A/N: Hello, fellow readers. I've returned with a new chapter...sort of. While looking at the old "Orchid" chapter, I didn't like how it looked, so I split it into two and made it look better. Not only that, those repeated phrases were the biggest bane, so I purged my story of them. Hopefully, I'll do the same with drafts. Now, with that out of the way, happy reading!

Disclaimer: Killer Instinct and Carrie belong to their respective owners: Microsoft and Stephen King.

Gunshots echoed from the Disavowed hideout as members practiced target shooting. Instead of paper targets, soldiers shot at tactical gear mannequins. The instructors monitored each member and advised them on their precision and speed.

After the practice session, the insurgent group cleaned and inspected their weapons. As lunchtime approached, the rebels selected a variety of MRE meals.

Nikita fell silent while her fellows chatted. Since learning about Carrie's existence, she became distraught. On the one hand, she understood where Orchid was coming from. However, it didn't change the fact that Carrie committed a horrible crime.

Nikita crushed an empty soda can in her hand, her knuckles white. Carrie killed innocent people and wrecked a town, yet got away with it. All because she got her feelings hurt? Despite Orchid's wishes, Nikita would find justice, no matter what it took.

"Nikki?" the voice called until the woman snapped out of her trance. She shifted towards a middle-aged man with kind eyes, though his face expressed concern. "Is everything okay?"

"Oh, sorry, David. I must have zoned out."

"Yeah, you were not yourself during training. Is it because of a certain guest coming over? I heard you and the boss argue over her."

Nikita shook her head. "We had a minor disagreement, that's all."

David ate some Skittles candies. "I don't know. From what others said, it sounded like you don't want the girl here."

"Can you blame me? Inviting Carrie is like letting a school shooter into our group."

"Still, I think she deserves a second chance."

"Really, David?"

"Geez, this girl isn't here, yet you have a problem with her?"

"Maybe I do. Because of that monster, there won't be a 2013 graduation."

"Ah, I see."

"Don't tell me you're siding with the boss?"

"I'm not taking sides or making excuses for the girl. I'm only looking at this from my perspective. While I agree Carrie should be held accountable, it's imperative to note that the school also failed her. The faculty knew about the girl's bullying but did not act."

"Are you saying the school is also responsible for the incident?"

"Yes. Schools must provide a safe environment for their students. That includes setting up policies and procedures to prevent bullying, harassment, and other harmful behaviors."

"And yet, school shootings continue. Regardless, it's another reason Carrie White should not come here."

"Jesus, Nikki, it's not like the poor girl asked for this. Do you think Carrie walked into that event with intentional plans to kill everyone? No. She wanted to enjoy herself, only to have those ignorant shits rip it to shreds."

"You're right. Carrie never asked for it. Guess what? Neither did the Prom massacre victims, survivors, and their families." Nikita arose. "Besides, even if she's proven her worth, Carrie is and will always be a liability. I only wanted Orchid to understand that."

As Nikita left, David shook his head. On cue, Jean approached his comrade.

"Something tells me Nikita will not warm up to Carrie," he said.

"No," David said. "I wouldn't be surprised if everyone becomes wary of the girl when she arrives."

Jean crossed his arms. "Indeed."

With nightfall approaching, a haunting silence swept over the abandoned Ukranian city. Shadows danced and flickered like restless spirits. A strange beauty lingered amidst the barren ruin. Unhindered by city lights, the night sky revealed a blanket of stars. The moon, full and radiant, cast a pale glow over the empty streets, lending an ethereal quality to the scene.

Orchid stood at the edge of the gap, peering at the sprawling cityscape below. The glow of monitors filled the hidden hideout, casting an eerie light on the surroundings. Once an elite field agent for the Special Warfare Department, she was no stranger to war's destruction.

While stepping away, she peered at the newspaper clippings hanging from the windows. Most were about Ultratech, but one set drew her attention. As she examined the clippings, Orchid removed a picture of a woman with sadness in her eyes, titled 'Carrie White.'

Strange. Just months ago, everyone thought Carrie was dead. Now, she's alive and with Jago, no less.

Orchid let her eyes wander to each article regarding the Black Prom massacre. One recounted the tragic deaths and the ripple effect on the community. Another questioned the school's role in preventing such a tragedy, bringing to light the need for policies to address bullying and harassment. When she stopped at the photos of a group titled 'The Ultras,' the agent scowled.

