Future Universe, The City, several years ago…

"Jamming signals are strong, sir." Fordo stated as he, Mr. Spaceman, Kuroshiki, and Energy Crisis walked through the Backstreets, followed by a squad of Dark Future soldiers. "We're undetected."

"Thank goddess for that." Kuroshiki said. "I'm not sure about you all, but I don't want to draw the attention of any of those Wings."

"Agreed. We'll need to be quick about this. Find as many potential recruits as we can sneak away with, maybe look into this so-called 'Lobotomy Corporation', then get the heck out of dodge." Mr. Spaceman remarked.

"Of all of the places… Of all of the places, you pick here…" Energy Crisis growled. "I know what this place has, and despite all of the tempting things that I could make use of there… I sure as hell have ten times more reasons to stay away from that cesspit."

"I understand your concern, Crisis, but unfortunately, we can't just ignore this place." Mr. Spaceman said. "If these Abnormalities are as dangerous as we've heard, then on the off chance that one finds its way out of this world's borders, it could cause a massacre. We need to be ready if that happens."

Kuroshiki listened to the statements, as his own eyes furrowed slightly.

"What kind of misery happens day by day here, for it to be named such a moniker…" Kuroshiki remarked to himself. "'The City where Hope Dies and Evil Prevails'..."

"Sir! Something up ahead." one of the soldiers called out. "Just around the corner. One life-sign, but it's faint."

The Dark Garden members rounded the corner and stopped in their, being shocked by what they saw: a scene of death, with bodies strewn about the street, some that where clad in black robes with yellow hexagonal marks, with various symbols, while the rest seemed to be beings akin to peak super-soldiers, with syringes stuck in their spinal columns of various colors, and clawed gauntlets on each of their arms.

"Oh my god!" Energy Crisis shouted. "What the heck is this?!"

Fordo marched over to one of the bodies, kneeling down to get a better look. "Hmm…looks like a Claw. Whatever - or whoever - killed these people must be one hell of a fighter."

"Not just Claws." Kuroshiki said, looking down on another body. "This is an Arbiter."

"Wait, an Arbiter? Are you sure, sir?" one of the soldiers asked the younger boy.

"Hard to believe, but yeah. This is an Arbiter." Kuroshiki said. "Or…at least they were."

"Man, I thought those guys were unbeatable in this world. Props to whoever took them out." Energy Crisis remarked.

"I fear there's no more time to talk." Mr. Spaceman said. "Where is the life-sign?"

"Sir, over here!" one of the soldiers said, standing over a woman lying in the middle of the street. The Dark Garden leaders raced over to the woman's side, getting a good look at her.

The woman seemed to have her short blonde hair fairly unkempt, as if she had been through a real mess, while her own green eyes were dull, as there was little light in them, while her deep-brown attire seemed to look like it was being put through a shredder, with all of the cuts and tears, and the various wounds underneath painted a grueling tale.

"Oh dear…" Mr. Spaceman remarked.

"She won't last long like this, sir." the soldier said. "Frankly, it's a miracle she's lasted this long at all."

"Can we stabilize her condition long enough to get medical attention?" the branch leader asked.

"I can't make any promises." the soldier said regretfully.

"Do what you can." Fordo ordered, before he turned to his leader as the soldier took out a medical device and began to stabilize the mysterious woman. "Sir, are you sure about this? If she's the one who killed all these Claws and Arbiters…then the Head will be looking for her."

Mr. Spaceman looked down at the young woman, her breathing shallow and faint.

"Dad?" Kuroshiki asked in concern.

"...Let them come." Mr. Spaceman decided. "We were going to get their attention sooner or later. It's better to save a life while doing it."

"She's stable, sir." the soldier announced as he finished with the patient.

Mr. Spaceman carefully picked the woman up, taking care not to compound any of her now lessened injuries. "Don't worry, my dear…you're in safe hands now." Mr. Spaceman whispered before he turned towards his subordinates. "Let's go. We have a half-hour before the Night starts. Should erase any evidence we were here."

"Roger that. Back to base." Fordo ordered the soldiers as the group trudged through the streets, now with a plus one.


It did not take long for them to carry their quarry into a hidden location, where the elite members utilized technology to temporarily mask their presence, taking shelter in a nearby ruined building, with a room intact enough to have bedding to rest the wounded woman on.

"So, what are you hoping to find on this woman, boss?" Energy Crisis asked, before she then looked at the woman again. "...Christ, she looks like she's barely in her early twenties. And from how her body looks… she's been fighting since she has been a child. How soon… I don't know, and I don't think I wanna know."

"Neither do I." Kuroshiki said. "Fordo, what do you make of it?"

"No visible icons or markings. Probably not a soldier." Fordo said. "Self-trained, then. Did we check her for weapons?"

"All we found on her person was this." a soldier remarked as he brought out a broken rapier. "It matches most of the wounds on the bodies around her. She's the one behind that slaughter."

"Christ, she took down Claws and an Arbiter? Several even!?" Energy Crisis said. "Holy crap, I don't think one of those SCP knockoffs could do that."

"Guess we hit the jackpot, huh sirs?" a soldier remarked. "If she pulls through, she could definitely make it far in our business. Sub-Leader, for sure."

"That's not an option at the moment." Mr. Spaceman said sternly. "We're saving her, first and foremost. We'll save the recruitment speech for after she fully recovers."

"Whatever you say, sir." the soldier saluted.

"Dad, I think she's waking up." Kuroshiki remarked as the Dark Future members turned to the bed, where the mysterious woman started to groan.

"How… How am I…" The woman rasped weakly, as she seemed to notice that her body had been fairly patched up, before she then looked around, and then noticed the Dark Future members that were in her vicinity.

"Hey, can we-" Kuroshiki remarked, before his instincts flared up, as he then scrambled to use his IS unit to drag several of the nearest Dark Future members away from the woman.

"Hey, Kuro, what gives-" Energy Crisis was about to start, before she then noticed that the woman's composure changed in an instant, as she kicked the bed forward, where the members were, before a black and white mist formed around her body, followed by a quartet of flashes in various colors of black, pale cyan, red and white.

