"Gang Days" (Rynk Mini-Series No. 1) (Old, may be revised later)

'''NOTE: Like the title says, this is a bit old so my apologies if it's not structured very well. I'll be revisiting this to edit it in the future probably, but I felt I might as well post it anyway for context purposes. I feel I could make certain scenes involving a police station more realistic and the city itself more dangerous.'''

Introduction


The group was called “Heavy Metal”; a gang that was mainly in the state Supircor, in the country Supreta, the planet being Mobocan. Supreta was not a very nice country. The only good thing about it was the lack of laws. However the laws they did have were brutally enforced. Especially in cities like Elnoc, Rimro, and Semretches.



There were the main laws, don’t steal, pay taxes, no murdering, etc. Then there were laws against trading with foreign countries, especially the country’s rival, Gei Si Heir. The most well-known law however was the prejudice-based outlawing of the existence of what were called “Hellborns”.



Hellborns were split into three species. Acid Monsters, Black and green wolf-like mobians, with acidic liquid that went through their blood, Banshee-Mobians, white or silver cat-like mobians, with sound abilities, and connections to moonlight, and identities, shape-shifting, chaos energy-composed beings, of which there had been only one sighting of.



They were called Hellborns as an insult, for all countries, not just Supreta, feared them, and despised them. Most of the Hellborns were quite peaceful, while others were not, but the same could have been said for the average mobian. And because they were feared, they were exterminated. If any survived they would escape to Ytaris, or stay trapped in the closed-borders of Supreta, living in the shadows.



The country was fairly wealthy, but did not spread its wealth evenly through the states, making many very poor and run-down. The group, Heavy Metal, could not decide whether it was a band of Robin-Hoods, or petty thugs. Their leader, known as Vault, claimed he was seeking revenge against End-Ga Incorporated, an industry with high-tech machines, natural energy research, some scientific branches, and a very large partnership with the police.



Vault was a very fit Thirty-three-year-old slate wolf, with green eyes, a dark grey muzzle, and usually wore a grey suit. He was Scottish in accent, and kept very quiet about his intentions for whatever job was next. But then again, no one really cared as long as they got their cut, and they always got their cut.



The second in command was “Copper” though he preferred Adam, as it was his real name. He was a thirty-one year-old American-accented tall grey hedgehog, with trimmed spines, grey eyes, and also wearing a business suit, only white instead of grey. He stood out to say the least. His job was to double check on everyone, and take over if his leader was indisposed. As an added bonus he was also allowed to recruit new members, though Vault would need to give approval for any joiners.



The tech-side of the team went to “Chain” or “Carol” as her real name. She was also Scottish; a twenty-one purple and black chipmunk, with green eyes, a white vest, black leather pants, and quite a few piercings on her ears and face, though not her tongue. As on would guess, she would take care of the hacking, gathering information on the locations and people, and event doing entire jobs on her own if she needed, as long as it involved a computer. She was not the best hacker, far from it, but she did her job well, and rarely goofed up.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Two hired thugs of the team were “Nert” and “Bert” who were paid to answer to those names, though it did not tickle their fancy. Nert was a yellow chameleon with an American accent with blue eyes, while Bert was a brown hedgehog, with red eyes and an American accent. Nert was twenty-eight, and Bert was Twenty-six. They both were much smarter than the boss treated them, not geniuses or majors in calculus, but certainly not the type who would have to count with their fingers. They wore whatever they needed, or wanted, even coming to work shirtless, as their own form of defiance against Vault.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The team was treated so much like a family that Vault’s own son was part of the group. “Plate”, whose real name was Art (Not being short for Artemis), was a tall grey wolf, with dark blue eyes, tall ears, a slate-colored muzzle, and wore whatever he wished. His father did not mind. He was a fairly handsome Scottish boy at the age of fifteen. He was used to distract, sneak, eves-drop, or if needed, go into combat.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The second to last “member” of the team was “Neil Wozer”. He was a traveling-businessman in the over-ground, and a black-market salesman in the underworld of society. He often sold weaponry or other types of illegal items to Heavy Metal, but did not stick to just them. He was often offered a position, but kept to his own jobs. He was a brown chipmunk, blond straight hair, and green eyes, though no one knew what his accent really was. He would change it from time to time, however the accent he most commonly used was Irish, giving a hint to him possibly originating from the country Mercia.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The latest member of the team was known as “Demon-Steel”, a pale brown lynx, wearing a grey t-shirt, shorts, slightly-torn gloves, sandals, having turquoise eyes with blue pupils. She did not have a normal name, though her past family called her “Meryl” which she swore was not her name. She was hunted and found by Vault, who was very interested in a specific ability she had. Her bones were metallic, like a banshee-mobian’s. It would later be proven however that at least for the time-being she had no sound powers. Her accent was somewhat Scottish, though sounding slightly Persian. Vault had convinced her to come with his team after her previous family was murdered for harboring a HELLBORN, AKA her. At first she turned him down, but after a few days of trying to survive on her own, she was welcomed into the team. Plate was chosen to mentor her, as he was the closest to her age. So she learned basic combat, and was fairly good at stealth tactics.

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Part One
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Her vision was blurry. Fuzzy and shifting images of… tables? Windows? Desks? It took a while to focus in. “Guh…” Was the first thing that she managed to speak, clutching her head tightly as a massive headache set in.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Demon-Steel” slowly was able to concentrate on the images, and sound about her. The sounds were going in and out, the sounds of gunfire, screaming, pounding, a battle.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She was moving away from her spot now. She turned her head a bit and saw that someone was dragging her back by the arms. She was so out of it that she could barely feel it. Rynk pulled out the knife she kept strapped around her pants, and prepared to stab the person, but realized it was her team-member pulling her away; Plate. She could not see his face, due to it being covered by a mask, but his build and height was recognizable, not to mention he was the only one who’s scheme-mask was silver.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Don’t cut yet, Princess.” She heard him say under the grunting of tugging a metal-boned lynx away from the war-zone. Princess?! She hissed in her thoughts. The name did not sound appealing. But he was helping her, so she kept quiet.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Eventually they got to a hallway, closed off from the fighting. From there, Plate asked “Are you hurt anywhere?”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It took a while for her to even acknowledge that he was talking to her again, but slowly she felt around her arms and back, while making a half-closed eye-lid stare at Plate. Rynk had no nerves in her hands at all, so she did not feel anything.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate sighed and gently pushed her head over a bit, then laid back her slightly combed hair to check for head wounds. There was a small blue and dark red gash in the back left-side of her head. The blue and dark red part was blood.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Crud! Can you walk?” Plate hastily asked.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“U-um…” Demon-Steel wobbled her legs a bit, attempting to push herself up. No use. Plate put his arms under her shoulders and slowly lifted her up to her feet. He knew better to actually carry her. She would probably slice his head off, not that she hated him. Demon-Steel was just not the type to want help.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate kept Rynk braced for a bit while she started walking away. They made it to the end of the hall, leading to a metal-locked door, the money-vault.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Think you can open that?” Plate asked in a teasing voice.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The blurry sounds faded away, replaced by those words. Rynk concentrated, closing her eyes, slowly regaining her senses completely. She stiffened her legs, clenched her fists, and extended her long, thin claws. “… Sparta.” She slammed her right foot into the door, leaving a giant dent, not enough to break through, but rather large none-the-less.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… There we go.” Plate patted Rynk on the shoulder, then with a *cht-CHT!* sound ran back to the battle, no doubt guarding while she got to work.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk took a deep breath as she removed her foot from the door. Her claws were thankfully unharmed, mostly because they were metallic. She stepped back then charged her foot into the door a second time, leaving a large hole in it.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Five kicks later the hole was large enough for her to fit through. It was sharply-edged, but she had already taken quite a few risks. Rynk crawled into the hole, her face getting scraped as she went. Blue and dark red blood made her head itch, but her arms were too squished to scratch it, or wipe it.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">*shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-plomp* She fell through the hole face-first onto the floor. “Flag…” She hissed under her breath. Getting up, Rynk noticed the large amounts of locked cabinets, each with a code-box.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Break what you can’t figure out I guess.” It took about ten minutes, but she had gotten the money out. Surprisingly paper money was all that was in there. “Billions of Purmi.” Purmi being the name of the currency. Purmi was dark slate, and had designed-lines from top to bottom, showing the amount it was worth. One Purmi was worth one dollar and ten cents, with no coin-money.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“HEY! PLATE! BAGS!” Demon-Steel yelled out to her comrade. Plate turned around from the gunfire looking a bit surprised by the handy-work, but grinned and ran over. He then began slipping leather bags to Rynk through the hole.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Hold on.” Rynk moved away from the door then slashed off the handle from the other side, causing the door to swing open. “NO!” Plate grabbed hold of one of the shards sticking out from the door, causing his own hand to get cut, and yanked the door back into place. “If the alarm goes off they’ll start charging over here!”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… Then how do we get it out?” Rynk asked testily.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate looked around, thinking up a plan, which he would normally be good at, but he was interrupted by a gunshot going right above his head. Without replying to Rynk’s question, Plate turned around and began emptying rounds from his machine gun into the nearest living thing, aside from Rynk. “I’ll give you cover, just figure it out!” He ordered. He then charged forward, firing wildly at the police officers still going after them, as well as the bank security.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk’s mind began to clear up a bit more about how she got to this point. She remembered the plan, and part of the meeting. They had to get out before… the SWAT Team arrived.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Quickly, Demon-Steel moved the gathered money and shoved it into the multiple bags. She then tied the bags together, and started dragging them down the hallway, past the archway that led to the entrance, and further in to the bank.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A clanging sound went off behind her. It sounded like something being to- “Oh no.” Putting the money first, Rynk threw the bags ahead of herself, just as a grenade sent her flying forward. She braced her fall with her hands; thankfully the grenade was not close enough to her to make extreme damage, but it might have been aimed at her, and if that was the case, she was in for a bit of a tussle.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Shoving herself around, the thief shot her eyes around quickly to see if anyone was coming after her. No one was yet, so she quickly got up, grabbed the bags, and continued through the hall.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She came to a locked door, not that it was a problem. Scraping her claws around the handle was all it took. The door fell open and in she went.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The room was relatively medium in size. It appeared to be a changing room for employees, with their uniforms and name-tags around. And on the ceiling was her ticket out. “Air-duct. Perfect.” Rynk said with a toothy grin.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">After piling the clothing on top of each other to get to the escape-path, Demon-Steel cut out a hole and made her way up.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Meanwhile the battle was going on still. Vault was leading the assault, with no wounded on his side surprisingly, then again not all the team-members were in the fight. Chain was in a remote bathroom in a far-off side of town, while Copper had just discovered the empty money-vault, and was about to inform Vault when the swat team arrived.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“NOT NOW!” Vault growled. He was behind a desk with Plate coming up to his side.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“What now?” Plate asked calmly.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… Go.” The team stood up together, firing directly at their attackers individually, then made their way out through a balcony, which led to a long jump to another building, as the bank was five stories high.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">After quickly making their goodbyes to the nice armed people, “Heavy-Metal” broke into the building, kicked the owners out of the way, and ran out the backside. The swat team had just made it to the balcony when the team had gotten out.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Taking three motorcycles, and a large van, the team sped away as quickly as they could. The Swat team ran back into their vehicles and were quick to pursue them. Halfway through the chase, Copper noticed the authorities gaining on them. They were nearing a side-end of the city, which branched off into thick woods.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Risk-taking time.” He said to himself, which was ironic as he took the least risks of any of the members normally. “HEY! CHIEF!” He called from the trunk of the van.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“What!?”  Vault yelled back as he continued to drive, passing by law-abiding vehicles along the way.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Motorcyle only! We can lose them in the woods!”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Since when are you willing to risk that?”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“The cash wasn’t there! There’s a chance she got it!”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Money’s really that important to you?”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“No, I just get the feeling you’ll punch me if this ends up badly!”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">After a short pause, “Don’t think I’d punch ya, but I get your point. PLATE!”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate, driving one of the motorcycles, slowed down next to his father’s van, “Yeah?!”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I’m hopping on! Tell the same to Bert! For Copper!”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… Alright!” Plate sped up the cycle, jumped across to the other side of the van, and sped in front to Bert and Nert,  “Bert, you’re picking up Copper! Slow back!”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Nert and Bert gave each other a short whining stare, obviously not fans of the idea, then Bert followed Plate back to the others, while Nert waved to him from the front.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate and Bert went to the sides of the van. Copper crawled up to the front, and tossed the weaponry to them first. Guns were not cheap. After the weaponry was successfully hooked on, he jumped on to Bert’s cycle, which served upon contact, almost falling over. Bert fixed this by yanking to one side, making the bike spin for a bit, but stay upright. The two clung tightly and sped forward.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Vault forced open his door, prodding it open with the steering-wheel lock, and jumped on to Plate’s cycle. The cycle did a wheelie, so both of the passengers lunged forward, pushing it back into position. They revved off the road and into the woods, slowing down just slightly, while the car crashed right into a highway divider, instantly setting an explosion into the air, thus halting the Swat team.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The team had a total of four Headquarters. One in Elnoc, one in Semretches, one in the state Rison, in the city Arzil, and one in a foreign country used only if they were completely made.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Today, however, they celebrated, in Caconod, which was a mix between Africa and Mexico in appearance, which set it off from the rest of the rather metallic country. It even had a jungle at the end of it, which was outlawed to be damaged, as it was one of two left on the planet.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Caconod was a run-down city like most of Supircor, but still much prettier than the rest, and where it was damaged, it looked more like ancient ruins, with statues and previous museums in its wake. The color given to it would be tan, as most of the buildings were clay colored, by the sun made it look either orange or tan. There were markets, and restaurants, as well as quite a few motels. It was one of the largest cities in Supreta, and even became a state almost at one point, as it was only barely less than half the size of the rest of the state.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Securing a hotel, and hiding the weaponry, aside from some clothing-strapped weapons, the team went to a Restaurant, and enjoyed their successful evening. However once the main adults, and those who were not supposed to drink, got drunk, except for Nert who never drank, they realized that Rynk was not among them, and got into a bit of a frenzy, terrorizing the restaurant, but leaving it intact.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It took about a day to get to their Elnoc base, which was a large warehouse, deep in the city, and barely noticeable. Copper went to see Vault, who had been impatiently waiting for Demon-Steel to return. Copper could tell how stressed his leader was when the knife Vault held flicked out of its holder and back in again, which he had learned from being in a war with Vault meant that he had just thought up another bad thing that happened because of the bad thing that started a chain of bad things.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“The car, right?” Copper asked, guessing that the pricey van being gone was not a happy memory.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Correct.” Vault answered with a sigh, still flustered.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“It’s not like she’d run off with it normally, right? I mean…”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You never saw her leave. IF the cops didn’t get her, she’s gone with the money, and is out living her happy life.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I wouldn’t be too sure of that.” Copper kept his eyes from matching Vaults. He felt he might have gone too far.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“What makes you say that?” Vault asked calmly, reminding Copper that Vault never did get very cross with his second in command.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“W-well… she doesn’t seem the type of want huge money. I mean, the family she lived with was rich before we took her in, and she could have made out with their cash. I don’t think she’d want it for herself.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well, if that’s the case,” Vault got up from his seat, “then she’ll be back soon… OR she’s given it away to some random bum, and saved only enough to run off.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… How long do you want to give her?”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“A day.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Nothing more was to be said, so Copper walked out. It was storming outside, which meant that Chain was doing something with cards. Either with online solitaire, or with Plate with War. She turned out to be doing neither, and Plate seemed to be in the same mood-set. Copper could believe that they were worried about the girl, but he honestly didn’t think they would be that worried. She was the latest member, and not very open, or friendly with anyone, so why should they care?

