Amirah watched as the Black Mask in front of her spazzed violently and collapsed to the ground. The air instantly fell silent as even Amirah was caught off guard by Technus' actions. Amirah snapped back to reality quick enough to realize that the multitude of black masks on top of her were also distracted. In the split second that the black masks on top of her loosened their grip, Amirah pulled her leg back and launched a kick. The poor black mask that was holding on to her foot earlier was hit squarely in the shoulder, launching him back and hitting the wall behind him. The other black masks on her leg were pushed back by the immense force exerted by Amirah.

"Beast! Wipe out the black masks! Get them off Talon!"

Dray, are you insane!? Why?! Why would you save Talon?! Don't tell me-

Before Amirah could get her thoughts in order, Beast followed Technus' command without a second thought. With a loud roar, he swipes at the black masks on top of Talon, his size allowing him to launch them all back in a single attack.

"Blood Witch! 'Summon your familiar' !" Technus commanded.

"O-On it!"

Blood Witch raised her hands up and moved them like a puppeteer would, acting as if there were strings tied to her fingers. All of a sudden, the black mask holding the weapon that was currently keeping Amirah constrained let go of said weapon and stood up. In quick yet stiff motions, the black mask reached into his jacket, pulled out a pistol, and started firing randomly into the crowd.

Pandemonium erupted as the small army's worth of black masks started scurrying around, trying to avoid Beast's attacks while also dodging stray bullets. Soon enough, they started pulling out their own weapons and fighting back. Blood Witch quickly took cover. Her unfortunate puppet was shot beyond reason and yet still followed its commands, reloading the next magazine. Screams of pain and terror mixed in with loud growls could be heard from behind Amirah. She continued to struggle on the ground before laying on her back. She pulled her legs back and jumped to attention, immediately ducking to avoid gunfire.

A black mask ran at her from behind but she noticed. She immediately turned and roundhouse kicked him to the ground as another black mask rushed her down and tackled her. The black mask wrapped his hands around her neck and squeezed. A taser found his neck however as Technus pushed him off. Amirah looked at Technus as he looked back. Just like all their other encounters, Amirah could not even begin to fathom what was going on behind his helmet. Technus is attacked once more by a black mask with a sickle. Technus evaded the black mask's attacks before knocking the sickle away with one of his taser batons and stabbing it into his aggressor's neck, zapping him relentlessly.

Amirah took this opportunity to try to break out of her bindings. She crouched on the ground and flexed her arms and torso as hard as she could, trying to loosen the net. Just as she got a bit of leeway, the pain from the sharp needlepoint sliding out of the wound it created caused her to lose focus, only reverting the net to its original position. To her surprise, Technus ran up to her. He shoved a taser baton in between the net and her and started pulling it back. When he realized he could make some leeway as well, he took out his second taser and shoved it in the space as well, pulling with both arms.

There's no logical reason for Technus to be doing this. So...Dray knew?

Amirah was not allowed to wallow in that revelation, as the pain returned. Amirah held back her scream, only grunting her frustrations as she also pushed against the net. Eventually, the net sprang open, curling around itself. Amirah and Technus fell back in opposite directions. She clutched her wound, pressing down on it hard so as to stop the minor bleeding. Amirah assumed there had to have been some release switch to the weapon but it was not like she could analyze it in this scenario.

Technus stood up but was suddenly slashed at by another black mask, this time holding a machete-type blade. Technus was too slow on the uptake, resulting in the blade tearing through his cloak and slashing his chest. Technus grunted in pain but didn't go down, ditching his cloak to reveal the relatively simple black shirt he wore underneath. He was, however, covered in various little pockets, bags, and holsters that held all the weaponry Technus the individual became known for. The black mask slashed again, forcing Technus to raise his arms up in defense which got them slashed in return. This was more obviously a deeper cut than the previous one. Technus dropped his weapons due to the pain he felt which cost him even further as he is slashed again on his arms. Just before the black mask closed the space between them, Amirah punched him square in the jaw, launching him back and knocking him out. Technus took one glance at Amirah before he barked out an order

"Beast and Blood Witch! Scatter!"

From within his cloak, he pulled out what seemed to be a flashbang, pulling the pin on it and throwing it in the air. Beast, Blood Witch, Technus, and Amirah reacted quick enough to look away but Amirah could hear the footsteps of Technus already moving further and further away from her. She opened her eyes and saw that Beast and Blood Witch were also feeling the scene, together with the relatively unscathed black masks. She hurriedly scanned the room and spotted him. Technus was running out of the backdoor. Amirah looked at the carnage around her and realized she had to prioritize.

...No. I have a score to settle.

Amirah looked around and saw the weapon nearby her. She wrapped the wire and net around the body of the weapon. Using a little slack from the weapon's wire, she wrapped it around her shoulder, carrying it on her back. She took one last look around her before sprinting in the direction that Technus escaped. She burst out of the door and saw traces of blood leaving a trail. She followed said trail before spotting the wounded Technus in the distance, running slower than usual as a result of his injuries. Amirah clenched her fist and ran right at Technus. He turned around too late as Amirah ran into him. She grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up above the ground. Amirah held him there for a moment, maybe hoping that one of them would say...something. Anything. However, neither of them spoke.

