When sleep finally took her, she found herself somewhere familiar. Once again, she was in that awful mansion...yet this time was different. Nowhere to be found were the corpses-to-be. Indeed, she knew in that strange dreaming certainty that the mansion was completely empty.

Empty, save for her and the figure before her.

Neopolitan.

Yeah? Something happen already?

You desired tools. They shall be granted to you.

She blinked. Her mismatched eyes swept across the face of the avatar standing before her, searching for signs of deceit, for the inevitable strings attached to the offer. As always, the face before her remained completely impassive. So. What's the catch, then?

Explain.

What am I going to have to do to earn these new tools?

Obsidian's face tilted to one side.

You asked. I have answered. Nothing further is required, although practice will improve your abilities.

Her brows furrowed and she stared. The face before her matched her gaze impassively, until the minutes finally stretched too long and she huffed. Fine. What do I have to do?

Come.

Before her, the air twisted in on itself a thousand times over, leaving behind a black void in the middle of the room. With a roll of her eyes, she stepped through -

- and her boot sank into water, sending ripples across the still surface of the pond below her. Around her, she was surrounded by mostly featureless stone – here and there, stalagmite and stalactites rose and fell. In several places, water streamed gently from the ceiling and collected in various pools, continuing to flow downward until they reached the great pool she stood in.

She blinked. What's this place?

A symbol, to aid in meditation.

She wrinkled her nose.

To wield an element, it must be understood. You must comprehend the concepts that tie it to your essence in order to command it.

She rolled her eyes. Fucking...whatever. Tell me what I need to do.

Obsidian's eyes watched her for a moment before it responded.

Look into the water, Neopolitan.

She looked down.

Her reflection, wavering and distorted by the many streams of water, stared back at her.

Water adapts. There is no shape that water cannot take; there is no emptiness that water cannot fill.

It...looking at her reflection hurt.

Water remains itself. It can take in many things; dissolve them into itself, making them part of its own identity. Yet, it remains water, no matter how many things it contains.

Was it the way her face shimmered, indistinct and never quite identifiable?

Water flows. Regardless of the obstacles in its path, if a way exists to its destination it shall be taken. No matter what contortions or permutations the water must undertake.

Was it the look in her its eyes, that reminded her of old (but never forgotten) judgement?

Water is depth. None can know from the surface whether they gaze upon a pond or a sea, nor what may lurk in the deep places.

Or was it simply that she'd forgotten what it felt like, to study herself? To look at the person in the mirror like a stranger?

Gaze into the depths. Be the motion hidden from the world. And, in all things, remain yourself.

She felt something tug at her, and she seized upon it like a lifeline.

In an instant, the flow of water through the cave ceased. The streams from the ceiling froze motionless, droplets hovering in the air. The streams from the pools clung to the eroded stone.

And the ripples of her distorted reflection calmed, leaving her staring up / down at herself.

Well done, Neopolitan.

Of course. How stupid.

She was herself.

"Excellent news, boys. Let Junior know I'll have his payments in the usual forms by tomorrow." With professional nods, the two Red Axemen turned to leave. Roman kept his smile on until they were out of sight, then heaved a put-upon sigh and closed the door. "Useless. If I didn't know how hard it was to find good help, especially these days, I'd say Junior was intentionally screwing with me."

He strode back into the safehouse proper, pausing for a moment to hang his hat on one of the racks nearby. Then, he froze, caution taking him for a moment.

Neo was smiling. And not the usual smile when she had some poor sap to play with, but something more...genuine, maybe. Comfortable? Hell, as if Neo's ever uncomfortable.

And if that wasn't odd enough, there was the way she idly waved her fingers back and forth as streams of water played between them. Which was, you know, fine – if adorably creepy coming from her – except for the part where there wasn't any water nearby.

He opened his mouth, thought better of it, and closed it. Then he opened it again as she glanced in his direction.

"Gift from the new boss, I assume?"

She smirked.

"Huh. Well, I'm not sure it's as nice as a shiny new prototype mechasuit, but I suppose it comes with fewer strings attached."

She made a seesaw motion with one hand.

"Hrm. Still not sure how I feel about working for someone I've never met."

She shrugged, looked thoughtful, then shook her head with a grimace.

"I'm not that bad, I'm sure we'd get along fine."

She raised one eyebrow. Then, after a moment, raised the other and smirked.

"Oh, fuck off. Look, things are all arranged. We'll be out on our little 'vacation' in three days, in a cozy little smuggled cargo hold."

She stuck her tongue out and gagged.

"It won't be that bad. Nothing like that time in Vacuo, at the very least."

She blinked at him, face deadpan.

"...Yeah, okay, that isn't that reassuring. Still. We'll be fine. His boys might be dumb, but Junior's reliable if nothing else."

After giving him the stinkeye for a moment longer, she returned to playing with her water and he considered the matter closed.

The saddest part is, this isn't the weirdest thing I've caught her doing.

Neopolitan has acquired a skill! Water Magic: D+ - The ability to manipulate energy by will alone. At this level, can perform basic manipulations of the element without much difficulty. Magic is barely sufficient for use in combat. Advanced manipulation is possible in theory, but impractical and lacking in control.

Final action before the mission to Atlas.