My Craft Chapter 70: Games, a minecraft fanfic

AN: Another Chapter. Yay.

My Beta said it had enough tension and was well-paced. So... if I had to describe this Chapter using someone else's words, I'd say it was tense, but well-paced.

This Chapter marks the end of the Nitebane Arc. Next chapter, we rejoin Cobb. I can't wait.

IMPORTANT: I set up a new poll. It's on my profile near the top and it's a Character popularity contest. I figured to set it up just for the heck of it. Vote on your favorite My Craft characters. There's not a lot of memorable ones, but it's up to you, the viewer, to decide which one you like the best. Everyone gets one vote, so check out my profile to cast them.

Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd add patterned leather tunics.

Beta: Void of Shining Darkness

Chapter 70

Games

"Let's play a game; First to die loses~!"

Floyd gulped as he took a half-step away from the Lieutenant. He wasn't fooled by her cheerful demeanor and upbeat attitude. After witnessing how easily and viciously she slaughtered those Griefers, he knew just how dangerous Teal was.

As the Lieutenant stood before them, oozing with confidence, Floyd noticed the half-circle tomb behind her close, just as the circular shadow cast by the moonlight, passed. It seemed that midnight, and the window to enter that particular tomb, had passed. Teal seemed indifferent over it.

Now that he was closer, he could make out more of her appearance. She was a young, fair-skinned woman with long teal-blue hair done in a bouncy waist-length ponytail, held up by a simple pink band. Her seemingly innocent face and vibrant blue eyes were framed by shoulder-length bangs. More noticeably, her hair had light blue highlights designed in a spiral that wound up her left bang before ending in a spiral along her forehead. He couldn't deny how intricate it looked.

Looking at her clothing, Floyd wasn't surprised she named herself after a shade of blue. She wore a light halter top with a dark blue flower design emblazoned on her lower left side. A short blue sash-skirt with light-blue flower patterns covered her bottom half, but not by much, revealing slender legs clad in blue fishnet stockings. She also wore fishnet sleeves and sneakers of the same color. Her belt and backpack were teal-blue, just like her hair.

She didn't wear any armor and she didn't carry a weapon at her belt. The only gear Floyd had seen on her was that light-blue leather cap. As arrogant as that sounded, she really didn't need any. She didn't need a weapon when she was the weapon.

"Hey, hey, hey. Aren't you two gonna say something?" Floyd's attention snapped back to Teal's eyes. She looked curious. "I don't mind being ogled, but usually a little 'Imma kill one of you' gets some sort of reaction." Her eyes slid to the left and she smirked. "What about you, Soul? Got anything to say or is your neck still bothering you~?"

Soul clutched his neck and held his free arm defensively. Instead of readying his axe, he took a shaky step back. Floyd couldn't believe how silent he was being, too. Usually he'd have some sort of violent insult to hurl, but this time he was just… quiet. Timid even.

The only explanation was that Teal had done something—a show of skill or power—that frightened Soul. And that wasn't easy, given how strong and fearless the axe-wielder was.

That… wasn't ideal for fighting Teal. She was already a monster in combat without taking Soul's low morale into account. But luckily, there was a silver lining.

Teal had only seen two opponents. Cara and Void were still invisible.

"Cara," Floyd whispered so as not to tip off Teal or her two remaining cultists. "Can you make Soul and me invisible?"

"No, I used my last one." She whispered back, still invisible. "If we hadn't spared that one for Attila…"

Floyd cursed but didn't argue. He had been the one to use it on her after all.

The one good thing was that Teal couldn't see Cara or Void. They'd have no trouble escaping if they kept quiet.

Which meant all he and Soul needed to do…

Teal took a casual step forward, prompting Floyd to grab Soul by his shirt and, with the remaining effects of his Swiftness Potion, sprint away.

"You'll have to catch us, first!" Floyd shouted, hoping the invisible Cara and Void would use the distraction to escape. All Floyd had to worry about was outrunning Teal, a task made much easier by his Potion of Swiftness.

Soul struggled to keep up, still looking a bit out of it. But he was aware enough to realize that flight over fight was the best option. That, in of itself, showed how much facing Teal had changed him.

Floyd ducked between gravestones as two arrows shot past him, followed by a small blurry sphere that hit a gravestone—

Ender Pearl.

Teal_Larkspur popped into existence in front of them, grinning as she snagged Floyd and Soul by their respective collars.

"Caught you~!" She sing-songed, twirling on the spot and hurling Floyd across the cemetery. He winced as his shoulder hit a gravestone before the rest of him tumbled over it.

He cracked an eye open, expecting Soul to be hurled through the air after him, but instead he heard a light giggle and the sharp crack of bone, followed by an agonized howl.

Floyd's head shot over the gravestone, expecting the worse. Instead, he saw Soul clutching his newly broken leg as Teal deposited him at the foot of a large stone statue.

"Don't go anywhere, now." She laughed, turning her attention back to Floyd. She looked to his hair and nodded appreciatively. "A fellow blue-nette. I can respect that. Though I can't really respect you killing off my cultists."

"Why? You cultists are no strangers to killing people."

"Oooh! Witty retort!" Teal praised, stepping forward so that she was between Floyd and Soul. "Since you bothered to save Lost_Soul, I take it you are—sorry, were part of the same community. Were you all on lunch-break or something when I showed up?"

"Do you even care?" Floyd stepped around some gravestones, trying to find a path around Teal to get to Soul. Teal smirked as she mirrored his movements, walking across from him. She wasn't dumb, realizing he wouldn't leave without Soul. "Does any of what I'm saying change anything or make you want to kill me any less?"

Teal groaned into her hand insipidly. "Yuck. Already, I like you less than the other guy. He was all fight right-off-the-axe, and you're just… blech!" She scratched her head idly. "Buuuut, I bothered to know the names of those guys you cut down and some of them were my rock-paper-scissor buddies. That alone warrants I kill at least all but one of you. Soul's my newest toy and since there's only two of you…" She shrugged. "It's gotta be you. So just try to make it entertaining."

Floyd readied his sword, just as his Potion of Swiftness ended. "If you're going to kill me anyway," Floyd spoke loudly, hoping Cara or Void would overhear, "then why not tell me what you're doing here? What was so important in that tomb?"

Teal didn't bother answering, rushing forward to attack. Her eager smile was intimidating, but at least Floyd had an idea of what she'd do: Strafing.

She'd go left or right after making a feint, so Floyd just had to be ready for that.

The two blue-nettes charged each other, Teal with her fist reared back and Floyd with his sword gripped in one hand and ready to stab.

