[ARC 17: HERE'S THE WEATHER]

[September 23rd, 2019]

Lidvald had a routine every morning; turn off his white noise, brush his teeth with non-fluoride toothpaste, and update his blog. Winning the lottery hadn't changed it, but it had brought fingers peeking in between his new mansion's gates. They scattered when he looked over his lawn, but he knew the same students who'd made him win were still watching him now. If he had a Revenant, he could defend himself. They probably found him amusing.

He came home that day to a headless woman in his living room -

" - fuck! What the - what the fuck?!"

◆◆◆

[January 4th, 2021]

Naomi had decided on a change of clothes over the break, and swapped her tracksuit for jean shorts & tiedye shirts, left sleeve removed to accommodate Avalanche. A week before the semester started, she asked her mentor for help studying.

"Man." muttered Naomi, pen on notes, textbook on lap. "Half this stuff doesn't even matter, does it?"

"There's some interesting stuff." shrugged Serena. "Uh - like the Los Angeles stuff."

"The Los Angeles stuff?"

"Yeah." nodded Serena, fingers on the page; Naomi nodded, and the punk flipped through until the Los Angeles stuff.

Naomi read.

"'Initially, Urasaria students were required to apprehend suspects in accordance with civilian law, and were encouraged to help civilian police. In March 1988, the destruction of Los Angeles, death of over 3 million people, including thirty professional heroes, and irradiation of California occurred when two unknown students attempted to arrest a host with the ability to create hydrogen bombs. This led to the establishment of legal immunity and lethal force protocols seen in the next chapter.

This man disappeared for 25 years until reappearing in Moscow in 2013, where North American professionals in collaboration with Russian heroes were forced to kill him, destroying the (evacuated) city in the process. His surviving family brought a case against the United States, arguing that his killing was unneeded and extrajudicial. Unsurprisingly, the family with the nuclear-bomb-creating son lost their case, and this set the template for many later complaints brought against professional heroes and students. Currently, only North America and Russia unilaterally allow lethal force to be used by Urasaria students. Keep this in mind if you are travelling."

"…man." said Serena. "We should find some excuse to go to Japan."

"Uh, yeah, so you can go watch anime all day." laughed Naomi. "Suuuure."

"I can just do that here anyway." laughed Serena, relevantly -

" - yeah, but you'd get to, uh - see it right when it airs or whatever -"

" - they still have a lot of DDR machines, I bet -" grinned Serena, and Naomi paused.

"…man. We should find some excuse to go to Japan -"

- and the two friends laughed, Serena forgetting to tell her about the exam next Friday.

◆◆◆

[January 15th]

Naomi woke up the next Friday. A note was on her fridge.

'Come to room 187 in the first-year building, or become a sleeping slave to your fate! - Miasma.'

She shrugged and set off, hoping it'd make sense on the way there. Once she arrived at the sideroom, the sight inside was no help.

"…uh." She blinked at Serena's outfit, tight purple sweater, pink ponytail & studded jeans, frog on her shoulder. "Are you dressed up as an anime?"

"…uh." Serena tapped her frog. "Yeah."

The two blinked. Serena decided not to run the routine, having practiced her Japanese.

"I - hang on." she winced, yanking her sweater off -

- and revealing a mesh shirt underneath, ponytail unfurling to pink mane, temporary arm tattoos.

"Uh, that was Doppio - and now, Diavolo." chimed Serena, relevantly.

"Okay." blinked Naomi.

Serena blinked.

Naomi blinked.

Serena blinked.

Naomi blinked.

"…uh." Serena shrugged. "Anyway, we're supposed to duel, and - you have to apprehend me nonlethally. For an exam."

"Okay." blinked Naomi.

A confused blinking shrouded Naomi's eyes as she rushed forward. The floor started to rumble beside Serena, and in the next instant -

" - KING CRIMSON!" shouted Serena, relevantly -

- and the chemist-turned-crimson-king popped up beside her; Naomi stopped -

" - uh, what -"

" - KEKKA DAKE DA!" shouted Yuruko, extra face sculpted on her forehead, garish pink mesh shirt&pants, fists covered in steel -

" - KONO YOU NI WA KEKKA DAKE GA - NOKURU!" shouted Serena; the otaku couple burst in to laughter -

- and Avalanche's arm was on Serena's neck a second later.

