"The day has arrived!" Nathan announced to his friends.

The three gathered in their apartment, where Jonah sat on his couch and Ivory stood by the exit. As for Nathan, he was in the kitchen where he held a dramatic pose. With Gluttony by his side, of course. The two were inseparable as always.

"Friends, the day is the day when this little apartment of ours receives a new neighbor!" He swapped his pose for something grand. "It is important for us to give them a good welcome and first impressions! Which means that we gotta be positive and all smiles!"

"You're pretty much the only one in this building that cares, well, Abe does as well, but still." Ivory commented.

Jonah chuckled. "She's right, I especially don't feel like meeting someone new."

"At least you guys get to go outside freely," Gluttony's shoulders sagged. "I'm stuck in here until my costume is fixed."

His friends weren't as enthusiastic as he and his partner, but that did not deter Nathan. As he had made a plan ever since he heard of a new addition to the apartment.

The building didn't have many people who were eager to hang out with him. They all had their life and were just too busy. There were of course a few of them who would meet up with Nathan sometimes. One of them was of course Abe, and Nathan would attend Abe's sermons every Sunday.

And now he was given an opportunity to meet someone new, and he hoped that they would get to know each other.

That was why he had prepared something special.

Nathan took a short trip over to the fridge and procured a gift for the neighbor; a nice little cake to welcome them with.

"Aw, man! That thing looks so good!" Gluttony commented as she set her eyes on the cake. She knew she couldn't have a taste of it, all she could do was dream of a chance to do so.

This caught the attention of the Sentinel, and she was not pleased with the sight of the sugary treat. "You bought a cake? Nathan, if you wanted one I would've baked you a cake."

"Yeah, but I didn't want to bother you much yesterday because of the attacks that happened." He reasoned.

At the mention of the cake, Jonah bounced out of his seat and dashed over to Nathan. A hungry look in his eyes as he stared at the sweet treat. "I take it back, I'd love to meet the new neighbor!"

Nathan smiled. He knew of Jonah's true intentions but that didn't matter much. Everyone will get a slice, Nathan was sure of that. "Alright then! We better get going and introduce ourselves."

With the cake in hand and his two friends, Nathan ventured out of their apartment and strode over to the next door. And as expected, they weren't alone as someone else was there as well.

He was as tall as Ivory, with skin white as snow. Gray hair and eyes red as blood. Demonic in appearance, complemented with horns and bat-like wings. Despite that, he was dressed like a priest, as he was not a demon or so to speak.

This was Abe, a Redeemer. A demon who still believed in the words of God and what is right.

But that didn't matter, also a story for another time.

"Father Abe!" Nathan was quick to greet the priest. "Here to meet the neighbor?"

Abe chuckled softly. "Good morning, Nathaniel. And yes, I am here to meet them as I did the same with everyone. I see you convinced the others to join you. Greetings, Mr. Bloodfield, to you as well sister."

"Shut it, Abe." Ivory hissed. "Talking to you is already making my horns grow."

A small side effect for Sentinels when they are around demons. Bumps were already growing on her head just from the presence of Abe alone.

"I do apologize," Said Abe. "Well no point in waiting now, let us see what character is behind this door."

"Of course, I can't wait any longer." Nathan knocked on the door. He and Abe were eager to meet the new addition to the building.

The four waited, and soon enough the door opened. What greeted them was an odd sight. Inside stood a short machine. She reached about half of Nathan's height. A monitor screen with an adorable face stared at them. The main body was a box, and the limbs were tubes which gave the machine a cartoonish appearance. The clamps she had instead of hands really sold it.

This tiny robot was practically from a cartoon.

"Hiya!" The machine greeted them with the voice of a woman. "I'm Sally! It is great to meet you today!"

She was truly the cheery one.

"Greetings, machine. I am Abe, and these are my friends, Jonah, Nathan, and Ivory."

Ivory would've argued, but held her tongue instead.

"Well, it is a wonderful day to make friends!" Sally moved out of the way and invited the group in. "Please, come in so I can provide organic provisions!"

"It's alright, I brought cake!" Nathan showed off the cake to Sally.

"Ah, I cannot stay sadly," Abe said solemnly. "I am needed elsewhere. But I will visit once I am free. Goodbye, friends."

There was a sigh from Ivory as Abe departed.

"Farewell, Abe!" Sally waved her clamp goodbye. "Please enter."

The small machine led the three into a barren room. There was not much to say as it seemed to fit well Sally. She was just a robot of course, so the essentials are not required. There was of course a couch big enough for the three of them, four if Sally squeezed herself in. And of course, a coffee table to really help make the living room more… living.

The kitchen was surprisingly the same as theirs, strangely identical as well. Sally was busy with the fridge as well, and for a moment she pondered a bit. Soon she retrieved a few bottles of something she was sure they could ingest.