As he got within striking distance, Floyd jabbed forward straight at Teal. Just like when facing the Griefers, Teal feinted and sped up to the left, her ponytail flicking his face. Floyd was ready, throwing out his left arm in an attempt to clothesline the Lieutenant.

But she was faster. She leaned her head back and slid under his arm and when she passed, she bounced back onto her feet and drove her knee into Floyd's ribs. He felt something creaking on top of the sharp pain in his sides, but he fought through it to try and land a hit.

Teal sidestepped the vertical slash right into Floyd's guard and offered a cheeky grin. "In your face~!" She shouted whilst jabbing her elbow into Floyd's face. She giggled at her joke, even as Floyd stumbled backwards in pain.

He quickly glanced at his Health Meter before returning his attention to the Lieutenant. Even though Teal's attacks hurt, each one could only do half-a-heart of damage. She'd have to land twenty hits to kill, and that was without taking regeneration into account.

The real risk was if she broke a limb like what she did with Soul. If Floyd's arms and legs got broken, he'd be helpless against her… even more helpless than he already was.

"Really? Still not angry?" Teal questioned unhappily. "That Soul guy'd be raving at this point…" She tapped her chin, regarding Floyd thoughtfully before her eyes lit up. "Maybe if I taunt you a little…"

Teal shot forward in a blue blur. Floyd barely had time to prepare his sword before the Lieutenant slid between his legs, grabbing one and yanking along the way. He felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under him, and his head slammed down and scraped across stone as Teal continued to pull him by his ankle.

"You know the best part about killing Crafters~?" Teal asked idly as if dragging someone by their ankle was normal. "It's their expressions. The fear, the surprise, the frustration, the anger. It's a blast twisting their emotions as if they were wrapped around my fingers. Especially if my toys are arrogant or strong." She smiled as she pulled Floyd so that he was held suspended upside down. "That community of yours wasn't arrogant or strong. But I still enjoyed beating them up. Too bad you weren't there to see it~!"

She poked his face teasingly, but Floyd didn't let it bother him. She wanted him to get mad. She had already said how much she craved it. He hated her for what she did to Attila's community, but he knew getting angry and losing focus wouldn't help.

…Or would it?

"You MONSTER!" Floyd shouted suddenly, directing a fist towards Teal's face. The Lieutenant lit up in glee, dodging the strike effortlessly and tossing Floyd against a gravestone. He quickly scrambled to his feet and charged her. "I'll kill you for that!"

"There we go!" Teal laughed, ducking and weaving between Floyd's attacks. "That's the heat I was looking for~!"

Floyd made sure to twist his face into the most furious expression he could think of. It wasn't hard. He just thought of what Teal did to Attila's people and pretended that Teal was responsible for Silent's death. The angrier he looked, the more Teal glowed with excitement.

He looked furious, but his mind remained composed, watching from the corner of his eyes how Teal's two remaining cultists were silently taken out by the invisible Cara and Void. The cultists struggled against their unseen foes before dying in bursts of gear. Teal was so preoccupied watching him that she wasn't watching anything else.

Floyd kept hurling insults, wildly slashing his sword knowing that he would never land a hit anyway. The main concern was keeping her attention long enough for the others to grab Soul and get the hell out of there.

"You are just like Soul!" Teal cheered, slipping around Floyd to wrap her arm around his neck and pin his sword arm. "I'm almost thinking about taking you—Huh?"

Teal's grip loosened as she looked towards Soul stationed beneath the statue. It looked like Soul was being helped to his feet by some invisible force. The next instant, two Crafters appeared on either side of the axe-wielder, lifting him up. Cara and Void paled upon realizing their invisibility had finally run out.

A sharp twist of his sword arm had Floyd screaming in pain, even as Teal bent his spine forward, forcing his upper half to the ground.

"You tricked me!" Teal accused, her tone devoid of mirth. She had figured out that he was just distracting her. "I might enjoy playing around, but I absolutely can't stand being played!"

Floyd was hurled over Teal's shoulder and slammed into the ground, the Lieutenant's eyes looking unforgiving, as she grabbed Floyd's iron sword.

Cara, Soul, and Void moved to help, but Floyd made them pause. "Forget me! Just run!"

"Worried about them~?" Teal taunted as she held Floyd's own sword against his cheek. "How noble—!"

She suddenly stopped in her rant as her eyes locked onto something at Floyd's belt. Floyd tilted his head as the sword was pressed so that it was just teasing his neck with the feel of cold iron.

"What is this?" She still held the sword at Floyd's neck, so he couldn't quite see what she was reaching for. "What is this?"

"Get away from him!" Cara shouted, shooting a volley of arrows at the Lieutenant. Teal dropped the sword and grabbed something else from Floyd's belt before flipping away. Her blue eyes locked onto Soul, between Cara and Void, and she darted towards them.

Void and Soul raised their weapons and Cara aimed another arrow, but as soon as Teal got close, she put on her leather light-blue cap. Soul, Cara, and Void suddenly slowed down as the effects of Teal's cap extended to encompass them. Cara's arrow was released at a snail's pace while Soul's axe and Void's sword sluggishly made their way towards the blue-haired woman.

She walked around the slow-moving attacks before grabbing Soul by his shirt and pulling him away. She seemed fixated on him more than the others.

As soon as Cara and Void were out of Teal's cap radius, they began to move normally again. They whirled to face the Lieutenant, taking a few steps back, just as Teal tossed Soul against the base of that statue again.

She bent over him and got to work, twisting and snapping his limbs until she was sure he couldn't move a muscle. Soul, being within Teal's radius, moved too sluggishly, and was powerless to resist. Instead, all he could do was grit his teeth and bear the pain. When she was finished, she finally took off her cap, returning it to her backpack.

Floyd moved to stand by Cara and Void, feeling safer around the whole group instead of by himself. After all their planning, Soul was still in the enemy's clutches; Like they had walked one big circle.

Teal turned her attention back to the Silver Intent trio. Her eyes showed genuine confusion as she held something out for all of them to see. "What is this?"

Floyd's eyes widened as Teal raised an Endward Cult banner. A quick glance at his belt confirmed it. Teal had gotten a hold of the banner they had taken from the Center of Planar Trade. That was what she had taken an interest in.

"Now why oh why would a couple of Crafters be holding on to something like this~?" Teal questioned interestedly as she waved the banner around. "My first thought would be that you're members, but members would know enough not to steal my toys." She gestured to Soul as she said that, but the axe-wielder was too addled by pain to process it. "So you're something else… And that's interesting enough for me to find out~!"

