Midori surveyed her surroundings as she materialized in a dimly lit room. She had teleported into a small warehouse filled with crates and boxes, but there was no sign of her target. The room was cold and musty, and Midori shivered, pulling her autumn jacket tighter around her body. The pain and wear of using the Authority of Liminality at such a distance took its toll on her. Still, she pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand. She breathed deeply, steadying herself against a wall until the room stopped spinning.

She approached the door, pressing her ear against its cool metal surface. Muffled voices reverberated on the other side, but she couldn't make out any words. With a quick glance around the room, Midori slipped into the shadows, moving silently toward the voices. As she crept closer down a dark hallway, she could make out the sound of a man's voice, deep and angry.

"We should have stayed to make sure it finished the job!" he snarled. "Now we've got her father, and she's going to come looking for him. You idiots are going to get a ton of us killed!"

Midori peered through a crack in the door and saw the man surrounded by a group of thugs.

"Of course, the magical girl was a filthy chink," one of the men spat, his eyes filled with hatred. "We should have killed her when we had the chance. Of COURSE, the damned machine failed — it's only as good as its genetically inferior components."

The men all had swastikas tattooed on their arms, and Midori's fists clenched in anger. There was no direct parallel to them on Terra, but the deeds of the Nazi regime were well documented in the history books at home now. Midori knew what kind of monsters these men were.

She had seen enough of the horrors that came from these kinds of groups - she couldn't let them harm Ikki's father or anyone else. Still, she couldn't afford to be reckless until she could ascertain his location.

Midori slipped away from the door, pressing herself against the wall as she tried to think. She had to gather more information before she could make her move, and she had to do it quickly. Even with cutting-edge magitech smuggled from Terra, she knew these men were no match for her. However, securing Ikki and Izumi's father took priority.

As she searched for a way to gain more information, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching her. Midori's instincts kicked in, and she quickly dove behind a nearby stack of crates.

The footsteps grew louder and louder until the man came into view. He was tall, muscular, and had a swastika tattooed on his forehead. Midori's stomach churned with disgust as she watched him pass by.

She waited until she was sure that he was out of earshot before she crept out of hiding. As she moved deeper into the warehouse, she heard the sound of muffled crying.

Midori's heart sank at the sound, and she quickened her pace, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of Mr. Yi.

Her search led her to a small room at the end of the dimly lit hallway, where she heard the sound of someone whimpering. She pressed her ear to the door, listening as the sound grew louder.

Midori flung the door open without a second thought, ready to take on whatever threat lay inside.

But what she saw made all the fight leave her body. Throughout the room stood a group of a dozen children with shackles around their legs, their faces frightened and confused, their clothes tattered and dirty.

Midori's heart broke as she took in their little forms, shaking with fear and sorrow. They mainly were Nahuatl, Asian, or African, and some had branded swastikas burned into their arms. Unlike Terrans, their hair and eye colors were significantly less varied, but they all shared the same expression of helplessness.

She had to devise a plan to get them to safety while continuing her search for Ikki's father.

"Hey there," Midori said softly, approaching the group. "I'm a friend. Are you all okay?"

The children looked up at her wide-eyed, some nodding frantically while others seemed too terrified to speak.

Midori took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "Listen, I'm going to get you all out of here. But I need your help. Can you be brave for me?"

She felt her heart clench as they looked at each other uncertainly.

"It's okay, I'm here to help you," Midori said, her voice soothing as she knelt down to their level. "Can you tell me your names?"

The children hesitated for a moment before one of them, a little girl with long, dirty waist-length dark hair, spoke up.

"My name is Mei," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Midori smiled warmly, feeling a motherly instinct kick in.

"Nice to meet you, Mei... I'm Midori. You and your friends don't have to be scared anymore. I'm going to get you all out of here."

Mei looked around the room, her eyes scanning for any sign of danger.

"What about the bad men?" she asked, her voice trembling. "They took my sister earlier. Do you know where she is?"

Midori's heart ached at the question. "I don't know, Mei. But we're going to find her, okay? Do any of you know where they keep the adults?"

One of the older children stepped forward, his eyes dark with fear.

"Downstairs," he said quietly, pointing to a door on the other side of the room. "That's where the men took my father."

Midori felt a surge of protectiveness wash over her as she looked at the little girl, wishing she could do more for these children. She wished that she had found them sooner before any of them had been hurt or taken away from their families.