"Forgive this unit as I have not prepared proper drinks." She said as she laid the bottles on top of the coffee table. "But my information has reminded me that humans can of course consume this brand of coolant."

This caught Jonah and Nathan a little off guard, but both simply smiled as they accepted the drinks that Sally offered.

They were reluctant to try, as it was the first time they heard of such a thing. Even if the robot assured them that it was safe to drink, the two humans had their doubts as it sounded outlandish.

The name Cog was on the bottle, the brand that created an edible coolant. How or why was certainly a mystery for them.

Nathan gave the cake over to Sally and requested that she may cut it into equal servings. She was happy to oblige and went off back to the kitchen.

"Jonah, I think you should take one for the team and drink the coolant."

Jonah scowled at Nathan. "I ain't gonna drink, who knows what would happen to me. What if I'm allergic?"

"Allergies are what concerns you?" Ivory scoffed. "The machine promised us that this coolant of hers is edible for you mortals, so I don't see why you must fight over who takes the first sip."

Sally finally found her kitchen knife and proceeded with the cake, oblivious to the conversation between her guests.

"Easy for you to say, Ivory," Jonah raised the bottle to Ivory's face. "You Sentinels don't need to drink or eat. I bet you can down a whole glass of regular brand of coolant."

"Yes, and I would not even falter."

Jonah hissed at the taller and far superior being. Sentinels weren't like mortals such as Nathan and Jonah. They were far more durable and immortal. Their bodies did not require sustenance, but the Sentinels were free to consume.

"Nathan, I will give you free couch access for a week if you drink it first."

Nathan's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "What, that is a deal. No take backs or anything."

"That is if you drink the coolant first, Nathan," Jonah said with a smug grin.

Determined to win that free couch access, Nathan popped open the bottle. He was attracted to the strangely sweet scent. To him, it was deceitful at best. The coolant was sickly green, which didn't help give Nathan courage.

But the idea of a pass for Jonah's couch was something he desired. Especially when he could finally watch television comfortably, even if it is just for a week.

So with his resolve, Nathan pressed the bottle to his face and took one sip.

"By the holy…" Nathan gasped. It was at that moment when Sally returned with cakes sliced equally for several people. "Wow, this thing isn't as bad as I expected."

"Positive!" Sally agreed. "Cog products always helped this unit with mechanical issues. Though the coolant does not provide any nutrients to humans, it at least quenches your thirst."

"Still weird…" Jonah commented. He tried out the coolant and discovered a tasty brand of drinks. Despite not being the target market. "People did make a healthier way to smoke nicotine, so who am I to complain?"

The last issue now was that Nathan and Jonah were the only ones who'd be able to eat cake. And no way would Ivory allow the two to eat all themselves. She was quite the mother figure for the two. Also the responsible one of the group. Though she could also consume foods and drinks, it did not mean that she needed it as her body functions differently.

At least Sally was able to drink the coolant along with the two humans.

The small welcoming party chatted and bonded. It was revealed that Sally had moved from Eden. Which was quite strange as Eden could be seen as a paradise. Being where most Sentinels resided, as well as the home of the Great Pantheon which governed the planet, no one would ever pass up a chance to live there.

Crime was almost non-existent there, the unemployment rate was below ground, and best of all, the land where the gods had the most influence.

That place was practically a dream, yet Sally chose to live on a planet that might as well be at the edge of the universe.

"Oh, since I'm new in town I would like to go sightseeing, gather information, and create a map of this place," Sally said. "Would you three like to join me?"

There was no problem in accepting. Currently, it was Sunday, which meant that it was a free day for the three, with Ivory being quite the religious woman since she was a Sentinel. It was also the reason why Abe had to leave so early as he was busy for the day. Nathan would've followed the priest to the church, but sadly he wanted to meet Sally that he had forgotten.

With the idea of shopping, Nathan excused himself and took the cake back to their apartment.

"Hey, you're back," Gluttony greeted him the moment he walked through the door. "Oh, cake! You guys didn't eat the rest of it?"

"Yeah, our new neighbor is a robot from Eden, so the cake is just gonna be for us."

Her eyes sparkled the moment she learned the truth. "Does that mean I can have it all for myself!?"

Nathan shook his head sadly. "Sorry, but we gotta go. Sally wants to go shopping and we're going with her. So grab your box, I ain't leaving you alone."

Gluttony groaned tiredly. "Fine…"

It wasn't long before Gluttony was packed up in her box along with some money just in case Nathan needed it. The two grouped up with the others soon enough and they would then go off to see the rest of the town.

Sally decided to take the group to the shopping mall.

But something was wrong, Gluttony seemed restless in her box and Nathan tried his best to keep her quiet. She was acting up more than usual.