"...shit." sighed King Crimson. "Should've used Epitaph."

"…uh. Good job." chimed Diavolo. "You passed."

"Sweet. That was… fun." chimed Naomi, utterly clueless.

◆◆◆

One former duo had rented a sideroom that day. Kate stepped up to the ramp, barriers & gymnastic bars ahead, poles & rings at regular intervals.

"Lemme know when." she said, eyes on one ring at the end.

"Start!" shouted Samuel.

Her hair went taut as she rushed up the ramp, leaping up and off to the ring ahead -

- and her hair gripped it only for a second as she swung to the rest, ring collapsing behind, more bars up ahead as she swung again, and as she flipped upside-down -

- eight fingers burst out of her hair as she landed upside-down on one bar, skittering as fast as she could down, nearly falling forward as she reached the end of a rail -

- but Split shot her like a loaded spring over the next midair pole, second spring off the pole launching her to the tall barrier ahead, and as she came in range -

" - Split!" she shouted, hair-hands gripping the wall's tip as she flew over it -

- and four hair-fists & four hair-punches shattered the barrier as she landed upside-down on another rail ahead, strands skittering as fast as they could down, one last ring ahead. Launching herself towards it, her hair gripped it as tight as it could -

- and a final swing brought her back to the course's entrance, shouting as she landed - " - time!"

" - twenty-nine seconds!"

" - fuck." she groaned. "Gotta - gotta go again. Fuck."

"Might have to ask Marisa for more of these." laughed Samuel. Ghastly hands grabbed another set of Boudoir-rings & rails, low durability to assure they couldn't be used more than once.

"...ugh. Maybe. Yeah."

◆◆◆

[January 18th]

The following Monday, the duo had been called to the Elite Four's office, though only one could receive the message.

(Serena) "Matoi wants to talk to us."

No response. Serena frowned as she walked to Naomi's house, no reply as she came to the front door.

"Naomi?" she said, knocking. "It's Serena -"

" - FUCK!" shouted Naomi's voice inside; Serena heard her stomping up to the door, stone arm throwing it open -

" - what do you - oh - fuck -" - she laughed, hair filled with sweat -

" - you alright?" laughed Serena, and Naomi nodded, anger draining in her beads of sweat, still panting.

"Y-Yeah." she nodded, stone hand waving. "I, just - yeah - phew, fuck."

"Matoi wanted to talk to us." chimed Serena, and Naomi nodded as she followed. The two spoke down the street.

"I - okay. Just - just hope I don't have to run, fuck." laughed Naomi.

"What were you - why did you yell 'fuck'?" laughed Serena, and Naomi groaned huffing.

"I was trying to - the - stupid DDR, and -"

" - did I interrupt you?" said Serena, and Naomi laughed.

"In - in the middle of - super hard part, but. Yeah. It's, it's cool. I'll get it." She panted one last time. "Gonna have to try it again as - soon as we get back."

"Coolio."

The two went to the Elite Four's office, only Matoi at the table as they sat down, eyes cocked to Naomi's sweating face. "...did you just come back from fighting?"

"No. I, just. Training." said Naomi, and Serena laughed.

Matoi nodded, utterly clueless. "Good. I have something important for you two. Recently, there's been…" She sighed, her prior hesitance biting her. "…a city, near the coast. Wilcook. Over the past few months, the police have been requesting students to deal with a recent rise in crime." She frowned. "However - six have gone missing, so far."

"…oh." mumbled Serena, and Matoi nodded.

"Precisely. It's an important investigation - and I'm assigning you and your protege to it. You're the second highest-ranked second-year, and I know you're a good fighter."

"Thanks." smiled Serena, remembering their shittalking debut.

"You'll be working with Kate Serano - Anagen. She's the highest ranked second-year - your Revenants should work well together."

"What's her Revenant?"

"Split. It allows her to control her hair - similar to Boudoir, if you've fought with Marisa before."

