Three days later, the doctors and Snowy had devised a plan to remove Tina’s helmet. Snowy found the orange pupil lenses unscrewed. They removed one for easy access inside the helmet. The other came out when they discovered the lens pushed against Tina’s eyes.

The blue turned out to be nothing more than an electrolytic solution carrying a mild current. The electricity in the solution explained the destroyed nanite probes.

The doctors drained part of the blue liquid out of the suit. When it finished Vanouse carefully inserted a small camera connected to an overhead monitor. On the screen, a tiny light came on revealing rows of needles overgrown with scar tissue pressed into Tina’s skin.

“Oh, you poor child,” Doctor Hoo exclaimed.

“Grotesque, yes. It is interesting to see the scarring. I would not have expected it to such an extent,” Doctor Mengele remarked.

“So much for just popping it off.” Doctor Casa added, banging his cane on the front of the metal suit.

Vanouse sighed and looked at Snowy, “We don’t have anything small and flexible enough to cut them. Any ideas?”

Snowy grinned. “Yes I do, they’re thin enough we can melt them.”

Vanouse contemplated it for a moment. “It would work if we can get something we can manipulate easily. The trick will be finding a suitable material flexible enough and would not melt under such extremes. We’ll need a tremendous amount of heat to melt through the metal quick enough, so we don’t injure her through conduction. Do you have suggestions on where we can get materials?”

“I do,” Snowy said looking at Kita. "She can put off enough heat to melt a star, both figuratively and literally. Omega, what did you use to make her armor out off to withstand her fiery temper?”

Omega chuckled. “I can produce a small quantity for you in the specified parameters, Fuzzy.”

“Computer, that isn’t a very courteous or professional way to address our colleague,” Doctor Harper huffed.

Snowy brightened at being defended and very much missed the academic world.

“True, then again I think she deserves to be call worse. You’ve only know her for three days, Doctor. I’ve had the unfortunate luck of knowing her for over three years. Kitty here has sharpened her claws in some places she shouldn’t have.”

Snowy's nose turn red. She didn’t understand why Kita, Omega, and the Angels had to pick on her. Especially now when she had a group that was away from them. Or did being in this group make her even more of a target? She frowned. She couldn’t do anything right.

“No matter what she’s done in the past, her actions have proven invaluable and commendable,” Vanouse defended.

“Whatever you say, Mechanic. I will have flexible robot manipulator made out of a material that will withstand Kita’s heat within the next twenty minutes. Until then, chat among yourselves or whatever.” Omega played the sound of a phone hanging up.

In the back of the room, Sarin and Anthrax made no attempts to hide their laughter at Omega’s antics. Ignoring the cackling hens, Snowy looked around to get reactions. Kita still hadn’t moved, even when Snowy mentioned her by name. Frostbane didn’t seem to care; he huffed, rolled over, and took a nap. The other doctors came to comfort her and condemn Omega’s behavior.

***

Eighteen minutes later Omega announced, “Jane, it's ready. You can go pick it up in the fabrication shop.”

Sarin huffed and made an angry noise, but left with Anthrax to go get the new equipment.

After they had left, Casa looked at Snowy. “Who are they? I haven’t seen them do anything, except sit around and giggle like school girls. With the wings I assume they’re either with Miss Raven statue over there or lost underwear models.”

“Interesting that you bring that up Doctor, but I would more worry about what’s about to hit you,” Omega warned, amused.

Kita phased in front of Casa as Omega finished. “Nevermore,” she snarled and punched him across the jaw hard enough for the hologram to glitch. Kita phased over and met him where he landed.

Casa looked up at her, “Glad my ex-wives didn’t hit like you. I don’t think I would’ve lived past the second one.”

“They are my friends. I suggest you leave them alone,” Kita snarled and phased back to where she had stood for the last three days.

“She does have a flare for the dramatic, I’ll give her that,” Casa added as he got up.

Snowy looked on sadly. Once upon a time, Kita would have defended her so fiercely. She shook the negative thought from her head. Kita would again, she just need time.

When Sarin and Anthrax entered the room, everyone turned to look at them.

“What? Did we miss something?” Anthrax asked nervously.

“Poe’s Secret.” Casa laughed to himself surmising events in a cryptic fashion.

