[ARC 11: SEASONS DON'T FEAR THE REAPER]
[February 14th, 2020]
Valentine's Day had come, and one couple was home. The monitor was on.
"Is he going to -" said Serena - " - hell yeah."
"The classic Medusa Rapier." chimed Yuruko, referentially.
"Uh, they're just gonna fight right after? He doesn't have - oh he died." Serena frowned, knowing the game to be lost.
"You didn't bet, did you?" grinned Yuruko.
"I can't use Blackburn for that." She laughed. "It'd just be a waste of money. A real one."
"Yeah. Guess so." Yuruko smiled and laid on Serena's chest. Serena held her with one tentacle. "…man, that thing's weird."
"Um, his - her name is Blackburn." nodded Serena, wagging her appendage.
Yuruko shook Blackburn's tentacle, and it filled her hand with diamonds. "Jeez. You're getting good at that."
"I still can't do saffron, though." laughed Serena. "It's all useless anyway, though. Mia said there's probably uh, someone from the government tracking me to make sure I don't break the economy."
"Can't have students happy." chimed Yuruko, relevantly. "How far are you on your money, anyway?"
"Umm… It's still - I'm pretty close to two-star, so that'll take me from $500 to $1000. I'm - at around $23,000 so far, but, um. That'll speed it up."
"Yeah. Once you get three-star, that'll be… $2,000 a month, too, so. Is Mia feeling better?"
"Kinda, yeah. We're back to fighting every day, at least, so - I think that's helping her."
"Coolio."
"Next match is coming on."
"Gonna be a stomp." grinned Yuruko, sitting up. She glanced back to Serena before the stomp began. "…hey, uh. I wanted to tell you something, too."
Serena's heart went to her lungs. "What's - what's up?"
"I love you."
"Coolio."
◆◆◆
The punk's energy, and her conversation with Aimee, had sped Mia's recovery, and the two hunted with every friend they could that month.
Marisa&Serena had filled a bouncing Boudoir-bomb. Yuruko&Mia had created a fiery rainbow. Samuel had lengthened Serena's fog. Kate&Mia had created controllable frozen hair, and Matoi with Serena had made a balding man cry. Serena had suggested her old therapist to Mia, and the weekly appointments filed the initial brunt to slight pricks.
On February 25th, she had just left the building, and as she stepped out to the sidewalk -
- her tablet vibrated, and she took it -
' - bank robbery. Already lethal.'
She nodded, sending a message to Serena as she started running.
(Mia) "Meet up with me at the bank on Eighth Avenue. Revenant."
(Serena) "got it."
She rushed down the street and sidewalks, familiar city and locations passing by, scarabs&sword readied; fifteen minutes later, she was rushing down the prodigal avenue, seeing the bank up ahead&left, already hearing the punk yelling inside.
She ran up to the doors and threw them open -
- and there, a hundred feet separating she and them, was Serena cornering a man; streams of black fog filled his ears, and in the next instant -
- a hundred nails burst out of his head, and the two laughed as he fell rigid.
"I -" - Serena looked behind, laughing as she caught Mia. " - oh, hey."
"You beat me here." chimed Mia, walking over as Serena healed thyself.
"Yeah." Serena laughed. "He, uh - had a fire one, anyway. Would've been too easy if you got here." She grinned.
"And another bounty for you." chimed Mia, crouching down to scan, careful not to let Serena see her tablet.
"Yeah. I'm - I'm close, right?
"We'll see." chimed Mia, taking an exaggerated show of scanning. "… ah, what was… the tab for it…"
"C-C'mon."
Mia laughed and stood. The two started out of the bank and to the street, Serena trying to peek over Mia's shoulder.
"No, no." laughed Mia, shaking her head. "It's terribly difficult to see, in this light. Perhaps we'll…"
For a second, the prank filled her head with Jeanne&Nuiko. It'd still come to mind, but she had resolved to enjoy the present.
"… have to wait until we return to Urasaria." She smiled.
"Maybe - let me see it -"
" - no, no -" laughed Mia, waving it away. "It's a very, very complicated piece of equipment to use. I wouldn't want you breaking it. We'll - have to return, and maybe - I might have to charge it -"
- Serena's phone vibrated, and she took it quick -
(Yuruko) "congrats on rank #50!"
- and Mia sighed laughing as her protégé smiled, her trickery useless.
"Fuck yes." grinned Serena.
"Two-star, then." chimed Mia. "I'm - very proud of you. We should celebrate -"
" - uh, wait, I gotta… shit, I gotta think up my hero name, um… Let's go home. I'm gonna need a whole night for this."
The two smiled.
◆◆◆
The next day, Mia felt nostalgic as she sat down with Serena, paperwork on the desk. (The punk had declined the weapon, and Marisa had made her a fitted leather-Boudoir jacket.)
"Have you thought of something?"
"I… tried, but." Serena frowned, using a spare paper for notes. "Here's what I came up with last night, but…"
Mia read the paper. "'Fog Thing, Fog Woman - er, what's the third one? It's scratched out."
"Oh, that was 'Blackfog', but I figured it'd be offensive to use 'black' in my hero name."
There was a strange politically correct logic to her words.
"…er. Right." murmured Mia. "Fog Warning, Foggy Weather, Weatherwoman, Mistwoman, Fleet of Fog, Madam Fill-Her-Up - 'too sexual?' - oh."
"Filling Good, Woman. Yuruko suggested 'Filler Episode'."
"What?"
"Yeah." Serena's head shook. "Uh, what else did I have on there?"
"'Black Hole Fog, Fog of War, Fogged-Up, Fog-9, Fog Filler, Burning the Midnight Fog - er, Serena, I - don't wish to hurt your feelings, but -"
" - they're kinda shitty, yeah." winced Serena. "Filled with Fog…"
"…hm." Mia's lips pinched her cheek. "The ones I know are… Mad Dog, Rain-On-A-Wedding, Boudoir, Genesis, Boar… Plasma, Swarm, Eclipse…"
"… wait." muttered Serena. "I guess it… doesn't have to do… doesn't have to be -exactly- about my Revenant, right?" She nodded, hiding her writing from Mia. "Think I've got it."
"I can't wait to see it, then." chimed Mia, already dreading it.
◆◆◆
That night, Serena stepped in to their home. Mia was on the couch.
"Alright." said Serena. "They said I could do this and it'd work with the scanners, so -"
- she turned, and Mia's head cocked as she saw her jacket's back. "…er. What does that mean?"
"You never played Final -? - oh, yeah." laughed Serena. "Uh. Just means something kinda like fog."
"So long as you're pleased with it." nodded Mia, utterly clueless.
On Serena's jacket's back, 'MIASMA'.
She turned back. "It's pretty -"
- Mia's phone vibrated, and she took the call.
"Hello?"
"Hi! This is Charlotte Campos, Prettiest Pink. Aimee left me as acting president. Swarm, right?"
"Yes." laughed Mia. "You can call me Mia."
"Alrighty. Good-good. Didn't know. Your protégé is… Serena Kunst, right? Miasma?"
"Yes." said the lesbian mom, her punk daughter sitting down beside her.
"Get extra breadsticks." she whispered.
"Is something wrong?" said Mia.
"No, no! All good. I noticed she hit two-star recently, and… ah, lemme just get to it. Government contract. I'm having a lot of trouble finding people, but… could you two help me out?"
