Ewan finds himself in what appears to be a literal underground city. Some buildings carved into the walls. Others built from floor to ceiling, like some livable support columns. People bustle about, selling, buying, haggling and simply existing in the streets. Signs advertising a number of things, legal and illegal, line the walls. Most lighting appears to be aritficial. Or magical. He's never before seen a place like this, much less even know of its existence. There has to be tens of thousands of people down here. Maybe even more. He doesn't know how many pockets this underground life contains. He quickly follows Echo as she starts walking, still trying to take everything in. Are all these people villains or criminals? Or is this simply their situation? How do the heroes not know of or speak of this place? Casper walks behind both of them, uninterested in the commotion around. People stare as they pass, whispering to one another.

"They don't seem to like me much."

"Wish I could say that the whispers are all for you."

"Oh?"

"Don't you hear? They call me Echo."

"I don't hear as well as you do. Clearly."

His hearing sensitivity increases for a few seconds. He hears their whispers now.

"Is that Echo?"

"Echo? Fuck. Why is she here?"

"Someone's gone fucked up, haven't they?"

"Let's go. Echo's here. Hurry."

"Shit. Wonder who's dying today..."

"Oh, they most assuredly think you're going to kill someone."

"If I'm on this side of town, I usually am looking for information on someone to kill, yes."

"Interesting."

"How so?"

"You don't seem the type to gingerly go looking for information."

"Old habit. Plus, I don't know everything."

"I see."

"I've also done some jobs. Should they interest me enough."

"What kind?"

She shrugs, "What's interesting"

"I'm asking what jobs you've done."

"So you can hate me more?"

"Fuck..."

"I enjoy relic hunting. Fleshing out collections."

"That in itself isn't bad. It's the other stuff I hate."

"I've done bounties, too. But that's usually when I'm in a bad mood."

"There it is."

"I'm surprised your big, important hero didn't recognize me."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking out loud. Like you don't kill people."

"I kill those who deserve it."

"Does everyone you kill deserve it?"

"I have my due diligence."

"Funny."

"Fuck you mean? I do my homework."

"You don't care who you kill on the way to your big bad."

"Which is a lie."

"Oh? You do research on each and every goon you walk through?"

"I have someone who checks the records. Gives me codes." He takes his phone out, taping a few times, handing it to Echo, "Color coded."

She examines it, "Then your someone gone fucked up. Or their morals don't align so well with yours."

"Then, they'll die. And I'll replace them. I gave him a guideline."

She gives his phone back, "Suppose you'll have to look for a replacement, then"

"Why's that?"

"Come on. Not even I would've killed Jimmy."

"Jimmy?"

"Recall that night you hate fucked me? Yeah, Jimmy was the first guy you killed when I started following you. You know, the one you left with a hole through his chest."

"The one fuck who guarded an arms dealer?"

"The worst crime Jimmy committed was petty theft. He then had a record, so nobody wanted to employ him. Wanna guess what he stole?"

"What?"

"Formula."

"How do you know?"

"We had a conversation a few times. Looked into it. He was a sweet guy, really."

"If it's true, then I'm going to rip a new asshole in that wheelchair bound fuck."

"Definitely look into that."

Casper growls behind them, someone approaching from the side. Ewan looks at the man as he hesitates.

"Kevin."

He reacts at his name, "M... Miss Echo. I... I..."

She looks at the man and he flinches backwards, "Confirmation."

"Yes?"

"Az."

She nods, "Understood," continuing on her way, fists clinched.

Casper looks at the man with flat ears as she passes, the man only running away after they've all three passed.

"Cat doesn't like him."

"Kevin's a snake But he slithers in all the wrong places for the right information."

"Who's Az?"

"Azazel. He 'procures' rare animals." She makes quotations in the air as she speaks.

"Like the cat?"

"Like Casper, yes."

"What is she?"

"Like I said before, probably a decent of QiongQi. Poachers and scientists alike can not seem to agree for a name on her species. They don't even know how many of her exists."

"Valuable. That's what I assume they think."

"I'm sure."

Echo turns to the entrance of one of the buildings that reach up to the ceiling, "We're here."

