Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Twilight, current identity Loid Forger, had been and still was many things: A former soldier, a spy for the Westalian Intelligence Bureau, and as of late, a family man.

As he often reminded himself, his current mission, aka Operation STRIX, was to play his part as an unassuming father to get close to National Unity Party's leader, Donovan Desmond, and figure out what he was planning. To do that, he needed a wife and daughter, whom he found in Yor and Anya respectively, with all of them coming together to form a fictitious family. One that, at times, felt less and less fictitious.

Much like his primary objective, he found himself needing to be reminded more and more, particularly after the family trip to the aquarium, that everything was for the sake of the mission. His current identity, his family, it was all a means to seeing Operation STRIX through. The activities they shared in were done to blend in with the common Ostanian citizen as part of said mission. Similarly, what he was doing at the moment was very much in-line with that objective.

"Hello, I'd like to see what vehicles you have for sale," Loid said to the car dealer seated at his front desk. He seemed an elderly man, white beard reaching his red button-up shirt with a name tag that read "Samuel Witwicky". The hat he wore was green and covered his likely bald head, if the fact that the hair from his beard stopped around his ears was any indication.

"Certainly Mister..."

"Forger. Loid Forger," he replied as he shook Witwicky's hand.

"Well Mr. Forger, happy you decided to come down to my humble abode. Most folks prefer more techy cars these days," Witwicky said as he walked around his desk, hobbling with a cane, to show him what he had for sale.

"Yes, well, I suppose you could say I'm a simple man," Loid lied before following it up with a half-truth, "I'm looking for something for me, my wife, and my daughter. Something for our small family to get around in."

And preferably something cheap so Handler won't get on my case.

Witwicky heartily laughed and said, "You remind me of a younger me, Mr. Forger. Back when it was me, the wife and kids. Anyway, let me show you what we have."

Loid hummed as they entered the front lot of the old dealership, letting his eyes scan each vehicle they came across. Witwicky had quite a selection to choose from, many being small in size or older models from before the previous war. Quite a few of them seemed to have the stains of time, yet were kept in good shape, showing the dedication their current owner had to his craft. Of course, the sheer number of them left one glaring issue for Loid.

"I'm not certain which one I should pick."

"Heh, reminds me of something my old man used to say," only at Witwicky's words did Loid realize he said that out loud, "He worked both a car repair shop and scrapyard way back when. Earned him the nickname "Sparkplug", and he'd always tell me something that stuck with me."

Loid raised an eyebrow, "And what did he tell you?"

"That the driver doesn't pick the car," he smiled, "The car picks the driver. He called it "the mystical bond between man and machine". Even into my old age, still can't say I fully understand it."

Loid took in the man's words and pondered on their specifics. From his body language and the way he spoke, it wasn't some sales pitch. Most salesmen would stress that they had a true, intimate understanding of such words to butter up clientele in order to make more business then normal. Witwicky, on the other hand, claimed not to understand, and yet said those words in reminiscence and genuine fondness. It was a clear, obvious love for his father and how much he missed him.

To come from such a loving family. Would Anya grow up to speak similar of me and Y-

Loid internally shook his head, tipping his hat to hide his eyes, reminding himself why he was here. Giving Witwicky his best smile, he said, "If it's alright with you, I'd like to peruse your selection on my own."

"Certainly," Witwicky replied with a smile of his own, "Take all the time you need."

As the elderly man left, Loid continued to traverse across the lot, continuing his search for a decent travel vehicle for his family. Price didn't seem much of an issue, as all the cars and trucks here were very affordable, to the point where he could safely say Anya's Eden College uniform was more expensive. It was almost...overwhelming, having so many options to choose from. In past missions, even with a number of ways to completion, he could instantly tell what the best way was with no trouble. Yet now, trying to select a family car made such instances seem trivial with how he stumbled over himself to make a choice.

Once more, Loid found himself closing his eyes and shaking his head. He was overcomplicating things and decided that the next car he laid eyes on would be the one he purchased. And so he cleared his thoughts and opened his eyes, looking up to see a rather odd sight.

As expected of a dealership parking lot, it was a car, but the oddity that stuck out to Loid was two things. The first was that the car, a common Volkswagen Beetle of yellow color with a black stripe running down its middle, seemed almost untouched by time compared to the older vehicles present. The second was that it was rather isolated compared to the rest of the cars and trucks, which were more neatly aligned in uniform rows. His curiosity peaked, he walked up to the car and looked into its front door's window.

Nothing out of the ordinary, but looks can be deceiving, Loid thought as he saw the grey cushions before opening the door and taking a seat, finding it rather comfortable. His spy instincts kicked in and he felt out the interior, noting no bugs or wires. Perhaps it was paranoia, but one could never be too careful, especially in his line of work. Loid then gripped the steering wheel, smiling at how well it felt in his hands before turning it left and right, noting the impressive handling.

It was then that he saw a glimmer of something at the center of the steering wheel and felt his heart beat just a bit faster, concerned that there was a bug and his instincts failed him. Thankfully, that wasn't the case, but what he saw did make him raise an eyebrow. At the wheel's center was a strange looking symbol, one that he'd never seen before. It was red in color and looked like a metallic mask or face of sorts. Before he could wonder any further on what the insignia meant, a knocking came from the window and he turned to see Witwicky leaning down to see him.

"You alright in there?" he asked, voice muffled by the closed door.

Loid rolled down the window and answered, "I'm quite alright. Thank you," he then looked back at the wheel and asked, "What do you know about this symbol here? I've never seen it before."

"Hmm, can't say I've seen it before either," Witwicky answered as he adjusted his hat, "Matter of fact, I don't quite remember buying this car either. Know for sure that I bought a bunch of old VWs years back and refurbished them, but this one's certainly a haze for me. Must be getting senile in my old age."

Loid gave him a thankful smile, despite the lack of gained information, before he returned to the wheel and flexed his fingers on the grip. Perhaps it was his curiosity regarding the insignia, or maybe it was just how this vehicle stood out among its many contemporaries in the lot, or the fact that the car's size and attributes were almost perfect for his family, but something about it...spoke to him, for lack of a better term.

I think I've finally made up my mind, Loid turned to Witwicky once more and asked, "How much for this one?"

Witwicky smiled, "Felt that "mystical bond", I take it?"

Loid actually chuckled, "I wouldn't say that, but I think I've found the right one."

"Mama, when does Papa get back?"

Yor looked up from the kitchen sink where she cleaned the dishes to see Anya, who's eyes were still glued to the tv as an episode of Spy Wars played out. Yor smiled happily at the girl's enthusiasm for the show.

"He should be coming home from work soon, Anya," Yor said before returning to the dishes, Hopefully there isn't too much concussive therapy involved.

Today, she'd been given the day off work, at least as far as her normal job was concerned. As for her other job, there hadn't been anything for today either, though there was that one group of human traffickers she'd dealt with just a few days prior. The lack of killing to be done had given her plenty of time to spend with her daughter, or rather, Loid's daughter, reminding herself that she was the step-mother in her and Loid's pretend marriage.

Shaking her head, she reminded herself that, pretend or otherwise, this family was still real. Loid was real, Anya was real, and even if it was a cover to continue her work as an assassin, she would fulfill her role in this family to the best of her abilities, and she'd protect them to her dying breath.

Suddenly, the front door opened and she heard Loid say, "Yor, Anya, I'm back."

"Papa!" Anya quickly turned off the tv and rushed to greet her father, hugging his leg while he smiled and patted her head.

"Welcome home, Loid," Yor greeted as Loid removed his coat and hat. As he hung them up, she asked, "So how was work?"

"It went by quite swiftly," Loid answered as he gave Yor and Anya his full attention, "I apologize. I would have been home sooner, but I went out to purchase something."

Anya gasped in excitement, "What is it, papa?"

Loid looked between his daughter and Yor, "It's to better help us blend in as a normal family. Here, it's parked outside."

Yor's eyes widened as she turned to Anya, who looked even more excited if that were possible. They followed Loid outside and saw, parked just at the curb of their apartment building, was a bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle with a black stripe. Loid smiled at them just as Anya ran forward and cheered, "Yay! New car!"

"Wow, Loid, this is..." Yor then realized something right as Anya opened the back door and climbed in, "Wait, didn't you already have a car?"

Loid nodded, "Yes, but the average family does either buy an extra vehicle or replace the old one after a while. In this case, I had my old car returned, seeing as it was loaned to me by a coworker anyway."

"I see," Yor looked at the new car, giggling as Anya bounced on the back seat like it was a trampoline, "Well, it certainly looks adorable."

Not to mention that, in addition to helping them seem like the average family, Yor learned over the years that cars made for a great way to dispose of unwanted things like the corpses of vile scum. Of course, that came with its own set of caveats, as it typically involved shoving the dismembered bodies into the trunk of a car before kicking it off the edge of a dock and letting it sink to the bottom of a river. Which meant if she wanted to do that then-

No no no, Yor shook her head and reminded herself, You can't use the new car to hide or dispose of bodies. You'd get blood all over it, then you'll have to get rid of it and give away to them that you're an assassin. A good wife would never make her family lose their new car just after getting it!

"Mama! Papa!" Anya jumped out of the car and ran up to them, distracting Yor from thoughts of her other life, "Can we go for an ooting in the new car?"

"Certainly," Loid smiled at his daughters exuberance, "Where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere!"

Yor laughed as Loid sighed, though the smile on his face said it all. An idea formed in Yor's head as she looked to Loid and said, "I know! How about instead of going somewhere, we just take a drive around Berlint to see the sights?"

"Yeah! Can we Papa? Can we, please?"

"Please Loid?"

Both Yor and Anya pleaded, though Anya had the benefit of being utterly adorable and impossible to say no to. And sure enough, Loid smiled and replied, "Alright, a trip around Berlint it is."

"YAY!" Anya cheered and ran back into the car, "We're going on an ooting! We're going on an ooting!"

This time, Loid let out a brief chuckle that joined Yor's giggle. The two of them looked to each other, still smiling, though Yor had to shake her head and look away as a bright blush overtook her face. Just as quickly, she ran right into the passenger door and awkwardly fumbled in opening it before succeeding and taking her seat. When Loid entered and sat in the driver's seat, she swallowed her earlier embarrassment to look forward, briefly seeing a glimmer on the steering wheel.

As she looked to the glimmer and saw a rather odd insignia on the steering wheel's center, she asked, "Loid, what's that symbol?"

"Not sure," Loid replied, "Not even the dealer knew what it was."

"Looks like a face," Anya chirped, poking her head out from behind Loid's seat. Loid, for the most part, simply shrugged.

"Funnily enough, I thought the same thing, but it also didn't seem like anything to dwell on. At least for now," Loid turned and gave Yor and Anya his full attention, "So what part of the city do you want to drive around first?"

"Let's go drive around school in the new car!" Anya jumped.

Yor smiled, "Well, sounds like a plan. Loid?"

"Eden College it is," Loid said as he fastened his seatbelt and waited for them all to do the same. As soon as they were buckled in, he turned the car on and proceeded down the road.

Even with the seatbelt on, Anya bounced up and down in her seat. She raised her head to get a better look out the window and looked at all the super tall buildings. Sure, she'd seen them all before, but now she was seeing them in the new family car! It was so cool!

"Anya sure seems to love the new car. And to think I actually considered using it to get rid of bodies."

Anya looked at Mama, who was looking forward at the road, and felt her eyes go wide. She loved her Mama, but she didn't like reading her thoughts too much. Mama's thoughts were usually pretty scary sometimes.

"Let's see here. Turn the intersection and...huh, haven't seen that cipher in a while. Looks like I'll have to meet with Handler tomorrow."

Sounds like Papa has a new super secret spy mission, Anya looked at Papa in awe. Papa's thoughts were way less scary than Mama's, and they were a lot cooler with all the spy stuff he did. And she got to help him with his spy stuff by going to Eden! Speaking of school, she started to recognize the buildings from the roads the bus took to take her there, meaning they were getting close.

Anya loosened her seatbelt a bit to scoot closer to the window, but then she suddenly heard another voice, and it wasn't Papa's or Mama's.

"-try waiting until tonight and sneaking away when they're not looking?"

Huh? Anya looked around. She heard someone's thoughts, but where were they coming from? Did she read the mind of a passing driver?

"No, that might be a problem. They'd notice that their car went missing and I don't think they could buy another."

Anya looked at the car's radio. She didn't know if she heard it right, but she tried concentrating on the car to see if it was true.

"But I can't just stay with them either, it'll interfere with my mission. ARGH! For the love of Primus, why did I have to go into stasis at that dealership? I should have just scanned the slagging vehicle and left for somewhere else to rest up!"

Mission? Anya's eyes went wide again as more questions filled her head. Her Papa's new car was alive, and it had a mission? Was the car a spy too? Could cars be spies?

"No, focus B-127. Optimus gave you a mission when he sent you to this planet. You can still figure out how to establish a base for when he and the others arrive. As a scout of the Autobot Resistance, you can't let him down."

Anya tried to process what she'd just heard Papa's new car think. She was also trying to process the fact that the car was alive and could think, but mostly his last thought made her mind jump up and down.

Planet? Scout? Resistance? Anya thought as she figured it all out, Papa's new car is an alien scout for a space resistance?

This...

Was...

SO COOL! Anya's grin went from ear-to-ear as they drove past her school.

Chapter Text

B-127 let out a whirring sound, the closest thing to a groan he could manage, as he stood up. Optics scanned his current environment and looked upon the small crater containing himself and the wreckage. All in all, definitely not one of his more graceful landings, especially considering that the ship formerly known as his escape pod was left in total ruins from the crash.

Scrap, he realized as he started searching through what was left of his pod, hoping it wasn't too damaged, or else he was in trouble. Thankfully, his servos brushed past a large part of the pod's hull and found it; his energon converter. Relieved, he picked it up and strapped the device to his back, Phew, close one. Don't know if this planet has any raw energon deposits.

Noting that there wasn't anything else salvageable from the wreckage, he rose out of the crater and slid his mask on, hexagonal patterns filling his vision and scanning the environment. As he navigated through the dark greenery, his scans came back and confirmed that the planet's atmosphere was comprised largely of oxygen and hydrogen, and that his surroundings were carbon-based.

Wow, B-127 thought in awe as he brushed a servo alongside the trunk of a large tree, I remember learning about organic planets, but to actually be on one is something else.

He let it all sink in as he traversed his given path; the chirping noises in the background, the gentle winds, the shining planetary satellite in the sky. It was all so far removed from the violent conflicts against the Decepticons. There were times of respite, certainly, but the tension of the Cons' next move or an upcoming mission past enemy lines always marred it. Here, it felt so...

B-127 shook his head and retracted his mask, realizing that he needed to focus on his mission. He walked a bit further before stopping, his optics seeing a large dirt path from left to right covered in tire tracks. As Optimus had told him that the planet, Earth, was isolated, the tracks in question couldn't have been made by either Autobot or Decepticon, meaning one thing.

Roads lead to somewhere. Maybe this one leads to civilization? B-127 thought, shifting into vehicle mode and drove down the path at his casual pace. After what felt like a good thirty cycles, turning and swerving when the road demanded it, he felt like he was getting nowhere. He wondered if he needed to turn back and go down the opposite way, but before he could, he saw a bright light emit from his right as the trees grew less in number. He wondered, swerving and driving towards the source past what few trees there were, only to see that he was about to head over a cliff.

OH SLAG! He panicked and braked like his life depended on it, mostly because it probably did. Thankfully, he stopped just in time, the side of his vehicular mode barely avoiding the edge. Not taking any chances, he shifted back to robot form and looked to the light source. B-127's optics widened in awe as he saw the bright city down below, buildings rising far and wide with bots in vehicular mode traversing its roads.

However, as he looked, he saw small moving...things either in or next to said bots on various walkways throughout the city. Wanting to know more, B-127 activated his mask and engaged telescopic mode, zooming in to get a better look and see that they were lifeforms, just like the bots. Said lifeforms were organic in structure and bipedal like him, only about the size of Mini-Cons and garbed in cloth for some reason.

Fascinating, he watched as the bots and organics all worked in unison, the former carrying the latter across long distances and even finding places of rest after the fact. With the unity that existed between the two, combined with the natural resource abundance, it was no wonder Optimus sent him here. It was practically the perfect place to rebuild before they had to return to Cybertron and retake their home.

Better introduce myself to the locals, B-127 looked down, seeing a steep incline with more dense trees far at the bottom. It took a bit, but he was able to safely climb down and remove the energon converter from his back, First things first, I need to find a good place to hide this for later.

Reactivating his mask, he scanned the stone structure he'd just climbed down from and walked along its side, hoping to find an opening of some sort. About a few cycles of scanning, he located a weak point and proceeded to pull pieces of stone away, doing so until he managed to find the opening he was looking for. As the last of the rock was pulled away, he entered and found himself standing in a small cave, ceiling just a few mechanometers over his head.

It's a start at least, he mused as he placed his energon converter down and exited the makeshift cave. After doing what he could to hide it, he proceeded through the trees yet again, stopping just before the last of them and looking past it to see a few bots in vehicle mode, an organic walking out of a building and pushing a cart of what he assumed were provisions.

As the organic opened the bot's storage compartment, B-127 saw the right opportunity to introduce himself. He walked out from behind the tree, crossing both the road and walking past the resting bots before standing in just behind the organic, a femme based on appearance. It didn't take long for her to notice him, as his looming shadow caused her to swerve and look at him with wide...optics? He didn't know what the organic term was for them. Regardless, and hoping to make a good first impression, he beeped out, "Hello Miss Organic. I'm B-127 of the Autobot Resistance! It's nice to meet you."

…

…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Okay, B-127 thought as he parked on the side of the road, I don't think she's going to chase after me.

Not taking any chances, he remained in his vehicular form, which was currently covered in splotches of red, green, and orange from the provisions the organic threw at him. That definitely could have gone better, he thought, trying to figure out where he went wrong in his introduction. The organic freaked out when she saw him, yelling about a giant monster before pelting him. He then swiftly drove away, almost crashing into a couple bots in the process. Actually, now that he thought of it, none of the bots back there shifted to robot mode or tried to calm the femme down, almost like they were in stasis or...oh.

None of the vehicles here are bots are they? He realized, resisting the urge to stand up and slap himself as a pair of organics walked by, both slowing down and staring at him. None of the machines on this planet were sentient, only serving as transportation. If he could shake his head at the moment, he would have, Well this certainly complicates things. I can't exactly walk around in robot mode without causing a panic, and I think I need to in order to get a base up and running. What am I supposed to do now? After some idle musing, he thought, Maybe I could just travel around in alt-mode and gather supplies that way? It'd be slow, but manageable. Yeah, I think I could-

"Mama! Look at the cool car!" His thoughts were interrupted by the small, high-pitched voice. He turned his attention to two organics at his side, a femme and a much smaller one holding her hand. The taller of the two looked at B-127's vehicular form with a curious expression.

"Wow, I've never seen a car like that," she mused out loud, "Maybe it's a new model? Or a new transport for Ostania's military? It certainly looks advanced."

Aw scrap, B-127 revved up and drove off, briefly noting the startled looked on the two's faces as he turned a corner. Looks like my current alt-mode's not suited for cover. I'll have to get to higher ground, see if I can't find something else, he thought as he swerved into what looked like an empty alleyway. After making sure no one was around, he shifted out of vehicular form and stood up, climbing the height of the nearest building. Once he was on the roof, he looked down at himself and realized he still had the multicolored splotches from earlier on his front.

"Really glad these things aren't acidic," He beeped out as he swept the globs off. With that done, he walked to the edge of the roof to survey what area of the city he was in. Once more, he couldn't help but take in the bright lights and sweeping sounds. It was beautiful to look at, reminding him of days before the war, but now there was a bitterness to it. There were no bots on this planet, he couldn't risk exposing what he really was without frightening the populace, and he didn't even know when Optimus and the others would get here. Everything sunk in all at once to remind him that he was all alone.

Better find a place to rest, B-127 felt exhaustion creep in, likely a combination of the events from earlier and lag from his pod's flight. There would be a time to muse on that later, specifically when he didn't need to worry about blending in. Returning to his search, he knelt down and activated his mask once more, scanning for any vehicular forms he could use. So far, there weren't much of any on the roads, and those that were tended to be too large or even too small for his frame. He was about to get up so he could find a different vantage point, but then his optics noticed a large sign shoot past the height of a far off building that read "Witwicky Family Dealership" and pointed a curved arrow downward at something he couldn't see.

Wonder what that is, B-127 looked down to the streets below and saw that there were no immediate vehicles or organics present. Nodding to himself, he climbed down and ran through the street as quietly as he could. Of course, running and sneaking didn't usually mix well in his experience, but he couldn't really afford to be slow right now. Thankfully, he crossed without drawing any attention and travelled through the alleyway, seeing a light just on the other side to where the arrow pointed. But just as he was about to exit, he heard the sound of an opening door and it made his Spark drop.

Slowly, he turned to the source and looked down to see a grown organic, this one a mech dressed in a loose red cloth holding a bottle and bag in his hands. He looked up at him with wide eyes like the provision throwing femme. B-127 stood absolutely still, not sure what to do.

…

…

…

"I gotta stop drinking so late," The mech shrugged as he chucked the bottle and bag into the bin at the side of the steps before walking back inside the building, closing the door behind him.

Phew! Thank Primus, B-127 exited the alleyway and crossed the next street, once more making sure no one was around before vaulting over the fence. He turned and his optics briefly widened, seeing vehicles of various sizes; some large, some small, and some just right for him.

Huh, so a dealership is a storage place for vehicles. Looks like lucks finally on my side, B-127 felt excited, almost not knowing which form to go with, given the sheer amount of options. However, feeling the exhaustion grow stronger accelerated his choice as he looked to his side and saw a small, somewhat rustic, blue transport. Scanning it, he felt his body shift to match the vehicle, both inside and out, as he backed up a tad and found a comfortable place to park.

The exhaustion took hold, but before he went into a brief stasis, he thought, Tomorrow, my mission starts. I won't let anything stop me from seeing it done.

"-ow much for this one?"

Huh? Wha-what's going on? B-127 felt himself blink awake as he heard two voices; one right next to him and the other...inside him? Whatever exhaustion he still had drained away as he heard the conversation between the two organics and quickly realized what a dealership actually was.

It wasn't a storage facility. It was a shop, and he'd just been sold.

Slag.

Okay, this is bad, Was B-127's only thought as the organics; a mech dressed in green named Loid, a femme dressed in red named Yor, and a smaller femme dressed in black named Anya, sat in his new interior. From what he could tell, and based on what the young femme called them, Loid and Yor were Conjunx Enduras to each other, while Anya was their ward. He left all control to the mech, who was currently driving his vehicular form around the city, which he now knew was named Berlint.

While he had nothing against the family, him now effectively being owned by them caused too many complications to his mission, not to mention the fact that he was now someone else's property left a sour taste in his pipes. How on Cybertron was he supposed to establish a base if his movements were now being limited by these people?

Come on B-127, think! He shifted his focus to try and come up with a solution, No way you can just transform in front of them and tell them what you really are. Don't want to cause any more freak outs, and I'm starting to get the feeling that organics can't understand what I'm saying anyway. Maybe I could try waiting until tonight and sneaking away when they're not looking?

Almost as quickly as the idea entered his processor, it was scrapped, No, that might be a problem. They'd notice that their car went missing and I don't think they can buy another. But I can't just stay with them either, it'll interfere with my mission, the more he thought about it, the more frustrated he grew, ARGH! For the love of Primus, why did I have to go into stasis at that dealership? I should have just scanned the slagging vehicle and left for somewhere else to rest up!

After a few clicks of nano-kliks of silently stewing in his anger, he found it in himself to calm down, No, focus B-127. Optimus gave you a mission when he sent you to this planet. You can still figure out how to establish a base for when he and the others arrive. As a scout of the Autobot Resistance, you can't let him down. Right now, you just need to figure out how to adapt. Shouldn't be too hard. Right?

His driver stopped at an intersection, letting the cars at the side pass by. As B-127 waited, he reshifted his focus to the roads and buildings of Berlint, hoping to at least get a better lay of the land. The light above turned green, and he was on the move again, investigating all the passing scenery. Even in the light of day, B-127 found the city to be a sight for the optics, and so unlike the ones back on Cybertron. All the cities back home were either smoldering ruins or filled with endless laser fire, and all the ones that weren't were under the banner of the Decepticon Empire. But here?

Everything here was so peaceful, so untouched by war. Everyone went about their daily lives without a care in the world as they all laughed and smiled with each other, whether it be while walking along the sidewalks, or driving down the road like the family seated inside him. If he was being honest with himself, he couldn't recall the last time he witnessed anything like this, not even from when he was growing up in-

"Papa! Can we listen to music?" Anya asked, snapping B-127 out of his thoughts.

"Sure," Loid replied as a hand reached for one of the knobs on the dash, "Anything in particular?"

"Nope!"

"Alright then, let's see what's on," Loid started turning the dial as random voices and sounds started playing inside B-127. It felt...odd, hearing voices come out of him that weren't his own, yet it also didn't feel painful like when he tried to talk, even if he was numb to it at this point. As soon as Loid removed his hand from the dashboard, a song started playing.

"Wise men say, only fools rush in."

"But I can't help falling in love with you."

"Shall I stay? Would it be a sin?"

"If I can't help falling in love with you?"

B-127 found it surprisingly catchy, and conveniently learned his new form could patch into radio signals on this planet. Where they were coming from, he wasn't sure, but it was possibly good intel for later.

"Ooh! I love this song!" Anya cheered, "Can you turn up the sound?"

"Of course Anya," Yor reached for the volume knob, her hand brushing against her Conjunx's, causing the two to gain bashful expressions and pull away quickly.

Huh, that's odd, B-127 thought as he witnessed their reaction. While the only Conjunx Endurae he really knew were Arcee and Greenlight, he did know they were highly affectionate with each other, yet these two acted like a shy pair of young bots who'd just met. Maybe they hadn't been together for too long? But if that was the case why did they have a ward? Maybe I'm overthinking things, he shrugged it off, It's probably just that organic couples work differently.

Whatever the case, Anya didn't seem amused by the two as she flatly said, "Papa and Mama are flirting."

"No we are not!" They both yelled simultaneously, expressions flustered. If B-127 could, he would've laughed at the display, but he reminded himself that he had to maintain cover. Still, between the clearly loving family, the music, and the overall atmosphere of his new environment, B-127 felt an ease he hadn't felt in quite some time.

Maybe this won't be so bad after all, He thought as he and the family enjoyed the rest of the drive.

Anya moved her head to the new song while Papa drove them home. It was getting late and he said she had to study for school tomorrow. Anya didn't want to study, but helping Papa with his mission meant she had to, so she'd put up with it. Besides, she was too excited to complain, as she got to go on her first ooting in her family's new car, and the new car was a super cool alien scout!

"Looks like we're almost home," Papa said as he lowered the volume on the radio and slowed down, making Anya wonder if Mister B-127 was okay with letting someone else drive him around.

