can just walk up into our building?! Huh?!" Elijah angrily stated, jamming his pistol down her throat.

"ELIJAH!" Ivan firmly stated as Elijah glared at him before shoving the Harpy, who was coughing wildly, back. Ivan then looked down over the cowering male agent, "What exactly did you three hope to even accomplish here anyway? You thought you'd stumble into our base, walk out with your kin, then tell the rest of MON where our operation is?"

All three agents looked at him, not answering, since they knew how ludicrous it sounded.

"Unfortunately, your efforts are pointless. I think I know who it is you're referring to. We captured a few stray Harpies awhile back for a client and I remember one with beautiful jet black feathers and golden eyes…just like yours," Ivan said as he took out his phone.

The crow Harpy's eyes widened and her jaw fell open then narrowed her gaze, "Where is she?"

Ivan swipeped on his phone a few times then raised an eyebrow, "As I said, she had beautiful black wings and stunning golden eyes. Our client simply had to have them."

He shows a photo to the agents on his phone. The three agents were horrified to see a pair of amputated wings mounted like taxidermy on mahogany wood and a pair of golden eyeballs preserved in a specimen jaw.

Fantina clenched her fists, glaring at Ivan, wanting to berate him on how needlessly cruel this was. But she instead, like always, bit her tongue.

"M-Marron…" the Harpy whispered, her heart and mind breaking apart before hunching over, covering her mouth as she threw up in her feathers and on the floor, prompting Ivan to back away.

"Ah! Dammit, Ivan! Look what you did! Gonna take days to get that smell out!" Elijah complained as he and a few others quickly backed away in disgust.

"Marron…no…" the crow Harpy sobbed, tears flowing down her face. Fantina simply looked away.

"You fucks…" Blake growled lowly, clenching his teeth and fists. The other agent looked to him in concern.

"Eh?"

"YOU SICK FUCKS! HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO INNOCENT PEOPLE?! YOU TREAT THEM AS IF THEY'RE NOTHING BUT CATTLE AND TOYS FOR YOU TO EXPLOIT!" Blake roared as Elijah looked ready to kick his teeth in.

"Oh? Is that right?" spoke Mama Rosé as she stepped up to the group with her black walking cane. Ivan moved to the side, giving her room as the young agent watched the old Russian woman dressed in stylish red and black women's power suits, "Then you're saying it's fine that I.A. or ICEP does it?"

"W-What are you talking about?! We would nev–"

"Arachne silk!" Mama Rose' cuts him off, "Royal Jelly, Bullywug slime, Lamia, Lizardman, AND Dragon skin scales, Weresheep wool, Giant Hornet venom, HAULSTAR and Satyr milk, and much, much more. All of these are commodities produced by these people that your organization harvests by the kilos everyday. All of it worth millions on the market. You believe it's fair that you have a monopoly on all that raw material?"

"That's…that's TOTALLY different! The liminals that supply it are doing so to help with research and are compensated," he defended.

"At a fraction of the actual worth of said material and that's ONLY if they produce anything of value," Mama Rosé pointed out as the guy went silent, "Ask Fantina over there how many species conveniently didn't make the cut for being allowed into your program. It's no coincidence that Lamia, despite their culture, were let in but hers wasn't."

"Don't drag me into this…" Fantina replied with a scowl.

"I will drag you wherever the FUCK I want. I own you. The same way MON owned you. The same way they own her," Mama Rosé retorted then looked to the crow Harpy who gave her a shocked look.

"You're wrong. We work together as equals," the crow Harpy contested, glaring at her.

"Am I? You work for humans. You follow human orders and human laws. You wear human clothes. Live in human homes. You probably even go by human names instead of your species' actual ones. You liminals of MON are enforcers for humans to keep other liminals in check. You're not equal. You're slaves with extra steps," Mama Rosé sad, looking the Harpy dead in the eye.

The crow Harpy lowered her head in thought as Blake narrowed his eyes at a Malone goon that was pointing a gun at him but was focusing on Mama Rosé.

In a swift motion, Blake delivered an uppercut right into the man's balls and grabbed the gun as the goon fell over, surprising the others.

"FUCK YOU!" Blake cried out angrily, about to pull the trigger on the old woman.

However, before he could pull it, Acula fired a red laser beam from one of her eyeball tentacles, slicing his arm off. His severed arm, finger still on the trigger, fell to the floor as he hollered out in agony, clutching his arm stump. The other agent and the Harpy recoiled in horror at the sight.

"Haha! Nice try kid, but unfortunately you've been…disarmed. Yeeahhhh!" Acula cheered, pretending to put on sunglasses then did the riff much to Fantina's annoyance.

"Ghhhhaahhh! oh my g…FUCK!" Blake cried, hunched over, his mind racing, clutching his bleeding arm stump. He heard a gun cocking and looked up in fear, seeing Mama Rosé holding a .44 Remington Magnum revolver, giving him the coldest death glare he had ever seen.

Fantina and the others covered their ears as the Malones Boss let four rounds right in the young agent's skull. His blood splashed onto Rosé's suit and all over his comrades, much to their horror.

The Harpy's ears rang then she shakily uncovered her face. She was horrified by the grisly sight of her partner lying with brain matter and blood covering the floor as well with her wings.

"Fool. Shoot first, talk later," Mama Rose' spoke calmly, dabbing the droplets of blood from her face with a wet wipe.

"Blake…?" she uttered, her voice shaking as her other partner trembled and cradled his head, looking at his slain comrade, believing he was next. As a wet stain grew from his pants and clear liquid pooled around his legs, Acula's tentacle eye caught him.

"Hahaha! Check it out, Rosy! You made that one piss his pants. What a pussy! Let's all laugh at what a pussy he is!"

Acula, along with Elijah and the other Malones, save for Ivan, Rosé and Fantina, all burst out in scornful laughter at the young man. Tears of shame started trickling down his face.

Elijah then stomped his foot on his head, pressing his face into the floor.

"Filthy little piss baby! I should blow your skull in just like your little friend," he emphasizes ground his heel into the back of the agent's skull.

"Nick! No! Please don't!" the crow Harpy pleaded, tears in her eyes, then turned to Fantina, "What are you doing?! Don't you work for ICEP too?! Help him!"

Fantina clenched her scythe and turned her back, shocking the Harpy, as she bit her tongue.

"You really don't get it. They don't really care about you. Given the chance, push comes to shove, they'll leave you to the lions," Mama Rosé coldly spoke, barring down on her, "Want proof? Elijah! Raise him up."

The man looked to her curiously before doing as ordered, forcing the young man to his feet. Acula snickered, seeing the pee stain running down his grey slacks.

"W-W-What are you doing?" Nick whimpered, fearing for his life.

"We're going to have a little business transaction," Mama Rosé answered, "It's simple. You sell us the Harpy and you keep your life and leave this building. Or, my son takes your life as penance and we allow her to leave unharmed."

Fantina looks to Mama Rosé incredulously as the two agents wore horrified expressions. Ivan and the others appeared intrigued.

"Oooh, this should be good," Acula crooned, rubbing her hands together excitedly.

"You have twenty seconds to give an answer. Otherwise, I put a bullet in your heads just like this shithead," Mama Rosé emphasized, cocking the trigger back and pointing it at the despairing Harpy as Elijah did the same, pressing the pistol behind Nick's head .

