--Hattori Compound, Xai mountains 10:30 pm--

Shelty and Satoru’s movie marathon was on its last legs. They had gone through most of their favorites already including Chicken cops 3, The Western Warrior, and Wild Wings. Satoru had fallen asleep leaving Shelty to finish watching the cheesy romantic drama “The Emissaries Tale” on her own. She found herself strangely invested in the plight of the two lovers. It was a movie about a servant girl engaging in a forbidden love with the noble lord she served. Shelty watched intently as the star-crossed couple snuck out to rendezvous in the courtyard in secret.

“Lestat, my love, I’m afraid I can no longer see you anymore. I no longer wish to bring shame upon your position.” The servant girl Mary said, as her lover held her close.

“What are you speaking of? Why are you saying these things?” The noble handsome lord Lestat asked.

“You see milord I...I am with child. If this is made known it will be a disgrace upon your noble name! Therefore I must leave you and this place behind! I do not wish to cause trouble for you!” The woman began to pull away before she was held tighter by Lestat

“What nonsense is this! Would you believe you and the child are an embarrassment to me? I will shout out love from the rooftops! The child shall be a blessing upon us! I love you, my sweet Mary!”

“Oh, Lestat!”

Shelty sighed to herself as the two exchanged a passionate kiss. “A baby..huh?” she mused.

Will I be able to… her thoughts dwelled on Satoru who slept peacefully next to her on the couch. Hanabi had was merciless with her sparring sessions, so the boy was understandably exhausted. He had changed into a hoodie and sweats for their marathon and had he had only just fallen asleep during the latest movie. She swallowed hard as she scooted a bit closer to him on the couch gazing at him intently. She noticed just how grown up he had gotten. He was no longer the scrawny, young boy that had saved her. He was becoming more mature, she could see that his muscular definition filled out his clothes, and his shoulders had become broad and strong. She noticed that he had developed a beauty mark under his eye, just like his mother. He was..handsome, very handsome. She lightly tugged on his sleeve causing him to lean into her lap. I guess I’m lucky he’s a heavy sleeper. Her heart began to race as the slumbering Satoru shifted to get more comfortable on her lap. She lightly brushed a strand of hair behind his ear. She could blame it on the mood, or the copious amounts of ice cream she had eaten earlier, but she suddenly felt more affectionate. She moved her hand to stroke his shoulders earning a groan from the boy. Would he ever be able to love me like that… She leaned in closer to his face looking to plant a soft kiss on his cheek.

“ARGH!!” Shelty jolted back as a sharp pain racked her brain, her sudden movement awakening Satoru from his sleep. It was a painful, scraping pain that forced her to the ground, writhing in agony. It felt like her mind was being overwhelmed, slowly being crushed by a dominating presence.

“Shelty...Shelty! What's wrong?!” Satoru knelt by her side trying to help the girl get a hold of her self. The pain was so intense that she could barely speak, and the markings on her body began to light up like a Christmas tree, her eyes glowing a bright blue like the rest of her runes. Suddenly it stopped. The vice grip on her mind disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving Shelty panting heavily on the ground.

“What was that? Are you ok?” Satoru asked. Shelty wiped the drool from her mouth, looking at Satoru with shaken eyes. She simply stated.

“They’re back.”

--Sumi, Coastal town outside of Oshan, 11:00 pm--

“Tch, resilient bitch,” Athena griped as she sat in the back of the Jeep they were riding in. Baldur, Athena, and Ares drove through the region of Sumi on a highway next to the coastal cliffs. The ocean breeze and the beautiful vistas made it a popular vacation spot, however, the three did not come for a vacation.

“What were you doing back there sis?” Ares asked from the driver's seat. “You kinda spaced out there for a second.”

“I was testing something. It seems my bond to Omega-4 is still intact. I just wanted to send her a friendly ‘hello’,” Athena looked accomplished as she stared out towards the moonlit sea as they cruised along.

“Well, where is she?” Baldur asked. “If you made a connection I'm sure you could find a location.”

“She’s somewhere far to the east. I was too focused on tormenting her that I couldn’t probe her for an exact location. Plus the bitch was trying to resist me. Managed to kick me out before long.” She began to stew in her seat, crossing her legs and tapping her foot with anxious energy. “Where the hell is Tyr anyway?! I’m getting antsy here!”