B-12...1...7 Anya frowned as she thought of the name. It was a bunch of numbers and a letter, and that wasn't a name. They were labels people put on things, and they reminded her too much of...those people. The new car was a person, not a thing, and he needed a name just like anyone else did. Anya wondered, What's a good name for Mister Alien Car? What does he have that can make a cool name? He's got a stripe, and he's yellow, so what's-

"That's it!" Anya gasped in happiness just as the car stopped in front of home.

"What is, Anya?" Mama asked, her and Papa looking back at her. She could even hear the thoughts of the car and his own wondering about her outburst.

"Nothing, I...uh," Anya tried to think of something, "Anya thinks she has one of the homework answers."

…

Papa smiled and opened his side's door, "Well okay then."

"I'm sure you'll do great," Mama said, fully meaning it as she also got out of the car. Though to be fair, Anya knew her mama was strong, but not super smart.

"Papa, can I watch some tv before homework?" Anya put on her best pleading face as she got out of the car. Papa looked down at his watch and nodded.

"It's about 4:20, so you have time for one episode," he said, "But promise me you'll get to schoolwork when you're done."

"Okay!" Anya answered before closing the door and hugging the car, "Goodnight Mister Bumblebee!"

Mister...Bumblebee? Anya heard Papa think, Is she talking about the car?

Aw, Anya already gave the new car a name. That's so cute! Mama thought.

Mister Bumblebee's thoughts, however, were more, Wait, why did she call me that? Oh Primus, please tell me she isn't some mind reader and my cover's blown!

Uh oh, Anya's face froze in an awkward, forced smile, Don't want Mister Bumblebee to run away. Think of something Anya. Think, think, think!

"So, Anya," Papa walked up to her and kneeled down, "Why that nickname for the car?"

Thank you Papa, Anya thought as she relaxed and turned to him, "Well, he's yellow and has a black stripe. He looks like a bee, and that makes him Mister Bumblebee."

Oh, it's just a nickname, Mister Bumblebee thought, Phew, I almost drove off in a panic there.

"I see," Papa still looked a little confused, but Mama walked up and put a hand on Mister Bumblebee's roof.

"I think it's a perfect name," she said, gently rubbing the rooftop, "Goodnight, Bumblebee."

"Uh, yeah," Papa stood up and put a hand to the roof too, "Goodnight, Bumblebee."

Anya smiled as she read Mister Bumblebee's thoughts. They felt a lot happier now, even when Papa and Mama stopped patting the roof and they all headed inside. Before Anya went inside, she waved to him one last time, and as she closed the door, she heard one final thought from Mister Bumblebee.

Goodnight.

It was the next morning as B-127 let Loid drive him down the roads of Berlint, which were slowly growing more familiar to the Autobot scout. The rest of the mech's family was with him like before, only now Anya was dressed in what appeared to be a uniform of sorts, likely for this "Eden College" Loid talked about earlier. B-127 wondered what it was like, as while there were educational facilities back on Cybertron, he never went to any of them prior to the outbreak of the war. From the happy expression on Anya's face, he could only assume it was a lot of fun.

"We're here," Loid stopped in front of the school, letting Anya exit, "I'll try to pick you up when class ends, but if I get caught up at work, you'll have to take the bus home."

"Okay Papa," Anya replied, but not before opening the front passenger door and giving her mother a hug, who returned it lovingly.

"See you later, Anya," Yor said as Loid rested a hand on his daughter's head, affectionately patting it with a smile.

"Hey Anya!" A young voice called out from the school. B-127 turned his attention to it and saw a young femme in the same uniform as Anya waving at her.

"Hi Becky!" Anya waved to her friend and ran off to join her, but not before turning back and waving, "Bye Papa! Bye Mama! Bye Bumblebee!"

They all said their goodbyes, Loid and Yor watching Anya walk into school before driving away, leaving B-127 to think to himself, There's that name again.

He'd never heard of a name like that before, nor had he had one like it either. Having been born from the Well of All Sparks as part of the lower classes, he was only ever given a designation and nothing more. Even when he was amongst the Autobots, despite encouragement from his newfound friends to take up a name for himself, nothing ever truly fit him, and so he just stuck with his original number. But that name that Anya gave him last afternoon.

Bumblebee.

Huh, He thought, It actually has a nice ring to it.

Chapter Text

Loid arrived at one of the hidden entrances for Safehouse E; this one located relatively close to Berlint General Hospital, his cover job for Operation STRIX. Thankfully, the escape route in Berlint General's consultation room allowed him to arrive here without drawing suspicion to himself. Inserting a coin, the photobooth's camera scanned his face and its hidden lift took him down into the safehouse. He walked down the halls, eventually arriving at the office of Operation STRIX's overseer, Handler, aka Sylvia Sherwood. Opening the door, he walked in and saw his mentor in espionage turn to face him, blue eyes hidden behind round framed glasses as her face dawned a welcoming smile.

"Good day, or perhaps good evening, Twilight," Handler greeted as he walked up to her desk, removing his hat as she asked, "Mind handing me the expense for your cover identity's new car?"

Figures she'd start there, Loid thought as he pulled out the papers and gave them to her before taking his seat. Thankfully, it was just a quick peruse over the expense before she shrugged and put them away in her desk. Understandable, given that whatever mission she called him for took precedence. Not to mention a new vehicle was a far less outlandish purchase than renting out an entire castle and converting it into a re-enactment of a Spy Wars episode at his daughter's request.

Though Loid still couldn't bring himself to regret that decision, not after seeing how happy Anya was about the entire thing. And if he was being honest, he ended up enjoying it far more than he expected.

"Apologies to call you in on such short notice, but given our staff shortage and how Agent Nightfall is currently on assignment at the moment, we need you for an important mission," Handler explained, gaze hard as steel.

"What's the mission?" Loid asked, Handler pulling out a file and placing it on her desk for him to open. He did so, revealing to him the image and psychological profile of a Private in the Ostanian military, as well as detailed reports of an impact event that occurred roughly two days ago.

"Our intel informs us of a recent impact occurring just outside Berlint. While we're uncertain what it could be, our concern is that it could be taken as a possible attack on Ostania by outside powers," Handler stated as she adjusted her glasses, shifting them from clear to opaque, "We've also received word from HQ that they're looking into whether or not one of Westalis' higher ups was responsible."

"There's always going to be someone on either side looking to stir up trouble at the expense of everything else," Loid narrowed his eyes as he took in the information.

Handler nodded, "It's an unfortunate truth of the world we live in. However, as for the mission," Loid listened intently as Handler went into detail, "A few hours from now, military contingent is scheduled to head for the site to assist in analyzing it, as well as keep any of the city's populace from learning of the event. Their goal is to determine whether or not this was a possible attack."

"And if it's assumed to be?" Loid asked the dreaded question. Even if there was sufficient evidence that this wasn't an attack from anyone, there was always the small chance someone would jump at the opportunity to frame it as such.

"Then we'll find a way to prevent that from happening," Handler replied, "But for now, you'll need to go undercover as the military private shown in the documents. Unknown to him, we've managed to intercept any messages from his superiors regarding the operation. By now, he should be aboard the first train out of the city on vacation with his family."

"Sounds like he's getting a lucky break," Loid read through the man's profile and committed every detail to memory, though a tinge of envy also bled into his thoughts. He made a vow to dedicate himself to his duties as a spy; to help bring about a world where everyone could live in peace with each other. Whether he liked it or not, he couldn't falter in them. Of course, despite that, there was a part of him that wished he could take some time off from work and spend it with Yor and Anya.

"Regardless, once you're there, your main objective will be to uncover just what caused the impact and retrieve a sample of it for further investigation," Handler stood from her seat, letting Loid return his focus to the present, "Do you have everything you need?"

Loid closed the document, having memorized everything, and nodded as he stood up. Returning the file to Handler and retrieving his disguise for the mission, he thought, If all goes well, I should be able to complete this task before Yor and Anya get off work and school respectively.

In the hours since his briefing with Handler, Loid had donned his disguise as a rank-and-file troop of the Ostanian military and drove alongside a relatively small contingent of soldiers to the outskirts of Berlint. Having studied the movements and posture of the country's soldiers, and having formerly served amongst Westalis' armies himself, it was a rather trivial task for him to blend in with them. Thus far, he had drawn no suspicions from anyone, letting him analyze those present as he reviewed intel he'd previously gathered regarding the top brass of Ostania.

Once they were at the impact site, Major General Watkins, the hulking behemoth of a man serving as head of this operation, quickly began dividing troops into certain duties. The two primary ones given were to form a perimeter around the area to prevent civilians from entering as well as protecting/aiding the analysts in studying the potential weapon. The contingent's head walked down and began assigning tasks, each troop saluting as he passed them, giving Loid precious seconds to ponder on his current task.

He already knew which role he would be given, as the person he was currently impersonating, according to his records, had qualifications most suited for assisting those studying the unknown object. All he could really do in this situation was hope that he would be assigned there to complete his objectives. If he wasn't, then he still had a backup plan just in case.

"Private Weber," Watkins, in a thunderous voice, said as he approached Loid's current cover, "Analyst surveying."

"Sir, yes sir!" Loid saluted and proceeded to the impact site alongside those assigned to it, where a number of analysts were already present and inspecting the crater.

"Fascinating," One of the analysts garbed in a white lab coat whispered as he picked up a piece of metal.

"Ehem," Loid coughed, gaining the analyst's attention, "Sorry, uh, I'm Private Weber," he feigned nervousness in accordance with what was known about his identity's personality, "I was wondering what you guys have learned so far."

"Oh, no need to apologize. My name's Michael," The analyst replied, showing the name tag on his coat before standing up and presenting the metal, "Anyway, here's what we found out so far. Whatever this is, it's certainly a possibility that it could have been a weapon, but there's some evidence against that idea too."

"How so?"

"Well, we've identified what appears to be a propulsion system," Michael gestured to part of the wreckage, and sure enough, Loid did recognize parts that wouldn't be out of place on the boosters of a missile. However...

"But if this was a missile test of some kind, wouldn't there be more incendiary damage to the surrounding environment?" Loid asked, noting the lack of burn marks on any surroundings. In response, Michael nodded turned, kneeling down and picking up another fragment of metal, this one approximately the size of a human skull.

"Exactly," he said as he worked, "Not only that, but all evidence we've found so far indicates that the foreign object was hollow, given how it's nothing but scattered scrap metal now. If it were a giant metallic slug, then the lack of burn damage would be understandable since that wasn't its intended purpose."

"What do you suppose its purpose was?"

Michael looked back at Loid, pondering over the question before answering, "I personally don't see this as a weapons test. But I honestly can't figure out what this was for. If it helps, maybe have a look around with everyone else. A fresh set of eyes is always a plus in this line of work."

Loid nodded and proceeded to walk through the crash site, getting a better inspection on the various pieces of whatever caused the collision to begin with. Deciding to investigate the boosters later, Loid figured the area where the impact was deepest would provide him with some form of answers. Thankfully, the crater itself wasn't too deep or wide, and there was only one analyst, this one a blonde woman with glasses, and soldier present at the epicenter.

"Find anything?" Loid asked, garnering their attention.

Both of them shook their heads before the soldier, whom Loid noted had a prominent greying beard stubble, answered, "No, but I gotta say, if this really was a weapons test, then it was a real shoddy one."

"Think it might have been Westalis?" The analyst asked.

"Doubt it," the soldier replied as Loid walked a bit away and kneeled to the ground, sifting through the dirt surrounding one of the large metal fragments. Keeping his ears open, Loid listened in as the soldier behind him continued, "Personally, this all just reeks of a provocation of some kind from inside Ostania."

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it," came the response to the analyst's question, "We have what's basically a dud rocket launched in the middle of the woods near the country's main capital. Something like that could rile the populace up if made public and push them to want a retaliation."

"But you're sure it was an inside job?" The analyst questioned, Loid being able to tell by her tone that her eyebrows were furrowed, "I'm sure there's way more people on the other side who want to push us to war than there are here."

The soldier sighed, "Miss, I've been serving this country since before the last war, and believe me, there's more people baying for blood in Ostania than I'm comfortable with. Not to mention that we've swept these areas before as part of routine training exercises, and there have been no indications of Westalis military activity."

There was a moment of silence before the analyst replied, "I see," Loid could hear her sigh, almost sounding disheartened in herself, "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to imply...I guess I'm just a little scared is all."

"It's fine, and trust me, I understand," the soldier reassured, "Honestly, last thing I want is to see another war. But we're all living on one giant powder keg with people both high and low itching to light a spark."

And I have to make sure that fuse is never lit, Loid thought as me managed to sneak a piece of the unknown metal into a small plastic bag before pocketing it. If WISE could analyze the materials, maybe they could find a point of origin and track down whoever launched the potential weapon, though he still wasn't convinced it was one. He stood up and walked away from the epicenter to inspect other areas of the impact, but as he walked towards another analyst to gain new intel, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he looked down and saw large imprints in the dirt patterned after footsteps.

"Huh?" He muttered to himself as he approached the nearest one and knelt down, running a pair of gloved fingers through the dirt. Loid looked up and checked to make sure he wasn't seeing things, confirming that there were indeed footprints much larger than what was possible for any human to have. They could have belonged to an animal of some kind, but the formation and pattern indicated that it had to be bipedal in nature, and he knew none that could match either the size of shape of the imprints.

"Private Weber," Major General Watkins' booming voice came in from behind Loid, prompting him to turn and see the towering man as he continued, "What have you discovered?"

Loid, seeing no option but to answer, pointed downward at the tracks, "I found what appear to be footprints, sir. But I've never seen any with this size or shape before."

"Hmm," Watkins stepped forward and knelt down, inspecting the footprint, "Could be the work of whoever fired the weapon, but you are right. They're too large and abnormally shaped to fit anyone's description. Certainly don't match any animals I know of either. Matter of fact, I only knew of one person who's foot size was even a fraction as big as this."

"Who?" Loid asked, genuinely shocked at the idea of anyone like that.

"My grandfather," Watkins answered in a somber tone, "Alas, he passed away years ago."

"Oh. I'm sorry, sir," Loid apologized, his sympathy genuine even through his cover.

Watkins shook his head and stood up, "It's quite alright. You weren't aware. Besides, he was able to live well into old age. It was simply his time." he turned back to face Loid, "Nevertheless, this warrants further investigation. Follow the trail and see if it will provide us with any leads regarding this."

"Yes sir!" Loid saluted as the contingent's superior officer walked away, leaving him to trace the footprints. As he followed them outside the perimeter, he took note of the patterns within each of them. Much like the size and shape, it didn't match anything Loid had ever seen before. He briefly stopped, trying to wrap his head around what could possibly have made these prints, as nothing about them made any sense to him.

Maybe it is some animal that's never been seen before and this is all just a coincidence? Loid pondered, placing a hand under his chin, No, the tracks begin directly from the epicenter of the impact, so there has to be a connection of some kind. Maybe the missile wasn't actually a missile at all, but a pod containing a different kind of weapon, a bipedal one belonging to some third party unaffiliated with either country? Or maybe the foreign object was actually from space and whatever made these prints is actually an-

Loid shook his head and dismissed that last thought immediately and continued following the tracks, No, don't be ridiculous. There's no such thing as aliens. Besides, rushing to assumptions only leads to disaster. Best wait until we have the complete puzzle. However, as he neared a dirt road, he noticed that the footprints he was following gave way to tire tracks, implying that someone arrived to retrieve whoever or whatever this was.

Unfortunately, it looks like other vehicles drove by here over the last night or so, Loid noted, given all the tread patterns that blended together. Given his current cover and the amount of time that could have elapsed between the initial impact and now, following the trail to see if there were any deviations between the tread patterns was out of the cards.

Still, WISE now had a lead in the form of the metal from the epicenter, and with it, a starting point. Seeing nothing else that could be done, Loid returned back to the contingent and reported the dead end. Soon enough, they had gathered all they could manage from the crash site and proceeded to store it away in the convoy trucks before heading out.

"I see," Sylvia Sherwood looked down at Twilight's report, contemplating all that she had read and heard, "So the remnants of the unknown object will be placed in deep storage for further study, and it's been decided by the military's higher ups to bury any evidence that there was an impact at all?"

Twilight nodded, "All things considered, this is the best possible outcome for all parties involved or otherwise."

"Agreed," Sylvia read through the reports one final time before placing them on her desk. By all accounts, the site had been found and cleared out before any civilians could happen upon it, and by extension before word could spread. Had the opposite been the case, there would have been a potential wrench in maintaining peace between East and West. While that was thankfully avoided, that still left WISE with a loose end in the form of who was responsible for the impact in the first place.

"I take it our next task will be tracing the source of the potential weapon?" Twilight asked, ever observant.

Sylvia allowed herself a small smile, "Glad to see your ability to read people remains sharp, Twilight."

"Trying to make sure my skills don't dull, I presume?"

"Correct. After all, a dull knife can spell the difference between life and death in this line of work," Sylvia picked up the bag containing the metal shard provided by Twilight and said, "I'll have our people get to work on analyzing this immediately. If we can track down whoever launched it, we can work towards ensuring something like this doesn't happen again," placing the bag down, she looked to WISE's best agent, "For now though, I suggest we return our focus to Operation STRIX. That will be all for now, Agent Twilight."

"Understood. In that case, I'll be taking my leave," Twilight said as he stood from his seat, albeit a touch too quickly than he normally would have and with the ghost of an almost relieved smile on his face. The moment he exited the room, Sylvia looked to the wall clock and saw the time.

I see, Sylvia recalled that Yor Forger would be finishing work soon, and Anya Forger would be completing today's classes not long after that. And given the pace at which Twilight left, it was clear he wanted to retrieve his wife and child as soon as possible before heading home. While understandable in that he needed to maintain his position as a mild-mannered, loving family man, there was an undercurrent in Twilight's actions these days. One that implied his feelings regarding his cover family were growing into something more than just being a cover.

Perhaps she should call him back and further discuss that with him? The most important rule of being a spy was to avoid getting too attached, given how detrimental it could be in this life. However, as she contemplated doing so, she let it pass and leaned back in her seat, instead reviewing the current details on Operation STRIX.

Thus far, things have been progressing, Sylvia pondered, Slowly, of course, but we knew from the beginning that this would be a long-term operation. Loid Forger's daughter has earned her first Stella and an important step in getting close to Donavan Desmond. Given that neither field performance nor cover has been compromised, it's best to leave things as they are for now.

Standing up, she took the retrieved metal fragment and walked out of her office to deliver it to WISE's main experts on the subject. They'd have their answers on what was uncovered today soon enough. When she returned her focus to Operation STRIX, Sylvia would admit there was a small part of her that was pleasantly surprised by such a development in Agent Twilight.

After all, genuine happiness was also a rarity in the life they led. Best to let it be enjoyed while it lasted.

Anya looked left and right, waiting for Papa to drive in on Bumblebee, but he wasn't here yet. He said that if he wasn't here when school ended, which meant he was busy on super important spy stuff, then she could take the bus home instead, but she wanted to wait for him and Mama. She said goodbye to Becky already, and her friend offered to let her fancy car driver bring her home, but Anya said no. She knew Papa would finish his spy mission and be here with Mama soon, cause Papa was the best there was at what he did.

A car horn beeped and Anya turned, smiling when she saw Bumblebee drive up to her. Mama was waving at her from her seat, and Anya waved right back before opening the door. "Hi Mama!" Anya gave mama a hug while Papa patted her head.

"Hello Anya," Mama said, sounding super happy as she let go of the hug.

"Sorry if I was late," Papa sounded a bit embarrassed, "So Anya, how was school today?"

Anya got into the back and buckled her seatbelt before saying, "It went good. Classes were hard," she frowned, remembering how the teachers said a bunch of things she had trouble following. But then she remembered something and smiled as she pulled a picture out of her bag, "But I got to draw this!"

Her parents looked back and saw the picture; all of them together with Bumblebee parked right beside them. It wasn't finished yet because it still needed a dog, but that could wait until Papa took her to get one. He promised they'd be getting one soon, but Anya hoped she didn't have to wait too long.

Okay, I'm assuming the stick figure with the black lines on its head is Yor, but why does she have a...is that a kitchen knife or a baseball bat of some kind? Papa's thoughts sounded like he didn't understand Anya's art. Anya almost frowned because of how unappreciated she was in her time.

That's so adorable! I wonder why Loid's holding a boomerang though, Mama's sounded nicer about it, but why did she call Papa's silencer pistol a boomerang?

Huh, so I'm guessing the large yellow square with black circles under it is supposed to be me, Bumblebee's thoughts also came through, Is this what all art on this planet looks like?

Anya then realized something and gasped, Wait, Bumblebee can see inside himself? Does he have eyes in his head? she started looking around the inside of the car, Where are they!?

"Something wrong, Anya?" Papa asked, making Anya remember that he and Mama were watching her. She couldn't give away that she was reading Bumblebee's mind, or that he was an alien, or that she could read minds at all!

"Yup! Anya's fine!" Anya said before putting the picture in her pack and sorta lying, "I just remembered that a new Spy Wars episode is on today!"

Mama giggled, "Well, we know you wouldn't want to miss it."

"I promise I'll study after the episode," Anya saluted like a spy getting told about a new mission by a superior. Papa smiled and nodded before driving, Anya looking out the window and watching the school entrance get smaller as they went. She remembered saying goodbye to Sy-On while she was waiting for Papa to pick her up, even patting him on the back. But he just turned red and stomped away to the dorms with his two friends.

What's with Sy-On boy? Anya crossed her arms and groaned, How am I gonna be friends with the bad guy boss' kid and help Papa bring world peace if he's always mad at me?

"Anya, are you sure nothing's wrong?" Papa asked, sounding worried, "Did something happen at school?"

Anya looked out Bumblebee's window, "Sy-On boy is confusing."

"Still having trouble being friends with him?" Mama looked back and thought, Making friends must be really tough. I never got the chance to make any when I was her age.

Anya nodded, "He's such a big mean jerk. I don't know how to be friends with him."

I don't know who this "Sy-On Boy" is, but it kinda sounds like how me and W-459 started out back at boot camp, Bumblebee thought, but Anya also heard a bit of sadness in it. She wasn't sure why though, or who Bumblebee's friend was.

Maybe Mister Bumblebee knows how to be friends with meanies? Anya wondered, But how do I ask him without asking him?

"If it helps, I think we'll be able to get you that dog you wanted this weekend."

"Really!?" Anya gasped at what Papa said, completely forgetting what she was wondering about earlier. She was finally gonna get a dog! She could hardly wait! As she clapped and cheered in her seat, however, she heard one last thought from Bumblebee.

What's a dog?

Chapter Text

It had been just over a Chord (or week, in Earth terms) since Bumblebee had been purchased by the Forger family, and thus far, things had been pleasant, barring the family getting the pet. He recalled how he was parked outside the adoption event for almost the entire Solar Cycle (day) while the Forgers were there, and with so many people around, he couldn't just drive off and do his own thing.

Still, Bumblebee thought, remembering how giddy Yor and Anya looked, as well as how exhausted Loid looked when they were driving home, It feels like I missed out on something really important.

Either way, he'd listened to Anya gush about how she finally had a dog and how she couldn't wait to welcome him to the family. A solar cycle after the fact, a suited man came over to the Forgers' building with the large, fluffy creature. Bumblebee recalled how one of the building's inhabitants walked out as the man walked in, asking where he was headed. From there, Bumblebee learned that the creature was the Forger family's new dog.

Still don't know what to make of him. He's just so...fluffy, Bumblebee thought as Loid drove him on route to Anya's school. He looked to the back seat of his interior at the creature. The dog wagged his tail and kept his eyes focused on Bumblebee's radio, Not to mention it feels like he's staring at me. Is that normal for dogs?

"The puppy sure seems excited, right Loid?" Yor asked, taking Bumblebee out of his musings for a Nano-klik.

Really gotta adjust to this Earth terminology, Bumblebee reminded himself they were called seconds on this planet.

"He certainly wants to see Anya again," Loid smiled and looked back to the creature before focusing on the road again. Soon enough, they'd arrived at Eden College, and right as Bumblebee came to a stop, he heard Anya's voice yelling out to them.

"Mama! Papa! Bumblebee!" the child ran up to them, waving goodbye to one of her friends in the process, and quickly opened the rear door. The moment she entered, the dog started licking and slobbering all over Anya's face as she laughed, "Mister Doggy!"

"Fasten your seatbelt, Anya," Loid reminded. After Anya did so, they were off and away from Eden. "So Anya," Loid said as he turned a corner, "How was school today?"

"I got to tell everyone about Mister Doggy today!"

"You didn't tell them about how you got him, did you?" Loid asked in a cautious tone, leaving Bumblebee to bristle a bit.

Seriously, what did I miss?

Anya shook her head, "No, just that I got a dog now."

"How did everyone take the news?" Yor smiled and looked back to her daughter.

"Becky was happy, and she said something about her pet too! Think they could play together?"

"I don't see why not," Loid answered, Anya smiling for a bit. However, her smile faded and gave way to a frown. Bumblebee wanted to ask what was wrong, but reminded himself that he couldn't. Thankfully, Loid voiced the question for him, "Anya, is something wrong?"

"Nothing," Anya looked to her dog and patted him on the head, "I just remembered Mister Doggy doesn't have a name yet."

"Oh," Loid said, "Well, have you thought of one?"

Anya shook her head, looking down to the car floor, "No, cause I'm really bad at that."

I beg to differ, Bumblebee thought. Ever since Anya gave him that nickname, he's found himself slowly but surely referring to himself by it. He couldn't help but be happy about that fact, finally having his own name. Sure, the Autobots tried to help him come up with names, but nothing stuck. He remembered when Hot Rod and Jazz suggested Goldfire as a name, but that didn't really work for him. Cliffjumper brought up Perceptor as a possible name, but Jetfire overheard the conversation and reminded them his fellow scientist already had that name. After they'd became friends, W-459 thought Goldbug would work, but that was too close to Goldfire. Bumblebee, however, was something that truly fit. That truly felt like...well, him, and he had Anya to thank for giving him his name.

As Bumblebee stopped at a red light, he listened to Loid help her with ideas for the dog's name, watching Anya shift from sadness to deep musings. The longer Anya struggled to think of a name, the more Bumblebee wanted to help give her ideas or even encourage her, but he had to maintain his cover. By the Pit, with his damaged voice box, he wasn't even sure humans could understand him! The first one he'd met certainly didn't seem to.

Still, there's gotta be something I can do to help, Bumblebee wondered as the light turned green and he went forward. In that brief urge to lend support, something inside him acted before his processor could realize it, and suddenly his vehicular form's radio sprung to life, belting out "You...can...Do-it...YEAH!" before going silent.

"Loid. What was that?" Yor looked to the radio in surprise.

Uh, whoops, Bumblebee grew nervous, thinking he blew his cover. Radios weren't supposed to just suddenly turn on. Frag, he wasn't even sure how he did that! As Loid's gave on the radio knobs became more scrutinizing, Bumblebee pleaded, Please think it was a short circuit, please think it was a short circuit, please think it was a-

"It was a short circuit!"

As Loid stopped at a red sign, everyone looked back to Anya at her sudden outburst. "What?" he asked.