The group arrived at their destination, as expected the place was packed and full of all kinds of people. The usual ones you'd see in town. Once Sally bought what she needed to make her home more organic-friendly, then Nathan and his friends could show her the rest of the town and what it offers.

Something caught Nathan's attention as they entered the mall. In the corner of his eyes, he noticed a very shady figure. He brought this to the attention of others but somehow it went under their radar. It made sense that they couldn't find the figure, the mall was packed with hundreds of people. Sally only stared at Nathan strangely.

Though they were skeptical of him, Ivory suggested being alert if something goes wrong. He made a mental note of the description just in case.

Nothing eventful happened as they shopped. Sally asked for the opinions of Nathan and Jonah as they were the only humans in the group. So she wanted to know what kind of snacks they'd want if they ever visited her home again. She was so generous and kind. Of course, Jonah wasn't one to pass up a chance for snacks. And though the robot wouldn't mind, Jonah had offered to carry her things.

It wasn't long before the group exited the mall and started going for some sightseeing. Sally was greatly fond of the local park. Especially the small street performers. The small robot was practically in a trance as she watched them put up a show.

A few of these were Nathan's friends.

He greeted them naturally of course. Good friends are hard to find.

"Nathan!" A woman waved them over. She was a beautiful lady who dressed in pretty clothes. A sundress and a short-sleeved jacket to compliment it. Her hair was short with her bangs that covered one eye. "Are you here to perform again? I was worried that those ruffians scared you away."

"Ruffians?" Ivory perked up.

"Remember what happened yesterday?" Nathan said which was enough for Ivory. Then he turned towards the woman. "Nothing to worry about, Daria, Gilda and I will always show up for our weekend show!"

Daria relaxed.

She wasn't exactly a street performer like Nathan, but she did earn money in the park, only differently. Her gimmick was she read tarot cards, and her place was by the fountain where a table was set up.

"Well I hope not, you and Gilda are a riot." Suddenly her phone buzzed. "Oh, I'll have to take this. Come by if any of you would like a fortune reading, I'm always open at noon."

"Sure thing, we'll drop by next time." The group said their goodbyes and went off to get some lunch.

Daria watched as Nathan walked away. She contemplated if she should or should not follow through with her plan. The phone in her hand showed an image of Nathan. For what reason, time shall tell.

The group of course knew the perfect place to have their lunch, and it was Cain's. The one thing Scratch loved about Nathan and his friends was that they were loyal customers. And as usual, there was barely anyone in the diner. If anything, it's a mystery how this diner even stayed afloat after all these years.

Well none of them could complain, the fewer people meant the better the food for Nathan and Jonah.

The two humans ordered their usual, with Jonah and his salad, and Nathan and his pizza burger. Ivory simply ordered a soda while Sally was given coolant. A different brand that Scratch had in storage, strangely.

"So," Sally looked away from her drink as Jonah spoke. "Why did you leave Eden?"

Sally panicked right after he asked a question. Her coolant spilled all over the floor as she sputtered. She may have been the smarter one, being an A.I. and all, but somehow one question caught the machine by surprise.

"I… I spilled my coolant! Oh dear, I must clean it up at once!" Sally hopped out of her seat and stepped onto the puddle of antifreeze. Before anyone could ask, her foot started to make a very loud noise. It was then they discovered that Sally also functioned as a vacuum. She sucked up the coolant but left some traces behind. "We require a mop!"

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

She marched off to find Scratch so she could inquire about a mop.

The three friends were left unsure as to what had just happened. They suspected that Sally wanted to avoid the question at all costs, but knew not why.

"Well, that was weird." Jonah commented.

Nathan took this chance to open his box where Gluttony waited, and fed her the rest of his lunch. The little puppet was happy and ate it with gusto. "I'm curious about something, what kind of robot is she anyway?"

He finally asked the others as they watched Sally converse with Scratch by the counter.

"Some baby monitor." Ivory answered. "I saw them being advertised on the shopping channel a long, long, very long time ago. Now that I think of it… kinda strange to see one here without an infant to watch over."

Jonah raised a digit as if he figured out all the answers. "That's it! Maybe that's why she's not on Eden, Sally must've made a mistake there and had to run. The question now is what she did."

Suddenly Nathan froze. This caught the attention of the others as he stared ahead at the empty space.

Without a warning, Nathan took hold of the air and slammed something onto the table. "Who are you!?"

Confusion was shared by everyone. All were unsure as to what was happening, but Ivory suspected that Nathan caught someone invisible. And soon enough they saw the truth as a man appeared out of nowhere. Nathan held him down fiercely.

The sight of this stranger's appearance angered Jonah and Ivory. Not only was it the weekend, but this place was where the three came to relax. How dare this stranger disturb the peace.

"How is this possible!" The man squirmed beneath their glare. "My presence should be non-existent!"

"I told you guys this dude was shady! He followed us ever since we left the mall!"