"Y-You're insane," Nick said.

"I am a businesswoman. Twenty-five seconds."

Nick and the Harpy's eyes widen.

"You don't have to do this! We'll just leave and never–" Nick pleaded.

"Seventeen seconds!"

"Clocks ticking!" Acula added.

Nick could feel his heart pounding fast in his chest and mind racing while looking to the Harpy and her pleading eyes.

Fantina couldn't help watching the scene as well, starting to imagine herself in this scenario. What would his choice be?

"Ten seconds!"

"Nick!" the Harpy pleaded, feeling the barrel of the gun press against her head.

Nick was hyperventilating and sweating at this point.

"Five secon–"

"OK!" Nick shouted as Rosé raised an eyebrow, "She…she's yours."

The Harpy was stunned silent at her partner's words.

Fantina gave a despondent gaze; she had already predicted the outcome. It didn't surprise her one bit.

"There's your answer, Harpy. You now belong to me," Rosé spoke as said Harpy looked to her in despair.

"Aww, too bad, little birdy. Pledging loyalty to ICEP only for one to throw you under the bus," Acula mocked, hovering around her, "All this time you thought you worked for Nintendo but, in reality, you're E.A. Truly heartbreaking."

"That's enough, Acula," Fantina spoke up, getting the Gazer's attention.

"Hmm? Did I say something wrong? Surely you agree. Why else would you be here?" Acula chided with a wide smirk as Fantina gripped her scythe tightly ready to shut the Gazer up.

"Nick…fuck you…" the Harpy uttered her entire body shaking as the human agent watched her sadly. She then turned to him with rage-filled eyes and lunged at him, talons bared, "FUCK ALL OF YOU!"

"Acula," Rosé spoke.

"Yeah, yeah," Acula said, the large eye in her head glowing bright red, then fired a red beam of energy. The Harpy cried out in agony as her body spasmed violently and pulsated with red sparks. She fell to the ground, unconscious, at the trembling young agent's feet.

"I'm sorry…" Nick whispered.

Acula patted her hands, "There we go. One Kentucky fried homicide Harpy."

Fantina looked to the unconscious Harpy, feeling a sense of remorse before quickly pushing it down.

"Take her to the PlayPen. I'm sure Boris will find some use for her," Mama Rosé instructed before two of her men picked up the Harpy, dragging her off.

"C-Can I leave now?" Nick fearfully asked as Rosé's sons and Fantina looked at him with disgust.

"Da. You may," Rosé then turned to Fantina, "Do it."

The Baphomet shot her a glare but complied, wanting to blow off some malice anyway. She tapped the floor hard with the end of her scythe and a large red magic seal appeared at the young agent's feet.

"What?! W-W-What are you doing?! You said I could leave!" he stated in panic.

"I said you may leave this building," Mama Rosé clarified with venom in her voice then looked to Fantina, "Send Raynell and her pets their new toy."

The magic seal transformed into a glowing blue portal on the floor.

"No. NO!" he screamed as he fell through. The portal closed for Fantina and the others but on the other side it spat the agent out in a dark room. He fell on a concrete floor, groaning in pain, "Ow! Ahhhh…"

"Oh my. What have we here? A gift, perhaps..." came a feminine voice.

"W-W-Who's there?" he frightfully asked, shakily standing up as a dark snake-like sillouhette began surrounding him as a heavy sense of dread pressed on his senses. A pair of menacing purple eyes glared and towered over him before his entire body was quickly wrapped in a strangle hold, gripping with her thick, scaley tail.

"Oh, you look so sad, Deary. I've got just the thing to ease that tension," the snake-like woman spoke, her words silky and hypnotic with a hint of venom as another figure wearing a black face mask stepped up to Nick, holding a syringe.

"N-No, stop!" he blurted out as the figure injected the strange purple fluid right into his neck. Immediately, the veins on the agent's neck bulged through his skin, turning a hideous dark purple and his eyes fully dilated. His entire body trembled violently and went deathly cold as the figure smiled excitedly at him.

"Ooh, I hope you like that. I brewed that batch this morning. Get ready, I have MUCH more of my love to share," the snake spoke in unhinged delight with a Cheshire grin.

Back to Fantina, she sighed heavily, deciding she'd had enough for today and turned to leave.

"And where do you think you're going?" Elijah called out to her.

"I'm done here. I have other places to be right now."

"You're done when Mama Rosé says you are, goat! Remember who it is you owe your life to. You and those little freaks," Elijah mocked.

Fantina grit her teeth, face contorting into a murderous scowl as a red aura surged around her body. She turned her head, giving a death glare that made him flinch and Acula to recoil with a smirk.

"Let her go," Mama Rosé said, forcing her son to withdraw. She then shot a glare at the Baphomet, her thumb on the trigger of the revolver.

Fantina's aura died down and she turned her back then slashed a rippling portal in space and stepped through. The portal quickly vanished, leave the mob family behind.

"Krasni! Clean," Mama Rosé ordered before turning and leaving.

A rippling mass of red goo appeared below the lifeless body of the agent, enveloping it completely. Elijah and some of the henchmen looked away, not wanting to see what was about to happen. Acula and Ivan watched the lifeless body quickly dissolving in the red goo, stripping the flesh and reducing the bone to nothing. At the same time, it spread out enough to absorb any stray blood from the floor.

Barely a minute later, Krasni reshaped herself back to her humanoid form, leaving behind only the clothes of the agent's body. She looked to Ivan who nodded in bi appreciation before the slime trotted in the direction Rosé went like a small child. All the while, an eyeball was dissolving in the center of her body.

"I can never get used to that," Elijah expressed in disgust.

"Eh, I just look at it as like…Animal Planet or something," Acula shrugged.

…Meanwhile at Interspecies Affairs…

In one of the living units for unregistered liminals, a pair of Greater Devils were in the middle of an argument.

"Sylviaaa! Why is the toaster over in your room?" whined the voice of Heidi.

"Well I was tired of getting and going to kitchen to make grilled cheese so I brought it in here," Sylvia responded, lying on her bed, a grilled cheese on a plate beside her, as she was playing Smash Bros Ultimate on her Switch. She was a Peach main.

"Well, it is a fire hazard! You have it sitting right next to this…travesty of a room!" Heidi pointed out, gesturing to various clothes, beauty utensils, perfumes, and underwear haphazardly decorating the room and on furniture.

"Travesty? I think you're exaggerating a bit there, Heidi."

"You call THIS exaggerating?!" Heidi said, opening up her dresser door, showing plates, bowels, and eating utensils mixed in with panties and bras.

"What? That's my dish drawer. So I don't have to keep going to the kitchen for clean ones," she replied plainly.

"You have your PANTIES in with the DISHES! Every bite is going to taste like fucking Victoria Secret!"

"So I'll eat and breathe sexy? Win-win," she said as she turned her attention back to her game.

"That is not what I meant by…wait? Is that my cocoa butter cream?!" Heidi said, noticing the empty round container on her vanity dresser.

"Wait, that was yours? Sorry, I used it all on my wings yesterday," Sylvia nonchalantly apologized.

"ARE YOU–?! That was a WEEK'S supply!" she yelled, trying to resist the urge to strangle her.

"Yeah, and I needed it to moisturize my wings. Do you WANT me to flake all over the couch? Plus, I like how soft and supple it makes my skin."