“The signal for his tracker is near the beach a few miles ahead, just offshore,” Ares answered.

“Just sit tight, we will be there soon.” Thinking about her traitorous sister, Omega-4, infuriated Athena. She needed to let off some steam soon. As she looked out the windows she noticed a faint orange glow on the beach ahead. Using her enhanced eyesight she could see that a group of teenagers was enjoying a late night bonfire. Perfect. She undid her seatbelt and propped up in her seat.

“I’m going to go let off some steam, I’ll be waiting for you both up ahead.” Athena launched herself out of the open roof of the jeep with a great leap, rocketing high into the air. The vehicle bounced and swerved from the force of her take off as she sailed high and far, easily covering the distance to their rendezvous location. She landed with a dusty crash, sending sand billowing everywhere and startling the group of teens on the beech. The fire they had made was put out by the gust of wind and sand. Her cloak swayed as stepped forward from the crater her landing had created.

“C...Can I help you miss?” One of the teens asked, voice trembling in fear. The rest of the group stood frozen in place, equally mesmerized and wary of the supernatural stranger that had decided to crash their party. Athena smiled sweetly walking up to the boy who spoke up.

“I was wanting to let off a little steam, do you mind if I play with you all?” She asked, voice hiding her sinister intentions.

“Well, the fire is out….we need to get it back up again...what..kind of a game did you have in mind?” another teen asked.

Athena shot her hand forward through the boy's stomach grabbing a firm hold of his spine and ripping it from his body. The body went limp and folded in on itself, dead.

“How about tag?” she said tossing the bloody bones away and cracking her knuckles. The rest of the group began to scatter, scrambling to get away from the murderous young woman. She began to cackle in delight as she easily chased down each of them relishing in their screams and ain as she slaughtered them, crushing them like the insects they were. When Baldur and Ares pulled up to the beach in their jeep they found her amongst the pile of eviscerated corpses, the beach strewn with limbs and organs alike. Covered in blood, she was staring off into the ocean with a solemn look on her face.

“Have enough fun?” Baldur asked as he and Ares joined her.

“Barely got my blood pumping. Humans, so weak.” Athena said disappointedly. “I hope brother gets here soon so we can go home. I tire of this place.” Soon a figure emerged from the waves, dripping with seawater, and draped with seaweed.

“Speak of the devil,” she uttered as Tyr trudged out of the ocean on the beach. He looked around at the gruesome sight before him.

“Looks like I missed a party,” He quipped. He caught the cloak Baldur tossed him, draping it over his bare shoulders.

“Athena just wanted to squash some bugs, you didn’t miss much,” Baldur said.

“I’d take that over walking 30 miles at the bottom of the ocean, not fun I tell ya,” Tyr complained.

“Next time try not getting blasted back to the stone age. It seems your opponent was stronger than you anticipated.” Ares said. Tyr nodded “That’s for sure. She sure can take a punch.”

“Now all of you get back in the jeep,” Ares commanded. “Father wants us to meet him at the airstrip. We are returning to Draconia in a few days.”

“Thank the gods!” Athena said as she hopped up to get in the car, only to be stopped by Ares.

“Go wash up first. You’ll stain the seats.” Rolling her eyes, Athena angrily stomped towards the ocean and into the crashing waves to rines her body of blood.

“Remind me to stay on her good side,” Tyr said as he entered the jeep. A freshly rinsed Athena stole a towel from the dead partygoers and dried herself before she and Baldur situated themselves in the back.

“I think that goes for all of us,” Ares said as he started the vehicle and continued their moonlight cruise down the coast.

--Hattori Compound, Xai Mountains, Midnight--

“What the hell is this? Who the hell is she?” Hisayo angrily pointed at Haru, who gave her a weak, tired smile in return. The Oshan group had just landed in the hangar, and Hisayo and Zed had come to meet them. Yuko tried to intervene and explain her friend's presence, while Hisayo eyed her suspiciously.

“Well..she’s..” Yuko fumbled with her words as Hisayo’s patience began to visibly thin

“This is Yuko’s associate, she also has valuable information regarding APEX,” Akane stepped in. Yuko breathed a sigh of relief as her friend was rescued by the young assassin. Hisayo seemed to buy the explanation but still seemed annoyed.