This only scared him, somehow Nathan saw the man despite his power. "You knew I was there!? I should be a ghost to everyone! Not even a Sentinel could've sensed me!"

Ivory slammed her fist onto the table, just next to the man's head. "Who are you and why are you following us!?"

"That's Jeffrey Stones," Sally informed them. A broom held tightly in her clamps. "He… he's a bounty hunter! Oh no, he must be here for me!"

Jonah pushed Nathan aside and grabbed Jeffrey by the collar of his shirt. "A bounty hunter!? And you're here for our friend Sally!?"

Jeffrey raised his hand defensively. "What? No, I'm here for Na-" His words were caught in his throat as something slammed on his head which knocked him out cold.

The four snapped towards the source and found a metal fist. Standing on top of the table was another robot. But this time it was far more intimidating than Sally.

The machine was slim by design, and shiny as well. Its head was boxy and had one eye. While her torso and arms were human-like. But her legs looked like they could take several cannon shots. Bulky with a curved shell and double-jointed. Despite that, this machine was designed for speed and efficiency.

This silver robot held a rifle in its left hand. And by the looks of it, it wanted a fight.

The even bigger question was that this machine showed out of nowhere as well.

Nathan and his friends retreated with Sally in Ivory's arms. They knew a fight when they saw one. And it would seem that the bounty hunter was not affiliated with this robot.

A battle was brewing on the horizon, and the patrons of this diner ran to escape the chaos. Nathan reached into his box and retrieved the Gluttonous Maw. While Jonah held his fists high as he had forgotten to carry his weapons. Ivory set Sally aside and cracked her knuckles in anticipation.

"Oh… no…" Scratch gasped as she laid eyes upon the machine. "Guys, run!"

"If you have information, best to share it now, Scratch!" Ivory said.

No one made a move yet, they dared each other to take the first step.

Scratch panicked and hid behind the counter. "You guys don't understand! You're outmatched! That isn't just a robot, that's the Champion of Umbra! She is Wicked, the Phantom of Eden!"

Sally watched as the courage drained away from her friends as soon as they learned who this robot was. And not only were they in the presence of a divine champion but one of the greatest bounty hunters of all time.

Wicked chuckled. "Guess you finally figured out who I am." She placed her rifle over her shoulder and stepped off the table. "Where's that bravado, flesh bags? Still, I can't believe this maggot had the nerve to try and steal my bounty." She gently kicked the unconscious body of Jeffrey, clearly displeased with his attempt.

"Sally, what the heck did you do!?" Jonah demanded to know as all bets were off now that they faced Wicked.

"I'm sorry! I-I stole something important from my master! She wanted to scrap me so I ran, and now I have had a bounty ever since!"

"How much exactly?" Ivory inquired.

Sally trembled where she stood. "Please don't turn me in!"

Nathan gently placed a hand on her monitor head. "We won't, right Ivory?"

Ivory simply scoffed before she faced their opponent.

"She's worth 60 thousand creds." Wicked snickered into her palm. "Just give her up now, the fight won't benefit you in the slightest!"

"This isn't about her." Ivory claimed. "This is about you coming in here thinking you can just do as you pleased. She might seem worth the trouble to you, but the fact that you, Space Walker, thought you'd get away with it!"

Jonah popped his knuckles eagerly with a toothy grin. "Big mistake robot, you mess with Cain's diner you mess with us!" Though there was confidence in his words, it was clear that he was still reluctant to fight.

Nathan chose to let his action speak for him.

Wicked was not expecting Nathan to clear the gap so quickly. The Gluttonous Maw sailed over her as she ducked down. The robot replied to his aggression with a swift kick which sent Nathan across the room.

She then caught Ivory's fist just in time and tossed the Sentinel over her shoulder. Wicked faced Jonah which was a mistake as Nathan returned with a vicious swing of his blade. His wrath did not relent. Nathan performed quick and clean attacks at Wicked, yet she was able to avoid any substantial damage. She wasn't human in any way, so clearly the Gluttonous Maw would easily rend Wicked in two.

The Star Forged blade was a powerful weapon, this one especially was crafted using the fragmented soul of Kalasraast, the Great Devourer, and the deity of the Apex.

Sharp blades cut, serrated blades saw, but his? The Gluttonous Maw devours. The blade was imbued with the soul of Kalasraast which allowed it to eat anything in its way. That is why all cuts that Nathan left behind were clean and smooth as if he was a skillful blade master.

The only thing that could rival his weapon would be…

"Star Forged!?" Nathan exclaimed as his weapon let out a loud clang the moment he finally landed a hit.

He really wished that the strange scribbles were back. But he had no clue how to even activate the power.

"Nathan, get back!" Gluttony warned just as Wicked went for his throat.