"What does it entail?" said Mia.
"Get two large with no toppings." whispered Miasma. "I can make the pepperoni."
"Come to the Council of Four's office and I'll let you know. Okays?" chimed Charlotte, and Mia nodded.
"See you soon."
"Seeya."
Mia hung up and stood, gesturing for the new two-star to follow her.
"We're going to go pick-up." chimed Mia, and the two laughed as they set out. Serena complained about now wanting pizza on the way over, and Charlotte was already at the table when they came in. Her hair was a literal glittering rainbow past her shoulders.
"I - sorry, I gotta ask - " said Serena as the two sat down - " - how do you do that? Your hair?"
"Oh, this?" laughed Charlotte, long nails raking her hair. "Part of my Revenant. Palette."
A paintbrush appeared in her hand, and she painted a purple streak in her hair.
"Stylish." grinned Serena.
"Thanks." Charlotte smiled. "So, lemme just… check this again..." She pulled a drawer open and a sheet of paper out. "This, got sent to me specifically, actually, 'cause…"
She painted it red, and words appeared.
"Something coded?" said Mia, and Charlotte nodded.
"Yeah. I think they did something to make it work with my Revenant, but not with markers, or, ah… ah, whatever. So, it's pretty vague, but - you know. Basically, they've got this guy they need to get from one place to another. Guess they figure he's pretty important, but why… uh." She shrugged. "… they don't say, so, you know."
"It's an escort mission?" said Serena, already readying to wince at Charlotte's nod.
"Basically, yeah - they figure he might get attacked, so. Shouldn't take more than a few days, though. Got a dropoff point and all that."
"… right." murmured Mia, gesturing it over to read directly. "Will we be picking him up, then?"
"Yeah. Coming by boat - you'll pick him up there, and… yeah. I'll send you all whatcha need." Charlotte nodded. "That sound good to you guys?"
"Um." Serena scratched her neck's back. "What's the pay?"
"That's, uh…" Charlotte smiled sheepish. "… kinda - why I was having trouble finding people, because…"
"… there's no payment?" said Mia, and Charlotte nodded.
"Uh - 'experience and a good word for future employment'. Like that pays for anything." She sighed. "I dunno. Sorry about that, guys - they just sent it to me, so…"
"… um. Guess we'll… run in to more Revenants, at least." mumbled Serena. "Maybe."
"Yeah. Still, something like that - 's gonna require another pair. Just in case. Who do you want with you?
"I believe it would be…" Mia's lips paused for a second. "… Serena." She smiled and turned. "You'll choose."
"Um - huh?"
Charlotte grinned and let the spectacle play. "Yeah. Miasma. Two people. Any student you want."
"I, um…" Serena's neck itched. "…um, I mean. Mia should choose. Right?"
"No, no." grinned Mia. "I want you to choose."
Serena caught the angle and nodded. "I, um… s-shit." She laughed nervous. "Um. I'm - just trying to think who I know."
Their eyes were ruthless.
"…um." She grinned like a lemming. "Maybe - maybe Yuruko, but…"
"Do you think that would be best?" chimed Mia, and Charlotte laughed.
"Um - we've fought together before, but - I guess she'd be with Tuyuan most of the time…"
"Yuruko and Tuyuan?" said Charlotte. "Genesis?"
"...um." Serena frowned. "Would that be okay?" She saw Mia's unmoving head and sighed. "Um. Maybe… no, wait - I know." She nodded. "Rochelle and Tiffany."
"Final answer? Ol' Screwball?" chimed Charlotte, and Serena nodded again.
"Yeah. Rochelle and Tiffany."
"Good." chimed Mia.
◆◆◆
The two met with the two the next morning, heading out of Urasaria with their backpacks stuffed.
"Seriously, though, no pay?" laughed Rochelle, and Serena nodded. "Man - uh, sorry - they're really uh, hanging us out to dry here, huh?"
"It's alright." laughed Serena. "But yeah. No payment."
"We may - run in to more Revenants on the way there, at least. If he's as important as they say." chimed Mia.
"Hopefully." said Serena.
"Yeah." chimed Tiffany. "Uh, by the way. Did you get a new haircut recently?"
"Me?"
"Yeah!" Tiffany smiled. "It looks more, feminine. Looks good."
Mia gave a glance at Serena, and she shrugged. "Oh - um, thanks."
A second later, she resisted the urge to look at Rochelle for the compliment's reason, hoping she hadn't told.
The four stepped outside, armored limousine already parked, no keys having been given to them. Serena went to the driverside door and filled a perfect match, and the four got inside.
"Comfy as hell, though." said Rochelle, patting down the leather and glancing to the third row behind. "Guess he'll just be going back there?"
"Yes." said Mia. "Serena, do you have the address?"
"Yep." chimed Serena, starting down the street. "It's like a half hour away from here, anyway."
"Yep." said Rochelle. "Shit, though. This feels like - secret agent type ride. Presidential."
"Yeah." laughed Tiffany. "Looked like a limo outside, too. What's the - what do you - gals - think it's all about, anyway? Why he's so special?"
"Maybe he's a refugee, or something." shrugged Serena. "Like, a president."
"A president refugee?" grinned Rochelle. "I dunno. Maybe he's, uh… maybe he's some war criminal. Like when, uh… oh, what was… Didn't they take some scientists from like, the Nazis in World War 2 or something?"
"I hope not." winced Mia. "Perhaps he's, er… someone… important to…"
"… maybe he has a Revenant?" said Tiffany, and Rochelle shook her head.
"Nah-nah. He wouldn't need protection."
"Maybe it can't protect itself."
"Do you think he'll tell us if we ask?" grinned Serena, and the others had shaking heads.
"Only one way to find out." laughed Rochelle, and they stopped theorizing for the rest of the ride. They came eventually up to the docks, and Serena pulled up as close as she could to the boat already parked.
"Alright." said Serena. "Umm…"
Mia nodded. "We'll - Rochelle and Tiffany, stay here, and we'll get him."
The other pair nodded, and it only took a minute before they came back with him, setting the man in the third row. Mia took the driver's seat, Serena beside as they drove out to the street again. The silence kept in the car for a bit.
"… okay." said Rochelle, glancing behind. "I gotta ask. Why are we, uh - protecting you?"
"I cannot tell you."
Four sighs.
"…man." mumbled Serena. "Uh. Can you tell us when we get there?"
"I cannot." he muttered. "I'm sorry, but I cannot. It's very, very confidential."
"Damn." muttered Tiffany.
They didn't speak for another hour. Their journey would take three days, a professional hero waiting for them at the end. The other three kept their eyes out the windows, Mia's eyes going to the rearview to assure they weren't followed.
"Serena." she said. "Gas."
"Got it." chimed Serena, dipping her tentacle in to the car and filling the gas tank, no worry on her fog dispersing like she had six months ago. "Uh, if you… need any drinks, or anything, let me know."
"Thank you." said the man. "Don't worry on my account. I don't want to distract you."
The car came up to another intersection, skyscrapers and businesses around. They turned left on to the avenue and peeled past the middle, and in the next instant -
- a truck appeared fifty-feet ahead of them, screaming and making for a head-on collision -
" - World -"
- and a hundred men appeared on each sidewalk left&right, hundreds of bullets rising in the air -
" - Blackburn!" panted Serena, swift fog reinforcing the vehicle further as a hundred gunshots entered it -
" - Worldwide!"
