The Bureau moved like a well-oiled machine. Two dozen men and women, clad in suits and armed with tinker-tech stun rifles, burst into the ABB's safehouse, indiscriminately gunning down any dog that moved whether they were two-legged or four. Squeals and screams filled the air as the ABB fell in droves, their numbers halved within a dozen seconds.

The ABB fought back. Or at least, they tried. But the handful that weren't cowering behind cover lacked discipline. Whatever fire they could return was erratic, many of the shots veering off course so widely that Makima doubted they would have hit even a still target. What few shots that landed were a few millimeters too short to penetrate the reinforced suit of the Bureau, courtesy of Parian.

Within a minute, the battle was over. Every target was on the ground, paralyzed and unable to move. A complete victory, with not a single injury, eliciting smiles as her dogs' eyes gleamed with pride- an emotion they rarely ever experienced considering where they were from.

The lowest dregs of society. They were without skill or talent, life or future. If they died, not a single soul would notice or hold their names in memory.

Worthless. Wastes of space. Invaluable, only in the sense that they were without value.

Those were the words that fit their being.

And now, they were something more. It was a minor change, but to them, it was a world's difference. Their smiles grew wider, their eyes brighter as they found something they had lacked their entire lives. Meaning.

Worthless. Wastes of space. Invaluable. They were once that. But now, no longer. She had made certain of that.

All things had their purpose, even a dirty pebble- whether to seal a crack or to bring down Goliath. No tool was truly useless, only misapplied. A distinction that many failed to grasp.

Fools they were.

But she would not make that mistake. No… She would use them until they broke.

And break they did, enveloped by fire and ash.

From it, Oni Lee emerged.

Faster.

Deadlier.

With practiced ease, he thrust his knife deep into the throat of the nearest Bureau member, just above the collar and slid his hand across, leaving behind a bloody, gaping smile. Simultaneously, a barrage of stun rounds slammed into his torso, only for his body to crumble into ash.

A second explosion proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back. All forms of discipline forgotten, the Bureau fled in panic. But the moment they stepped foot outside the warehouse, they found themselves encircled by a wall of guns held by those they had previously hunted.

Cornered between stone and steel, her dogs crumbled, surrendering their weapons and tucked in their tails, allowing themselves to be bound. With whatever feelings of pride they once held in their hearts forgotten, a few begged. Pleading for life.

But their pleas went unanswered. One by one, Oni Lee's knife found their throats, cutting deeply enough to bleed, yet shallow enough to not be quick. Oni Lee was slow and methodical as if performing a ceremony.

Then suddenly, Lee collapsed, clutching his head in agony and regaining cognition just in time to teleport away from a steel crate that crashed into the space his body had half a second ago. But regardless of the miss, the crate flew once more, pursuing Lee relentlessly in a game of cat and mouse no matter how many times the man disappeared and reappeared.

'Enough,' Makima ordered with a thought. Oni Lee vanished.

One of her dogs- no, hound, stood, having freed himself from bondage, and glared hatefully at the ABB who began backing away.

Makima cut off the link to her crow just as steel and stone began to fly. She closed her eyes, nursing her temple as she absorbed the sudden influx of information. Rather than simple telekinesis, her latest addition's power was closer to that of attraction. Objects subjected would be drawn irresistibly to their target, unaffected by distractions, relentlessly pursing until both entities found themselves in embrace.

A useful power, versatile in a way that made it valuable, especially against those that were difficult to hit.

Yet…

"Not enough," she whispered under her breath.

"Not enough breadsticks?" Alice asked with a frown from across the table, a plate of half-eaten pasta laid out before her. "Hey, you! Yes, you! Who the fuck do you think I'm talking to you dumb bitch! More breadsticks! Now!" She ordered as their waitress scurried away in panic.

"Thank you, Alice," Makima said with a small smile. "I do appreciate thoughtful people."

"Unlike someone else, am I right?" Her pet said with a grin. "I'm glad you're having a good time. Although, I sometimes feel like you're not really here?"

"I would never," she reassured.

Even now, she could feel herself weaken. The rate wasn't as alarming as compared to the first couple of days, but it was a steady thing, unpleasant in a way that one would have to experience to understand.

"Ugh. What is this shit? Five-star my ass. This is fucking—"

Despite her efforts, her recent gains to replace her loss were far from satisfactory. While she had accumulated multiple powers over the past two months, such as the Stranger power she employed now, they all lacked potency. While the sheer versatility would overwhelm any human, they could hardly deal a crippling blow to an Endbringer.

If she were to face Leviathan as she was now, there was no question she would lose.

"That woman is another breed of stupid, and a shit mom. Can you believe what she said to me last time? About you? That bitch—"

One month. That was all she had until the next Endbringer attack, assuming that they remained on schedule. She would have to participate; otherwise lose whatever capital she had gained.

Makima paused. Perhaps that was for the best? Refusing to fight would be a quick way to recover a portion of what she had lost- no… Even if she refused every single Endbringer battle in the future, it wouldn't change her one victory. And that victory would be the one that the world remembered.