Luckily Ivory was there to the rescue. She pulled back Nathan to safety and delivered a heavy punch straight at Wicked's one-eyed face. The robot staggered a bit but quickly recovered.

Wicked may have been outnumbered, but she knew she still had the upper hand. It was time for her to be on the attack this round.

The machine dashed side to side, it was hard for Nathan to keep his eyes on her as she was too quick for him. The others had it easier for sure, they could easily trace her movement around the room.

Her two-jointed knees were like a piston that launched her off any solid surface. Wicked's momentum grew as she bounced from one side to the other. She was like a damn flea, quick and annoying. The machine hurtled herself through the air to avoid their attacks.

Nathan raised his weapon in time and blocked a burst of bullets. Ivory quickly pushed Sally behind her as Wicked fired more shots. And Jonah flipped a table over to use as a cover.

This was their opponent, a champion of Umbra. Her exterior was made by the Star Forger which meant that Nathan's weapon won't be useful in any way. One rule the great weapon master had made is that his creations would never damage the other. This meant that Nathan might as well have a shield at this point as no physical attack could ever harm Wicked.

He raised his weapon and felt the full weight of Wicked over him. His knees buckled but he held himself still.

"You're the bigger threat." She pointed out. Wicked then pushed herself away. "I'll finish you first."

A portion of her chest opened to reveal a red gem. It hummed like an engine booting up and then she vanished.

"Where did she go!?" Jonah snapped around in search of the machine. "This isn't invisibility!"

"It isn't a mind warp as well!" Ivory said. "I can't even sense any traces of divine energy! I didn't even sense any before!"

"You know anything about this, Scratch?" Nathan asked the one who he believed would know. As she was quite informed of many things.

Scratch raised her head over the counter. "Every champion is equipped with forged equipment that is made from a soul fragment of their deities. If I remember right, then Wicked owns the Void Shift. All I know about the Void Shift is that she could travel to another dimension which is mirrored to ours."

"Great, that means she can pop out of anywhere she wants." Jonah let out a tired groan. "Now would be a good time to call your word friend, Nathan!" He really wished that he had not forgotten his gun back home. Though it wasn't exactly legal to carry the big ones, he could've at least brought his handguns.

"If I could, I would! Been trying to reach out to it but I don't see anything!"

"Flesh bags and their strange behavior," The end of Wicked's rifle pressed against the back of Nathan's neck. "If you humans took battle seriously then perhaps you'd make the perfect warriors." She chuckled. "Either way, it would certainly make you flesh bags bearable."

Nathan spun on his heel and hooked Wicked with his massive sickle. Before she could get away, Nathan tossed her towards Ivory who caught Wicked by the wrist and slammed the machine into the closest table. But Wicked was far more nimble. She wrapped herself around Ivory's arm and held the Sentinel in a lock.

Then both vanished.

"She took Ivory!"

Wicked returned soon after. "I was meaning to steal you away, Nathan. But losing your strongest member will make things easier."

An inhuman cackle erupted from Wicked before she propelled herself towards Nathan with an arm stretched out. It would seem she was determined to detain him and Jonah. Though she was a bounty hunter, it would seem that Wicked wanted to keep the damage to a minimum.

And if Ivory is in Wicked's dimensional plain, then she couldn't easily retreat there.

Wicked was stuck with them.

This was an advantage Nathan was not willing to let go of.

Just as she was a few feet away, Nathan tossed his weapon at her. She dodged it easily but had not expected the Gluttonous Maw to transform right in front of her.

"Bamboozled!" Gluttony practically screeched as she grabbed hold of Wicked's gun. She bit down on Wicked's mechanical wrist and forced the rifle out of the champion's hold. Despite her smaller size, Gluttony was just as strong as Ivory.

Wicked was still registering what had happened as confusion nearly fried her circuits. This was completely new to her and had caught the machine by surprise.

Quickly, before Wicked could recover, Gluttony scampered off toward Jonah and gave him the stolen gun.

Jonah grinned widely. Now armed and not useless in a fight, he hopped out of his cover and stared down the sight.

Wicked saw a growing threat that is Jonah Bloodfield. So she used her mechanical legs to be a blur once more. She couldn't exactly use the Void Shift to become untouchable.

What she had not thought of was that Jonah was a skilled shooter.

He lined up his rifle and followed her with the sight. Jonah squeezed the trigger, and a wave of joy went through him as he felt the recoil.

His aim was true, and his shot caught Wicked by the knee. The bullet lodged deep in her gears which caused the machine to slip up on her next move. But she wasn't defeated yet. Her knee fixed itself and straightened out. Her legs could still function but if the bullet is not removed then she wasn't able to dash properly. Of course, her left leg was still able to perform properly, so she could only achieve a single dash.

With her attention on both of them, Wicked easily dodged any further damage from Jonah.