"A few times, yeah. Uh…" She winced. "Is there… Do we - know anything about the - students?"

"…unfortunately not." sighed Matoi, having recently notified two families. "It might be someone with a strong Revenant - or several people. Be extremely cautious. Don't hesitate to run if you need to - our lives are worth more than civilians."

"I won't." nodded Serena. "Um, can I ask something about Kate, too?"

"Go ahead."

"She… doesn't have a protege, right?"

"She does not - he dropped out of Urasaria."

"Wait, what?" said Naomi, and Matoi nodded.

"A few weeks in, he came to me asking for a different mentor. I asked him why -"

- the door knocked, and Matoi glanced over. "Come in."

In stepped Samuel, Naomi's eyes on him as he sat down. "Apologies if I'm interrupting. Had something to bring up in private with you, if that's alright."

"Of course." nodded Matoi. "We were just discussing Kate - about her former protégé."

Samuel nodded, gesturing to the prodigal pair. "You two getting assigned with her, then?"

"I -"

" - uh, yeah." Naomi smiled. "Yeah, we - we were, yeah."

"She's a bit - well, admittedly -" - Samuel laughed, gesturing to Serena - " - you two might get along very well. She's a good, great fighter - but very violent."

Serena nodded -

" - is that, uh, why her protégé asked for a different mentor?" said Naomi, and Matoi nodded.

"I spoke about it with Kate - there was no issue other than that. Her protégé had requested to be given a mentor that never killed - though unsurprisingly, there were no second-years that hadn't."

"As always." nodded Samuel, relevantly, and Serena sighed relief -

" - coolio." chimed Naomi. "Um - thanks, uh - what's your name?"

"Samuel -"

- four tablets vibrated, setting four sighing -

" - we'll handle it." said Matoi, standing with Samuel as the two nodded. "I'll schedule your flight once we return."

"Good luck." chimed Naomi, and the elite duo were gone.

Serena blinked at her. "…um. I - guess we can just wait here?"

"Sounds good." chimed Naomi, setting on her phone.

◆◆◆

[January 19th]

The next day, the punk & amnesiac met with the hairwoman outside the airport. Kate was dressed in a blue&black uniform, badge prominent.

"Miasma.” she nodded as they came up, and the three went inside.

"Um, you can just call me Serena." laughed Miasma, and Kate nodded.

"Works for me. And, your protege…" Her eyes walked over to Naomi's badge - " - uh - five zero nine?"

"I - um, yes." nodded Naomi, Kate's formality setting her nervous. "Er, it's - you can - just call me Naomi."

"Naomi, then." said Kate as they came up to the gate, walking to their private flight beyond. "Does that number mean something?"

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"It's - a, uh, a - identification number. I guess."

"Yeah." nodded Serena. They went inside the plane and took their seats. "Um - she doesn't have a hero name yet, so."

"Still thinking of one?" smirked Kate, and Naomi shook her head.

"…no, uh… I - used to have amnesia, I guess, so - I mean, I still do, but… So."

Serena thought about telling Naomi she didn't have to reveal it, but didn't want to be like her former lesbian mom.

"You, uh - have amnesia?" Kate's brow rose. "Shit. Was that, uh - if you don't mind me asking - caused by a Revenant?"

"It was, yeah." winced Naomi. "I think - I mean, the guy who… did it is dead, but…"

"…but - yeah. See what you're saying." nodded Kate. "That's some - well, you don't need me to say it sounds rough."

"I - yeah." laughed Naomi, trying the humor for her own benefit. "It's been - kinda rough, but - I've got fighting to focus on and all this, so."

"And a super violent mentor." chimed Serena, and the three laughed.

"Always a good thing to have." laughed Kate. "Guessing you already asked President Rain-On-A-Wedding about, uh - why I don't have a protégé?"

"It was like - the first thing she asked, yeah." laughed Naomi -

" - because you kill, right?" laughed Serena, and Kate nodded.

"Well, that, and. The guy was real squeamish. Really couldn't handle blood that much, but if I - I mean, look at what I've got here." Her hair went taut and formed a fist. "That's going to break a skull." A blade. "That'll slice someone up. I mean, only nonlethal option I've really got is - hang on, gimme a second. Lemme have some fun while we're waiting."