"Nein, I WANT you to buy your own and I know. That's WHY I bought it and WHY I put it on MY side of the bathroom sink!" Heidi berated, going to the door on the far end of her room, opening the door to a shared bathroom connecting both their rooms.

To her far left was a neat assortment of organic beauty and haircare products. Most of it was made with liminal byproducts.

"Dude, Heidi, chill! I just mistook it for one of mine."

"Oh and I wonder HOW you managed to do that," Heidi sarcastically questioned, arms folded.

Sylvia glides in front of the bathroom door, her Nintendo Switch still in her hand on her hips, with a displeased look, "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh I don't know, HOW ABOUT THAT ATROCITY?!" Heidi snapped, pointing to the haphazard mess of half-used or totally empty shampoos, oils, conditioners, deodorants, dyes, various combs, hair rollers, brushes, makeup, lipstick, plugged up hair dryer, balled up stained toilet paper, used face towels, face creams, half empty toothpastes, mouthwashes, and a rechargeable toothbrush off its charger.

"What's wrong with it? It's just my beauty essentials," Sylvia nonchalantly shrugged.

"Essentials, hm? Is this bleach part of your routine?" Heidi chided, grabbing a small bottle of Clorox, shaking the contents inside.

"Uh, that's my hair growth blend."

Sylvia replied as Heidi gave her a blank look.

"Your what?"

"I just mixed up my conditioner with body hair remover and rubbed it thoroughly in my scalp and it started to cause my hair to fall out some. Thank chaos I'm a Devil so my hair was coming in as fast as it was falling off so I got some hair growth to fix the problem before people could notice," she explained.

"OK, but why is it in a bleach bottle though?!" Heidi questioned.

"It was almost empty anyway. Don't worry, I rinsed it out thoroughly before using it," Sylvia assured.

"Ha, can you please ju–"

A banging sound came from a nearby window from Sylvia's room, interrupting them .

"SYLVIA! HEIDI!" called a familiar voice, prompting the two to approach it and draw back the curtain, revealing their friend Sharon on the balcony; her face pressed against the glass, "LEMME IN! LEMME IIIINN!"

"OK, calm down Sharon, just give us a sec," Sylvia said as they opened the door halfway before she just forced herself in.

"Oh my Chaos! You guys gotta see this!" she said, rushing into the living room.

"Um, guten tag? Manners are still a thing, just saying," Heidi informed, slightly annoyed.

"Sorry, but I couldn't wait! You guys haven't heard what happened?!" Sharon incredulously stated, flipping on their living room TV and inputting the channel as it showed panic and death.

"What in Chaos' name happened?" Sylvia asked.

"These humans went on a killing spree and killed a bunch of liminals!" Sharon said.

"What?"

"What?"

"Yeah! Hang on, I almost found it! Err, fucking too many channels," Sharon said as she flipped through different channels, looking for one she had watched earlier.

Then, there came a knock at the door.

"I got it," Sylvia said, opening the door and was immediately greeted by Scarlett, Jocelyn, and Hana, "Hey guys!"

"Heyyy," Jocelyn chimed, forcing a smile.

"Hi Sylvia," Scarlett greeted.

"Hi guys. Is Sharon in there? There's something you guys REALLY need to see!" Hana stated in a serious tone.

"Yes, though she decided to come in through the window so thank you for using the door and can one of ju properly fill us in on what exactly is going on cause all we know is humans are going on a killing spree?" Heidi said, wanting answers.

"It's probably best you see for yourself. May we come in?" Scarlett asked, wanting to come in like a normal person.

"Sure."

"Grrr, dammit this taking too long!" Sharon growled, glaring at the remote.

"Give me that!" Scarlett said, taking the remote, bringd up a channel guide, and selected a news network, "There."

Immediately, the group of Devils were greeted with the sight of the North Carolina news feed showing the 'Hunters' opening fire on the crowd.

Sylvia and Heidi were struck speechless as the others who already had seen some of it and knew what was coming were able to muster up words.

"Looks like we're still not safe, huh?" Jocelyn somberly uttered.

"We never were. Not so long as people still hate us," Scarlett said bitterly, glaring at the TV.

"Pretty sure every liminal in this facility has seen this. What could that mean for the humans here?" Sylvia inquired.

"Everyone is gonna walk on eggshells now. Right when I was beginning to think we could be more open around humans," Jocelyn added.

"Not all of them are like…this though. We can't forget that," Hana pointed out, gesturing to the screen as the others went quiet for a moment.

"Yeah, there's Caleb! He risked his life to save us. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for him," Heidi agreed. Caleb was the best they had seen of humans.

"Plus, he took in Camilla and we found out through them that our Destined one's truly do exist," Hana added.

"True but…humans like him are still few and far between. It's better to prioritize our species' safety. I can guarantee that's what the other races of I.A. are thinking…especially those damn Angels," Scarlett spoke with a hint of venom near the end.

"Ugh, don't get me started. It's bad enough we have to be within a hundred miles of them…" Sharron spat in revulsion.

"Can't believe I.A. brought their kind here. I would've given that housing space to literally ANYTHING! Even more Orcs would've been better," Sharon stated in disgust.

"Hey, I found out through that Tic-Tac app thing, that those Hunters conveniently don't consider Angels as beasts to be slain," Jocelyn pointed out, earning shocked looks.

"Great, so they get another free pass again while the rest of us have to keep looking over our shoulders to make sure we don't get a bullet hole through the head," Sylvia bitterly said, getting sick of how Angels kept being praised as innocent when they had attempted genocide on her species with people just waving it off.

"That's precisely what I mean. Our enemies keep growing and ICEP can only do so much if anything at all. We're all we've got so us Devils, no, all Chaos born beings need to stick together," Scarlett vehemently stated.

"We should form a group, then. Right here on I.A. It's not like we aren't allowed to anyway," Heidi suggested, striking a chord with the others.

"Yeah…Yeah! That sounds like a great idea! We can go to all the other Chaos born beings on campus and invite them to join our crew," Jocelyn excitedly said.

"What should we call ourselves though?" Hana inquired.

The group ponders for a moment before Scarlett got an idea.

"How about…the Chaos Faction?"

The other girls all lit up one by one.

"Oh, Discord…love iiiit!" Sharon voiced her approval.

"Then it's settled…" Sylvia spoke, conjuring a yellow magic seal at her finger tip, "To the Chaos Faction."

"To the Chaos Faction!" the Devil girls said together as each of them formed their own magic seal.

Suddenly, Hana's nose caught a whiff of something strange.

"Is something burning?" she asked before Sylvia shot up in realization, dispelling the seal.

"Shit! I forgot to turn off the timer on the oven!" the Greater Devil jumped to her feet, scrambling to the kitchen.

"Chaos dammit, Sylvia!" Heidi slapped the floor in frustration as the others watched the pair in amusement.

Scarlett looked to the TV at the Hunter spewing racist garbage then changed the channel.

She suddenly found herself thinking about Caleb and Camilla and if they knew about what was happening. How would he react? What would he say about all this?

She watched Heidi and Sylvia scramble to get the smoke out the bedroom and smiled contently.

…. Elsewhere….

"Dammit! Dammit! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! Goddamit!" Fantina yelled as she repeatedly punched the wall of an unused storage room in a fit of anger, leaving deep indentations in the walls. She panted, seeing the cracks propagating in the wall. She then took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, "OK…you're good. It's done. You can do this," she said to herself as she left the room.