But it was easier said than done. Being only able to make a single dash slowed her down greatly. Which allowed Jonah to land his shots if timed correctly. Wicked wasn't faster than a bullet anymore.

She wanted to avoid bloodshed but if it continued like this then she'd be backed into a corner.

Blades extended out of her arms, they glimmered under the light. The edges are as sharp as razor.

With one single push from her piston, she flew across the room towards Nathan. He managed to dodge in time as she flew past him. But not without cost. Finally, blood was shed as Wicked left a cut on his stomach. It wasn't deep enough to be a threat to his life but harrowing enough to be concerned about.

Wicked positioned herself better so she could launch herself once more. But Jonah had enough of it. His shots landed directly at her foot which caused Wicked to slip. She ended up going straight to the floor but the machine caught herself just as she was about to crash. Her blades sunk into the floor but were easily pulled back out as she flung herself toward Jonah.

The marksman managed to duck out of the way. Only to have his face kiss Wicked's metal knee.

He would've died if it was a real attack as it was clearly an accident.

Dazed and concussed, Jonah was left defenseless and unable to fight back.

Wicked took this opportunity to grab hold of Jonah and activated the Void Shift.

Once Jonah recovered, he was greeted by an odd sight. Everything looked like it was made of concrete, all gray and with jagged edges. It was like a terrible copy of Cain's Diner. Bland.

"Jonah," Ivory greeted the marksman.

"Damn, it felt like I was hit by a truck. Where are we?"

"No clue, but this is where she hid."

Jonah looked around with his rifle held close to him. "Where's Nathan and Scratch?"

"No idea," A chair nearby fell over. "This place is accurate to the real world, but it doesn't track us. Only objects."

"Not even the robots?"

Ivory shook her head. "No, it seems like this world doesn't track machines either. Well, those who act like mortals I guess. Keep an eye out just in case she pops back in."

"Got it, boss!"

******

Nathan watched as Wicked returned. She stood confidently knowing that her troubles will be easier to deal with. All Nathan had was Gluttony, which was the only deterrent that kept Wicked at bay. He looked towards Sally who cowered behind a fallen table. He was the only one left to protect her.

The machine was stronger, she wasn't easy to vanquish. Compared to Nathan, she was superior in many ways.

Her body is made by the same god that crafted Gluttony meant that his weapon was useless. She wasn't human, her machine body allowed her to battle without rest unless she suffered substantial damage. Wicked's reaction was quicker than his, so for Nathan to win he would need luck more than ever.

"So… This is the power of a champion of Eden." Nathan casually twirled his weapon. He even played with it in his hands. "Can't say I'm impressed, honestly. Been really disappointing so far."

She hummed strangely. It reminded Nathan that he wasn't fighting a human or an organic being. A machine that would never feel remorse once it killed him. The way she hummed was so hollow it sent a chill through him.

"You humans were the most stubborn flesh bags I'd ever met. You're alone yet you still stand there as if you have a chance. Allow me to illuminate and tell you how you survived for so long. It is because I decided."

She dashed forward, her blades retracted back into her arms as she did so. Her fist collided with his weapon which sent Nathan down on his knee.

"I've allowed you to survive to test your capabilities!"

Another punch. A resounding clang could be heard in the diner as metal struck metal.

"So far I've been disappointed!"

She used the weapon to pull Nathan up to his feet just so she could send him flying with another punch.

"The other human is bound by his own weakness and was unable to fight because of it! The Sentinel truly believes her might is all she needs! And you, Nathan White, you disappoint me the most!"

He couldn't fight back as Wicked wrenched the blade out of his hands.

"Mortals have no right to use these weapons! You're nothing more than a battery that will soon wither away as it eats your very soul!"

"Nathan!" Gluttony called out as she was tossed aside.

She transformed just so she could help Nathan but Wicked easily dealt with Gluttony by tossing her toward Scratch's kitchen.

"Gluttony!" A scowl formed on his face. "You're gonna pay for that!"

"Your words are as hollow as your head, human."

Nathan felt the ground beneath his feet leave him. Wicked held him close to her one-eyed face. And much to his fear, the eye started to glow intensely.

"If I was not holding back, you would've perished before you even realized it, you little bag of blood and guts."

He was out of options. Helplessly backed into a corner by someone far stronger than he. No doubt his own strength would be useless against Wicked. Nathan was alone, his friends were imprisoned elsewhere while Gluttony was indisposed. And he'd never seen Scratch fight before.

Out of luck, he called out to the strange words that helped him before. If it saved him before then perhaps it could do the same now. Yet his prayers were met with deaf ears as Wicked held Nathan high in the air.

Her arm stretched to the side so she had enough room to transform her limb into a roaring chainsaw.

Just when he thought he was beaten, a divine intervention saved Nathan. Or in this case…

"Machine! Release the boy. Now."