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Then again, Plate probably was worried because she was a possible love-interest, someone he could run off with if the whole deal went south, that is if she were to agree. And with Chain… it was a mother thing no doubt. Demon-Steel treated no one particularly horribly, but she did occasionally allow Chain a conversation or two.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Two hours had passed. It was ten now. Ten at night. The storm was still going. The front door was cut open, its high-security code-box lock broken in the process. The steel door fell forward, with a wet and shivering Rynk, tugging heavy wet bags into the lair, sneezing a bit as she went.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate went up to greet her, but all she did was drop the bags at his feet and slowly, and tiredly, walk to her part of the base, still shivering.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Oh… er…” Copper ran up to Rynk and put the first thing he found, which turned out to be a newly still-wrapped rug, and put it over her shoulder, trying to give her some warmth. She grabbed hold of it, then closed the door behind her.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“So she’s back…” Copper informed, stating the obvious, but just so Vault could hear in the other room. Plate was checking the money, which while a bit wet, had only a few bills with blurred paint. “It’s all here, Dad.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Vault looked over, then smiled a bit. He put his knife back in its holder and the team began celebrating, throwing the money about, and cheering. Nert, Rynk, and Chain stayed out of it.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Later on, Chain came into Rynk’s room, after breaking off the hinges of the door, as it was too blocked from the inside to open the right way. The large amount of items and the mattress that were used to block the door fell flat in front of Chain. Rynk was sitting in the corner, looking out a hole she made in the wall, which showed the night sky, though it was hard with all the rain.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You’re mad that we didn’t look for you?” Chain guessed.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“It took me days to figure out where you all were.” Rynk replied angrily. “I went all the way to the Restaurant, asked around, and then Base Two, where you weren’t. I came here after all that. I went to the meet-up point, and no one was there.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“The cops were blocking it off.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk sighed, “I got all that done by myself. No one helped. I’m not complaining, that’s just what happened. Plate dragged me out of the way, so that’s something, but everything else was all me, including getting away from the Swat team, which wasn’t fun.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Look, I’m… sorry, I tried to tell Vault, but he wasn’t willing to go back.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well now everyone can celebrate their money, right? Maybe get me some cold-medicine, or sleeping-pills.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well I think we have those already.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">At the sound of that, Rynk got up and walked out of the room, then came back with the two types of pills, swallowed them with a glass of water, and began to put her mattress back on its part of the floor. She wasn’t treated badly with no actual bed mind you, this was simply what she preferred.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well I-“

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Chaaaaain!” Vault called from behind.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Gah!” Chain hissed, her ears laying back a bit.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Go ahead.” Rynk sighed. “I’ve given you enough of a guilt-trip.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Again, sorry.”  Chain walked over to Vault’s office/room, then came back after a minute. “He wants to talk with you.” She said in a very bored tone.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk sighed and walked out to Vault’s office. “You did good.” Vault complimented. Rynk didn’t reply, she kept her eyes looking at the desk, with a half glare, have dull stare.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… We’re going to go after the big one soon, now that we have the cash to do so. Everyone will be coming along, and we’ll be getting high-tech armor and weapons for it.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk still kept silent.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… Sorry we doubted you. If we had known where you went we would have looked for ya.”  And still no reply. “Why don’t you go with Chain on one of her little shopping sprees tomorrow? Fresh air and all that.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“If I don’t have a cold by then.” She pointed out.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Yes… well, that’s all for now.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk walked out silently. Chain walked up to her, “So what did he say?”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You weren’t snooping?”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I was too busy to.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">After a short pause and a sigh, “He wants me to go shopping with you tomorrow. Girl’s day or something I guess.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Oh… Sure. Sounds like a good idea.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“If you say so.”