None of the Silver Intent members said a word. Their weapons were drawn and they were ready for the fight of their lives. They weren't going to abandon Soul to that lunatic. Not now. Not ever.

"Don't feel like talking, hmmm~?" She cracked her knuckles eagerly, eyeing the trio before her like slabs of meat. "That's okay~! Because I know a great way of loosening up those tight lips of yours~!" She chirped, exuding a terrifying aura that contrasted sharply with her tone.

"Quit toying with us." Void called out bravely. "We're not here to play your perverse games."

Teal's eyes narrowed dangerously, causing the group to flinch. As the trio prepared for the worst, Teal's blue eyes suddenly widened, sparkling with excitement. "Ooooh ooooh ooooh! Good idea!" Her eyes lit up as some sort of idea popped inside her twisted mind. "Let's make a perverse game of it~!"

"Wha—Did you not here what I just said!?" Teal ignored Void as she tapped her chin thoughtfully, her tongue poking cutely out of her mouth.

"Let's see… this new game should be called… Question Tag!" She snapped her fingers as if having made a groundbreaking discovery. "As for rules… yeah, that ought to be good~!" She grinned deviously as she turned to the Silver Intent trio. "You guys get to be the first toys I play this new game with. Think of yourselves as the guinea pigs performing a fun, fun test~!"

"I already don't like the sound of it." Floyd commented, earning a giggle from the Lieutenant.

"Don't be like that. I promise it'll be a blast! Well," her smile widened, showing more teeth, "for me, that is~"

Teal pointed to each of the three Silver Intent members. "Usually I'd just play one of my more visceral games with you—what with you killing my cultists and all—but since my curiosity is peaked, we're gonna play a new game I call Question Tag!"

"I—"

"Don't," Teal interjected sharply, "interrupt me when I'm about to explain the rules. You miiiiight just miss something important~!" She hinted suggestively before continuing. "The rules are simple and you can play it with as many Crafters as you like. I'm gonna try and hit you three. Every time I land a hit on someone—however big or small—that same someone must answer one of my questions. And it better be the truth." Her smile turned grim. "If you don't answer or if I have reason to think you're lying, well, the only thing for cheater-cheater pumpkin eaters is a penalty."

"And if we don't feel like playing your game?" Cara hissed, pulling back her bow to aim at Teal.

The Lieutenant shrugged theatrically. "You can try to run. But then, not only will most of you get slain by yours truly, but I'll get to keep this stoic trophy for myself~!" She ruffled Soul's hair causing him to curse under his breath. "Though in the next Survival Games, I'll be sure to beat him to within an inch of his life. And my ruler is usually a little off~!"

Cara bit her lip, and Floyd realized it was because she knew that Teal was right. Even if they gave up on Soul, which he would never do, Teal could just as easily catch and slay them. Not all three, but probably one or two. The only chance of escape was for someone to hold her back. Someone strong.

And, unfortunately, that distinction fell to the subdued axe-wielder. What chance would Floyd have over Soul's strength?

"Awww, don't look so cross~!" Teal sing-songed, placing a hand on her hip. "The game works both ways. If any of you land a hit on me, I'll answer a question—I'll even answer two as a handicap."

"Oh, sure. Easy as pie." Floyd remarked sarcastically. They hadn't been able to land a single hit on her yet. She was too fast and flexible, bending and twisting out of the way of attacks. Though it looked like she wasn't going to wear her slowness cap the whole time.

"If you don't stay optimistic, the game'll be over before it even starts." She said. "Which is now."

Like an arrow, Teal shot forward. Her blue eyes gleamed with exhilaration and the wide smile on her face showed the pure unbridled joy she felt engaging in her game. Cara's arrows missed, and the Lieutenant twisted around Floyd's sword before targeting Void.

The drunkard dodged the brawler's first attack and narrowly blocked the second with his sword before lashing out. Teal slapped the blade away with a smirk before delivering a punishing uppercut to Void's chin. The drunkard was lifted off his feet before crashing back down into the ground.

"That's a hit." Teal tittered before flipping away from Floyd's attack. "Question One—to the brown-haired Void_Dweller—Why did you have an Endward Cult Banner?"

Void rubbed his chin from the pain before picking himself back up and ignoring the Lieutenant's question.

"Careful, there Void_Dweller." Teal warned while dodging both Void's attacks and Cara's arrows. "You're making me think you don't wanna play by my rules."

"I'm not interested in your games!" Void argued, desperately trying to hit the elusive blue-nette. He also wasn't going to sell out the Silver Intent. They couldn't let Teal know the banner had been part of a mission by an anti-Endward Cult organization.

Teal began to frown, looking like she had found something disgusting in her food. "Five seconds before I deal a penalty. Five…"

Floyd jumped in, taking a stab at Teal that missed just like all the others.

"Four…"

Void swept at the brawler's feet, only to watch as she avoided it by jumping atop a gravestone.

"Three…"

The brawler rolled off the gravestone as several arrows stuck into it. Cara kept trying to hit her, even as she darted between tombstones.

"Two…"

She popped back up in front of Floyd and Void. The two Crafters fought beside each other in flurry of slashes that would have reduced any Crafter to a pile of gear.

But Teal wasn't just any Crafter.

"One…"

The number was spoken so coldly that it caused Floyd to shiver. Cara gave out a cry of warning as Teal withdrew the leather cap from her backpack.

Before Floyd or Void could back away, the cap was on her head, and they felt the space around them slow to a glacial pace. Floyd's eyes widened as Teal effortlessly pried the sword from his fingers and turned to face Void.

"Zero~" She smiled wickedly as she drove the sword into Void's gut, eliciting an agonized cry. Only both his and Floyd's cries were drawn out as if in slow-motion.

"No!" Cara screamed, firing several arrows at the Lieutenant. The arrows slowed as soon as they got close, and in a single motion, the Lieutenant moved Void so that he was in the line of fire. Cara gasped in horror, realizing what was about to happen and rushing forward to try and stop it.

"I hate long-ranged fighters." Teal commented, twisting Floyd's sword so that it took a few more Hearts out of the drunkard. "I prefer my fights up-close and personal, wouldn't you say~?"

Void slowly coughed in pain, his pupils dilating as he watched the arrows nearing his face. "Caaaarrrrraaaa…"

"Stop!" Cara cried, entering Teal's slowness radius without a second thought. Her hands were raised as if to catch the arrows before they hit Void. She was willing to use herself as a shield if necessary.

