“Stephanie,” Uni started, her voice trembling slightly. “Can I ask you just one more question?”

Stephanie nodded, looking at Uni with an innocent smile, completely oblivious to the storm brewing in Uni’s mind.

Uni took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "When you consume sugar, do you notice any...strange effects? Or maybe feel differently than usual?"

Her heart pounded in her chest as she waited for Stephanie's response. This was the make-or-break moment – if Stephanie answered positively, it would confirm their worst suspicions.

"Strange effects?" Stephanie repeated with a curious expression, tilting her head slightly. "Like what?"

Uni exchanged a nervous glance with Trixie, who looked just as panicked as she felt.

There was no turning back now. Uni had to ask the real question, the one that would truly reveal the truth.

"Like...feelings of strength? Or perhaps even supernatural abilities?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Stephanie looked thoughtful, her innocent gaze drifting up as she seemed to recall something. “Well…now that you mention it…” she began slowly.

Uni’s heart pounded frantically in her ears as she waited for Stephanie to continue. Was this it? Would the truth be revealed?

Stephanie's gaze returned to Uni as she continued. "When I consume sugar, I always feel this surge of energy." she said, her expression brightening up. "And sometimes, I feel so strong, like I can do anything I want."

Trixie, listening intently, felt her heart sink. That was the sign they'd been dreading.

Uni's mind raced as she tried to process this revelation. How was this possible? How can an innocent girl like Stephanie be an Aranak? Was there a way to save her?

She exchanged a worried glance with Trixie, silently conveying the urgent need for a game plan. This was no longer just a matter of curiosity or academic research – lives were at risk here.

Suddenly, a glimmer of hope sparked in Trixie's mind. Dolores was their best chance at understanding and countering the Aranaki.

She turned to Uni, a determined glimmer in her eyes. "We need to get to Dolores. She's the only one who can help us now. Come on!"

"Uhh, Trix... She works for RISHA...and they're looking for us. It wouldn't be a good idea to go BACK there, don'tcha think?"

Trixie hesitated, a conflict of emotions evident on her face. She knew Uni was right – Dolores was their only hope, but the thought of returning to RISHA filled her with dread.

"I-I know, but...do we have any other choice?" she asked, her voice wavering. "We can't just leave Stephanie like this! We need help! We need someone who knows about the Aranaki! And whether we like it or not, Dolores is that person!”

Trixie hesitated, a conflict of emotions evident on her face. She knew Uni was right – Dolores was their only hope, but the thought of returning to RISHA filled her with dread.

"I-I know, but... do we have any other choice?" she asked, her voice wavering. "We can't just leave Stephanie like this! We need help! We need someone who knows about Aranaki! And whether we like it or not, Dolores is that person!"

"But still, this will be our third time infiltrating RISHA in 24 hours, this time we may not get so lucky... Can't we do something easier, like contact Dolores on social media?”

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Uni frowned sympathetically, understanding Trixie's apprehension. "I get it, Trix, but think about it. How long would it take for Dolores to respond to a random social media message? She might not even read it right away. We need to act fast before anything happens to Stephanie!"

Trixie sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping. "Alright, you've got a point. But what's the plan? How are we gonna avoid the guards or cameras? I bet they've cranked up their security after we broke through the last two times.”

Uni nodded, acknowledging the challenge. "Right. They've definitely upped their game. But remember, they're not expecting us to come back so soon. We know the facility inside out now, and we know how to dodge the cameras."

As she spoke, Uni's mind was already churning through possibilities. "Maybe we can try a different entrance, something less obvious. We can also sneak through the air vents. It's a tight fit, but it might just work if we time everything right.”

"Sneaking through air vents? How cliché," Trixie mumbled under her breath. "Fine, I'm in. Let's hope RISHA doesn't have some secret 'emergency air vent' protocol."

"But wait, what about the guards?"

Uni smirked, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, I have an idea for that.”

Uni's smirk widened as she shared her idea with Trixie. "We'll create a distraction. Let's take advantage of some of the technology we've seen RISHA have, and cause a little commotion... Maybe a small explosion that'll send guards scrambling the other way. It'll give us a window to slip past unnoticed."

Trixie's eyes sparkled with delight at the thought of using RISHA's own tech against them. "Now we're talkin'! A little chaos and diversion. Count me in, Uni!

"All right, then it's settled." Uni agreed, determination coursing through her. "Trixie, you focus on creating that explosion, something impressive, but not too big to put the whole place on lockdown. I'll handle the route, I've memorized every corner of that facility. We get in, grab Dolores, and get out. Smooth and clean, like a walk in the park."