Ewan follows her in, followed by Casper. Echo is immediately recognized by the staff, greeted and all escorted through to the back. They enter a large room decorated with what can only be seen as expensive and rare items. Famous paintings line the walls while pedestals hold many a different object. Bones. Vases. Stone tablets. Fossilized eggs. At the very end is a man, sitting on a futon, only covered by a robe, smoking from a churchwarden pipe. Ewan remains vigilant, keeping his eyes peeled.

"Maurice, afternoon."

The man looks up from his pipe, throwing his hands in the air, "My sweet apple pie! You've come to visit!"

He motions to his handservant and they quickly bring two soft chairs, Echo and Ewan take their seats, Casper sitting next to Echo.

"My my! Look at how she's grown. Beautiful as ever." He looks at Echo, "Can you... have her do the thing?"

"Casper," she perks up, "Friendly."

She lifts her head to look up slightly, curling her lips back to show her teeth.

Maurice claps excitedly, "Gorgeous smile!"

Echo chuckles and Ewan quickly drops the smile he didn't even notice he had. Casper chuffs.

"I believe she likes the compliment."

Maurice motions to his handservant again, he brings a very short table closer, leaning Maurice's pipe on his knees.

"To what do I owe this honor?"

"We have some names to find."

"We?" He looks over at Ewan, "So you're the terror of the wicked. Demolisher. Destroyer."

"I'm no better, but yes."

"The Decimator," he says in a dramatic tone, stuffing and lighting his pipe. He pulls a long drag, the smell of cherry fills the air as he blows out smoke, "Do you have any idea how many of my insiders you've killed?"

"There were a lot of explosions. I'm uncertain."

Maurice looks at Echo, motioning with his pipe towards Ewan, "Why this curious tail?"

She shrugs, "He fucks good. Plus, I like him."

Maurice examines her face a moment, then bursts out laughing. Ewan only sighs, waiting to be addressed again.

"Oh! Apple of my eye! How I've missed your conversation." Maurice moves his attention back to Ewan, "If she likes you, it's good enough for me. Who are you looking for?"

"Me? I'd settle for any two good ones. Ones surrounded by plenty of scum who deserve to die."

Maurice thinks, tapping the pipe against his lip, then takes another drag, "There's recently been a few getting on my bad side. Not upholding their ends. And I don't appreciate that." He blows out smoke, "Fredric and Turbo."

"Where are they?"

Maurice motions his handservant over again, scribbling on a piece of paper. He folds it, lifting it into the air as though to bless it, "Good riddance." He holds it out to Ewan.

Ewan takes it, reads it, the tucks it away, "How much?"

Maurice seems taken aback, "How much what?"

"How much do I pay for the information?"

"Already paid for, my deary."

"With?"

Maurice motions to a painting to his right depicting the severed head of Medusa, "A lost piece of Da Vinci."

Ewan is clearly confused, "I paid with that?"

Maurice looks at Echo with a defeated expression, "Can't he make assumptions, my sweet? All brawn?"

"I don't tread in the same mud. You'll have to tell me straight how that pays for my information."

"Your sweet partner over here has covered the costs. I owe her a thing or two."

"I understand, then."

"And you, my sweets? Can I assume you've come for information on ̷̥̰͉̣̈́́̉̎o̸̝̓͋́͘̚r̴̡͙̞̼̭̃̉̌͛̆y̶̥͎͊͊͋͊̀̽͒̇̌̓͘͜o̵̭̻͈̫͊͊̆́̑̈́́̃ ̴͚̪͍͔̲̟̭̹̘̱̫͔̥͍̽̈́̀͆͘d̷̝́̀̔͑͊͌̚̕ơ̶̢͙͙̼̫̰͉̘͈̬̤̝͓͖͛̀̇͛̍̑̕ͅḻ̴̨̡̗̰̭̥̹̟̖̩̓͐̏̍̂́̑̎̀̕͠ ̶̨̟̝̘̲̯͇͉̹̟͚̜̮̠̀r̵̢̛͉̿̾̽̓͂̑̈͋̈́̋̓̊̕̚t̸̡̧̛̥͔͚̞̫͇̹͒̈̓̂̔͊̕͘̚͠ͅä̶̗͖͓͉̳́r̴̤̼̙͙̞͔͆͗͝ͅȩ̶̞̬̣̟̰̺̻͕̍͠n̴̨̢̼͔̯̤͙̱͍̞͚̪̓̀̈͗̆p̷̟̺̭͚̤̙̫͐̑́̀͌̍̐̈́͠͝s̷̛̹̝̼͍̳̹̑̇͒̈́̍̑͊͜ ?"