The hearts of the masses were notoriously fickle, but also annoyingly firm. She would be lucky to regain half of what she had lost in the next year. Compared to what she would lose, the trade-off was disproportionately unequal.

But participating in the next battle had its own problems, even beyond facing another Endbringer as she was now. For one, people would undoubtedly notice her weakness and they would wonder why. If by some chance she managed to win, her problems would only be exacerbated.

"Who the fuck cares if she went to law school? A degree from Brockton isn't worth the paper it's printed on. I say we just off her as we planned and take the girl. Her wreck of a husband too. Don't even need Lee or those dollar-store capes. Want me to bomb them? I'm totally down. Maybe a paper bomb? Could just mail it to her address—, nah. Won't work. Someone else might open it… Unless I add a facial recognition—"

The rate of triggers to death was steadily increasing as her team improved upon their methods. Adding the recent acquisition of new material Lee had acquired under the cover of bombings, she would be able to obtain quite a number of new powers. All it would take was a single, potent power and much of her problems could be solved. But that required luck. And depending on something so metaphysical embedded a flickering sense of irritation within her heart.

But what else could she do? There was no other path to reach her previous height without risking her current position in the world.

"Hey, are you listening!"

"Of course I am," Makima replied without hesitation.

"Then what did I just say?" Alice asked with irritation, her eyes strained with hurt.

"Have I mentioned how nice your blouse is? It really brings out your eyes."

"I-If you think that—"

"I do," Makima interrupted. "I wouldn't lie. Not to someone so lovely."

Alice blushed. "… That's so fucking corny. Did you plagiarize it from an 80s movie?

70s actually.

"I find that what you say doesn't matter as much as who says it," Makima said with a wider smile, causing the latter's blush to deepen. Unable to meet her eyes, her pet could only look down on her knees as her hand fidgeted around a fork.

"… I want a redo," Alice demanded after a hefty pause.

"Hm?"

"My reward. This doesn't count. The food is shit. The mood is shit. And… It's like you're hardly there and— fuck… I don't think you even said a word that wasn't a reply."

"Hmm…" Makima hummed again, a troubled expression on her face as she leaned forward on the table, a hand supporting her chin. "There is still the movie afterward."

"No. I—," Alice started, before sighing. "I just want everything to be perfect…"

Allowing such a long leash was in many ways troublesome, but Bakuda was invaluable with incredible potential. Tinker powers, from what she understood, heavily relied on the creativity of the wielder. To tighten her mental collar risked constricting the only part of the woman that Makima valued.

And besides…

Makima smiled at the sight of the sulking woman.

They were far better company this way.

"How about this?" Makima started, leaning in close and tilting Alice's chin up with a finger so that her eyes would meet hers. "It'll be hard to find time in the immediate future so… I'll give you another wish. A small one," she whispered.

Alice perked up, her eyes lighting up with interest. "Speaking of movies… have you seen the animated one with two dogs and the spaghetti—"

"Ah look, the breadsticks are here."

"Tch."

"Mmm," Makima hummed in appeasement after taking a bite, having carefully selected the one that did not stink of saliva. "I could see why this is their specialty."

Alice sighed. "What a scam."

"Hardly. These are to die for."

"That's not what I'm—you know what, forget it," she said, scowling in indignation. "At least answer me this. What do you want? I mean, I'm sure you've got a plan. I've been trying to figure it out but—"

"World peace."

"Bullshit."

Makima took another bite without response.

"… Wait, you're serious? You're fucking serious?" Alice asked in disbelief. "You're actually trying to be Scion 2.0?"

Makima paused at the mention of that name. She had heard of him. How could she have not? Eidolon had been the world's strongest hero because to add Scion into the competition would have been unfair. The man… No. There was no way he was human. He was too different… Inhumane in a way that contradicted even devils. It was obvious even from a cursory glance.

Even more than that, he was interesting. He saved people without stopping or reason, exchanged no words, and desired nothing. His actions were oddly familiar to another hero. One from another world and dimension.

"You're joking right?" Alice asked again.

It was said that Scion had all the powers in the world. If so, then he would have a way to return her home. As long as he was hers… enacting her plans would be far easier. But planning such a thing at this stage was far too early.

"Is that so strange?" Makima asked.

"Well…" Alice started before being interrupted by the sound of a detonation in the far distance. "Yeah."

Makima smiled. "I supposed world peace isn't correct. But it would be a consequence."

"Wha- oh…. Oh… I see," Alice laughed, eyes brightening as if she had stumbled upon a realization. "Well, you certainly don't dream small. If it was anyone else, I'd call them crazy. But you miss Makima? I think you could do it."

Rather than correcting the misconception that had probably formed, Makima finished the last bite of her breadstick and hummed contently.

"Well, looks like I'll have to pick up my pace. But… Miss Makima," Alice said before pausing, suddenly seemingly uncharacteristically unsure of herself. A deeper, darker flush formed across her cheekbones "If… If I help you achieve your dream… Will you help me achieve mine?"

"Of course," Makima said without hesitation. This time, she wasn't even lying.

"Really? Just like that? You're not even going to ask what?"

"It would only be fair."

Like Bakuda desired, they would all be family.

...

I'll see you guys again next week or next year.