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

Part Two
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain slowly opened Rynk’s door, and tip-toed to the bed. She noticed that there was another mattress, a cushioned one at that, below her own feet, instead of on the bed itself. Never the less, the small curled up bundle under the sheets that WAS on the actual bed appeared to still be asleep. Carol nudged her a bit, with no form of acknowledgement coming back. So she nudged her again, poked, then finally pulled off the covers.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Carol sighed, “Pillow.” Pillow and blanket to be specific; yes Rynk had made a decoy. “Who knows where she is…”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Carol turned around only to have a hand go *FWOP!* right in her face. “Ow!” She looked up and saw that the hand that had hit her face was Rynk’s, and that Rynk was sticking to the ceiling, asleep. *Zzzzzzzzzzzhhhhhhhhhhzet!* *plop* Rynk’s hand had edged away the magnetic cling that kept Rynk sticking upward, and the large-eared lynx fell directly on top of Chain.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… Ow…” Chain realized now what the mattress on the floor was for; to catch Rynk when she fell off the ceiling. Rynk stirred awake, groaning from the impact, and quickly realized that she had not fallen on top of the mattress.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“S-sorry!” She sprung off Chain’s back and began helping her up.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“It’s alright. How is sleeping like that comfortable?” Carol questioned.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I dunno, I just… do it. Need something?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well we were going somewhere today, remember?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk winced at the reminder. “Oh yeah… shopping.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well if you didn’t want to do that you could say so.” Chain noted, looking a bit put out.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I… don’t know if I want to go or not. *sigh* I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well take a shower, get some normal clothes, breakfast, and we can go.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk nodded and started out. She preferred a shower first, breakfast third, but she didn’t have any other clothes, aside from a black suit she used for their… missions, and that certainly wasn’t going to look normal enough. Normally she would simply take a show while her clothes were getting washed. Once she was eventually kicked out of the shower she would hide in her room till Chain snuck her clothes in for her.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk walked past Plate, who half-jogged up to her with a cheerful grin, “Heard you’re going to get some girl-stuff at the store.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Clothes are worn by both genders, but yeah.” Rynk answered with a confused-sounding tone, slowing almost completely to a stop.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well I meant like jewelry and such. Hope it’s not too terrible an experience.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Terrible?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well y’know, you being a tomboy. Tomboys usually hate doing girly stuff, mascara, ear-rings, dresse-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I-, I’m not a tomboy!” Rynk protested weakly, feeling slightly hurt, which surprised her a bit seeing how normally she wouldn’t care.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Right.” Plate grinned with a pitying stare, thinking she was joking. “Well have fun anyway.” And with that he trudged off.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk stood blank. She pulled her shirt forward, looking for what made her look less feminine. The shirt was grey, which did not imply beauty, and her hair did admittedly look less eye-catching then she had hoped. She did not wish to be eye-catching for the most part, but she did not want to be seen as anti-female.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain came knocking on Rynk’s door while the lynx was waiting for clothing to wear. “Hey I got you some normal clothes to wear this time. Y’know, ones that aren’t torn for the public and all.”  Chain could not be sure but the reply sounded almost like a hiss. “… Rynk? You okay?”  Chain never called Rynk Demon-Steel. She hated the word Demon, even if she did not believe in the stuff, and comparing Rynk to one just made her angry, which was surprising since Rynk did not seem to care much at all.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Normal clothes?” Rynk echoed in a sigh.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Yeah normal clothes! A striped green T-shirt, and blue jeans! And Tennies!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Tennies?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Shoes.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Oh. … Alright toss em in.”  Rynk opened the door slightly, and Chain stuffed the clothes through.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk came out a few minutes later with the clothes on, her ears dropped a bit over her face, with a small frown showing. She stayed like this halfway through the car-ride to the mall. Chain could not stand for it at one point and asked, “Uh… You hate them that much?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“No… they’re fine…” Rynk replied in a miffed tone.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Then what’s wrong?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk sighed, brushing her ears back so she could face Chain, “Plate called me a tomboy.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… Oh…” The subtle and soft tone seemed much less surprised, almost confused. Rynk could guess what that meant. Another sigh was followed by “You think I’m a tomboy too…”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I, didn’t say anything.” Chain noted, going back to keeping full eye-contact on the road.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well I guess I can’t blame you guys. I… I’m not trying to not act… girly. Just because I’m moody or tough I’ve got to be a tomboy?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I… think… it has to do mostly with your clothes.” Chain shot Rynk a quick glance and returned her eyes to the road.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Really?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain kept silent, then steered the car over to a break-stop and stopped the car. “Okay,” She began, “you don’t like being called a tomboy, right?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Right.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“And you ARE interested in girly stuff?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I… I don’t know… I just never got the chance to try it I guess.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well you know where we’re going so it shouldn’t be that hard. If you like what you see, we’ll get it, and you won’t look so tomboyish… just… don’t try to overdo it to show Plate. I’m pretty sure it’ll backfire.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk got what she meant by that. If they came gallivanting back “home” all bling-bling-ba-ching fashionista style, it would look like Rynk was trying too hard just to prove to Plate she could be feminine. Chain subconsciously found it a bit childish. The way she figured it, Plate, being fifteen, probably was treating Rynk, who was thirteen, like a child, and teasing her as such, like an older brother more than a playmate or friend. Rynk, who had no other boy near her age, probably saw it as a boy who thought she could not be girlish and therefore could not be found attractive or find love, which was of course ridiculous.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain did not have a huge plan on fixing this. They were thieves for crying out loud! Family issues didn’t really pop up all the time. And Chain was not an expert on romance issues. Her last relationship was ten years ago, and it was barely a month long.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">They arrived at the Mall, a plaza Mall, large and grey on the outside, with a loud sound of nearly thousands of people inside, maybe a little less. There were always risks about going to these places. Chain was especially concerned. The reason for this was that because they did not live on the right side of the law, someone could recognize their voices, they’re appearance, they’re shopping habits, etc. The strange thing about Chain being worried about this though was that she had the least chance of being found out as she, being the techy, rarely went out in public when they had a job to do.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Then there was Rynk. Whenever someone told this girl to be careful, she obeyed, but she had to be told to be careful very often. “Don’t go that way!”, “That ledge is too steep!”, “You can’t outrun the police cars!”. Why wouldn’t she think not to do these things on her own? Well while Chain simply thought it was rebellion, the truth of the matter was that Rynk had no plan, no life goals, no drive. If she did, the Team would be missing a member by now. What could she do? Leave the group? Okay then she could travel, but wait she wouldn’t be able to without clearance, which her team had. And where would she go? What causes would she have? There were none. She stuck around with the Team for this long simply because she needed food to eat. If she were to die, who would mourn? Chain and Plate maybe, but what good would that do? What would she leave behind? So what does someone with no reason to live or die do? She tosses caution to the wind, and does whatever to get the job done, reckless or otherwise.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The lynx’s ears laid back instantly, while she cringed from the loud noises. It was a miracle her ears weren’t deaf already with how large they were. “You gonna be okay? I could get some stuff and you could choose later.” Chain suggested.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“N-no… I can take it…” Rynk kept her ears back, but managed to keep her eyes open in a straight face and walked forward, looking about for clothing shops. Now she felt thoroughly pathetic. Not even strong enough to listen to crowds in a mall? Hopefully she would get used to it.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Five minutes into the walking, Chain pulled Rynk into a clothing shop called “Al Cabaz”, it was somewhat darkly lit, and medium in size. The clothing appeared to be mostly black, which made Rynk cringe. “I don’t think Emo will help the image thing.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“This part’s for me.” Chain chuckled, looking at and handling some of the threads. “Not that you can’t look around. If you like something, fine with me.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk did not want to like anything from there. Emo was not a style that appealed to her. But maybe there was something that would not look too dark to wear. Surprisingly she found a white shirt with pale blue words on it. They read “Windshield”; she assumed that was the brand name.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">While the shirt was not emo-looking, it did not seem to match her fur or hair so she looked for something else. There was a dark blue shirt, with some sort of black explosion on it. Maybe she could get that. It looked cool enough. “You like that?” Chain asked, standing next to her.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk jumped a bit after realizing Chain was next to her, “U-uh yeah I g- … I don’t know. Maybe.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well…” Chain pulled the shirt out from the rack and held it up to Rynk, “It looks cool but it doesn’t really go with your fur… or hair…” Chain slowly gazed around briefly then turned back to Rynk, “nothing here really does… I think we should do something about your hair.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“W-wait, what?” Rynk’s ears went up now instead of laid-back, but once they did, the noises set in again, and they bent back against her head once again. She tried to picture herself with purple or blue hair… she did not want to picture herself with any other color, but even those were not on her liked list.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Cut it, comb it, curl it, something to make it look less… natty.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk would have been offended, but it was true, and at least it was not coloring it. She had very natty hair, even if it was washed and occasionally brushed. It was spikey, and not very attractive. Maybe a hair-cut would work… but… not too much. She liked having her bangs long.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Can we… check out what it would look like before changing it?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well… they’ll most-likely have a catalogue you can look through, and the budget Vault gave me is pretty large, so you could choose whatever.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Okay, thanks.”  Chain was quite nice to Rynk, and the others were as well. Vault constantly tested her, and as shown did not have extreme faith in her loyalty, but aside from that she was treated well. It was the simple fact that they harmed people and broke the law that made Rynk angry at them. But there were other reasons. She was angry at herself for being a hypocrite. She hated them, but she hated being with them, and hated living like them. And most importantly, she hated enjoying the thrill of it. But she did like Chain, and Plate was alright, though she wasn’t about to tell him that in case he though too much into it.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She’d often feel guilty whenever she had said something mean to them, especially Chain, and sometimes she’d apologize. This would be one of those times. “So… sorry about being all… moody yesterday.” Rynk mumbled as they walked out.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“It’s alright. I can’t blame you for getting ticked. I was pretty ticked at Vault myself. He wouldn’t even let me go look for you, saying we had to stay ‘under the radar’.” Chain finished by impersonating Vault with a mocking tone.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Yeah well he got his cut but I doubt he doesn’t doubt me anymore.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Oh come on, what makes you say that?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well for one I doubt me. I don’t have a real place in this world, and what I do now is just thievery, so maybe one of these days if something worthwhile comes up… I’ll disappear.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well…” Chain put a hand to Rynk’s shoulder, “if that ever does happen, at least send me a goodbye card or something.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Agreed.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">After being shoved away by a very eager man, the two walked into the Salon. “So…” The employee pulled Rynk’s hair up into a dome-like shape to check it’s length, “how do you want this?”  Rynk was sitting on one of the chairs they used, with a plastic-blanket around her to keep the hair from falling on her clothes.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I-I… dunno…” Rynk admitted, letting her ears drop a bit more in embarrassment.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Maybe something to match her stripes… something… curly?” Chain suggested.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Okay…” The hair-dresser raised Rynk’s ears a bit, looking still a bit surprised at their size, then noticed the blue ends and the moon-shapes of her stripes. “You… have very… different stripes than a normal lynx.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“That might have something to do with the tattoos.” Rynk fibbed. She could tell the lady was thinking banshee as soon as they entered the shop, and now they were on the brink of being found out.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Right… well… give me a second and I’ll see if I can find something in the catalogue.” The worker walked into an “employees only” room, and closed the door.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk hopped out of the seat, ripping the cover off. “Time to go?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain nodded. “That was stupid!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Pardon?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I practically gave her that info! Telling her to look at your stripes, real nice. Ugh! Well maybe there’s another one… one we can pay to not eaves drop.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“But… isn’t she calling the cops right now or someth-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">*PA-OW!* *PA-POW, POW!* Four gunshots. A man, the man that shoved past them, wearing a strangely colorful T-shirt, a long black jacket, black jeans, a red cap, and a mask that looked like a normal human face, but obviously was not seeing how it did not move when he spoke, stood halfway in the Salon and halfway in the path of the plaza. He had a pistol in one hand, and a machine gun in the other.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You all know why you’re here!” He began in an angry-sounding tone, “money! But not just money, nooo, no no no, I want some Em-ploy-ees of mah own!” He sounded somewhat cowboy-like, only he did not have the accent, just the slang. His accent was American (or in Mobocan, Mixess), which suggested he wasn’t from Supreta, as most people there were Persian or Scottish.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The crowds were already scattering, but a couple other of the man’s friends, also wearing the same attire, brought the locked-doors down, blocking them off. They cowered soon after. Chain and Rynk were still standing, Chain reaching for her gun, and Rynk standing there thinking of how to tackle the man. If she got shot, the bullet would bounce off. It would hurt, but she’d live. If it hit a civilian, things would get worse.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“CASH! CREDIT! AAAAAAAAALL OVER HERE!” The leader yelled, swinging his large gun about as a warning. Most of the employees complied, with some stores refusing and other employees shoving them away to get the money, and some simply refusing all together. The rebelling stores got noticed.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">One of the other thieves walked over to the clerk of the hardware store, a brown chipmunk, who was standing bravely, or stupidly, in their way of the store’s entrance. The thief grabbed the clerk and threw him across the floor. He slid from a bit, knocking into some of the crowd that attempted to move out of the way, and knocking lightly into the leader.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“So,” The leader pulled the clerk up by the hair, showing his pained face to the crowd. I need a volunteer to put this moron out of his misery!” The leader pointed at a random civilian, who appeared to be a father, kneeling over his family to protect them. The father did not move from where he was.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I guess I’ll set an example then!” The leader aimed at the father’s head… then *bang* the clerk fell dead to the ground… shot by Chain’s gun. Rynk turned and saw what her ally had done.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I-I… I was trying to hit the gun… out of…” Chain was tearing up now. She had just killed the man, innocent, stupid for choosing money over people’s lives, but innocent.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well that works. Who shot that?” A few people pointed at Chain, but Rynk stood forward a bit, pretending it was her, and blocking the view of Chain’s gun in the process.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You two, get over ‘ere!”  The leader ordered. Chain slowly inched towards the leader, thinking up any plans to kill him or at least get the guns away. Rynk did not move, giving a deadly glare to the thief leader. He noticed this. “I said two.” The leader reminded in a tested tone. Rynk remained still.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It was time to decide. If she let him shoot her, she’d be exposed, but if she went with him, she’d be in just as much trouble. Then she saw that Chain had her own gun pointed at one of the other thieves through her coat pocket. He had his gun pointed directly at Rynk’s forehead, getting a bit irritated by her lack of compliance.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Get over here, and hand me your gun.” He ordered again, moving closer and aiming down at her head.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk only swayed a bit in various directions… she was aiming. The leader took this as confusion or moral battling, “Five, four, three, two, one… I warned you, kid.”  The bullet shot straight through Rynk’s skin, knocked off her metal skull, and hit one of the other thieves in the side of the chest. Directly after the clinging sound went off, Chain shot at the guard opposite to the already shot one, hitting him in the neck.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The leader was all that was left. Sadly before either Rynk or Chain could do anything to him, the leader grabbed Rynk by the wrist, jumped behind her and used her own arm to choke her with, with the addition to his own. Chain instantly pointed her gun at him, but his head was too close to Rynk’s, though Chain could obviously tell that did not mean she could not still shoot at him.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Yeah it won’t matter if it hits her, right?” The thief hissed, barely dodging a stomp from Rynk’s feet, and keeping her in a tight hold. “You shoot at me, you hit her, all’s fine right? Well what if it hits someone else… again?”  The thief looked to the hostages now. “WE GOT A BANSHEE HERE! OBVIOUSLY PRETENDING TO BE NORMAL!”  Most of the people had already figured this out, but those who did not began to have random reactions emotionally, with many screwed-up faces and widened eyes.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk attempted to head-butt the man now, but he blocked her with his free hand. This left her left hand however free, which she promptly used to claw into his left thigh. The thief let out a large scream, STILL keeping a hold on her, and squeezing her neck even more; Rynk made a small squeaking sound from the painful squeeze, and scraped the wound on the thief’s thigh so much it went across his lower chest.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The man finally let go with his head-bracing hand, and reached to yank her hand away, moving his head just about right to- *blam* … What remained of his head splattered onto Rynk’s neck… and the floor.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk fell to the ground as soon as the grasp was no longer on her neck, coughing and panting heavily. Chain knelt over, and slowly helped her to her feet. “Are you going to be okay?” It took a half minute before Rynk could actually answer yes. But that was about to be proven wrong.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The thieves were taken down, but people trapped in the mall were aware that a moon-striped metal-boned feline was in their vicinity, and very few of them would ally with her.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The sound of blaring sirens from police cars increased the stress of the situation. The crowd began closing in on Chain and her ally. “What now?” Rynk asked.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“If we could open the gates we’d be in the clear… mostly, but I don’t think we can get through.” Chain whispered back, the both of them backing away from the hostile stares.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“WE JUST SAVED YOUR LIVES!” Rynk yelled at the crowd. Chain noticed something on the roof of the Salon and slowly moved towards it.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The crowd was slightly stunned by this reminder, but then one of them called out “You killed the clerk! How do we know you weren’t working with the robbers?!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I’m thirteen, I’m not even old enough to work for robbers!” Rynk yelled back angrily. She felt no hypocrisy in her reply as while she DID work for thieves, she was not old enough to, at least in her opinion, though then again, who is ever old enough for breaking the law?