She walked down a large hallway, coming up to a group of three elevators. Specifically, to the one in the center marked with a red blood inverted pentagram and a baby goat's face in the center. She pressed the button and the door opens as she stepped inside. The door closed, revealing the same symbol just like on the outside. She tapped her scythe audibly to the floor.

"Fantina. Fantina. Oh lovely Fantina, proud campaigner of small stature and frame. If you think it's obscene-a to love girls like Fantina, well you can die in a flame?" the Baphomet spoke the special incantation, prompting a reaction as the seal glowed brightly, awaiting the password. She whispered close to the seal, "...Fan-Fan."

The elevator made a whirring sound as she felt herself going up. The monitor stopped at the seventy floor of the building, prompting the doors to open with a strange white light.

Instead of a typical building setting, the entire area appeared as a small forest. The tiles and carpets were now lush, full of green grass with wildflowers, shrubs, and berry bushes. There were even fruit trees that grew up to the ceiling and, since they were on the highest floor, the sun shined down from the skylight. A makeshift stream cut through the area, supplied by water from the building's tap supply.

However, the most striking thing about this was the several mid-sized yurt houses, food and supplies storage rooms that were once offices, restrooms turned to public showers, and other amenities. The residents of this indoor village were dozens of little girls. Their ears were pointed, skin tones ranging from fair to light tan, and eyes varying from emerald green to bright yellow. They all wore black pointy hats with match cloaks draped over their multicolored uniforms, including striped knee socks and black ankle boots. Many could be seen with broomsticks by their side either flying on them or using them to actually sweep out their houses. Witches.

All of them going about their daily lives, doing chores from picking apples to hanging out laundry, happily chatting amongst each other, or just practicing their spell casting. Among them, could be seen a few adult human males also going about their lives. In fact, they could be seen with a Witch or two happily clinging to them.

This entire floor had been restructured and repurposed using Fantina and the other Witches' magic to create a safe space for their species. With Fantina serving as the leader of this group of Witches, it was only natural that this space be named: Fantina Coven,

Fantina took a deep breath before putting on a smile, "I'm back, children!"

Several of the Witched looked her way before their eyes lit up and smiles spread across their faces.

"MADAME FANTINA!" a stampede of small girls came happily rushing, quickly surrounding their beloved leader. All of them bombarded her with questions, wanting to show off their new spells, offering her treats, or just plain glad to see her.

"Easy easy, girls! One at a time now," Fantina said, trying to calm them.

"It's been awhile, Madame Fantina. About two weeks at least?" said one of the Witches, stepping up to the group as the others let her through. Fantina gave her a warm grin, "I was starting to think you forgot about us."

"Please. I couldn't even if I wanted to, Venus."

The witch, Venus, like the others and Fantina, physically looked to be at least twelve or thirteen years old and had shoulder-length auburn hair with matching eyes, fair skin, and pointed ears. She wore a red long sleeve top and black miniskirt with frills. Under that, she had black and red striped knee socks, shiny black shoes with gold buckles, a black cape slung on her shoulder and supported by gold fastener, a red choker, and black wide brim pointy hat with red ribbon wrapped around the base tied into a bow.

"Aww, so we've wormed our way into you little goat heart that much huh?" Venus teased to which Fantina smirked, "So, how long are you staying today before they call you back?"

"As long as I possibly can. I don't wanna think about that right now. Come on, I wanna hear about that new spell of yours, Clover," Fantina changed the subject, looking to one of the Witches named Clover who wore all green.

"Oh! Madame, you are differently gonna flip when you see this," Clover jubilantly stated, taking out a notebook with a magic seal drawn along with symbols as she explained.

Venus looked ponderous as she followed Fantina.

….Back to Sterling….

It has already been nearly four hours since they had had that meeting. In that time, he had already finished going through the new batch of homestay applications. Several had been rejected due to applicants failing the criminal history portion or mental evaluation. Since using the updated screening process, it made it easier to avoid putting students in unsafe environments but much harder to find actually stable homes. They were more liminal applicants then ever which resulted in more of them in I.A. facilities. Which had created a new problem. I.A. facilities were starting to become overpopulated with more and more liminal student's being sent to facilities because of a lack of good or safe hosts.

'If this keeps up, ICEP is going to have another massacre waiting to happen on their hands if any of those hunters target even one of those facilities and that is not even counting if any students decide to go after each other with what species they have been put together. They just don't have enough manpower to keep up with all new students coming in daily,' Sterling pondered to himself, stirring a glass of bourbon and ice, 'Then there's the issue of funding. I can guarantee most of those students coming in are species that produce valuable material. No doubt I.A. will ramp up the demand from those students to cover their expenses and that puts the ones that don't produce anything in a precarious spot. We'll basically have a facilities full of indentured servants! Is THAT what I'm doing all this for?!'

"GAH!"

Sterling screamed as he grabbed and threw his glass to the floor, sickened by what the program that was meant to bring species closer to an understanding of each other was being twisted into.

"Agent Sterling?! Are you OK?" came a feminine voice right outside his office door.

"I'm fine. It was nothing," Sterling insisted, getting up and going for the broom and dustpan to clean up the mess.

The door opened and the elf woman from earlier peeked in to see the shattered glass and ice on the floor.

She was around his height his height with long pointed ears poking from blonde hair tied back into a braided ponytail, sky blue eyes, and blemish- free, gorgeous porcelain skin. Typical of many of her species, she was exceedingly beautiful with a curvaceous figure, plump double D-cups, a slim waist complimented by shapely hips and shapely toned butt from years of physical training. She wore a typical female black ICEP uniform with her badge pinned to her waist pocket.

"Pardon, but it certainly doesn't look like 'nothing'. Are you alright?" she gingerly inquired.

"Yes, I'm fine, I just accidentally knocked over my glass and it startled me," he said, then took a good look at her, "Wait, aren't you one of Greenley's assistants? Shouldn't you have left with him by now?"

"Yes, well, the Director asked that I stay and observe your branch for to days. And to assist you with anything if needed. I'll have you know I AM licensed as a MON agent, sir."

'Is this supposed to be his idea of a joke? Is he trying to coax me into leading a team again using her as the carrot?' Sterling thought internally with discontent,

"The offer is very appreciated but I am fine on my ow–ah, shit!" Sterling assured, kneeling down and sweeping the glass into the dustpan but his hand got cut on a large shard, making him recoil, shaking his hand.

"Ah! Are you OK?! Here, let me see," she said, concerned as she reached out to grab his hand.

"It's fine, just a little cut. Ah, a little bourbon soaked cut. Shit," he said, instinctively sucking on his finger to stop the bleeding.

"Here, it's alright, sir," she said gently, taking his hand and clasping it in her own, to his surprise. She moved his hand to her lips and gently breathed on his fingers as she muttered something in an odd language.

"H-Hey…what are you…?" Sterling said, taken aback by the action, feeling a warmth spread through his hand up his arm. The cut on his finger closed and the pain disappeared.

"There, isn't that better?" she asked him, letting go of his hand.

"Y-Yeah, actually. Was that uh…one of those Wood Elf incantations I heard about?"

"It was, actually! I'm surprised you're familiar with it," she said happily.

