A/N: Hello, readers. I have returned with a new chapter. I know that the two chapters posted at the same time had been an overload, but from now on, I'll be posting one at a time. With that said, sit back and enjoy.

Disclaimer: Here is my sign: "I do not own Killer Instinct or Carrie."

Night befell on the war-torn capital of Ukraine, with the stars and moon providing the dim light. Inside the Disavowed's old hideout, the gang prepared themselves for the trip to meet with Maya in South America. The den was barren of the computers and other sensitive equipment.

"I don't understand why we can't choose a regular flight." TJ glanced at Pemba, who gazed at the darkened city from the opening.

"There were risks we couldn't take," Orchid said. "Also, Pemba offered to take us there. We only need to point her in the right direction."

"It will be fine, TJ. Carrie and I have gotten used to riding her," Jago said.

"PAUSE! I didn't need to hear that!"

Jean arrived in the central room, carrying an assault pack strapped to his back. "Petite Fleur, we've finished the arrangements needed for our group to move to the new hideout. I wish you came with us."

"Yeah, but Maya needs our help. ARIA won't stop until I'm...removed from the picture. That's why I picked you as the acting leader. Where I'll be hiding, it'll be the last place Ultratech expects."

Jean and Orchid exchanged hugs, though the French agent eyed Jago, who narrowed his eyes. Once Jean departed, Orchid shifted her attention to the gang.

"Does anyone need to use the restroom before go?" Not one person uttered a word, giving Orchid her answer. "That settles it. Are you ready, Pemba?"

Pemba nodded and closed her eyes. A surge of light enveloped her, changing into a giant silver-white bird. She lowered her body, allowing the gang to climb on her back, with an averse TJ being last. Pemba approached the edge. Once she pushed herself off the ground, she steered herself from the damaged apartment. She passed through the clouds until she reached the starry sky with the full moon shining brightly."Which way?"

Orchid checked a map she uploaded from the mini-computer on her arm. "Shift right and then go straight."

Pemba tilted slightly to the right before she straightened herself. "So, what does your friend do?"

"Maya is part of a secretive clan called the Night Guard. They formed in South America long ago, and as time passed, they spread through most parts of the world. Maya is the last of the original, despite the Night Guard forming factions. ARIA's army killed her family and friends when they raided her base."

"Why would they do something that horrific?"

"From what Maya told me, they had stolen ancient relics stored within their base. Whatever plans they have for them, it can't be good."

The morning light rose in South America as chirps and squawks brought a vast rainforest to life. Within the trees was an ancient city, where a woman was on a collapsed arch. Her golden crown of braids weaved to her back, with two strands hanging on each side of her face. The sun's rays kissed her caramel skin. Her golden Incan-style armor attire hugged her athletic body, and tucked within her belt were two golden blades-one of goodness and one of darkness.

The woman headed to an old messenger route stretching to a sentinel. Her thighs burned, even in the scarred burn mark on her left leg, but she kept going until she reached the top, giving her a full view. Low-hanging clouds hid the distant mountains, and the crash of water descended on a wide river flowing through the ruins. A small chime grabbed the woman's attention as she checked on a pre-paid cell phone.

To Maya

From Orchid

We should arrive in the afternoon in Brazil time, but having a pit stop in Spain. Is there a place we can meet?

Maya typed the message, "Are you on a plane?" She headed to the starting point when another chime came with a new message.

To Maya

From Orchid

No, but we are flying.

Maya found it odd, but she thought little about it and typewrote, "Meet me in Santa María de Nieva."

The soft roar of a riverboat hummed as it sailed through the Marañón River. Maya bought it with little money she earned from villagers for her aid. She arrived at the town where she parked the boat beside the shore and shut off the engine. While waiting for her friends, she laid on a bed inside a room and rested her eyes.