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“The cops are here. Let them take care of it!” A lady suggested. The crowd stopped, obviously not wanting to get in more cross-fire.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain was motioning for Rynk to keep talking, but she did not know what about. She was about to deny being a banshee mobian, but frankly, even if she technically was not one… yet, there was no valid case she could give on this point. So a more direct approach came to mind. Lifting up the machine gun and pointing it at the crowds of people Rynk angrily yelled out “BACK OFF!! ONE STEP AND YOU’RE A SPRINKLER! GOT IT!?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The lynx felt very silly; ''a thirteen year-old, holding a crowd at gun-point, with a machine gun. Yeah that happens in an everyday life.'' She thought to herself, still holding the heavy gun.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The crowd moved back now, and just in time, as Chain let the gate over the Salon store fall down, and pulled Rynk back inside of it just as it clamped down onto the floor, catching one of Rynk’s toes in the process. She screamed briefly from the injury, but quickly held her mouth closed while yanking her toe out from under the gate.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“LOCK IT, LOCK IT, LOCK IT!” Chain dove down and the two quickly locked the gate.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">As soon as the crowd noticed what was going on they started banging at the gate, and tried to lift it up. The police stormed in, yelling about moving back and such, and drew their attention to the escapees. The crowd slowly moved out of the way, with some trying to stick around, some trying to run out, and some simply laying on the ground.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain ran into the Employees Only room, with Rynk hopping along, still in pain from her toe. Quickly the two made it out the back door at the end of the room, and darted away from the mall. Officers quickly noticed the two of them, and chased after.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">At the backside of the outside of the plaza was a concrete wall, with a fence at the top; behind it, trees, which led to what was once a park. As the two ran towards it, they could see clearly that the wall was too tall to jump over or climb over.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk placed the heel of her foot to the wall, feeling for any metal to magnetize to from inside. “Anything?” Chain asked frantically, looking around, and hearing the soon-to-come-around-the-corner police.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“It’s kind of faint…” Rynk replied, concentrating on the magnetic pulse. “I might be able to pull myself up, then pull you up after that. If you jump high enough I can probably pull you to the ledge, and you can climb from there.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Then do it! Hurry!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk nodded quickly, taking a few steps back, then dashed carefully up the wall, her feet scratching against it, as they lost and regained the magnetic pulse. She felt herself about to fall, but quickly grabbed hold of the ledge, and dug her claws into the stone a bit to hold herself there.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Once she had pulled herself up, both girls could see the police turning the corner. Without a second glance, Rynk jammed her foot through the fence, and reached out to help Chain up. The strain of pulling up someone heavier than herself, and having a now injured leg as one’s only hold, was unpleasant. It felt like her leg was going to snap off, but Chain thankfully grabbed hold of the ledge, and began pulling herself up.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk then turned to her leg. Breathing in and out nervously she yanked it from the chain fence, causing the broken pieces to stick through her skin and fur, and scrape against her metallic bones. She tried not to scream but it was impossible; a large paining wail came from her mouth as she tugged her leg free, eyes watering a bit from the experience.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain noticed this, and while sympathetic, knew they had no time for it. She grabbed hold of Rynk’s arm and began pulling her up the fence as she climbed. Rynk slowly followed suit, hissing and groaning a bit each time she had to use her harmed left leg.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Gunfire was blasting away at them. Thankfully the two had made it over the fence, but Rynk made sure to stay directly behind Chain, should one pass through the fence and hit them. By some means of fortune however, they were not hit.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The dash through the park, which had too many trees for Chain or Rynk’s liking, proved… maze-like, as they found themselves colliding with each other and the trees. Rynk was limping slightly from the injury, but Chain tugged her along none the less. “Just, wa-an-ted, to, buy, new, clothes!” Rynk complained humorously, using the speaking to get her mind off the pain in her leg.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain looked over at Rynk’s leg. It would need to be covered to block the blood soon. Rynk had the cloth she always kept on her ankle, but they did not have time to make a brace or cast yet. They needed time. The adult of the duo looked around quickly, noticing the fountains and such around the park, and restroom.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">An idea came to her, “Look around the ground!” She ordered. Rynk obeyed, though looking confused in the process. They came to a slightly dirt-covered cement area in the park, where Chain pointed at a half-hidden manhole cover. “That’s our escape.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Can we even lift that?” Rynk asked, examining the cover with a look of doubt in her personal strength.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“If we can lift one side, we can drag it off from there.” Chain informed, beginning to feel around for a good finger-grip. Rynk looked at her own rather large hands and fingers, and while she did not think they would help, she attempted anyway to help.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain eventually got a hold on part of the cover, but it quickly began crushing her finger underneath. Rynk dashed to the floor and held her hand under to Chain could free herself, then the two of them began dragging the plate off.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The police were catching up now. Only the hope of them not noticing the cover would help them. That and the hope that they hadn’t brought H-gear.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">H-gear would be known as various weaponry and equipment meant for hunting and/or killing Hellborns. The particular H-gear tool that could be used to find them would be a metal detector which had a screen showing the shape of the metal it was finding, making the skeletons of banshees very easy to find when on a hunt.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Straining to pull the cover back over as they climbed down a ladder to the sewers, Chain and Rynk dropped down on top a walkway above the liquid muck next to them, and began running. “Hold on a sec.” Chain held Rynk’s arm back. “We need to take care of your leg first.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“They’re going to find us!” Rynk reminded.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Do you want me to leave you here or save you?” Chain hissed back, already unwrapping Rynk’s anklet, and using it to mend the wound. Rynk kept her gaze at the entrance to the sewers, her ears pointed up for the sound of the law, and her claws extended to as long as she could stretch them.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Okay got it, Go!” Music to Rynk’s ears. They dashed off through the sewers, but froze instantly when hearing a splash from behind. Neither said what had happened, they knew what had happened, and so they now charged forward, until clumsily falling over into a drop, down into the sewer water.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It was too horrible to open their mouths for air, and the smell was nauseating. Chain had hoped the water was drinking water, or simply drainage rain water, but the smell confirmed it was both one and two.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain and Rynk swam till they got to another walk way in the sewers, pulling themselves up, and frantically wiping off all manure and urine on their clothing. Chain took off her large coat, covering her only partially damp T-shirt underneath. Rynk sadly did not have the luxury of having two shirts on, and had to make do with the sticky “normal clothing” she had on.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Minutes passed while the two sat, cold, and vomitus from the experience. But the police were going to catch up once again if they did not get a move on now, so-

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">*POW!* And now the police had caught up. One round directly knocked off the right side of Rynk’s forehead, which blasted into the wall behind her from the impact, though thankfully was not fatally damaged. However she was now very dizzy.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Carol jerked backward, looking briefly at the water below, then to Rynk, then to the police officer on the other side of the sewer, who did not wish to swim. “Step away from the Hellborn, and place your hands on your head!” The officer ordered.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Or… you… coul- just… not live.” Rynk weakly retorted dizzily. The officer fired another shot at her, but she raised her hand as he pulled the trigger, causing the bullet to bounce off her hand and onto the wall. She wanted it to hit the cop, but the circumstances were still usable.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">While the officer was briefly stunned by the ricochet, Chain yanked Rynk’s non-hit arm, and they dove once again into the water. Shots fired multiple times, passing by them as they swam through the current of muck. A splash came from behind, noting to them that the officer could indeed swim, grossed out or not.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">While Rynk’s leg was still injured, her arms and legs were still perfect for swimming. She took the lead instantly (and to those wondering about the metal bones sinking, Banshee metal is not normal metal.), and Chain followed behind.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Two drops down and a few curves later, and they were at a straight pathway, where the sewer was not as deep in its water levels. However in front of them was one last drop, between the straight path they needed. Quickly getting back on the walkway, the escapees paced backward a bit, then lunged over the drop, going a bit farther than needed.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Instead of hitting the water, they hit the ground, chest flat onto the cement floor, sending stinging pain through their bodies. “Let’s see that cop jump over that, huh?” Chain doubted her own words, but it was worth a hope.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ten minutes of continued running led them on and on through the sewers. It seemed they would never find an exit, or anything, until something caught Chain’s eye.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Hold on…” She stopped, and turned, walking towards the thing she saw. It was hidden almost completely on the roof of the sewer… it looked like a car… halfway stuck in the sewer ceiling.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The front was the part sticking out, with the hood opened up. The engine and many other parts were missing, suggesting others had found this mystery before Chain. The doors were intact; that is to say the doors were still closed, and not taken off. Perhaps they could hide in this car? No doubt the officer was getting backup and this could help them.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“What are you lo-“ Rynk froze when she saw the car. “Huh… weird…” trailing off a bit, Rynk walked nearer to the car, examining it closely.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“We could hide inside maybe.” Chain suggested. Rynk did not reply immediately.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Hello!” Chain waved a hand to Rynk, who snapped out of her trance and replied “Sorry… I just… this seems familiar for some reason.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… A car halfway stuck in a sewer seems familiar to you?” Chain gave a confused look, then walked over and began tugging a door open. “Whatever, we just need to get inside first. Weirdness later.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk was still observing the car, but nodded her acknowledgement, and followed inside. Once they got inside, Chain began ripping the backseats off, and placing them at the front of the car, blocking the doorway. “Are you… making it so it’s harder for them to get in?” Rynk guessed.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain continued piling, but answered, “If they use the metal detector, they’ll see us, but they’ll also see the car, so it hopefully will shield your bones.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“That still doesn’t answer why you’re doing that, but okay.”  Rynk crawled to the back, pulling open a latch leading to the trunk, which she climbed in to, as did Chain.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It was not particularly cozy, but thankfully not as cramped as they had thought it’d be. Rynk’s short height made it less of a problem to bend about for Chain, as long as the lynx kept her large hands and feet out of Chain’s face. Regardless of movement room however, they would do very little of it, since noise would be a problem at the moment.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Footsteps, commands, beeping, more footsteps. More than one cop was coming near them. Chain decided to hold her breath, but Rynk simply kept hers as slow as possible. Neither moved.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… forward; Neil and Hemmers cover behind,” A first voice ordered. “In a lined crack of the trunk, Chain, who was the one in the position of the car’s nose, could see a light pass back and forth in front of the vehicle.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… Get a scanner on that.” The voice ordered. Chain could hear Rynk’s breath getting a bit quicker, and holding her own for so long was getting strenuous. This became even harder when the sound of the door being yanked open sounded.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">*Cr-ck!* “Pow!” Came Carol’s breath when she heard this cracking noise. Only one thought came to mind, and it was not a gunshot… it was the tunnel… breaking open. The sewer, this part of the sewer, was right under the city Semretches, which the two cross over to when escaping in the sewer tunnels; in turn passing under the bay which partially separated Purmi, and Semretches. And it was going to collapse.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The officer tugging obviously heard the noise as well, and quickly jumped back, while his Chief yelled at him to step back at the same time. However the officer holding the metal scanner was still interested.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Hold on, I think I have a reading.” He said, stepping closer to the car, then jumping inside, and beginning to push away at the pile of items and chairs.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“GET OUT OF THERE NOW!” The chief hissed angrily, not yelling, but sounding none the less hostile and serious. If he were to be too loud it could be their doom.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The tunnel waited for no one, and the officer was too close to turn back. The officer who actually listened, yanked the interested one away from the car, but not before the ceiling caved. A massive story-tall chunk of cement and metal slammed to into the tunnel, with a slow trickle of soon to be flooding water leaking over it.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Half of the smart officer, and all of the stupid officer, were crushed instantly by the cement. The chief jumped out of the way in shock, but quickly jumped back to try and help his comrade out.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“What was that?!” Rynk asked quickly, squirming a bit to get out.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“The tunnel is giving in!” Chain informed.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Let’s get out then!”  The two took a minute to shuffle out of the trunk, then shoved the seats to the side, and prepared to run off. Rynk dashed back the way they came, while Chain decided to knock out the distracted Chief, so that he could not phone for help.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk heard the *WAP* of Chain’s fist against the chief’s head, and jerked around, shocked at Chain’s action. “Uh…”  She walked over, noticing the water that was beginning to quickly flood into the tunnel, “well I guess that makes it easier to drag him…”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“We’re not dragging him.” Chain grabbed the chief’s gun, his walkie-talkie, and his cuffs, then started to run off.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Wha- WAIT!” Rynk yelled, standing still. Chain turned back to her looking confused. “We can’t bring him along, Rynk.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“We can’t just leave him here!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“He was trying to have you killed, remember?!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">He was… this… changed things. He was the reason they were in this mess. But… maybe he would change if they saved him… right? “He… h-he’s still a person; we shou-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk barely got her words out weakly, but Chain interrupted “Leave him! We can’t wait! He’ll hold us back!”  Rynk narrowed her eyes a bit and began dragging the chief slowly. Chain walked up to her, meaning to pull her ally away from the officer, but paused, and then began to help drag him along.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">They eventually made it to the drop in the middle of the sewers. Chain measured and weighed if they could carry the chief across; there was no way they could. Maybe they could throw him across, but he would most-likely get caught in the currant. She turned sadly to Rynk, “We can’t get him across, Rynk.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“We could swi-GA-UGL!” The chief had awoken and promptly grabbed hold of Rynk’s head, and shoved her face into the water, holding her down, meaning to drown her. Chain reacted by kicking him in the jaw, while aiming the stolen gun at his head. The chief however countered; grabbing her foot and shoving her into the currant, and thus down into the lower part of the sewer below.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk kicked up with her feet, landing her heel into the man’s crotch. He let out an “OOP!” while bending over his stomach, still keeping her head down in the water. But his grip was weakened now; Rynk took hold of the edge of the path’s ledge, and began pulling herself towards the drop. At least if she got there he’d be forced to either let go, or fall with her.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The chief was still holding on to her head, squeezing tightly at her hair, making pulling away very strenuous and painful. Rynk did not scream… outloud. She was screaming with her mouth closed, obviously because she could not afford to lose the air.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Flailing madly, Rynk’s free hand took grip of the chief’s arm. As soon as she felt the skin in her hands, she tore it off. She could hear the screaming from behind as the grip was gone, and she fell into the drop. But she had lost her air too quickly, and soon after, she passed out.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Faded sounds came in and out as did Rynk’s vision. When it cleared, she found herself in… a living room of someone’s house. Who’s house it was was another matter.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Looking about, she saw a long pale plumb couch… with someone sitting on it… it… it was… She had to pear a bit; her vision was not all the way back. It was Vault. Slowly Rynk turned her head and saw Plate sitting next to her, apparently looking concerned. She thought this would prompt her to blush or something along those lines, but she must have been too tired.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Rynk…” Vault said, walking over… he looked concerned… it was a relief to see he cared.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Sp’dr…” Was what Rynk managed to mutter out. She meant to say “Sparta”, a line she often found herself saying when waking up. 300 was one of the few movies she had seen.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Chain got you out… but… “