When the lights faded, the woman seemed to be half-clad in some sort of funeral garb, one half of her face covered by a monochrome butterfly, while one of her trembling hands was wielding a fairly fanciful long-barrel revolver, with a white coat and black flower markings on it. As for the lights, they faded into a man with brown scruffy hair hidden under a black fedora that obscured his eyes, and was dressed in a black coat with golden sleeves, as he had a silver revolver in one hand, and a black refined briefcase in another. Another had a robotic suit of red, with a energy blade, with a single red light coming from the vertical glass visor on his head. Another was dressed in a feathered coat of black feathers, with red goggles, and a dusty bandana over his mouth, with a hammer grasped in his hands. The last member was a woman with white hair, complete with a golden head-band with angelic wings on it, a halo over her head, closed eyes, and a white and blue armor suit that seemed to be religious, with a large cannon that seemed to look like that it came from Bayonetta's universe with its holy design and white faces along the barrel. And all of the four newcomers seemed to have their weapons pointed at the group.

"State your intentions." The red-clad robotic individual remarked.

"...And if you're after her head… Believe me… You're dead wrong if we can handle you dregs." The black-feathered man growled, menacingly tapping the pole of his hammer on the ground. "...You're. Not. Touching. Her."

"...Wait." The fedora-wearing individual remarked. "...You're not from the City, are you? Of course not, you look too much like a mish-mash of Offices to actually resemble any of them."

The fourth individual, the angelic woman didn't speak at all, although she looked at the group with a sympathetic light in her eyes, as she walked over to the blonde woman, gently comforting her with a caress of her head.

"Uh…hi?" Kuroshiki said. "Okay, four people just showed up in lights. Is this one of those Abnormalities?"

"No, this is something else." Mr. Spaceman said as he held up his hands. "I assure you all, we have no intention of hurting this woman. Quite the opposite, in fact."

"We found her in the Backstreets. She was dying." Fordo spoke up. "We stabilized her condition and brought her here, to our temporary outpost. Don't worry about staying still, the cloaking will make sure the Head or anyone else can't find us. State your identities and intent."

"You know the Head… Well, looks like we got some curious birdies here." The black feathered man remarked with a grin that seemed to be unsettling. "Name's Hikage. That's all you're getting out of me."

"My designation is Omega." The robotic being answered back. "Many other alternate designations exist, but are all derogatory names regarding my existence."

"Guess we owe you all a favor. Well, you're better than the City Residents by that virtue already." The fedora-wearing man chuckled. "Call me Finnley. Our local angel is Joanne, and as for our common friend, well…"

"...Bow-bell… Arbiters… Mirage…" The blonde woman remarked, as her arms were trembling, as Finnley noticed it.

"...Ah shit, I forgot she's taken one too many mental suppression rounds to the noggin." Finnley winced. "...Yeah, I'm surprised she's still stable enough to call us down here. Good thing we have a panacea for this situation. Joanne? Do the thing."

"Must you sound so uncouth?" Joanne frowned deeply, before she then smashed the cannon face-down into the ground, releasing a high-pitched whine that give everyone in the Dark Future group a temporary migraine, followed by a white flash of light, before the blonde woman's eyes began to re-focus.

"...My head…" The woman remarked, before she then noticed her appearance, before dispelling it back into her original attire. "...You all…"

"Sorry, boss. You were out of it." Finnley responded back, before tipping his fedora down to shadow his eyes. "...Damn Head goons, they really pulled all of the stops to take you down. Hell, even Kali would go green with envy after all of the things you've been through."

"Can we get to addressing the horde of elephants in this room?" Hikage remarked with a fairly impatient tone. "I want to know what these people want from us, to patch you up, just to talk to you… Talk, heh. Like it's ever that simple. All this fucking chess-gaming shit that people can do. When were the days that City life was so simple-"

"Hikage, enough." Joanne chided her comrade, before turning to the Dark Future individuals. "Forgive us, we are not… well-disposed to handle the existence of others that are out of the City, or even this very dimension. As you might infer… the City tends to keep such things hidden."

"I can imagine." Mr. Spaceman said. "Allow us to introduce ourselves. I am Mr. Spaceman, branch leader of Dark Future, the seventh branch of Dark Garden. These are my subordinates, Fordo, my son Kuroshiki, and Energy Crisis, along with a squadron of our best soldiers."

"Hey, nice to meet you." Kuroshiki waved.

"Uh…nice outfits?" Energy Crisis remarked.

Fordo said nothing, merely nodding his head, prepared in case things turn violent.

"Dark Garden…" The woman remarked. "...I see. I appreciate the civility. It's been a while since I've had an honest conversation."

"Speaking of which, why the hell are we even being forthright?" Hikage interrupted, crossing his arms. "What if they turn out to be-"

"Hikage, I'm warning you for your own good… Don't go there." Finnley remarked, as his voice lost most of its mirth and warmth, before he reverted back to normal as soon as Hikage zipped his mouth shut figuratively. "As for the answer… Well, let's just say that the two of us know enough that this is already as best as things can be… Especially after the scuffle we've been through."

"My name is Rose Anarbel. Formerly founder of the Mirage Office, and former Color Fixer. My title is Silver Mirror." Rose declared firmly. "...Not that it matters. For all the City cares, I am Impuritas Civilitas."

"Impuritas Civilitas?" Kuroshiki questioned.

"A threat to the City." Mr. Spaceman answered.

"Yeah, well…I can guess why." Energy Crisis said. "An army of Claws and several Arbiters, holy shit…"

"Yeah, I was wondering: how the heck did you pull that off?" Kuroshiki asked. "We may not know much about this place, but we do know that Arbiters aren't exactly pushovers."

"We don't have to get into that so soon." Mr. Spaceman said. "You don't need to worry, Ms. Anarbel. You and your friends are safe here."