- and a wall of ice erupted ahead; and in to the sudden barrier crumpled the truck, their own car driving up&over as a ramp of ice formed -
- but a strip of roadspikes appeared ahead, tires popping and car sashaying as they drove over; another ramp of ice brought them below, forced to slow as a dozen trucks appeared ahead -
" - Worldwide!"
- and an enormous wall of ice blocked the road ahead, secondary walls of ice forming around the vehicle, full-auto shots still cracking it from street level as they spoke -
" - stay here!" shouted Mia, gesturing to the man already ducking -
" - we're gonna go out there?" winced Rochelle, Twinfast's tail and claws readied, Tiffany at her side with Contagion's walnut -
" - we - do we have a choice?" panted Serena -
" - Serena! Are the bullets Revenants?" shouted Mia, Matoi in her tone as the walls started cracking outside -
- Serena's tentacle dipped in to the pockmarked car, rapid shaking head - " - no, they're not -"
- another barrage entered the hood&roof, sudden shooters in the apartment windows besides, swift sweep of fog filling their clothes with kevlar -
- and a roof of ice formed over their heads, swift scarabs outside repairing the pockmarked walls, giving them time to speak, the warzone outside filling their ears.
"We've, we could try to get out again -" said Tiffany - " - but -"
" - no -" said Mia - " - the way it appeared instantly -"
" - they've got someone transporting them." winced Serena, and Mia nodded quick.
"And him." she said, gesturing to the man - " - we have to deal with them directly."
"Ready?" winced Serena, readying to step out, and the four nodded -
- and burst out of the doors, ice armor forming over the car as they split in two directions, Mia&Rochelle left and Serena&Tiffany right -
" - melting in - three, two, one - now!" shouted Mia, and in the next instant -
- the walls of ice separating them from the sidewalk shooters melted, fifty feet separating each pair from the swarms of men; Mia&Rochelle rushed down, sword and tail readied, scarabs charring to ash what shots reached them as they came to the start of the swarm -
" - Worldwide!" shouted Mia, sword sweeping and meeting with five others; but none could stand against the blade that was rightfully her's. The scorching white went through the mob, half-men charred in to black pieces as the two surged, slashing murderously as they carved through, building at their right and sudden shooters seeking their heads -
- but a line of fire scarabs set the entire building alight, blaze shooting with the speed of fire down the entire row. All around them were men dying and screaming, stepping husks burnt red, decapitated skulls hanging off necks that were stained crimson. The mob was packed tight in the streets, a constant volley of foes as they advanced -
" - Twinfast!" shouted Rochelle, tail seeking three necks -
- and ripping out three skulls; another lead volley fell on them again, and as it came close -
- her tail swept up, bolts freezing them in midair, scarab swarm ripping men's skin off their bones below, hearts no longer beating as they fell rigid, pillars of white flame erupting ahead -
" - not a Revenant -" grunted Mia - " - where the fuck is the host?!"
"Just -" - another corpse with its eyes frozen shut - " - gotta keep going -" - said Rochelle -
- and as a raptor might dig a meal, ripped one of the men's heart out, whirl of claws and tail shredding another in to three halves, pressure of their strikes forcing the mob back -
- and three hundred feet behind, Mia heard the avenue-blocking walls shatter open, trucks starting their trek forward again -
" - fuck, I - I have to go back -" she panted.
Rochelle nodded, and with no time to waste, Mia rushed back down the avenue, hearing more gunfire enter the ice vehicle as she ran, and as a hundred feet separated her from the trucks -
" - Solar Beam!" she shouted, aiming her palms forward; the familiar beam erupted outward -
- and disintegrated every last truck as she aimed it back down the avenue; her aim shot to the burning buildings left, and as it entered their foundations -
- it disintegrated them in an instant, not a single ash left as they fell and collapsed, smoke and embers filling the avenue with rubble. She rushed back to the vehicle, new scarabs protecting it, four walls of ice forming around as she kept guard -
- and on the other end, the swarm still stood against Serena&Tiffany, Blackburn's tentacle dripping blood, dozens of men turned to red mist ahead -
" - Blackburn!" she shouted; a stream of black fog flew to one man in the midst ahead -
- and a thousand razorblades burst out of his body, storm of metal carving his compatriots to nine hundred and ninety-nine pieces; above, the building windows filled with gunmen again -
" - Contagion!" shouted Tiffany, throwing the walnut up, the keen end entering one man's skull -
- and his aim turned on his compatriots, fullauto shots entering every other apartment shooter's skull, corpses falling with drilled skulls out of shattered windows - but they had no time to rest.
Another hundred men appeared thirty feet ahead, infinite swarm appearing once more -
" - fucking shit, fuck!" shouted Serena, and by a sweep of Blackburn's tentacle -
- filled thirty men with thirty explosions, a hundred new members of the red mist club as they swept out to the road, meeting with Rochelle at the center -
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
" - god - damn, fuck -"
" - where's Mia -"
" - she went back - " - Rochelle ripped her eyes back, seeing only a frozen border around the prodigal car - " - to keep the guy - "
- a storm of gunfire arose ahead; with the speed of light the three turned, clothes of kevlar and rapid fog keeping them safe; in the next instant, Serena felt something moving behind, and as she turned again -
" - truck!"
- she saw another truck aiming direct for them, coming fifty feet within -
- and the next scene was instant. Contagion's walnut shot through the window and in to his skull; the truck veered away, turning and screaming as it flipped, trailer skidding towards the women with the speed of sound -
" - Twinfast!"
- and Twinfast's tail froze the truck mid-skid, blocking the avenue, swift dip of Serena's tentacle reinforcing it as another barrage entered from the other end -
" - we gotta like -" panted Rochelle - " - fucking shit dude, this fucking -"
" - there!" shouted Tiffany, gesturing wildly back -
- to a single manhole on the street. With no time to ask questions, the three rushed back and over, Twinfast's tail ripping it out, sewers down below.
"Let me, I'll - I'll get Mia, okay?" said Serena, and the other pair nodded, sweeping down on to the ladder, starting their climb down -
" - looks safe!" shouted Rochelle, and Serena nodded as she run back up the avenue, to at last come to the gates of the frozen prison.
"Mia!" she pleaded with the warden - " - it's me!"
- a door of ice melted, and in to the prison she swept, Mia still at the car and safe.
"We're, we found a -" nodded Serena - " - manhole, for a - a chokepoint -"
- Mia nodded. "Is - is it safe to take him out, then?"
"I - uh, hope so." panted Serena, and Mia laughed.
"Help me push the car, then."
The two laughed and walked to the car of ice's hood, and as Serena placed her hand&tentacle on it -
" - ow ow ow holy shit -"
" - sorry." laughed Mia, and Serena with her as she felt shared elemental resistance flow in to her, dulling the subzero chill.
"That's the first time you forgot." grinned Serena, wall of ice melting as they pushed the car back up the street.
"And hopefully the last." chimed Mia, coming up beside the manhole; but behind, a new swarm of trucks appeared -
- but the next scene was instant. A cloud fire scarabs melted the car to ash, ice scarabs keeping the man safe inside; Mia ripped him by his collar, and the two leaped down the ladder -
- and saw Rochelle below, readying to land on her skull -
" - uh - Twinfast!" she panted -
- and a sweep of tail&nails above froze the air, providing a safer platform for the three as they landed, Mia laughing nervous.