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The pause startled Rynk. She frantically, yet weakly, observed her arms and legs to see if they were broken. They were alright… “oh no…” She thought; she checked her ears… they were fine too. She sighed in relief.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Not that…” Vault informed, hiding a chuckle, “The Police Chief survived.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk at first thought “That’s a good thing I thought.” But when she remembered that the Chief ungratefully tried to kill her… twice, both times when she was trying to help, and almost got her killed, she ended up growling.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Once you’re… well again, we-… I wanted to know if you wanted to take up more in the End-Ga heist.”  Rynk put together why he was asking this. End-Ga worked for the cops, the cops were jerks, they die, happy day. It was probably for his own means- it was for his own means. The main goal they had been going for was taking down End-Ga, so it would make sense that Vault would want her to be as much against it as she could be. It sounded like manipulation, and it sounded like a “We both win” situation, but the lynx was still unsure. She would most likely have to agree though, since the entire plan was take down End-Ga since the start.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The lynx did not answer, so Vault continued, “Plate can learn you some more fighting moves, and stealth tactics, just to make sure you’re still fresh after that… accident.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk nodded slowly, not in agreement… yet, but in acknowledgement. “Plate, help her up a bit, please.”  Plate nodded, and gently pulled Rynk into a sitting position. He did not act flirty or anything, which pleased Rynk, not that he did that normally… mostly.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Now, Chain will be in to… fawn over you or something soon, so we’ll leave you to that.” The two wolves got up and started to the door, closing it quietly when they left.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk sat still, a bit overwhelmed, but now a bit furious. End-Ga helped the cops, and the cops killed Hellborns… okay, sounds like a hit-list.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

Part Three
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Vault’s plan against End-Ga was to strike each building, take all the software they found, take the money if found, and destroy all hardware. The money would be deposited into five different bank accounts, spread thin enough that it would not be suspected, and each account belonging to a different member.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The idea for the first hit was the one in Semretches. Vault wanted it to be a stealthy and silent job. This was to build up fear amongst the employees, and have a sort of symbolism about the team. The less they saw of Heavy Metal, the better. The mysterious attackers are always the unpredictable, because you don’t know when they will strike in the open.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And so Vault wanted to send Rynk and Chain in as a Mother-Daughter routine. They both refused for the reason of the previous encounter with the police. Vault argued that he and Plate could not go because they would get recognized as well. That left Neil. That is to say, Neil would most likely be able to either sneak in himself, or create disguises for whoever was going.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">After contacting and arranging a meeting with Neil Wozer, Vault gathered the team up to have them practice on which roles whey would take, and the equipment they’d use. The equipment was incredibly hard to keep up with. There were the cloaking suits, which needed specific movement, motions, buttons pushed, wires connected, energy equalized so they didn’t overload, a source of light. There were the EMP’s which needed to be modified to certain ranges, placed in certain areas, timed perfectly to go off in a specific order. There were the tranquil gloves, which needed certain muscles flexed, and needed to have certain fingers pointed in certain directions. The only part that did not confuse Rynk were the com-links, which simply needed to be hooked up to one’s ear and cheek, then a button to press to talk.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Okay, I’m not going to remember any of this.” Rynk finally interrupted. “You guys can discuss all that and just run me through stuff after I’m hooked up. Is there something else I could do in the meantime?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Vault was noticeably irritated from being interrupted, and felt insulted by this notion. He quite enjoyed planning and explaining, even if Copper was helping. He started out tense, but it was Plate who called out “I don’t see why not. I could help learn ‘er some fighting moves, and practice her stealth.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Vault knew this was just Plates way of showing that he was even a bit lost, and that he wanted to do something excited. “Well does anyone else find this confusing?” No one answered. “Alright, get going you two.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate nodded and started out, motioning for Rynk to follow, and she did. They exited the Base and began climbing the side of a building near them. Rynk knew that Plate was not about to let her get to the top first; until she came along he was the best at climbing in the team, and considered the magnetism she used with her bones to be a sort of cheating.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And correctly so, as Rynk scaled the side of a stairway, she noticed Plate jumping and clinging and climbing upward, lunging and leaping as hard as he could to stay ahead. Rynk was deciding whether or not to get there first. On one hand if she let him, it would just boost his ego, and make him more competitive. If she didn’t he would probably get depressed or more competitive.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So it was left up to chance. Rynk continued upward, and found herself coming in second. She felt a tad bit upset with the results but it faded instantly. “Alright,” Plate waved on a bit, then turned to face Rynk, shaking his arms a bit to warm up. “first we have to practice your fighting obviously.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Obviously.” Rynk repeated with an air of sass, dropping her arms and loosening them in preparation.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate stepped forward, and made a somewhat slow frontal jab towards Rynk’s throat, just above her collar bone area, with his fingers stretched out forward. What Plate, and everyone else for that matter, seemed to forget, was that Rynk’s bones were different from theirs; her neck had a metal cup protecting it, a layered one, which was two and a half inches tall, covering most of her neck’s front, and adding another two on the back of her neck.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This was not a time to show off about superior bone-structures however. Rynk quickly pushed his hand upward, and swung her arm upward, aiming to give him a punch under the ribs. But she knew he would either counter or dodge. The reason Plate started out slow was only to get the fighting started; he knew that they could both go at faster paces.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The teen wolf slid to the left two feet (Rynk’s left), using his left hand to grab hold of Rynk’s attacking arm, and hold it in place for him to knee it in the bottom side of her shoulder joint. Rynk yanked herself sideways, causing her arm to go in a straight line, which caused Plate to miss his target. She took this opportunity to knee Plate in the face, which had to go forward with his jab.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate barely managed to move to the side to avoid the collision, causing the side of his cheek to get brushed by it. He still had her arm held though, and promptly squeezed hard and span around before throwing her into the air.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The lynx tried to move back to land on her feet, as she was positioned to fall face first, and ended up landing hard on her knees, forcing a small groan out from her. She got up, hissing, and began charging at Plate. Plate was ready.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">When the Wolf was in range, Rynk jumped upward into a jump-kick position, but swung her arms around to hit him from both sides. Plate smirked, and quickly slide under her while she was at her highest. When she was beginning to fall back down, he spun around and front-kicked her at the base of her backside, sending her forward… and off the building.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The wolf did not realize they were so close to the edge. “Oh crud!!” Now not in the mood for fighting, Plate dove over the edge after Rynk, landing on an apartment balcony staircase. Rynk’s foot had gotten caught between a mangled structure right below him, and she was hanging off of it. By the looks of it, it was quite painful.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Rynk, I’m sorry, I didn’t think you-“ Plate slapped himself and quickly made his way over, then pulled Rynk up, before freeing her leg.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Rynk somewhat fibbed as she faintly struggled. Plate ignored this and got her back to the top of the building, then sat her down.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“My Plate in Dining Armor.” Rynk rolled her eyes.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Gratitude… that’d be nice.” Plate half-sighed, loosening his arms.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You’re the reason I was stuck there to begin with!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Why are you so against me?” Plate asked sternly, stepping towards Rynk.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I’m not agai-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You’ve been at my throat whenever I say something nice, and more so if I say something worse. Is it because I find you attractive? Is it because you think I’m just a pig or something? I’m not, I just like being nice to my friends, and if you haven’t noticed I’ve been trying everything, including acting like you, to make it so I didn’t always feel scratched every time you walk by!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The lynx looked hurt, though more so because of realizing this than by Plate himself. “I’m… sorry, Plate.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Call me Art. I don’t call you DemonSteel.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… Art,” she continued with slight tension, “I’m just… not a very friendly person. I don’t like socializing, I’m not completely sure of people’s motives, and I’m not trustworthy… I just… I don’t mean to snap at you, it’s not your fault, I shouldn’t… get like that. I’ve just got things on my mind all the time, and it’s always bad things, the Hellborns, this country, stealing, so when someone tries to act casual with me, I have to stop myself from yelling ‘WHY AREN’T YOU HELPING TO FIX THIS WORLD’ every time.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Now it was Art’s turn to pause for a moment, “It’s about your parents too, isn’t it?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Instead of get angry, like Art expected, Rynk sighed, “That too… I mean, was my mom a banshee, and my dad a lynx, or the other way around? After I find that out, what next? They’re probably dead, and if they aren’t, they probably left me… but… it’s also that I just… feel so hypocritical.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Hypocrital? Why? I mean even if we were all just petty thugs, this whole thing technically helps the Hellborns, right?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Yeah and what am I doing to help?” Rynk sat down again, “I’m sitting around practicing to take out ONE building after what, a YEAR of planning? By which time three others are finished being built.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Art sat next to her, nudging her shoulder a bit with a grin of humor, “Well we could always pull one of those cheesy run-away acts and become vigilantes.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk let out a small huffing chuckle, “If only. I guess that would work… but we’re not old enough. I mean, you might be, and you know how to work wires, and circuits, and guns. I just… have metal bones and big ears.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Last time I checked, metal bones are better than normal.” Art sighed, “Well I wasn’t actually serious about leaving, at least not at this time.” He looked down, losing the grin, “Dad, the others, if they didn’t kill us when they found us, they’d make sure we never left again. Or worse, turn you over to the cops.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“So in the meantime… we break buildings and help avenge your Dad’s money problems.” Rynk sighed.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You know, normal people might get offended.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk scoffed humorously, “You’re not normal people.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Art nodded, “True, He flexed his arm a bit, “I am rather amazing.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk shoved him with a chuckle. “Well,” She got up, “do you still want to practice?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… Sure.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Forty-Five minutes later the two were still sparring, now very tired out and perspiring, though not giving up on losing to the other. It was Nert who came up and found them, and having not knowing why they were fighting, promptly stood between them, shoved Rynk to the side a bit, and took hold of Plate’s arm.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Hey!” Rynk hissed, quickly regaining her standing position. “We were practicing. You could just tell us to stop.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You… Oh.” Nert let go of Plate. “I thought that you-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You thought we were going to kill each other?” Plate looked at Nert almost in disbelief. Nert looked down a bit, feeling embarrassed.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Anyway, we’re needed, c’mon!” Groggily, with some asleep arms and legs, the two followed Nert inside the building, which was abandoned. They noticed that Nert kicked the door open to go inside, which implied that he… climbed up himself? They had to admit he was fit, but it seemed strange for some reason that he would climb up, then have them walk down. Was it for their safety? If so, both Art and Rynk felt a bit babied.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Regardless, as soon as the three arrived back in the warehouse with the team, Copper noticed their condition, and gaped slightly, before nudging Vault, who was talking with Bert. He turned and saw for himself. His eyes widened slightly, but he retained his serious un-affected stare.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You two were doing… what?” He asked, noting their tiredness.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Sparring.” Art replied.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“For that long?” Vault asked in disbelief.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“What did you think we were doing?” Rynk asked, feeling left out.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“They’re fine, Chief.” Nert defended. “I saw them when I came to get ‘em. They were just fighting. I thought they were gonna kill each other when I saw how fierce they were clawing away. Surprised they aren’t torn up.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well…” Vault took a moment to absorb this, still feeling a bit in disbelief, “alright but both of you need to shower. I’m not going to stand for any sweat stench. You two,” He pointed at them both, “will need showers, and after that we’ll discuss what each person’s role will be. But before we do,” He took a step back to face everyone and address them, “no one is knowing anything more than they need to. If someone is compromised, if questioned we don’t want anything getting spilled. Also depending on what role you play, they might let you off the hook and not make the connection, so make it seem as much as you can that it’s YOU and YOU alone who are doing it. Understood?” He didn’t wait for an answer, “glad to hear that, back in five. Anyone late, don’t be.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk got to the shower first, angering Plate, who assumed she would take ten minutes at least. She took one and a half thankfully, and dashed off to her room to change before he could even process the blur going behind him; so much so that it was not until two minutes later that he realized she had finished. When he did figure this out, he immediately dove to the shower room.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">When the two walked back to the other Neil Wozer, looking dapper in his suit per usual, with his snake-like green eyes adding a sharpness to his appearance. His eyes did not make him look slimy or creepy, but still a bit dangerous if a describing word were needed to be used for his eyes. He stood next to Vault, explainin- arguing the plans over.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Neil instantly turned to face Rynk and Plate when he saw them, with a very friendly and almost giddy smile, which was a stressed scowl a moment ago when speaking with Vault. “And I finally meet the lovely lady while blabbering to the boss. My manners were never very good.” He walked over to them. “Lovely to meet you.”  He nonchalantly bowed extending his left hand for a shake.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk cautiously shook his hand, though she had to admit she was not feeling very uneasy around Neil. He seemed interesting to say the least. Quickly after, Neil turned to Plate, “And the other younger! You’re fourteen, yes?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Fifteen.” Plate sighed, feeling little.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“No no, don’t sigh.” Neil shook his head repeatedly. “The whole point of guessing your age wrong was so I could say you look seventeen. Regardless, any birthday coming up soon? And how old is your lady friend?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Thirteen…” Plate answered half-nervously.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Good, that’s enough for me to know.” Neil walked back, observing Rynk a bit, “though I have to admit, I’ll probably be distracted by those ears often.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk almost hid a small smirk with a scoff-like chuckle breath at the remark. Neil turned to the others then back to the teenagers “So I was telling Vaulty the child and parent idea would go badly, and I’m even more right.” He faced Vault. “First I find out that they were noticed, then I find out that she’s part Hellborn, then I come here, and the two stick out like one of those bizarre characters you keep noticing in Where’s Waldo, except they’re MEANT to BE Waldo!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Vault narrowed his eyes dully, “Plate isn’t the most distinctive, and I was assuming you’d have disguises for him, or are you not that good?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Neil gave a disbelieving look to Vault, looked to the teenagers grinning, back to Vault, then walked between them, pointing at Vault giving him a sort of “just wait a moment” gesture. He waited a few seconds then said “I disguise this boy, and send him in as the Trojan Wolf, and you get suspicion already. A guard sees Parent and Child, and see it irregular in the slightest and poof!” He flew his arms out, “cover’s blown, mission over.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“What parts are you planning to have me do anyway?” Plate questioned.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well I suggested tha-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You’d be with me.” Vault interrupted in a hostile-sounding tone. “We would sneak in, get into the middle of the building, Chain would deactivate all electronics, using the EMP’s we’d store in our outfits, then we would force our way to the front, with Nert, Bert, and Copper.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“While… I get rid of the cops?” Rynk asked, feeling as if she had a stressful load on her back, and as if she did not believe that could be the plan.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Basically.” He replied bluntly.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… How?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well I wouldn’t think you’d have trouble taking them out, metal bones, fighting skills, various flexibility.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Good gifts, you make her sound like a Swiss Army Knife!” Wozer exclaimed.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“They do sound similar.” Vault chuckled.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Yeah, I’m pretty sure the cops have weapons, and y’know, are prepared to handle people that are Hellborn… least of all someone who’s only part Hellborn.” Rynk noted. “The idea sounds all Adrenaline-Pumping in my head, but then we got pesky logic and the whole plan goes splat.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… Wordy little feline.” Neil observed, pausing between sentences, “Well that sounds fine, we could just have her go in, and blow it up, couldn’t we? Walk inside, need the bathroom, go to the bathroom, place explosives, leave. Then boom.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“They have cameras in the bathroom, don’t they?” Copper chimed in.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I certainly hope not!” Chain exclaimed, letting it be known that she was still in the room. “I don’t know what police station you’ve been in, but that’s just wrong.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Copper chuckled at her retort, “What isn’t wrong in this country?” Chain looked annoyed at first but gradually her mouth curved to a humored smiley, and she rolled her eyes.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Is it agreed?” Vault asked, reminding them of what they were going to do.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Which one?” Neil asked, ruffling the fur beneath his chin, “Her going in with a bomb, or silently taking them out?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well which do you prefer, Demon-steel?” Vault asked. Chain, Plate, and Neil gave him cringes when he spoke, puzzling him, “… Do you three have a problem with her choosing?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“We have a problem with the name.” Chain corrected. “ ‘Demon-steel’ it’s long and dumb-sounding, not to mention insulting.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Agreed, you must get your… agents better nam-“ Vault interrupted Wozer with a growl, tensing his hands in irritation. “I do not want to waste time talking about names. But to avoid more of this mediocrity, what does RYNK want to do?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This entire time Rynk had honestly zoned out until they started throwing around the ‘Demon-steel’ name, which would always make her nose scrunch up in disgust, but even then sometimes she did not even notice it happening. She thankfully heard the end of Vault’s sentence, and assumed correctly what the question was.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I… guess the bomb idea? I can’t take them all out at once, and even if I could there’d be an alarm or something right?” She quickly thought up an idea to capitalize this notion, “That and if I do that, more attention will go to the police station, instead of End-Ga.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“But are you willing to kill?” Neil questioned out of nowhere. No one expected him to ask such a question. It rose some questions of their own, mainly if HE had killed anyone. He had planned a bit with them now, and after a good while of it, he was asking if she questioned this idea?