"Pretty cool Revenant." chimed Naomi, thankful for the fading formality. She'd decided to stave off her earlier need for maturity.

"Pretty cool, yeah." laughed Kate. "One sec - this'll be easier to show if…" She turned in her seat, undid her ponytail, black tide rising up on to the next seat's back. Her hair set a stage, one hairfigure at the center -

- and the two laughed as another strand wrapped around his head, Kate laughing as she took position again. "Can clog up their mouth and nose, strangle them unconscious - but that's about it."

"I can do sleeping gas if we need to." chimed Serena.

"Might be a good idea." laughed Kate. "Still - got some time before we need to be serious."

◆◆◆

The sun was tucked in bed by the time the three arrived, and Kate had arranged a taxi with an unusual stop.

"Thanks." she said as they stepped out in to the hospital's parking lot. "Uh, just stick here - got another few stops. I'll pay extra."

"So long as you'll actually pay." yawned the driver. "Students usually just run out."

"I will."

The three went inside the hospital, and Kate readied her badge as she came up to the receptionist. "Hi, my name's Anagen - I'm a Urasaria student. I wanted to ask about - is there anyone on staff here who does Revenant removal surgery?"

"May I see your badge number?"

"Sure." She handed it over, and the receptionist handed it back after she checked Urasaria's database.

"Yes. On staff, here, we have, er… Dr. Fujishita. Did you need to speak with him?"

"Yes." nodded Kate. "Privately."

She nodded. "I'll call him to… room 238, then. Do you need anything else?"

"Uh, just directions." laughed Kate.

"If you take - those set of doors -" - she pointed - " - the third left will be the stairs - and the signs should point you there."

"Sounds good. Thanks." said Kate, and the three went off, two perplexed in the halls.

"Um. Why are we stopping here, anyway?" said Serena, and Kate laughed.

"Just something I uh, do in every city. Call it, uh - call it a checklist. Find out who removes Revenants here, talk to them a bit - never know if you might need it. Already checked the address of, uh - local storage facility, too."

"For Revenants?" said Naomi, and Kate nodded.

"Yeah. Place is a few hours south of here. Guard there goes by Chimera, and, uh - guy who picks up Revenants once we scan…" She shrugged. "Dunno."

"Maybe it's the same guy as everywhere else." shrugged Serena, Kate nodding as they walked up the stairs.

"Might be, yeah. Figure that's probably something super, uh, secret."

"Is it - is he like, super fast or something?" said Naomi.

"Probably." laughed Kate. "Most I ever see a Revenant stay after getting scanned is about - ten, fifteen minutes or so."

The three came up to room 238 and went inside, bed and one chair. Naomi and Serena sat on the bed as Kate sat against the wall, Split's hair growing for another chair.

"But yeah." laughed Kate. "Got a few places to check out, but uh - if you two want - can just go eat or something. I'll check in to our hotel and all that."

"Coolio." chimed Serena.

"Just gotta be -"

- the door opened, and in stepped an elderly man -

" - ah." he nodded, hand asking to sit down. Kate nodded and he did. "Urasaria students."

"Right. Dr. Fujishita, right?" said Kate.

"That's… correct, yes." he said. "Daigo, Fujishita -" - the three winced, and he nodded. "…yes. I know - I know. I wasn't the one who chose it."

"Definitely not." said Kate. "Still. Wanted to ask you a few things - we just got called in, so."

He nodded and yawned. "…go ahead."

"You know how to remove Revenants, right?"

"Unfortunately. For - for all the tedium it is."

"I imagine." smirked Kate. "Takes, what, eight hours?"

"There's… been some improvements, but - about that long, usually. It's - a very involved, very repetitive procedure. Ensuring there's no more, ah - viscera exspiravit in the bloodstream."

"Revenant colonies, right. Anyone, uh - try to approach you recently about that?"

"Er, about what?"

"About removing Revenants. Transferring Revenants, stuff like that."

"Ah. No - nothing like that, no. The hospital - tries to keep that secret. My expertise."

"How does that, uh - usually go? Student knocks someone out - wants you to remove their Revenant."