"Er - sorry." she chimed, and Rochelle laughed, stepping away careful, Tiffany behind her. Serena filled the hole above with steel, and the three rushed down, concrete paths along the sewer's walls.
"Really stinks, though." winced Tiffany, and Mia nodded.
"Still, we - may be able to lose them, here."
"Probably won't even wanna come down here." chimed Rochelle, and the five laughed.
"Man." murmured Serena, and the five started walking as she filled their wounds. "That shit was -
- and five groans filled the tunnel as the explosions began outside - they started their rush again, Revenants readied as they ran along the wall -
" - they might - we'll be alright if they try to collapse it, so -" panted Rochelle - " - they're not gonna know which way we went, so -"
" - there's - up there -" panted Serena, tentacle gesturing ahead -
- and there, two hundred feet ahead and left, a section of the wall opened to a tunnel; with no time to waste, the five ran up to the entrance -
- and saw no light within, careful footsteps as they halted.
"I - wait, what?" panted Rochelle. "There's just a…"
"That's the most obvious Revenant I've ever seen." winced Tiffany, and the others laughed.
"It, yeah, but -" - Serena winced as she glanced behind, hearing her steel barrier starting to buckle - " - if we go in - I can fill the wall up, and they, they can't find us, right?"
" - it's -" - Mia nodded - " - better than taking our chances up there."
"Yeah." nodded Rochelle - " - uh, we can just leave if something - happens, too, so.
The five stepped nside, Serena filling the hole with concrete behind, and a torch of scarabs lit the tunnel, hall tight but built for four, darkness at the end of the tunnel.
"Alright." whispered Mia, hearing the barrier shatter outside; the rushing of footsteps began again -
- and the five stood quiet as they heard the mob pass by, shouting and cursing for them as they ran through the sewers. A gesture from Mia, and the five started walking ahead, a second torch of scarabs for Rochelle as she took position behind.
"Um." Serena whispered, taking her cup out. "Can I take the back?"
"Sure." whispered Rochelle, and the two swapped. Streams of fog filled Serena's cup with glow-in-the-dark paint, and she kept the trail dripping behind as they walked.
"I - yeah, good idea. Serena." nodded Tiffany.
The five came to the end of the tunnel, fork in the halls starting. With a sigh, the five took the left -
- and saw a left turn up ahead.
"It's a maze." groaned Serena as they took it.
"There's - a trick you can do, I believe." said the man. "If you keep your, your right hand on the wall - you'll find your way out."
"Like this?" said Mia, pressing right, and the man nodded.
"Yes."
The five took the next right, and another, seeing a third right ahead.
Mia stopped and frowned, and the three laughed for a second.
"… well." said the man. "I - believe it has to be, done from the entrance."
"Guess so." laughed Serena, gesturing for the rest to follow the painted path back.
"It can be… I believe you can use your left hand, as well." said the man. "Sorry."
"It's - it's alright." laughed Mia.
"It does take… longer, but, it should be guaranteed."
"Mostly." grinned Rochelle, and they came back to the entrance.
"Yeah." nodded Serena. "Um, if we're gonna - if we're gonna do this, we should get more food - just in case."
Rochelle & Tiffany nodded, emptying their backpacks of clothes out, and Serena filled it with cans of food and bottles of water.
"Shit's getting strong, huh?" laughed Rochelle.
"Yeah, seriously." said Tiffany, and Serena smiled.
"Got a good mentor, too." She nudged Mia, and the mentor mock-blushed to cover her pride.
"Still." laughed Mia. "There - should be a Revenant, nearby - but we'll deal with it when it shows."
The five set off on their left-hand journey.
◆◆◆
Six hours later, the five had made what they hoped was progress, coming out to a clearing with four halls at the end.
"...we, uh." said Rochelle. "Kinda starting to get tired."
Mia nodded, and Serena painted an arrow on the left wall. "We'll - we should sleep in pairs, then."
"Mmhm." yawned Tiffany, and the two women&one man sat against the wall.
"…uh. Trying to think." said Serena - " - oh, um - Mia, can you make some pillowcases?"
"Of course." laughed the mentor, and the two set to work, pillowcases of ice getting filled with pillows. The three took their's, slumping on the floor, and Mia set torches in to the walls, keeping the chamber lit.
"… hey - wait, shit -" - said Rochelle, suddenly sitting up - " - uh - it couldn't be a Revenant that attacks us in our sleep, could it?"
" - wait, yeah - right?" said Tiffany, suddenly sitting as well. "I - shit, right? 'Cause we haven't seen anything yet?"
The five paused.
"… it's - possible." murmured Mia. "But if one does show up, we… do need to have our energy, and…" She frowned.
"… yeah. Yeah, yeah." said Rochelle, slumping back again. "…shit. There's, I mean - only one way to find out."
"Be careful." nodded Mia, and Rochelle nodded, closing her eyes. Tiffany gave her a kiss for good slumber, whispered something to her, and Rochelle smiled as she whispered it back.
"…and the rest - " - Mia yawned - " - er - Serena. Caffeine, please."
"Got it." chimed the punk, filling her cup with coffee.
The three talked while Rochelle and the man slept, thankful to find no disturbances. After an hour, they woke up Rochelle, and she had nothing to relay. The couple slept together, Mia&Serena watching as they sat against the opposite wall, facing the chamber's entrance, four exits at their backs.
"… man. This shit's so creepy." murmured Serena, and Mia nodded, on her third cup.
"At least we have enough food and water to last us for months."
"Yeah." laughed Serena; and her eyes pinched. "…uh. I gotta…"
She gestured vague to the entrance, and Mia laughed as she waved her away. Once out of eyesight, a trickle of liquid followed -
- and a scream a second later; Mia shot to her feet, rushing across the chamber and to the entrance hall, Serena fifty feet ahead -
- and there, a hundred feet ahead was the creature.
It was like a crimson & black nightmare as it ran down the hall at terrifying gait, and as it came within range -
" - Blackburn!" shouted Serena, streams of fog filling it with acid -
- and with aghast expression saw it still standing, seemingly unharmed as it sought her neck; she swept with the speed of light back and away, Mia at her side now, sword&scarabs readied. A pillar of white flame claimed the creature's body -
- and they saw it barely harmed, shaking rabid as it rushed - the women swept back, chamber approaching their backs as they stepped back, seeking distance first -
" - Rochelle! Tiffany! Run!" shouted Mia -
- and stifled relief to hear them awake quickly, already starting to run away, fifty feet separating them and the creature -
" - we'll - find the exit!" shouted Rochelle's voice behind, rapid footsteps starting to disappear.
Ahead, the creature stomped slow, and as it started its rush again -
- a wall of ice erupted out of the ground, and in to the frozen barrier it collided -
- and a dozen icicles burst out of the other end, pinning and trapping it there; the women stepped away careful, eyes sharp for its next move.