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk of course would not answer immediately. It was not something she could instantly say yes to, at least not at this point in her life. She was in a haze of confusion and anger, and she wished he had not asked. Vice a vi, she realized that had he not brought this up, she probably would only question this for herself right before the time came.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The question remained, and all eyes were on her, or Neil; would she kill? Chain assumed that she would not, and was glad for thinking as such. She did not want Rynk to become a killer, but stay a girl, without being corrupted more than she had. Plate thought in the same way; he knew that killing someone would change Rynk, or hurt her in some way, and he did not want to see her like that.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The only other person who did not want her to kill was Bert, who considered her much too young. He actually spoke his opinion about this to Nert quite often, ranting about how Vault was crazy and he should not be putting his son, or Rynk, in these situations. He and Nert were trained for this sort of thing; they were grown men that understood the world… Rynk was a confused hybrid, who lived between Hellborns, normal mobians, and the dark side of good and evil. It would not matter who someone was; if one were to see someone finally make that turn to the side of the wrong, there will always be some form of emotion. In this case, it was depression and disappointment. She could not say yes.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Everyone else thought it was best she kill; she had to learn sometime, and people would try to kill her in the future. She could fight well, and even shoot people, but never fatally would she do so. This was the breaking point, and if she were to hesitate at some point, she would be murdered, or someone else would be, or something would be ruined. In this case, their plans could be ruined. If she did not kill the police, they would arrive at End-Ga, and everyone would either be captured, or have to escape and possibly disband. She could not say no.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What did Rynk want to do though? In her eyes, she truly did not want to kill anyone. She loved the thrill of action, and of overpowering her enemies, but to kill would mean to end someone, cut the wire that would connect their future to their present. She would be stopping them from starting a family, or seeing a child to college, or becoming president, or even saving the world by some miracle.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">On the other hand… these were not people who deserved mercy. These were racists and they hunted her kind down for slavery, extinction, or even to create weapons from their bones. She remembered how she tried to help the police Chief, and his thanks of trying to kill her. She doubted that he was still alive, but even then that was not her fault. She wanted nothing more than to rip at their faces, and bite until they stopped moving… for all the good she tried to do, all her optimism… they would still hate her. Why should she try?

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Does it look like there’s another option?” She finally answered. “I fail this, we all go down.” She scoffed softly, “Vault would probably hand me over or kill me, right?” She narrowed her eyes with a half-smirk at her leader, who gave no response in facial expression, though inside he was wondering how she came to the idea that he would do such a thing. At the same time however he did not deny that he might do something of the sort if not in his right mind, which something like this might put him in.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“A yes, now,” Wozer clapped his hands together, and rubbed them, “On to our Leader and his Pup.”  Rynk put this out of her mind and interrupted, “Am I needed now?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… You can go.” Vault answered softly, nodding slowly to her. She nodded back and walked off.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Two days later…

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Ow… thi- OW! Real-ow… forget it.” Rynk tried to speak in between squeals of pain as Chain and Copper used multiple rectangular objects on her stripes, tattooing them in a sense to match her fur-color. Rynk normally would hate doing this as she loved her stripes, but thankfully they would revert after a day or even a couple of hours, which was why this was being done just outside the police station, inside a van.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You’ll get in, you’ll find where the bathroom is, you’ll go inside, then you’ll wait until we call you to come out.” Chain instructed. “Talk as little as possible and try to keep attention away from where you’re going.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“What about my ears?” Rynk pointed, messing up Copper’s concentration on her stripes. He groaned, “Sorry,” She apologized, putting her arm back down as he got back to working on it.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain pulled over a capped-hat, with normal cat ears on the side of it, “Try on this Cheese-cutter.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk raised an eyebrow “That’s really what it’s called huh?...” She noted that her arms were still being worked on, “Can’t move my arms.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Right.” Chain moved Rynk’s ears down behind her head and shuffled the hat on to her head, over the base of her ears.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Ow… what’s the point of that.” Rynk did not notice that Copper was now tattooing the second half of her arms, which had no feeling in them. Her squeal came from her ears being squished. “They’ll still see my ears at the back.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You’ll be wearing a hoodie, not over your head, that’d be too suspicious, but it should cover them well enough.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… Alright.” Rynk sighed, wincing from ears ears.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Done.” Copper answered. He pulled over a mirror showing Rynk her temporary appearance. All her stripes were gone, and once she had on her hoodie, she would look like a normal pale clay-brown cat; that is, one with a backpack full of C4.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

Part Four
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She was definitely nervous about this plan. She was not afraid of being killed, or hurt; no she could handle herself in that regard, she was not even afraid of having to run or hide. She was afraid, or nervous, about getting caught. When she though it over, the plan could actually succeed without her part going through flawlessly, or even at all, but it was still an immense increase of pressure.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This pressure was added on to by stress, and self-control that would be needed. Inside those doors were police officers that would shoot her sister-species for living, and she had to control herself, and then kill them.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">‘Wait a sec’ She thought ‘Don’t they have metal detector- wait no no… if they did they’d think it was a phone or something…  Okay… I hope.’

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk’s hand vibrated as she reached for the door. She only noticed this when it came into view and even then she could barely stop it without being able to feel it. So she kept it pressed against either the building walls, her side, or her pockets to keep it from moving.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The station was large and grey, with dark walls and officers going back and forth quickly. They wore black and slate-colored uniforms, suits, with stripes across their shoulders, and black pants, not to mention cuffs, badges, and utility belts. This was the first time Rynk had seen an officer not in their patrol armor in person, as they almost never took their armor off, and until now she never had a drive to come into this place.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She wanted to check the back of her head to make sure her real ears were stuffed inside the hoodie jacket well enough, but she could not risk making them loosen if they were, since she would have to rely on the feeling in her ears, not her hands, which was still very weak, hence her not knowing if they were loose. The moment of truth would come now.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Are you looking for something” And officer asked, sighing. He sounded bored, as if he had done this sort of talk before. He was behind Rynk, which startled her. She spun around to face him. He was a tall Overlander, a human in other words, with pale blonde hair, sleek and handsome, though Rynk was not beginning to notice those features.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I-I… it’s really stupid- I just… I really need the restroom an-“ She did not need to pretend of act nervous, which made the ploy all the more easy. The officer snapped his fingers and walked down a hallway, slowly jabbing his arm forward for her to follow. She did and was led through a couple turns, one of which went past an interrogation room and a meeting room. She saw the chief in the meeting room. He did not see her, and that was good. She did not know how good her disguise was, or how much the chief remembered about her. Was it enough to recognize her through a door form across the room?