"Yes. Have you managed to find them yet?"

Ewan blinks quickly, but remains silent. The conversation that follows between Echo and Maurice, he cannot comprehend. He hears the words, but cannot identify or recall them as they are spoken.

"Thank you, Mo."

"Now don't do anything reckless."

Soon the three of them are escorted outside again, Casper's tail swooping side to side.

"He's nice."

"A bit eccentric at times, but nice and smart."

"Not too smart, I hope."

"Why would that be a problem?"

"People that are too smart for their own good often end up in ditches."

"You stay away from Maurice."

"Didn't say I'd do anything. I just stated a fact."

"I'll kill anyone who tries to hurt him."

"Again... didn't say I would."

"I'm just stating a fact."

He does not answer.

"So am I taking you back to your place?"

"I'll be staying over. Easier to prevent problems."

"Oh, well, I'm not immediately going home."

"Where are you going?"

"To pay Azazel a visit."

"Then I'll go with."

"Long as you're the one watching this time."

"I'll only watch if you don't fight the heroes."

"Then let's hope there's no heroes where we're going."

"Let's."

A smile pulls at her lips, "This might be an interesting encounter."

"How so?"

"I know something about Azazel that very few do."

"Which would be?"

"Not telling. I want to have some fun."

"I'm supposed to watch, is it going to affect me in any way?"

"Not if you don't involve yourself. Trust me," her smile becomes sly.

"I don't think I will."

"Oh, come now. Azazel is a deceiver and runs trades on the black market."

"And you've not done business on the black market? I said I'll watch."

"Just don't interfere."

They appear back in the city streets. Ewan recognizes the area as the far West side. The industrial areas. Surrounded by factories. Casper sniffs the air and growls. Echo walks up to the gate of one of the factories, the gates click and swing open. People in overhauls startle, scrambling to get away as they see Casper. Echo continues straight on to the building, the wall crumbles away with a space large enough for all three of them to pass through. People spin, opening fire on Echo, but the bullets stop mid air as they reach her, returning back to their respective gifters, moving crisscross through them, ripping them apart.

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"Casper, have fun."

The tiger chuffs with excitement, starting to run down those trying to escape, pulling limbs from bodies. She seems to be enjoying herself, like a cat playing with mice. Echo continues on to the next section of the factory, the doors grinding and straining against their mechanisms as they open, Ewan still following behind at a distance. The doors slam shut just as he enters, safety locks engaging. The emergency lights switch on, bathing the entire storage area in a dim red hue. Rows upon rows of different sized cages stand about, all covered with a thick, heavy material. Muffled movements can be heard coming from inside them. A faint whirring noise starts up, a strange feeling washing over them both.

"What's all this?"

"I told you he's an animal smuggler, did I not? I'm assuming he just switched to his emergency plan. There's a power suppressor running."

"Fuck."

"What? You scared without your powers?"

The sound of chains dragging on the ground comes from deeper inside.

"Not scared. Frustrated."

Turning out from behind one of the cages is a giant manticore, heavy chains around its neck and body.

"That one might be a problem if it gets loose."

The words barely leave Ewan's lips when the ends of the chains follow the creature around, tied only to itself.

Ewan nods knowingly, "Fuck."

"Azazel," Echo calls out, causing the manticore to now take more of an interest in them."

"This is Azazel?"

She laughs, "No, silly. Azazel's a little bitch who has others do his dirty work ." She calls louder, "Azazel, come out. I just want to talk. And also kill you."