"Don't be a spoilsport." Teal whispered, walking around Void and turning him so that he was fully facing the incoming arrows. She grabbed Cara by her face and ground it into the dirt before taking another stab at Void. In her radius, she could move and manipulate them like dolls. "Cheaters need to face the penalty~!"

"H-heeeellllpppp meeee…" Void cried as he had to watch his impending death slowly approach him. Teal gave one final slash with Floyd's sword—just to make sure Void's Health was low enough—before placing it back into Floyd's hand and wrapping his fingers around it. She gave his hand a firm pat before skipping away happily.

As the radius of slowness shifted, time started to speed up. Floyd's strained efforts to move returned to normal and he was able to try and push Void out of the way.

Cara, her face kissing the dirt, pushed herself up the instant time returned as she attempted to throw herself into the path of arrows.

And Void desperately tried to move anything, even as his eyes darted to his dangerously low Health Meter.

When the slowness effect finally left them…

*SHUNK* *SHUNK* *SHUNK*

It was too late.

Cara's body passed the arrows, missing them by a second. Her back impacted a tombstone and she slid to the ground where she began to sob into the aged stone.

Floyd found himself shoving into a shower of gear where a Crafter had been just a moment ago. Void's Head bounced off his cheek and several glass bottles—vessels of the drunkard's Awkward Potions—clattered to the ground.

It was that fast. The death of Void_Dweller.

"Hoo boy!" The damned Lieutenant breathed as she took off her leather cap and admired her work. "Killed by his own teammates. That sure must suck. Does that suck as much as I think it sucks?" Teal questioned Cara, even though she was weeping into the ground, holding herself. Teal smirked. "Now come on Courageous _Cara, you're starting to insult your own name~!"

Tears gushed down Cara's face, causing Floyd's anger to rise. "V-void…?" She whined, praying that he wasn't gone.

Teal walked up to the purple-haired leader and stood over her. "Hey, I landed a hit on you when I threw your face into the dirt. That means you have to answer my question." She knelt down before her and gripped her by the hair. "So tell me. Does shooting your own man suck as much as I think it sucks?"

Cara whimpered as the tears continued to flow. Her aquamarine eyes were bleary as the weight of her actions settled upon her. It wasn't just because of her arrows. She had a more active hand in killing Void. She had kept the mission going when it would have been wiser to end it. Void had told her it was worth it… he had told her it was the right move.

'Bad things are gonna happen, whether you're prepared for them or not. No sense in feeling apprehensive about it. It's too tiresome. Rather, you should focus that time in doing something worthwhile. That's living!'

Bad things had happened. And Void was dead because of it.

Cara's head trembled as she took a shaky breath before another wracking set of sobs assaulted her.

"I guess I'll accept that as an honest answer." Teal giggled as she released Cara's hair. "But just this once—Oh~!"

Floyd hurled his wooden axe at the Lieutenant. She slapped it aside where it snapped in two, only for Floyd to barrel towards her. Teal simply hopped over him, delivering a kick to his back while she was at it.

"Another hit~!" Teal sing-songed. "And I think I sense some actual anger this time! Bonus points~!"

Floyd didn't hear what question she asked. Blood was pounding in his ears and he wanted nothing more than to punch the smug grin right off her face. He knew he shouldn't be getting angered. Getting angry would only make things worse.

But he wanted to be angry. One of them was dead. One of his own comrades had died. And just like before, he was powerless to stop it.

"Same old Flawwed_Floyd." Floyd gnashed his teeth as the apparition of Silent came into existence before him once again. This time it was leaning off of a smirking Teal. "Same old useless Crafter. Same old murdering cult." He shook his head. "I suppose I shouldn't be disappointed since I already knew it would happen again."

"Shut up." Floyd whispered, wanting to shut out the words of his deceased friend. A friend that wouldn't stop haunting him… even in a situation like this.

"What was that?" Teal held a hand up to her ear. "If you're gonna give me an answer, then don't mumble it. In fact, new rule: No more mumbling answers. Now, again, why did you have an Endward Cult Banner?"

The apparition of Silent hiked a thumb to the blue-haired Lieutenant. "You're really letting her call all the shots? Letting her kill all your friends? She can't be that tough. I speak from experience when I say that blue-haired people are cowardly weaklings."

"SHUT UP!" Floyd shouted, startling Teal into taking a step back.

"I didn't even…" She shook her head before pouting. "Okay, penalty countdown. Five…"

"And now she's counting…" Silent's ghost adjusted his glasses and looked at Floyd coldly. "Just let her count down. The world would be better off if she killed you."

"RAGH!" Floyd charged, aiming his sword at the apparition and not Teal.

By pure chance, and nothing else, Teal, thinking the strike was aimed at her, sidestepped to the left. What she didn't know was that she moved right into the path of Floyd's sword as it sliced at both the apparition and a portion of Teal's Health. "Wha—Seriously?"

Teal looked more amazed than angry as she observed the dent in her Health. It must have been a while since someone injured her.

That amazed expression soon turned into a feral smile as Teal dodged Floyd's follow-up attack and drove her fist crashing into his nose.

Floyd tumbled to the ground and Teal pounced upon him, pinning his arms with her knees. "That's a hit for both of us~!" Teal grinned, enthralled with the idea that someone could land a hit on her. Someone could actually challenge her. "The first question's countdown is still going! Four…"

Floyd thrashed his arms as he desperately tried to free them. Teal didn't budge.

"Three…" Teal was already reaching for Floyd's sword, intending to penalize him soon. "Two…"

"Stop! Stop it!" Cara screamed on hands and knees as she crawled forward. Tears kept flowing down her face and she spoke in choked sobs. "We… it was a mission!" Cara relented. "The banner was our mission! We were supposed to replace it with our own! Just don't kill anymore!"

Teal turned to look at Cara and wore a pleased smile. "Now we're getting somewhere. Question Two…" She turned to look at Floyd, tilting his chin up to face her. "I want to hear this answer from you… or else little Cara will take up residence in one of these graves." Teal smirked as Floyd tried to wrench his face free. "Who gave you that mission?"

Floyd's eyes narrowed and he tried to move his arms… his legs… anything! But it was no use. The Lieutenant had him pinned. And if he didn't answer…

"…The Silver Intent." Floyd hissed. "An organization that's sworn to be the cult's end."

Teal raised a brow in fascination. "Oh~? An anti-cult group, you say? How interesting…" Her grin turned smug. "Though, I wonder, how exactly does this situation work in your anti-cult plan?"