"It's gotta be really fucking durable -" - panted Serena - " - I did the acid, but -" - and in the next instant -
- the wall of ice shattered open in a storm of shards, creature breaking free from its containment; with no option left, the women turned and ran, keeping sharp left in the chamber. The creature was gaining pace behind, and in the next instant -
- it yanked Serena back by her jacket's sleeve, trapped on her own coat -
" - Blackburn -" - she winced -
- and scissors filled her new jacket, shredding it to a thousand chunk, freeing her from the creature as she landed and started her run ahead again, catching up to a rushing Mia. Her tentacle dipped in to a section of the floor, creature starting up behind again -
" - Mia, can you water it?" said Serena; Mia nodded, aiming her sword back -
- and a jet of water erupted behind, blasting and dousing the creature as it came over one casual section -
- and Serena sighed as it still ran, no damage done. "I was trying to do a reaction, it's not like that one we fought on the train -"
- Mia nodded, fire scarabs lighting their path as they ran, a fork in the labyrinth up ahead - " - left -" - she whispered, and as they came to the fork -
- a wall of ice erupted behind, blocking the creature's vision as they took the left, a second wall of ice blocking the right path as they kept their run. Three hundred feet separated them and the next fork, and as they came up, a carpet of stalactites grew down the right as they kept left, steps of the creature starting to slow behind -
- and the two ran down the hall, constantly rushing, stifling relief as the creature's screaming faded in to the other hall. They ran for thirty minutes longer, trying their best to keep left, and eventually started to slow.
"Okay - okay -" panted Serena, eyes still behind as they halted, breath filling their lungs - " - I think we lost it, or - shit, fuck -"
" - we lost Rochelle and Tiffany, too -" said Mia, and Serena nodded rapid, a constant spin to her eyes.
"S-Shit, shit, shit."
"Calm." said Mia, tapping Serena's shoulder. The protégé nodded, breath keeping shallow. "Calm."
"…y-yeah. Fuck. That's… I - we gotta find them. Right? Um."
"We… Were you able to -" - Mia glanced down the hall and stifled a sigh.
"Nope." winced Serena. "Um - sorry. Just, got…"
"It's, it's alright." nodded Mia, seeing no trail of paint behind. "Still, if… We… can't risk going back, but…"
"Yeah, and… Um. I dunno if I should keep the paint going, either - since it might try to track us that way, too." She nodded. "Wait. Hang on."
Her cup filled with paint, and she drew an arrow pointing back down the hall, 'ALREADY BEEN THIS WAY' below.
"I - yes." nodded Mia. "In case we - in case we're lost, again?"
"Yeah. Plus, uh… Yeah." Serena nodded, glancing back down the hall; and stifling a yawn.
Knowing her best friend, Mia held her hand out. "You sleep first."
"Um - okay." nodded Serena, and she laid down.
◆◆◆
The three ran in another section of the labyrinth, having lost the creature ten turns back, bags on their backs.
"I - alright." panted Rochelle, setting the man down, having carried him the whole way. "We - I gotta take a rest."
"Y-Yeah." nodded Tiffany, and the three caught breath as they waited.
"…a-apologies." murmured the man. "I'm terribly out of shape."
"It's, it's alright. No worries. No worries." said Rochelle, eyes behind. "Gonna… be a bit sore, but. I'll be good."
"Yeah. I'm gonna…" Tiffany winced, turning to the man. "… okay, so, I think what I'm gonna do… Is…"
"What's up?" said Rochelle.
"So, this…" Tiffany held Contagion's walnut up. "This'll give you like, kinda our sort of durability - but, it's gonna keep you kinda… controlled."
"Controlled? As in, mind control?" said the man.
"…yeah - well, kinda, but - I can only control your limbs. Not your mind. But, but I think it'll help keep you safe. Um. Right, Rochelle?"
"Er, yeah. Yeah, no, that sounds good, yeah."
"Whatever you need to do." nodded the man.
"Just swallow it." said Tiffany, handing it over as Rochelle handed him a bottle of water. He swallowed it, and his eyes went clear as Contagion claimed his senses.
"…alright." said Rochelle, crouching down. "That'll… that'll keep him cool. Whenever we fight, he can just run away, right?"
"Yeah." Tiffany nodded and sat down beside. "Won't have to carry him."
"…yeah." nodded Rochelle, calm starting. "…alright. We gotta - just gotta try to make our way out, first, and hope Mia and Serena are alright."
"They're probably thinking the same about us." chimed Tiffany, relevantly, and Rochelle laughed.
"Yeah. Hopefully. If we get out before they do, we can try to - maybe call for help, or something, before we go back in."
"Sounds good. Or, y'know. Maybe Serena will just yell bitch loud enough for us to hear her."
The two laughed.
"Sounds like her." grinned Rochelle. "Badass bitch might take the whole thing down herself."
"Yeah." laughed Tiffany; and her cheeks suddenly pinched.
"What's up?"
"…oh - man." She winced. "You know when you think about something embarrassing?"
"I - what is it?" laughed Rochelle, prodding her girlfriend. "C'mon."
"I just - when I called her a dude, and -" - she winced, and Rochelle smiled.
"It's cool, it's cool -"
"- yeaaah, I know, but - man, and Mia correcting me -" she laughed - " - I was so embarrassed -"
" - you had me to cover you." grinned Rochelle.
"Yeah - I did. I didn't even realize she was… I mean. You said she gets kinda sensitive about that stuff?"
"Er - I mean, not… 'sensitive' - but… She's kinda, um…" Rochelle paused. "She… just, kinda worries about looking masculine. Looking like me, you know."
Tiffany laughed. "I guess, like. She's usually so quiet in class, though - like, they'll go over - you remember how they do it, right? On Tuesdays?"
"The Revenant drills?"
"Yeah, yeah." laughed Tiffany. "Like - they'll get to her section and ask her if she has any like, special uses she wants to ask about? Like - if she wants to create an explosion, how she can do that, and if she wants to know anything specific. She's just like -" - she tried Serena's voice - " - 'no, I'm good. I have someone for that'."
"She has someone for that?"
"Yeah. Apparently she's like, dating Gamage's assistant."
"Yuruko? Guess that'll do it." laughed Rochelle. "She's super nice, though."
"Twenty thousand bucks nice." smiled Tiffany. "But yeah, though. I don't - I'm not saying it to like, make fun of her or anything. There's a few guys who…" She sighed. "…ugh. Just dicks. Whatever."
"They, uh. They make fun of her?"
"Yeah. Her voice, stuff like that. I just - I dunno." She sighed. "If Serena heard them, she'd probably fill their throats up with acid."
"Wouldn't mind that." nodded Rochelle. "They're just looking to… I dunno. No reason to care about them."
"Yeah, exa-"
- the creature's screams began behind; the three shot to their feet, turning their eyes behind -
- just in time for it to carve Tiffany's chest open in a shower of blood; she shrieked as she stumbled back -
" - Twinfast!"
- and a sweep of Rochelle's tail bolted her wounds shut, a second sweep seeking the creature's legs -
- but a stalactite of concrete burst out of the ground, pinning and impaling it to the ceiling; Rochelle laughed as she stepped back, knowing it to be her girlfriend's work, one of Contagion's walnuts having taken control of the floor.
The creature shook rabid, and in the next instant -
- the stalactite collapsed and shattered, suddenly hollow as it fell back to the ground; the three ran back as the creature screamed to sudden pursuit behind -
" - the - it got rid of the walnut!" shouted Tiffany as they ran; a second concrete pillar formed behind -
- and was just as quickly hollowed out again, creature only twenty feet behind now -
- but the next scene was instant. A dozen pillars burst out of the walls, leaving a section smaller than the creature open; and in to the bars it smashed and stumbled, stopping for a moment as the three ran further away.