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Hey, don’t doddle.” The Officer called, noticing Rynk’s slowing in pace, which she quickly fixed. His accent was nice. It was Scottish, nothing unique from the rest of Supreta, which explained why he had blonde hair, and pale skin, as opposed to a much more tanned color, if he were of Persian origin. Rynk knew very little about this Persia, only that it fell, it split apart, and rose up again. And then the beginning of Mobians began.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">As soon as the doors to the Restroom were closed, the hybrid walked into a stall and took off her backpack, while simultaneously looking under the gaps between the doors and the floor, to see if she had company. Once the pack was off, and she saw no one in sight, Rynk felt around the back of the toilet for a good hiding spot for the explosives, but it was built against the wall.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She could simply leave it on top of the toilet and hope they did not find it, but that was too risky for her liking. But… the inside of the toilet might work. Rynk looked over at the rolls of toilet paper to see if she had enough… there was enough. She unrolled all of it, and filled up the toilet, getting the disgusting water on her hands in the process. They were damp once the paper had soaked up the water to be the C4’s bedding, but it would do, or have to do.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk carefully unzipped the backpack, and pulled out the hand-sized squares. There were a lot of them, around eight to be exact. She found a few other things in the backpack as well. There were markers, ducttape, and a large piece of cardboard.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She could only assume that she was supposed to tape the cardboard to the stall’s door, and write “out of order” or something of the like on the front, with the backpack on the toilet, but she had a better idea. She put the cardboard on top of the paper, flat, then the C4 on top of that, and closed the lid. Next she wrapped the toilet up repeatedly in the tape, and wrote on the top of it “Don’t use” on the front. She thought of writing “Out of Order, but it was too late now, and if she were to scribble over it the message may look strange.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk pulled out the detonator from a pocket in the pack, and stuck it in her front pocket. It had a sliding casing, and was fairly flat and small, so it would look like a phone. If they went through her pack, all they’d find would be a few markers.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Well that was it. She put the backpack back on, walked out of the stall, fixed her hat and ears via Bathroom Mirror, and walked out of the Women’s restroom.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She began making her way to the exit, calmly now that no suspicions had arisen, and casually passed by the Officer who helped her, giving him a smile and nod as they passed, with him returning the greeting. In front of her now though was an officer carrying a shipment with the End-Ga logo on the from, the name printed just below it.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Hey, let me get that for you.” The Scottish officer offered to his ally. He sped-walked over and relieved the officer, who sighed in thanks. “What’s in this?” He asked with a grunt as they moved further into the Station. Rynk’s curiosity was beginning to get the better of her. She needed to leave as soon as she could before someone found the surprise or noticed her ears, but… just find out what’s in the box, and go. They’re dead anyway. She followed, showing no sign of hiding, and in fact moving in to balance the box for the Scottish Officer.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I’ve got it, thanks.” He assured. “Want to see what it’s carrying?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk made a sort of disinterested look, her eyes rolling up as she leaned back a bit, pretending to think it over, then shrugged on one shoulder, squinting slightly with the simple answer of “Sure.”  She walked after.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Friend? Niece?” The other officer asked, in a scottish accent as well.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“No Mobian in my genes, Rims.” The handsome Scottish one replied, while nodding to Rynk “not that there’s anything wrong with Mobians.”  Rynk nodded back, smiling a bit, this time less forcefully. The officer turned back to his co-worker, “So what’s in it?” He pressed a second time.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“More Hellborn gear, what else?” The other answered, looking almost annoyed when passing this information, even scoffing rudely.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“That’s a bad thing?” Rynk questioned.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well it didn’t use to be, but End-Ga, well…”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“They’re neutral Hellborn, as in they aren’t against or for em.” The handsome one continued, “So lately their tech’s been mostly just stun-rounds and such, non-lethals, when we used to get drill-rounds and light-blazers.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk vaguely remembered Light-blazers. They were laser guns that shot light beams, concentrated light beams. They hurt banshees… a lot. And End-Ga replaced them with non-lethal weapons? And since when were they neutral?

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Can you believe they actually tried to start that fund to cut off a part of the country for the things to live in ‘Without the danger of oppressors’?” The rude one questioned to his associate. He chuckled near the end, “At least it was a hoot to watch it get shot down like a… like a…”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You’ll figure it out eventually.” The handsome officer sat down the box on a table in a meeting room. Rynk could only assume he was waiting for the chief to give him the okay to move it to armory to be loaded up to the current gear.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Now… things got confusing. End-Ga funds the Police… the people who oppress Hellborns, but at the same time what they give them is not meant to kill Banshees? They are trying to help them?? She had to get a direct answer “So they’re trying to help them?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“The Hellborns?” The rude one guessed, “Yeah, for the past… pff- TEN years maybe.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk’s hands began to shake again, and she did not feel them doing so. ‘They help… wh-…’ Was this actually true? Why would the officers need to lie? They did not know who Rynk was, and what good would lying about that sort of thing do? She would normally think to ask Vault about this, but again, the officers had no reason to lie… but… Vault might. His life may have been ruined by End-Ga, but was he making up that they attacked Hellborns too just to get Rynk convinced that they were the enemy? What other reason could there be? She could not think of another… End-Ga was pro Hellborn… and her team was about to launch a full-out attack on them.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Miss?” Three times she heard this word, but she did not focus on it till the third. She shook her head quickly and darted her head to face the Handsome Officer, who was speaking to her, and pointing at her shaking hands.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Ah! Sorry…” She put her hands behind her back, “It’s… a kind of Down Syndrome sorta thing.” She half-lied. It could be down syndrome for all she knew in all honesty.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You zoned out.” The other officer noted.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Just picturing the whole End-Ga project thing is all. Can’t believe I didn’t hear about all that.” She replied. She sounded calm enough but every inch of her wanted out of that Station and screaming.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well we’re opening up the shipment now if you want to see what we got still.” The handsome one suggested.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Well… alright I guess I have time.” She did not have time, but if she blew her cover, now after this kind of knowledge, things would get much worse. ‘HOW COULD I BE SO STUPID!? I never looked into any of this! I just took Vault’s word for it! And a lot of help the others gave, they never told me either! Great, I just love getting used!’

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The box opened up, but the contents were completely ignored by Rynk. She did not care and even though her eyes were on the shapes, her thoughts blinded her of their existence. She said “Hm, cool, well as hinted, I’m running low on time. I gotta get headed out.” She tilted her head back to the front door, looking to the Handsome Officer “Thanks for letting me use the room.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The officer nodded his reply and she walked out. Once the door was closed, she made a B-line for the nearest alley where she promptly rammed her fist into the ground, making a dent, and ruining the skin on her knuckles. “I have to stop the attack… some- how am… The C4!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She ran straight back into the Station, and to the Handsome officer who was still unloading the equipment, “I’m so so sorry, my pack was open and it must have fallen out in the restroom, can I go get it, I am so sorry.” She gave her best droopy pathetic face she could, and the officer was happy to oblige.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The C4 was a bit dampened, with the cardboard in the water along with the paper now, but it was still usable. She loaded it all back up, flushed the toilet, then left the station again, this time heading straight for End-Ga Inc.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Normally Rynk would be complaining about being left behind and having to get to somewhere fast, grumbling about her pick up never happening, but she was grateful for it this time. She could no longer trust Chain, or Copper… thinking that hurt. Not so much Copper, but Chain… was a sort of friend in a sense. There was also Plate, but there was less a chance that he betrayed her. His father probably tricked him too. But Chain had to have known this entire time. And she never said anything about it.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Her head began to itch from the stupid hat, so she tore it off, throwing it the side and letting her natural ears breathe again. She could hear much better now, and her eyes began to see the End-Ga SkyScraper in the distance. It was never hard to find, but very hard to miss.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The traffic was fast today, with too many cars going back and forth to run across an open street, which cut Rynk off from her destination. There were cross-walks, but she did not want attention now that the disguise was undone, and she did not know when her stripes would begin to fade back. The houses seemed tall enough to jump off of to the other side, but that might be even worse.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She still had the hoodie on, so she laid her ears back, put up the hood, zipped it up, and walked over to a crosswalk. There were groups of five or so people around every crosswalk normally, and this was no exception. This was a safety precaution. If you had a group of non-hostiles around you, there is less of a chance you will be attacked or killed. And in the same way, if there are too many people, some psychopath could hide in the crowds and attack without anyone seeing until they had struck.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Most of the other people in this crosswalk were about the same, with another hoodie-wearing person, a man off to work, another man holding a bag of groceries because he had no car, and a couple of teenagers who Rynk kept her distance from. They would have the most interest in making friends, and she wanted no attention, though she could not deny her hoodie did stick out a bit, even with another person wearing one near.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">*B’ding!* the light turned white and people started to walk across. Having to walk through like this, being slow, it added to her stress. Every nerve she could still feel was twitching for her to start running, and soon she would be running, but while normally she would run, if someone were to see and chase her, it could slow down to a dangerous point.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Skyscraper was getting closer now as they crossed, and Rynk could almost picture the top exploding from the attack, even though she remembered that not being in the plan of the End-Ga part. That made her think though, End-Ga might not be the enemy, but the police surely were. She could have left one of the explosives back there, and blown it up regardless of End-Ga… but then again, if she was not able to handle Vault and the others, she would need backup. Even if the police would still attack her, they would be ruining Vault’s plan if they did attack.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I should call them…” She muttered.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“What’s that?” The business man asked, as he was the closest to her as they stopped at the other side of the street.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“No-noth-“ As soon as her eyes got a glimpse, a better glimpse this time, of the man, she saw that on his black business-suit-jacket, there was a name-tag, his name obviously, with the End-Ga name above it… he was an employee.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Are you alright?” The man asked. Rynk snapped out of it, and grabbed the man by the hands, dragging him out of sight from the others. He was shocked, but barely reluctant aside from a short “HEY!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You need to listen,” Rynk informed, pulling the man over to face her. She would have held him by the shoulders, but well… she was short. “Something’s going to happen to the End-Ga building and it needs to be stopped.”  And before the man could breathe his reply, the city went dark, the power around them was out.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Inside End-Ga…