Based on what she learned, the Ultras were young women who bullied others, pulling cruel pranks and harassing their victims. Their ringleader, Christina Hargensen, was the most vicious because she was the daughter of a law attorney. With her privileged background and sense of entitlement, she tortured others for no apparent reason.

Determined to seek justice, Orchid wasted no time finding every scrap of dirt on them. She delved into their social media accounts, searching for evidence of their cruel behavior and compiling a record of their misdeeds. She also included a YouTube video that enraged her. Once she gathered all the dirty laundry on the Ultras and potential connections to them, she posted them online under an alias.

Soon after, the post became viral, spreading like wildfire across social media platforms. The exposé of the clique's cruelty gripped people worldwide, leading to the trending hashtag #JusticeForTheVictims. As a result, public opinion turned against them and their parents. They faced immense pressure to acknowledge their children's actions and answer for their behavior.

Although it had been months since the post, its impact lingered.

Orchid glanced at a photograph of an elderly woman titled 'Margaret White.' The 'Chamberlain Witch,' as Orchid dubbed her, was not only the root of Carrie's suffering but also her twisted religious beliefs that poisoned the entire community in Maine.

It's a shame Margaret is dead. If she had been alive, I would've sent that witch to a loony bin for what she did to her daughter, Carrie.

A loud, blaring alarm pulled Orchid away from the headline collage. She pinned Carrie's picture on the display and headed to the source. Perched above her door, a motion sensor beeped as Orchid placed her hand on the doorknob. She took a deep breath, ready to face whoever sneaked inside. When she opened the door, she found nothing unusual, and the alarm stopped.

Light bulbs lit the hallway in rows. Stumped, Orchid closed the door and tapped into her comms. "This is Black Flower. Come in."

"Sharp Stinger, here. Is something wrong?"

"How many are on night patrol?"

"Ten. Why?"

"Ten? Wasn't it supposed to be eleven?"

"Natasha had to return to her quarters. She said she was unwell. It must be her 'shark attack.'"

Orchid furrowed her brows. "Shark attack?"

"You know what I mean," Nikita said.

"Oh. Okay, could you have Natasha contact me? Also, can your group check the motion sensors around the building? One near my door set off a few minutes ago, and I want to ensure the others are still working."

"We can do that. Regarding Natasha, give me five minutes."

"Alright then. Black Flower out." Who thought leading a rebellion was challenging?

Since founding the Disavowed, Orchid has been thorough in choosing her recruits. Despite their loyalty to her, she had to stay vigilant.

"Fire Lily to Black Flower, come in," a Russian-accented voice spoke through the comms.

"Black Flower, here," Orchid said. "Nikita told me you fell ill."

"Yeah. This stupid shark attack comes at the wrong time."

"Where did this shark attack come from?"

"Discord."

Hm. I didn't think Discord would have a code for women addressing the menstrual cycle. "Are you at your quarters right now?"

"Yes. I took some pain medication, but it'll be a while."

"Get some rest, Natasha. I'll check with you tomorrow to see how you're doing."

"Roger that."

Without warning, the motion sensor near the door triggered the alarm. Orchid jumped a bit from the sound but collected herself. Once again, she checked her surroundings, even outside her position. With everything cleared, Orchid shut the door and stared at the device.

Is it glitching? Orchid grabbed the motion sensor, checking for issues.

"Sharp Stinger to Black Flower, come in," a voice announced.

"Black Flower, here," Orchid responded.

"So, we checked the motion sensors throughout the building, and they're working fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. How come?"

"The surveillance room alarm tripped again."

"That one might have problems, Orchid."

"It's possible, but so far, no physical issues. How about this? I'll monitor it. If it acts faulty again, I'll upgrade when we move again."

"Sounds good to me. My team and I have another area to check before turning to the next squad."

"Alright. I'll keep you posted." After the call, Orchid rubbed her temples. Once more, the motion sensor blared. Frustrated, she turned it off and sighed. I need a break. Oh, shit. Did the one I turned off affect the others? She approached a multi-screen monitor and clicked settings. After scrolling down, Orchid clicked 'Motion Sensor.' Apart from the one she shut down, everything worked well. Oh good, it didn't.

While composing herself, Orchid sensed a presence. Her muscles tensed, torn between fleeing and fighting. Her eyes drifted to a black screen. The reflection, though blurry, showed an unusual object emerging from the darkness. The agent's body moved as if something pushed her away, evading the object approaching her.