Rochelle's tail swept the air behind, bolts forming a bar of solid air in the middle of the corridor.
"It's - wait, it's hollowing it out?" panted Rochelle as they ran, thankful to see the creature still idiotic behind and fork up ahead. "Isn't that - that's like, the opposite of Blackburn -"
" - shit -" winced Tiffany, taking the right path, and up ahead -
- was the creature again; the three shrieked and stumbled back, turning back and readying to rush down the other path -
- just in time for it to grab Rochelle's neck -
- but the next scene was instant. Her tail swept a bottle of water from her bag, smashing it open on the creature's head -
- and a dozen bolts pinned the film of water direct it to it, suddenly drowning overwater as it stumbled back and released Rochelle -
" - just keep running -"
- and the three ran back down the left.
◆◆◆
Serena woke up Mia the next morning, and the two started their trek.
Two hours later, they backed out of a dead-end, still staying left as they took another turn that had been a right.
"Let me know when you're tired." said Mia, and Serena nodded.
"Yeah. Um, still got a few more hours in me, so." She stifled a yawn. "Just - was really bored last night. Keeping watch."
"There's no videogames down here." chimed Mia, and Serena laughed.
"Yeah. I mean, I could get on my phone - but." She shrugged. "I dunno. Um."
The two walked silent for a while longer, taking one left.
"…gonna get boring." mumbled Serena, and Mia nodded.
"I also need to rest soon, as well, but…" She sighed, and Serena nodded.
"Do you mind if I sleep first?"
"So long as you leave a cup of coffee." smirked Mia.
"Yeah. We've got food, but… ugh. This shit's creepy." she muttered. "Um. Can we talk about something… I dunno. Just, something besides this? Um."
Sensing her growing fear, Mia nodded. "What would you like to talk about?"
"Umm…" Serena's lips pinched. "…oh, um." She laughed nervous, eyes ahead. "Is it okay if I ask about your… your, um."
"My…?" said Mia; and nodded. "I - er. Yes, that's - alright."
"I didn't say what it was." grinned Serena, and Mia smiled.
"I did say I was going to tell you, eventually." She laughed and nodded. "What did you wish to ask about, then?"
"He - did he actually rob Morgan Bank, then?"
Mia nodded, remembering her mother's tale. "Yes. He… one moment." She paused. "My mother told me that he had Styx since birth, but kept it secret until then. He had lost his job, recently - my mother was working part-time, and…" She smiled. "He thought it was better to risk being caught to help us."
"Sounds pretty risky, yeah." laughed Serena.
"He had a few others with him for it, but they… killed a few Urasaria students, who showed." Mia frowned, other memories returning. "…er. That - that was why he confessed. To their murders, in exchange for a lighter sentence."
"Yeah." Serena nodded. "Um. Sorry if I - just don't know what to say. I wanna hear more, though."
"It's alright." Mia smiled, glancing behind. "He did manage to hide some money away, however." She laughed - " - he, actually - hid his share in three separate places and when he was sent to prison, wrote a very, very obvious letter to my mother saying the money was stashed in one area -"
" - wait, so they -" - Serena laughed - " - so they went and dug it up -"
" - they did." laughed Mia. "The second - something very coded - but, of course, they were already looking for it once. They caught him again for it."
"Man." Serena grinned. "What about the third one?"
"He had told my mother where it was before." She smiled. "She has a friend who still collects it - every now and then."
"Man. Yeah, I read online it, like - it was probably over ten million dollars, but - you mentioned… Yeah."
"Even I don't know how much it - how much my mother has collected, admittedly." murmured Mia. "I assume there's some way she's avoided being caught for it."
"Super secret." grinned Serena. "Maybe she has a Revenant."
"As if." Mia laughed -
- and halted as they heard it behind, past a corner.
"Here we go." winced Serena, sudden whisper as they turned -
- and there, a hundred feet away rushed the nightmare, glowing white as its howling filled the corridor -
" - Worldwide!"
- a wall of ice erupted ahead; but in the next instant -
- the frozen wall collapsed, hollowed out and shattering far quicker; the two started their rush that felt eternal down the labyrinth again. Icicles formed in Mia's hands as she ran, streams of fog filling them as she threw the projectiles back -
- and the sharp ends of each pierced through the creature, burrowed inside its body -
- and a dozen explosions erupted from within, explosives Serena had planted within the icicles blasting and tearing inside the beast -
- and still it chased, no apparent harm done.
"It's - not invincible from the outside, fuck -" groaned Mia, relevantly; the two turned their eyes back as they ran, and in the next instant -
- Serena shrieked as a second one appeared above and threw her to the ceiling, smashing her neck against the concrete -
" - Worldwide - Frozen Ray!" shouted Mia, aiming her palms above -
- and a frozen beam erupted from her palms, immense chill stopping the creature and releasing its grip; and Serena fell again, frantic streams of fog refilling her wounds. They started their fleeing again -
- and the two creatures disappeared, the women still running, trusting nothing within the maze.
"Here, Serena -" said Mia, handing a scarab to Serena and seeing the fork ahead - " - if, if it goes out of range -"
" - stay, stay where I am if I can, yeah -" nodded Serena -
- and Mia took the left as Serena took the right, tracker scarab ensured in Serena's grip as they ran.
◆◆◆
In another section of the labyrinth, the coupled pair walked. The butch had kept stone as she could.
"Still got plenty of food, and water." she muttered, digging in her bag. "Keep following left, right?"
"Right." said Tiffany. "Maybe get out by next year."
The two laughed, and Tiffany made the man laugh.
"Man." grinned Rochelle. "Like a zombie or something."
"Gonna make him eat your brains." grinned Tiffany, and the man's hands extended, walking as the dead might. "Man, though. Already February - March, basically."
"…yeah." muttered Rochelle. "Um, yeah. Gonna be getting your own protégé in a few months."
"Yep - gonna be sick." laughed Tiffany, and Rochelle remembered how her exam had gone. She wondered if to tell her then.
"Just, uh - be careful." mumbled Rochelle, thinking of time away. She worried that once she wasn't around Tiffany every day, the luster would wear off. "You know if you - need anything, um… you know."
"You know?" grinned Tiffany, patting her girlfriend's shoulder.
"I - you know." laughed Rochelle. "Just, you know I'm always here for you."
"You're always super protective of me, jeez."
"Yeah - but you like that - right?"
Tiffany smiled and laughed. "Yeah. It's pretty cute."
Another fear hit Rochelle. "Um - y-yeah." She laughed. "Um - but it's cool, too, right?"
"Yeah."
Rochelle nodded. Another few words were wanting to barge out her mouth, but she kept her worry down with Tiffany smiling. She needed reassurance, but not too much. "Um. I love you."
"I love you too." chimed Tiffany, and the two kept silent for another few minutes, another dozen turns.
"If this keeps going on…" Rochelle winced. "We gotta get out of here. Before it learns to counter all our Revenants."
"Y-yeah." nodded Tiffany.
- and they groaned as they heard it scream behind; and in the next instant -
- the keen end of an icicle pierced Rochelle's back; with the speed of ice she turned, seeing another volley heading for them ahead -
" - Twinfast!"