"Okay," she said firmly, taking a deep breath and looking around at the group. "I'm going to go down there now and make sure everyone is safe. But I need you all to stay here until I come back for you, okay? Can you do that?"

The children all nodded, their eyes still filled with fear and a glimmer of trust. She couldn't imagine the horrors these children had already faced, but she knew she had to be strong for them.

Midori made her way toward the door that led downstairs with a determined look in her eyes. She could hear raised voices and shuffling feet coming from below.

As she descended the staircase, she could smell the stench of sweat, blood, and fear hanging heavy in the air. Her heart pounded with each step she took, but she knew she couldn't falter now.

When she reached the bottom of the staircase, Midori pressed herself tightly against the wall and peered around the corner. She could see a group of men gathered around a giant poker table, their voices growing louder as they argued about something.

"We can't keep doing this," one of the men growled. "We've been at this for months now and nothing's changed. We need to cut our losses and move on."

"Shut up," another man snapped. "We can't just abandon everything we've worked for. We've got power and money now, and we're not going to give it up just because things are getting tough. They're paying good money for this. Besides, we have her father now."

Midori felt her blood boil at the mention of 'paying good money.' She was certain these men were trafficking humans for profit, and the thought sickened her.

She had to put a stop to this. But she couldn't be reckless. Locating the adult prisoners was her top priority, and she had to find a way to do it without getting caught.

"Think, Midori, think," she thought to herself as she tried to devise a plan.

Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the men's layout and positions. She noticed a small room off to the side on the level below, and she suspected it may be where they were keeping the prisoners.

Midori braced herself and stepped back around the corner. She activated the Authority once more, quietly teleporting to the door.

The pain from tapping the core was immediate and intense as if she had been struck by a thousand knives all at once. Midori gritted her teeth, biting back a scream as she forced herself to focus.

She took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and tried to focus on the task at hand. She knew she had to be careful and swift and didn't have much time.

She pressed her ear to the door, listening for any sounds from inside. She could hear the faint murmurs of voices and the occasional whimper, but nothing that could give her a clear idea of what was happening.

Midori took a deep breath and reached for the handle, slowly turning it and pushing the door open. She was met with darkness, and she could barely make out the outlines of the people inside.

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Gingerly, Midori opened the door and entered the room. She stood there and waited in the darkness until her eyes adjusted to the light. She could make out a row of cells containing several figures in the dimness, each tied tightly with thick ropes. Some silently cried; others murmured prayers, and a few drifted off into exhausted sleep.

The makeshift cells contained in the area were made of metal bars that separated each prisoner from one another. Her heart sank as she saw these innocent people in captivity, a mix of anger and sadness washing over her.

Midori sauntered down the row of cells, trying to stay as quiet as possible. She could hear the footsteps of the men walking around upstairs, their voices growing louder as they argued.

She slowly made her way to the nearest cell, crouching down to get a better look at the person inside. It was an older woman with black hair and brown skin; her face was lined with fear and stress. She was thin and emaciated, her skin stretched tightly across her bones. Her hair was matted and dirty, and her eyes were hollowed out with fear and exhaustion.

Midori kneeled down next to the cell, her voice soft and soothing. "It's okay, I'm here to help you. Can you tell me your name?"

The woman looked at her with wide, terrified eyes before finally speaking. "My name is Isabella," she said with a faint Iberian accent, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Hey," Midori whispered, touching the woman's hand. "It's okay. I'm here to help you."

The woman looked up at her, her eyes filled with tears. "Who are you?" she croaked.

"I'm here to get you all out of here," Midori said softly.

Isabella looked at Midori with a mix of disbelief and hope. "How are you going to do that, child?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I have some abilities that can help us get out of here," Midori replied, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger. "But I need your help. Can you tell me how many guards there are, and where they're stationed?"

Isabella looked around nervously, her eyes darting between the cell bars. "I don't know," she said quietly. "They keep us locked up down here most of the time. But I've heard them talking about a few guards upstairs."

Midori nodded, her mind racing as she tried to devise a plan. "Okay," she said firmly. "I'm going to see if I can find a way to disable the guards, and then we'll get everyone out of here. Stay strong, Isabella . We're going to make it out of here together."

She continued down the room in search of Mr. Yi, observing as she passed each cell. The prisoners were all in a weakened state, some barely conscious. Midori's heart ached as she saw the conditions they were being kept in.