Anya's opti-eyes were wide and nervous before she explained, "Becky says cars can short circuit and do weird things sometimes."

…

"Huh, you know, I think I've seen that before, actually," Yor pondered out loud. Meanwhile, Anya sighed, though for what reason, Bumblebee didn't know. Loid gave the radio one last look and turned the knobs, cycling through a few stations before nodding.

"Well, it seems to be working just fine now. Still don't think it was that though."

"Maybe we just hit a bump in the road?" Yor suggested just as the driver behind them honked their horn.

"Hmm, that's more likely," Loid said as he drove and turned a corner, "Either way, we're almost home, so best not to dwell on it right now," looking back at Anya and the dog through the mirror, he asked, "On that note, when we get back, how about we all get ready to go to the dog park? We can try coming up with a name for him on the way there."

Anya had a cheery grin as the dog affectionately licked her. For the rest of the way home, things were peaceful, but Bumblebee couldn't help but think about earlier with his radio. Almost on instinct, he managed to form a sentence using the various channels. Even if he wasn't going to be talking with anyone here, the new communication method was something to look into.

Just need to figure out how to use it, Bumblebee stopped in front of the Forgers' building, the family exiting his vehicular mode, And while I'm at it, I should probably start looking for supplies to build up a base.

"Bond, go fetch!" Anya threw the ball as hard as she could, letting Bond chase after it. Her throwing had gotten better since the dodge ball game, but she couldn't throw as hard as Mama. Then again, no one could.

"Anya, be careful not to throw the ball into the river," Papa said as the ball got super close to the water. Good thing Bond got it in time.

"Okay Papa!" Anya waited for Bond to bring the ball back, petting and hugging him when he did. Bond licked and nuzzled her face, making her laugh before she got ready to throw the ball again.

I'm not sure I get this game, Anya looked back to where Bumblebee was parked, listening in on his thoughts, It looks a lot like Lobbing, but instead of throwing the ball back and forth, you just throw it and the dog brings it back?

That sounds like fun. What other games does Bumblebee have on his planet? Anya wondered if they were anything like the ones she played. The one he mentioned sounded like catch, and maybe it was just as fun as it.

"Something wrong, Anya?" Papa asked as he walked up to her.

"No," Anya shook her head and lied, "I was just thinking about Mama. Is she gonna be back soon?"

Papa knelt down, "Well, your mother said she saw something interesting on the drive here and wanted to go see it for herself. She didn't say where it was, but she did say it'd only take a bit," he looked to the forests surrounding the river, It's been about thirty five minutes since she left though, and she said that whatever she saw wasn't very far nor would it take long. I know Yor can handle herself, so why am I worrying?

Papa sounds flustrated, Anya resisted the urge to giggle since she was the only one who really knew where Mama went. When Mama suggested the sight-seeing trip, Anya read her mind and learned that she was gonna be doing her assassin job around here. While she didn't get everything, she did know that Mama was trying to find a "cereal killer" hiding in an area of the forest far from them. Hope Mama stops that bad guy, Anya thought, Only monsters would do something like kill cereal.

Anya saw that Papa was holding out his hand for the ball. Anya gave it to him, letting him throw it for Bond to go after. She watched in amazement as it went super far, bouncing on the grass a bunch of times when it landed. As Bond tried to get it, Anya looked back to Bumblebee, hearing him think, Alright, think I know the layout of Berlint down, and with all the driving, I should be good with how traffic in the city works. But that's not gonna be much use if I can't figure out where I can find supplies for a base. First thing I'm gonna need is a decent energy source to convert into Energon. Anything electronic in the city might work, but how am I going to manage that without drawing too much attention?

What's Energon? Anya wondered.

"You keep looking at the car," Papa pointed out, "Something wrong with it?"

"Uh, NOPE!" Anya said to quickly just as Bond brought the ball back. Taking it from him, Anya ran over to Bumblebee, Papa following like she wanted. When they were in front of him, Anya threw the ball again, letting Bond chase it. With Bumblebee able to listen, she asked, "Papa, where do you go to find electonics?"

"Uh, you mean electronics?" Papa corrected just when Bond came back, putting the ball to the ground for it to be thrown again.

"Yup!"

"Hmm, well," Papa threw the ball far, Bond going after it again. He put a hand to his chin and asked, "Normally, people go to stores to buy them."

"What kind of stores?"

"Anything that sells televisions, radios, or household appliances," Papa raised an eyebrow, "Why the sudden interest?"

"Uh, it's for school...?" Anya nervously lied.

Seems odd that Eden would include that in their curriculum, Papa didn't seem completely convinced, making Anya panic, but thankfully, he thought, Then again, Eden is the most elite school in the country, and many aspects of their education include business fields, which this pertains to. It's likely the instructors want to make sure all students are eased into it and have a head start. Anya sighed just as Papa knelt down and smiled, "Well, what else do you need to know?"

"Umm..."

Okay, so that's one place I could get electronics from, Anya listened to Bumblebee's thoughts, But I don't think I could fit inside a store. Doors are too small for me to go through and I'd probably freak out anyone inside. Maybe if I could figure out where the store's supplier was or where the electronics were being held before they were brought there...

Thanks Bumblebee! Anya looked Papa in the eyes and asked, "What kind of places are electonics kept in before they get sent to stores?"

"Let's see..." Papa started thinking of a good way to answer.

Okay, Anya's asking a lot of questions and all of them are weirdly matching everything I need to know, Bumblebee thought, making Anya nervous. Her eyes darted between him and Papa, hoping she could say something to make Bumblebee less sus-

Eh, I'm sure it's probably a coincidence, came Bumblebee's next thought, Kid just seems naturally curious.

PHEW! Anya sighed at the close call just as Bond came back and gave her the ball. She gave him a quick hug and head pat before turning back to Papa, who looked ready to answer.

"Normally, electronics like those are made in factories and held in storage facilities like warehouses or shipping yards before being sent off to be sold. There's a lot more to it, naturally, but that's the basics."

Anya nodded and was about to ask another question, but before she could, Mama called out, "I'm back! Sorry that took so long!" Everyone looked to her, and Anya picked up on Mama's thoughts, It took way longer than I thought it would to dismember the killer's body and bury the parts all over the forest. What followed next was a bunch of scary images of what Mama did to the cereal killer. Anya could only blankly stared at her mom. At this point, she was getting numb to how graphic Mama's mind was.

"It's fine Yor, though we were starting to get worried with how long it-" Papa stopped and had that worried look on his face again. He walked up to Mama and pointed to her sleeve, "Yor, it looks like you have a scratch there."

Mama looked down at the sleeve, and Anya saw that there was a tear in it. "W-what? How did that happen?" Mama asked while thinking, I thought I dodged all his knife strikes. Are my reflexes growing dull?

"Hmm," Papa held out Mama's arm and looked at the tear, all while Mama turned super red, "It doesn't look like it could've been caused by a stray branch. Looks more like either a knife or claw slash of some kind. Thankfully, whatever it was missed your skin, so there's no blood," Papa looked Mama in the eye, "Yor, were you attacked by something?"

Oh no, I can't let them figure out what I was doing or that I'm an assassin! Come on Yor, think! Say something, anythi-

"Mama, did you fight a bear?" Anya asked, helping her mom out.

What's a bear? Bumblebee wondered, Anya trying not to giggle.

"What, no I did-wait a minute," Mama clapped her hands and put on her best smile, "Yes, I fought a bear! It had large claws sharp enough to cut down trees and was incredibly tall! It was even bigger than our car!" I mean, most of it's true since the killer could cut down trees with his knives. That's what he tried to do to me, Mama thought, Plus he was taller than Bumblebee's roof, though me and Loid both are, so that's probably not saying much.

That sounds so cool! Anya thought in excitement, her smile growing brighter as Bond barked.

Wow, this planet sounds like it has some intense wildlife, Bumblebee's own thoughts sounded amazed, And Yor fought it off! Wonder if all humans could do that. Is everyone on this planet crazy strong even with their small size?

Nope, just Mama and Papa, Anya held a hand to her mouth to hold in her laughter, but nobody noticed anyway since Mama still looked a bit nervous and Papa was lost in his thoughts.

I'm not sure what species of bear Yor could have encountered. But it sounds like she had it well in hand, so it's probably nothing to worry about, Papa looked over to the forest, Still, just in case any animals like that are nearby, we should probably head back home now. He looked over to Mama and smiled, "Well, I'm glad you came back safe. Though I think we should head back home now. Don't want to risk another bear attack."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea," Mama nodded, her thoughts sounding relieved.

Seems good to me too, Bumblebee thought as everyone got in his car mode, I can try waiting until tonight, see if I can't sneak off to gather what I need to make some Energon. Not to mention there's a lot more I'm gonna need to find to get a base up and running.

As Bumblebee started listing off the stuff to make a cool alien hideout, Anya looked to her dad, "Papa, I still have a bunch of questions for school," smiling, she asked, "Could you help me with them?"

"Sure," Papa answered, "What do you need to know?"

This looks like the place, Bumblebee rolled up to a series of warehouses not too dissimilar to some of the ones he'd been to on Cybertron during his courier days before the outbreak of the war. It's just that instead of being given something to deliver, he was taking something from them, though that thought did give him pause. Should I really be doing this? he asked himself, I need to establish a base, but I don't feel comfortable stealing from this planet's civilians to get that done.

Sure, Bumblebee had to steal in the past, such as after he lost his courier job and needed a means to stay functional, but doing so always left a sour taste in his pipes. Transforming to robot mode under the cover of night, he activated his mask and began scanning the warehouses, No, focus Bumblebee. You can't procure anything on this planet like a human would. Like it or not, this is the only way.

He stopped in front of the large door of one warehouse and pulled it up, entering the building, seeing rows and columns of neatly stacked boxes. As he walked around, he took note of the varying sizes and materials, wondering which one had the materials he needed for Energon. His eyes scanned each of them for anything electronic in nature, showing the different kinds of tech and appliances the crates carried, though sadly, while plenty carried devices, none of them had an active charge going through them.

From the looks of it, most of them need to be connected to an external power source to operate, Bumblebee mused, turning a corner to another aisle, scanning through it. After several cycles of looking through, picking up and putting down boxes to get a closer look, it seemed the place was a bust. Okay, since the devices themselves don't have the charge to draw energy from, looks like I'll need to find a place in Berlint I can connect the converter to without drawing attention to myself. Not gonna be easy though.

Suddenly, his audio receptors picked up on a loud clattering within the warehouse, followed by a voice loudly saying, "Sorry."

"Would you shut it!" came a second voice that honestly wasn't that quiet either. Though Bumblebee didn't really pay much attention to that and was more focused on the lights that shined from the corner. Seeing that they were getting close, he panicked and backed up to get out of the aisle, only for his foot to step on something with a loud crunch. He looked down and saw that he'd accidentally stepped on one of the boxes, crushing its contents.

"What the hell was that?"

"I don't know, better check it out."

Frag! Bumblebee saw the lights drew too close for him to get away in time. Thinking quick, he shifted to vehicular mode and remained as still as possible. The sources of the light came down the aisle and made their appearance known; two tall looking mechs wearing dark clothes alongside masks covering their faces.

"What the hell's a VW Beetle doing in here?" the more well-built one asked.

"Maybe one of the workers left it here?" suggested the lankier one while his partner shook his head.

"Doubt it, but finders keepers and all that crap. Wonder how much this thing will sell for," he reached for Bumblebee's door and tried to open it, but the Autobot refused to budge. After several more attempts, the man got frustrated and pulled out a curved bar of metal, smashing it into the window. However, all it did was harmlessly bounce off Bumblebee's form, knocking the man back.

Weird, didn't even feel that, Bumblebee mused, So does that mean Yor's an outlier, or does being a parent cause humans to develop levels of strength comparable to Cybertronians?

"I thought that would work. What's this car made of anyway?" the partner asked.

"Don't know, don't care. Give me your gun," the man stood up while the partner did as was told, holding out a small firearm that was rudely snatched. Just as the man aimed the gun at Bumblebee's window, however, he opened his door as hard and fast as he dared, smacking the man back to his partner and knocking them both to the ground.

"Okay, to the Pit with this," Bumblebee growled out as he transformed and stood tall, glaring down at the shaking pair of robbers. Even though he didn't think he had much of a high ground in calling them out on that, no way was he going to take getting shot at lightly.

"W-What the..."

"Son of a-" the first robber grabbed the gun and started shooting. Or at least, that's what Bumblebee assumed he was doing, since every shot harmlessly bounced off him. When the firearm started clicking, both robbers started screaming and ran away in terror.

Well, I guess that's the end of that, Bumblebee began making his way out of the warehouse, transforming and driving back to the Forger home before any of them could learn of his sudden absence. But just before he could start resting, he snapped awake and realized, I probably shouldn't have done that.

"And in other news, a pair of burglars where recently apprehended late last evening when authorities caught them running through the streets," Yor listened to the news station as her husband drove, "Statements given by the police confirm that they attempted to rob a nearby warehouse. The criminals were found raving and screaming about something called "The car devil". One officer stated-"

"Papa, can we listen to music?" Anya asked, bouncing in her seat.

"Sure," Loid changed to station to one playing a rather upbeat song, though Yor struggled to follow the lyrics.

"Hey Loid, what do you think they were talking about when the news mentioned a car devil?" Yor wondered, mind racing to figure out what that meant, Could it be the name of a new kind of criminal gang? Maybe those robbers encountered a rouge assassin trying to make a name? Or maybe they were being literal and they encountered an actual demonic car inside a factory? her expression darkened, Though if they are a rogue assassin or gang, I'll have to take care of them should they start targeting the innocent.

"I don't think it's anything significant if I'm being honest," Loid said, drawing Yor out of her thoughts as she lightened up, "If you ask me, it's more likely they had a psychotic break and saw things that weren't actually there."

Yor thought about it for a second and remembered the events of when Loid proposed to her, how they had to fight through several of his patients when they were having such breakdowns. Nodding, she replied, "Makes sense."

"Papa, the city runs on electicity, right?" Anya asked.

Yor and Loid turned to face Anya, though the latter refocused on the road and answered, "They do. Why?"

"Where does it all come from?"

"Is this for school too?" Yor asked her daughter, who cheerfully nodded. It's nice to see Anya so excited for things like school. She's already a lot better at it than I ever was at her age, Yor thought, remembering how her brain struggled to keep up with everything in school, with things not getting any better as she got older.

Stopping at the light, Loid began explaining to Anya, "Most cities draw their power from a variety of sources, like power plants that operate on generators, or hydroelectric plants and nuclear reactors. Berlint, for instance, mostly operates on the former, though it has one nuclear power plant as well."

"Where are they?"

Anya's question was met with a hum from Loid, who continued driving as the light turned green, but Yor beat him to the punch. "Oh, I know where one of them is," she said with a smile, "Visited it once on a trip."

"Huh, sounds like it must have been fun," Loid smiled back, "Was it a tour of some sort?"

"U-Uh," Yor stammered, "Yeah, I went there my co-workers when we had a day off is all," she looked away as her thoughts became fraught with panic, I can't tell them I was there to kill the then manager for extorting and abusing his employees, not to mention stealing the factory's funds for personal gain.

"Can we go sometime too Mama?" Anya asked, Yor regaining her nerves and happily grinning back at her daughter.

"Of course!"

"I'll see if I can schedule a tour for us to go on at some point," Loid said as he brought the car to a stop at Eden College, both him and Yor saying goodbye to Anya as they headed off.

Chapter Text

The drive back to his start-up base (it was more of a hiding hole at this point though) was more than a bit stressful for Bumblebee. A good chunk of it did stem from the fact that he'd just gotten back from a power plant in Ostania, having barely managed to keep hidden from the guards there as he fired up the Energon converter. He was still calming down from that, but it admittedly was less stressful than the cargo he carried in his back seat.

Here's to hoping I got it right, Bumblebee turned his rearview mirrors and looked at the cargo in question. Next to his converter were three glowing blue cubes of Energon, and the first he'd ever made by himself. The fact that he wasn't sure whether or not he screwed up in making it was another contributor to his panic, but that paled in comparison to the final and biggest reason: getting back to his hiding spot without setting it off.

"Don't-want...BRRZT...*explosion sound*-happen," Bumblebee experimented with the different radio channels, trying to form something resembling a coherent sentence. Thankfully, traffic was incredibly light tonight, with the sidewalks having few pedestrians as well. He hoped that his windows hid the glow of the Energon cubes. Odds were someone would find it suspicious that the interior of a yellow car was glowing an ominous blue. Well, that and it'd draw attention to the fact that he didn't have a driver at the moment.

Almost there, Bumblebee sighed in relief as he recognized the foliage surrounding his spot next to the supply store, slowing down just a bit when he saw people walking out of it. Not taking any chances, he entered the parking lot and stationed himself under a light, hoping it would drown out the Energons' glow. From the looks of it, it was just a small family of four; a mother with brown hair, a father with black hair, and two wards taking after the mother in looks. The son was about Anya's age and wide awake while the daughter seemed younger and was held in her mother's arms. The father, meanwhile, was carrying a few bags of provisions in his hands. Both parents were happily chatting, saying something about a possible vacation to somewhere called Hugaria, as they walked past Bumblebee's still form, not paying him or the blue glow in his backseat any mind.

Huh, that vacation they were talking about sounds pretty nice, Bumblebee mused as the family entered their car and drove out of sight. For a moment, he stayed there and wondered what a vacation was like. Maybe it was something he'd have a chance to go on someday? Families seemed to go on them here, so perhaps one with the Forgers wasn't out of the question. But the second it entered his head; he shook it off and started driving to his hiding spot. Gonna have to face the facts, Bumblebee, he transformed once he was hidden behind the trees and carried the Energon and converter in his arms, You can't interact with anyone here, so no matter how much you'd like that, it's impossible. Besides, you're in the middle of a war and have a base to get started on, he thought as he stood in front of the covered hole, No time for vacations.

As soon as he finished removing the stones, he entered and placed everything inside. With a nod, he turned to head back to the Forger residence, but stopped when an errant thought entered his processor, Should I test the Energon myself first? He looked back at the three cubes and picked one up. Normally, it was better to test the Energon via specialized equipment, which he sadly didn't have on him. Not to mention he had no idea how to jury rig any for himself. There were two potential avenues; the first being that he got it wrong and would be too sick to get back to the Forger residence on time. The second was that he got it right and was worrying over nothing.

Either way, odds were that he wouldn't find out if he just left.

Well, Bumblebee brought the cube up to his mouth and took a drink, Bottoms up.

"Ugh," Anya groaned as she felt something nudge her. Instead, she turned away from it to get some sleep, snuggling into her blankets. But before she could go back to dreaming of mama and papa stopping a big bomb from blowing up the city, her blankets were pulled off the bed along with her. "Ow!" she fell to the floor and rubbed her eyes, tears forming in them. She didn't cry though, since a familiar, slobbering tongue licked at her face. Blinking, she saw it was Bond, who looked super sorry for pulling her out of bed.

"Borf," he quietly yipped. Anya was annoyed, but Bond kept licking her face, and she couldn't help but smile and let out giggles.

"It's okay Bond," Anya hugged her dog, "But why'd you wake me up?"

Bond looked really scared of something as Anya realized his future vision was probably why. Staring into his eyes, she focused on his thoughts and read his mind, seeing images of a big yellow robot with a black stripe walking around the city. Is that what Bumblebee really looks like? Anya wondered, but she didn't have time to think about that. The next thing she saw was him stumbling about, bumping into people and driving them to panic.

And now Anya was panicking.

"Oh no," she said, shaking Bond's head, "Bond, what do we do? Mister Bumblebee can't be seen!" If people saw Bumblebee, they'd call someone, then they'd try to catch him. If he got caught, they'd stick him in a lab, poke him and run a bunch of tests just like what those people did with her. Plus, if he was caught, then the secret police could figure out Papa bought him, then they'd look into him, then Mama, then they'd all be found out, then...

World peace is in danger! Anya shook Bond's head even harder, "What do we do Bond!? What. Do. We. Do?"

"...Borf."

"You're right!" Anya whispered as loud as she could without waking her parents. She got changed out of her pajamas and into her everyday clothes with a black, fuzzy coat. "Starlight Anya and Bond have to save Mister Bumblebee!" she opened the door to her room and looked both ways, tip-toing to her parents' rooms and saw they were fast asleep.

"Borf?" Bond yipped just behind her, with Anya shushing him.

"They're sleeping," she whispered and tip-toed to the apartment door, "Let's go Bond. We gotta bring Bumblebee back."

"Borf," Bond barked as Anya slowly opened the door, letting both of them out before gently closing it behind them. When they were out into the streets, she hopped onto Bond's back, and he started running as fast as he could. He knew where Mister Bumblebee was, so Anya'd let him lead the way. Anya scrunched her face to look as much as Papa when he was super serious.

Hang on Mister Bumblebee. No scary people are gonna take you away, or my name isn't Starlight Anya!

Anya had no idea how long she'd been riding on Bond's back, or how long she'd been out looking for Mister Bumblebee. What she did know was that Bond was getting tired and starting to slow down. Wanting to give her dog a break, she got off his back and ran forward.

"Mister Bumblebee!" Anya shouted, "Where are you!?"

No one answered. The streets were empty with no cars or aliens in sight.

Maybe I shouldn't yell, Anya realized, remembering that Bumblebee didn't know that she knew that he was secretly an alien robot. But at the same time, that made things harder since she had to help him stay out of sight without him seeing her. How am I gonna do that? Anya put a hand to her chin and entered "thinking mode", And why's Bumblebee out like this? He's usually super smart about hiding. Is he looking for something too? Are there more space aliens here? What abo-

"Borf!"

"Just one second, Bond. Anya's thinking of something."

"Borf!" Bond bit her sleeve and pulled her back onto his back, forcing her to hold on tight as he zoomed down an alleyway. He ran down one corner, then another, then straight until he ran into a dead end. Bond sniffed the air, then barked, looking like he had another vision. Anya didn't get to see it, since he ran back and turned down a different corner.

"Bond, did you find Bumblebee?" Anya asked, but that was answered when she heard a loud crashing noise around the corner just ahead. Bond ran and turned, revealing to Anya a large yellow robot that looked like he fell face first on the floor. "Bumblebee!" Anya shouted, immediately regretting it when the robot lifted his head, Oh no, now he's gonna know that we know and run away. Instead of freaking out, Bumblebee made a loud, whirring noise as his...eyes? Lenses? The robot version of eyes drooped like he was about to sleep. He made a few more beeps and boops, with Anya realizing he was trying to talk. Since she couldn't understand what he was saying, she closed her eyes and focused, reading his mind.

Whash's Anya doing here? And why are the four of her...shpinning? Bumblebee's head was looking in a circle, like he was trying to follow something, Heh, that's a fluffy looking protoform.

Why're Bumblebee's thoughts all weird? Anya wondered, They're a lot like when Momma and Uncle Scruffy were... her eyes widened and she understood, Oh I get it! He's drunk! That's why he's stumbling around all...wait, robots can get drunk? More questions entered Anya's head, like what could possibly get a robot drunk? Did robots eat? What was a protoform? Why was Bumblebee making a bunch of beeping noises? Couldn't he talk? Were the beeps some super confusing alien language that no one could understand? Or was it space scout talk to hide stuff from the bad guys like Papa's ciphers?

"Borf."

"You're right Bond, we should get back home," Anya ran the corner alongside Bond and looked back at Bumblebee, "Mister Bee, follow us!"

Bumblebee stood up, stumbling after them with a loud whir, Hey, you forgot to pay the Shannix! Courier's gotta make...HIC...make a living!

Is that space money? Anya turned another corner, a loud crash coming from behind as she looked back and saw Bumblebee bump into a wall. A few toppled trashcans were behind him too. Calling out to him again, she led him through the alleyways to the exit. She walked out to the streets and looked around, seeing no one on the sidewalks. A car did drive by then, making her worry. Then another car, then another.

This is bad, Anya looked back and saw Bond making his way around the corner to her, Bumblebee following the dog like he wanted to hug him. Thinking quick, Anya ran back into the alleyway, stopping to the right of some stairs on the side of a building. "Bond, don't move!" Anya ordered, getting her dog to stop as Bumblebee picked him up, making more beep boops.

Fluuuuffy-HIC-protoform! Bumblebee sat down, leaning against the building as he petted Bond, Fluffy protoform.

"Borf! Borf! Borf!" Bond loudly barked a few times. He didn't look happy to be in Bumblebee's arms. Maybe he was petting him too hard? Or maybe the cold metal didn't feel good on his fur?

Gotta think of a way to get Bumblebee home without the cars seeing him. Not to mention get him to let Bond go. How am I gonna- Anya's thoughts were cut off as the door to her left creaked open. Out walked a woman with long black hair (though the lighting made it look kinda blue) in a nightgown rubbing at her eyes.

"What's going on out here?" the woman asked, noticing Anya, "Hey, are you okay, miss?"

"Uh, I-I'm fine," Anya answered as the woman walked in front of her.

"What are you doing here? A child shouldn't be out this late," she worriedly said, completely unaware of what was behind her.

"I...I got lost?" Please work, please work!

You poor child. Did your parents leave you behind? "I'm sorry to hear that," the woman said, followed by a lot of bad thoughts towards Anya's parents.

Mama and Papa are not "deadbeats", Anya frowned. The only reason they didn't know she's here was because she snuck out. They were the best parents she'd ever had! A perfect 100 points!

She didn't have time to say anything in her parents' defense, as the woman's mind went, Alright Kelly, no way in hell are you leaving a kid on their own. And maybe you can give these terrible parents a piece of your mind after you help her.

No! Anya panicked, seeing that the woman was about to turn and see Bumblebee. Before Miss Kelly could move, Anya yelled, "Uh, it's okay though! I can find my way back on my own."

Miss Kelly looked confused, and now Bumblebee was looking their way. His robot eyes had that same look Anya's had when the teachers at school said something confusing...which was a lot. "Uh, I don't mean to offend, miss," Kelly scratched her head, "What'd your name, kid?"

"Anya," she answered, getting nervous as Bumblebee put Bond down and stood up.

"Okay, Anya, it's really not safe for you to be out here. I'll go inside and call the police, see if they can escort you home," Kelly said as she knelt down to meet her at eye level, all while Bumblebee was stumbling towards them.

No, Bumblebee, stop moving! Anya couldn't motion for him to stay still. That'd just make Kelly look behind her.

Whysh Anya talking to a tiny lamppost? Bumblebee thought, And-and did Anya alwaysh have two sets of...what are organic auditory resheptors again?

Is he talking about my ears? Anya shook off the question, trying to find an answer to her problem when suddenly...

"Borf!" Bond ran up to Anya and began licking her face, giving Anya an idea.

"Bond!" she cheered, hugging him, "I found you!"

"Wait, you got lost looking for your dog?" Kelly asked.

"Yup! I got lost looking for Bond. That's exactly what happened. You can go inside because Bond can take me home!" Anya hoped that would be enough for Miss Kelly. But that hope vanished when she saw Bumblebee clumsily looming over them. Without thinking, she motioned for him to get away and hide.