Wicked glanced over her shoulder to see a bearded demon. His eyes burned red as he glared at Wicked with untold malice. A demonic intervention. It was Abe, Nathan's friend, and neighbor.

"Redeemer." Wicked scoffed. "You have no place here, leave while I am merciful."

"You are the one who has no place here! Wicked, Champion of Umbra! A machine who believes that they could simply do as they please!"

Nathan crashed onto the floor as Wicked turned to face Abe. Her chainsaw revved up fiercely. She took a step towards the demon with an aura of great malice. "Hold your tongue, demon. Or else I'd rip it out for you."

If he was scared, Abe hid it well. But Nathan didn't know what exactly was in Abe's head as he stared down a powerful being such as Wicked. "Machine, if you truly have a soul… then where is your compassion!? Your morality!? Your emotion!" Every word struck Wicked like a hammer, the room shook as this demon spoke to her. They weren't equal, yet Abe stood there as if he was. "Please, the boy does not deserve your wrath, it is you who is at fault here."

"They stood in my way, demon, and as of now, so do you." Her eye glowed so brightly, Nathan swore she could shoot lasers with it. "Do you wish to impede my business, and be squashed beneath my heel? Or do you still want to live your pitiful life of redemption?"

"I am a pacifist," Abe claimed proudly. "But if you do not leave now, I shall remove you myself."

"A hypocrite is what you are, you desire no violence yet you promise it."

"If I am a hypocrite, then it means I am more human than you, machine." Abe caught Wicked's wrist just as she was about to land a punch. "You pride yourself to be the first who has awakened and realized that you have a soul yet you still act like a cold and emotionless automaton."

"You dare speak to me that way. I will see to it that you are to be thrown back into hell and forever be imprisoned there."

Abe simply smiled. "To go against me is to go against the Redeemers. Your god will lose all of our support. We may desire to return home but our souls are still tainted with evil and pettiness. Let that sink in, machine."

It was true, the Redeemers saw each other as family and valued each other more than anyone. If word got out that Wicked had assaulted a Redeemer, it meant catastrophe to the goddess, Umbra. A champion would never embarrass their deity. Abe threatened Umbra's place in the Great Pantheon of Eden. Just one word could end it all.

Earlier, Nathan was the one in a corner, now it was Wicked.

Left with no choice, she backed away from the demon. "Very well, demon. I will take my leave."

"Wait, what about my friends?"

Wicked scoffed at Nathan before she vanished. Now left alone, Nathan walked up to Abe to thank him.

"There is no need, Nathaniel. It is simply common sense to de-escalate the conflict. And do not tell her this, but I cannot find it in my black heart to ever go against Umbra. Wicked may be a cold and cruel machine, but the goddess is kind."

"Oh, so you don't mean it?"

Abe shook his head. "No, I'd never harm anyone."

"Nathan!" Both Sally and Gluttony called out as they approached. He was about to greet them but Gluttony slammed into his stomach and forced him to the floor.

"Nathan! You're alright!" Gluttony said as tears formed. "I thought she was going to… So useless, I couldn't do anything!"

And much to Nathan's surprise, Sally looked as if she was filled with regret. "I'm so sorry, this wouldn't have happened if I just stayed in Eden."

"Sally, it's not your fault. We just did what we had to do." He said.

Gluttony nodded and agreed with Nathan. "Yeah, we couldn't just do nothing when two bounty hunters showed up! Gotta serve some proper justice around here!"

The face on Sally's monitor smiled. "Still, I caused all this pain just because of something I stole."

Abe placed an assuring hand on Sally's head. "You don't have to be worried about such a thing. You may confess your sins to me and I will see to it that you are forgiven one way or another."

"Thanks…" Sally felt better with the support of her new friends.

Suddenly Wicked returned but had something different from her unlike before. It was her arm, it was missing. Ripped straight from her shoulder. And the culprit behind it of course was Ivory who held the limb like a weapon, ready to bludgeon Wicked for her crimes against them. Jonah was there as well, but the moment Wicked returned she tossed Jonah across the room.

"This will not be the last you've seen me, and next time, I shall destroy you all." With that promise made, Wicked disappeared for the last time this day.

Ivory relaxed a bit while Jonah pulled himself back up. "Thank goodness, she's gone!" Jonah said, tired and drained of any enthusiasm. "She fought like a damn monster."

"She was holding back," Nathan informed them. "Wicked could kill us if she wanted to."

Ivory hummed a curious tune. "Yet she didn't, even then, she fought ferociously."

Jonah groaned tiredly as he realized the problem. "I'd rather get shot in the knee than face that thing again! If she wasn't serious before then she might be the next time we fight!" He turned on his heel and started to march towards the door with his newest gun. "I'm going home! I had enough of this."