Suddenly, the sound of gunfire echoed above them, shaking the walls and making the prisoners cry out in fear. What was going on up there?

Finally, she reached the last cell and saw him. She approached the figure slowly, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. As she got closer, she could make out the features of a man, his face bruised and swollen. Midori could see the pain and suffering etched into his features.

Mr. Yi was slumped against the wall, his eyes swollen and his breathing shallow. Midori could see the bruises and cuts on his face, evidence of the brutality he had undoubtedly endured.

She reached through the bars of the cell, gently shaking the cage. "Mr. Yi?" she whispered urgently. "Wake up, we have to go."

He groaned, his eyes fluttering open. Then, he stared at her, pale like he'd seen a ghost.

"Kiruko?" he muttered, his voice thick with shock and disbelief as he squinted in the dim light.

The name of Midori's aunt made her blood run cold. He had just confirmed a connection between their families. But Midori could worry about that later.

"No, I'm not Kiruko," she said quickly, trying to keep her voice steady. "But I'm here to help you. We need to get you out of here."

Suddenly, more gunfire rang out upstairs, causing Midori to freeze. The gunfire seemed to be coming from the direction of the men she had heard earlier. In seconds, the warehouse erupted, and it sounded like a warzone above, with shouting and the clanging of metal filling the air.

Midori looked at Mr. Yi, her eyes flickering with determination. "Take my hand. Now," she said firmly, reaching out with it.

He hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take her hand. She grabbed hold of Mr. Yi's arm and pulled him tight. The sudden movement caused Mr. Yi to cry out, but Midori didn't stop. She had to get them out of there before it was too late.

They reappeared in the townhouse, and agony immediately radiated through Midori's body, her legs stretching beneath her. She fell to the ground, gasping for air as she tried to steady herself.

"Dad!" Ikki and Izumi shouted, rushing over to the injured man's side. "Are you okay?"

Midori watched as Ikki helped Mr. Yi to a nearby couch, ensuring he was comfortable. She gritted her teeth, trying to push away the pain that was consuming her.

Mr. Yi groaned, his body wracked with pain. "I'll be fine," he managed to say, his voice strained.

Midori struggled to her feet, her body still reeling from the teleportation. She stumbled over to Mr. Yi's side, her eyes scanning his wounds.

"You... you look just like Kiruko when she was younger," Mr. Yi mumbled again.

Midori froze, her heart racing. "What?" she asked, her voice shaking. She'd wanted to reconvene with him in private, but now she was being put on the spot.

"My late wife," Mr. Yi repeated, eyes locking onto hers. "Apart from the eyes, you look just like her."

Midori stood in stunned silence, her mind reeling from the revelation. She had suspected that she was related to Ikki, but now it seemed her suspicions were correct.

"Midori?" Ikki asked concern etched on his face as he noticed her shock. "What's going on? Are you okay?"

Midori shook her head, trying to clear her brain fog. "I'm fine," she said. "I'd suspected it given how much you look like my brother, but your dad just all but confirmed it. I had an aunt named Kiruko who disappeared about twenty years ago. I... I think she might be your mother."

Ikki's eyes widened in shock, and he looked at Midori with a mix of disbelief and awe. "So, that means we're..." he asked, trailing off.

Midori nodded, her mind racing with the implications of this revelation. "Possibly," she said softly. "But right now, we need to focus on getting your father the medical attention he needs. We can figure out everything else later."

Ikki nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "You're right. We need to make sure he's okay first."

Midori turned to look out the window, "I'm teleporting back. They have children imprisoned there. We need to get them out before it's too late."

She braced herself, preparing to teleport back to the warehouse. But before she could, a sharp pain lanced through her head, causing her to gasp in pain.

"What's wrong?" Izumi asked concern etched on her face as she rushed over.

Midori shook her head, trying to shake off the pain. "I don't know," she said through gritted teeth. "Something's not right."

She collapsed to the ground, her body writhing in pain as she tried to fight off the sudden onslaught of agony. Ikki rushed over to her, his eyes filled with panic.

"Midori! What's happening?" he shouted.

Midori could barely hear him over the ringing in her ears. The pain was so intense she felt like her head would explode. She tried to summon her powers to teleport, but her mind was too clouded by the pain.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through her mind, cutting through the pain like a knife.