"Safe… How long has it been since that word had any meaning." Rose closed her eyes, before she let out a mirthless chuckle. "...Forgive me, I don't mean to sound insulting. I just simply need some time to process that this world has changed a lot with your footsteps."

"Easy does it, boss. We all need time to take in the new frontier shown before us." Finnley joked.

"...This one sees no mirth in this subject." Omega remarked. "...I sense multiple technologies in the vicinity. Are they utilized to mask our presence?"

"Yeah. The best cloaking the Future Universe has to offer." one of the soldiers answered.

"And you're certain that you didn't leave any notable traces that those Beholder sniffers won't pick up in a jiffy?" Hikage questioned. "Trust me, give them a speck, and these Beholders will sniff you out like a bloodhound on drugs, especially when they're on the hunt for the likes of us."

"I'm certain that if these 'Beholders' are that capable, we would have not been able to progress this conversation this far." Kuroshiki countered back.

"...Fair point, kid." Hikage nodded.

"I think that is enough about me. What do you seek, to come down to the City for?" Rose asked. "This place… it is not a welcoming environment for those who are not born in this place. That is, unless you understand what it means to live, if not exist, there."

"Our reason for coming here is twofold: learn more about these 'Abnormalities', and see if we can find capable individuals we can recruit into our organization." Mr. Spaceman said. "We also wanted to see if we could learn about a so-called 'Lobotomy Corporation', for reasons a bit too existential to go into at the moment."

"All the while, trying to avoid getting attention from the big wigs around here." Energy Crisis said. "So far, so good. They didn't even notice us landing."

"Abnormalities…" Rose hummed, before having a pondering expression on her face. "So the knowledge of it has gotten out already. I suppose that this is to be expected, if there are people who are no different to the Head in thoroughness. And from your name… you must belong to one such organization, do you not? Dark Garden, you called it?"

"That's right. It's a Multiverse spanning organization, with a branch for each of the universes." Mr. Spaceman said. "Though, I'd like to think we would rather leave those things well enough alone. We're just taking precautions in case one of them gets the chance to go world-hopping."

"Believe me, you're lucky that the Head knows that fact as well as you all do." Rose scoffed. "As for the Abnormalities… Well, if you want to know about them, you're welcome to do so… at your own peril. I'm telling you as a fore-warning, since there are things that could be quite… dangerous to consider."

"And I would take the warning quite firmly." Finnley added. "...You have no idea how messed-up these creatures can be. It's… well… let's just say that they're like a bag of flavor surprise jelly-beans. You never know what they're truly like, until you devote your attention to it."

"So we've heard." Fordo said. "What about L Corp? Do any of you know anything about them?"

"L Corp… it's been several years since… Since the White Nights and Dark Days…" Rose answered back. "...To be fair, I don't even know the full truth about what happened… But I definitely know that this incident was responsible for many things… including the Pianist Incident two years ago."

"The what now?" One of the Dark Future soldiers stated. "Is this some sort of moniker for some sort of genocidal musical maniac?"

"Your prediction is 93% accurate." Omega calculated back.

"Nobody in District 9 who survived that incident could forget those discordant notes." Joanne remarked with a sad and sympathetic tone. "Those notes… which caused the entire district to become a part of its tune. The cracking bones… the dripping blood. Had our guiding light not been strong of will… she too would have become a note. And even then, it hurts her, remembering what she heard."

"Don't pity me, Joanne… this is nothing compared to what… What happened three months ago." Rose remarked, as her own body tensed up, as if she was delving into a sour topic. "...Is this how much the City itself denies me my own retribution?"

"What do you mean by that?" Mr. Spaceman asked. "If we've done something to wrong you, then I apologize."

"It's not you, friend." Joanne shook her head. "...Do you recall the words that were spoken by Rose in her temporary stupor?"

"'Bow-bell', 'Mirage', 'Arbiters'..." Mr Spaceman remarked. "The last one, I can see why the word imprinted on her mind, since her near-death experience. But the other two… Wait, 'Bow-Bell'... You cannot possibly mean that all five Fingers were responsible for whatever incident you're implying."

"So you are aware of the Bow-Bell Treaty." Rose answered back. "...That simplify matters. Yes, the Fingers are responsible for the reason why the Mirage Office is a former Office nowadays. It is no more, only I remain of it. And it was under the clause of the Bow-Bell that its destruction was ordained."

"...And that was the day that sparked our existence." Hikage remarked. "...What a damn way to be given actual form. I remember how many times these FUCKING nuggets from L Corp keep on bonking me around."

"You have little to complain, Hikage." Omega answered back. "My armaments are ineffective more so to all of them."

"Uh, let's just move away from that sore spot, shall we?" Finnley chuckled awkwardly. "...But anyways, turns out we happen to be… constructs based on certain members of her former Office. Funny how we live, and the original died. It was a rocky road trying to get her to accept us… but look at us now, thick as blood."

"...It doesn't fill that void in my heart." Rose remarked in a low tone. "...I have lost every conceivable thing to this city. I have lost my own family, I have lost my own friends, I have lost my own mentor… and I have lost my own purpose. By all rights, I should have died in the Backstreets… but I did not. Instead, I spent two months waiting for the right moment, slowly culling the Thumb slowly by a death of thousand cuts. I killed all of the sotto-capos, save for one, who was fortunate enough to have fled the scene… And I would have turned my attention to the Index… had it not been for the Head noticing this."

"And that leads to now…" Kuroshiki remarked, as he was silent for a moment.

"Either way, returning to the topic of Abnormalities…" Rose answered back. "...If you're seeking to tame or gain power from them… you would be wise not to do so. There have been enough Distortions in this City as is. To have them spread beyond here… I believe that most places you know of would be ill-equipped to handle all but the weaker of them. It is a fool's errand, that I have understood the consequences of. Few have tamed this power… and while it is a grand boon… the costs are too great and deadly to justify it."

"Thank you for your warnings. Rest assured, we only want to know how to fight and repel these things, not harness their power." Mr. Spaceman said.

"Yeah, there are tons of better sources of energy out there anyway." Energy Crisis waved off.

