The scientist's hand holding the needle now hovers above Piper's unconscious form. Esther's heart feels like it's about to burst out of her chest, the tension almost unbearable. The needle lowers, slowly poised to prick Piper's arm, when suddenly a loud knock echoes from the door. The sudden interruption causes the nurse to fumble with the tablet, the scientist's hand jerks up slightly.

"What now?" The scientist grumbles, lowering the needle and looking at the door. The nurse adjusts the tablet, a frown on her face.

Just then, the door swings open, and Katyusha walks in, the purple-haired lady fixing her black and platinum leather jacket around her slender but curvy body. Her black heels click on the linoleum floor, her eyes sweeping around the room until they land on Piper.

"Is everything ready?" Katyusha asks, her voice authoritative and cold. The scientist nods, gesturing to the instruments on the table and the monitor.

"Good," she says, her voice soft but commanding. "Let's begin then." She turns to the nurse, her eyes now focused and intent.

The nurse nods, adjusting the tablet in her hands and looking back down at the monitor. The scientist picks up the needle again, his eyes fixed on Piper's unconscious body, ready to begin the experiment.

"Wait," she says, her voice cutting through the tension in the room like a knife. The scientist pauses, the needle hovering above Piper's arm. The nurse looks at Katyusha, curious and apprehensive.

Katyusha's sapphire eyes narrowed, a smirk playing on her red glossy lips. “I detect fear in this room…so much so that I can practically taste it.” She said in a knowing tone.

Esther tensed at hearing this, her heart nearly beating out of her chest. Esther is using Conceal to hide her aura and presence, but knowing her ex-general…

Wait, no, maybe she's just talking about Piper, Esther thought.

The scientist, trying to maintain a professional demeanor, replies, "Excuse me, General, but I assure you, there is no fear in this room. We are simply proceeding with the scheduled experiment according to protocol.”

Katyusha's smirk widens as she responds, "I'm quite aware of the protocol, doctor. But I can't help but notice an unusual aura in the air. It's almost…as if someone unexpected is present.”

Esther gritted her teeth as she tensed once again. She knew Katyusha was onto her now and wasn't just making an edgy comment on Piper.

Better prepare to flee somehow, Esther thought.

The nurse looks around, her eyes darting nervously around the room. "We are alone, General. No one else is present.”

Katyusha eyes the nurse and the scientist, her gaze sharp and calculating. "Really, now? Then why do I sense a presence nearby?”

The scientist shrugs, his eyes betraying a flicker of unease. "Perhaps it is just your imagination, General. We are deep within the institute; it's highly unlikely that anyone could have breached our security measures.”

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Katyusha's gaze drifts back to the now unconscious Piper resting on the table, her eyes gleaming with something almost sinister. "I don't know about that, doctor. I'm quite sure there's someone else nearby. Someone who’d do anything to stop us from continuing this experiment. And I think I know exactly who it is…”

Katyusha's eyes slowly wandered to the machine Esther hid behind and that malicious gaze remained set there, staring at Esther through the crack. Esther's blood ran colder than an arctic cold snap, her heartbeat in her ears as time seemed to slam on its breaks.

"Come on out," Katyusha said, her voice now edged with a dangerous and knowing tone. "I know you're there. There's no use hiding anymore, dear.”

Esther gripped the machine, her mind racing. She knew she was caught, but how? Using the Conceal technique was supposed to hide her presence and aura, yet Katyusha had sensed her anyway.

Katyusha slowly approached the machine, her steps deliberate and measured, her crimson eyes never leaving the crack where she knew Esther was hiding.

"You thought you were stealthy, didn't you?" Katyusha said, her voice laced with mockery. "Thought you could sneak in here undetected?”

Katyusha stopped just a few feet from the machine and bent down, her black leather pants clinging tighter to her legs from the action. Her face now leveled with the crack that Esther was hiding behind, she decided to further torment the mute girl in hiding.