“That aside, why is it that we keep bringing in strays? We are supposed to be a secret. We can't keep bringing people here like some bed and breakfast! Ugh, I can’t believe this shit! ” Hisayo continued to rant as Maya tugged on Zeds sleeve.

“You will come with me. Now,” She said as she briskly walked towards the bulkhead doors to exit the hangar. Zed knowing better than to protest, followed her.

“The girl needs healing,” Akane said to her mother. “Also, I managed to acquire a sample.” Akane fished in her bag to hand the withered tentacle. Hisayo took the appendage and examined it.

“Hmm, excellent work. Take this down to the lab and have our techs start an analysis immediately.”

Akane nodded and quietly went to fulfill her task. Hisayo glanced over to Yuko who was still supporting the injured Haru. She sighed. “Have Shelty escort you two to the medical bay.”

Yuko jumped for joy.

“You hear that Haru? You get to drink some magic blood and you’ll be good as new!” She said. Haru looked surprised.

“Wait, I have to what now?” but before Haru’s question could be answered Yuko had already begun to push her towards the door.

“Get some rest Hiragi. I wish to see you when you wake up.” Hisayo called after the girls as they slowly trudge through the bulkhead. Hisayo was left alone in the hangar with the maintenance crews tending to the plane.

“I better not regret taking in these guests. “ She said to herself as she left the crews to their tasks and retired for the evening.

--Meanwhile--

Maya had brought Zed to an emergency stairwell, making sure they were out of earshot. He sat on the steps while the woman anxiously paced.

“You will listen to me and you will answer truthfully,” She said. She stopped her pacing and took a breath to center herself before continuing.

“Akane’s first assignment 10 years ago, the one to bodyguard Consular Yusef. You accompanied her did you not?”

Zed nodded once and simply answered: “I did.”

“You observed her as you were instructed, including her encounter with the assassin Ella Douglas?”

“I did,” He answered again. “Though, I admit to losing track of her briefly.”

Maya visibly bristled. Her composure was starting to unravel.

“When you found her….what state was she in?” Silence hung between them. The simple question held a significant weight for both. Zed’s strong facial muscles relaxed, and his eyes softened in recollection.

“She..was injured considerably from her battle..” Maya shot him a deadly glare that could melt the skin of lesser men.

“Do not. Lie. To me.” Her voice was deadly serious. “When you found her, what state was she in? DO NOT make me repeat myself again.”

Zed knew better than to challenge Maya when she was like this. He did not want to remember that night himself, but he wanted to face Maya’s wrath even less. As he recalled the terrible image in his head, he felt his heart begin to ache and his fists began to shake in anger until he too had to take a calming breath.

“She...was awful.” He started. “It had begun to rain. I lost her signal when she entered that warehouse district, and I picked it up again sometime later. I found her..behind a dumpster in an alley a few miles away from the industrial district. She was conscious but unresponsive. Tears streamed from her face and her eyes were soulless and empty. Her clothes were dirty and torn in an unusual fashion. Her pants and underwear were gone...and blood trickled from a head wound and between her legs. When I touched her to pick her up, she tried to fight me off but once she recognized who I was... she began to cry. Only then did I realize what had happened to her. Only then did it hit me…” He closed his eyes, his head lowered in shame at the vents of the past. Maya once again had to fight to hold back tears after once again being reminded of the tragedy.

“So you knew?” She asked weakly. “How could you have brought her to Hisayo after that, how could you have covered it up from her? We ALL heard the beating the girl received that night. How could you Zed?”

The gruff man raised his head but did not meet Maya’s eyes.

“I..made a decision. Such news would bring shame to our family name. You weren't here all those years Maya. While you were off galavanting around the world with Hanabi, Hisayo was here trying to keep hold of the empire that was dropped on her shoulders, all while shouldering Master Shu’s death and threats of challenge and insurrection from Tenri’s sect. She has always been insecure about her own power and position and you wanted me to tell her that her only daughter, her hope and heir, had been raped? It would DESTROY her Maya.” Zed said. Maya shook her head in disbelief, appalled at the man's thinking.

“So you would lie? You would cover the girl's shame and have her carry that pain for the rest of her life? You would keep a mother ignorant of her child's’ suffering? For what Zed? What could have possibly been so important that would disregard the feelings of your own family?!”

Zed became angered at Maya, he rose from his seat on the steps and stared down the woman's fiery gaze with one of his own.