"Wise choice. Let L Corp be proof that there is such a thing as playing with fire." Hikage remarked with a bitter chuckle.

"There are very few things that could truly kill an Abnormality… and they're all in the realm of imagination…" Rose remarked. "...But you come from beyond the City. Perhaps these imaginary possibilities… they could be made real. But you would have to know them first, about how they came to be, what they represent… and what they can do."

Rose then immediately transformed again, changing into what seemed to be the complete form of her previous form, as the butterfly mask was full once more, and she was holding another revolver with inverted colors in addition to her former armament.

"This belongs to an Abnormality, that is known by the name 'Funeral of the Dead Butterflies'." Rose explained. "As hinted by its name… its existence is akin to the mythological reaper. It takes souls to a peaceful death, with its twin handguns. The weak-willed will be lulled into their eternal rest, and the strong-willed can only take so much of its attacks before they too succumb, with the right gear."

"Wait, how do you know of this… and how are you taking its form?" A Dark Future soldier asked.

"That is a mystery I have yet to solve… why I have these powers is something I want to know as well." Rose answered back. "...As for how I have learned their names… it is whispered to me when I have gained their power. With their name, comes one of my own. A name for each of these E. . This one is known as 'Solemn Lament'. I have gained these forms after actualizing them through… means that I prefer not to disclose."

"You don't have to." Kuroshiki answered. "So, now that you look like you've recovered, what are you going to do now?"

"...I do not know." Rose answered back. "...On one hand, I wish to finish the vengeance that I have started… but on the other hand, I am aware that there is only so much one can do against the Head. The only person who has managed to match my feats is Kali… and she was long gone. One person can only do so much against the combined forces of A Corp and C Corp at the same time, as you might be able to tell. So I am left at an impasse."

"I say, we take our chances." Hikage remarked. "...These bastards will have to give up the chase some point or another-"

"Not an option." Finnley cut down Hikage's words. "I know that the Head only gets more serious the more they're pushed. We keep on going down this road, and we'll end up dead, and there won't be a group like this to bail us out. We got a lucky shot, and that's all there is to it. And besides… where would vengeance takes us, but a dead man's path?"

"...I have a proposition." Joanne answered back, as Rose and her group turned to her. "...Perhaps we can seek refuge within the group."

"...Considering all present options, it is a logical option." Omega concluded.

"So what, we just walk out of the City, and everything will be fine?" Hikage scoffed. "...Yeah right, these guys might be good enough to walk in, but the moment they picked us up… well, you know how the saying goes…"

"'Easy to get in, hard to get out'." Finnley remarked. "...Yeah, I get what he means. And as much as I hate to make you sound like chumps, since you really got the chops, but you best be thinking how we're getting out of this. I imagine that with Rose off the streets, they'll immediately jump to the conclusion that there was foul play involved from a third party. And that means that they're going to be deploying a lot more Arbiters and Claws to scour every corner of this place. We've only got so long before we have to forgo sanctuary."

"...Then we fight our way out." Kuroshiki remarked.

"Wait, come again!?" Energy Crisis exclaimed. "You're saying that we're going to literally pick a fight against an organization that is capable of doing as much damage as we can, except with a lot less restraint, and a lot of exotic technology that can do a lot of damn frightening stuff!? All just for… for her? Look, she's a good woman and all that, but think about it, leader, are we going to-"

"We will save her." Mr Spaceman declared, as there was a firmness to his voice that was never heard before, which shocked the sub-leaders, as well as the soldiers present. "...If this place is meant to be a beacon of human futility and despair… then we'll be the first to prove to the rest of the multiverse that not all hope is crushed here."

"...You sound like you see something in her, Spaceman." Fordo remarked, before he then tipped his helmet in approval. "...It's been a while since I had a serious mission like this. But I agree with you. Woman's been through enough, and she's basically the perfect member to help us on multiple fronts. She knows how to lead, she knows this place, and she has troves of knowledge that can help us in the long run. And she's got the same kind of heart deep down underneath like you."

"Sub-leader Kuroshiki…" One of the elite guards remarked, turning to the sub-leader.

"…I'm with you, Dad." The young leader said. "Let's get them out of here."

"You would… do all of that for me?" Rose asked with astonishment, being quite genuine from the shock on her expression.

"Of course. A conflict with the Wings would no doubt be unavoidable. Might as well start it by doing some good." Mr. Spaceman said. "More importantly, you deserve better than to die here."

"Well, that's a big improvement from most encounters." Finnley snarked.

"Well, guess we're doing this…" Energy Crisis grimaced. "...Screw it, there's worse things to have to deal with. Count in me, boss. I don't know why… but I just can't help myself to do the right thing here. Maybe it's because of this woman… maybe it's because I sympathize with whatever sordid past she came from…"

"...Thank you." Rose nodded gently.

"So, game plan?" Hikage asked Dark Future. "I imagine that you're not going to be walking out of this without a fight or two. And if you stall for too long, you'll be in real trouble, and that's something from us."

"Good question. It's not like we can just walk out the front door." a soldier said.

"Of course not. We'll need to play it smart. First…we're going to need to hide Rose's appearance." Mr. Spaceman said. "Acting inconspicuous is a fool's errand, what with our appearances, so conflict is unavoidable for us. In which case, we'll have to divide and conquer."

"I'm not sure splitting up is a good idea. I mean, what if they catch wind of what we're doing?" Energy Crisis asked.

"That's why we'll need a distraction. Something they can't ignore in favor of us. Rose, can you think of anything that could fit that description?" Mr. Spaceman asked.

Rose closed her eyes for a moment, thinking silently for a moment, before an answer came to her mind.

"From your repertoire, do you possess sentient AI?" Rose asked.

"A few, actually. Why?" Kuroshiki asked.

"Because entities like me are under a iron-clad clause that the Head has strictly enforced." Omega declared. "It is titled the 'AI Ethics Amendment'. Despite its naming, its ruling is that any mechanical existence is not allowed to display human sentience, or be made in the form of humans. Sentient AI is a violation of the former, and many people have learned that the price of violation is termination by Head proxies, whether they be contracted Fixers, Claws or Arbiters."