Floyd looked around, taking in his fellow Silver Intent members. Soul was struggling to nudge his way towards them, even with multiple broken limbs. Cara was weeping into the dirt. Void was dead.

Not great. He thought to himself, even as the same thought seemed to cross Teal's mind.

"I thought so." Teal leaned back, though she kept Floyd's arms pinned by her knees. "Well, rules are rules. You get two questions for hitting me, so ask away~!" She chirped.

Floyd struggled under Teal's hold while his mind worked furiously. Was there even a point in asking her anything when it was obvious she was going to kill them all? Wouldn't she be more likely to kill them if she let slip vital cult information? Did she even care?

Floyd looked into her vibrant blue eyes—eyes that shimmered with anticipation and joy—and saw his own face reflected in them.

Who was he kidding? There was no doubt that Teal would kill them all whether they learned anything or not.

Floyd weighed his options, and figured it was better for the knowledge to be out where someone could hear it and live, rather than being kept within the Lieutenant.

"…The tomb." Floyd spoke after a long moment of thinking. "What were you doing in that tomb?"

Teal tilted her head as she considered the question. "Well… the Endward Cult's latest Gathering revealed some information left by our Founder. Among the information was a location: The High-Moon Tombs. The tomb I entered only opens at midnight—or so the Founder described. I was sent here to check it out, is all."

Floyd listened intently and took a breath before asking, "What did you find?"

Teal smiled widely. "Nothing~!"

Floyd cursed as he realized he just wasted his last question. "What—nothing?"

"Yup!" Teal chirped. "Nothing at—well, there was an altar, if you'd even call that something. But other than that, pshh, zilch. Disappointing, I know."

Floyd felt the world around him blur as Teal pulled him to his feet and threw him across the cemetery. He winced as he slid across stone before the air was driven out of his lungs by a drop kick.

"I'm gonna fire a bunch of questions so I don't forget them. Hope you're ready~!" Teal's smile turned sadistic as she raised her fists. "Where is the Silver Intent located?"

*WHACK*

"Who's your leader?"

*POW*

"How many members do you have?"

*SMACK*

"Are they stronger or weaker than you?"

*POW*

"Who told you about me?"

*CRACK*

"What else do you know?"

*SNAP*

"…Oh, awkward. I, uh, don't have another question…" She paused, thinking it over. "What's your favorite food?"

Teal stopped her onslaught, taking a moment to allow Floyd to speak. He coughed painfully, before glaring up at the woman.

"D-Daymonte." He lied quickly, hoping Teal would believe it. "I never… met our leader." He lied again, not wanting to sell out Brett. "I don't know how many members we have, though I imagine they're stronger than me." He mumbled sadly.

"That's right." The apparition of Silent jeered loftily. "The weakest of the three. Can't even use his powers."

"We… we heard about you… from some source—ugk!"

"Be careful how you answer this one." Teal warned teasingly while squeezing his throat. "My toys don't usually feel like talking when I'm finished playing with them~"

Floyd thought frantically before realizing he had to tell the truth—at least partly. "Attila… akrasia…" Teal's eyes lit upon hearing that name. "She… she used to be a cultist. She gave us the information on you… in exchange for a favor. She was gonna tell us the Eastern Division's base…" Floyd mustered up a look of pure fury, trying extra hard so that Teal would believe his next words. "But then you and your cultists killed her and destroyed her home!"

"What are you—Oh!" Teal slapped a hand to her forehead. "Oooooh! Now it all makes sense! She did say she was supporting a community… I always thought she got away. Attila… I bet she got caught up in one of those explosions. Poetic justice for when she blew up our base."

Floyd inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Not only did Teal think Attila was dead—which he hoped she wasn't—but now she also believed the Silver Intent didn't know more than they actually did. Attila gave them the Eastern Division's location and Teal's identity. They had to get that information to Brett.

"Ahem?" Teal shook Floyd, causing him to raise an eyebrow. "Favorite food?"

Oh. The last question. Floyd was about to answer when he suddenly wondered what she would do once her curiosity ended. If she had no more questions, she had no more reason to keep any of them alive.

"…Meat."

Teal opened her mouth to say something, but then quickly shut it. The answer threw her off, to be sure. "What type of meat?"

"I don't have to answer that." Floyd spoke defiantly, even as he tilted his head to the side.

Teal laughed at his reasoning before driving a fist into his stomach. "Now you do~" She smiled. "What type of meat?"

*Cough cough* "The type… with four legs."

*CRACK*

"AUGH!" Floyd screamed as one of his ribs buckled.

"You wanna keep playing~? Because I'm game." Teal giggled, keeping her attention on Floyd. "Does the animal have wool?"

"That's… two questions…"

*CRACK*

"I… I can do this all night…" Floyd hissed as he glanced at his Health Meter. Contrary to his words, he could not do this all night. "No… wool…"

"Does it have a snout?"

*POW*

"N-no…" It was beginning to feel more like twenty questions. That is, if twenty questions included violent beat-downs.

"So it's either a cow or a rabbit." Teal rubbed her chin thoughtfully even as she grabbed the sword at Floyd's belt. "I'm just gonna guess now if that's alright with you." She held the blade over his neck, gazing down into his defiant purple eyes. "Is your favorite food… steak!"

She slapped him lightly, enough to be classified as a hit. Enough for him to answer the final question.

He shakily nodded, closed his eyes, and prepared himself for the cold embrace of death.

"Looks like I win again~!"

"NO!"

The scream of fury was so full of emotion that it shocked Floyd into opening his eyes. Soul, with his arms and legs fully healed, had leapt upon the Lieutenant.

"I'M NOT WATCHING SOMEONE DIE AGAIN!" Soul roared, raising his axe high.

"How many times do I have to break your legs?" The brawler pouted as she dropped Floyd's sword and pulled the axe-wielder off. He made a strangled choking sound as the Lieutenant wrapped her hand around his neck. "Clearly you're not cut out for the Survival Games if you'd just keep throwing yourself at me!"

"Soul!" Cara and Floyd cried, rushing in to help. The Lieutenant lashed out with a violent kick that sent Floyd skittering away and into several tombstones. He came to rest near the edge of the cemetery.

Right next to the edge of the cliffs.

Over the side and far down below he could see sharp rocks, choppy waters, and some odd things swimming around. Guardians.

Floyd remembered what Attila had said about them and the cliffs.

'If you ever fall off there, and the sharp rocks at the bottom don't kill you, the Guardians surely will.'

They weren't strong enough to kill Teal. But Floyd figured tossing her to the Guardians was worth a shot.