"Ooookay? Either way, I'll call the authorities to help bring-what are you doing?" Kelly looked where Anya was motioning, jumping back as she stared up at the large yellow robot. Bumblebee just wobbled in place, making a beep noise that sounded a lot like a hiccup.

"Uh," Anya ran in front of Miss Kelly and waved her hands, "You're dreeeeeaaaaaming thiiiissss."

Miss Kelly didn't even move. She just stared, and stared, and stared. Anya tried reading her mind, but it was a complete blank. Before anything else could be said, Kelly's eyes rolled back and closed as she fell to the floor.

"Oh no, we killed her!" Anya shook Miss Kelly while Bond nudged her.

"WEEEEEEEEHHHHH!" Bumblebee whirred out, falling back with a loud thud. Anya gave him a glance before she saw that Kelly was still breathing. Letting out a sigh of relief, she and Bond picked her up by the arms and leaned her against the apartment door. It took a lot, since she was big and Anya was small, plus Bond didn't have hands, but they managed. Hopefully she'd think everything really was a dream when she woke up and not go to the Secret Police. That last thing she needed was for Mama's brother to go after Bumblebee.

"Bumblebee," Anya ran up to the robot's head, "You gotta get up! We gotta get you home." Bumblebee just let out a loud beep, leaving Anya to look over and see that there were still cars zooming by. She had a feeling it would be the same for every exit these alleyways had. And that was if they didn't wake more people up. There's gotta be a way to sneak Bumblebee home, Anya thought, It's not like he can hide in public like a- and then it hit her like a brick, mostly because she slapped her head, I'm such a dummy.

"Borf?

Anya looked to her dog, "I got an idea," poking Bumblebee's head, she said, "Bumblebee, transform!"

"WEEEHHH?" Bumblebee droned out as he picked himself up.

"You know, turn into a car?" Anya asked, putting on her best pleading face as she clapped her hands together. Not even Papa's super cool spy training could resist the pleading face. And he tried. Mama never lasted long though.

Instead, Bumblebee just looked confused and hiccupped, Ish Anya clapping or praying? Anya tried waving her arms around to get him to focus, but instead, he thought, I didn't know humans had wings.

With a huff, Anya knelt down and folded herself, hoping she looked enough like a car, "Like this! You need to turn into a car like this!" Bond followed Anya's actions and did the same thing to help her out. Bumblebee still looked confused, but then his robot eyes lit up, like he just understood something, and then...

TSCHE-CHU-CHU-CHU-TSCHE!

...Bumblebee's parts shifted and warped around. Anya looked up, her eyes going wide as she watched the whole thing. Car lights, windows, wheels, and mirrors all moved into place. In a few seconds, Bumblebee wasn't a robot anymore, and was now Papa's car again.

That was... Anya jumped and cheered, "That was so cool!" Now that Bumblebee was in car mode, Anya opened the door and helped Bond into the back while she sat in the driver's seat. Even though she couldn't see what was in front of the car, she couldn't help but grab the wheel. I feel just like Papa, Anya smirked, "Okay Bumblebee, let's go home!"

Bumblebee revved up, going so fast that Anya's head hit the back of her seat. They zoomed right out of the alleyway, but a bright light came from the left. Anya looked to it, but everything went all blurry as something crashed into Bumblebee, sending him and them spinning out of control. Anya was knocked out of her seat, face hitting the side window before sliding down. Her forehead felt a constant stinging as she rubbed it and started to cry. Bond's bark drew her attention to the back seat, and she saw him through tear-stained eyes.

Wiping her face, she checked to see if he was alright. Thankfully, he wasn't hurt at all. Anya was about to step out of Bumblebee to see if he was hurt too, but then she heard a door outside slam shut. Followed by hearing someone who didn't sound nice. She nervously poked her head up to look out the window, and she saw two large, mean looking grown-ups. One was holding a gun and the other was wearing a black coat.

Stupid ass driver, was what the coat guy was thinking, We're gonna miss our deal because of them. Good drugs like this ain't cheap.

When I get my hands on that damned idiot, I'll load him with lead, the gun man thought as both started to walk to Bumblebee.

Who're thosh guys? They look familiar, Bumblebee's mind slurred.

Uh oh, this is bad! Anya crawled under the car drawer and motioned for Bond to hide beneath the seat. He did, but not before he gave her a vision of the two scary men looming over her, pointing the gun and pulling the trigger. It was all too much like when Papa first adopted her; when bad guys kidnapped her and he swooped to the rescue. Only now there was no Papa, no Mama, no Bondman, or anyone like that to save her. Just her, Bond, and a drunk robot space scout who had no idea what was happening.

"Doesn't look like there's anyone in here," one of the bad guys said, but Anya couldn't tell which one. She was trying not to breath too loudly. If she kept quiet, maybe they'd go away.

"Open it up," the bad guy's command made Anya's heart jump into her mouth. She heard the door handle jiggle, but it didn't open. The bad guy got angrier with trying to get it open, even hitting the window, but Bumblebee wouldn't budge.

Bumblebee's...he's keeping them out? Anya's eyes went wide with wonder. Even though he wasn't thinking right, Bumblebee was still protecting her and Bond. She really did have a Bondman here to save her!

Okay, that guy'sh holding a...looks like a blaster pistol, the other's got dark armor and a logo on his... Bumblebee's thoughts went quiet before they suddenly screamed, These guys are Decepticons!

What's a Decepti- Anya didn't think to hard on that, as she was suddenly knocked down when Bumblebee revved up and shot forward with a burst of speed.

YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME! DECEPTICREEPS! Bumblebee swerved a few times before his driving straightened out. Anya managed to pick herself up and stand in the driver's seat to see they were about to run into-

"WHOAH!" Anya took the wheel and turned it to the right, helping Bumblebee barely avoid the car. Then she saw a sharp corner ahead and turned the wheel all the way to the left. Bumblebee skidded on the sidewalk and barely managed to get back on the streets, where he zoomed past another car. Anya saw that there weren't any other cars and sighed, now she just had to get Bumblebee back home...somehow.

"Borf!" Bond barked, Anya leaning over her seat to see him looking out the rear window, two bright car lights behind them.

"What is it Bo-?"

BANG! BANG! BANG! came the sound of a gun, bullets bouncing off Bumblebee's rear.

"Oh no! The bad guys!" Anya froze before bright lights flashed behind her. Thinking quick, she took the wheel and helped Bumblebee avoid the car.

Lots a shiny lights out here! Bumblebee thought, Just wanna go out and grab 'em!

"Nonono! Don't hit the cars!" Anya shouted, more gunshots coming in from behind. She tried looking in the rear-view mirror like Papa and saw the bad guys gaining on them. "Uh, Bumblebee," she looked at the radio, "Y-You gotta speed up!" Bumblebee made a loud siren noise, not seeming to understand what she was saying or that they were in danger. He was too drunk to know that they were being shot, and then...

"Born to be wiiiiiild!" the radio belted out, almost like Bumblebee was drunkenly singing at the top of his...whatever robots had for lungs.

"Bumblebee, listen!" Anya yelled over the music, looking back for a second to see that the bad guy car right behind them, "Those people behind us are Deceptitons! You can't let them catch us!"

Suddenly, Bumblebee's mind lit up in a panic, Decepticons? Oh scrap! Better get out of here! his driving stick shifted, Hold on to your skidplates!

Is that robot for bu- Anya's head flung back into the seat as Bumblebee sped up. She heard Bond yelp in shock, with her looking back to see the car lights fading. She managed to look forward, seeing a few cars ahead as she helped Bumblebee get passed them. The music got louder, and next thing Anya knew, the road started rising above the buildings. I think I remember this in school, Anya thought, They called it an-an overpass!

"Borf!" Bond barked again, and this time Anya didn't need to look back to know the bad guys were catching up again. The pistol shot told her that already.

"Fire all your guns at once!" Bumblebee "sang" more of the song, "And explode into space!"

"Bumblebee, speed up! The Deceptitons are gaining on us!"

Not on my-HIC-watch! Bumblebee's speed hit its limit and they were propelled faster than ever before. Anya struggled to keep them from hitting any cars as everything outside was now all blurry. She had a close call with a big white car to the left, but she managed to just barely avoid it. There was a lot of honking coming from behind her, and she looked back to see that the white car had turned, now blocking the road and the bad guys' path.

"We did it! We Got away!" Anya cheered, Bond barking happily while Bumblebee stopped the music. His radio played what sounded like a cheering crowd. Anya faced forward to help Bumblebee drive, but her happiness went away when she saw the turn that was up ahead. It was too close for her to start spinning the wheel. So as Bumblebee ran through the stone that stopped cars from falling off, she screamed. She screamed and felt her feet lift above the seat as they soared in the air. Bond howled and barked.

Bumblebee, however, played more lyrics, "I never want to die!"

"We're gonna die!" Anya screamed as she saw them close in on the roof of a building. She closed her eyes and braced for impact. Instead, they landed right on the roof, causing her to let go of the wheel and fall back into the seat. She couldn't see where they were going anymore, so she fastened her seatbelt and shut her eyes, arms covering her face for safety. She heard Bond shuffle in the back, probably doing something to keep safe too.

Suddenly, it felt like they were in the air again, then it felt like they landed, then they were in the air again, then they landed. Instead of going into the air a third time, they kept driving straight. Opening her eyes, Anya kept her seatbelt on and poked her head up, seeing they were back on the road...and speeding straight for another building.

"Not again!" Anya spun the wheel to the right, making a hard turn around the corner that spun them out of control. Anya fell back in her seat, holding on to it and feeling like she was gonna throw up from all the spinning while Bond barked in a panic. She closed her eyes tight and braced for impact, but suddenly, they stopped, Bumblebee leaning to the side for a second before falling back down.

Is it over? Anya opened her eyes and unbuckled her seatbelt. She looked over to Bond and saw he was okay, petting him to calm both of them down. Checking on Bumblebee next, she gave the radio a worried look and asked, "Are you okay, Bumblebee?" No answer, not a beep, whir, or boop. Anya read his mind and sighed in relief. He'd just fallen asleep. Good, we're okay, Anya got out of Bumblebee and saw that they were right back at their building, with Bumblebee parked exactly where Papa left him before.

With a tired smile, she opened the back door and let Bond out before patting Bumblebee, "Goodnight, Mister Bumblebee."

She and Bond made their way to the front door of their building, but right when they reached the stairs, it slammed open. A very worried Mama and Papa stormed out, "Yor, we'll split up and cover more ground, I'll start around-"

"Hey Papa!"

Mama and Papa's heads snapped to her. "A-Anya?" Mama asked, sounding super relived.

"I'm okay! I was just-" Anya was cut off as Mama zoomed forward and picked her up, hugging tightly. Papa ran up and began checking on her, making sure she wasn't hurt.

"Oh Anya! We were so worried!" Mama cried, followed by thoughts of her being super happy she was okay.

"Anya, are you alright? What happened?" Papa was asking questions super-fast, his mind wondering on where she was. I thought she and Bond were kidnapped. It seems the only logical explanation for how she disappeared in the middle of the night. But how could I have not noticed? Were the kidnappers using some kind of stealth technique? Did Anya escape on her own? Was she afraid? I should've been there to help her. I really have failed as both a spy and a father.

"No!" Anya realized too late she said that out loud and retracted, "I-I mean, I'm okay! I was just..." Anya looked down at Bond and got an idea, "Taking Bond out for a walk."

...

"Oh thank goodness! We thought you were kidnapped," Mama believed her immediately and hugged her tighter, For a second there, I was about to go through every criminal in this city to find you. Anya grimaced at all the violent thoughts running through Mama's head. Papa, meanwhile, looked at her with his usual seriousness, like he saw something and was now inves-tee-gating. He brushed the hair covering her forehead aside and his eyes went just a bit wide.

"Anya, did someone hurt you?" he asked, his thoughts trying to keep calm, but it was pretty obvious to Anya that he was angry at someone. Mama looked at her and gasped, thinking more angry, scary thoughts about killing "the monster who hurt her daughter". Anya felt her forehead and winced at the stinging, only now remembering when her face slammed into Bumblebee's window. It sounded like she had a bruise.

"N-No, no one hurt me, I, uh..." Anya stammered and tried to think of a good lie, "I...I fell?"

Mama calmed down, but Papa didn't look convinced. Anya got nervous, but Papa calmed down too, I suppose that makes sense, his mind flashed back to all the times Anya tried to do different sports, and all the times she fell on her face. Anya looked flatly as Papa thought, At the very least, I'm glad she wasn't attacked by anyone, but still, he sighed in relief before he gave her a stern look, "Anya, you shouldn't have snuck out like that. You should've woken us up first so we could go with you. Going out alone at night is a danger, especially in today's day and age."

"I-I know," Anya felt tears start to well up, remembering the bad guys that were chasing them. The whole thing was so scary, and she thought she was gonna die. She, Bond, and Bumblebee were just really lucky they came home in one piece.

"Anya, what's wrong?" Mama asked.

"It was-" Anya sniffled, "I was just really scared. I-I got lost, and Bond helped me get home." It wasn't a complete lie. She really was scared with what just happened, and looking back, she did kinda get lost trying to find Bumblebee, "I wanted to be b-brave like you, b-but I wasn't."

Mana and Papa looked to each other, then back to Anya as Mama knelt down to place her on the floor. "Anya, it's okay," Mama held her close in a warm hug, "Believe it or not, I'm not always that brave either. When we saw you were missing, I was terrified."

"So was I," Papa patted her head, giving his own small, reassuring smile, "Anya, I know you're a tough child for your age, but you're still a child. It's okay to be afraid. Even grown-ups like me and your mother get scared a lot." Especially in life-or-death missions like stopping nuclear bombs from going off or getting cornered by a terrorist cell, "Just promise us you won't sneak out like that a second time."

"O-Okay," Anya yawned, feeling her eyes begin to droop, "I'll try not to...sneak...out," she wobbled forward, with Mama there to catch her.

"We should probably go inside now," Mama said as she picked her up. Anya heard Papa say something while Bond barked, but everything was getting muffled. She managed to open her eyes just a bit, and saw they were walking inside. With one last yawn, she drifted to sleep.

Uuuuuuuuuugh, Bumblebee groaned as the sun rose, feeling his processor ache, What happened last night? I remember I was drinking the Energon and...yup, that was not good Energon. Gonna have to redo the current batch.

It frustrated him that his first attempt at making Energon on his own was a screw up, leaving him to stew in his failure until the Forgers walked out of the building. As they got into their respective seats, he couldn't help but notice that Anya seemed a bit nervous, but for whatever reason, he didn't know. Loid turned the key, but Bumblebee struggled to get his engine started, still feeling fatigued.

"That's odd," Loid muttered.

"Something wrong?" Yor asked.

"Sounds like the car's having some engine troubles," Loid answered, "Think I'll need to look under the hood to see what's wrong."

Really not in the mood for that, Bumblebee forced his engines to start up, revving to indicate he was set to drive.

"Huh, never mind. Everything seems to be working now," Loid took the wheel and pressed the gas petal, sending them off. Throughout the drive, Bumblebee still couldn't help but feel a bit bummed out regarding his Energon failure. His entire job here was to set up a base, and how was he supposed to do that when he couldn't get Energon right?

"Papa," Anya began, getting everyone's attention, "What happens when you mess something up?"

"Hmm?" Loid looked back to Anya for a bit, "Why the question?"

"Because I-" Anya looked down, "Because I mess up in school a lot, and it bugs me. I want to do better, but...it's hard."

Yor looked back at her daughter with worry while Loid seemed lost in thought. Bumblebee wanted to say something through the radio, but he stopped himself, remembering he couldn't do that without arousing suspicion. Thankfully, he didn't need to, as Loid answered, "Anya, everyone messes up every now and then. I've made more than my fair share of mistakes at my job. I know that much."

"Same here," Yor added, "I can't even begin to tell you all the times I messed up when I first started working."

"But the important thing is you keep picking yourself up and trying until you're good at it. Nobody ever gets anything right their first go around."

Yeah, that's true, Bumblebee remembered Optimus' words that often, failure is a teacher. Everyone has made their share of mistakes, and what matters is that you learn from them. He even said something similar to what Loid brought up; that if they got everything right the first time, they wouldn't be at war. Still, he thought, Wish I could remember what happened last night, for some reason, Anya sighed in what looked like relief, It'd be a lot of trouble if I got seen by someone.

Anya looked a bit nervous again, and Bumblebee couldn't fathom why. He eventually shrugged it off and guessed it was about school.

"First Lieutenant!" Second Lieutenant Yuri Briar saluted as he walked up to his desk.

"What is it?"

"Police report," he answered as he held out the file, "They received a call from a civilian, one Kelly Shiragami, about something suspicious she witnessed last night."

"And they felt it curious enough to send it to us, huh?" the first lieutenant took the orange folder and opened it.

"Boss wants you to look it over, see if her claims are worth investigating," Briar answered, leaving the elder officer to thoroughly read through the file. The claims from the woman were that she ran into a hulking metallic beast in the alleyways the previous night. She went into detail about its freakish blue eyes and sickly yellow plating. But aside from that, there was very little else to work off of. In fact, the claims sounded more like those of a rambling drunkard.

"From the looks of it, we're dealing with either a crank caller, or someone who was drunk and saw things."

"You sure, sir?"

"Take it you read the report too?" at the question, Briar nodded, "Then be honest with me. You really think she ran into some giant metal monster in the alleyways? Sounds like pure science fiction. Besides, this isn't the first time we've gotten calls like this about the most outlandish things imaginable." He opened a drawer and put the file in it, "Best to just ignore it. Our job is to hunt spies. We're not paranormal investigators."

"Understood, sir!" Briar saluted and headed off, leaving the first lieutenant to ponder over the report one last time.

A giant robot. Tch, how absurd.

Chapter Text

"Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

"Almost there Anya, just another minute," Papa said, looking back at her through Bumblebee's mirror, Not exactly sure why she's so excited though. It's just a trip to the supermarket.

Yeah! But I wanna make it fast! Anya bounced in her seat, looking outside at the passing buildings and cars. There was a new episode of Spy Wars that was gonna play soon and she didn't want to miss it. Ever since Bond was brought home, she and him always watched new episodes together. If they didn't make it home on time, he'd watch it without her!

"Anything in particular that you want to get, Anya?" Mama asked, smiling back at her.

"Peanuts," Anya answered right away as she hugged her plushie, Mr. Chimera.

What's that? Bumblebee wondered as Papa turned a corner, Is it some kind of Earth provision? I swear, humans have weird names for their food.

That last thought got Anya thinking; did giant robots eat? She learned that they could get drunk, which meant they could drink stuff too. If they could drink, they could eat, but what did giant robots eat? Did they eat scrap metal? Electicity? Or did they eat the kind of stuff normal people would eat like cereal? If they did eat stuff like that, what was Bumblebee's favorite food?

"You know Anya, you need to be careful not to eat too many peanuts," Mama warned, "If you do, you could get sick."

"She's right, Anya," Papa added, looking serious, "It's important to avoid eating too much of anything."

Anya sighed, both her parents sounding like those classes at school about eating vegetables and fruits and stuff. "Maybe peanuts shouldn't taste so good then," Anya muttered before a thought popped into her head and she asked, "Hey Papa, Mama, what's your favorite food?"

"Hmm?" Papa looked back for a bit, "Uh, why do you ask?" Anya shrugged, leading to Papa focusing on the road and thinking really hard, Let's see...

Mama, meanwhile, said, "Well, you remember the stew I cooked for you and Loid?" she smiled, "That's always been my favorite food, ever since my mother cooked it for me and Yuri growing up."

Anya smiled back, remembering how happy was when Mama made that for everyone. Thankfully, it was actually really good, unlike Mama's other attempts at cooking. Still don't know if assassins are terrible at cooking or if it's just Mama, Anya thought before looking to Bumblebee's radio. Seeing that Papa was still super deep in thought, she focused on Bumblebee to see what he was thinking.

Huh, speaking of favorite foods, I miss Chrome-alloy pie. Used to eat it when I could afford it before the war. After that it was mostly just Energon rations, Bumblebee thought, sounding like he really missed it. All it did was make Anya frown at the dead end. Part of why Anya asked was because she'd hoped maybe she could find some food for Bumblebee. She didn't know if he could eat anything besides Energon, whatever that was, and wanted to help. But it sounded like robot food wasn't really something she could get here. Didn't sound like anything she could convince Papa and Mama to get either.

Should probably check back with Papa, Anya looked over to her dad and started reading his mind, a bump in the road making the car jump as they turned a corner.

Hmm, it sounded like Papa was still thinking, I know there was something. But what?

Anya saw a few images flash through his head; a tall blonde woman making food, but it was all fuzzy. Like Papa couldn't remember these things very well. Is that- Anya blinked, Is that my grandma? and without thinking, asked, "Papa-"

"Huh?" Papa snapped out of it said, "Oh! Uh, sandwiches! That's my favorite food."

"..." Anya blinked, Papa's so bad at lying. Still, she was glad for the answer, mostly because she was pretty sure she was about to accidentally say something revealing. Instead, she clapped her hands and asked, "Can we have some later?"

"Certainly," Papa answered, but his thoughts sounded a bit sad, Almost wish I did have an actual favorite food though. Then again, after all those tasteless rations... more images filled his mind, this time of a younger him and a bunch of army guys sitting in a dingy room eating bland looking food. They all looked really miserable, and then Papa shook his head, ending the thoughts, Forget it Twilight, those days are over. All you can do is focus on the present and assure that it will never come again.

Papa really doesn't want to eat bland food anymore, huh? Anya thought, Maybe that's why he makes sure to cook everything super good?

So, do humans eat witches made out of sand? That sounds very concerning, Bumblebee thought, making Anya snicker a bit. Papa just raised an eyebrow and looked like he was gonna ask a question, but Mama beat him to the punch.

"Hey, Loid?" Mama asked, "Think I could give cooking the sandwiches a try later?" I've been practicing a lot since Camilla helped me cook the stew. This would help see if I've improved.

Anya felt a chill run up her spine, and Papa looked freaked out. Bumblebee, on the other hand...

Why did the atmosphere suddenly fill with this sense of dread? he wondered as Papa drove him into the parking lot of the market.

"I uh, think it'd be best if you let me do it, Yor," Papa's voice sounded just a bit scared, not that Anya blamed him. Mama looked sad that she wouldn't be able to cook, which Papa picked up on, "I'm sure you've been improving a lot since then, but it's been a while since I made my favorite type of sandwich, and I'd like to make them for the family." And hopefully prevent all of us from dying of food poisoning.

Thankfully, that cheered Mama up and she nodded, "Okay then, but think you could show me how you'd like them? I want to be able to make them for you and Anya."

"S-Sure. Maybe next week?" Papa kept a straight face despite how scared his thoughts were, all while Anya flatly stared as he parked Bumblebee. He only bought them another week before death came for them all. Taking her mind off that, she looked out the window and stared at the market.

"It's too bad Bond couldn't come with us."

"Well, this market has a strict 'No Pets' policy," Papa got out and said, "So I'm afraid it was out of our hands."

Mama got out next, "It was nice of Frankie to take care of him for us while we were out though."

Wonder how Bond and Uncle Scruffie are doing, Anya wondered as she hopped out.

"Okay, I'm at the edge of my rope," Frankie muttered as he laid his head on the table, "I can't believe I'm gonna do this," snapping it upward, he asked, "How do I get a girlfriend?"

Sitting across from him was the Forger's dog, Bond, staring at him with either indifference or. Honestly, his expression was hard to read. After what felt like a solid minute, the whole thing turned into a staring contest, Frankie awaiting some form of an answer until finally...

"Borf!"

"...that...sounds..." Frankie rose and pumped his fist into the air, "That's genius!"

"Borf!"

Eh, probably something boring, Anya shrugged, Mama calling her name as she took her hand. They started walking together, but someone called Mama's name, making them all stop.

"Yor?"

Anya coughed, I think I have heartburn, before realizing just who it was. All three of them looked and saw the man in question, leaving Anya to grumble, "Oh, it's Unkie."

Thankfully, she wasn't heard, with Mama running over to hug Unkie Yuri, who was apparently in the middle of putting groceries in the trunk of his car. During the hug, Unkie dropped the brown bag he carried, messing up the groceries as he turned a shade of blue from Mama's strength. She was quick to put him down and apologize, with Yuri laughing it off.

Think I saw this guy enter the Forger's building once, but then he left vomiting. Who is he? Bumblebee wondered, Anya thankfully feeling the heartburn pass in the process.

"Anya," Papa knelt down, "I heard you earlier, and it really isn't nice to say things like that about family members."

All Anya could do was sigh, "Okay papa. Sorry."

"I know he can be...well, a lot, but he's still Yor's brother," Papa said, gently patting Anya's shoulder, "It's important that we put up with him for her sake." Not to mention that gleaming SSS intel from him would be beneficial to Operation: STRIX, though I haven't been able to gather much, Papa stood up as Mama and Unkie approached, And sometimes I wonder if it's even worth it in the end.

"Hello Anya," Unkie greeted in a happy voice, though it sounded forced. He looked at Papa and held out a hand, sounding a bit more even, "Loidy."

As Papa forced a smile and shook Unkie's hand, he thought, Still, it's rather concerning to run into one of the State Security Service in civilian guise like this. Does he suspect anything? Perhaps it's just a coincidence, but it feels too convenient.

Spy vs. Secret Police mind games! Anya gasped in excitement and started reading Unkie's mind to see where he was in the brain war.

Gah! Great, just had to run into Loidy and Chihuahua girl while I was doing groceries, Yuri's smile became a bit more strained, Well it's not all bad. Least I got to run into big sis, and who knows? Maybe I can gleam something off Loidy to prove he's a spy!

Anya's smile left her, Oh, so he's really just here to buy things and not do any secret police bad guy stuff. That's...boring, but her smile did return, But it sounds like the mind games are starting now!

"So, Yuri," Papa began, "How have you been?"

Yuri replied, "Oh just paperwork at the moment, but I'm gonna be going on a short business trip to Frigis soon enough. So how about you? You've been treating my sister well?" You better be treating her well.

Huh, so he's Yor's brother? That explains the looks, Anya looked over to Bumblebee tuning out Papa's thoughts in the process, Kinda reminds me a bit of the Ambus brothers. Not to mention Jumpstream and her twin. Too bad she had to be related to Skywarp of all bots.

So giant robots can have brothers and sisters too? Anya wondered, happy at all the cool stuff she was learning.

"Honestly Yuri, sometimes I think you worry too much," Mama got Anya's attention back to the conversation. She saw her mom giggle while Unkie looked defensive.

"Hey, I wouldn't be a good brother if I didn't look out for you, would I?"

No, but you can definitely be overprotective at points, Mama's thoughts sounded tired. Apparently Unkie could get to her too sometimes.

"So, you mentioned something about Frigis? How do you feel about the trip?" Papa asked, Sounds like a potential cover story.