"Okay, so how does this involve covering our escape?" Energy Crisis asked.

"You asked for a distraction. Well, if you got someone who can holler it out to the world that there's an AI running about, a good part of the Arbiters will be left hunting down whoever did it." Hikage declared. "Basically, to get straight to the point: It draws the heat from us. Enough for us to NOT get swarmed the moment we are found. Because as much as Rose fucked a bit of the City's balance… Something about AIs make them a topic beyond the danger of what Impuritas Civilitas is. Never learned why… but with how most of the Wings react to it… It's some bad shit."

"Hmm…can't ask Xavier to do it." Kuroshiki mused.

"Well…there is that one." one of the soldiers spoke up.

"That one? Are you sure?" Fordo said.

"Well…they're certainly distracting enough." Mr. Spaceman said. "Alright. I'll have our forces back home send them over. They should be here within the hour."

"As long as your protection can hold that long, I am willing to be patient." Rose answered back.

"Let's hope it does." Kuroshiki said.


Later, one of the soldiers poked their head out of the door. "Okay, looks like the coast is clear."

"Alright, let's be clear: the moment we walk out these doors, we'll be out of range of the cloak. We may be swarmed by Wing workers, so be ready to fight if it comes to that." Fordo stated.

"We all know the sitrep, Fordo." Energy Crisis sighed. "Let's just get this over with so we can all go home."

"Everything in place, is it?" Hikage asked. "The distraction is in place, right?"

"Yes." Mr. Spaceman said. "I'm positive they'll get attention away from us."

"I sincerely pray for success." Joanne remarked with concern.

The group then slowly scoured the streets, as it seemed to be fairly empty for the time being.

"...Coast is clear, for now." Rose remarked. "We have to move quickly."

"Yeah, no kidding." Kuroshiki agreed.

As the group began to advance, there was a mighty explosion, followed by the sounds of hectic battle.

"Alright, excuse my language, but what the FUCK did you bring here?" Hikage exclaimed.

That question prompted a sigh from all the Dark Future members. "…It's the AI RB."


"I'M SMOKING ON BHUTANESE GARDEN GROWN DARK EVIL PACK. THEY WATERED THIS WITH THE BLOOD OF 36 DRAGONS. SHIT SO PURPLE IT SHOULD BE ASKING ME WHERE'S RONALD? GAMER, THIS SHIT WILL TURN YOUR PACEMAKER OFF. NUCLEAR LEVELS OF SOUR."

"What in the name of the City is this abomination!?" One of the Arbiters, a spear-wielder remarked, as he tried to fight off the rampant AI, while several Claws tried to mutilate the entity, to little avail.

"The data… it's beyond anything that we've ever seen! All readings are anomalous!" A Beholder declared through the comms of the Head agents.

"I'M WANTED IN 7 COUNTRIES FOR REVERSING THE FLOW OF TIME WITH EGO-KILLING CHRONO-ZAZA." The AI rattled off as everything went haywire around it.

"It's avoiding most of our attacks, how the hell is this actually happening!?" Another Arbiter remarked, as she was trying to inflict Fairy to tear apart the AI, although the lacerating barrage of exotic energy was being dodged by the AI. "It's as if… As if it's able to anticipate and avoid our attacks through a combination of luck and precognition!"

"At this rate…!" Yet another Arbiter remarked. "...No, this thing must die. If this is what it can do when it's not actively attacking… this entity is beyond a Non-Human… it is the antithesis of this City!"

"There has to be something that I can find through this haystack of data… there has to be some explanation for its existence…!" A Beholder remarked, as there was frantic typing on the other end of the comms.

"I'M FIGHTING THE FUCKEN SHADOW PEOPLE IN THE 7-ELEVEN PARKING LOT."


While the AI rampaged through the city, the group were able to make good progress, as they could see that with the Head occupied, the streets were fairly barren.

"We should be able to make it out of here…" Energy Crisis remarked. "...You weren't kidding when you said that any AI would really nettle the Head, Anarbel."

"Count ourselves fortunate that we haven't been spotted in our escapade." Rose answered back. "...Are you sure that whatever your distraction is, will be able to escape safely on their own?"

"I hope not." One of the soldiers said. "Flipping thing's insane."

"They'll be fine. They'll just keep wandering around until they comes back to base." Kuroshiki said. "Honestly, I'm not sure they can be destroyed…"

"Cyan knows we've tried..." another soldier spoke up.

"So he's basically a digital Abnormality. Just… peachy." Hikage winced. "Well, we shook the hand, so that's our responsibility. Let's keep going. How close are we to the nearest thing that can take us out of this forsaken place?"

"Our ship's just outside the city limits. We're almost there." Kuroshiki answered.

"Let us hope that our exit is as quiet as possible." Joanne remarked gently.

"It should be. The Wings wouldn't want to risk that AI doing any damage to them. I think we're home free." one of the soldiers remarked.

As the group began to move towards the City Outskirts, they seemed to be clear to go through.

"Well, things weren't so bad after all-" Energy Crisis remarked.

"Down!" Rose exclaimed, before she dragged Energy Crisis down to the ground with her hands.

"Wha-" Energy Crisis remarked, before she felt a surge of yellow and black energy shot past above her head, in the form of zig-zag lines. "WHAT THE-"

"Well, I expected that you would have reacted to that, Rose." An unfamiliar female voice remarked, as there was a hint of smugness to it. "So, these are the 'anomalies' that Luda has been talking about. Quite the mess you made in our City."

"Zena…" Rose growled, before she turned around, bearing witness to a female Arbiter with black hair in the form of a standard long bob cut, as all of her fingers bore obsidian rings with yellow markings on them.

"To think that the most aligned faction of Dark Garden would pay a visit here." Zena remarked, before she chuckled with mirth that seemed both playful yet sinister at the same time. "And to bring your leader on the fore-front. My, what a trip you've been planning, haven't you?"