"I think we all had enough," Ivory said. "You guys can go ahead if you'd like, I'll help Scratch clean up the place. It's a mess here. Hopefully Jimmy doesn't come by and ask some questions."

"Oh, allow me to help." Abe offered. "It is the least I could do for taking too long. If I had arrived earlier, then we could've avoided this pointless conflict."

The Sentinel scoffed. "I'd prefer that you don't, but… I don't see an issue with that, demon."

Scratch left her hiding spot once she realized that the fight was over. "She's gone? Oh thank the heavens, I was worried my diner would suffer even more."

"Well, we better be off then," Nathan said as he gathered Sally's groceries, well whatever was left of them. Some were destroyed in the scuffle, but the things she needed at least survived. "Let's go guys, see you at home Ivory. Later Father Abe."

******

It was quite a day, from a new face in the building to a new threat to their lives. Yet Nathan and his friends survived to tell the tale.

Jonah had gone straight back home, as did Gluttony as she was eager to finish the cake. Nathan had opted to help Sally with her items. He tried to even help her with stocking but the short machine wanted him to relax after a terrible day in the town. No matter how much Nathan did to convince her, Sally was still defiant. So much that it seemed as if she was chasing him away.

With the decision made, Sally closed the door in Nathan's face. It was strange that she acted that way, she was quite friendly this morning. It made sense that Wicked's sudden appearance had dampened everyone's spirits. Heck, even Nathan felt drained from the whole ordeal. If anything, he needed more time to relax.

Perhaps Ivory would be willing to allow the team to take a whole week off? They deserved it after two whole days of getting attacked.

Sally tossed the groceries aside. A disgruntled face on her screen as she listened to Nathan's footsteps. Once she was sure that Nathan had gotten home, Sally roared viciously.

"How did this happen!?" Her screen turned red to visualize her rage. "The plan was so simple yet I barely made any progress!"

Her clamps clicked together furiously.

"How could I have been defeated by flesh bags and a demon of all things! They will pay for embarrassing me!"

"You had him though… Why didn't you just steal him away?"

Wicked appeared behind the intruder at Sally's home. Her only arm transformed into a chainsaw and threatened this person who had the gall to enter the apartment unannounced.

"Is this how you greet old friends, Wicked? Or should I call you Sally?"

The small machine scoffed. "Miss Kalasraast, what do I owe the pleasure to?"

"Please, call me Evie. That name suits my father more than I." Evie said. Unbothered by the fact a chainsaw could rip her throat at any second. "I was just watching the show you performed back at the diner and was honestly impressed. By Nathan, not you. He dealt with you so well that I cheered the moment he won."

"He did not win, the demon simply threatened me. If I had stayed, then it could only bring the conflict to my master!" Was it Sally who spoke, or Wicked? Was hard to tell where the voice originated.

Evie propped up her chin on her massive palm with her elbow on her knee. A smug grin mocked Sally. It was a sign that Evie was not threatened by the machine over her. Sally could tell that no matter what she did, the Apex in front of her wouldn't care.

"But you had Hound in your hand, you could've just run away and claimed that bounty."

"Hound?" Wicked's eye glared at Evie. The machine stored her weapon away. "He's one of yours?"

"Does it matter?"

"No, it doesn't. If anything, it inspires me to kill him instead. As for your question? I cannot go against a Redeemer. He may have lied, but it is a risk I cannot afford to make."

"Those two seem like good friends. Perhaps it would be best to attack when Abe isn't around?" Evie suggested smugly. That was obviously an important detail, Wicked knew that in order for her to capture Nathan she'd need Abe as far away as possible. "Say, what happened to Jeffrey Stones?"

Sally scowled as the bounty hunter was mentioned. "That foolish human had ruined my original plan. I was supposed to isolate Nathan from the others but Stones showed up and placed them on the defensive. And he was about to reveal that Nathan White had a bounty placed upon him. But now that he is aware of my presence, I will never catch him off guard."

"So if he knew he had a bounty, Hound would be far more difficult to take by surprise?" Evie chuckled. "Well, that does sound bad. That Sentinel would certainly be on alert. Wait, you didn't explain what happened to Stones."

Sally's face became blank. Just a blue screen that had no emotion. "Bounty hunter, Jeffrey Stones. Current status: Deceased."

Evie stared at Sally. "You killed him?"

"He made the mistake of hindering me. So I dealt with him for his decision."

Evie clicked her tongue as she soaked in the information. "Stones was one of my men, we called him Blindside. He was supposed to test a theory I had with Hound."

"Your conclusion?"

Evie stood up. "Sorry, I can't share. Good luck next time, thunder thighs."

And just as Evie was about to leave. She faced the machines one last time.

"And Wicked? Please bring him alive, I'd rather not pay for a corpse."

With that said, Evie left the champion of Umbra alone. Wicked was still hooked on Evie's final message. Another thing that caught her off guard today.

***