Why is he asking so many questions? Is he trying to probe me for information? Unkie's thoughts made Anya worry for a second, No, cool it Yuri. Can't jump to conclusions. Besides, on the off chance he's actually a spy, I can't let it slip that the trip's a front. Just play the part of the dutiful civil servant. Anya calmed down while her uncle smiled and answered, "A bit nervous, honestly. First time visiting Frigis, so I'm sure it'll be a new experience."

I don't know why, but it feels like there's a lot of tension between Loid and Yor's brother, Bumblebee thought before shrugging it off, Maybe I'm just imagining things. Probably just how humans interact with their in-laws is all.

Nope, just spies and secret police, and it looks like the mind games aren't going anywhere, Anya tugged at Papa's pant leg, "Papa, can we go get groceries now? And can I please bring Mr. Chimera?"

"Sure, just make sure he doesn't get lost," at Papa's answer, Anya went back to Bumblebee and opened the door, picking up Mr. Chimera.

"Huh, I see you got a new car," Yuri commented as Anya closed the door and rejoined her dad.

"Yeah, Loid got it recently," Mama said, standing next to Anya and patting her head, "Anya even gave it a name. Meet Bumblebee."

"I see," Unkie looked at Bumblebee for a bit with an even stare, Why did Loidy buy such a small car? There's barely enough room for two people, let alone a whole family. My sister deserves far better than that.

Bumblebee's awesome the way he is, Unkie. And Mama likes him just fine, Anya couldn't help but glare at him, though she hid it behind Mr. Chimera.

What's with this guy's stare? Feels really judgmental and it's weirding me out, Bumblebee sounded insulted.

"Well, it looks fine enough, but it seems a little...well, a bit too small," Yuri said, "Given that you guys recently got a dog, maybe a larger car would be beneficial? I could help chip in for one if you want."

Aaaaand I officially don't like this guy, Bumblebee fumed.

"Thanks, but we're fine with what we have," Papa answered with his usual smile.

"We honestly haven't had any issues, so we'll stick with Bumblebee," Mama smiled too, and much brighter than Papa.

Anya didn't smile, and instead had the same anger Bumblebee had. Her uncle had no idea what he was talking about. Bumblebee was the bestest car ever! She was gonna tell him that when suddenly, she got an idea. A genius idea that only a master spy like her dad could come up with. And with that idea, her eyes narrowed, and a smug grin overcame her face.

Heh, she ran over to Bumblebee and hugged his side, loudly saying, "Yeah! Mr. Bumblebee's the greatest car of all time! We're never getting a new one because any other car would be stupid! Besides, we love him so much!" she looked back to Mama and Papa, "Right?"

"Of course, Anya," Mama happily answered, It's nice to see how much Anya loves Loid's car. I'm not sure if that's normal for children her age to be this affectionate with motor vehicles, but Loid would say something if it wasn't, right?"

Papa just nodded, but he was also scratching the top of his hat, I mean, it's not like this is the first time she's been favoring to the family car, but this seems a bit more than normal. Maybe she's developing an interest in mechanical engineering from classes at Eden? If that's the case, then- that's when Papa's thoughts got way too fast and confusing for Anya to keep up with.

Uh...thanks, I guess? Bumblebee was confused too, and a bit flattered, Humans are really invested in their vehicles, apparently.

Unkie, however, was getting upset, Does sis really think Loid's car is that impressive? he shook his head, No, she's just going along with what Loid's kid is saying. Kids are weird.

Anya returned to hugging Bumblebee as her smug grin returned, hidden from everyone, and she said, "Mama, I don't think Mr. Bumblebee knows how much we care about him. He needs a hug. Can you help me hug him?"

"Uh, sure!" Mama walked over, Not sure if this is a type of game children play, but I'll play along. Anya seems to be having fun at least, she stood beside Anya and hugged Bumblebee with all her might, "We love you so much, Bumblebee!"

You gotta be kidding me! Yor really thinks this jalopy's that special? Yuri ranted in his head, looking super angry and glaring right at Papa, What's so impressive about it? Is it because Loidy bought it?

Ha! Too easy, Anya smirked, feeling as smart as Papa.

Huh, still feels weird, but it's also kinda nice, being hone-OW! OW! OW! OW! OW! OW!

Whoops, Anya panicked and heard the metal groan in Mama's grip, realizing this probably wasn't a good idea. She didn't know if she could just let go and tell her mom to stop without Bumblebee realizing something. If she did, then he'd wonder how she knew he was hurting and then run away. She had to think of something fast!

"Okay you two, I think we should head into the store now. Anya said she wanted to get back home in time to watch the new Spy Wars episode, after all," Papa cut in, approaching them, Not to mention Yuri looks like he's about to blow a fuse and a few people passed by staring at us. We'd better get going before we start a scene.

Thanks Papa! "Okay!" Anya let go and reached out to Mama, taking her hand while the other held Mr. Chimera tight.

Argh! Slag that hurt! Bumblebee was still in pain, but it sounded like he was recovering, Okay, I think that confirms the whole "human parents have insane strength" theory.

"It was nice getting to see you Yuri," Mama looked at her brother and grinned, "Well, we better get going. See you later!"

"Yeah, see ya later, sis," Unkie stepped aside, letting them walk ahead to the store. She looked back and saw that Yuri was leaning against Bumblebee, looking really angry.

Okay Bumblebee, let it go. Don't drive off. You gotta maintain cover, remember? she could still hear Bumblebee's thoughts from this far away, Besides, like it or not, he's Yor's brother. It'd be really rude to- then Anya saw her uncle's lips move. She didn't know what he said and couldn't hear him from this far away, but it definitely made Bumblebee mad. Actually, you know what? he snarled, FRAG THIS GUY!

Suddenly, Bumblebee's door slammed open, sending Unkie flying off and landing somewhere out of sight. Mama and Papa looked back at the noise, but saw only heard Unkie shout, "I'm okay!" and start running back to his car. Anya snickered while her parents looked at each other and shrugged. The three of them entered the market and began shopping.

So many different food stuffs to pick out! Anya ran ahead, pointing at all the things she wanted to get. They got some meats for burgers, noodles for soup, sandwich stuff for Papa (even if he didn't really care about sandwiches), some milk, coffee, tea, cookies, fruits, veggies, and a bunch of other things Anya didn't know how to say just yet. Then finally came the time to buy Anya's favorite snack. Picking it out from the shelf, she held it over her head, "Papa! Mama! Look, I found peanuts!"

"I suppose getting them won't hurt. See if you can put it in the cart," Mama picked Anya up to help her, but Papa interrupted.

"Actually, Anya, I don't think that's a good idea," he pointed at the sweets they already had, "We've already bought a lot of sugar as is; cookies, cake ingredients, ice cream, and such. I think were fully stocked as is."

"But Papa! I want peanuts!"

"No Anya, your father's right," Mama agreed, "Honestly, I didn't pay attention to how much we already had."

"Please?" Anya put on her bestest, most adorable pleading face.

"Anya..." he didn't look like he was gonna budge. Mama looked away, knowing she wouldn't be able to say no.

Guess it's time for Anya's secret weapon, Anya took a deep breath and shouted, "I-If I don't get peanuts, I'll stop studying for school!"

"What?" Papa and Mama gasped. "Anya, why would you do that?" Papa asked, a lot of people looking their way.

"Because I want peanuts!"

This is bad, Operation: STRIX is in danger now! Papa relented, "O-Okay, we can buy peanuts, but just this once, okay?"

Anya immediately cheered up, "Okay!"

Papa sighed and let Anya put the box in the cart, When did I become such a pushover? "Alright, looks like we can head home now."

"Yay! TV and Bond, here I come!" Anya let Mama put her down and ran ahead of them. They were at the checkout line in no time. After everyone else bought their stuff, it was Papa's turn. The register person scanned everything and helped bag them all, letting her dad pay and get both change and receipt.

"Have a nice day, BARK!" The register man said.

Bark? Anya looked at the man as they all walked out, realizing what that meant.

Hmm, Papa pocketed the change and stared at the receipt, Looks like a D cipher this time. Seems I'll have to meet with Handler tomorrow morning.

Anya gasped in excitement, knowing what that meant, Papa's got a new mission! This is gonna be so cool!

Well, that was a fairly straightforward mission, Loid re-entered Berlint General's consultation room through the escape route and dressing in his white doctor's coat. The mission parameters were simple; WISE had received word on members of a criminal gang smuggling military grade weapons into Ostania. If those weapons hit the streets, it'd be chaos, and war would certainly follow. With a file on one of their members, he was able to disguise himself and destroy the weapons and subdue the criminals. With that accomplished, he tied up the still living gang members for the authorities and snuck his way back to work, thankfully just in time for the end of the day.

"Still," he sighed, cracking his neck as he slipped into the halls for his office. Straightforward as it was, these things never got any less nerve inducing. The threat of discovery and death was always there, even for a spy with his level of skill. You only had to get unlucky once and that was it. But now there was something more to it; as a husband and father, he had more to lose if he perished on a mission.

Waving to his coworkers, his mind reminded him that they weren't truly his wife and daughter. That he and Yor agreed to their "marriage" for mutually beneficial reasons; to help allow Anya to attend Eden and to put Yuri's mind at ease. Likewise, Anya's attendance of Eden was to achieve her Stellas to bring them closer to Donovan Desmond so as to uncover his machinations, if he had any at all. It was all for the sake of the mission.

At least, that's what he frequently repeated to himself these days, yet bafflingly, with less certainty each time.

"Doctor Forger," his attention was drawn by the monotone, feminine voice just ahead of him. Looking up, he saw the familiar white hair and purple eyes of Agent Nightfall, currently in the guise of Doctor Forger's assistant, Fiona Frost. As she approached him, he noticed that in her hands was a clipboard held with great significance, indicating it was a disguised cipher.

"Ah, Miss Frost," Loid greeted, entering a more civil, polite persona as he exited his earlier musings, "I'm going to be heading out for the day soon. Do you need anything else?" As he spoke, he mouthed a completely different set of words that only his fellow spy could understand, 'Any last-minute orders from Handler?'

Nightfall handed him the clipboard, "Not for me, but the department head would like for you to review these upcoming appointments." 'Our analysts have delivered their reports on the excavated metal from the impact site. Handler forwarded them to us for memorization.'

"I see. Thank you," Loid took the clipboard, Agent Nightfall's hand still held out before she lowered it. "You have a good night, Miss Frost."

"You as well, Doctor Forger," Nightfall said, Loid hearing her footsteps fade into the background as he turned a corner, making his way to the office. When he arrived, he took a seat and began reading the report. While on the surface, it appeared as a list of patients and details pertaining to upcoming appointments, Twilight's eyes could make out the message hidden between the words. Reading the reports, his face dawned a confused frown.

No success in tracing the object's origins yet, but... he raised an eyebrow, Odd, the metals found at the site don't match any known elements? The new detail had his mind scouring for possibilities. Did the perpetrator discover a new element of some kind? If so, was this merely a test run for said element? They had no idea what the intent was, but if it was something sinister, then they had no way of knowing if/when they'd strike again. Before he could ponder any further, the chiming of his wall clock took him out of it, reminding him that he had to be off to pick up Yor and Anya.

Better get going. Don't want to be late, Loid finished reading, committing the reports to memory before disposing of them in such a way that there was no way to trace them. With that done, he hung his doctor's coat and left his office, saying his goodbyes to everyone. He walked across the parking lot and entered his car, Bumblebee as Anya referred to it, before driving out to retrieve his family and head home.

Home, for one reason or another, Loid smiled at that word, and he couldn't explain why.

Chapter Text

Bumblebee drove along an overpass on route towards Eden Academy to pick up Anya, the afternoon sun shining down on him. At the moment, there weren't that many cars driving around, a far cry from a couple days ago when the roads were practically clogged with cars. Seemed that whether it be Earth or Cybertron, traffic was an unpredictable menace to everyone.

Better enjoy the open road while I can, Bee mused as he decided to pay attention to the current radio station, it being something about a neighboring country called Westalis that he'd frequently heard about. Between Loid having full control behind the wheel with near flawless driving, Yor happily enjoying the sights from her seat, and Bond wagging his tail in the back, he figured it best to take advantage of the peace to learn more about this world.

"-and many of Ostania's representatives saw Foreign Minister Brantz off, exchanging pleasantries before he departed plane-bound for Westalis. After weeks of intense debate, and despite much concerns amongst even our most well-regarded diplomats, it would seem the peace summit was a resounding success for all parties. And despite not appearing himself, Chairman Donovan Desmond of the National Unity Party had his people give Minister Brantz the highest of praises before the man's trip home. We can only hope that tensions between East and West have cooled for the time being."

Huh, that sounds like pretty good news, Bumblebee mused as he continued listening in, even though parts of the report were still a hassle for him to wrap his head around due to unfamiliarity with most of the subjects. He'd never been one to pay attention to the politics of his surroundings prior to the war with the Decepticons. It was always too complicated and boring for him. Given how the war started, though, maybe he should have. If nothing else, learning how things were going was a good thing in the long run, and there being peace between these two countries meant not only that everyone living here got to be happy, but it also meant that the Autobots would have little to worry about when they arrived. Though when he got the signal from Optimus was anyone's guess.

However, his musings were interrupted when Bond turned around and started barking like crazy. Bee noticed a trio of cars approaching from behind, the leading one looking pretty rusty while the other two were a well-polished black and dark green respectively. Loid and Yor seemed to notice them as well, eyeing them cautiously as they started to surround them; the rustic lead now at Bee's rear while the other two drove at his left and right. Unsure what was going on, Bumblebee was lost in thought when the green car slammed into his side. What the slag!?

"WOAH!" Yor held tightly to her seat, with Loid gripping the wheel to keep steady. Unfortunately, that only lasted until the black car slammed into them.

"What the-"

"Hey jackass!" the black car's driver yelled before he pulled out a gun, "This is for making us miss our deal!"

What's going on? Bumblebee's thought was interrupted by several loud gunshots from the other cars, unable to move much due to being boxed in. None could put a scratch on them, and he couldn't feel them in the least, but that didn't mean he liked getting shot at. Even more baffling was that the driver and his passenger in the "shotgun" seat, as he heard humans call it, looked kinda familiar. He just couldn't put a digit on where he'd seen them before.

"Dammit! Not now!" Loid exclaimed, looking rather flatfooted, though he strangely maintained more composure than Bee would expect from someone getting shot at.

"Loid, what's going on?" Yor asked with a worried glint in her eyes, though like Loid, she wasn't panicking, "Are your patients having psychotic breaks again?"

"Wha-I mean, yes! It would appear so!" Loid swerved, forcing the green car to back off to avoid the hit.

Oh, so human doctors also get shot at by their patients! Bee realized as the rustic car rear ended him, forcing Loid to speed ahead to get away, Huh, guess he isn't that different from Ratchet. Maybe they'd get along.

"Yor, take the wheel, I need to get something from the back," Loid said, and at Yor's nod, he let go of the wheel and turned to rummage for something behind the seat, Bond seeming to help him in that endeavor. As more bullets bounced off Bumblebee, Yor reached for the wheel, but suddenly, she froze. A frightened, unsure expression covered her face as Bumblebee started to tilt to the left, forcing him to retake control to avoid scraping against the overpass' stone railing.

WOAH! Bumblebee narrowly avoided careening into a long, black, fancy looking car that was heading straight for him. No one got hurt, but the three chasing cars deftly avoided the oncoming vehicle, rushing by as it turned at its side and blocked the rest of the road behind them. Making matters worse was that Yor's hand still hovered over the wheel, refusing to take it. While she didn't notice that the car was now driving itself, Bumblebee was still at risk of discovery like this.

Thankfully, Loid had returned to his seat, now holding in one hand what he'd called an umbrella, "Got it! Let me take the wheel again," Yor retracted her hand from the wheel so fast it was almost a blur, with Loid retaking his position just as quickly, "I'll see about getting us off the road and somewhere isolated. I should be able to knock them out."

"And I'll help with the concussive therapy," Yor said, her worry replaced with an eager grin that Bumblebee found at odds with their current situation. Loid's composure he could now understand, given that he was a doctor and had to deal with this daily. Bond was barking and growling at the patients, which was easy for Bee to make sense of since they were shooting at them. But Yor seemed too at ease with this sort of thing. Bumblebee hadn't seen much violence since he got here apart from that one warehouse encounter. So why was she so well adjusted? "Kinda takes me back to when I helped you with your patients the first time. You remember how we first met?" Yor asked, with Loid giving a nod as he focused on the road, though Bumblebee could see the ghost of a wistful smile.

Does that mean she helps him with this kind of thing often? Would explain all the nonchalance, Bee's thoughts were cut off as the overpass ended, bringing them back to the streets of Ostania. Spotting a green light ahead, Loid sped up again as it turned yellow, driving just as it changed red while the chasers ran it, causing a lot of honking in the far behind. Bumblebee saw many onlookers stare in confusion and fear at the scene from the sidewalks, many of them running as the first of the chasers started shooting at Bee's tires, Scrap! Loid, you better isolate your patients and knock them out quick. I get the feeling they don't care about bystanders.

"Loid, over there!" Yor pointed to a fast-approaching alleyway entrance at the right, both large and wide enough for Bee to drive through.

"I see it! Thanks," Loid sharply turned, managing a 90-degree angle before zooming right into the alleyway. The buildings at the sides eventually gave way to a small, empty parking lot. Most that was there were a few trash cans, a large open trash bin, and a pay phone in a corner. Surprisingly, given the urgent circumstances, Loid took the time to find a proper parking spot rather than haphazardly stop in the middle of the thing. Then again, Bee understood that Loid was a medical professional. As Ratchet would often tell him, professionals have standards, and this was probably one of them.

Humans sure have weird standards though, Bee mused as Loid and Yor got out, the latter helping Bond out of the back, Probably shouldn't judge.

Loid rushed to the trash can in front of Bumblebee and grabbed its dented lid just as the three cars of patients zoomed into the lot. The rustic car swerved near the exit to the alleyway and blocked the escape route while the other two screeched to a stop ahead. Loid's patients got out of the vehicles, totaling at around ten, and opened fire while the doctor, his dog, and his Conjunx Endura took cover behind Bumblebee's right side.

Okay, this is starting to get annoying, Bumblebee fought the urge to just transform and scare them off, but he reminded himself of the first time he did it and held that thought. Besides the fact that it would reveal himself to Loid and Yor, he also had to remind himself that these were Loid's patients, not some hoodlums out to kill them for funsies.

Suddenly, Loid got out from cover and threw the trash can lid like a discmaster at one of the patients, sending him flying. The man skidded against the ground and hit a nearby wall, knocked out cold. The rest of the patients, however, simply shrugged it off and reloaded, continuing to shoot at them. One even grabbed his knocked-out acquaintance's gun and started dual wielding, though it made his aim more erratic and inaccurate, clearly unused to it.

"Damn it!" Loid took cover again, looking apologetically to Yor and Bond, "Sorry, I was hoping that'd knock more of them out so I could close in with the umbrella," then looked out from behind cover and muttered something along the lines of, "That's the last time I try something out of a Spy Wars comic." Bumblebee recalled how often Anya talked about Spy Wars and how much she loved it. Sounded like a family bonding thing, and it made him kinda sad that he couldn't see it for himself. "Okay, I have an idea," Loid loudly said amidst the shooting as he looked down at the umbrella, "I'll throw this into the air to distract them. Once they aren't shooting at us, we move in quick and incapacitate."

"Right!" Yor affirmatively nodded while Bond barked, seeming to nod in kind. Loid looked out just as a few patients started reloading. When they finished, he threw his umbrella high into the air.

"Now!" he shouted as the patients fired upon the umbrella, giving the Forgers the needed opening. What happened next was something of a blur to Bumblebee.

There were things he could easily make out, like Bond leaping at a patient and somehow dropkicking him into one of the cars, leaving a rather sizable dent in the door. Then Loid rushed one with a shoulder bash, grabbing his leg before he could fly very far. He then spun around and threw him into two other patients; the three of them groaning as they were knocked to the floor, falling unconscious. But Yor...

Holy scrap! Bumblebee was shocked as Yor, within the span of a second, appeared right in front of the remaining five and rapidly struck at parts of four of the patients' bodies with a series of jabs, leaping all around them. Despite Bumblebee's best efforts, he could barely keep track of her movements. When she was done, the patients became still as statues before falling to the ground, leaving the final patient a quivering mess as he aimed his gun at Yor. He opened fire, Yor casually dodging the bullets before taking the gun and crushing it to pieces, leaving not but twisted metal in her hands.

"Sorry about this young man, but I'm sure my husband can help you when you wake up," Yor said sincerely as she let the broken gun's pieces fall to the ground before delivering a swift kick to his chest that sent him flying towards the trash bin far behind. He crashed against the lid before falling inside, closing the bin in the process. As Loid and Bond walked up from behind her, Bumblebee tried to process what he'd just witnessed.

That...was... Bumblebee blinked a few times, not expecting the Forgers to fight with such skill in precision. He knew firsthand that Yor was incredibly strong, and he'd just learned Loid frequently had to fight his patients when they were having "psychotic breaks", as Yor put it. But even aside from the fact that the dog straight up performed a dropkick that'd make Arcee proud, this was still a level of skill and combat expertise that the average family unit definitely shouldn't have possessed. He'd know, having met and interacted with dozens of those during his time as a courier before the war.

But then again, things are probably different here on Earth? The Forgers do seem to be the average human family, after all, Bumblebee reminded himself. If the average human parent possessed strength on par with a Cybertronian, then a standard medical practitioner, and one who had to fight his patients every few cycles, having that level of combative instinct wasn't out of the ordinary. Made sense for Yor to have those skills too if she had to help her Conjunx with his job as often as was implied. Not sure on the dog though, Bumblebee looked at Bond, who seemed to look back at him as Loid and Yor gathered the patients and tied them up, Probably just what the average Earth pet can do.

"I'll call Berlint General and let them know we have some patients to round up. They'll send someone here later," Loid told his family as he headed over to the lot's pay phone to make the call. As he did so, Bumblebee watched Yor kneel down and affectionately pet Bond, complimenting him on his form during the dropkick. Bond returned the gesture by licking her face, happily barking at the praise. The act elicited a giggle from Yor who cooed at the dog before looking over at the lot's alleyway entrance towards the rustic car. She stood up and made her way to it before lifting the entire thing over her head and moving it to the nearest parking space.

After what Bumblebee had seen her do, he wasn't really surprised by this, but for a brief moment, he almost pictured himself being lifted by Yor and tossed around like one of Anya's dolls. The thought scared him before he cooled his jets, Relax Bee, not like Yor would ever toss you around. Sure, she's horrifyingly strong, a dangerous fighter, and almost crushed you by accident, but she's a sweet person. I mean, it's not like she's secretly an assassin or anything. Why would she be anyway? Bee couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. Yor, an assassin? Sounded about as likely as Loid being some kind of secret agent for a nebulous organization. Really, you just have to worry about other human parents getting the excuse to throw you into a building.

As Yor finished moving the patients' cars into appropriate parking spots, Loid finished his call with the hospital and headed back over to them, the three meeting up at Bumblebee's space. "Alright, they should be here in about twenty minutes," Loid said before checking his watch, "But we should probably get going. Don't want to be late to get Anya from school."

"Right," Yor nodded, but she had a bit of a blush to her face that confused Bumblebee.

Loid seemed to notice it as well, asking, "Yor, is something wrong?"

"Nothing!" Yor blurted out before she looked down and poked her fingers together, "It's just...I...I enjoy getting to fight beside you is all."

Bumblebee watched as Loid seemed rather caught off guard by his Conjunx's words, unsure of what to say. Not even the patients shooting at him caused him to have such a reaction. If he could, Bumblebee would have shaken his head, Don't know if I'm ever gonna really get how human romance works.

"I..." Loid slowly regained his composure, coughing into his hand before giving Yor an awkward smile, "Thank you, Yor. I'm sorry my work's always following me back home," he sighed, "I wish it wasn't like that."

Yor smiled back, "Don't be. I know how hard it can be to have a job that requires so much from you with little room for rest, wishing things could be different," she sounded like she spoke from experience, making Bumblebee wonder what office clerk jobs were like on this planet, "You once said that to endure such a harsh job for the sake of someone else isn't something just anyone can do, and I know it's been so much harder for you since your first wife passed away."

So Yor's Loid's second Conjunx? Bumblebee wondered as a few things clicked into place. It certainly explained why the two were still so awkward around each other. Loid's still getting used to having found love again while Yor's probably worried about replacing someone dear to him, not to mention now being a mother. Though it didn't seem like Anya minded, but she was a child, so maybe Loid's first wife died before she could truly remember her? His Spark couldn't help but ache for the Forgers at the thought of all this. Sounds like they're going through a lot.

"But it still amazes me how you persevere for Anya's sake," Yor's eyes gained a determined glint, "Even if we have to deal with things like this, I want to ease whatever burdens you're going through. I want to help provide Anya with the future she deserves. So you don't need to apologize. I'm glad to help our family however I can."

Once again, Loid was flatfooted, but he regained himself much faster, a less awkward, more genuine smile dawning his face as he nodded, "I feel the same way."

The two of them smiled at each other for a bit before descending into an awkward silence as they started looking around, Yor's face a bright red while Loid rubbed the back of his neck. Bond looked between the two and had a strangely disappointed look on his face, almost like he was upset with how the couple's moment petered off. Bumblebee shared in that feeling, but he couldn't blame them for it either.

Still, Yor's words stuck with him, about helping the family however possible. In the time since he arrived, he'd mostly been focusing on gathering Energon, but maybe he could do more than that? The Forgers didn't know he existed, but in some ways, he was kinda part of their family too. And even then, an Autobot's duty was to help those in need.

Maybe I could help them out of this awkward funk, Bumblebee started scrolling through his radio recordings, And I think I know how.

"I give her all my love, that's all I do," the lyrics sang out, getting the Forger's attention, "And if you saw my love, you'd love her too."

"Loid, what's going on?"

"I love her..."

"Not sure, let me check," Loid opened Bumblebee's front door and checked the radio.

"She gives me everything, and tenderly-" was all that came out before Loid turned the dials, switching across random stations before turning the radio off. He then turned the car on and off a couple times in some kind of investigation.

"Looks like the radio just had some power directed into it. It's rare, but it can happen," Loid mused as Yor and Bond approached, but as he got out, he took a closer look at the car, "Although," he ran a finger along the doorframe, "Now that I'm looking at it, Bumblebee doesn't seem to have any damage from the gunfire. Not even the windows seem cracked, but this doesn't look like bullet proof glass."

Frag frag frag! Am I giving myself away? What do I-

"Maybe Bumblebee's built different from the average car?" Yor suggested with a light shrug.

Loid continued to look at the car suspiciously, making Bumblebee nervous, but then he sighed and nodded towards his Conjunx, "It's possible, and I won't look a gift horse in the mouth since it was a big help today. It's just unexpected is all." Bumblebee was relieved as the Loid opened the door for Bond, letting him in and giving the dog an affectionate head pat before taking to the driver's seat. As Yor got in, Loid turned on the ignition and said, "By the way Yor, thank you for taking the wheel when I had to get the umbrella. I'll admit it was a reckless decision on my end, but you handled it very well."