"They - bring them in normally. Er, I believe that - the police directs them here, and to me."

"Right." nodded Kate. "What happens then?"

"I'll be called in - a surgical team will be prepared, and I'll begin the operation as soon as we're ready."

"How many people do you need for that?"

"It's... well. A full surgical team - usually five to eight."

"Two for anesthesia. Right?"

"And some assistance, yes. Why, er - why are you asking?"

"Let's say someone didn't need anesthesia. I want to get an idea, uh - could someone remove Revenants solo - or does that need more than one?"

"…well. It - it would be highly unethical."

"We're dealing with criminals." said Kate. "Unethical is fine."

"…well. If you're asking that, then - I suppose I should ask. Is this - a living Revenant removal - or a dead one?"

"Living."

"… I'm - not entirely sure, admittedly." He sighed and frowned. "I don't know of any - well, criminals that could do that. There's - certain equipment - but, but that's carefully monitored, of course."

"And dead?"

"…in that case. Well. I - suppose it's - I assume most criminals do that anyway, but… It's - it's still rather involved. Easier, but…"

"Right." nodded Kate. "All I wanted to ask about right now. Going to give you my contact information." She glanced at the drawers and to Serena. "Miasma. Can you - pen and paper?"

"Sure." Streams of fog flew in to Kate's palm, filling her hands with one pen and a notepad.

"Thanks." she said, writing one down and ripping a sheet off. "So - here. Here's my contact information - and I want your's. Full name and phone number."

"Of course."

Kate handed him a new paper&pen, and he handed his over after he filled it.

"Was that everything?" he said, and Kate nodded as she stood, two helpless following beside.

"Yep. I'll call you if we need any Revenants removed."

The three stepped out, walking back down the halls.

"Man." chimed Naomi. "That was like, uh - a real interrogation."

"Didn't intend it to be." laughed Kate. "Just need to be able to uh, contact him - when we run in to Revenants. Still - helps check if he's a liar."

"What do you mean?" said Serena.

"I already know, uh - when I asked about surgical team size. Dead Revenant transfer, stuff like that. Already know that stuff from talking to other surgeons, so. Checking to make sure he tells the truth."

"Clever." grinned Naomi, and the three laughed as they went outside.

"Yep. Still, uh - got a few stops, but - can just handle that solo. Did you two want to go eat?"

"Sure." said Naomi, and Kate nodded.

"Right. You two need a taxi for it, or, uh -"

" - um, don't worry about it." smiled Serena. "I saw a few places when we were coming in, so. We can just walk."

"Yeah." laughed Kate. "Guess they don't cover taxi fare, yeah. I'll, uh, check in to our hotel and catch up with you two after. Save a seat for me."

"We will." smiled Naomi, and the prodigal duo went off.

Kate went on her phone and back to the taxi, handing over her extra payment as she got in the back.

"You actually came back." yawned the driver. "A just God does exist."

"Glad to help." she muttered, glancing on her phone. "…ugh. You know, uh - storage unit rental? Any place like that nearby?"

"…storage unit." he muttered. "Storage unit, storage unit… Only place I know like that, well. About twenty minutes away."

"Works for me." yawned Kate, and the man nodded as they set off. Her eyes kept to the streets for the next twenty minutes, lampposts and buildings flanking her, and the driver parked in one lot of storage units.

"Thanks." she said, tipping extra as she stepped out. "That's everything."

"Will you be able to find your way back?"

"Yep." she yawned, checking her phone. "All good. Don't wanna keep you waiting here, anyway. Looks like a bad spot."

"Have a nice day." he said and drove off.

Kate went to the owner's office. Her badge shoved out his questions why she'd rented one with no camera, and once she paid, Split's hair swung her through the streets to the three's hotel. Serena texted her the Indian restaurant they'd chosen ten minutes from the hospital, and once she arrived, her speed had set the two oblivious as she sat down.

"It's - really, really spicy here -" laughed Naomi's teary-face, Serena refilling her glass with milk -

" - got this, at least -" she chimed, and Kate laughed -

" - always good to have, yeah."