It was an alien, incomprehensible voice. It was dark and sinister, full of malice and hatred. The voice spoke to her, filling her mind with visions of destruction and chaos. As it always did, it drew from her fears, her insecurities, and her most depraved desires.

She saw cities burning, oceans boiling, and skies filled with ash and smoke. She saw creatures of unspeakable horror and darkness roaming the earth and consuming all that stood in their way.

She tried to block it out, but it was too powerful. It seemed to be calling out to her, beckoning her to answer.

Midori felt her consciousness lifted from the plane, surrounded by a purple haze in her mind's eye. She could feel its tendrils wrapping around her in a soothing embrace. It would be so easy to just take what she wants. She was drawn towards the voice and almost couldn't resist its pull.

But resist she did. With every fiber of her being, she fought against the voice, struggling to stay grounded in reality. She could feel its power exerting its force on her mind and body, but she refused to let go.

Midori managed to push back against the voice through her sheer willpower alone, slowly but surely regaining control of her faculties. Her head still throbbed with pain, but it was no longer the all-consuming agony that had wracked her body moments before.

Same old, same old.

She opened her eyes to see Izumi and Ikki staring at her with equal parts worry and confusion.

"What happened?" Izumi asked, her voice trembling as she held the back of her hand against Midori's forehead.

Midori nodded, feeling drained but otherwise unharmed. "I'm okay," she said, her voice hoarse. "But I need to hurry. Those children don't have much time."

Izumi and Ikki exchanged a worried glance.

Ikki reached out to touch her shoulder, "I don't think this is a good idea. You look like you're about to keel over."

Midori shook her head, determination etched on her face. "I'll be fine. I can't just sit here and do nothing while those children are suffering."

Ikki kneeled down in front of her with an equally determined look on his face. "No! Seriously. You can't just drop that bomb about my mom on me and teleport off on me like that. Look at you! You look like you're about to fall over!"

Midori sighed, knowing that Ikki was right. She couldn't just rush off without thinking about the consequences. But she also knew she was the only one who could save those children. She couldn't let them suffer any longer.

"I know it's a lot to take in, but we can have a conversation about that later," she said firmly. "Right now, we need to focus on what's important. Please, Ikki. I need to do this."

Ikki hesitated for a moment before nodding, his eyes filled with worry. But before he could respond, Izumi chimed in.

"Okay. But I'm coming with you," the younger girl said with fire in her eyes. "I might be new to this, but I can help."

Midori smiled gratefully at Izumi, appreciating the support. "Thank you," she said. "Unfortunately, the strain of this ability on me increases with distance and additional mana-bearing 'passengers', so to speak."

Without another word, Midori patted both Ikki and Izumi on their heads and closed her eyes. She could feel the energy coursing through her body, pulsing with a powerful force ready to be unleashed.

Midori focused her mind, summoning the power to teleport again across liminal space. This time, the pain didn't come. Instead, she felt a sense of calm wash over her as she transported herself to the warehouse.

As soon as she appeared, she surveyed her surroundings, taking in the sight of the imprisoned children. They were huddled together, their faces streaked with tears and their eyes filled with fear as gunfire rang out all around them.

Midori's heart broke at the sight. She couldn't believe that there were people in the world who could do this to innocent children. It was sickening.

The door swung open as men with guns burst into the room, their eyes filled with malice and hatred as they aimed their weapons at Midori.

Midori immediately drew her katana out of her subspace, ready to defend herself and the children.

"Hold your fire!" a familiar woman's voice shouted, stepping out from the shadows. "Stand down, she's not one of them."

The men hesitated momentarily before lowering their weapons, eyeing Midori warily.

Midori turned to see a woman with long silver-black hair and rich hazel eyes standing at the entrance to the room. She was dressed in all-black tactical gear and carried herself with an air of authority. A woman she'd first met nearly half a decade ago.

"Bathala," Midori said as she narrowed her eyes, her hand tightening around the hilt of her katana into a lower stance. "What brings you here?"

The woman laughed. An ironic noise echoed through the warehouse, full of mirth. Then, Bathala stopped and flashed her a wary smile.

"Coincidence after coincidence. I could ask you the same thing. What brings you here..."

Bathala stepped forward as she trailed off, her eyes scanning the room of shackled children as she frowned.

She breathed out a whisper near Midori's ear. A whisper that was barely audible between the two of them.

"What brings you here indeed... Imperatore of Liminality?"