A black veil surrounded Maya at first until a blue light gleamed, forming a symbol. More lights exposed a chamber, and the odor of a decayed and bandaged body lying on a stone alter hit her nose. Jars lay scattered around small burning torches in front of another altar.

A man covered in tattered linen bandages was in front of a circular inscription on the wall, chanting and waving his hands until a blue portal emerged.

"Kan-Ra!" Maya called with a Brazilian accent.

The decayed man gazed at her. The portal roared as it changed red, grabbing their attention. A demonic hand emerged, taking the struggling sorcerer to his doom. A pair of glaring eyes peered from the portal, and the same limb arose.

Maya sprinted, but not far enough as it pinned her to the floor. The silhouette of a demon surfaced, revealing its teeth from its grin.

Maya awoke with a start, allowing her mind to settle to reality. A small chime reached her ears. Quickly, she checked her cell phone.

To Maya

From Orchid

We have arrived.

Maya stepped outside, but there was no sign of Orchid and her gang until a screech echoed, and a dark shadow hovered in the sky. A silvery-white bird, the size of a jumbo jet, soared until it landed on the shore. She was tempted to bring forth her blades, but the rational part of her brain told her no.

"Maya?" The bird lowered its body, allowing Orchid to set foot on the ground; the gang stayed on the creature's back.

"When you mentioned you were flying, I was expecting a plane, but not this," Maya remarked.

Orchid patted the bird. "Well, Pemba saved us from going through the trouble." The two women exchanged hugs. "Good to see you."

"Same to you. I trust the trip hadn't been rough."

"Aside from the pit stop from Spain, it went well."

"Oh man, I need to pee!" TJ rushed towards the river, but Maya tossed him away from the stream before he relieved himself. "Why did you do that for? It's hard to hold it while crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a giant bird!"

Maya folded her arms across her chest. "I understand, but it's for your safety. You can't use the river as your toilet. Are you trying to attract a candiru?"

"What the hell is a candiru?"

"The candiru is a catfish, no bigger than a toothpick. It latches itself on other fish and feeds on their blood. There are reports of this fish attacking humans; the men have it the worst. Once it releases its barbs, it won't budge. The pain will resemble a bladder infection and needs surgery to remove it."

TJ's muscled skin tingled while he swallowed hard. "Um, right...I'll use the bushes."

Orchid kept herself from laughing as TJ ventured into the woods. "Maya, from the email, you mentioned that you had stumbled on something."

"Yes, but not here. I'll explain more once we return to the base."

"Understood. TJ, let's go! We're leaving!" Orchid climbed on Pemba's back.

"I'm coming!" TJ emerged from the woods after he finished his business and clambered on the bird's back.

Pemba placed her foot in front of Maya, leaving her confused until she understood the message. Once Maya was on her back, Pemba grasped the riverboat and flew.

Twilight ruled South America, with the sun unleashing its final brilliance in the sky. The gang continued their course, flying above a forested sea until faint outlines of structures peeked from the trees.

Pemba descended towards the City of Dawn, where she placed the boat into the harbor. She ascended until she found a flat, grass-covered open space and landed. Once the gang hopped off her back, Pemba reverted to human form, using the time to stretch.

"Thanks for bringing us here," Orchid said.

"No problem, although the trip would be better if a certain someone didn't kick my sides." Pemba glared at TJ, who rubbed the back of his neck.

"M-my bad," he said. "Won't happen again."

Night drew fast in the City of Dawn. Stars dazzled in the pitch-black sky, with the moon rising higher, but remained visible. Only the torches in parts of the ancient temple kept the near-total darkness at bay. The gang sat around a fire in the plaza.

"Ultratech has placed a bounty on our heads, so as we hide here, we need to strike ARIA where it hurts," Orchid said. "Had any equipment survived the raid, Maya?"

"Several had when I returned."

"Good. We'll start with repairs. Then everything else will fall into place."

"How are we going to strike Ultratech?" TJ asked. "We can't charge at them head-on."