Trixie returned Uni's determined nod, her excitement infectious. "You got it. Let's do this!"

Trixie then turned to Esther and said, "I know you have our backs, Esty, but please look after Stephanie while we're gone. We should be back later this afternoon."

The mute girl gave a firm nod in response, which put a smile on Trixie's face as she turned around to leave.

The girls succeeded in their third break-in of RISHA, scouting out each of the rooms for Dolores, dodging cameras and looking out for guards all the while.

Finally, they stumbled upon the science labs, and there, in one of the rooms, they found Dolores hunched over a microscope.

She didn't notice them at first, too engrossed in her research, but then her gaze snapped up and met theirs. Dolores looked the same as Trixie and Uni remember, the curvy umber-skinned woman who broke the internet with her looks alone during her worldwide presentation on the Aranaki. Her usual calculated and cold demeanor was momentarily broken by the surprise of the intruders before her.

"What are you doing here?!" Dolores questioned, her voice laced with confusion but also a hint of suspicion.

Uni raised her eyebrow, stepping forward. "Oh, you know, just catching up on some light break-in activities," she replied drily.

Dolores's stern face didn't waiver, and she responded, "I assume you didn't come here just to say hello. What do you want?”

Trixed spoke up this time, her eyes sparkling with eagerness and excitement. "Well, we need your help, Dolores! You see, we encountered a rather...sugary situation...so—" she began, but Dolores cut her off.

The researcher rolled her eyes and let out a heavy sigh. "Let me guess, it involves the Aranaki, doesn't it?”

"Ding, ding ding!" Uni chimed in, her grin widening. "You're as smart as they say. We've got a little problem, and you're the only one who can help us."

Dolores raised an eyebrow, clearly weighing her options. "I'm listening.”

Uni stepped closer, her voice lowering to a serious and urgent tone. "We've come across someone, someone...close to us, who seems to have been possessed by an Aranaki. We believe the Aranaki has been feeding on sugar, and it's making them stronger. We need your expertise, Dolores. You've worked closely with Aranaki, you've interacted with them. If anyone can help us save our friend, it's you.”

Dolores's expression remained stern as she gave the girls' pleas a listen. "You expect me to drop everything and assist you right now? I have important research to conduct, you know."

Uni crossed her arms, a determined look in her eyes. "Look, Dolores, this isn't just about research. It's about saving someone we care about. We're running out of time. That Aranaki is getting more powerful..."

Dolores's hard gaze never faltered as she sighed. "Listen here before I lose my patience. Aranaki cannot be 'saved'. An Aranak is the result of a child having a parent who is tainted with the Darkness of the Archons. There is no 'fixing' them.”

Trixie's heart sank at Dolores's words. It couldn't be true. They couldn't just give up on Stephanie.

"No, Dolores, there must be something we can do. We can't just stand by and watch Stephanie suffer, can we? We have to try," Trixie pleaded.

Dolores shook her head, her voice cold with a touch of resignation. "Believe me, I've tried. For years, I have researched and experimented, and the truth remains: an Aranak cannot be saved. The Darkness is irreversible.”

Uni stepped forward, her eyes blazing with determination. "So you're saying, the moment someone becomes an Aranaki, they're done for? They're doomed to be controlled by the Darkness forever, like some sort of puppet? There's no way to break free from it? No cure?"

"People do not BECOME Aranaki. They are BORN one. There is nothing to reverse or cure.”

Uni and Trixie exchanged a worried glance. Dolores's words were hitting like a punch to the gut. They'd been so sure there was some way to save Stephanie, but now it felt like they were clutching at straws.

Finally, Uni responded, her voice filled with a mix of desperation and frustration. "There MUST be a solution, Dolores. You said it yourself - Aranakis are connected to the Darkness, the Archons. If we can sever that link, we can break their control. Can't you at least TRY?!”

Dolores sighed, her tone filled with a heavy weight of annoyance as she attempted to explain. "I have tried to break that connection. It's not so simple. The Archons' influence is intertwined with the very fabric of the Aranaki's existence. Severing that link is akin to trying to remove the very essence of a person's soul. It would not just break the Archon's control over the recipient, it would effectively erase who the recipient IS. Their identity, their memories, their very being...it would all be gone. Is that truly what you want?”

Silence fell over the room as the weight of Dolores's words sunk in. Uni and Trixie exchanged a devastated look. Could they really sacrifice Stephanie's identity and memories for a chance at saving her? Was there no other way?