"You shouldn't be. It's part of my job to be familiar with a variety of liminal species and their practices. Thank you, by the way um…oh, I never got your name," Sterling said, dumping the glass shards in the trash bin as the Elf girl stepped closer into the room.

"I'm Elia Clawthorne or Agent Clawthorne, or…just Elia, whichever you prefer," she replied with a grin.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Agent Clawthorne. Now then…I still have an hour before it's time to clock out so I want to finish a few things. So if you don't mind…" Sterling politely gestured to the door.

"Would you like my assistance with them? If we work together we should have no problem completing them with time to spare," Agent Clawthorne offered with a smile.

"I appreciate it but I can handle it myself," Sterling assured, becoming impatient by her insistence.

"It's really no trouble, sir. I can just–",

"Stop!" Sterling stated firmly, startling her, "Look, it doesn't matter what Greenley told you to do. I don't WANT another MON team! I'm perfectly fine on my own!"

Elia paused for a moment then responded, "Is that what this is about? You think I'm just blindly following orders? Well…I'll have you know that I was the one who suggested the idea to the Director."

Sterling sensed the change in her tone, "You? He didn't order you to do this? If not, then why?"

"...Agent Sterling, I heard so much about you from my superiors. In the early days of ICEP inception, you and several other MON teams helped to suppress many threats to the exchange program, both human and liminal. If not for agents like you, myself and others of my species wouldn't even have the chance to integrate with your society. You inspired me and created hope that coexistence is possible," she fervently stated, closing the distance between them and getting a bit too close for Sterling's comfort. He felt her rear bump the desk as she boxed him in.

"Is…that so?"

"Yes! That's why I begged the Director to let me come and meet you and…" Elia's cheeks flushed red but she steeled herself, taking his hands, looking him in the eyes with devotion, "I'll just say it. I want to be your partner and work beside you! Please, accept me!"

Sterling was taken aback for a moment by her declaration. He then felt her starting to press herself against him and decided enough was enough. He grabbed her by the shoulders, startling her as she stared at him with rosy cheeks in anticipation.

"Sorry, but like I keep saying, I work alone," he said sternly before releasing her.

"Eh? W-Why? But…"

"Listen, I appreciate that you appreciate what I and the others did for the organization to make it where it is today. It was always the plan to bridge our worlds together and give other races a chance. I'll continue to help do that. You do the same. You seem like you'd be a great MON agent," Sterling praised, noticing her gaze cast downwards.

"Just not with you?" she disappointedly spoke, looking up at him.

"I'm sorry…"

"...I-I know about your old partner. The Director told me…" she said as Sterling's eyes widened.

"Is that right? What did he say?" Sterling asked, holding back his irritation.

"He only told all he knew from the old reports. You had a partner, a Baphomet, named Fantina. She was an exceptional agent, one of the highest mark agents since ever recorded. You both were instrumental in a number of successful mission. Then, one day, she abandoned the organization and we hadn't been able to track her for over three years. Then, last month we got a report that she was likely working with the Malones, a group known in liminal trafficking and drug manufacture."

"Yep, that's basically the gist of it. If you understand that much then you should understand that I'm not at all in the market for a new partner or team. I don't deserve that," Sterling said turning away from her.

"Why?! Because she left?! Agent Fantina ABANDONED ICEP to instead work for criminals that enslave, exploit, murder, and sell non-humans every day for profit. She is a traitor! You deserve better than her!" Elia asserted.

"And you say YOU'RE better than her?" Sterling venomously hissed, turning to her with cold expression, catching the Elf woman off guard, "You're a bright girl, right? Did you ever stop to ask WHY she left?"

"I…I was just told that she betrayed the organization."

"Right, right, you were just told what they want you to know. Forgot they want to keep their PRECIOUS image," he cut her off, growling as he slammed his fist to his desk, making her flinch, "But it's not your fault, it's none of you newbies' fault."

"Sir?" she carefully asked.

"You remember I said ICEP was about giving every race a chance? Tell me what all the species ICEP made sure were the first ones approved for the exchange bill here have in common?" Sterling asked her,

"Well, they all were the best to show the program strength and unity," the Elf said in hesitation.

"They were also species that had access to or produced immensely valuable resources. Whether it was Atlantian mermaids and their access to precious metals and the fact their bodily fluid contains enzymes that effectively slow aging or Weresheep cotton to be used in clothes and fabric, the species we brought in could be used for something," Sterling pointed out much to the Elf woman's surprise, "Even some of the, quote, 'dangerous' species, that other countries hesitated to let in, were allowed into the U.S. branch without a second thought. Lamia, Giant Hornets, Arachne, Manticore, Dark Elves and several others, despite their less than savory reputations, were given a free pass just to be farmed like cattle later!"

"T-That can't be right. They said… this country wanted to be the first all-inclusive exchange program, regardless of species."

"Well, I hate to tell ya, but there were several species not included in that crusade. They were labeled 'undesirable' either for their lack of usable resources or because of their species' uncouth cultural practices. Fantina's species was one of them," Sterling said coldly.

"Ah, because she is Baphomet. I've heard tales about them and their extreme mana prowess but…they also engage in…" she trailed off, not wanting to anger him.

"Pedophilia. Yes, basically. Or at least that's how the higher up see it," Sterling said as the Elf woman looked to him curiously, "Can you imagine what it must be like to be trapped in the body of a child? Everyone looking down on you, never able to peacefully enjoy basic ADULT things like drinking, going to movies, driving, or even falling in love without people running their mouth or looking at you as a freak? That is the hell Fantina and others like her had to face!"

"So…they just decided it'd be better to exclude them? Just like that?" Elia said in disbelief.

Sterling paused for a moment then swallowed, "No…it was… right before the bill's final vote passed leaving no room to negotiate the sudden changes made for these now deemed 'dangerous' and 'undesirable' species, despite employing some of those dangerous species as agents for years with no issue, proving their ability to coexist with us. All ICEP branch representatives of each state participated. Either you voted for it or against it and risk all students losing their temporary licenses. I…was Alabama's representative at the time…and I voted yes."

Elia was taken aback by his statement not able to find words to express how terrible that sounded.

"Naturally, Fantina found out…we argued and then she ran off. I never saw her again. I could sense how hurt and betrayed she felt. I DID betray her. Me, her partner, her friend, who she trusted…and I abandoned her when she needed me. And I will never forgive myself for that," Sterling said, his voice cracking slightly before he cleared his throat, "So…for the last time, I don't want another partner. I'd be no better than the others if I just replace her. Then again, maybe I was always like them and didn't want to see it."

"Well…I think you're different at least if that means anything," Elia said, giving him a warm smile.

"Thanks. The answer still 'no', though."

"That's fine, I perfectly understand. I still want to help with your work though…as coworkers," Elia assured as Sterling looked to her inquisitively.

"You young blood nowadays sure are stubborn," Sterling smirked in mild amusement, taking a seat at his desk.

"I'll have you know I turned a hundred and twelve last month, sir," she said in a slightly haughty tone.

"It's always mind boggling to work with subordinates more than three times my age."

"The feeling's the other way around for me, sir," she cutely smirked then took a seat beside him, "Shall we get to work?"

"Yes. Mark off for these to go into 'approved' hosts. Forgive me but I'm old school," Sterling said, passing a large binder to the Elf.