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Vault and Plate were in the elevator going to the top floor when the power went out. Once their disguises came off, they had their black suits, with weaponized-looking overalls, and of course, masks. Vault did not like this predicament. “I didn’t-“ He groaned and let go of the button on his com-link. He could not correct Chain on prematurely activating the EMP’s. Plate lost no time and had already pushed the escape-door open above them.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Lift?” He requested. Vault knelt down and thrusted Plate out of the container by his feet. Plate did a backflip and landed on his feet, smirking a bit.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Yes yes, you’re a circus act.” Vault rolled his eyes while Plate pulled him up. The two then began scaling the upward tunnel.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It took a minute longer than they wanted it to take, but they got out of the elevator with enough time to catch the Head of the building as he began exiting his office. “Salutations.” Vault greeted before shoving the overlander aside and slamming the door on the two security guards who were coming out as well. One could hear the crunch, then they fell.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Head Man had quickly recovered and kicked at Vault’s side, but Plate grabbed his leg and shoved him back, making him bump into a wall behind him. Vault picked the man up by his silver and white business suit and held him close. “We have business to attend to.” Then he was taken back inside the office.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Vault threw the man on the floor once they were inside, while Plate disarmed the unconscious (or possibly deceased) guards. The man grunted in pain and backed up. “You’re not after money… if you are this isn’t the pla-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I’m sure you have plenty of funds that would suffice.” Vault interrupted, walking nearer to the man, “but no, Mr. Eloscin, we are not… mainly after your money. We’re actually going to level this building soon, and move on to the next, and you will be dead.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Why!?” Eloscin demanded, standing up, less intimidated then Vault had hoped.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Hellborn cruelty is the more efficient reason, don’t you think? Mine is more personal though. I’m not telling you who I am, or what you did, because I think it’s crueler you die not knowing.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“We don’t harm Hellborns! A division of ours funds the police, but we don-“ Vault shoved the man onto his front desk.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Weapons, any weapon at all, meant to attack Hellborns. I doesn’t matter if you think they’re fine, they still hurt people, and what does your business do aside from that? Oh yes you invent war machines.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“We ‘invent’ guard technology!” The man yelled back, raising only his head to Vault, “Almost none of our production line is lethal-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I don’t need to exaggerate a reason to kill you, but lying makes it wors-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“If you had any real excuse I’d give a care!” Eloscin yelled back moving to the side to stand up again, “You’re just some terrorist wanting some justification to blame someone because you can’t be in the real wars!!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate was interested in how brave this man seemed. He did not cower or offer money like Vault and he assumed. He sounded annoying, but his defiance was fascinating. But… he said nothing about it. Vault on the other hand did not find it interesting as much as he did infuriating, and promptly slapped the man’s cheek. The man tried to block it, but missed. He stumbled to the side, but regained his posture again.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You’re a thief, and a murderer, and this city will thank me for your death.”  A knocking came from behind them. People were beginning to try to enter. Plate ran to the front door, held still by the guards’ arms, and held the guns at chest height, awaiting any intruders.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Wait a second,” The man began to recognize Vault and Plate’s posture, and appearance of costume, “you’re that gang, Heavy Metal! No wonder you’re so blind, who hired you- OOF!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Vault lost his patience with the man. He slammed both fists against the man’s ears, then forced him to the ground, and squeezed at his neck, “You, are, dead, right, n-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“VAULT!” Vault stopped. He thought for a moment that Plate was talking, and turned to see if it was him, but Plate looked just as confused. Vault’s hand loosened around the man’s neck slightly, so at least Eloscin could breathe a moment longer.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Who-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Did you want me to be a part of this for revenge against End-Ga’s oppression, or because you just wanted a reason to have me help you feel like a revolutionary?” Rynk’s voice… above them.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Vault looked above and saw her, sticking to the roof with her feet, arms crossed and ears laid back. “What are you-… Where…” He let go of Eloscin, “What happened to the bombs!?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk held out in one hand a pack of C4, in the other, the detonator. “A friend planted the rest at our HQ, and you are answering the question because if you don’t this will get pushed.” She jabbed at the button, barely stopping herself.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“THESE MONSTERS ARE DESTROYING EVERYTHING YOU STAND FOR!!” Vault roared back. “GET DOWN FROM THERE!!!” Rynk narrowed her eyes and kicked off the roof, flipping down and slamming the heal of her foot into the ground, leaving a dent where Vault’s head was before he moved out of the way.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“These ‘monsters’ supply stund-guns, and fund projects to help Hellborns.” She retorted calmly yet very on edge. Vault saw Plate attempt to jump at her, but shook his head quickly. Plate barely had time to stop himself and fell behind Rynk. Vault did not want that button pressed.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Who told you that!?” Vault questioned.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“The police.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Of co-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“They had no reason to defend End Ga, and they weren’t. And even if they were, I saw the package, and the weapons, myself. In fact-“ She pulled out a small silver and blue pistol, “This can’t kill no matter how many rounds you shoot.” She pointed it at Vault.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“RYNK- PUT THAT DOWN!” Plate yelled. Rynk simply aimed the gun at him.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I’m not patient, you know I’m not patient, so you know I’m pressing this button anyway.” She informed. “But, will I give you a head start before I do?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“That thing isn’t going to work with the EMP’s effecting everything.” Vault retorted. Rynk jerked a bit, she had not thought of that… but then she smirked, “Let’s hope you’re not bluffing.” She slammed down on the button… nothing happened.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Melee then.” Rynk tossed the items to the side and tackled Vault, using her momentum on his head to push him onto the ground. He did not expect the attack, and could not react quick enough, but he could react now, and promptly bashed at Rynk’s sides with his hands.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk let out a groan from the impact, cringing, and losing her balance, falling sideways before recovering. Vault’s thumbs however were now broken from ramming into metal ribs. He did not let that stop him though, and pushed himself up regardless, groaning almost in a scream from putting pressure on them.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Tell, me, the TRUTH!” Rynk slashed her unsheathed claws at Vault, but he backed up, grabbed her wrist and kicked her in the chest. Normally this would dislocate the joint of her elbow, but her DNA was more developed and strong. She did scream from the pain in her arm, but since only half of her arm felt it, the impact did not phase her too much.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Both of you knock it off!” Plate urged, while Eloscin got to his feet and ran over to aid the new aid. Rynk rammed her knees one at a time into Vault’s chin, and he let go, falling backwards, but he rolled back and ended back in a standing position.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Eloscin rammed Vault in the side, but Vault stood his ground and positioned Eloscin at Rynk before shoving him at her. Rynk made a side step to the side, spinning in a 360 pattern, then jumped at Vault with a fan-kick. He was out of range, but she could not tell. He had waited till she reacted, then grabbed the back of her lower leg, and forced her to knee down to the side, and attempted to shoved her forward over her head.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk instead used her free foot to kick at his face, but he ducked. His hand slipped on Eloscin’s arm though, and fell on his face. Rynk span up from the ground, just as Vault did and they resumed their brawl.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate did not know what had gotten into Rynk but something was wrong, with all of them. He searched around until he found the End Ga pistol, and fired repeatedly at them both. A beam of blue light hit them, causing their nerves to numb, which was meant to paralyze.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk felt the effects, but her dead nerves caused the effect to reverberate, and instead of paralyze her, send her into a spasm for a moment. Vault fell to the ground paralyzed. Rynk looked over her fallen leader, then back at Plate, “Tha-“ Plate shot her again. Rynk almost vibrated, letting out a gasp. It at least hurt.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“What is wrong with you!?” He yelled, “You just tried to blow us all up!!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk stumbled before sitting down slowly before she fell, “They, aren’t, the, ene… enemy, Art.” She answered dizzily.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I have no idea what you actually want with us.” Eloscin said, walking a ways towards Plate, though stopping before getting too close, “Could you explain what happened?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“What happened, I-…” Plate growled, “I…” He sighed, “My dad was sent back from the war… and worked at End Ga for a couple years before you got him fired.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I don’t eve-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Twelve years ago.” Plate added, “And he lost everything. But he also found out about the plans and weapons you developed to destroy Banshees.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Yes, we did, but that was Eleven years ago when we made our last Anti-Banshee weapon!” Eloscin retorted, “The company has been pro Banshee for Eleven years!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“We found shipments, and weapons, recent ones, under your company’s name!” Plate yelled, “It’s no lie.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Where? When?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Years, current years, and in Supircor. We destroyed the stashes, what we didn’t we modified.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I don’t know anything about that. We don’t export from this building. And if someone’s still manufacturing those weapons, it’s not official or legal.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Prove it!!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I CAN’T!!”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate shot Eloscin, paralyzing him as well. He walked over and prepared to fire again. Rynk bashed the gun clumsily out of Plate’s hand before collapsing on the ground. She dizzily reached for it, and grabbed it, but he could easily grab it back… he didn’t yet, “Rynk what are you doing?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Plate… neither of them can prove themselves right…” She mumbled, “Something’s not right…”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Why do you trust them all of the sudden?” He asked sternly, “You overhear some cops, and that changes everything?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I saw it for myself.” She replied. While slowly getting up. “And right now they aren’t the ones blowing up the building…” She sighed, whispering in a mumble “I was such an idiot to go along with all of this. I’m done just following whatever someone tells me to.” She spoke aloud now, “I’m not going to stick around for this, so I guess this will be it.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You’re not even going to take time to think this over?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Vault lied to me, and I don’t know for sure, but I doubt you completely believed his bit about the Hellborns did you?” She narrowed her eyes,  pointing at Vault with the pistol. “Did you?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“… No… not completely.” He admitted, “But you don’t expect me to just leave all of this do you??”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Why not?! What happened to that running off thing!?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“He’s my family, my only family, Rynk! You wouldn’t understand, you never met yours, and that stinks, and I don’t envy you for it, but what I do is different from what you can do.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Are we at least on the same page?” She nodded towards Eloscin.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate growled, “… I’ll leave it alone until I have a reason not to. If I find anything about them-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“If it turns out they do have something to do with all of that,” She interrupted, “you’ll be going against me for who gets to tear them apart first. Can you promise me that you won’t… do anything like that?”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Like that?” Plate gave her a look of obliviousness, “You’ll have to be more specific.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Just… don’t put other people in danger because of what someone else did.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Like my Father did?” He asked with an air of hostility.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“YES WHAT YOUR FATHER DID!!” She hissed back, “Do you think that just because he’s your father I’m going easy on him?! Protect him if you want, but all he’s done is trick me into ruining people’s lives. I can’t believe I almost blew up that Station, I don’t care if they’re racists! I don’t care if they don’t even have families! Whatever we do is just as bad… if not worse, and Vault isn’t going to twist what I think is or will be those things anymore.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Art was tense… but he understood what she meant. She did not word things well, she did not do that well under pressure, but he could not tell her she was wrong. And it was his own love for his father that made him blind to curiosity. Perhaps Vault hadn’t told him everything. If he did, then things were fine, but if he didn’t… then things would need fixing.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Alright… I guess this is it then.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk nodded and turned towards the front door, “I’m so-“ She was yanked to the ground and pulled into an arm lock by Vault. She scratched at him, but he shoved her onto the ground face first, pinning her arms to the ground.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plate yelled “DAD, STOP!” and pulled at Vault’s head as he could not get a grip on his arms. Vault shoved him out of the way, and kicked him back for good measure. He got up again, but felt a stinging sensation as his nerves went numb. Vault had shot him with the paralyzer pistol that Rynk could not hold on to while in the arm lock.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk was losing air fast, and she could not tell where her arms were, though she could only assume she was wriggling them. “You’ve ruined everything, little Hellborn.” He growled. “I try to help you, but now you’re going back to that birthplace.”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Her strength was running out, and she could move nothing to stop Vault. Eloscin was still paralyzed, and Plate was no help either. Rynk collapsed, and her body went limp. Vault waited a few seconds before letting go. He picked her up by her large ears and walked towards the window.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A small whimper of a sound could be heard, as Rynk’s face began to slowly turn reddish, then finally she could not stop it, and coughed repeatedly while taking in as much air as she could. Vault staggered back, wiping his face of the saliva, but he was not on his guard. Rynk grabbed his head with both her feet… and snapped his neck. He fell, dropping her, dead.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Rynk continued to pant on the ground, and did nothing else for a good half-minute, until she was no longer dizzy from getting choked almost to death. When she did get up she examined Vault… of course he gave no signs of life because he was deceased.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The hybrid sighed, her head tilting to the ground. She could not look over to Plate, how could she after this? Everything she said about Vault rang in her head. While she was right about him… her threats were mostly empty, but now she had killed him.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She cringed, and winced… but not a tear was shed. Why? No one knows. Perhaps she was too hardened, or perhaps her emotions were too mixed to decide on what she would react with. She did though, stay still.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Many minutes passed and eventually she could see Plate’s shadow next to her. “I… I didn’t…” She looked towards his shadow, “I’m sorry, Art… I won’t blame you if you-“

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“I don’t…” Art sighed. She could not tell if he was crying or not, but she did know that it was time to leave him be. She got up, and took her exit through the window.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Later on, Rynk decided to take some of the remains of the team’s money supply, she’d need it to get out of Supreta. She didn’t know what she would do from then on, but she wasn’t going to stay there… at least… she wouldn’t come back until she could make an actual difference.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The warehouse was empty of anyone aside from Rynk. She was putting the money together, in one of their bags when the door behind her opened up. Rynk heard this but simply continued stashing. The person walked closer, but Rynk did not react. She heard a clicking noise, but ignored it. If Plate was going to get revenge, she honestly did not feel up to trying to stop him… but… she smelled something odd… perfume?

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Now Rynk reacted. Her large feet slammed against the person’s side, and she pinned them against the wall, banging their hand against the wall until the Hellborn-killing-gun was out of their hand. Rynk knew why she was doing this, but it still hurt… it still felt like betrayal, hypocritical betrayal. So she did not ask why instead she found herself saying to her  attacker, “Not you…”

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She released Chain, and stumbled over to the side. And now she teared up. Now, when it was she who was harmed tears fell, and she hated herself for it. She could not move, she could not say anything else, and she was looking for why she was hurting so much… she knew but she blinded herself. She was hurting because no matter how flawed or fake this team was… it was the closest thing she had to a family… and Chain used to be, until now, the closest thing to a mother and a sister.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“Everything is ruined, everything is…” Chain stopped. Her anger faded slowly, and instead of continuing with the kill… she found herself crying as well. Chain had no family anymore… they were killed, and she did not want to be the murderer of anyone.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Neither of them embraced the other, but neither reached for the gun. Was it because Chain was once a friend? Was it because Rynk was too young to kill? It was because they both knew that their entire team was flawed, their drive a lie, and their leader dead.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chain rose, and handed the bag over to Rynk. “Go…” She ordered. Rynk took the bag… then dropped it and embraced Chain in a large hug. Chain kept her arms down for the first few seconds, but  she hugged back soon after, and they cried again.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The thirteen-year-old hybrid left to different lands, the son of the deceased buried his father and abandoned the goals set before, Copper salvaged what he could of the team’s supplies, and joined a group of mercenaries for the Supretan Government, Nert and Bert decided to leave to support Ytaris, and Chain… put a bullet in the back of her head.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A happy ending? There was not a happy ending. But that was not because this was sad, but because this was not the end.