It smashed into the screen, shattering the glass. Once at a safe distance, Orchid saw what almost killed her. The object resembled a segmented tail as the sharp end pulled out of the shattered monitor. As if aware of blowing its cover, the creature emerged behind the monitors. Purple-blue skin with an orange underbelly covered its body, and yellow eyes gleamed from its lizard-like head. The honeycomb patterns shimmered between black and blue throughout its frame.

"Now, who let you in?" Orchid said. Before long, alarms blared across the hideout. Her comms became active. "Black Flower, here."

"Boss, Stalker units are swarming in!" a fellow agent yelled as the background roared with gunfire.

"I got one in the surveillance room, and it would not let me leave. Can you determine how many?"

"We got a whole pack coming at us! We need your help!"

"Just hang in there. I'll join you once I dispose of this one."

They circled each other, tempted to make the first move. Drool leaked from the Stalker's mouth, its curled lips revealing its teeth.

Undaunted, Orchid narrowed her eyes. One of her hands reached toward the pouch attached to her belt. "So, you want to play, eh? How about Cat and Mouse? You'll be the Cat, and I the Mouse. If you catch me, you get a free meal. I should warn you: this Mouse can fight back."

The Stalker's tail waved while its eyes narrowed. With a roar, it charged toward her. Quick on her feet, Orchid dodged the relentless animal. While doing so, she pulled a retractable spring baton filled with electricity from her pouch.

Once again, the Stalker charged. Orchid struck the creature, sending electric currents through its body. The raptor convulsed in pain, its muscles writhing as it collapsed to the ground. Then, she closed her eyes and focused as mysterious flames consumed her, yet they did not harm her.

The flames became a fiery tiger and pounced on the raptor. Orchid bit the beast's neck, killing it. Soon after, she tossed the lifeless creature out of the building through the gap.

Mouse: 1. Cat: 0

The flames vanished as Orchid returned to human form. Despite the minor victory, the battle wasn't over. She still had to rescue her colleagues. Orchid grabbed a few things and approached a nearby ventilation shaft. After removing the grate, she crawled inside.

In the stale air, dust filled her lungs, forcing her to cough. The obscurity also made finding the right path challenging. Regardless, Orchid kept pushing. She retrieved her spring baton, its pulsing yellow light filling the chamber.

Orchid stopped for a moment, switching on her comms. "Golden Lion, come in." She received no response. "Golden Lion, come in."

While waiting for a response, Orchid's mind raced with thoughts of her fellow agents' safety. What if the Stalker units defeated them? Her heart raced as she imagined the worst-case scenario. She shook her head, clearing her mind of negative thoughts. She had to remain focused and pray for her teammates.

"This is Golden Lion. Over."

Orchid sighed, relieved to hear a response, though gunfire still rang in the background. "Jean, are you alright?"

"For now. It's also the same with Nikita, David, and the rest of the team. So far, we're holding our ground, but these Stalkers are relentless!"

"Where are you located?"

"On the third floor."

"Okay, listen. I'll lure those raptors away from you and everyone else. Exit the building and head to the rendezvous point at the abandoned warehouse. I mention this because the Stalkers have explosives inside them."

"Ah, der'mo! I almost forgot about that!" an agent shouted.

"Was that Natasha?" Orchid asked.

"Yes, it was," Jean said. "The pain meds she took and the adrenaline may have curbed her…ahem…shark attack for now. Anyway, we'll await your signal. Also, be careful, Orchid."

"I will, and don't worry. I've been through worse shit than this." After the call, Orchid resumed her stealthy crawl through the ventilation shaft, her electric spring baton leading the way.

While continuing her journey, her mind reflected on past missions where she relied on her instincts and quick thinking to outsmart her enemies.

For each grille she peeked, smears of blood stained the walls and floor—evidence of the brutal encounters within the building. In addition, several agents lay dead or dying on the ground. With a heavy heart, Orchid kept moving. She could do nothing for the dead, yet she could save those alive.

When she reached the next grille, Orchid peered through the slits. To her surprise, she stumbled upon a bathroom. The air was heavy with mildew and disinfectant, while the cracked tiles on the floor emitted pale, flickering lights from broken fluorescent bulbs. Upon closer inspection, a sprinkler system caught Orchid's attention. Old and worn, it appeared intact.