"Not a problem," she happily accepted then looked at him, "Also… you're not at all like many agents I've met. You seem more…genuine. I'm…glad I could meet you today. You're a better man than I hoped you'd be."

Sterling paused a moment, seeing her staring at him with flushed cheeks and adoring blue eyes, even pushing her breasts out with her arms. The agent's cheeks flushed slightly as well and he looked away which the Elf woman found cute.

"Ahem, thank you…now let's hurry up and finish so I can clock out."

"Of course, sir."

…Back to Fantina…

Fantina and Venus proceeded through their little town, checking on the other Witches. Venus informed her of everything that's happened since she'd been gone; from creating new spells that improved their living conditions to new couples that formed from men she brought in.

"You should've seen the two. They were so cute walking down the street together holding hands and when Vesta got tired, he let her ride on his back piggyback rest way back. Oh and I can't forget about Ceres…" Venus regaled her with stories of the Witches and their human partners the Malones sent.

As she listened with a grin, she looked around at the human men with her precious children, scrutinizing each one. Trying to find cracks in the facade.

"Hey?" Fantina inquired, interrupting Venus, "Sorry to interrupt but…you sure they're treating them right? There aren't any problems you're leaving out for my benefit?"

Venus stopped for a moment as her smile faded, seeing the seriousness in the Baphomet's gaze. She debated for a second about giving her the truth.

"Well, you see—"

"KYAA!" came a loud scream in the distance, alerting them both along with others in the vicinity. The second Fantina heard the scream and crash she dashed toward to where it came from.

Inside one of the houses, a Witch girl dressed in all turquoise could be seen on all floors, holding her injured eye as a human stormed angrily towards her. She fearfully tried to crawl away.

"WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!" the man yelled, grabbing her leg and yanking her back hard towards him.

"Keith, please! AH!" she begged before he punched her hard across the face, blood spewing from her nose.

"THINK YOU CAN SAY NO TO ME?! TELL ME WHAT TO DO?! Come here!" he angrily berated, getting on her and pinning her arms with his weight to the floor. He reached down and ripped her skirt off then started choking her with one his hand while the other quickly unfastened his belt. The Witch choked for air, flailing her legs beneath him, "Shut your fuckin' mouth."

Right as he unzipped himself, Fantina teleported in front of him and kicked him square in the face, indenting her hoof. He fell on his back groaning in pain and holding his face.

"Moon!" Venus shouted, rushing towards the injured Witch, kneeling to her side as Fantina glared at the man, "Oh Gods…don't worry, I'll heal you."

The Witch was in an awful state, eye swollen, nose and lip bleeding with a bruised cheek, and an arm dislocated. Venus summoned a white healing magic seal.

"Ahh…agh, fuck!" the man whimpered, holding his now bent, bleeding nose as he struggled to pick himself up.

In a flash, Fantina kicked him, sending him crashing through the front door, knocking it off the hinges, landing him right in front of the crowd of Witches, some with partners. The man coughed violently holding his stomach as he vomited, prompting some members of the crowd to back away in disgust.

Fantina stepped towards him, her body enveloped a shimmering red aura, with a very angry scowl that sent shivers down many of the Witches and the humans.

"H-H-Hey…h-hold on…" the man begged before the blade of her scythe positioned right in front of his eye. He trembled, seeing his horrified reflection.

"You dare lay a violent hand on one of my children?!" Fantina growled, eyes burning red as if spewing flames.

"Y-You got it all wrong. I was…I was just–"

"SILENCE!", her voice bellowed, making him jump, "YOU ARE HERE FOR ONE PURPOSE! IF YOU CAN'T FULFILL THAT, THEN YOU HAVE NO REASON TO BE HERE!"

"P-Purpose?! L-L-Look I was just told by the folks down there that there were girls in here willing to give it up and I get to live here for free!" the man blurted out fearfully.

Fantina paused making sure she had heard him right then clenched her fist in frustration.

"S-She just didn't want to put out! That's what I'm here for, just like everybody else! Josh! Mac! Henry! Come on, tell her!"

The men who he had called on all turned away, not wanting to get involved as their Witch partners looked at them questioningly.

"...Fuck y'all…FUCK ALL YOU FRE—AAGHHHH!" he screamed out as Fantina let loose torrents of red lightning from a large red magic seal she had conjured under him.

She tightened her fist, upping the intensity of the spell as his screams of agony rung out loud and his body violently convulsed.

"NO! STOP!" yelled the voice of Moon who came running from the house, wounds healed, as Venus tailed behind her calling her back. She then threw herself into the man, crying out in pain as she felt the electricity from the spell.

Fantina quickly stopped the spell, shocked by her action, "Moon?! What are you doing?!"

"Madame! Please don't kill him! I love him! Please! He didn't mean it! It was MY fault!"

Fantina saw the desperation in her eyes and was horrified.

"Moon, listen to me. The second he laid his hand on you like that he made it clear he doesn't deserve your love. Please trust me, I'm doing this to protect you so step aside," Fantina said in the gentlest voice she could.

"No! I can't let you do this! You're going to kill my big brother!" Moon said desperately, clinging to the man as the other Witches looked at her pitifully.

"Oh...I won't kill him," Fantina said then looks to Venus and some of the other Witches, "Move her. I need to make an example."

"Come on," Venus and three other Witches grabbed Moon, forcing her off the man as she struggled to break free.

"No! No, please don't! PLEASE!" Moon cried with tears pouring down her face.

Fantina glared scornfully at the man, waving her scythe and causing the seal beneath him to change from red to blue.

"IT'S NOT HIS FAULT! HE DIDN'T MEA–AH!"

Venus slapped her across the face, trying to bring her to reality, then grabbed her shoulders, "DAMMIT, MOON! WAKE UP!"

The man looked weakly up at Fantina pleading for mercy, to which she had none for those who harmed her children. She tapped the ground, creating a portal underneath as he fell through, sending him to join the agent from earlier. She closed it then looks around at the crowd's shocked expressions.

"Let that be a lesson to rest of you 'Big Brothers'. My children ARE NOT toys for your sick pleasure! If you can't learn to love them as they love you, they I want you OUT and never return or tell anyone of this place, else I WILL find you. Lastly, if I ever feel like you're not living up to your roles, I promise you will beg to join that filth compared to what I'll do," Fantina emphasized, brandishing her scythe as a red aura surged around her body. She turned away and headed back inside Moon's house as the crowd slowly dispersed.

Moon could be seen sobbing on her hands and knees as two Witches comforted her and Venus stood over, observing sadly. Fantina approached them, getting their attention. Moon looked up with a tear stained face, fearing the worst.

"He's gone," Fantina spoke as the turquoise girl's eyes widened, feeling her heart shatter.

"Nooooo!" Moon sobbed harder as Fantina approached, kneeling down and lifting her chin up.

"Moon, it's for the best. You deserve much better than him. I promise I'll find you someone better."

"How long am I supposed to wait?! I'm already twenty-five, dammit! I was happy, I didn't care if he'd hurt me. I just don't want to be alone. Who's going to love me now?" Moon despaired, holding her knees as Fantina went to hug her but she pushed her away, to her shock, "LEAVE ME ALONE! Leave me alone…"

Fantina raised up, feeling her heart ache before Venus touched her shoulder.

"We'll see after her," Venus assured,

"OK," Fantina said quietly, knowing nothing she could say now could help as she walked out of the house.