Amirah gritted her teeth. She then extended her wings and launched herself into the air. Technus, as if knowing what was about to happen started running faster than his body could handle. Amirah flew for a few short seconds before turning around and extending her metallic talons. Technus was no match for her speed as she glided close to the ground and snatched Technus up by his shoulders. Using her superior strength, she ignored Technus' struggles underneath her as she flew to the nearest tall building and let go, dropping Technus on the roof. He let out a pained groan and slowly rolled over to his side.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Amirah turned around and landed on the same roof, grating her talons against the concrete floor to slow down. She walked up to Technus and turned him around. She got down low and punched Technus' fox helmet, eliciting another pained response from the man underneath it. She grabbed Technus by the collar once more.

"What is your involvement in Omnipresence's recent killing?!" she shouted.

Technus grabbed onto her hands and tried feebly to pull them apart. Technus could clearly still speak but refused to do so. Amirah slammed Technus onto the floor. After another pained response, Amirah pulled him back up by the collar.

"I'm not going to make this any easier. What is your involvement in Omnipresence's recent killing?" she interrogated, the grip on his collar tightening.

"I...I had nothing to do with it," he replied with a strained voice.

Amirah let go of him again. She clenched her fist and pulled back for another punch. Technus flinched underneath her. Amirah felt herself hesitating yet again, her punch staying back as if in suspended animation. Instead of committing, she grabbed Technus' mask and hauled it off, tossing it aside. She grabbed Technus by the collar and saw Dray. Her Dray. Bruised and bloodied, trying his best to catch a breath.

"I...I'm telling you. I had...nothing to do with it." Dray pleaded, coughing up some blood on the floor next to him. Amirah felt her hands shaking as her resolve faltered. The sight in front of her was something she swore a long time ago to never let happen. And yet, here it was in its worst possible shape.

Amirah gently put Dray back on the floor. Dray looked up at her confused as she put a hand on her mask and disconnected it. She removed her goggles and finally pulled her wig off. The two of them stared at each other as they both internalized what has happened. How much everything has changed and will change from this point on. The lack of any strong emotion on either face revealed the nature of this discovery to both of them too. Mainly how they both knew. Struggling to maintain her composure, Amirah choked out her next few words.

"Technus...Dray, please. Please just tell me. Did you have anything to do with those 5 heroes?"

"No...no I didn't! Whoever...that was in charge of Omnipresence...it was them. They wanted...my cooperation. I didn't know they would do anything like that! You...you've got to believe me Mirah."

"Why?! Why do I have to believe you?! Clearly, you know exactly how to lie to me!"

"Well, so do you! No wonder you kept coming back home all bruised and injured!"

"Ugh! You know exactly how different this is, you know! I could tell you my identity anytime I wanted. In fact, I was going to. Who cares if I'm a hero?! I go out and save lives! But you Dray, you're a criminal! A thief with a complete disregard for the livelihoods of others."

"The hell you mean 'who cares'? Do you think it's fun knowing your partner could die at any moment?"

"Oh yeah, like your line of work is so much safer. Were you ever even going to tell me?"

"Yes! Yes, I was going to! Why the hell would I even marry you if that was not my intention? I-" Dray caught himself as he tried to sit up, his chest wound probably hurting even worse from his exertion. "I...I was going to tell you after the move. After we settled down and had a big house finally. I waited so long for that y'know!"

Dray laid back down on the floor, his breathing becoming more and more ragged.

"Mirah, I...I didn't want to lose you."

Amirah almost broke. She opened her mouth, desperate to say something back. Something mean and scathing to really push him away from her.

No words came out of her mouth.

Dray tilted his head to the side as his eyes started closing slowly.

"Dray...? Dray, hey. Dray?"

No response. Amirah quickly checked his breathing.

Okay...he's still breathing. Just unconscious.

In spite of all the hatred and anger she felt at that moment, she still heaved a sigh of relief. Amirah took a deep breath before making her next decision.

~~~

Dray opened his eyes and is met with the familiar ceiling of his room. He felt the surroundings around him to find that he is currently on his bed. The sunlight streaming into the room indicated how early in the morning it was. He shot up in a panic but winced from the pain he felt. He checked himself to find his arms covered in bandages. He was no longer wearing his Technus shirt but his pants were still the same as his Technus uniform. Now wearing a shirt he usually wears at home, he realized his weapons were taken from him. His torso was also wrapped in bandages. He looked around and saw nothing off about his room, aside from the Technus fox helmet, shirt, and cloak in full display.

He got off his bed and took slow, steady steps to the door. He silently opened it and is met with the sounds and smells of eggs being fried in the kitchen.

Amirah's awake. As...usual...

Dray tried to quietly take a step out of his room but the second he did so, he could hear Amirah pull the eggs off the stove. Dray heard swift footsteps before Amirah herself came around the corner. Before Dray could say or do anything, Amirah pressed a hand onto his chest and pushed him back, holding him against the wall. Dray squealed in pain but admitted to himself that Amirah was not using much force in this exchange.

"W-What are you trying to do Mirah?' Dray questioned, Amirah's eyes looking like the cold, focused ones he saw in Talon.

"Omnipresence is still at large. Or at least, their puppet master is. Now, I don't care what you say and I strongly advise you not to try and 'convince' me otherwise. You are going to help me find this guy and bring him in."

"W-what? How am I supposed to do that? I barely knew him." Dray retaliated.

"Again, I don't care. Figure something out. You're Technus aren't you? Once we get this guy, then I decide what to do with you. Until then, no funny business, or I'll make sure you stay locked up for good." Amirah then let go of the struggling Dray and returned to the kitchen. Dray took a few moments to catch his breath before closing his eyes and cursing in his thoughts so loudly that he was afraid Amirah could hear it.