Serena hailed their waiter for an extra menu, Kate nodding as she read.

"…well. Least we can put it on our cards." she shrugged, Urasaria's credit readied in her pocket. "Still, uh. One thing before we relax for a bit - wanna make sure you two know where the hotel is."

"S-Sure." panted Naomi, milky warriors fighting the capsaicin hordes.

"Here." Kate pressed her phone over. "Don't say it. Just know where it is, right?"

"Yeah." winced Serena, remembering the gatorman. "We, um. Had someone attack us - when we were sleeping one time, so."

"Right." nodded Kate. Naomi nodded and she pulled it back. "Good to keep that secret. If you can, uh - make sure you're not getting tracked, too, whenever we go back."

"Sure." nodded Serena.

Their waiter came back and Kate ordered lamb curry. She could tell Serena&Naomi weren't as serious, but frustration wouldn't arrive so long as they fought and followed orders well. She took her first bite -

" - phew - shit that's hot -"

- Serena laughed, gesturing to Kate's glass of water; the hairwoman laughed as she pressed it over, fog turning it from water to milk.

"T-Thanks." laughed Kate, face teary as she took another few bites. "Good, though - real good."

"Yeah." laughed Naomi. "Serena, uh - she saw a review online about it - about this place."

"Got a reputation, then?" said Kate and Naomi nodded shivering. "Yeah. Good, though. Reminds me of -" - she laughed - " - little bit after Christmas, I got called in to, uh - Las Vegas. Restaurant there sells ghost pepper wings."

"Jeez." laughed Serena, and Kate nodded.

"Yep. I mean, they offered them to me for free - since I'd just killed some dude robbing them, so. Had to try them."

"How'd they taste?"

"Hirogane said my taste buds'll come back in a month." shivered Kate, and the three laughed.

"How does, um - since you don't have a protege?" said Serena, and Kate nodded wiping her mouth.

"Mmhm. Same thing as you do. Just don't have a protege." She shrugged. "Doesn't matter much, though. Split lets me swing with my hair - so, honestly - usually prefer to work alone - but." She nodded to Serena. "I know you're a good fighter, so - don't mean any disrespect by that. Glad to have you here."

"Thanks." chimed Serena, starting to shiver.

"…fuck." muttered Kate, suddenly serious. "This is a Revenant."

"W-What?" shivered Naomi -

- and the prodigal pair realized it then; streams of fog filled them with heat -

- just in time to avoid every civilian in the restaurant freezing alive, blocks of ice encasing their bodies, and in the next instant -

- shattered in to a thousand pieces; the three shot up -

" - Urasaria!" shouted Kate, and nothing answered but the frozen shards, air's temperature rapidly dropping and three still shivering, three tendrils of fog filling them with heat.

"This - this is using up a lot of my fog." winced Serena, and Kate nodded, hair going taut and forming a sweater for herself.

"Host isn't in this room." she said, eyes fast around, kitchen door at the wall ahead & right. "Ice Revenant - would want to be in a cold place. Follow me."

With no time to waste, the three started rushing towards the kitchen, shards that had been men&women shattering under their boots as they ran, and as they came up to the kitchen door -

- it froze solid -

- but a single hairpunch buckled it inward, swift strands throwing them away from the three as they ran inside the kitchen, freezer's door overlooking more shattered civilians at the other end. The three rushed over and caught up quick, Kate frowning as she flanked against the door.

"Temperature is rising - you feel that, right?"

"Y-Yeah." shivered Naomi, wishing she had her tracksuit again. Kate nodding to her, Avalanche's arm broke down the door -

- and the three sighed at their lack of foe inside, shattered man&woman within, Kate's lips pinching and wondering why the corpses were kissing.

"…gotta be a reason - why wouldn't he be there, be there -" she muttered, and the three rushed back the way they'd came, Blackburn still occupied with the temperature as they came to the dining room.

"Is - could he be outside?" said Serena, and Kate nodded as she ran up to the front door -

- and three sighed as they realized why, drizzle starting up outside, black clouds forming a war council overhead.