- but a sweep of her tail froze the frozen projectiles, claws ripping out the initial projectile and bolts stitching her wounds; behind, Tiffany sent the man fleeing, and in the next instant -
- the icicles burst in to flames, immense heat suddenly burning their skin; Rochelle threw her hands forward, desperate bolts trying to stop the heat, creature still fifty feet ahead. A rumbling began below, and in the next instant -
- a fissure erupted at its footing and shot with the speed of sound towards the women, carving and swallowing the ground in its wake; no option left, the women ran back and away, desperate to avoid the fissure growing closer by the second -
" - it's gold, now -" said Rochelle as they ran - " - so - Worldwide, opposite, gotta be - "
" - fire, ice - ground, armor!" shouted Tiffany, and Rochelle nodded, eyes turning back -
- and seeing the creature burrowing in to one of the walls, disappearing out of their sights, and before they could react -
- it erupted out of the ground ahead and blocked their path, suddenly only twenty feet away; it swept down in to the ground again -
- and burst out beneath Rochelle's feet and up to the ceiling, carving her chest as it flew up and disappeared; the agony staggered her back -
- just in time for a blue beam to erupt from the end of the hall -
- and slice her right leg clear off, blood bursting as she fell back -
" - C-Contagion!" shrieked Tiffany, desperate walnut shot in to Rochelle's skin -
- and her controlled limbs ensured durability as Rochelle bolted her leg back on and wounds closed, walnut fading and control returning as she stood again.
At the other end of the hall, another blue beam erupted outward and sought Rochelle's chest; instincts too quick for her mind, she threw her hand out -
- and the beam carved a clear hole through her palm, swift bolts forming to keep it trapped in place, grunting and cursing as she staggered back; but she had no time to rest.
A rumbling began from the wall right, and as the creature burrowed out -
- a sweep of bolts froze it halfway out, trapping and pinning it; and with no time to waste, the women ran again.
◆◆◆
The prodigal pair woke up together the next day. Serena updated her map as best as she could, Mia keeping their phones charged in the depths. They started walking, and were mid-conversation an hour later.
"And you'll be a mentor, in a few months." chimed Mia, and Serena grinned.
"Yeah. I'm pretty excited for it, actually. We, um..." Her eyes lowered. "… we're still gonna talk, right? When you're not my mentor?"
"I - of course."
"Coolio. Um - I know some people get kinda weird about that stuff, so." She smiled. "What do you do in your third-year, anyway? You don't get a new mentor, right?"
"No, no. At that point…hm." Mia nodded. "If Marisa or Matoi become president, I… assume they'll ask me to be in their squadron."
"And if Kirihara becomes president -"
" - don't even think of it." winced Mia, and Serena laughed.
"Ugh. That'd really suck."
"It would." Mia sighed, and Serena nodded.
"Uh, but anyway - me being a mentor. That'll be cool."
"You'll be the stronger one in that pair." said Mia, waving her finger. "Be careful."
"Yeah." Serena laughed. "I don't have any kamehemahas, though. Gonna be hard."
"Is that something from one of those cartoons you watch?" grinned Mia, and Serena cracked at the normie.
"Uh, it's called animé, Mia, and it's art." said Serena, hopefully relevantly some day (but likely never). "I'll show it to you when we -"
- and the screams began behind; the women turned, and in the next instant -
- it pounced on Serena's chest, hacking and slashing murderously at her throat, pinning and throwing her down -
" - Bfffbgg!" she shrieked -
- and a jet of water blast it back, sudden steam filling the hall as it shot up again; starting its pursuit again, desperate ice scarabs swarming it as the women fled on the other end -
" - it's - vaporizing my water!" shouted Mia, final spray of water erupting behind as they ran, and as the creature came halfway through the mist -
" - Blackburn!"
- streams of fog filled the steam with concrete, forming a wall in the tunnel; and in to the barrier smashed the creature, women still running down the hall and away.
"Here." said Mia, handing Serena the traditional tracker scarab, only one turn left ahead. As they veered past the corner, their eyes turned back -
- and saw the wall of concrete moving freely, a section peeling back; its screams filled the hall as it rushed out of the aperture -
- and down another hall ran the women, desperate for no dead-ends as they turned another corner -
- and finding an exit ahead&right. They hurtled and rushed down the hall, creature in close pursuit behind, only fifty feet separating them and the exit -
- and out they burst to another sewer, veering left and daring not stop their rush on the concrete, ladder to another manhole up ahead. They came up to it quick, leaping on and readying to climb -
" - wait - sorry, wait -" said Serena, and Mia ripped her eyes back -
- and squinted as she saw no creature, catacombs exit bare.
"… It's..." Her head cocked.
"Maybe it's out of its range?"
Mia nodded. "Worldwide."
A bridge of ice formed to the platform across, and they stepped over; and saw the creature still standing in the hall.
"… Definitely an automatic one, then." murmured Serena, and Mia nodded.
"Then, is its host…?" She frowned. "Rochelle and Tiffany are still in there, but…"
The creature turned, starting to step away - with a pant, Serena rushed over the bridge and back in to the maze -
- and the creature turned, rushing at her -
- and she swept back out to the sewer, laughing as it stood stupidly at the exit, Mia grinning as she caught up behind.
"Yeah." grinned Serena. "So, we can help them that way, anyway."
◆◆◆
The coupled pair walked with their zombie.
"Might get out of here next year." yawned Tiffany, and as they turned the corner -
- they heard whispers of music in the distance; the two halted.
"…That's gotta be them, right?" said Rochelle.
Tiffany held her ear up; and smiled. "It could be a trap, but, if it's not…"
"Only one way to find out." nodded Rochelle, stepping up with Twinfast's tail&claws readied, hearing the volume grow as they got further in. Another few turns later, and as they turned one casual corner -
- there, the exit up ahead, creature at the exit with a laughing Serena&phone in the sewer -
" - dumb monster bitch! Can't even make me more -"
" - Serena?!" shouted Rochelle -
- and the creature turned to them.
It was like a nightmare as it ran down the corridor, legs hurtling it along at terrifying gait -
" - we - have it!" shouted Mia, rushing in to the corridor, the other trio rushing to reach the exit, creature midway between them; a swarm of ice scarabs froze it solid for only a second, buying time for the two to sweep past -
- and the renewed dour rushed out of the corridor and to the sewer, to the ladder out of the sewer -
"We - it's probably - no more range than that!" panted Serena, and as they climbed up the ladder -
- they found themselves in the middle of an empty street, sidewalk&hotel ahead. Four Revenants readied, four stood still.
"I - what?" sputtered Mia, reading the hotel's name - " - that's -"
" - yeah, that's - what?" said Rochelle. "… uh. Lemme check." She pulled her tablet out. "… uh. That's the place."
"That - it must have transported us, right?" said Serena, peeking over. "A whole state away?"
"…yeah." mumbled Rochelle. "That's what it looks like, yeah - unless this is part of it, too, but..."
Mia nodded. "We should drop him off, before any more show up."
"Yeah."
The five went inside, and Mia led them to a room on the third-floor.
"Oh. Uh, almost forgot." chimed Tiffany, and the man coughed Contagion's walnut back up -
- and fell limp to the ground, sudden control over his limbs again as he groaned.