Unlike what was expected, Yor's normal smile seemed to falter a bit as she looked away, the air around her having this melancholic feel to it as she sighed, "I...I suppose I did."

"Yor," Loid began, noticing the shift in mood, "Did something happen back there?"

"No, nothing happened," came her reply as she rubbed her hands, "We should probably go pick up Anya now."

Loid looked like he was about to say something, but he relented, likely realizing that it wasn't a good idea at the moment to force whatever Yor's issue was. Though Bee was sure he'd approach it with her later on. As they drove out of the lot and headed back on track for Eden, Bumblebee stared at Yor, who remained rather out of it until they arrived to pick up Anya, where she regained her cheerful demeanor. He remembered how she froze when asked to take the wheel, watching as her gaze shifted to it before focusing forward. Seemed to Bumblebee that she wanted to drive and was just miffed about losing her chance from freezing up.

Weirdly, the idea of Yor behind the wheel, especially his own, filled him with this sense of dread he hadn't gotten since arriving on Earth. But he just couldn't explain why.

Chapter Text

Camilla sighed in annoyance as she took a sip of her wine. It was supposed to be a simple dinner date at a high-end restaurant with her boyfriend, Dominic. After a whole workday of receiving calls, bookkeeping, errands, protecting Millie from the ogling of their section chief, and putting up with Yor's gloomy mood, she'd say she deserved something like that. She'd seen how hard Dominic worked, so he more than deserved it too. The only problem, however...

"So, Yuri, how's the Ministry of Foreign Affairs been treating you?"

...was this. Dominic just had to invite Yuri to what was supposed to be their time together.

"Pretty stressful, what with having to help in the recent Peace Summit. I'm just glad that's all done and over with," Yuri said to Dominic, waving the whole thing off before rubbing the back of his head. He took a bite of his steak with a satisfied hum, "Thanks for the invitation, by the way. The food here's pretty good," as he continued eating though, Camilla swore she heard him mutter, "Nowhere near as good as my sister's though."

Yor, I swear to God, you broke your little brother into something far more...bothersome than you, Camilla thought in annoyance as she continued eating. She refused to believe anyone could stomach, much less legitimately enjoy, that poison Yor called cooking. Either the man's been faking it for years just to keep his sister happy, or he was completely and utterly delusional. Neither spoke highly regarding his state of mind.

If Dominic heard it too, he didn't show, instead giving the younger Briar a smile, "Camilla's the one who picked the place out. It's one of the best restaurants in Berlint, and she has a real eye and taste for the best dishes," he looked over to her, "I'd say she deserves more thanks than I do."

Camilla gave her best smile and nodded to her boyfriend, briefly giving Yuri a glare before taking a sip of her wine. Just put up with it, she reminded herself, Like it or not, he's Dominic's friend. So just play nice for at least another hour, then give your boyfriend an earful for inviting him.

"Uh, did I do something wrong? You've been glaring at me pretty much all dinner," Yuri bluntly pointed out, almost making Camilla choke. Now the center of attention at their table, she saw the two men give her looks; Yuri's expression was one of curiosity (she swore there was this dangerous glint behind those red eyes) while Dominic's was complete, sincere concern.

"Camilla, is something wrong?" her boyfriend asked. Seeing no other option, and wanting to be honest with him, she sighed.

"It's just...I wanted this to be our night. Things have been pretty tough at City Hall lately for both of us, so I figured we needed an evening to ourselves," she leveled one last, brief glare at Yuri, "But you just had to invite him," before giving Dominic a less intense one, "And I'd be a lot less upset about it if you told me about it first."

Dominic, thankfully, didn't seem upset or offended by her anger. Instead, he looked apologetic and said, "Sorry, Camilla. Honestly, I just kinda forgot."

"Dominic, it's not like you to forget things like that," Camilla shifted from anger to worry.

"If it means anything, I think he only forgot because he told me last minute," Yuri interjected, taking a sip of water (Camilla had learned that Briars couldn't drink to save their lives) before continuing, "I only learned about this whole dinner thing a few hours ago."

Dominic nodded, "Things might have been a bit rushed and I forgot in the jumble. Besides, since all of us have been working hard at our jobs, it just felt fair to invite him since he just finished something big for the Ministry. Now that he has some time off, I wanted to be a good friend and help him enjoy it while it lasts."

Sighing, Camilla pinched the bridge of her nose, "Dominic, I swear, you can be too much of a sweetheart sometimes," but she gave her boyfriend a small, earnest smile, "But I can't blame you for wanting to help a friend out like this, even if it bugs me." Dominic returned the smile, with Camilla returning focus to her dinner as she cut a piece, "Still, I wish it could've just been the two of us," she took a bite and swallowed, "Between calls, errands, Yor's cooking lessons and bad moods, not to mention Millie complaining about her dating life again, I've been getting a lot of headaches as of late-"

"Excuse me, could you repeat that?" Yuri cut in, looking at Camilla with such intensity that she swore he was staring right through her.

"I...what?"

"You said something about my sister's 'moods'," he clarified, eyes narrowing, "Did something happen to her at work?"

Looking at Dominic, who seemed just as lost as Camilla, she turned back to Yuri and answered, "Well, it's just that she was pretty glum all day today."

Her answer didn't help at all, as Yuri seemed to have this dark, intimidating presence to him that made Camilla gulp. Dominic tried to placate Yuri, but to no avail. The younger Briar quietly growled, elbows against the table and hands folded beneath his chin, "Tell me, Camilla. Do you have any idea what or who is causing my sweet sister such sorrow?"

The way Yuri asked that question, it was almost like he wanted a very specific name. Like he was accusing someone and wanted her to say it just so he had an excuse. It's official. Yor's the normal one between these two, Camilla thought as she balked under his gaze. Clearing her throat, she answered, "Well..."

Sharon, Millie, and Camilla watched as Yor made herself a cup of coffee, sighing the whole way through. The four of them were currently in one of City Hall's kitchens, taking a break and gossiping over drinks. Or at least, they were, but Camilla found herself unable to think about all the interesting, funny rumors she'd heard about with Yor's glum demeanor almost swallowing the air around them. Sure, the office weirdo had kept it to herself and didn't let it get in the way of her work, but it was getting on her nerves.

Seriously, what does she have to be so moody about anyway? Camila wondered. Between her looks, marriage, happy-go-lucky kid and their new pet, Yor's life seemed pretty well put together. Was there trouble in paradise? Doubtful, seeing as Yor and Loid's relationship was touching enough to make anyone jealous (certainly, most definitely not her though). Did her kid insult her cooking again? Unlikely, otherwise Yor would be weeping her eyes out damn near every single day. No, this was something new.

"Uh, am I making the coffee incorrectly?" Yor asked, having become aware of their staring.

"No," Camilla answered, "Frankly, coffee's one of the few things you can make that won't kill anyone." Ignoring the glare Sharon gave her, she continued, "We're staring because you look like a kicked puppy."

"Oh, sorry," she watched as her drink finished pouring and took the cup to join them, "Guess I've been a bit bothered by something lately."

"What's the problem?" Sharon asked, briefly turning away to puff out the smoke from her cigarette. Yor, for her part, took a sip of her coffee and sighed.

"It's just...I don't know how to drive a car," Yor answered. Camilla and Millie waited for her to continue but were met with silence.

"That's it?" Millie asked, "You're upset because you can't drive?"

Yor looked down in shame, "Yeah. It's weird, isn't it?"

"Not really. Plenty of people your age don't know how to drive. It's part of why some people walk or take the bus," Sharon threw her cigarette into the nearest trash can. That seemed to lighten Yor's mood to a degree as the spacey woman smiled.

But then Millie sent it crashing down with a good point, "Honestly, if it's this big a deal for you, it's weirder that you haven't tried to get a license yet."

Camilla nodded along before giving Yor a questioning look, "Is this like how you forgot to tell anyone you were married? You just kept forgetting to get one?"

Yor nervously clutched at her drinking mug, "N-No. I've actually been meaning to get one for a while. It's just that every time, I always get caught up with-"

"Pardon the intrusion," the four of them turned to the voice, seeing the Director of Policy, Matthew McMahon, standing in the kitchen doorway, "But Mrs. Forger, you have a call waiting for you. It's urgent, I'm afraid."

While Camilla, Millie, and Sharon wondered who could be calling Yor at this time, their coworker had this immediate understanding on her face. Almost like she knew what the call was about before she even received it. Turning to them, she handed her cup to Sharon and, with a polite bow of her head, said, "Excuse me, but I'd better get going. It sounds pretty serious."

Before Camilla could ask what it was about, Yor was already out the door, following Mister McMahon and leaving them behind.

"And it must have been a pretty serious call, since was out for most of the day," Camilla concluded to her boyfriend and his best friend. By the time Yor got back in the afternoon, the blonde was too tired to even bother asking what that was all about.

"I see," Yuri looked to the table in contemplation, having finished his dinner during her explanation.

"I mean, it makes sense when you think about it," Dominic added, his own meal long since eaten, "Like Loid said back at the party, she's been trying to provide for Yuri almost her entire life. Probably never had the time and she's now hoping to change that. But life kinda has a habit of getting in the way."

Camilla couldn't do much else other than nod, now lost in her own thoughts. Honestly, she wasn't really sure why she was getting so hung up over this. Sure, Yor's bad mood was annoying to watch, but she wasn't sure why she didn't just ignore it and move on with her day. It's not like she had any reason to care. They weren't friends or anything of the sort.

"Hey, I think I have an idea," Dominic piped up, Camilla looking to him for clarification, "Since you're already teaching Yor how to cook, how about you help her learn how to drive? I'm sure both her and Yuri would appreciate it."

"Gonna have to pass on that. It'd probably be too much to juggle and schedule around," There's also the fact that I'm completely sure her driving's worse than her cooking, Camilla looked over to Yuri, who seemed to be completely zoned out of the conversation entirely, still stuck in his own head. She had no idea what he was thinking, and frankly didn't want to know. Maybe Dominic and I could try finding Yor a driving teacher? she wondered as she raised her wine glass to her lips, If Yor's a disaster behind the wheel, better them than us. Then again, Loid seems like he'd actually be a good teacher, and he'd have the patience to put up with her, but does he even know-

Suddenly, the table shook, shocking Camilla into choking on her drink. As Dominic hovered worriedly over her, she pounded her chest and took another swig, swallowing the coughs down. She angrily glared to the source; a rather exuberant looking Yuri who stood up so fast his chair fell to the floor, fist slammed against the table in the process.

Before Camilla could snap at him, however, he loudly proclaimed, "I got it! I know just how to help sis with her dilemma!" Camilla noted with embarrassment that his outburst drew in the attention of a few onlookers. "Thanks for the dinner, but I gotta go!" he said before grabbing his coat and running toward the direction of the exit, "See you later Dominic! Nice to see you again, Camilla!"

Camilla and Dominic were left alone, the onlookers thankfully turning their attentions elsewhere. As Dominic picked up Yuri's seat and returned to his own, Camilla sighed, "So much for a simple evening."

"Sorry," Dominic apologized again, "Look, I know Yuri can be...well, a lot, but he's honestly not a bad guy when you give him a chance."

Camilla rolled her eyes, Sure, and aliens are a thing. I'll believe it when I see it. Staring down at her unfinished dinner, she no longer felt her appetite and decided to wait for the check. Thankfully, she didn't have to wait long, as their waiter came in a minute later. "Excuse me," she raised a hand as he arrived, "Could we have the check, please?"

The waiter bowed his head, "That won't be necessary, madame. Your dinner has already been covered."

"Huh?" both Camilla and Dominic were confused as the waiter raised his head.

"Your party member, Mister Briar, paid for tonight's course in full as he left."

...Okay, guess he isn't too bad, Camilla thought, Annoying, sure, but at least he's considerate when it counts.

The waiter bowed his head again and asked, "Will that be all?"

"I...sure. Thank you, good sir," Camilla answered as their waiter left. Seeing as they were done here, she held out her hand to Dominic, who smiled and planted a gentle kiss on it before helping her out of her seat. Now smiling herself, she wrapped her arm around his as they walked out the restaurant.

Well, this is the place, Loid stepped out of his car, as did Yor, when they arrived at the massive parking lot of an abandoned toy factory just on the outskirts of Berlint; it was one of many left in physical and financial ruin after the war. Staring at it from a distance, Loid recognized it, hearing the echoes of gunfire and explosions in the back of his mind. How many of his friends died in places like this, and how he killed countless more in retribution. Back then, he'd hardened his heart to the desperation of his enemies, allowed himself to grow cold to his allies. All for the sake of revenge, the most worthless of causes.

Shaking his head, he reminded himself that he wasn't that man anymore, nor would he ever be if he could help it. Instead, he looked around in an effort to find Yor's brother.

The fact that he asked us to come here is cause for concern, Loid recollected the phone call from a few days prior. All they knew is that Yuri had a surprise for Yor and set up a meeting location. Thankfully, Franky was available to look after Anya and Bond while they were out this afternoon, but that did little to ease Loid's worries. After all, Yuri didn't explain what this "surprise" was nor gave any hints, and it wasn't close to Yor's birthday or any holiday for that matter. With those possibilities ruled out, Loid had spent the interim worrying about the possibilities. Has he grown suspicious about the validity of our marriage? This could be a trap, Loid stroked his chin to think of places where he'd grown careless in his cover, the wind and nearby chirping of birds his only distraction, Though at the same time, his call sounded like he wanted only Yor to come here.

Yuri's mood did sour over the phone the minute Yor insisted her husband join in for this, whatever it was. So that ruled out the possibility of it being a trap for him, and he doubted it could be one for Yor. If there was one absolute certainty about Yuri, it was his (obsessive) dedication to protecting his sister. The odds of him ever trying to intentionally hurt her were nonexistent.

Not that he could even if he wanted to, Loid's lip curved just a tad and a light chuckle escaped, drawing Yor's attention.

"What's so funny?" Yor asked, clearly amused and curious about Loid's sudden mirth. For a second, he could've sworn he felt his heart skip a beat, though he was unsure as to why. He wasn't in any danger, after all.

"Nothing, just remembering things," Loid admitted, which was technically true, as he was recalling Yor's fighting prowess and how much he admired it. Every time he thought he'd seen it all, Yor did something to amaze him even more.

Yor gave a small laugh of her own before returning her gaze to the parking lot, the wind billowing her hair. "What do you think Yuri wanted to come here for?" she asked, lightly pacing forward to get a better look at the factory in the distance.

"Can't say," Loid's frown returned, as he didn't like not having answers, "He's your brother, and his call made it clear this was something for you. What do you think it could be about?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure," Yor admitted before the sound of two car engines came in from the distance. They both turned to the source and saw a pair of civilian vehicles, one an orange sports car and the other a grey grand tourer, drove into the lot and found parking spots, the orange sky tinting their windows. From the driver's seat of the tourer, Yuri stepped out and called to his sister with an exuberant wave.

Looks like we'll find out soon enough, Loid thought as Yor ran over and met her brother halfway, giving him a hug that definitely broke a bone or two in the younger Briar. Though as Loid walked over at a more casual pace, the others exited their cars (one from Yuri's and three from the other) and came over at similar speeds. This allowed Twilight to scan their faces as they approached each other, making his eyes narrow with concern, if only for a split-second to maintain composure.

Whatever this was, Yuri brought along with him some members of the State Security Service, all in civilian garb. Loid noticed among them were two men with scars, one blonde and the other with raven black hair. The former's scarring ran vertically along his left eye and was covered with stitching, while the latter's ran horizontally along his nose and under his right eye.

These two he recognized from WISE's files as the First Lieutenant and Captain of the SSS respectively. In the former's case, he even used him as a disguise to probe Yor for intel alongside Franky as a means to determine if she knew of her brother's ties to the SSS. It was an act he still felt immense guilt for, despite constantly reminding himself it was for the sake of the mission.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Forger," the First Lieutenant greeted in a stern, but not impolite manner. Shaking his hand and the captain's, Loid exchanged greetings with them before the third person from their car walked up, one even more recognizable to him than his peers, but for entirely different reasons.

Holding out his hand, Loid greeted, "Nice to meet you as well."

"Same to you, Mr. Forger. From what Yuri tells us, you're a doctor, right?" 'How goes the operation?' the "officer" asked, mouthing a different question. They'd have to keep this brief, given the close SSS presence.

"Yes, it's a lot of hard work, but I find it fulfilling," Loid replied while mouthing, 'Operation STRIX is progressing,' before he looked to the three of them and asked, "I take it you're all friends of Yuri's?"

"Coworkers, to be precise. Yuri's superiors as fellow diplomats," the Lieutenant answered, looking over to Yuri and his sister as they were now approaching them alongside the last of the SSS. For a moment, Loid worried Yor would recognize the Lieutenant, given the "encounter" she had with him, but made no indication that she did. Perhaps she'd simply forgotten?

"I see," Loid replied, hiding his relief as he looked to Yuri and asked, "Yuri, why did you call us out here?"

The younger Briar gained a rather huffy appearance as he crossed his arms, "Well, Loidy, if you must know, I learned recently that my dear sister was upset, and put together that it was because she couldn't drive," his eyes narrowed, "Something you should've known about, seeing as you two are married."

"Yuri, he didn't know because I kept it to myself," Yor stepped between Loid and her brother, a pleading glint in her gaze to get the latter to calm down, "That's no reason to be upset with him."

"She's right, Yuri. Let it go and just say what this is all about," the SSS officer behind Yuri, a woman wearing a beanie, placed a hand on his shoulder and gave a reprimanding glare.

Yuri looked between the two as his gaze softened, taking a calming breath as he continued, "Right, well, my point is, since my sister sounded so upset about it, I asked my friends from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help me teach her how to drive."

"R-Really?" Yor's face lit up as she gave her brother a second hug, "Thank you!"

Loid smiled at the scene, happy to see his wife's mood brought up. Though at the same time, he couldn't help but find himself agreeing with Yuri's point; the fact that he didn't do much to help with Yor's turmoil was a black mark on his role as her husband. When he first saw her dour mood after they fended off their attackers, he wanted to further question what was wrong so he could better help. Worrying that being too forceful with his questions and needing to pick up Anya from school at the time held his tongue. Combined with Yor's mood improving the following day after he picked her up from work, he assumed it to be nothing. In hindsight, Yor's problem should have been obvious.

It seems I still have a lot to learn about being a husband, Loid and everyone else winced, definitely hearing the sound of bones crack from within Yuri as Yor finally released the hug. Though the younger Briar didn't seem to mind and casually rolled his shoulders, cracking his bones back in place.

"Anyway, let me introduce everyone," Yuri first gestured to the officer in the beanie, "This is Chloe, though you already met her. She's an Attache as far as diplomats go."

Loid put on his most polite smile and held out his hand, "Good to meet you, Chloe," she shook his hand, to which he asked, "So, you're a friend of Yuri's?"

"Well, I wouldn't quite say that..." Chloe admitted, much to Yor's confusion.

"But didn't you say both of you attended the same classes in college?"

Interesting, Loid didn't sense any deception from Chloe's body language and pondered this new information. Judging by Chloe's age (early-to-mid twenties based on appearance) and false rank in the Ministry of Foreign affairs (much like Yuri's former rank), it was clear that she was a newcomer to the SSS, likely having joined at a similar time to Yuri.

"Your brother tended to keep to himself and focus on his studies. Honestly, he didn't interact much with anyone from what I saw," Chloe pointed out, to which Yor looked at her brother somewhere between admonishing and prideful, if such a thing were possible.

"Sounds like Yuri alright," Yor said, Yuri looking away bashfully, "Yuri, I know you tend to prioritize goals like that, but I was hoping you'd get the chance to make some lasting connections while you were there," she looked down in shame, "Something I never really got the chance to do for myself."

"I mean, I didn't have time to do something like that until recently..." Yuri grumbled to himself in a slightly guilty tone, though just loud enough for everyone to hear.

And given how the SSS tend to operate, odds are he won't have time for something like that still, Loid mused, and with how laser focused Yuri was regarding protecting his sister, there was the question of if he even wanted that. Perhaps deep down he did, but he kept forcing it aside. And the more Loid mused, the more he started to question himself? Did he want that? Those kinds of connections? He'd thrown any chance for that away the day he chose to become Twilight, and yet-

"It looks like you're at least getting the chance now. I think both of us are, so better late than never, as they say!" Yor's happily, melodic voice drew Loid out of his musings as she stepped forward to the rest of Yuri's associates, "It's nice to meet you all! I'm Yor Forger," she smiled, but blinked, face turning a tinge red with embarrassed realization, "Uh, s-sorry! You probably already knew that."

Out from the corner of his eye, Loid noticed Yuri's eyes narrow ever so slightly when Yor introduced herself. More specifically, when she referred to herself as 'Forger'. Ignoring that for the time being, he watched as WISE's mole in the SSS stepped forward and held out a hand. "No, it's alright," the mustached man said as Yor shook it, "Seeing as we're all making introduction's anyway, call me Jeffrey."

"Gascoigne," the SSS captain followed gruffly. Everyone looked to the highest ranked SSS officer, who shrugged.

"Let's just get this over with," the First Lieutenant sighed, not even bothering to introduce himself. Though based on body language and what Loid knew about the work schedules of the higher ranking SSS members, he was probably exhausted despite maintaining a professional demeanor.

Certainly seems familiar, Loid recalled every single time he'd felt on the verge of passing out, forcing every fiber of his body to stay awake. It wasn't a pleasant experience, despite having grown accustomed to it over the years.

"So," Loid started, "How are we going to go about this?"

Yuri puffed his chest proudly and gestured to the entire parking lot, "It's pretty simple. I was thinking we help ease my sister into the basics of driving, and the parking lot here's both stable and spacious enough for that to work. We can take things slow with turning, parking, and speeding up in suburban environments. More complex stuff we can continue from there later."

"Sounds pretty well thought out," Loid complimented with a nod, much to Yuri's annoyance.

"Yeah! Can I get started now?" Yor asked, practically bouncing in anticipation. At the sight, her husband couldn't help but smile, sharing in that same joy.

"Sure, let me just get the car star-"

"Actually," Yor interrupted her brother and sped on over to Loid's car, patting its hood, "I'd like to practice driving with Bumblebee, if you don't mind."

"Oh..." Yuri stammered, looking flatfooted before he saw how Yor's eyes pleaded with him, "Sure, I guess that's fine too."

"Great!" Yor practically ran to the driver's seat and opened it, getting in and taking the wheel faster than most could blink. Loid was able to keep up with such movements, but only barely. He saw that everyone else (barring Yuri) was either blinking or rubbing their eyes in an effort to comprehend Yor's displayed levels of speed.

"I...guess we should get in?" Chloe regained herself as she and Yuri started heading for the car. But before they could get very far, Loid stopped them.

"If it's alright, can I help with this?"

"No," Yuri flatly refused, "I don't need your help for this, Loidy. Now just stay back with-"

"That sounds like a great idea," Jeffrey cut Yuri off, much to the latter's shock.

"Agreed," said the SSS Lieutenant, further baffling Yor's brother as he leveled a neutral gaze to him, "Better to have a second or third opinion on this. That way, your sister has more feedback for improvement."

"B-But what about-"

"Kid, enough. Just get in the damned car already," Gascoigne sternly crossed his arms, leaving no room for argument as Yuri groaned. He slumped and made his way to Bumblebee with Loid walking right next to him. Meanwhile, Chloe stayed behind and from the looks of it, was receiving orders from her superiors. Loid pondered on what those orders could be, but if he had to guess, it was to keep a close watch on him.

It's likely the reason why Yuri requested their presence to begin with, Loid thought, the reason making sense. While Yuri's efforts to help his sister were undoubtedly genuine, the State Security Services' aid seemed to mostly be about grilling Loid for evidence. He could see in their eyes that none really bought into the idea he was a spy (at least not yet), but curiosities had to be satisfied. Now, Loid knew Yuri was gunning for anything to prove as such, albeit driven by his protectiveness towards Yor than anything else, but at this point, he knew how to deal with him. The real concern will be this new agent, Loid had no idea how Chloe thought, with the most he could gauge at the moment being that she seemed more strait-laced than Yuri.

But having been Twilight for years, he knew looks could be deceiving.

As they neared Bumblebee, Yuri sped up and reached the shotgun seat with an almost gloating expression. But when he attempted to open the door, it refused. "Huh?" Yuri pulled on the handle as hard as he could, but it wouldn't budge no matter how much he tried, "Ugh! Loidy! What the hell's wrong with your car? The door's busted!"

"Strange, let me see the problem," Loid reached for the handle, only for Yuri to block him.

"No way! I'll open it myself," Yuri snapped, almost like he was trying to keep Loid from the shotgun seat itself. The act made Loid roll his eyes, both because it wasted time and because he was never going to sit there to begin with for this.

"Oh for God's sake, Yuri!" Chloe snapped at him and smacked him behind the head with enough force to leave an almost comically large bruise, "Just let him see what's wrong with it!"

"...fine," Yuri pressed the injury down and reluctantly stepped aside, allowing Loid to inspect the damage. From the exterior, there didn't seem to be anything broken, so he pulled the handle to get a feel for why it was stuck. Instead, it opened without issue. "Oh, so now it's working?" Yuri angrily asked.

"What's going on?" Yor questioned, looking at all of them in confusion.

Loid gave her a slightly confused, but reassuring smile, "Just an issue with the door, but it seems to be gone now. I'll have a better look when we get back home."

At Yor's nod, they all entered the car, with Yuri first entering the shotgun seat. Loid and Chloe sat in the back seats, with the former just behind Yuri's. The seating positions would allow Loid to better see whatever Yor did behind the wheel, and thus, help her improve. He noticed how Chloe's eyes spared him occasional, observing glances that lasted mere moments before returning to the Briar siblings. Between that and Yuri's glaring at him through the rear-view mirror, he also saw Yor nervously curl her fingers on the steering wheel, too scared to move.

"Deep breathes Yor," she muttered, inhaling and exhaling between sentences, "You can do this. You can do this. You can do this."

"Aw, don't sweat it sis. Knowing you, you'll ace this in no time!" Yuri cheered Yor on, now ignoring those behind him. Still, that did help Yor relax just a little, as she took one final breathe. She twisted the key, turning the car on, then put it in drive. Slowly, she seemed to be getting the hang of things.

And then she slammed her foot on the gas...

"Dun dunna, dunna duh da duuuuuun!" Anya started singing, walking on the sidewalk next to Bond and enjoying the afternoon sun.

"What are you singing?" Uncle Scruffy asked. Anya looked back at him while he held Bond's leash. She couldn't help but feel jealous that all the adults could do that while she couldn't. One day, she would be big and strong enough to walk Bond like they could!

"Dunno," Anya shrugged as she hugged Bond for a bit, "Just something I made up."

"Borf!" Bond barked and nuzzled into the hug.

"Huh, neat," Franky scratched his chin, "You know, I'm not sure why, but it kinda sounds...I don't know, a bit on the spacey side," he closed his eyes and hummed, "Reminds me of some shows I watch a lot. There was this one movie about giant alien robots invading Earth..." Anya tried not to giggle, but she failed. If only Uncle Scruffy knew. Heh, always wanted to see a giant robot in real life now that I think of it, he thought with a smile, Read a few books growing up that were pretty inspirational for designing my robotic exoskeleton, even if it's still a work in progress.