"I've heard of you…" Kuroshiki grimaced. "What, was the crazy AI not challenging enough for you?"

"Oho, that's quite odd. The City rarely lets information out." Zena remarked with a tilt of her head. "But I think it's polite to answer first. You see, I had a nagging feeling that this was all a ruse. A coincidence even. So I decided to take 'absent leave' from my orders, and pursue the threat at hand. Not like there's much that can be done to reprimand… if you truly do know who I am."

"...You know me far too well." Rose remarked with a veiled tone, as she stepped forward. "...I would have thought that if there was an obstacle that I cannot avoid in all of this… it would be you."

"Blame yourself for getting this intimate with me." Zena smirked back. "When you learn much about an Arbiter, one cannot forget the same goes true."

"Wait… you know her!?" Energy Crisis exclaimed. "Like a damn friend, or something bigger-"

"I would never go that far with her, because neither of us have any intent." Rose interjected. "...But yes, we are 'friends', in her own twisted definition of it."

"Now then, let's get to the matter at hand." Zena declared. "You seem to be wanting to take Rose out of this place?"

"Yes." Mr. Spaceman answered. "Do you intend to stop us?"

"Truly succinct of you. I admire that." Zena smiled back. "...If that opening shot was not much of a clue for that, I would have to question your leadership, Mr Spaceman of Dark Future. Don't worry, I knew that Rose would predict that shot."

"You goddamn psycho bit-" Energy Crisis snarled back, before Rose held her back.

"...Why are you so intent on my capture?" Rose asked. "...The reason why I'm marked as Impuritias Civilitas… it goes beyond just what I have done, hasn't it?"

"Only the City knows." Zena closed her eyes, before her smile faded. "...You know, I'm going to discard all of this cryptic nonsense and tell you this straight: Surrender yourself, and I'll give you a clean death. It's the least I can do for someone like you."

"...A clean death, in the City…" Rose muttered. "...You seriously believe that could ever be true?"

"I'm not joking, Anarbel." Zena firmly stated. "...You know what happened to Garion there. If L Corp was able to make use of her body… what makes you think the Head won't do the same to you."

"And you're giving me oblivion as an alternative to all of that?" Rose retorted harshly.

"Lesser of the two evils, Rose." Zena simply answered back. "You have my word that your body will never be touched by anyone. I'll make sure there isn't even ash or trace to make use of it. I have the means and I have the influence. The alternative is that you pick a fight you can't win, even with your new friends."

"...Even so, we cannot abandon her." Kuroshiki declared firmly, stepping forward. "She is someone who would have gone on to do good in this City, had she had the power and the means to do so. I know what the City is like, and I know that it is people like you that are the reason why people like her cannot change this City. If you will not accept her, then we will. And you will not take her life after everything else it has taken from her."

"Kuroshiki…" Mr Spaceman remarked.

"...How idealistic. I almost would call it foolish and naive…" Zena frowned, before her expression softened. "...But I take a look in your eyes… and you know what I see? I see someone who actually believed in that. Despite all of the misery, despite all of the pain… I can't help but hold respect for that."

"Uh…that means you're gonna let us go, right?" Energy Crisis asked hopefully.

"Heh. I think that the time for words has run its course then." Zena remarked with a single chuckle. "...Executioner."

Mr Spaceman immediately noticed the sensation of warping space, as he raised a hand, bending space himself to counter the incoming warping signature, as the Claw that was using it was knocked back.

"...So spatial powers can disrupt the use of Serum W…" Zena remarked, before a cheshire-like smile appeared on her lips. "...Interesting. Very interesting indeed."

"You brought Baral for this, didn't you?" Rose questioned Zena.

"Oh, Rose. You know I don't do things in half-measures." Zena clicked her tongue, shaking her head side to side, before she then snapped her fingers, as several more Claws arrived by her side. "This should be enough to tangle with your allies. If you want to leave here, then you better fight for your life, with whatever remains in your weakened body and soul."

"...I might never have the chance to have vengeance again in the City…" Rose remarked, closing her eyes, before energy gathered around her, as she was clad in a military suit of two-tone colors of black and pink, as well as wielding an anti-tank rifle in her hands. "...But I will continue on. For those who have left behind their legacies… I will fight for what is right. For that is my duty."

"Oh boy, here we go." Finnley remarked, before reading his side-arm. "Hey, Mr. Spaceman, you might want to tell your soldiers to stick out of this fight. At this level of combat, they're going to end up being collateral."

"Finally, a day where I can crack an Arbiter's head open." Hikage smirked. "May as well enjoy this moment while I can."

"Targets designated." Omega declared, as his optics began to glow menacingly. "Commencing combat."

"Oh sinners in black and yellow… you will not prevail this day." Joanne stated, as her eyes opened, revealing that they were made of glowing white light, while she swung her cannon-like armament into battle.

Cue BGM: Head Eye Claw

Arbiter of the Head - Zena

Executioner of the Claw - Baral

"Let's see you handle this." Zena remarked, before she flexed her fingers, as a barrage of thin zig-zagging lines shot towards the group, forcing them to break apart, as the lines penetrated whatever it touched.

Rose immediately reacted by firing several shots from her rifle, which managed to fire a stream of pink bullets that went towards Zena, which managed to hit her coat, causing visible dents on it, as the Arbiter raised an eyebrow at the results.

"Energy Projectiles…" Fordo mused as he reached into his armor and pulled out a Plasma Beam weapon, firing a stream of plasma at the Arbiter, which caused Zena to dodge the attack, although it grazed her.

"My, my. That's a dangerous little thing you got there." Zena chuckled, before she then snapped her fingers, as a dense leyline of yellow lines began to surround Fordo. "Can't have you doing that, can I?"

"Fordo, switch!" Energy Crisis exclaimed, before she rushed forward to catch the lines as they were about to advance, as they momentarily cut into her own arm, while she was using her conversion powers, and giving Fordo the opening to escape.

"Oh? You absorbed that attack, didn't you?" Zena stated with intrigue.