Back on the street, Fantina walked down with no place in mind as she mentally sighed. As much as she wishes she could go home to finally end this day she needed to follow up on those three men that that parasite had listed. She wasn't taking any chances if there was anything like him. Dealing with them now before they can do any serious damage was her best option.

….Back to Sterling…

It was now past six in the evening and Sterling was on his way home. He and Elia had managed to finish the rest of his work before he wished her a pleasant evening. She had insisted on exchanging numbers if he ever wanted to 'talk' which he had reluctantly accepted.

He pulled up through the gate into the rather expensive looking apartment complex called 'The Collins'. He parked his car then walked up to his unit, unlocking the door as he stepped inside.

The apartment was fairly average and standard besides his few more personal belongings such as a vinyl record collection and large, framed posters of seventies and eighties musicians hanging up. It was really not much different from the average salary worker who lived in an apartment.

He changed out of his work clothes, settling for a pair of gray jogging pants and black t-shirt, planning to unwind after a very long day.

He quickly prepared a dinner of sauteed salmon and shrimp with rosemary and steamed white rice. As he sat at the table alone, cutting up the salmon steaks into pieces, he couldn't help his mind wandering to when Fantina brought him a meal she had made especially for him. Despite her insistence that it was just 'leftovers' she didn't want to throw away, he could tell it was made with a lot of heart which he complimented her on also aware how bad she was with compliments. He'd even promised he'd return the favor by cooking her a meal that'd knock her nonexistent socks to which she rebuffed with a challenging smirk.

Suddenly, the sound of the knife striking the plate snapped him from his thoughts as he looked down at his food bitterly. He rest his elbow to the table, massaging his eyes, trying to ease his growing stress. A deep sigh of regret escaped his lips.

….back to Fantina…

After finishing her rounds off to the witch residents and their partners, Fantina could now be seen in her house with Venus. It was larger than the others and designed to resemble the head of a black goat.

"Why didn't you tell me that man was abusing her?!" Fantina angrily demanded, slamming her fist on a small wooden table, nearly breaking it.

"We try to deal with the issue ourselves together. However, no matter how much we tried to convince her, Moon just wouldn't accept what was plain to see," Venus answered in a somber tone.

"That's WHY you should've told me! I would have dealt with that shit IMMEDIATELY, then it wouldn't have gotten to that point!"

"Then what? You would've done the same to the other males that were brought here after the girls have already bonded with them. You expect to break their hearts over and over until the 'ideal' partner just FALLS into their laps?!" Venus demanded.

"I have seen what happens if you let relationship's like Moon's become the norm for a species and I refuse to let that happen to you, My Children!" Fantina yelled back at Venus who stepped back and feeling intimidated by Fantina, who realized her mistake. "I'm sorry for yelling but please understand there are men out there that will love you all like you deserve. I just need a little more time to find them."

"You keep saying that!" Venus said in frustration, "How long is 'a little more time'? Months, years, how long do they have to keep holding out on this promise of yours?"

"I'M DOING–" Fantina stopped herself then took a deep breath, "I'm doing the best I can, Venus."

Hey there. Is everything ok? Haven't heard from you in a while.

"I know you are, but that's exactly the problem," Venus pointed out, causing the Baphomet to look at her in disbelief, "How much of yourself do you plan on sacrificing to the Malone's for our sake? Do you really think with more and more mana-user liminals joining their organization, they'll continue to rely on you? You yourself said it was supposed to be temporary deal but they have been slowly demanding more and more from you, Fantina, and soon your best won't be enough. You can't keep this up and if you do you'll lose everything you're trying to protect and more."

"Everything I want to protect is RIGHT here and if it takes everything of ME to do so…I will. For the good of everyone," Fantina sad, clenching her fists in resolution.

"'For the good of everyone'," Venus repeated, "Aren't those the words you said that man, Sterling, said back then?"

Fantina's eyes widened before slowly realizing it herself. At that moment, she wanted to deny it but…she couldn't.

"You both were pretty much alike, I mean that in the best way possible. You even seemed happier with him. Who knows, he could've–"

"Stop!" Fantina interrupted, giving her a serious glare, "Whatever you're going to say, it doesn't matter. He made it perfectly clear where our paths are."

"Side-by-side…but never together?" Venus said before Fantina went quiet, not answering her, "I want to show you something."

Venus chanted a mystic incantation and a crystal ball-like object appeared before then. Insides, an image of one of the Witch/Human pairs Fantina visited could be seen. The man could be seen sitting on the couch with a despairing look while the small red-haired Witch triesd to comfort him.

'It's OK, Nick. I know Madame Fantina can be scary sometimes but she's just trying to protect us.'

'No! That's not it!' Nick said, startling the Witch girl, 'I-I'm sorry, Mars. It's…it's not her, it's…what Keith said earlier.'

'Oh, well…don't worry about him. He was just rotten. You don't need to take what he said to heart, big bro,' she assured.

'That's what I mean. He…he was right. That is why a lot of us joined this little settlement…myself included,' he regretfully said.

Fantina and Mars were taken aback by what they heard.

The Baphomet's impulse told her to storm over there and kick him out just like the last but Venus stopped her, making her listen to the rest.

'But that was when I first came here, Mars. After spending time here, with you…and the others, I feel happier than I've been in a long time. I don't care what you look like or how old you really are I…I love you, Mars,' Nick said as Mars and Fantina's eyes widened in surprise. Mars' cheeks flushed as tears welled in her eyes.

'Oh, Nick, I love you t–' Mars tried to throw herself at him in a hug but he stopped her to her confusion.

'I know, but listen. I want to have a life with you that's more than just…this. I want to show you things, go out to places, experience things together, maybe even meet my family, really date each other openly without…without being looked at as some kind of pedophile,' Nick shamefully admitted as Fantina felt that last line sting a bit.

Mars scooted closer, taking his hand and looking him in the eyes, 'I understand, Nick. Sometimes I think about stuff like that too but…I still know the risks and…I don't want to put you through any of that.'

'Mars…' Nick said, touched.

'Its OK, Nick. So long as I have you, I'm satisfied no matter where we are. I love you so much,' she cooed, nuzzling his arm. Her partner smiled down, caressing her hair as she looked up at him. The two then moved in for a loving kiss right as Venus made the crystal orb vanish.

Fantina was left speechless by what she had witnessed. To think that a relationship like that could really spawn within her own coven without her knowledge.

"Do you understand now what our true challenges are?" Venus said while giving her a plaintive look, "Finding 'Big Brothers' that'll truly love us isn't even step one. The real challenge begins when life begins for both of them."

Fantina clenched her fists in frustration, shutting her eyes, "I'm trying! What do you WANT from me?!"

"I only want to keep you on the right path, sweety. You inherited quite the responsibility of leading your mother's coven at an early age and I promised her that I would watch over you," Venus calmly spoke, stepping up to the Baphomet and wrapping her in a hug to which Fantina didn't resist, "You're a sweet girl, Fantina, don't let them turn you into something you're not," Venus pleaded.

Fantina didn't hug back, feeling her eyes watering but resisted the urge to let them fall. She gently moved the Witch off of her, not making eye contact.

"Thank you, Venus. Now…can I be alone for a while? Today's been…difficult."

"Of course, sweety. I'll go start on dinner, I can even make your favorite! Lyonnaise potatoes topped with sour cream and a glass of white wine!" she happily offered.