What floor is this bathroom? Orchid checked the sign, confirming she was on the fourth floor. Then, a plan formed in her brain. Closing her eyes, Orchid focused as her hands glowed with energy. Then, an Ocelot-sized Firecat emerged beside her.

"Alright, little one," Orchid said, petting the creature. "Seek the Stalker units on the third floor. Use your mimicry to fool them into thinking you're wounded and lure them here." She removed the grille, allowing the Firecat to enter the bathroom. "Good luck, my friend."

As instructed, the creature left. After resealing the grate, Orchid pulled a Silencer from her pouch and lay on her stomach. She aimed the weapon at the sprinkler system. Within minutes, commotion and chaos echoed through the air shaft.

First, the Firecat entered the bathroom, limping and crying before dispersing to embers. Once the Stalker units emerged, Orchid fired at the sprinkler system, triggering a cascade of water and drenching the bathroom. Not prepared, the raptors struggled to maintain their footing. Orchid grabbed her baton, set the electricity to full blast, and tossed it onto the floor.

A volt surge crackled through the bathroom when it touched the water. The Stalker units convulsed and writhed while screeching in agony until they collapsed into lifeless piles of heap.

Orchid smirked. Mouse: 2. Cat: 0. Careful not to touch the conductive water, she maneuvered a magnet tied to a string to retrieve her spring baton from the waterlogged bathroom floor. She wiped it dry with a cloth before securing it in her pouch.

"Golden Lion to Black Flower, over," Jean called.

"Black Flower, here," Orchid said. "Have you all left the building?"

"We're near the exit."

"Alright. So, quick question: who has chains?"

"David does. Why?"

"So, here's what needs to happen. When you leave, lock the outside doors. It should contain any lingering Stalker units inside."

"What about you, boss? How will you get out? Also, with so many dead Stalkers, their chances of explosion are high. Where will we go?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we regroup. As for my escape, I have my ways."

"Okay. Over and out."

After Jean finished the transmission, Orchid maneuvered through the air ducts. After some time, Orchid pried open the grate and emerged into a dim hallway.

With her senses on high alert, she surveyed her surroundings. Sweat trickled down Orchid's forehead as she walked, her heart racing. Her muscles tightened with every sound and movement.

The Disavowed leader assessed the situation after reaching the emergency staircase. Before deciding, something attacked her from the shadows. While tumbling down the stairs, Orchid and her unknown assailant grappled, fighting for control. Once they crashed to the ground, Orchid used her body's momentum to throw her assailant off her.

While standing, a hot, searing pain spread across her arm. Orchid glanced down to see four clawed gashes oozing with blood. She faced her attacker—a Stalker unit—as it got to its feet. The raptor's glowing yellow eyes locked onto Orchid, emitting a low, menacing growl.

With escape still on her mind, Orchid grinned, leaving the raptor to tilt its head. "So, you earned a point. Congrats. I'd love to continue, but I gotta run. Ciao."

Orchid switched to her Firecat mode and tackled the raptor before it reacted. While sprinting down the stairs, she picked up the screeching cry from the Stalker unit. Shit! More are coming. If I don't get out of here, I'm dino-food.

Determined, she pushed herself, adrenaline coursing through her veins. As more Stalkers arrived, Orchid dodged their attacks. She burst through a door labeled "Ground Floor," her lungs burning as she sprinted towards the exit. As she drew near the double doors, Orchid increased her stride until she leaped forward. With a burst of strength, Orchid shattered the window, shards of glass spraying in all directions.

She propelled herself through the broken opening, embracing the rush of freedom as she landed outside. As she shifted into her human form, Orchid watched the Stalker units clog the exit, held back by the chains around the handles. She reached into her pouch and took out a grenade.

"Hey, Scaly! Give Ultratech my regards." Once Orchid pulled the pin, she tossed the weapon toward a raptor's mouth. The grenade burst with a loud explosion, sending chunks of Stalker unit flying. As a chain reaction, its internal explosives ignited, creating a domino effect.

A massive fire consumed the Stalker units and the worn-out building. Orchid distanced herself from the area, taking cover behind a nearby concrete wall. As predicted, a louder explosion ruptured from the building remnants, sending shockwaves and debris flying everywhere.

As silence returned, Orchid emerged from her hiding spot. She surveyed the aftermath of the explosions, smoke billowing in the air and debris scattered across the ground. Mouse: 3. Cat: 1. That's a win for me. I should meet with Jean and the others before they get worried sick.