Uncle Scruffy has a robot super suit? she saw into his mind and saw him building a shiny looking power armor with an F on the chest, So cool! Anya practically jumped in excitement, getting a look from her favorite uncle. "Uh, Anya just really likes robots. They're super cool!" Anya technically wasn't lying. Ever since Bumblebee arrived, she really wanted to see more stuff with robots like him. Now having an idea, she put on her best pleading face, "Can I watch some of the robot stuff you saw, please? I wanna see the robots!"

Uncle smiled and knelt down, "Sure, though you're definitely gonna want to ask your parents about it. I know a drive-in theater that plays all sorts of movies, so you can ask them to take you there at some point."

Anya gasped, "If I get a stars, would Papa take me to the movies?"

"Ha! If you get another Stella, I think Loid'll probably buy out the whole theater just so you can watch any movie whenever you want!" Either that or you can guilt him into doing it if he says no. The man's a softy on the inside when it comes to his kid, Uncle Franky laughed, making Anya laugh too. But then he stopped, seeing something and asking, "Wait, what the hell's that?"

Anya turned around and looked at the road, seeing a yellow car way in the distance that was driving really, really fast. Wait, her eyes went wide, Is that Bumble-

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Bumblebee screamed in her head as he blurred by the three of them, wind blowing everywhere as Anya watched him drive away.

"...what was that?" Uncle Scruffy asked, looking like Papa whenever Anya got a bad grade.

"Borf!"

"I think that was Papa's car," Anya said as a police car drove past them, red and blue lights blinking on its roof with a loud, annoying siren sound.

"Oh..." Uncle Franky went really quiet, "Shit."

"Uh, Y-Yuri, am I doing this right?"

"You're doing great sis-LOOK OUT!"

Yor yelped and managed to narrowly avoid the oncoming car as she zoomed up the inclined road, reaching its zenith and feeling Bumblebee leap off it like a ramp. In those moments, when gravity felt light and they hovered in the air, she was left wondering if she was making any mistakes. Sure, she'd seen people drive plenty of times, but with her mind racing a billion miles a second, all those instances of observation became a nightmarish, messy blur that made a room of corpses seem cleanly by comparison. Even the blurry view of outside the car seemed comprehensible compared to everything running in her head, but that was probably because she was built and trained to work at such speeds.

Am I going too fast? Yor wondered, since she couldn't immediately recall if she'd ever seen a car drive over 200 MPH before, but she was too terrified to take her foot off the gas. Where there any speed limits like that in Ostania? Westalis maybe? She didn't trust herself behind the wheel to know the answer, so she had to have faith in her husband, brother, and bother's friend to guide her through this and tell her if she was doing something wrong.

Granted, Loid was being...disturbingly quiet, and Chloe was screaming so loud the octave could shatter glass. But Yuri was screaming too and still able to comment on her driving, and so far, he said she was doing good. If Chloe and Loid saw her doing something wrong, they'd tell her and provide the needed corrections, right?

As the car descended, it landed back on the road, making everyone jump in their seats. In the process, a knob on the radio must have loosened, because it turned on and started playing, "-ord help me, I can't cha-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ange!" Yor saw she was rapidly approaching a car from behind and swerved around it, "Lord I can't change. Won't you flyyyyyyy hiiiiiiiiigh freeeeee birrrd, yeah!"

The radio let loose a guitar solo as traffic grew, Yuri and Chloe screaming even louder. Determined to avoid crashing, Yor narrowed her eyes and swiftly turned and shifted past each and every vehicle, keeping away from sidewalks and civilians. While she managed to avoid bumping into anyone, amidst the honking of horns, she noticed how the radio kept getting louder and louder, drowning out Yuri and Chloe's screams. It was almost like it was somehow screaming alongside them.

Maybe I should stop? Yor thought, but she didn't know exactly how to do that. On top of everything, she was in the middle of the road and moving way to fast to properly stop. She needed an open space void of obstacles to slow down first. And that was without accounting for the three-way intersection she was heading towards. Crap! Yor thinking quickly, made a sharp 90 degree turn right and burst forward, dodging a few more cars before the roads became clear again.

"O-Okay sis, still doing great!" Yuri complimented at the top of his lungs as they went through an underpass, "B-But maybe we should probably find a p-place to park!?"

Entering a tunnel, Yor nodded, but before she could slam her foot on the brakes and attempt to slow down, far ahead she saw a construction crew working on one half of the road, directing a few cars to the other side to get around them. There was no room ahead for her to get through, and she couldn't slow down without crashing into anything at this speed. And everyone seemed to realize it too, as their screams (and the guitar solo) grew even louder. Instinctively, Yor did the one thing she could; put all her strength into slamming her body against Bumblebee's door, making the whole car lean in that direction. Then, she drove to the right, narrowly avoiding the last car in line as she slammed into the tunnel wall, rubber burning against it.

All four of Bumblebee's wheels made contact with the wall as Yor drove along it, circling over everything on the road amidst a series of honks and beeps before returning to ground as she reached the tunnel's end and entered the afternoon sun once more.

"Phew! That was a close one!" Yor smiled as tall buildings started blurring past them again, I think I'm starting to get the hang of this!

"Y-Yeah! T-Too close!" Chloe stopped screaming for a moment and found her voice, "NOW PLEASE SLOW DOWN AND STOP THE FU-WATCH OUT!"

"I see it!" Yor swerved to the left to avoid crashing into the building, darting forward at speeds faster than most could blink. Unfortunately, this left her moving too fast to make a second turn left, forcing her slightly shift right and enter a narrow alleyway, smashing into a dumpster that likely went flying somewhere behind her. While the alleyway was a straight shot back to the roads, Yor's eyes could see far ahead to notice a trailer truck had stopped at what was presumably a light, with them on a collision course for each other. Making matters worse, she could see people walking down the sidewalk, there was another large dumpster taking up the right half of the passage, and she had no way to stop without running into any (or all) of those in the process.

"Yuri! Lean for the door!" at her words, Yor's brother nodded and did just that. Combined with Yor's leaning, Bumblebee tilted on its right, letting her turn left and drive up the wall. The instant they reached the end of the alley, Bumblebee flew high into the air, soaring above buildings as the car spun several times over. With each spin, the screaming and music seemed to crack and crackle, as if everyone's voices were getting tired from it all.

After a few seconds, they started to descend, Yor timing the spins just right to force Bumblebee to the nearest apartment building as she slammed her foot against the brakes. Wheels first, the car skidded against the bricks before sliding down to the street, tilting one final time and coming to a complete stop as the guitar solo faded and ceased. Now partially against the empty sidewalk, Yor turned off the car and sighed in relief, I did it. I can't believe I actually- her reverie was cut off when the back door opened, with Yor seeing that Chloe had run out and was now puking in the garbage can just behind them. "O-Oh," Yor was starting to get concerned and asked her brother, "I-Is she okay?"

"Y-Yeah. She'll be fine," Yuri stepped out, legs shaking, "Just gotta...t-take a breather..."

He closed the door and leaned against the car, his entire body shaking as he breathed in and out. Come to think of it, the car itself seemed to be shaking, which was odd since she turned it off. Putting that aside, she turned back to face her husband, whose breathing was ragged and labored, eyes wide as deathly buzz saws that seemed to be staring right through her. She didn't know what was going through his head, but whatever it was, it couldn't have been anything good, and her driving had caused this. What kind of terrible wife was she!?

"L-Loid?" Yor reached out, shaking him with remorse in her eyes, "Loid! I'm sorry, I messed up! Please, come back!"

It took a few tries, but Loid started to blink rapidly as his eyes returned to normal, "Yor...what just happened?"

"Oh thank goodness!" Yor sighed in relief and reached back to hug him. Realizing it was going on a bit longer than intended, she blushed and pulled back, awkwardly clutching at the headrest of her seat. "Uh..." she stammered, "I should...probably go check on Yuri and his friend."

"Yeah..." Loid shook his head, still seeming to be shaking off his stupor from earlier. The guilt coming back, Yor stepped out of the car and looked over to Yuri and Chloe, the former still catching his breath while the latter was hunched against the garbage can like it was a crutch. The sight made Yor's confidence shrink with each passing second. Her husband stepped out a moment later, taking a deep inhale and exhale as he smiled like nothing was wrong. But Yor couldn't forget that faraway look in his eyes.

I've seen that look before, Yor looked down at her hands, remembering a few of the jobs she'd taken as Thorn Princess. As she took the lives of her targets, she looked them in the eyes before delivering a quick death. And in their eyes was the same gaze Loid had; their entire life flashing before them as it ended in an instant. She'd just put her husband, an innocent, loving, gentle man and caring father, through that very same thing. And as the guilt grew worse, so too did the realization of how many innocents she put at risk today. If this was what her driving did to those inside the (relative) safety of the vehicle, what about those outside, who had no such protection and whom she probably drove too close to for comfort.

She should've taken her foot off the pedal and slammed the brakes. No, she never should've gotten into the car in the first place. What was she thinking? She wasn't built to drive a car like a normal person. She'd never be a normal person! She'd always stand out as a complete weirdo, making everyone suspicious with the Secret Police coming after her, leaving Loid, Anya, Bond, and Yuri behind and-

"Yor, that was amazing!" Yuri cut off her rapidly deteriorating sense of self.

"Huh?"

"I mean, did you see your skills behind the wheel? You circled around a tunnel and drove up a building!" Yuri praised, gesturing to Bumblebee's still shaking form, "And you did it in Loid's shoddy old wagon. Honestly, I didn't know it could pull off those kinds of things, but you found a way!"

At Yuri's words, the car stopped shaking completely, becoming so still that it actually concerned Yor. Putting that aside, she looked to her brother, seeing both Loid and Chloe give him looks of utter bafflement, and asked, "Really? You mean I drove good and that I'm not some weirdo who can't drive to save her life?"

Yuri was about to speak, but then Chloe grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him to turn to her, "Yuri, are you insane!? That was horrible!"

"W-What?" Yor's heart sank while Yuri glared at her. Even Loid seemed taken aback by the outburst. Chloe remained undeterred, looking Yor in the eye.

"Yor, I'm going to be completely sincere and honest with you right now," she took a deep breath and clutched at her head, as if getting a headache, "That driving was so horrific, erratic, and just absurdly hyper that the only reason it isn't worse than an actual war crime is because somehow, against all known laws of possibility, no one got hurt!"

"S-So, it really was as bad as I thought it was?"

"No," Chloe answered, voice now utterly monotone, "It was worse. Whatever you thought couldn't compare to the roller coaster of insanity we just went through."

"CHLOE!" Yuri practically growled at his co-worker as the two entered a stare down, "Apologize to my sister, now!"

Chloe's eyes narrowed, "No Yuri, she needs to hear this and you're not gonna tell her anything! All you've done is sing Yor's praises, acting like she could do no wrong when she did everything wrong. The entire reason we're here is to help her improve, and that'll never happen if you refuse to accept that she can make mistakes! And that she, in fact, made more than I could count!"

"Uh, excuse me," Loid tried to enter the conversation, "Can I give my own-"

"Stay out of this Loidy!" Yuri raised a hand at him, narrowing his own eyes at Chloe, "Alright, if she made more than you could count, how about you name them and give advice on how to fix it? Because from where I'm standing, I just hearing nothing but put downs. Tell me, how's that going to help my sister "improve", as if you want her to."

"Everyone, stop it!" Yor all but screamed at them, silencing the argument with stares of shock aimed at her, Loid looking like he was just about to get between the arguing diplomats. Sighing, she looked to the floor and rubbed her hands, "Yuri, like it or not, she's right. I really am a terrible driver."

"Wha-Yor! Don't say that! You're honestly not that bad."

Yor blinked at the statement, "So...d-do you honestly think it was bad?"

Yuri balked, unsure of what to say as he awkwardly looked around, guilt evident in his eyes. Even Chloe, in spite of her earlier admonishments, was regretful of what she'd just said.

"I'm sorry sis," Yuri muttered, sounding ashamed as silence overcame the entire group.

"It's fine, Yuri," Yor replied, "Honestly, I don't think I can blame you for that, since it was to spare my feelings." Besides, with everything I've been lying about to...well, everyone, it's not like I have a right to be upset about something like that. "Let's just try again. I want to get this right, no matter how many times it takes." Everyone looked to each other, either in concern (Chloe), admiration (Yuri), or both (Loid). Thankfully, all of them nodded, with Yor's mood picking up as she clapped her hands, "Great!" she looked to her husband, "Loid, if it isn't too much trouble, could you sit next to me this time? I'd like your direct help when it comes to this."

"Sure," Loid nodded, much to Yuri's clear frustration, though he swallowed it down as the four of them made way for their respective seats. As Yuri struggled to open the rear door (which Loid helped him with), Yor sighed. She was well aware that her brother didn't approve of her and Loid's marriage, and while it started off understandable given its original intent as a cover to both maintain her assassin identity and put Anya through school, it became harder to put up with the longer it went. While Yor sincerely loved her little brother with all her heart, she just wished he'd stop being so needlessly frustrated with her life choices.

Reaching for the driver's seat door, she pulled the handle to open it, yet it wouldn't. Blinking, Yor pulled again, this time harder, yet the result was the same. With a grunt, she pulled as hard as she could, and after some effort, the door finally swung open. "Alright," Yor said as she sat down and closed it, "Let's try this again," inhaling and exhaling, she turned the key, yet nothing happened, "What?"

"Huh, that's odd," Loid tried turning the key, only to be met with the same result.

"Maybe you should go look under the hood?" Chloe asked as Loid turned the key again, the car suddenly turning on the moment she finished the question. Since it was working now, Yor gripped the wheel and prepared to drive, only for the car to just as suddenly turn off.

"Seriously? What the hell's wrong with this hunk of junk now?" Yuri snapped, which was met with the back of Yor's seat slamming into his face, "Argh!"

"Yuri! Are you okay?" Yor asked, everyone looking back at her brother in concern. She wondered how that even happened, as she didn't adjust or even touch the seat.

"Dammit! Why does this car hate me!?" Yuri clutched at his reddening forehead.

"Yuri, a car can't hate you. It isn't a living thing," Loid pointed out as he exited the car, "I'll go look under the hood. See if anything's damaged."

"What about the seat and doors?" Chloe asked.

"I'll check those after the fact," he looked at Yuri, "I may need some help inspecting the car. Think you could lend a hand?"

Yuri was a bit apprehensive to the idea at first, but relented when Yor gave him a pleading look. "Fine," he said, getting out, "Let's figure this thing out."

"There should be a tool kit in the trunk," Loid said, with Chloe offering to get it. As everyone was exiting to work on the car, Yor found herself almost mechanically doing the same, if only to see what she'd broken within Bumblebee. She watched the three struggle to open the hood, and while she wanted to help, she was scared to do so. If her terrible driving broke something, she didn't want to risk doing any further damage. Thankfully, it wasn't necessary, as they managed to get it open and start the inspection.

"Strange," Loid muttered loudly after a couple minutes.

"What?" Yor asked, "Did you find something?" Though the second question she wanted to ask: "How can I help?" went unsaid.

"The opposite, actually," Yuri leaned up from out of the hood, "Pretty much everything's perfectly intact, and there isn't a bolt or piston out of place."

Wait, is that even possible? Yor couldn't believe it. With Bumblebee's behavior, you'd think something inside was ruptured or busted up.

"There's gotta be something wrong here..." Chloe looked across the engine again while Loid and Yuri checked other components. Once more, their inspections came back negative. As this continued, Yor stood back and pondered what was going on, and her mind came to a conclusion.

"What if I'm the problem?" Yor drew their attention away from the engine, "What if Bumblebee's afraid of me? What if the car hates me?"

"Yor, what are you talking about?" Chloe asked, utterly befuddled by the question.

"Think about it," Yor explained, "Bumblebee started working for Loid when he turned the key, but the minute I try to drive again, it shuts down. Not to mention how it felt like the door to the driver's seat was fighting against me. It's almost like Bumblebee doesn't want me to drive it."

Everyone looked to each other, Loid turning back to say, "Yor, I'm sorry, but that just doesn't make any sense. I said it before, but cars can't do that."

"It's the only reason I could think of at this point," Yor sank into the sidewalk, taking a seat with knees to her chin, "But if it can, then it has every right to with how terrible I am behind a wheel." Yor closed her eyes and let her thoughts wash over her, frustrated by the inability to just do the things a normal person could without struggle. Interrupted by the air shifting next to her and a familiar presence, she turned to see Loid had taken a seat at her side, his own eyes both curious and concerned. With a blink, she sat up, "Loid?"

Her husband looked up at Yuri and Chloe, "Could you both give us a moment, please?" Yuri huffed, clearly not wanting to listen to Loid, but Chloe elbowed him and gave a glare as she picked up the tool kit from the ground. He relented with a slightly frustrated sigh, and the two entered Bumblebee's rear seats, neither struggling with the doors like previously. Loid focused his attention on Yor and asked, "Yor, what's this about? It feels like this goes a bit deeper than just not being good at driving."

Yor sighed, "It's just...well, there are a few things. Part of it's because I feel like I'm not doing enough for you and Anya. Like I could be doing more for the family. You already do so much and I..." she licked her dry lips and gulped, "I want to help carry that weight. I figured I could help with things like driving Anya to school when you were too busy or take the wheel if you ever got tired on the road. Just little things like that."

"But there's something else? Isn't there?" Loid asked, gently gazing at her, "You said not being able to drive made you feel "weird", but I don't see anything strange about that."

It still amazes me how well Loid can read people, Yor gave a mirthless chuckle. While she hid her secrets well, when it came to her feelings, she may as well have been an open book to her husband. "Yeah, I talked about it with my coworkers too, and they said the same thing," Yor admitted, hands behind her as she leaned back, "But it just doesn't sit well with me that I never learned how to drive. I want to be able to have these kinds of experiences that I never gave myself the time for. Too bad I messed it all up."

"You were afraid. Everyone makes those mistakes when their fears get to them."

"Doubt they ever get as big as the ones I made today," Yor relented.

"Actually, if I'm being honest, your first time behind the wheel's better than mine ever was," Loid admitted, much to Yor's shock.

"Really?" She faced him as he nodded, searching for even a hint of insincerity just to know if he was lying to help her feel better. Yet in his eyes, there wasn't a trace of any.

"I had friends at the time that were...hurt," Loid explained, staring at the sidewalk as his gaze became distant, "I was desperate to get them help, so I tried to drive them there as fast as I could. Ended up crashing and bumping into almost everything, and I was terrified, both for myself and my friends. In the end, none of it mattered. They died along the way."

"I...I'm so sorry," Yor replied, her earlier frustrations giving way to sadness, "Is that when you decided to become a doctor?"

Loid shook his head, "No, why I took up my occupation is a bit different, but you're closer than you realize. The main reason I became what I am today is so I could do everything to ensure people would never die pointless deaths," he sighed, bitterness tinging his tone, "Like the kind my friends suffered from." Yor wasn't sure what to say after that, nor if she could really say anything. But she couldn't help but wonder why Loid was telling her all this. She wasn't sure that it had anything to do with her previous, horrendous driving attempt. As if reading her mind, Loid finished, "Part of why I'm saying all this is because, in a way, both Yuri and Chloe were right."

Huh?

"What I mean is, your driving was without a doubt reckless and potentially destructive. But at the same time, you showed plenty of good instincts in avoiding that same destruction. Even when you were in fight or flight mode, you didn't hit a single car, building, or person. Reverse our positions, and I don't think the same could be said for me even now."

Yor was taken aback by the honesty in Loid's voice. While he admitted to having his own fair share of mistakes, she often forgot that with how he tended to excel at everything. His words did help, but the ache came back, even if lesser than before, "Yet it feels like I'd be better off if I never got behind a wheel again."

"You don't sound sure."

Yor shook her head and asked, "What do you think I should do?"

Loid went silent for a bit, clearly pondering over his words, before finally speaking up, "That's a choice you have to make for yourself, Yor. I can't decide that for you, nor can Yuri or Chloe or anyone for that matter. If you don't feel comfortable continuing, there's no shame in admitting that. We can stop here and head home."

"Giving up doesn't feel right either," Yor huffed.

"It never does," Loid admitted through a grunt of his own. It sounded like he had experience with that too. He gave her a small smile, "Yor, I've seen you do amazing, often inspiring things. But we're still human and need to understand our limits. The better we do that, the better we can work within them to move forward. Forcing yourself can be more detrimental than it's worth."

"That certainly sounds familiar," Yor couldn't help but giggle, her mind filled with memories of when he came home from work, drained to the point of collapse. Smiling, she remembered when he fell asleep on the couch, with her and Anya putting a blanket over him so he could get rest.

"Yeah, I'll admit, I don't often take my own advice," Loid rubbed the back of his head, face slightly tinting red as Yor's did in kind.

"Makes two of us, I guess," Yor muttered. How often did she preach the virtue of honesty to her little brother, only to hide the fact that she was an assassin? How often did she tell Anya to avoid confrontations when violence and death were the only things she knew how to do? Her entire being was a mass of contradictions. Should that change? Could she be Yor Forger and Thorn Princess at the same time anymore? She didn't know.

But she did know one thing. This wasn't her limit. Or at the very least, it didn't feel like it. Regaining her resolve, she gave Loid a grin, "One more drive."

Loid raised an eyebrow, "You sure?"

"Yeah. You said I should know my limits, and I want to see if this really is one of them," Yor stared determined at Bumblebee, "I know I caused a scare, and I'd rather not do so again. But I want to figure this out. Not just for you and Anya, but for myself too."

Her husband's eyes went wide for a bit, Yor seeing a bit of awe and worry in them. For a second, Yor thought she was being too forceful. That her desire would do nothing but terrify him, and that she was being selfish for asking him to go through that again. But instead, he gained a smile that grew as bright as Anya's. "In that case, I'll be there every step of the way," he stood up and held out his hand for her to take, "Not gonna lie, I'd rather not, but if you think it'll help, I'm with you."

Yor took his hand and stood, her own grin glowing, "And if I lose control behind the wheel again, you'll be able to stop me, right?"

"I promise," hearing the earnest in his voice, they made their way to the two front seats, Loid taking the shotgun while Yor took the driver's. Before either could enter the car, Loid spoke, "And Yor?" she looked to him as he stood tall, "You said you felt like you weren't doing enough for us? For me and Anya?" nodding, she wouldn't let the pang of sadness show. If it did, Loid made no comment as he continued, "You don't need to feel that way. I know Anya's happy for all you've done for her, and I am too. Honestly, you've done more than I think you realize. And that's enough. You're enough."

A light gasp escaped Yor's lips. Despite having received affirmations from Loid and Anya before, she couldn't help but feel like a stranger in her new home. Even after all they'd been through, she couldn't shake those feelings thanks to her previous loneliness. She didn't know how not to be like that. Yet in spite of that fact, Loid considered her good enough to role play as a wife, to help him and his daughter, who now just as much felt like her own. No matter how often she messed up in cooking, sewing, or any of the things a mother should be good at, it didn't matter to them. In their eyes, she'd done enough.

She was...enough.

Heart soaring, she and Loid entered Bumblebee, with her looking back to the other two passengers. For some reason, Chloe had a heartfelt smile on her face with what looked like wiped away tear stains just beneath her eyes. Yuri was resting his head against the car's windowsill, appearing a bit on the grumpy side, but even he had the smallest ghost of a smile when he looked at her.

Why are they looking at me like- Yor's brain caught up as she blushed and immediately snapped forward, Oh my God, were they eavesdropping!? Deciding not to think about it right now, she reached for the key and closed her eyes, Deep breathes Yor, she inhaled and exhaled, Here goes.

She turned the key, and Bumblebee roared to life. So far, everything had been working, but the nervousness crept back up as she put the car in drive and clutched the steering wheel. Yor looked to Loid, who pointed down at her boots, "Gently press the gas. Don't slam your foot unless you want to move faster than a speeding bullet."

"Right. Okay, I can do this! Nice...and easy..." Yor breathed in and out one last time, slowly, gently pressing her big toe on the gas pedal and pushing forward from there. The moment she started moving, she closed her eyes, scared of seeing the messy blur again. But then she reminded herself that would increase chances of crashing and forced one open. To her surprise, she was traveling at a casual cruising speed.

"Take a right," Loid suggested, to which Yor complied, spinning the wheel and turning down the road. For a second, it felt like the wheel was fighting against her, but she chalked it up to her nerves. As she drove, the occasional car passed by, as did people on the sidewalks. Stopping at the light just ahead, she waited for it to turn green, all the while slowly growing giddy.

I...I'm doing this, she thought happily, I'm actually doing this! The light changed, cars ahead of her pressing forward as she followed suit, letting Loid direct her on where she needed to go. It was all a matter of maintaining this easygoing speed and not swerving about like a psychotic maniac. And she would know, given the amount of psychopaths she'd killed.

She turned left when she needed to, then right, then kept herself in tune with traffic. Her grip on the wheel loosened, and she found herself relaxing the longer the drive went, almost entering a sort of mental autopilot, if that made sense. It actually felt less like she was driving and more like the car drove itself. Perhaps it was a sign that this was becoming second nature for her? In any case, she was too happy to pay that feeling any mind.

Through the rearview mirror, she looked back at her brother and Chloe, seeing them relaxed and enjoying the drive as they admired the sunset outside. Even Loid eventually stopped giving directions and just enjoyed the leisurely pace. After a few minutes of this, she found herself driving around the currently empty dog park they first took Bond too. Thinking this would be a good place to stop for now, she found a parking space and stopped the car, taking one final deep breath. Not in nervousness, but in triumph.

"I did it," Yor grinned from ear to ear.

"Yes, you did," Loid said with a smile of his own.

"I can't believe I actually did it!"

"Well believe it, Yor," Chloe complimented, "Honestly though, I'm just as surprised as you."

"WHOO! Way to go sis! You drove like a pro," Yuri cheered as they all started to exit the car and step on the sidewalk.

Once out, Yor lost control of herself, practically zooming to Loid and enveloping him in a hug, "Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!"

"No problem Yor," Loid sounded like he was struggling to breath. Realizing she was probably putting too much strength into the hug, Yor released him as he caught his breath, and he smiled for her. She turned to Yuri and Chloe, the former looking slightly peeved before he hid it with a smile, and rushed forward to hug them too.

"Thank you! All of you!" she said, making sure to be aware of her strength this time to put less force into it.

"Anything to help, sis!" Yuri said, sounding extremely happy.

"Yeah...glad..." Chloe, on the other hand, sounded like she was running out of air. This left Yor confused since she was actively trying not to hug them very hard. But then she heard what sounded like Chloe's clavicle cracking and opted to let go before someone got hurt. Thankfully, despite the pain, Chloe still smiled at Yor, and Yuri rubbed at the woman's shoulder to help further ease the pain.

As Yor watched her brother and friend smile to each other, she turned to Loid and asked, "So, what now? It's getting pretty late."