There's a movement far above them, but no answer. The manticore now speeds towards them, chains clanging loudly. Echo seems completely unbothered, looking about and calling out for Azazel. Ewan takes a step back, eyes on the charging manticore. Neither of them have their powers at this moment. There's a sudden crash through the ceiling, the object crashing down straight into the manticore's head. The suppression field falters a split second before stabilizing again. The creature lays dead on the ground a mere few meters in front of them, a hero, one of those who's prominent with a big influence, stands in the crater, turning towards them. He is a low-level technopath, but is able to use his abilities in creative ways to create weapons possible of defeating whoever he deems worth killing. He's been out of city for a while, only reticently returned.

Ewan looks to Echo now, "You're able to have me not grasp a language I know. You able to beat this suppression field?"

"Now where exactly is the fun in that?"

The hero steps forward, removing his mask and looking directly at Ewan, "I come here looking for a smuggler, but instead I find a vigilante and the most popular news amongst the heroes."

"We're also here for the smuggler. Don't start a fight."

Echo throws her arms open, "Azazel! You finally showed yourself! Welcome to the party!"

"He's Azazel?"

"Ding ding! Two points for you! Fuck, now we're tied."

The hero frowns, "What? Are you fucked in the head?"

Echo steps forward, "My therapist says I'm not allowed to talk like that about myself."

Ewan now frowns, too, "What's going on?"

Echo lifts her hands in a boxing position, shifting from foot to foot, "Come on! I have places to be. Therapy and all that."

The hero seems irritated, speaking only to Ewan, "I picked up the suppression field on my readings on the way in. Why don't you do as you promised and kill this crazy fuck?"

"She can beat it. I know she can. I don't know what her deal is, but she's good at what she does."

He frowns again, "So you're a traitor, then?" He pulls a pistol looking weapon from his side, pointing it at them, "Last chance. Or you die with her."

Echo looks over her shoulder, flashing an excited smile.

"If you shoot, you'd better kill me. Suppression or not, I'll bash your fucking skull in."

Echo moves to the left, "Don't blink." The pistol glows a bright white colour, aim fixed on Echo. It holds a second before it fires, barely missing her, cutting through the meter thick reinforced wall behind her. She tilts her head, that iconic child-like smile on her face, "Oops. Try again."

"If you're playing, this isn't funny." Ewan steps towards Echo, in the same moment, the hero's armor and weapons fall in pieces to the floor. He stands frozen, shock and disbelief taking over his face. Ewan stopping in place.

Echo chuckles, "Would you look at that, Azazel?" The dead manticore's tail lifts behind him, unnoticed by the hero it aims towards.

The technopath lowers his weapon with a sigh, "I'm not Azazel. I came here to catch and imprison him."

"Manticore tail," Ewan says, pointing.

The hero spins around just in time to see the tail come down, it pierces straight through his upper leg, pinning him to the floor. Confusion across his face as he screams in pain.

Ewan starts approaching him, "Aah shit..." He stops in place, this time not by choice. Unable to move. He frowns, looking over at Echo who seems upset.

"What are you doing?"

"You said you'll only watch."

"He's going to die."

"Yes. And I'm going to kill him."

"You... said you wouldn't kill heroes."

"He's no hero. He double dips. He's Azazel."

"Prove it."

Echo now starts towards the hero, walking around to stand next to the manticore, "Funny how his powers still work."

The hero pants, grinding his teeth, glancing over at Ewan in desperation and pain.

"His powers are technology based... I don't... what are you saying?"

Echo breaks the manticore tail, ripping it from his leg, blood spilling to the floor as he screams out again, "I'm not Azazel!"

"Please, Echo... I need proof if you're going to do this."

She reaches down to the hero when the dismantled armor reacts, flying up and clamping down on Echo's hand and face. It starts to glow with the same white light, Ewan struggling against his unresponsive legs. A white laser shoots through the back of her head. She slumps the the ground. The hero stares at her for a moment, then starts laughing. Blood pools beneath her. Ewan, able to move again, walks towards him, clutching a wrench picked from one of the work benches, "Call me a fucking traitor..."

"She's dead," the hero exclaims with a wide smile, getting to his feet "She's finally dead!"

Ewan swings at the hero's head, his armor pieces reacting again, moving to protect him from any blows. "Aren't you happy? She's dead!"