Another choking sound caught Floyd's attention. He turned back to the fight—if he could even call it that—and gasped when he saw Teal holding both Soul and Cara by their throats. Their hands desperately scrabbled against her grip, struggling for air.

Teal giggled amusedly at this before she slammed the both of them against two gravestones. Side by side. "Here lies two dumb Silver Intent members~!" She taunted happily, even while the two turned as blue as her attire.

"Gggk!"

"Hck!"

Floyd was panicking. He had to do something. He had to help. They were both going to die!

He was taken back to the day he had to watch Silent get murdered protecting him.

No! He internally screamed. I can't watch that again!

"Then do something about it." The apparition of Silent advised, standing beside him.

"STOP!" Floyd screamed, charging the Lieutenant, only for her to lash out with another kick, sending him tumbling back to the start.

"Wait your turn, Flawwed_Floyd. I'm enjoying myself, here." Teal laughed as Soul's body went limp, his eyes rolling back into his head. Cara wasn't faring any better.

"I said STOP!" Floyd shouted, shooting to his feet. He was dizzy from the latest kick and was sent staggering into a ruined tombstone.

"Why don't you make me~?"

"Why don't you make her?"

What was Silent trying to tell him? Why did he keep showing up at the strangest times? The only common link between them was that it—

…

That it followed that smoke…

Floyd looked at his hands, desperately trying to dig down and remember those times he summoned that smoke. What had he been feeling? What had been the key factors?

'He's got the markings of a Hacker all over his eyes!'

Please… He begged whatever powers he had. Please help! I don't care what happens to me, but I won't stand by and watch my comrades—my friends—die! No more!

His Health Meter was beyond low, but he didn't care. If he didn't do something… if he didn't push himself now, they'd all die.

A dark smoke began to gather at the edges of his vision. It was small at first—wisps of vapor that could have easily been mist. Then it started to billow more frequently, as if a fire was burning in his eyes and unleashing a cloudy haze.

"You have the strength. You've always had it." The apparition of Silent explained, no longer jeering or snide. He looked relieved. Docile, even, as he slowly faded from sight. "You've just been holding yourself back from it."

Floyd gritted his teeth as he felt the smoke seep from his eyes. It clung to his body, crawling down his shoulders to swirl around his arms. And it didn't stop there. It kept flowing and flowing, filling himself with a power unlike anything he ever felt.

"I said… Stop!" He spoke lowly, catching Teal's attention. The Lieutenant glanced at him before her eyes widened in shock. Her eyes saw the dark smoke, and she knew exactly what it meant. Her hands fell to her side, releasing Soul and Cara, and she turned to give Floyd her full attention.

As soon as the smoke enveloped his legs—and thus his whole body—the newly realized Hacker glared at Teal with purple eyes surrounded by a sea of the darkest black.

And then, he moved.

He had been several rows of gravestones away from the Lieutenant before he moved.

And after that, he was right in front of her.

Teal barely had time to blink before his fist crashed into her face. Floyd misjudged his new speed and had his momentum carry him several rows of graves away from where he struck Teal. The Lieutenant found herself skidding across the ground into several graves. The stone splintered apart, sending debris skittering along with her.

Floyd's eyes widened at his incredible speed. The distance he crossed in an instant… no Potion of Swiftness could do nearly that much. This was beyond the capabilities of mere potions.

This was... a Hack.

A clatter of stone told Floyd that Teal had picked herself up. He expected her to be angry or scared.

But not excited. Not with blue eyes glowing challengingly. Not with a feral grin, eager for the chance to go toe-to-toe against a Hacker.

"Best. Night. Ever!" Teal laughed before launching herself at Floyd.

If her movements were fast enough to be considered launching, then Floyd's must have been warping. Even as Teal's fist came crashing towards him, Floyd merely had to take a step to the side for it to miss him completely. A trail of dark smoke followed in his wake, the stuff always sticking to him where Teal couldn't.

Teal continued her attacks, sending kicks and punches faster than anything she'd been fighting with before. She wasn't playing anymore. She was taking Floyd seriously.

Floyd kept stepping to the side, zigzagging amongst the brawler's attacks and performing a repeat of what she had done to them. She didn't seem to mind too much, her eyes alight with glee.

Taking a page out of Teal's book, Floyd warped forward with his fist raised. Teal held her arms up to block, but Floyd feinted and warped to the left before delivering a high-speed punch to the back of her head.

Teal tumbled and kept tumbling forward, shattering half the gravestones in the cemetery before she came to rest on the side of the cliff. Even then, she bounced to her feet, shaking off the damage and dusting herself off.

The smoke kept swirling around Floyd, urging him to continue. And Teal was right on the edge of the cliff. One more push was all he needed.

Come on. He mentally ordered, crouching low before warping towards the blue-haired woman.

The same woman who had just put on a light blue cap.

"Fuck…" Floyd realized as he found himself within Teal's space. The cap slowed down his hacker speed, canceling it out and reducing him to a normal Crafter's speed.

Teal took advantage, grabbing hold of Floyd's arm and flipping him to the ground while also stomping hard onto his chest.

Floyd struggled for breath, eyes narrowed dangerously as he tried to get to his feet.

That was when he felt a shift. It was small, nearly imperceptible, but he felt a dip in the exhilarating surge of Hacker power.

A moment later, the smoke enveloping him died out. Like a blown out candle, the dark vapor was extinguished.

And in the smoke's absence, there was a weighty fatigue. As had happened before, everywhere the smoke had enveloped suddenly felt like lead. His eyes had returned to their usual state, no longer seeping smoke.

His whole body felt like he had run a marathon, which, considering his power, he might just have. But more frightening was the fact that he couldn't move at all. Even in the brief instances his Hacker power manifested, he had never been paralyzed with exhaustion.

Was that the risk? Incredible speed in exchange for incredible exhaustion? He had only had it active for thirty seconds. Or was this just because it was new to him? He hadn't mastered the ability… he didn't think of that. Did those other Hackers have to master the power or else suffer the same punishing backlash?

Whatever the reason, Floyd and his Hacker powers were both dead in the water, and Teal, standing over him, took notice immediately.

"Hey. Hey, hey, hey!" She nudged the newly realized Hacker with her foot as if that would goad him back into action. "We were just starting to have fun! Turn it back on!"

She was talking about the smoke, but Floyd didn't need her to tell him that. He was frantically trying to dig for that power he had felt, trying to harness his anger towards Teal. But it wasn't working. Nothing was working. He was lying motionless on the ground with a Lieutenant prodding at him.