"That's why." muttered Kate, relevantly, hair forming an umbrella. "Alright, just - stay under -"

" - got a better idea." chimed Serena, sweeping her jacket off. Streams of fog filled it as she placed it on Kate's head -

- and the beanstalk grew to pierce right through it, Kate nodding as her hair raised it up, two laughing beside as she opened the door. The three rushed in to the street outside under the cover of her hair, and as their eyes turned left -

- they saw their foe a hundred feet away, drizzle starting to freeze as it fell upon them -

- but Serena's jacket of steel kept them safe as they started their rush forward, new&sharper icicles forming above and before they could react -

- the new projectiles burst through their umbrella -

- but the next scene was instant. Streams of fog filled the jacket of steel with heat -

- and in to boiling water melted the projectiles, keeping Kate safe as they kept their run going, panes of ice forming ahead -

- and in to the sudden barriers smashed & stumbled the three, sharp shards slicing their skin & eyes -

" - B-Blackburn -" panted Serena -

- and a sweep of her tentacle filled their wounds, fog occupied with the umbrella as they stopped & halted, sixty feet separating them and he; but they had no time to rest

"I - fuck -" panted Kate, hair starting to drop in temperature - " - need to keep -"

- their hair started to freeze, sudden icicles forming on their skin & movement starting to snow as they struggled -

" - Blackburn!"

- streams of fog filled the icicles with heat; but their chill was immeasurable, more shards forming and growing all over their skin -

" - fill your jacket with wood!" shouted Kate, and streams of fog filled it with wood -

- and the next scene was instant. Her hair's pole spun like a drill within, churning and friction forming as Serena added heat in to the umbrella, and as her jacket burst in to orange flames -

- a sweep of scorching umbrella went through their frozen clothes, freeing the three as they unfroze running again -

" - here." said Kate, ripping the umbrella's pole out and handing it to Serena, cars flanking them eternally - " - you keep this - I'll flank, yeah?"

" - okay." nodded Serena as they ran. Kate peeled left and leaped over one car, swift strand of hair swallowing gasoline out of one car's tank as she disappeared in to one building, storm of icicles shooting towards her but catching only air. Forty feet separating them & their foe, Naomi rose her stone aim forward -

" - Avalanche!" she shouted, stone bullets erupting out of her palm -

- but the next scene was instant. New sheets of ice formed ahead and caught the bullet, projectile ricocheting with the speed of light around and back -

- and right through Naomi's left eye in a burst of white mist; she shrieked as she stumbled back -

- and Serena winced as her tentacle shot in to the grisly socket, new eye filling it as the two stumbled in to a new rush. Carpet of icicles forming ahead, Naomi stomped down -

- and a fissure shot through the road, swallowing every last icicle within and shattering each icy spike -

- but the next scene was instant. Serena swept left & Naomi right -

- just in time to avoid the wall of ice bursting up from the fissure, two separated with Naomi on the right side; her torch's heat lost, her temperature started to drop again -

- but the next scene was instant. Stomping down, a cocoon of stone burst up and swallowed her -

- and the warmer temperature within kept her cool as her stone fingers snapped, new tunnel of stone forming and burrowing in to the wall of ice. Naomi nodded as she rushed up to the barrier -

- and a swift Avalanche Punch brought her back to Serena again, two rushing as two again. Sheets of ice covered the thirty feet separating them and he -

" - why isn't he running?" muttered Serena. Avalanche's mental command flipped the asphalt to cover the ice, and as they came twenty feet within range -

" - Cold Embrace!" shouted the man; a cocoon of ice formed over him -

- and Naomi stomped just in time for one to form over Serena -

- but a hundred icicle spikes burst through her own chest & out her own back; Naomi screamed and gagged, fingers snapping to free Serena -

- and the keen end of an automobile projectile smashed the man's head off from behind; streams of fog filled Naomi's wounds -

- just in time for the two-ton projectile to smash clear through Serena and throw her back along the road, mentor screaming as her torso & spine broke on the landing -

" - fuck fuck -" winced Kate as she ran up from behind, hair reforming from the spatula it'd been -

" - o-okay!" gagged Serena fifty feet behind. Naomi panted as she fell to the ground, her ownwounds half healed but still leaking - " - N-Naomi?!"