Ewan continues swinging, trying different angles. The armor protecting the hero still. He manages to support himself against a cage, laugh continuing. A thin line of blood forms across his neck, red beads forming on that lie as he shakes from laughing. Ewan notices this, aiming a hard blow to the center of the hero's chest. Again, a piece of armor protects him, but he punches hard enough for the armor to touch against the hero's chest. This makes him stumble back, his head simply rolling from his shoulders. Ewan throws the wrench aside and looks towards Echo's still body. He carefully approaches to inspect, seemingly afraid of making any sudden movements. The blood beneath her lessens, climbing back into the hole in her head. He props her up against a cage and next goes to inspect the dead hero's body, finding a ledger on him. Echo peels the armor from her face.

"It's over already?"

"Yes."

She stands as Ewan pages through the leger, reading information on animals and beasts. How and when he's been moving them, including their values and possible interested parties.

"You good, though?"

"I am. You were right."

"I told you to trust me."

"I don't do so easily."

She shrugs, "Fair. Know the right authorities to notify of this?"

"For the creatures? No."

"Know anyone who might? I don't want them ending up in the underground."

"I can talk to my info broker. And teach him a lesson while I'm at it."

Echo whistles, Casper breaking down the door, the safety locks apparently having no meaning to her. The suppression field falters again. The tiger is covered with splashes of blood, her mouth already licked mostly clean. Echo scratches her behind the ear, "You phoning or visiting him?"

"Visiting. It's a lesson he needs to learn in person."

"Need to scare him some? Casper and I volunteer."

"Now you'll watch. You can take me to him, yes?"

"Sure. Where to?"

He pulls up a location on his phone, showing her, "Take me there."

He pockets his phone again, taking her hand. She smiles faintly, looking at their hands, then teleports the three of them. Ewan leads the way into the apartment building, walking down the hall, an immediate commotion as he turns the corner. He hoists a small man by his shirt, wheelchair laying to one side, legs dangling.

"You told me you'll pay fucking attention! You want to be a fucking quadriplegic?"

"Please! Mercy! I made a mistake. I won't do something like that again! I swear!"

Echo leans against the wall, Casper plopping down in the doorway.

Ewan brings the small man's face close to his own, "Damn straight, you won't. You're on thin ice, you piece of shit." He drops the man into his desk chair, "I have animals that need to be reported. Rare ones. Find me someone trustworthy. Now."

The man seems startled, but immediately starts typing away, not even noticing the two additional guests. Ewan picks up the wheelchair, sitting in it, pointing to Echo, "Be polite, Johnathan."

He looks at Ewan, the follows his finger, almost falling from his chair, "Fuck! What is that thing?"

"That's rather rude. I'm Echo."

Ewan slaps him, setting him straight in the chair, "I said polite..."

"S-sorry. Hello. I-I'm Johnathan."

"Echo." She motions to the tiger, "Casper."

"Now continue." Ewan looks to Echo now, "Johnny boy here liked to traffic kids. He also likes, well... I'm sure it's past tense now... liked, some terribly silly types of content."

"Aah, he can be lucky he walked, I mean, rolled away alive."

"He was also brave enough, before the horrible tumble, to pull a gun on me and act like a man." Ewan moves his attention back, "Any luck?"

Johnathan almost flinches, "There's a department dedicated to the recapture and rehabilitation of trafficked animals."

"These types?" He looks to Echo again, "Casper hungry?"

Casper lifts her head, sniffing the air towards him. Johnathan's yes grow large, "Y-yes, sir! They have specialists on their teams."

"Good." Ewan gets up, leaning close, "Now understand me well. If you do any of this again, or fail one of your harddrive checks, I'll turn you inside out. Real fucking slow, too."

Johnathan nods quickly "Y-yes, Understood."

"You're good at this. That I'll give you. But for what you've done, there's not a day that you live without me having the thought of ending you. But I'll keep you alive. Just long enough for the next young genius to do what you do better." Ewan places a hand on Johnathan's shoulder, "See you in a while, John."

He leaves the room, Johnathan continuing his typing.

"Let's go.

Echo and Casper follows down the hall again, "Where to?"

"I'm in a good mood. You choose."

"How about some dinner, then?"

"Pick the place, I'll pay."