"Gross." laughed Serena.
"We got out." nodded Rochelle, holding her hand out. "This is where we drop you off, right?"
"I… gggf." He groaned, dragging up against the wall. "…i-is it?"
"Er. Grand Prix Hotel, yes?" said Mia.
"… I-I don't know."
"Wait -" said Serena - " - uh, you - you remember why you're - whatever you're supposed to be - right?"
"…y-yes." he said. "Y-Yes. Apologies. I, I remember." He took Rochelle's hand and stood. "They… never said where I was to be dropped off. Only - who. Who was picking me up - you four, and… now, I suppose, whoever."
"…man." muttered Rochelle. "Serious secret agent shit."
Mia nodded, and knocked the door.
"Do I get to say it?" whispered Serena, and Mia laughed.
"Yes."
The door opened, and there stood a man with white eyes and a trenchcoat. "Yes?"
"Have you heard the good news?"
"What?"
"Our Lord and -"
" - fuck off. Go bother someone else." He shook his head and shut the door.
"…and now, we wait." murmured Mia. They waited another ten minutes, and the door opened again.
"…persistent. Fine." said the man inside, and they went inside, their own man going over to him.
"T-Thank you, heroes." he nodded, and the professional shrugged.
"You can leave."
"Wait - um." said Serena, holding her hand up. "What day is it?"
"February 28th, Friday, 2020. Why?"
"…oh." She frowned. "Um -"
" - we - encountered an autonomous Revenant in the sewer, near where we picked him up - and came out of the one in front of this hotel." said Mia, stepping up. "We were fighting it the last three days."
"I'm assuming you're telling me because it's still down there."
"I am."
"…right." he muttered. "What's it like, then?"
Mia relayed it to him, and he still stood bored, shrugging again. Apathy penetrated every profession.
"I'll send it higher up, then. Never heard of one like that."
"Thank you." nodded Mia, traditional naïveté still with her. "Is that all, then?"
"Yep." he said, keeping grip on the man. "You can leave. I've got it from here."
"You can't tell us why he's important, I'm guessing?" said Rochelle.
"Confidential."
"… right." Mia sighed, and the four walked away.
◆◆◆
They returned to Urasaria the next night, and Tiffany&Rochelle had scattered off for a date, leaving two walking up to Urasaria's gates.
"Another contract down." chimed Serena, and Mia nodded.
"But - no money, unfortunately."
"Uh, they said 'a good word for a government job'. That's totally worth it." grinned Serena, and the best friends laughed as they went inside.
"As if." Mia laughed. "Aimee's already offered to pay my licensing fee in two years, once I work for her agency."
"Uh, and what about me?" Serena's eyes went puppy, and Mia laughed.
"She may have a slot for you."
"Man. Still harsh." grinned Serena. "I really did think we'd get to fight more Revenants, though."
Mia nodded. "Still, we did fight some -"
- her phone vibrated, and she frowned at the message.
(Marisa) "3-star Mia-Mia! congrats!"
"What's up?" said Serena.
"I… One moment." murmured Mia, taking her tablet out to check the leaderboard.
#1 Mad Dog
#2 Decant
#3 Eclipse
#4 Symphony Regalia
#5 Prettiest Pink
#6 Glucosepane
#7 Rain-On-A-Wedding
#8 Carve
#9 Boudoir
…
#24 Swarm [Miasma]
…
#35 Boar [###]
#36 Ferrite-Man
…
#39 Plasma [###]
#40 Screwball [###]
…
#47 Genesis [###]
#48 Miasma (Swarm)
(Mia) "Was someone taken off the rankings?"
(Marisa) "huh?"
(Mia) "Serena and I weren't fighting anyone. Do you know if someone was taken off the leaderboard?"
(Marisa) "Oh Sad [https://www.royalroadcdn.com/public/smilies/sad.png] um, iunno"
(Mia) "Give me a minute."
She nodded as if Marisa could see her, protégé in anticipation beside.
(Mia) "Charlotte, did someone die recently?"
(Charlotte) "I just took two people off the rankings, yeah. Sad [https://www.royalroadcdn.com/public/smilies/sad.png] Was going to announce it tomorrow morning. Sasha Kennedy and Anastasia Blue.
(Charlotte) "Are you alright?"
(Mia) "I'm now three-star, I suppose, but…"
(Charlotte) "…oh. Yeah. Sad [https://www.royalroadcdn.com/public/smilies/sad.png] Sorry it had to be that way. Someone else must've hit three-star, too, so… I'll handle all the paperwork for your stuff, sorry."
(Charlotte) "You live with Serena, right? Were you going to move out this year?"
(Mia) "No. I'll live with Marisa Gwynevere - Boudoir - next year."
(Charlotte) "Alright. I'll sort all that stuff out. Hope you're doing alright."
(Mia) "Thank you. You too."
She relayed it to Serena.
"…oh." mumbled the punk. "That kinda sucks. Sorry."
"It's - no one I knew, but…" Mia frowned, and the two stood in their thoughts for a while. How many other students she had died that she didn't realize?
"…Let's go home." said Serena.
The new three-star nodded.
◆◆◆
[February 29th, 2020]
The prodigal day had come, and Saya had finished one final student-patient.
"… thank you, Saya." muttered Matoi, laid in bed.
"Bedside manner of this place just dropped to zero." muttered Makoto, the eternal pessimist. "That shit's so fucked. I mean, you fucking worked for -"
" - please." said Saya, holding her tattoo needle out, Luna beside her. "We will not speak of that."
"Yeah." nodded Aimee. "Federal license is all good. Got your papers and everything."
Saya smiled. "You've all been nothing but wonderful to me. I can't tell each of you how much you mean to me - but I hope it is not odd to consider you my friends." She grinned as they went to the prodigal protégé. "And you."
"Yeah." laughed Serena. "Um. I'm really thankful you let me swap Revenants. It's, it's really helped out, a lot."
"I'm glad it has helped you." Saya smiled. "There is one thing I miss, however." She took a cup from a nearby stand, and Serena laughed as she handed it over.
"Blackburn."
The cup filled with water, and the medic drank satisfied.
"… It always did taste better than the tap." The group laughed. "I would like for you to mail me a few gallons of it."
"Anytime." laughed Serena, and Mia with her.
"And," said Saya, turning to Hirogane - " - I cannot thank you enough for - all that you've done over the years."
"I just wanted to lighten my workload." he yawned. "Back down to two."
Saya laughed, and whispered something in to Luna's ear. The chef smiled and nodded.
"C'mon." said Aimee, gesturing to the door. "Let's head out."
Saya nodded, walking out with Aimee & Makoto.
"Goodbye, Saya." said Mia.
"Goodbye, Saya." said Matoi, and the rest waved.
"Goodbye." nodded Saya, and the three went out to the hall -
- to find a familiar figure at the end of it.
"Oh boy." muttered Makoto, already clearing aside.
"Go ahead." nodded Saya, and the other two went ahead as Armstrong came up to her.
"Ms. Yanaro." he nodded. "I'm terribly sorry it had to come to this. I hope you can understand it was nothing personal. You were always a hard worker - and I'm certain you'll be a fine asset to Aimee's agency." He held his hand out.
"Fuck you."
[END OF ARC: SEASONS DON'T FEAR THE REAPER]