Ignoring him, Sarin handed the tool to Vanouse and then retreated with Anthrax back to their corner. Vanouse made a quick inspection and then gave it to Snowy to do the same.

“What you don’t trust me?” said Omega.

“Just want to make sure we know how it works, my friend,” Vanouse replied.

“I couldn’t have made it any simpler. Kita holds the tether piece. You and the cat use the controls and screen to move it where you want it,” Omega explained sardonically.

Snowy held out the piece for Kita, who just stared through her. “Kita, please?”

Kita’s stony face didn’t change, but she stepped forward and took the tether. Her hand, the tether, and the metal on her bracer went from black to brilliant white.

“I bet guys love you,” Casa said with a smirk.

Kita lashed out with a wing and slammed him against the wall. Casa stood up about to say something when the same wing pinned him against the wall. Casa started to choke.

Sarin and Anthrax began to laugh hard from the corner, “Oops, guess we forgot to warn him. Kita loathes guys. Nice knowing you Doc,” Sarin called from the corner.

“Kita, stop it. You can't kill him for something he didn’t know. If he does it again, then you can!” Snowy yelled, surprised at the words coming out of her mouth.

Kita released him. Her face still showed no signs of expression, worrying Snowy. Casa moved to a chair without a sound.

The show over, Vanouse and Snowy started the delicate task of melting through the needles. The process took lots of concentration and precise movements. They moved from needle to needle, quickly melting through at the barest touch. It took several hours to melt the needles and then several more hours to double check them all.

Along the way, the pair discovered the air and feeding tubes. Doctor Harper and Doctor Hoo decided they could cap the feeding tube, and a standard ventilator should be sufficient to supply the needed oxygen.

With the help of the hoist, the mask was lifted off, while the room held its collective breath. Different reactions to Tina’s face permeated when it became fully visible on the monitor.

Tina’s eyes had sunken far into her head. Rimmed in permanent black bruises, the once beautiful brown eyes had lost all their luster and shine. Her hair was gone, clumps floated in the remaining blue liquid. The pins were in a grid pattern, one every inch. Her skin was pasty, almost transparent in spots, with a bluish tint and wrinkled from so much time in the blue fluid.

“I’ve seen three-year-old corpses stuck in sealed barrels that looked better,” Casa commented to break the tension.

Kita stepped forward, and the group collectively parted, as if by command. As she walked her wings, armor, weapons and bandana disappeared. Her hair fell down out of its ponytail.

***

Kita sat on the edge of the table. Leaning her head over Tina’s so her hair provided a tent of privacy, she looked into Tina’s distraught eyes. She watched Tina’s eyes try and focus on her. As she waited, she watched as some of the rage, hatred, and determination faded. Kita wasn’t sure if this was from being free or her sister recognized her. Then, Kita saw what she had seen before. The tiny spark that she knew was her sister. It was if she had been compressed into the tiny light and placed inside this monster.

In a sorrowful tone, Kita spoke to the spark, “I have failed you. I know not what I had done bringing you into this. I lay naked before you so all can see my failings. Forgive me Little Sister, for I will never forgive myself. I have failed to protect you, the innocent, and am no longer worthy of being the Fallen Angel. I will await your judgment when you are ready.” Kita kissed Tina’s forehead.

***

Snowy covered a gasp. She wasn’t sure how many in the room had hearing augmentations to hear Kita’s whisper. She wondered if that’s how she should be asking for Kita’s forgiveness. Behind her stony mask, this was what Kita had been hiding, the pain of her failure and the hurt over Tina. Grimly Snowy wondered if this had been part of who’s ever plan all along. If it was, they knew Kita too well.

***

Emotionless, Kita got up and started for the door. As she crossed the room, a tiny rhythmic metallic tapping sound caught her ear. She stopped and watched as a single claw beat out a message on the table. Everyone stared at the finger.

Kita knelt and bowed her head. “As you wish Little Sister. I am yours to command.”

When Kita stood, she changed back to her normal attire. Without a word she turned, left the room, and gave a loud whistle. No one had the courage to follow her, except the bird.

***

“I cannot decide if that was erotic or macabre,” Casa said flatly when Kita had left.

“What was the tapping?” Doctor Hoo asked.

“The Shadow Guild’s secret communication code,” Snowy answered slightly awed, “It means Tina’s still in there.”