"Ugh!" Teal pouted, kicking at Floyd's motionless body He didn't even feel it. "What a gyp! The best toy of all and its damn batteries run out or whatever! Oh, and great!" Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the cemetery. "Those two friends of yours got away. So I guess I'm left with a load of garbage, huh?"

Teal kicked at Floyd again, sending him rolling dangerously close to the edge of the cliff. His head slumped to face it and saw the sharp rocks and swimming Guardians.

Oh no…

Teal seemed to have the same idea as Floyd, pressing her foot against his side and getting ready to kick off. "Rules are rules—we each landed a hit on each other—so we both get one last question. What is a Hacker doing with some normal Crafters? Or are all of you Silver Intent people Hackers?"

Floyd tried to turn his head to look at her, but he couldn't even muster up that much strength. "I… I didn't know I was one…" He admitted. He hoped Cara and Soul got away and that they'd keep out of Teal's sight. Even if he was about to die, he didn't feel as scared as he should have. If anything, he felt relieved that he had been able to protect his friends. He didn't have to watch them die.

Teal seemed to accept the answer as she readied to roll Floyd over the side. "Now, what's your last question?"

Floyd didn't think it mattered, but there was one more thing he wanted to know from the Lieutenant. One thing that he could roll around in his head during the fall and while the Guardians swarmed and killed him.

"…Why?"

"Hmm?"

"…Why work for the Endward Cult?" He elaborated, wanting to know what a person like Teal gained from siding with them. Why work for anyone when she was so strong?

"Isn't it obvious?" Floyd could hear the glee in her tone. "Life is just a game to me; a way to kill time. It's a way for me to enjoy myself and live life to the fullest." She tittered innocently. "And I've found that I feel most alive… when I'm taking life away from others~!"

Floyd's eyes widened in fury. That was it? Her only reason was that it made her feel alive? She did it for that twisted rush of pleasure? That was just sick. She was sick!

Breaking Soul's limbs. Making Cara cry. Destroying Attila's community. Killing Void.

All of that supposedly made her feel alive? Was it all just a game to her!? Those were real people she hurt! Those were real lives she destroyed! And she didn't even care! The entire Endward Cult didn't care!

"I swear someone will stop you…" Floyd muttered. "Someone will slaughter you and the rest of your cult… And nobody will care when you're gone!"

"Wow, that's swell." Teal dismissed, not even listening to his last words. "Buh-bye~!"

And with that, she rolled him off the cliff and skipped away.

AN: 70 Chapters. (That's ten sevens by the way.)

This Chapter, for me, kinda felt long when I was describing the combat. Teal's no slouch - she might even be the strongest Lieutenant - but you can only describe dodging and punching and kicking and missing so many times before it gets tiresome.

This Chapter also marks the end of the Nitebane Arc. Which means it's back to Cobb in Ringwood. I can't really give you the name of the next Arc since it'll probably spoil something, but I'll think of something. This whole Arc in general was meant to talk about Floyd and Soul's problems, the history of Nitebane, the introduction of Teal, Attila's story, and other elements. For the eight chapters, I think it was pretty good.

Omake below. See you in two weeks. Leave a review or a fav or a follow... but not a jelly donut! Never a jelly donut. I hate jelly donuts.

The Eastern Division

On the outskirts of Nitebane, a man with shaggy jet black hair and an eye patch stood perched upon a stone jut. His legs dangled over the side as he plucked at the string of his bow.

His one, blood red eye looked up to spot a band of approaching Griefers at least a mile away. Half of them rode on horseback. His head lolled to the side and he gave an exasperated huff before he lazily rose to his feet. He reached for an arrow and loaded his bow—a bow with every possible Enchantment. Power V, Punch II, Flame I, Infinity I, and Unbreaking III.

He counted them. Twenty in all. His eye narrowed slightly as he measured the distance, judged the correct angle, and took aim. The next instant, his pupil dilated as he launched an arrow. As soon as it left his finger tips, he loaded another one, and another one, and another one.

Forty times he shot. Two arrows per Griefer. None missed. The horses were left unharmed.

Abyssmal let loose a satisfied sigh as he sat back down and enjoyed the sunrise.

Just as he was beginning to consider taking a nap, the clatter of rock caught his attention. He leaned back, holding himself upside down and dangling by his legs as he aimed an arrow at the latest intruder.

"You've got me in your sights, don't stop now." A dull voice droned as he held his hands up. He had magenta hair and dead-looking eyes, giving off a world-weary look.

Abyssmal lowered his bow immediately. "Sorry, Mark. I saw you coming from a mile away, but I didn't think you'd get here so fast."

To answer, he held up a Potion of Swiftness.

"Right, right." Abyssmal, the Executive of the Eastern Division, nodded. He let go of the stone jut and flipped ungracefully, landing on both feet and an arm to steady himself. "So, how'd your mission go? Find a lot of danger at the Oceanic Museum?"

"Oh, yes." Lieutenant MarkAble commented dryly. "The one guard dog really got my heart pumping. And the security guard's snoring nearly shattered my eardrums." He shook his head jokingly. "I can't believe you gave me forty cultists for that mission. It's an Oceanic Museum. Security wouldn't be that bad."

"Yeah… see…" Abyssmal rubbed his head sheepishly. "I may have only glanced at the order—"

"You can't be serious…"

"To be fair, I read the word 'museum' and 'steal' and figured it'd be a forty person heist."

"You should be the role model here, not me."

"Hey, if you wanna be a model to role, then I'd happily make you the Executive—"

"I didn't even want to be a Lieutenant!" Mark shouted, before taking a deep breath to lower his voice. "You know I'm only a Lieutenant because nobody else is willing to juggle the division's budget, paperwork, Head quotas, and less than competent leaders."

"Ouch…" Abyssmal winced before he let out a laugh. "Don't forget that you're the best guy at handling Teal."

"It's not easy." Mark nodded modestly, getting distracted by the praise. "She's always fixated on me no matter how many times…I…"

Mark suddenly blanched, feeling a shiver run up his spine. "She… uh… she's not coming to this meeting… right?"

Abyssmal didn't say anything, but the smile that stretched across his face was enough to make Mark recoil in horror.

"Oh, no…" Mark sounded sick as he whipped his head around, peeling back every stone for the slightest hint of blue. "Abyssmal, don't you dare stand there silently!" Mark shouted with the desperation of a dying man. Even then his eyes remained focused on his surroundings and he stood guarded and tense, Potions of Slowness at the ready. "If you see her, you tell me so I—"

A blue blur hurled itself down from atop a stone jut, heading straight for the magenta-haired Lieutenant.