"We don't. Once Ultratech shows its weakness, we'll strike," Maya said. "However, Ultratech isn't the only concern. Had anyone heard the story of Kan-Ra?"

"No," the gang chorused.

"500 years ago, Kan-Ra came here while hiding from the war-golem, Aganos. He was once a vizier to a Babylonian King until he attempted a coup d'état. As a result, the king inflicted him with a flesh-eating rot and banished him, but somehow, he survived. The Incans worshipped Kan-Ra when he arrived here, believing he was their ancestors.

"He enslaved the Incans and forced them to build this kingdom where he'd study the dark arts. From his travels, he brought twin daggers from ancient Egypt." Maya pulled out the daggers from her belt. "The light one is Temperance; the dark one is Vengeance. It was hard to say if he used them in his reign. Aganos found Kan-Ra, and during their fight, the Night Guard arrived and defeated the sorcerer. Since he was too powerful to kill, they burned Kan-Ra alive and sealed his ashes beneath the temple."

"What happened to Aganos?" Carrie queried.

"With Kan-Ra defeated, the war-golem remained in the Andes, going into a deep sleep," Maya explained. "Peace reigned, and the Night Guard built a base here, but even centuries of peace didn't last. After the attack from Ultratech, I ventured into the world, searching for Kan-Ra, who escaped the onslaught while hunting the monsters that Ultratech either created or unleashed. Months passed, but I found him in an underground library in the Sahara Desert, creating a portal.

"After I defeated and hurled the sorcerer into the gateway, I peered into the entrance, but I wished I didn't. Visions pierced into my mind, showing me portals emerging around the world. Creatures with evil intents poured out, killing anyone in their path. Among them was a demon, but not a regular one. It was O Diabo."

"Can you describe this demon?" Jago asked.

Maya could not describe it in words, so she used the light dagger and drew on the ground. The drawing comprised a gargoyle head with two clawed limbs and a wing.

"I've seen that before, from a cult when Carrie and I were doing an alms-round in Thanza. Those bastards wanted Carrie to bear a child of that demon. Had Pemba not rescued us, there's no telling what they'd do."

"Are you serious?" Orchid said. "Carrie, how old are you?"

"I'm…sixteen, soon-to-be seventeen."

"Carrie is still a kid, and these cult bastards want to pump a baby in her? " TJ rubbed his temples. "What are we going to do?"

"We'll take this one step at a time." Orchid tapped on Maya's shoulder while the group separated. "Maya, after you show us the living quarters, I need to talk to you on Carrie."

"I'm glad you mentioned that because I sensed she had a rough life. Did something happen to her?"

"Yeah, and believe me when I say you should sit on this."

Maya could not fathom in words when Orchid explained Carrie's tragic history. The two women sat at the collapsed arch.

"Pelos deuses, that poor child…I have heard of this Black Prom in my travels, but I didn't invest in it with Kan-Ra as a top priority. Who else is aware of Carrie's past?"

"TJ to an extent, but Jago and Pemba don't," Orchid said. "Jago may not admit it, but he loves that girl, treats her as though she's his child. Now, with Ultratech after her and this cult's nefarious plans for her, you can bet he'll be in protection mode for her sake. Even still…"

"You think the information about her past might destroy him." Maya stroked her chin. "I get that you're protecting him, but you must tell him. This may upset him, but it won't change his outlook on her because children that once lived horrible lives want to seek safety. In Carrie's viewpoint, Jago is her safety, her comfort zone."

"I never expect you as a person for psychology. What could we do to make Carrie calm around me, you, and TJ, the same way she does with Jago and Pemba?"

"Patience is the key. This child has been through hell, and her trust issues are severe. We must prove to Carrie that we're not her enemies, and the only way is through action. As the old saying goes, 'Action speaks louder than words.'"

A/N: As the gang settles down in the City of Dawn, how long will they stay in hiding? Time for my brain to rest, so I'll see you later.