"I don't know why the hell it still cuts that hard on me…" Energy Crisis growled. "But I think that I'll pay you back with the power you're so fond of using against us."

Energy Crisis then raised a hand, as she fired a fast-travelling beam of black and yellow light, that hit one of the Claws trying to ambush Kuroshiki from behind, right through the head, as the Claw slowed down slightly from the debilitating hit, before Kuroshiki unleashed a point-blank blast that tore apart the Claw beyond any capability of recovery. However, Energy Crisis's hand bled from unleashing the attack, something that Zena noted.

At the same time, Kuroshiki was using his IS to strafe several Claws, before Finnley immediately tossed his suitcase up, before then using his side-arm to fire several shots into the suppressed group of Claws, which managed to blow several holes through them that were already regenerating slowly from the effects of their healing serum.

However, the suitcase snapped open, revealing a massive blade-like tentacle of pale blue that impaled two of the Claws right through the chest, before Hikage slammed his hammer down pole-first into the ground, summoning massive pulses of yellow energy that tore the trapped Claws apart in visceral cuts.

Joanne immediately set her weapon down, before kneeling in prayer, as a white barrier formed around her, causing the Claws attacking her to be suddenly struck with white beams of light for each attack they landed, before Omega dashed forward to cut through them with a barrage of red slashes in his charging assault.

"So, you can't convert that power fully… Of course, you lack the safety means to harness the power of that Singularity." Zena stated. "...But that's still quite the dangerous ability you have."

"I'm the 3rd damn Sub-Leader of Dark Future, you short-stack." Energy Crisis scowled at her. "I don't do 'going out with a whimper'. So do your worst."

"...Gladly." Zena answered back, as there was a twitch in her eyes upon hearing the first part of her statement, as she raised a hand up, before unleashing a massive gravitational shockwave that floored all but Mr Spaceman, who countered the effects in time with his own manipulation, as there was a massive crater. "...Hm, you are right, that should have pulped you from the effort I was exerting. I can see that this fight won't resolve easily."

"Shit, that hurt…!" Kuroshiki seethed as those caught in the shockwave stood up. "The more time we spend fighting, the more we risk other Arbiters and Claws showing up. We need to break off somehow."

"How are we supposed to do that? It's the post-final boss power couple." Energy Crisis said.

Mr. Spaceman looked at the two Wing employees, then back at his subordinates, then behind them. "Everyone, when I say now, start running towards the ship. Give me ten minutes to show up. If I don't arrive in that time, go without me."

"What? But Dad-!" Kuroshiki started to argue.

"It will be fine, Ichika. Just get ready." The Dark Future leader ordered as he stepped towards Zena and Baral, pulling some sort of device out.

"Oh? And what's this now?" Zena remarked.

Mr. Spaceman said nothing as he pressed a few buttons on the device. "…Now!" He said as he pressed a button on the device. Before everyone's eyes, Mr. Spaceman and Zena and Baral vanished into thin air.

"Alright, you heard him, let's move!" Fordo ordered as the group started running towards the exit to the City.

"The hell just happened? Is Spaceman going to be okay?" Hikage asked.

Kuroshiki simply sighed. "You know how we said we didn't want to start anything with the Wings?" he asked. "Well…let's just say it was for the innocent's benefit, not ours."

"...Wait, are you saying that he is-" Finnley remarked, taken aback for the first time before the group.

"...Hypothesis is logical." Omega remarked. "...Mr. Spaceman is intending to use increased power to suppress major threats."

"Mr Spaceman… what kind of being are you…?" Rose remarked.


Zena and Baral both opened their eyes as they saw something that, to them, was almost indescribable: they were floating in a sort void, stars all around them, along with planets, nebulae, and more.

"...A mass transportation device." Zena remarked. "...So this was their backup plan. This realm… we breathe, despite being in the void of space… a pocket dimension?"

"Yes." The two heard a voice say as they saw Mr. Spaceman floating in place, looking at the stars. "It's beautiful, isn't it? Space, the stars, the galaxies…Have either of you ever seen something like this before?"

"Space… Funny, it almost looks dazzling." Zena remarked. "I have heard of space, and I have seen glimpses of it… but never have I had first-hand witnessing of it. I'll give you this, if Garion was still around… Heh, she would be like a smitten maiden… no matter how much she'll try to hide it."

"I'm sure she would." Mr. Spaceman said. "There's a whole reality the City is missing because of the Wings, the Fingers…everything, really. I've never understood what goes through their heads…to be honest, I'm not even sure they know. I can't help but admit that I've been tempted to simply get rid of them. You don't understand how easy it would be for Dark Garden to do that."

"So this is the part where you give us the ultimatum?" Zena remarked, as she didn't seem to be truly afraid, despite everything she was seeing. "...Figures that you were waiting for the right moment to show your hand like this. I knew that you were beyond humans like us the moment you displayed your might."

"Then why struggle for all of this?" Mr. Spaceman countered back.

"Why indeed." Zena chuckled, although it didn't seem to be as genuine as it sounded. "I would argue that it's how we live, because of the hand we're dealt. But who am I kidding? All of us here know that no matter how strong you are, you don't enjoy life as it is. Even we of the Head aren't truly invincible. We were prepared to face whatever spawned out of L Corp… but we knew that there was… what was the saying again? 'Bigger fish', if I recall what a Fixer I met said before."

"That doesn't excuse what you have done to the City and its people." Mr. Spaceman argued.

"No. No, it doesn't." Zena answered back. "But the White Nights and Dark Days are exactly the kind of thing that we sought to prevent, a reason why we have rules like the AI Ethics Amendment. You and many others may cry that this oppression, this cruelty is too much for the people… but we live in different worlds. Our perspective of what is suffering, and what is hope is different. Like samples of an experiment in different environments, we adapt to our world, finding means to survive. Some of us chose to conform to this iron-clad order, some of us chose to give in to the darkness, and… very few of us managed to stand tall and gain enlightenment. Much like Rose Anarbel."

"And where do you stand in all of this, Zena?" Mr. Spaceman asked back.