"Come out now," Katyusha commanded, her eyes scanning the crack intently. "Or I will come in and drag you out myself.”

Esther's mind raced. There was no point in staying in hiding now, Katyusha had found her out. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out from behind the machine, revealing herself to her former general.

Katyusha's lips curled into a smirk, a satisfied glimmer in her eyes as Esther came out of her hiding spot.

"Well, well, well, look who it is," Katyusha stated, her voice almost a purr. "You couldn't resist trying to rescue this thing, could you?” she taunted, casting a quick glance at Piper before looking back at Esther with a cocky smile. “You amuse me so. During your time in my organization, you were so stone cold and stoic, striking down fearsome foes with a single blow. Now look at you, cowering and surrendering outright to me without putting up a fight…”

Esther glared at Katyusha, her hands clenching into tight fists. She gestured to Piper, then pointing at herself, then Katyusha before making an “off with your head” gesture with her hand.

Katyusha's smirk deepened as she chuckled, "And who's going to do that to me, you? The girl who I trained and mentored myself?”

Katyusha tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with sinister amusement. "Oh? And how do you intend to stop me, my dear? Do you really think you can take me on all on your own?”

Esther felt her stomach churn at Katyusha's words. She knew the Platinum general was right - she was alone, outnumbered and in a stronghold of the PA. But she couldn't just surrender now. Taking another deep breath, she steadied herself, her eyes never leaving Katyusha as she stepped between her and Piper and wagged a finger at her.

Katyusha laughed, a cruel and mocking sound. "You've always been so defiant, my dear Esther. It's almost endearing. But you're no match for me. You're just a traitor, and traitors must be dealt with appropriately.”

Esther tensed at Katyusha's words, but she stood her ground, shaking her head as she took a step back, closing the distance between her and Piper.

Katyusha chuckled, her eyes narrowing as she regarded Esther. "How noble. You'd fight ME to save a damn bucket of bolts? Despite that cold exterior of yours, you've always been sentimental, my dear. It's a weakness, and it's really starting to annoy me. But fine, if you're so insistent on protecting your friend, then I have a little proposition for you.”

Esther's heart picked up its pace. She wasn't sure where this was going, but she had to at least listen to what the general was offering. She raised a brow, leaning forward with her head tilted slightly.

Katyusha smiled, her lips stretching into a chilling grin. "I'll make you a deal. You step aside and let us continue with the experiment, and your friend will be safe after we're finished. I guarantee no further harm will come to her, at least not more than necessary for the experiment's success.”

Esther swallowed, her heart at war with itself. Part of her wanted to agree, to do anything to ensure Piper's safety. But the other part, the part that had led her to leave the Platinums and join the Alliance, couldn't accept that.

Esther crossed her arms with a cocked brow, as if silently daring Katyusha to continue.

Katyusha's eyes narrowed, her smirk now replaced by a cold seriousness. "If you refuse, then both you and your friend will suffer the consequences. You'll witness firsthand what we do to those who stand in our way. Remember, my dear, you're in our territory now, and we don't tolerate disobedient traitors.”

Esther bit her lip, her mind a storm of emotions. She knew the Platinums’ ruthlessness, the lengths they went to maintain their power. But she also knew what was at stake if she gave in. Piper's safety. Her own defiance. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself as she spread her arms protectively around Piper as she remained standing between them.

Katyusha's eyes flared at Esther's determination, a flicker of barely contained anger crossing her pale face. "You'll learn not to play around with this general, little girl. You really are a thorn in my ass, aren't you? I've always admired your stubbornness, it's what made you such a valuable asset in the past. But now, it's just an annoying inconvenience. You've made your choice.”

Esther's eyes flared in return, the adrenaline and the situation making it feel like her heart was about to implode within her chest. But she forced herself to remain calm, to not show any weakness to Katyusha, getting into a stance as her body prepared for whatever the general would throw at her.