“You would dare lecture me on priorities?! On family?! The girl was like a daughter to me! I supervised much of her training myself, but it matters not! That girl is to be our next leader! She is to follow in the steps of Genbu! Of Hanzo! She was born to inherit something greater than herself! She must be raised to be strong, so she can be better than the rest of us. To lead!”

“SHE WAS A CHILD!” Maya exploded as she slammed a fist into the metal wall, creating a sizeable dent. Her eyes began to glow red as her rage boiled over, her bloodlust overwhelming the room. She noticed she was losing control and placed a frustrated hand over her face, controlling her breathing, reducing her angered panting to calm collected breaths before continuing.

“We have done many terrible things to protect the ones we love Zed. We have committed crimes and atrocities to keep them safe from harm. I can forgive you for not being able to protect her from the assault, but you have left her in a far worse state that may never be repaired. And you’re failure to understand that saddens and disappoints me to no end.” She looked at him her eyes full of sorrow and pity, she opened the door to the stairwell.

“You will right this wrong you have done. Before it is too late.” She strode out of the accessway leaving Zed alone to listen to her footsteps echo down the hall.

--Hattori Compound Medical Bay--

“Yuko, you fucking traitor! I’ll kill you!” Haru screamed as she struggled against the restraints on the medical table.

“Sorry Haru, but you’ll feel better I promise!” Yuko called from across the room

After finding their way to the medical bay, the doctor was preparing to administer an injection of her synthesized blood, per Shelty’s instructions. As soon as Haru saw the needle she freaked out. If Shelty had not gotten ahold of her and tied her down she would have bolted, and with her injuries, she would have been worse for wear.

“How are you afraid of needles anyway? You have like a bajillion tattoos!” Yuko added.

“It's DIFFERENT!” Haru roared. Shelty listened to the two argue from across the room, smirking to herself. The two common girls would seem to provide ample entertainment in the future. The tattooed girl squirmed as the doctor administered the injection to her arm. In moments the color returned to her skin and the nasty looking chest wound closed itself, healing perfectly. Haru ceased her squirming as the healing blood coursed through her veins, it calmed her frenzied mind which allowed her to notice her newly restored condition.

“See, good as new!” Yuko said clasping her hands together in amazement. She walked to the table to loosen the restraints on her friend. As soon as Haru’s right arm was free she delivered a sharp flick to Yuko’s forehead, causing the girl to squeal in pain.

“I told you I’d get you,” Haru uttered, grinning fiendishly.

“Alright prima donnas, let’s pack it in. Doctor’s busy you know, let's get out of her hair.” Shelty clapped her hands to get the girls attention so she could begin to usher them out of the room.

“I haven’t forgotten that you trashed my car,” Haru directed at Shelty.

The blonde girl shrugged, “Neither have I. It was quite satisfying. Got any more toys I can smash?”

“Brute,” Haru spat

“Bitch,” Shelty retorted. Sparks of tension flew between the two girls before Yuko got between them to mediate.

“Ok I guess, we will go on the tour later Haru.” Yuko began to tug her friend in the opposite direction.

“I’m gonna sue you for those damages!” Haru called back as Shelty merely gave a cavalier wave to the girl as she was pulled further down the hall.

Yuko got Haru all the way back to the guest room she was staying in before she let go of her arm.

“Haru, you need to be nicer! It's better to stay on their good side.”

Haru looked at her friend as if she had said something incomprehensible.

“You’re fucking joking right? Are you sure you’re not the one who needs to be careful? Acting all chummy with a band of murderers?”

Yuko shook her head. “They may not be the most moral bunch, but they have agreed to take care of us and protect us if we help them.”

“Yeah, cuz the alternative was killing us! Jeez, just…..don't forget who these people are. Letting down your guard as much as you have just seems like a bad idea is all. Just be careful, Ok?” She walked up to Yuko and pulled her into a hug. Yuko relaxed into the embrace and returned it, but did not answer her friend. Have I really been such a fool? She thought. Haru released her friend and gave her a long thoughtful look, satisfied that her friend was heeding her words.

“Alright, do these guys have cable? Cuz I’m in the mood for some Chicken Cops 3.” She said plopping on Yukos bead and fishing for the remote. Yuko smiled and flopped next to her friend just as Haru managed to find the movie on the television.

“Now you’re talking,” Yuko said as she let her worries disappear, with the opening credits.