"...Isn't it obvious? I stand with the former. And I have very few regrets about it." Zena answered back. "I chose this path, and I'll see it to the end. That's just how it is."

"…I understand." Mr. Spaceman said. "I don't agree with everything, but I understand why some of it exists. And that's why we don't simply get rid of those in control: it won't solve all the problems, only create new ones. If you ask me, the only way to save the City is to teach everyone that kindness and strength aren't mutually exclusive. For example…"

The Dark Future Branch Leader raised his opened hand toward a nearby star, before he clenched his fist. The star turned red and began to expand rapidly, before shrinking back, then exploded into a massive supernova which, despite how close the three were, only felt like a pleasant warmth. What was left quickly turned into a black hole, sucking in everything around it.

"Well, that should be enough for now." Mr. Spaceman remarked as he turned back towards the two Wing employees. "I have to go now. I'm tempted to give you a choice to come with us except, I know you won't take it. Besides… you two have another 'threat' to deal with in the future."

The two then began to feel themselves being pulled towards the black hole, going faster and faster towards it.

"Before you go, let me give you a gift for your honesty." Mr. Spaceman said. "She goes by Binah now."

With that, Mr. Spaceman vanished before their eyes, leaving Zena and Baral to fall into the black hole…


…and find themselves at the door of A Corp.

"Well, that was a trip." Zena remarked, as she dusted herself off.

"Status report." A authoritative male voice ordered, as Zena turned around to see that there was a male Arbiter with a tall lanky figure, short cut black hair, and a pair of reflective glasses over his eyes, as well as a large halberd on his back.

"Well, Theodor." Zena remarked. "...I've got things that need to be discussed with our dear superiors. We have encountered the Impuritas Civitilas… But certain circumstances have resulted in us being forced to allow their escape."

"...Clarify." Theodor remarked, as the glint in his eyes darkened slightly.

"In the streets? You sound quite miffed and agitated." Zena smirked.

"I have no time for your games, Zena. You know full well the consequences of your actions." Theodor warned Zena.

"All in good time, Theodor. Let's go inside. I have to make my report to them, don't I?" Zena chuckled.

Theodor and Zena then went inside, as Baral looked around, before sighing momentarily, and following them in.


Several hours later….

"Would you look at that." Energy Crisis smirked, as she was holding a printed copy of a contract. "Seems like the Head really took your words in stride, boss."

"'We, the Head, provide you access to these Singularities for common use, in exchange for all Dark Garden assets to be recalled from the City'." Kuroshiki read the key statement. "...Seems that even with you having all of the edges in this exchange, dad… they still can't help but want to make some advantage out of this."

"Typical Head behavior." Fordo stated. "With that said, these Singularities would be beneficial for Dark Future. I suggest we accept this offer."

"Of course. We're leaving anyway." Mr. Spaceman said. "Of course, I suppose that includes you as well, Rose."

"Yeah…" Rose remarked. "...It's strange, really. I've known my entire life in the City… and yet, I'm going somewhere beyond it. Not the Outskirts… but a whole new world entirely. It feels… strangely liberating and melancholic at the same time."

"Oh, you're going to love it out there." Energy Crisis remarked. "First chance after we get you set up, you're going to be introduced to Pokémon."

"Granted, it's not all fun." Fordo said. "There are worlds even worse off than this one. But you won't be alone."

"Poke…mon?" Rose asked.

"Yeah, the fuck is a Pokemon?" Hikage asked. "And what does this has to do with our first mission."

"Oh boy… this is going to take some time." Kuroshiki remarked, planting a palm on his face.

"In any case…" Mr. Spaceman said. "Rose Anarbel, Hikage, Omega, Finnley, and Joanne. I hereby officially welcome you to Dark Future."

"Thanks, Mr. Spaceman, or should I call you boss?" Finnley asked.

"We are thankful for your kindness." Joanne added.

"Well, guide us to where we go next." Hikage remarked, before flexing his arms.

"Understood, we will be of service." Omega declared.

"...Thank you, Mr. Spaceman." Rose answered back.

"Alright! Let's get out of this hell hole and go home!" Energy Crisis said as the Dark Future ship activated and took off.


Several days later…

"…and that's pretty much how our organization works." Mr. Spaceman said as he addressed Rose and her entourage. "Any questions?"

"Not much really." Rose answered back. "...To think that there are beings like that… Truly a discovery."

"Sinners and saints both…" Joanne remarked. "...I must reassess my own faith."

"Ohohoho… So there are people like that out there." Hikage remarked. "...Guess I really have something to look forward to."

"...I must assess these matters." Omega remarked. "If diligence is what is required to learn more about all known entities and organizations, then it is a fair price."

"Hey, Roses." Finnley remarked. "...We're really in for a wild trip, aren't we?"

"...I suppose we are." Rose answered back, as a faint smile appeared on her face. "...and I don't regret it."

Just then, the door to the briefing room opened as Negativity came in.

"Oh, Negativity, sir!" Mr. Spaceman said. "What can I help you with?"

Negativity said nothing at first as he stood there, tapping his foot to try and calm himself. "I've just received an…interesting piece of news. Seems an AI spouting nonsense made its way into A Corp, climbed up to the Head's office, slapped them on their face with a live lobster, then jumped out the window. You wouldn't happen to know anything about this, would you?" he asked, calmly angry.

"Ah…that." Mr. Spaceman replied. "We…needed a distraction."

Negativity sighed as he rubbed his temple. "Where is it now?" he asked.

As if the universe was waiting for that question, one of the walls to the room caved in as the RB AI strolled through it. "TALLY HO, LADS!"

"There it is." Mr. Spaceman stated.

One of Negativity's eyes twitched as he looked at the AI. "Just…just use a different one next time." he said, as he nodded to the new recruits before walking out of the room.

"Okay, I can see why this AI has a special brand of madness." Hikage remarked.

"I BE HITTIN MAILBOXES WITH BATS AND SHIT THO."

"…Welcome to the multiverse." was Mr. Spaceman's only response to these events.