" - o-okay!" she shouted and winced as she hit the ground, chill wind fortunately gone, Kate running up to a splayed Serena.

"I - fuck." panted Kate, Serena still twitching, streams of fog flying in to her wounds. "I - shit, I - fuck - I'm sorry, I thought you'd -"

" - okay." winced Serena, fog healing her wounds. "G-good."

Kate nodded slowly, gesturing back to Naomi still twitching. Serena nodded and Kate went off, Split's hair stitching Naomi's wounds as she brought her back.

"...sorry." muttered Kate. "Thought - figured you had a counter if it hit you, but. That's on me."

"I-It's alright." winced Serena, sitting up. "Just, um - had to - heal Naomi, so."

"Y-Yeah." nodded Naomi. "Um. Had to - had to make up for me losing my eye, huh?"

The two laughed. Kate nodded and went off to scan, then came back once Serena was standing again, fog refilling Naomi's wounds.

"All good?" said Kate, and the two nodded. "Good. Should come see the other guy, if you want."

"S-Sure." said Serena -

- and the three laughed as they went over to see the other guy, iceman turned headless pancake below, still beating heart peeking out of his chest.

"Told you." laughed Kate. "Still, worked out -"

- a roar came from another street; the deafness staggered the three back, ears clutching and faces wincing -

- to see their foe appear behind the street corner ahead, enormous yellow lizard with eight legs, covered in hair&spines -

" - destroy - Revenant!" Serena barely heard Kate shout; her tentacle shot through the heart -

- and her acid was to blame as it corroded away, and in the next instant -

- a hundred strands of hair yanked her back & in to Kate, Naomi already clutched as Split's strands shot to the lamppost behind, more roars erupting ahead as the hairwoman started swinging & swinging -

- but the yellow beast couldn't match her speed, two cargo held tight by hardened hair, swinging until the roaring faded in to the sidewalks behind -

" - s-shouldn't we -" gagged Naomi, ride bumpier than ever as Kate swung and swung again -

- and the two held back their protest until they landed at their hotel's back, swift ladder of hair forming up in to their room's window. Kate climbed up, waiting for the two to follow within Split's range, Naomi still panting as they climbed her hair in to their room -

" - shouldn't - shouldn't we - civilians?" she wheezed -

" - calm. They're not going after civilians. Even if they were - our lives are more important than that."

"W-What do you mean?" winced Serena, fog refilling Naomi's wounds.

"That guy shows up right after we fought the other one. Trying to ambush us. If he wanted to hurt, uh - hurt civilians. Would've done it before. Would've done it somewhere else."

Kate took her tablet out, three nodding at no new calls.

"S'why I said destroy the Revenant. That's what they're after. Least, think that's what they're after."

Serena nodded.

"…still. Fuck." sighed Kate. "If that's the type of shit they have - no wonder students've been disappearing."

"Yeah." winced Serena.

Kate sighed and tapped her tablet. "Should call a few more people in."

"Already?" panted Naomi, and Kate's head shook.

"Better earlier than later. You two, uh, got anyone you like working with?"

"…um. Yeah." nodded Serena. "Um - Genesis. She's my girlfriend -"

" - ah." laughed Kate. "That's cute. She's, uh - not in our year, right?"

"No, um. She's a third-year."

"Good. No protege, more experience." nodded Kate, scrolling down. "...uh, lessee, lessee. Another three-star'd be good, or close... Either of you know, uh - guy right below you - Inky? -"

" - no." said Serena. "Uh - not that guy."

"...sure. Uh, one below that... #28. Mint Condition. Revenant is Manufacture. Electricity, and… just says 'metal rods'."

"Sounds good." nodded Serena.

"Good, good. Uh - if you want - you wanna ask your girlfriend if she can come?"

"Yeah." smiled Serena, heart like Mia & Aimee's. "She's just been patrolling recently, so. Um - she's a good fighter, too. Her Revenant lets her like, create elements and stuff."

"Alright - sounds good. I'll let Mint Condition know, see if they want to come here. If they do - should be here by tomorrow, meet up with your - girlfriend - and Mint. Few extra people to help out."