"Mark~!" The voice sang flirtatiously as Lieutenant Teal clasped onto Mark. She maneuvered her body, expertly twisting around him to reduce her momentum, never unbalancing him, before her body came to rest on his front, arms and legs wrapped around him. "I missed you so so soooooo much~!"

"You're dead to me, Abyssmal." Mark deadpanned, even as Teal showered him with affection. "Dead to me."

"Oh, I was so worried about you!" Teal looked agonized as she considered the thought of Mark getting injured. "All of those dangerous ocean fossils—"

"…Have you ever been to an Oceanic Museum?"

"—Alone and with nobody to support you—"

"There were literally forty cultists with me."

"Shush. Not another word." Teal quieted before she pressed her cheek against Mark's much to the latter's discomfort. "Your beloved Teal is here to make it all better~"

She rested her head against his chest, still trapping his arms to his side, but Mark had had enough. "Teal. Off." He twisted in place and tried to shake her loose, but the blue-nette wasn't letting go. "Teal, come on. You're light, but I can't see in front of me."

Teal spun around Mark's body, resting against his back. Her arms and legs remained wrapped around him lovingly.

"That's not what I meant. I need my arms free."

Teal smirked as she moved her mouth next to his ear. "I'll free your arms," she whispered lasciviously, "but only if you do something special for me with them~"

"And that's crossing the line!" Mark's voice cracked as he violently shook Teal off of him and pushed her away for good measure. Teal didn't mind, giggling as she bounced off the ground and onto her feet. Mark desperately tried to contain the blush spreading across his face.

"You don't know how lucky you are, Mark." The Executive said before his voice took on a suave tone. "Hey, Teal. If you're looking for a hands-on relationship, then I'm your—"

Teal looked at him balefully. "I don't care for Cyclopes."

Abyssmal let out an exaggerated sob while Mark debated gouging his own eye out to keep Teal back. Even if he could, he ultimately decided against it.

"Fucking Mark…" Abyssmal cried. "He's got a gorgeous woman with the hots for him and what does he do? Not have sex with her. It's like watching a bird refuse to fly. Or a rabbit… refusing to mate with another rabbit. It isn't fair, damnit!"

"You're right, it isn't fair." Teal agreed, causing Mark to groan into his hands. "But it's fine. I never lose. And I'm nothing if not persistent." Teal winked in Mark's direction, her blue eyes glittering playfully.

"…I'm gonna rescue myself from this awkwardness and ask that we report on our missions already." Mark spoke stiffly.

"You got it~!" Teal giggled as she took her favorite seat atop Mark's shoulders. "The High-Moon Tombs were a total bust!—" Teal stopped herself before amending her statement. "I mean, I had fun of course, but the tomb you had me check was empty. Nothing there but a stone altar."

Abyssmal smirked, confusing the blue-nette. "That's exactly what we were hoping for." Teal couldn't understand what a random altar told him, but by the way the Executive looked, it was something pleasing. However, his expression soured a second later. "Er… what happened to the nine cultists I sent with you."

"They kinda sorta maybe… dead." The dark-haired Executive groaned, the action being the closest he could come to expressing sympathy for the deceased. "But! They were killed by an upstart anti-cult group calling themselves the Silver Intent."

"Great. As if we didn't already have the Paragons to worry about. Now this."

"Eh, they're not that tough." Teal shrugged.

Mark's ears perked, even as he was being used as Teal's comfy chair. "Don't you mean, they weren't that tough? You killed them all, right?"

Teal scratched her head sheepishly. "Two of them… kinda escaped." Abyssmal and Mark facepalmed.

"So they know who you are." The Executive spoke harshly. "Your identity is out now. And this… Silver Intent group knows it."

"Yeeeeeaaaaah…"

"Should I buy you the bullseye tunic now, or later?"

"Hey, it's not like anyone can stop me. If anything, I'll be stopping them." Teal grinned as she spun her special leather cap around her finger. "And if it grants me some more ambitious toys… I wouldn't complain."

"Did you at least learn anything about them?" Abyssmal rubbed his eyes, wanting nothing more than to take a nap.

Teal nodded happily. "I got enough to know they're no real threat. Especially since I killed their strongest ally~" She sing-songed, not giving away the juicier details.

"You should have sent her the forty cultists." Mark droned earning a chiding poke from the blue-nette. "My mission went off without a hitch. You mind?" Teal leaned to the side so that he could reach his backpack. The golden armor he withdrew gleamed from the rising sun. "This gear was probably the museum's most expensive stuff. Aqua Affinity, Depth Strider, and Respiration. All at the highest tier. Everything you need to raid that Monument."

"Ah, I thought we'd discuss that little snag." Abyssmal began delicately, even as Mark's eyes widened. "I was hoping—"

"No."

"—that you could—"

"No."

"—take the gear yourself—"

"Nuh-uh."

"—and plumb that Monument—"

"Not gonna do it."

"—for what we need."

"I have paperwork waiting."

"I'll do it for you."

"It's already your paperwork. Yours and Teal's."

"Mark, just do it. Please?" He added when it looked like another denial was coming.

Mark sighed and glanced aside, turning his head against Teal's thigh. "I—there's gonna be Guardians shooting off laser beams. I'm as tough as a limp noodle." He didn't say no. "I can't search it alone."

"I'll go with you then~"

"I can search it alone."

"Awww, come on, Mark~!" Teal tittered before leaning upside-down to stare Mark in the eye. "Just think; you and me. On a mission. Together~"

"I can definitely search it alone! Please don't send her with me!" Mark begged, gripping Abyssmal by his shirt. "My heart wouldn't be able to handle it!"

"You'll be fine. An outing with Teal won't kill you." The Executive dismissed much to Teal's joy and Mark's abject horror. "You might even enjoy yourself."

"Hooray!" Teal somersaulted off of Mark and leapt with delight. "Mark and I, together on a mission! Dreams do come true!"

"You can thank me later." Abyssmal whispered to the dejected and hunched over Mark. "It's my responsibility to be the wingman to the sexually inexperienced juniors, such as yourself."

"…Dead to meeee…"

"Oh, we're gonna have so much fun~!" Teal continued to gush, falling to her knees to hug the hunched over Lieutenant. "I got so many games planned, and we'll probably have to sleep together while we camp. Hmhmm~"

Mark whined into the ground while Teal cuddled him gently, whispering suggestive and flirty comments that he couldn't repeat in mixed company.

His division was the worst, sometimes.

AN: Light-hearted Omake after Heavy-hearted Chapter.