"That's fine. I'm not really hungry right now. I just wanna rest."

"You sure? It's no trouble. Besides, you are looking kinda thin, you sure you're eating enough?" Venus asked, tilting her head and looking at Fantina's body.

"I'm fine! Don't get all overbearing on me," Fantina assured.

"OK, OK. I'll leave you be for now," Venus kindly spoke, levitating over to the door and using magic to open it, "Good night, sweety."

"Good night…" Fantina halfheartedly said before Venus closed the door behind her, leaving Fantina in the house alone. Fantina deeply sighed, walking over to a desk and pulled out the chair, taking a seat as she looked at a particular drawer.

She then opened up the drawer and pulled out a folded up MON black uniform, perfectly tailored to her size. She stared at it forlornly, running her paw across the smooth material then opened it up, seeing the ripped patch where her badge would normally be.

Memories of that day flashed in her mind. Was she in the wrong the whole time? Did she overreact at the time because she thought he had betrayed her? Or was she really angry at the higher ups, and chose to lash out at him instead?

It doesn't matter at this point, she couldn't change what she had done that day. She could only move forward as best she can for the sake of her children. She had to, she was the only one who was willing to stand for them. Who else would?

…Five hours later…

It was now eleven at night. Sterling finished dinner, unwound a bit with some shows on Hulu, and had a shower. Anything to take his mind off today for a while. At least until tomorrow when he was certain I.A. would make a public address.

The agent lay in his queen bed, staring up at the ceiling in thought. He contemplated for the longest time about his position, thinking how those profit-obsessed asses were allowed to get such important positions, how many other agents there were like Agent Clawthorne who truly wanted to strive for what ICEP was meant to be but because they wanted protect their image they intentionally misinformed and catechized them to create an obedient labor force. Events in organization history that had went down. Then there were the many problems they had been dealing with for the last couple years that were all spawning from one action, one decision, one fucking stupid-ass bill to label so many liminal into 'dangerous' species. Not giving them the chance they deserved just because they couldn't milk then for fucking money.

But, he was a hypocrite. Not like he was any better.

His thoughts started drifting to Fantina and what she'd think of him now.

He remembered how it was for him after the day she stormed out of ICEP, no, out of his life for good. He remembered putting out a search for her and the units coming up empty; even her office had been cleared of her personal belongings which, thanks to calling in a few favors, he was able to take ownership of. He couldn't even try checking her home for any clue since, at the time, agents were forbidden from giving their personal address to each other. He had eventually given up looking, choosing to throw himself more into his work in order to cope with his loss. Despite that, there were times like this…when he truly missed her the most. At times, after she left, it was like he could almost feel her presence. He felt like a part of him was missing and it hurt so much. Sighing, he turned over, turning off the light, and fell asleep.

…Back to Fantina…

At the same time, Fantina also lay in her queen bed, staring at the wooden ceiling in thought. She didn't have much appetite but did snack on some oatmeal cookies she had lying around; she would deal with the consequences of that later.

She sighed, thinking about those humans and liminals she saw on TV all suffering, the Malones, the agents, that bastard from earlier, her coven and their husbands, trying to figure out where her life went wrong.

Her mind suddenly went back to Sterling from that day and what she did afterwards. Of course, she didn't want to be found so she used magic to get rid of all her stuff and sent it to the coven where any form of tracking using her uniform would be pointless. She kept under MON's radar for a while until they eventually stopped pursuing her.

However, despite knowing she was excommunicated by that point, she still found herself coming back to Sterling's office, using a cloaking spell to quietly observe her former partner. He seemed…unbothered by their fight and just continued working like nothing happened, to her surprise.

There were times she had wanted to reach out and touch him with her paw just inches away from his face, only to pull away every time and watched him leave his office. This continued for two weeks before she reached the point where if she went there even one more time she wouldn't be able to leave without revealing her presence to him and for her coven's sake she couldn't let that happen.

Speaking of which, that was another one of her problems at the time. She originally joined ICEP to help her fellow Baphomet and their covens find human. As if by cruel design, they could ONLY breed with humans and ONLY give birth to daughters. Worse, due to a steadily declining birthrate and as societal norms change, they've become completely reliant on their ability to find males for their species to survive. She had begun to pray to Chaos for an answer.

It was around this time, she got one. In the form of a pudgy Russian man that approached her one day and started chatting with her. She was wary of him initially but noticed he strangely wasn't put off by her appearance. After some coaxing, eventually she told him of her ordeal and he then made her a proposition that he said would benefit both of them. Next thing she knew, she was in the Malones, pushing their new lamia drug on the street, eliminating rival gangs, and begrudgingly helping traffick liminal species for body parts and material. Everything she originally opposed as an agent, but now, she was a criminal. She didn't care though, there were willing males for the witches in her coven. That was all that mattered in the end, right?

"It's for our own good," she uttered to herself before turning over, closing her eyes and repeating the phrase to herself.

Her mind then drifted to her mother, remembering the last words she said to her before passing away.

'My little lamb, please remember that as much as we guide and protect our coven's children, never become deaf to their voices for they are our guides as well. Love each of them but never forget to love yourself, the way I love you. I know you'll always do your best, that will always be enough for me.'

Fantina hugged a pillow tightly to her chest, feeling a lump in her throat as tears started to trickle down her face. She trembled, pressing her face into the pillow, slowly sobbing as the fabric soaked up her tears.

"I can't. I can't do it, I just can't," Fantina sobbed more erratically into her pillow, barely muffling the sound. Deep down, she wished someone would hold her, to comfort her, to love her. No, she didn't want just anyone. She wanted the one person that held her heart. The one who saw her as an actual person and not a freak. The one who she destroyed their only chance to have a relationship, in a fit of blinded rage. She wanted that.

…Back to Sterling…

The agent's eyes opened, unable to sleep because of his thoughts. He flicked the light back on then turned in his desktop computer. He proceeded to log on, going to a personal file folder and opened up a documents tab labeled 'Multi-Spouse Marriage Clause'.

It opened, revealing a long professional document detailing the benefits and legal constitutions of other mono-gendered species that required human males to survive or risk facing extinction from their inability to reproduce.

Followed by a list with multiple species who suffered from this issue but had been deemed dangerous and banned from the exchange program, with each species having their own article for them.

His mind turned to Caleb and the rest of his household. The only real controlled case her had to justify the appeals authenticity. He knew it was selfish to put this burden on a relatively new host family but...though he couldn't explain it, he felt they were his best option.

As he continues to work, he comes to an entire section labeled 'The Baphoment Appeal', detailing liminal species with hypopituitarism and the physical challenges of finding a partner along with why they must be legally allowed to have cordial relationships with humans. This part also disproved many rumors that painted their species as twisted perverts or clarified the misunderstandings of their culture that many people have.

"I'm gonna make this right, Fan-Fan. I promise," Sterling fervently spoke, beginning his three-hour session of editing and finalizing the document that may change everything.

Whether or not is falls on deaf ears is yet to be determined.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

...

WN

SUP FAM!? I know it's been a minute. Don't really have a lot to say other than the usual life stuff but hope you enjoyed this chapter. Big thanks to Sandshrewmaster, my beta reader/new co-writer for helping make this chapter what it was. Also, to clarify, yes the bonuses ARE canon. I NEVER do filler.