They all looked to the setting sun. Judging by its position (she didn't have a watch at the moment), Yor guessed that it was close to 6:00 pm. Loid rolled back his sleeve just a bit and checked his own watch, confirming her estimation. "I think we should call it a day and head back," Loid suggested, "We can set up later lessons to..." he slowly petered off at the sound of sirens in the distance, and Yor noted how it was getting closer as well. Looking for the source, she saw a police car rounding the corner she'd just driven through and headed their way, Loid muttering a quiet, "Oh no," while Yuri and Chloe were equally worried. The police car parked next to Bumblebee at its right side. Two officers stepped out, Loid clearing his throat as they approached to ask, "Anything we can help you with, officers?"

"Yes, actually," the first, likely senior officer said. He was tall, broad-shouldered with pitch black hair, slightly eclipsing Yor's husband in height. "We got reports of a disturbance involving a speeding yellow car with a black stripe. One of our own couldn't keep up, so they alerted other officers in Berlint to keep an eye out," he jutted his thumb at the vehicle in question, "This wouldn't happen to be your car, would it?"

"Y-Yes," Yor stammered without thinking, hand covering her mouth.

The second officer, this shorter than Yor with light brown hair, stepped forward, "In that case, unless you can tell us who was driving, all four of you will have to come to the station for questioning."

Oh nononono! Yor was once again panicking, feeling everyone around her tense up. And for some reason, the car's engine roared in an almost snarl-like fashion. Did she forget to turn it off? This is bad! If I don't say something, we're all going to get arrested! But if I do, I'll get arrested, then Anya won't have a mother in her life anymore. She'll get kicked out of Eden, her future will be ruined, and Loid will fail his first wife's dying wish. Then they'll investigate me and discover I'm an assassin and then I'll be forced to move away from my family! Yor tried to look at her options, but it was looking like a damned if she did, damned if she didn't situation. Staring blankly at the cops, eyes obscured by her hair, she began flexing her fingers, hearing audible cracks in her bones, Maybe I could...take care of these two? That should be me some time to- clenching her fist, she shook her head, No! No! No! You can't kill police just doing their jobs! You don't even know if these are corrupt officers whose deaths would be warranted! Even if they were, you'd be killing them in front of your family and friend. They'll discover what you are and want nothing to do with you ever-

"Officer's," Loid's voice interrupted Yor's spiraling mind as he stepped forward, "I was the one driving the car. Take me in if you have to but allow my friends and family to return home. I'll accept the responsibility."

"Loid, no," Yor whispered beneath her breath from just behind her husband. Much as she didn't want to be arrested, she refused to allow her husband to suffer for her mistakes. She leveled another glare at the officers again as one approached to grab Loid, eyes radiating pure murderous intent that made him freeze for a second when he looked into them. His partner also began backing away in terror. While she had no intention of killing them, if she could just get behind them and deliver a few strikes to their nerves, it'd incapacitate them long enough for everyone to get in Bumblebee and run for the hills. From there, she just had to make sure they never encountered these specific two ever again, though she had no clue how to accomplish that part. Maybe she could speak to the Shopkeeper and see if he could-

"God dammit!" Yuri grumbled loud enough to get everyone's attention, stomping in front of Loid and grabbing the two officers by their shoulders, "Look, officers, I'd like to apologize," he said in a saccharine tone as he started shoving them towards their police car amidst protests, "My brother-in-law's such a klutz behind the wheel and he just can't keep his foot off the gas to save his life. Don't you worry though," he practically threw the smaller officer into the shotgun seat, "We'll make sure he gets the right lessons," he circled to the driver's seat and shoved the taller cop in, "And there'll be no repeat incidents, I promise!"

"Listen here kid, if you're gonna get in the way like that, then we're gonna have to-" the dark-haired officer froze as Yuri leaned forward, an almost threatening aura surrounding him. He reached into his coat and clearly showed the officers something that drained all color from their faces, but just what that was, Yor couldn't tell. Her current angle obscured it.

"As I said, there will be no repeat incidents. And you should know that I always keep my word. Understood, officers?" Yuri's voice was disturbingly peppy, to the point where it was clearly forced. Just what was he doing?

"Y-Yeah! We understand, sir!" the officers said simultaneously as they closed the window and started driving away. It all happened so fast that it made Yor wonder if this was an outside perspective of her driving.

As the dust cloud faded from the previously used parking spot, Yuri walked back to them, an all too proud smile on his face, "Well, I don't think we'll be worrying about them anytime soon."

"...Yuri, how did you convince them to leave?" Yor asked, wondering what he showed them.

"Uh..." Yuri went quiet for what felt like forever, despite only half a minute at most passing before he finally answered, "Cops are afraid of diplomats, so I just...showed them my credentials."

"..."

"..."

"...that makes sense. I didn't realize diplomats had such authority over law enforcement like that," Yor mused out loud. For some reason, her statement made Loid and Chloe collapse to the floor.

"Yuri, I don't think you should have done that," Chloe commented as she stood up, giving Yuri a stern, questioning glance.

"I know, I know," Yuri gestured in a placating manner, "But I had to do something!" for a second, he glanced at Loid with a strange mix of annoyance and resignation in his eye, "And I couldn't let Loid get arrested for something he didn't do."

Once again, Yor hugged her brother tightly, this time in thanks, while Chloe huffed, "What's done is done, I guess. But we're definitely talking about this later."

As Yor released Yuri from the hug, Loid stepped forward and held out his hand, "Thanks. I know you're not exactly fond of me, but I appreciate what you did."

"Yeah, well..." Yuri sighed, reluctantly taking Loid's hand, "You were willing to go to jail to protect my sister. I figured I owed you for that," but as he released the grip, he said, "But I'm still keeping an eye on you!"

Yor was about to gently chastise Yuri for that, but rather than take offense, Loid simply chuckled, "I'd expect nothing less, Yuri."

"In any case, we should probably head back," Chloe started making her way for her backseat, with Yuri following suit.

"Hey, Loid?" Yor asked as her brother and his friend entered the car, "Think you could drive us back? Don't want to risk anything."

"That's admittedly for the best," Loid nodded, seeming relieved by her decision. Still, he gave her a reassuring smile to let her know she ended on a high note, letting Yor smile back in kind as they entered their car. Only now did Yor notice that it was suddenly turned off, which was odd, given how the engine roared during the police encounter. Loid seemed to notice it too, and from what she saw in the rearview mirror, so did Yuri and Chloe.

With a twist of the key, Bumblebee came to life again, radio suddenly running through a few channels, "**** the-police repor-ZZZZT!"

"Uh, what was that?" Chloe asked.

Loid sighed as he twisted the radio knobs to test it, "The radio tends to short out every now and then. Flips through a few stations for some reason before it starts working like normal."

Yuri put his seatbelt on, "You might want to get that fixed at some point. Sounds like a pain in the ass to deal with."

"I don't know, I kinda like it," Yor earned questioning looks from everyone. With a gentle smile, she placed a hand against the dash, "In a way, everyone has something about them that sets them apart and makes them who they are. Maybe I'm just being sentimental for something I haven't had for very long, but I feel like all of this car's little quirks, like the messy radio, are what make it...well, Bumblebee. Personally, I wouldn't change a thing."

Everyone was quiet again, taking in the weight of her words, assuming they had any weight to begin with. Loid was the first to speak, letting out a soft chuckle, "In that case, if it's good enough for you, then it's good enough for me," he gently places his own hand on the dash just as Yor retracted hers, the thought of their hands making such contact being too much for her at the moment. "Plus, I know Anya loves all Bumblebee's little habits," Loid mused out loud as he patted the car, "She's always stifling her laughs whenever they come up."

"Can we get going now?" Yuri asked, sounding more than a bit tired. Made sense to Yor, since it'd been a long afternoon.

Nodding, Loid put the car in drive and proceeded back on the road. Soon enough, they were on their way back to the factory. While Yor's nervousness on driving wasn't completely gone, she wouldn't deny feeling much lighter now.

Yuri quietly focused on the road and his superior's car ahead as they drove back to their respective homes. After they all got back to the factory parking lot in Loidy's car, he'd admit to finding it hilarious how all his comrades were frozen, jaws practically to the floor. Apparently, his sister's driving was such a shock they needed damn near the entire afternoon to recover from witnessing it. Yuri found it a bit insulting to her, but at this point, he was willing to accept it. Besides, there wasn't a whole lot he could say or do anyway.

"I still think what you did back there was a bad idea," Chloe said from her seat just beside her.

"Maybe, but I still don't regret it," Yuri admitted, turning to the left as he followed the Lieutenant's car.

"Yuri, I'm serious," Chloe continued, "I read a lot of history back in college, and little actions like that are a slippery slope. It's one thing for us to exert authority against those that threaten this country when it's necessary. It's another thing entirely to do so against people like civilian officers just because they pissed you off," Yuri could feel Chloe glaring a hole in his head, "And we're supposed to be better than that."

"They were going to arrest someone for crimes he didn't commit," Yuri justified it, even if doing so left the taste of acid in his mouth. He certainly loathed Loid with almost every fiber of his being. Yet for as much as he wanted to find something to arrest him for, he couldn't bring himself to sit back and let him take the heat for something he knew the man genuinely didn't do. Combined with the heart wrenching body language his sister had at the very thought of her husband's arrest, his body acted before his brain caught up with it.

His sweet, beloved sister. Yuri would do anything to ensure her safety and happiness. Even if it meant putting up with Loidy. But the moment that bastard did something. Be it to hurt her, or the country she called home, he'd sniff it out like a bloodhound and bite down until the limbs came off.

"You have that look on your face."

"Eh?" Yuri realized he was glaring and raised an eyebrow at Chloe.

"The same look you gave Loid a few times back there?" she pointed out with narrow eyes, "The same one you suspect to be a spy? Or does this have anything to do with that?"

"..."

"Yuri."

"He doesn't deserve her."

At Yuri's blunt, borderline growled statement, Chloe sighed, "Yuri, I get that you want to protect your sister. That much is obvious. But I feel like you're going overboard. Not to mention this is starting to get more than a bit creepy. Seriously, it feels like you're obsessed with her."

Choosing to ignore that, he asked, "Did you find anything to suggest Loid could be a spy?"

"No, I didn't see anything," Chloe shook her head, "Granted, at least half of that's because I was too busy screaming my lungs out, but even then, I didn't see anything in his body language or words that could even give a hint. Even when we were all shaking hands and saying goodbye back at the factory, he felt pretty on the level," she hummed, "In all honesty, he seems like an ordinary psychiatrist and loving husband. Nothing more and nothing less."

"Looks can be deceiving. It's our line of work to tear off the masks they love to hide behind," Yuri pointed out, still convinced there was something more to Loid. There just had to be. Everyone had something to hide.

"I know, and I didn't say he's suddenly not a suspect of anything. Just that he seems pretty ordinary," Chloe huffed, looking like she was going to punch him in the face again, "What about you? Did you see anything suspicious out of him?"

Yuri thought back over every interaction he'd had with Loid throughout the entire day. Despite his best efforts to scope out anything, nothing really stood out to him. As was the norm, he was polite, charming, and pretty much perfect, which just made Yuri despise him all the more. No one was that perfect, especially not some doctor who came out of nowhere and won his sister's heart.

Loid Loid Loid, everything revolves around Loid these days, Yuri huffed as he slowed down in front of a stoplight and came to a standstill, his superiors' car lucky they were ahead enough to have gone on green, Well, at least Yor's happy, but why'd Loid have to be the one to do it? Ugh, just forget it, Yuri. Yor's happy, so be happy for her! the more he thought about it, the more upset he became. Instead, he tried focusing on other things he noticed during the practice drive and afterward, like that weird symbol on the steering wheel of Loid's car. For some reason, it stuck in his mind with how odd it was, looking like a metal face. Not to mention that for such an old hunk of scrap, it managed to take all the dangers it'd faced without a single scratch on it. Did Loid reinforce it somehow? Yuri's mind began wandering, But where the hell would he get the resources if he's just a psychiatrist? Unless he isn't one and that's just his spy cover! Maybe that symbol means something, like...maybe it's the emblem of some paramilitary organization from out of Ostania. Is Loid part of it? Is it a terrorist cell like the Westalis one we took care of recently? If he is, then I'll be there to stop whatever schemes they're plotting and get that bastard far away from my-

"By the way, did you remember to bug their car? Wasn't able to with my life flashing before my eyes."

Chloe's question snapped him out of it as the light turned green.

"DAMMIT!" Yuri slammed his head against the steering wheel, the car horn blaring out as Chloe sighed and patted his back.

Loid managed to stifle a yawn as he entered his bedroom, it now being past sundown. He'd just finished saying good night to Yor, Bond, and Anya, and thanked Franky for looking after the latter two before sending him on his way. With the apartment quiet as a mouse and Franky heading home, Loid sat down at his desk and pulled out the few coins Jeffrey had discreetly given to him during their final handshake. Thankfully, despite the risk with close SSS presence, they failed to notice. Likely a result of still being too unnerved by Yor's driving (or traumatized in Yuri and Chloe's cases, something he completely sympathized with and knew firsthand) and them just wanting to head home by that point. And now that Loid's mind was on that note...

Why did I do that? Loid thought back to the police encounter and what he'd tried to do. Getting arrested would have put Operation STRIX in peril, especially in a situation where he didn't have the time to formulate a plan of escape or ensure he could destroy all record of the arrest. Yet despite his years of instincts from operating as Twilight telling him not to, his body completely ignored them and did the first thing he could think of to save his wife from potential imprisonment. This isn't the first time something like this happened either, he mused, fingers to his chin as he began opening the coins up. He remembered the interview process they'd taken to allow Anya attendance of Eden Academy, and how Murdoch Swan mocked and bullied both her and Yor throughout it. His reaction, to lash out in anger at the man and just barely redirect it at the last possible second, almost ruined the entire mission.

Yet if Anya wasn't attending Eden now due to a technicality (which he was still quite certain was just something Housemaster Henderson made up), Loid still didn't think he'd have regretted what he'd done. Even now, he was surprised by how he felt few, if any, regrets for his actions during either that incident or the one from today. As Loid took out a small spy glass and read the near-microscopic words, he reflected on these feelings. He wasn't quite sure about how this would affect his mission moving forward, but it wasn't unwelcome either. It felt good, ensuring that his family was cared for, content, and happy. Was that not the entire reason he became a spy to begin with? To ensure the wellbeing and happiness of others.

Huh, interesting, Loid read through Jeffrey's intel and learned the details of a recent raid on a number of warehouses by the SSS. Apparently, they were being used as bases and storage facilities for a Westalis terrorist cell. Loid recalled how he and other WISE agents were busy with missions at the time, so Jeffrey took it upon himself to uncover them and guide the SSS to said locations, stopping the cell. All important details for later reports, but the real meat of the raid, as the saying went, was what the SSS discovered in those warehouses.

From the looks of it, the Ostanian military was already putting the pod from the crash site to use. Their R & D department had been working on reverse engineering the craft and developing blueprints for new propulsion systems that would be put to test on fighter jets and guided missiles. The recent raid by the SSS revealed that the terrorists managed to seize those blueprints, but they now had them back. While Jeffrey couldn't get as much of an in-depth look at them as he would have liked, he could tell that they were highly advanced. More so than anything either Westalis or Ostania currently had.

Mystery after mystery piled into Loid's head. They already knew that the metals of this pod matched no known elements, but now they had confirmation on just how advanced its technology was. Just who built it, what country were they from, and why did they launch it near Berlint? The footprints he'd found that day hinted at the possibility of it being a launch system for an advanced mech of some kind, which would definitely make Franky green with envy given his own interest in anything from realms of science fiction. Still, it was only one potential reason, and there was so little evidence to support the idea. As he tried to ruminate other possibilities, he continued to read through Jeffrey's report, where he got just who copies of the blueprints would be passed on to.

"Blackbell Heavy Industries," Loid muttered, finding that the decision made sense, given the Blackbell family's status as one of Ostania's greatest weapons manufacturers. It also made his job just a bit easier. There's an upcoming parent/teacher conference for Eden, and given that their daughter, Anya's first, closest, and so far only friend, attended Eden, Loid safely bet that they'd be present for the occasion, If I can meet with the Blackbells there, I can see what kind of information about their upcoming developments can be obtained from the conversation, he began to feel his eyelids droop mid-thought. Seeing that fighting sleep was a losing battle at this point, he committed the intel to memory and properly disposed of it before dozing off on his bed, And if I'm lucky, I might be able to encounter Donovan Desmond while there.

An unlikely prospect, undoubtedly, but as the he'd long since been forced to learn, both before and after forming the Forger family, life was most certainly unpredictable.

Chapter Text

Anya looked all over the student ballroom of Eden Academy, where she and the rest of her classmates were gathered. Right now, she was trying to find her best (and only) friend, Becky, but that was kind of hard with how everyone's thoughts were giving her a headache. It wasn't as bad as it used to be, but that didn't mean Anya had to like it.

Becky, where are you? Anya wondered while wiping a food stain off her Eden uniform. It was usually pretty easy to find her (then again, Becky always found her instead of the other way around), but they got lost in the shuffle on the way here. How am I supposed to help Papa with his spy stuff if I can't find her? Anya put on her thinking face, remembering what she'd read from Papa's mind.

She didn't remember everything, but she knew that Becky's mama and papa were doing something involving weapons (she still wasn't sure if they were supervillains or not) and that Papa was going to do his spy thing on them while he and mama were with all the other grown-ups. While he was doing that, Anya would help by learning what she could from Becky, for she was the Forger's own super special agent: Starlight Anya!

Okay, she wasn't an actual spy (yet), but still, her helping meant Papa would get double the knowledge. And just like her unkie (much as she didn't like him) once said, "Knowledge is a swole Chiwawa!" Either that or he said, "No leash is power!" but Anya couldn't remember exactly.

But that wasn't the only reason Anya was looking for Becky. She also wanted to-

"Hey, Anya!" Becky's voice called out and Anya turned just in time to get hugged by her. There you are! Thought I lost you for a second, she thought right as Anya hugged back.

"Hi Becky!" Anya smiled at her friend, who smiled back with a happy giggle. Though Anya had to blink for a bit when she saw Becky. She looked mostly the same; same Eden uniform, same brown eyes, same brown hair. But for some reason, she didn't have it in her two ponytails, instead having it in a single ponytail on the back of her head. Anya stared with a blank look and pointed, "You look different."

Becky's smile grew really positive as she flipped her ponytail, "Thank you! Was hoping that my darling Loid would notice it," she pouted, Too bad students and parents got separated before I could even see him. Stupid grown-ups and their stupid rules!

Anya blinked again, I don't get it. At the same time, she found herself pulling her own hair in front of her eyes, Does different hair get people's attention? She now thought about Damian and her attempts to befriend him, If I changed my hair, would Sy-On Boy want to be my friend?

And if he did, then that meant he'd want to take her and Papa to his house so she could meet his Bad Guy Boss of a dad. Then she could read his mind and help Papa complete his mission! Maybe she could get it styled like Mama's? She'd have to ask her later, but first...

"Hey Becky, there's something I wanna show you!" Anya grabbed Becky's hand and bolted out of the room, her friend yelping in surprise. She made sure no adults' eyes were on them so they wouldn't get in trouble.

"H-Hey! Anya, where are we going?" Becky asked when they were in the halls, doing her best to keep up with Anya, who simply looked back with a finger to her lips.

"It's a surprise!" she answered, For you and Mr. Bumblebee! Anya was hoping to be able to sneak out and introduce Becky to Bumblebee now that she had the chance. Sure, Anya couldn't actually introduce the two, since that would blow his cover and ruin his secret space mission for the Autobots. But that didn't mean she couldn't help Bumblebee get to know her best friend, plus she could show Becky what a cool car he was. That last thought made Anya smile even more, Becky's gonna think he's so cool!

But then they got to a corner, and Anya ran into something that yelled, "OW!"

"Ugg..." Anya was dazed, hearing Becky ask if she was okay and helping pick her up, What happened? she shook her head and looked down to see who she'd bumped into, "Oh! I'm sorry, Sy-On Boy."

Damian Desmond, dressed in his now dirty Eden uniform, glared and refused to take her hand as he got up, "Whatever. Just watch where you're going, Stumpy."

"Yeesh, it was an accident, Damian!" Becky made some kind of harrumphing noise and looked away, "Ugh, boys."

"What are you two even doing out here anyway?" Damian asked, raising an eyebrow at them both.

"Anya wants to show me something cool. What about you?"

"Got bored and decided to go to sleep. It's just a dumb Parent-Teacher meeting anyway," he looked away, Besides, father isn't even here. He just sent his people to see how I'm doing. Not like any of this thing even matters, so I might as well go back to my dorm.

Anya tilted her head at Sy-On Boy's thoughts. Annoying as he could be, he also looked really upset. Sure, Papa needed to meet with Sy-On Boy's dad for important spy stuff, but it didn't seem fair for everyone else's parents to be here while his wasn't. Maybe there was a way Anya could cheer him up?

Then she got an idea, "Hey, why don't you hang out with us?"

"Wha?" Damian's face started growing red, Did she really just offer that to me?

Becky gasped, Oh my God, she's asking her crush to spend time with her! And I'm the third wheel! Her face suddenly looked like Papa after Anya got her first bad Toni-something Bolt, Oh God, I'm the third wheel... But then it brightened back up, Which means I can play matchmaker!

Not knowing what any of that meant, Anya ignored it and looked at Damian, "I'm taking Becky to see Bumblebee. You wanna come?"

"...who's Bumblebee?" Damian and Becky asked, making Anya slap her forehead. It was supposed to be a surprise and she forgot.

"Bumblebee's Papa's new car," And a giant robot, she pointed to where she knew the nearest exit was, "I wanna show him to you guys!"

"Oooooh. You know, I never did get a good look at your dad's car. Sure, I'd love to see it!" Becky chirped as she started skipping after Anya, her thoughts saying something about cars being super romantic that Anya didn't get.

"Fine, not like I got anything better to do," Damian huffed, hands in pockets as he followed them, Probably some lame hunk of junk though.

Anya looked back at him with a flat glare, with him glaring back, before huffing and keeping her eyes forward. She'd make Sy-On boy eat those words when he saw how awesome Bumblebee was. Then he'd stop being a big dumb meanie and want to be her friend!

Leading them outside, she retraced her steps, remembering where Papa parked Bumblebee. But then she heard talking up ahead and saw two security guards come up from around the corner and turn to head their direction. Oh no! We're gonna get in trouble! Anya looked around, seeing a bench, the sidewalk, and bushes behind lampposts before whispering, "Guys, quick! Hide!" She ducked behind the bush and waited for the security guards to go away, but noticed that Damian and Becky weren't joining her. Looking up from her hiding spot, she saw them look at her in confusion, Why aren't they hiding?

What's Anya doing? Becky wondered, tilting her head.

Tch, weirdo, Sy-On boy, however, narrowed his eyes at her. He wasn't glaring, instead looking... annoyed? It was the kind of look Papa gave Uncle Scruffy when he was making a lot of jokes. But Anya didn't have time to think about that, turning to see that the guards were almost there and already saw Damian and Becky.

No! Now they're gonna get in trouble and it's all my fault! But if I step out, I could get another bad bolt! What do I do, what do I do!? Anya took a deep breath and prepared to step out and grab her friends, hoping to run away before they could get recognized. She could still get spotted and in a lot of trouble, but Papa took risks all the time as a spy, so she would do the same. But before she could even move, however...

"Hi kids!" one of the guards said as both of them stopped in front of Damian and Becky, "Out for a late afternoon stroll?"

...Huh?

Becky shrugged, "Sort of," she pointed to Anya's hiding spot, "Anya wants to show us her dad's car. She's really excited about it."

"And being a stumpy weirdo too," Damian huffed, but Anya wasn't paying attention to that, being more focused on how Becky blew her cover.

"That wasn't very nice. You shouldn't say things like that about fellow students," the second guard scolded him, though he was really gentle about it. It even made Damian sigh.

"Sorry."

"It's fine," the first guard said before facing Anya's direction, "Hey miss, you can come out. No need to hide."

Anya briefly hid back behind the bush, not trusting the guards. But she didn't hear any footsteps coming after her, so she poked her head out again and saw they were still looking at her. Nervously, Anya read their minds and saw they were being honest, so she walked out and joined at Becky and Damian's sides.

"You kids have fun! Just make sure to stay on campus," the guard said before he and his friend walked away, waving goodbye and leaving Anya very confused. She tried reading their minds again for answers, but the first one was just thinking about sports games and the other was thinking of how his grandma was doing.

"Did you seriously not know we could just leave the student area to explore the school?" Damian asked.

"..."

"That was the first thing they said when we got to there!"

"Yeah, so long as we don't leave campus without our parents, it's all good," Becky added with a nod.

"...I wasn't paying attention," Anya admitted, being distracted by the food they had set out. Sure, she'd already eaten the food Papa cooked before they got here, but it looked so tasty!

"I swear, you are completely hopeless," Sy-On boy grumbled, Becky glaring at him for a bit before looking at Anya.

"Anyway, I think we should keep going." Grumpy as Desmond is, Anya's clearly smitten with him. Gotta be a good friend and help the two get together.

Anya wasn't quite sure what "smitten" meant, but if it meant Becky was going to help her get an in with Sy-On boy, which meant she'd be better able to help Papa with his mission, then she wasn't going to stop her friend. It still bothered her (the word alone left a weird feeling in her chest), but she put it aside, instead continuing to lead them to where Papa parked. They walked around a few corners, passed a few more guards (and waved hello), which made Anya feel a bit peeved, since she couldn't do any super spy sneaking like she wanted.

Finally, they were getting close to where Papa parked at the front curb of Eden, but as they were about to turn the corner, Anya heard what sounded like a loud radio. Poking her head out to get a better look, she saw Bumblebee and heard the sounds coming from him.

"-Williams trying to protect himself-can't do it! Left to the face-left or right put him down! He may not get up!"

Frag yeah! Kick his aft, Cass! Bumblebee's thoughts cheered as he made whirring noises. From what Anya could tell, it sounded like he was listening to a... a boxing match? She couldn't make out all the details since the entire thing was going way too fast for her. The most she knew about boxing was from that one Spy Wars episode where Bondman had to fight in a boxing tournament.

"What is that?" Becky asked, looking around as Anya flinched.

Sy-On boy started looking around too, "Sounds like a car radio."

Shoot! Can't let them find out Bumblebee's secret! Anya ran ahead slightly and turned to them, "Nothing!" They looked confused, to which she cleared her throat, "I-It's probably nothing. I'm going to check on Papa's car. Please stay here for a bit!" Before they could say anything, she ran ahead and around the corner, straight for Bumblebee, How do I get him to stop before-

Wha-SLAG! Anya's here! Bumblebee quickly shut off his radio and engine right as she got there, Please suspect nothing, please suspect nothing.

"Phew!" That was close, Anya sighed in relief before patting Bumblebee's door, "You're funny, Mr. Bumblebee."

Uh... thank you? I guess? At least she doesn't suspect anything, Now Bumblebee sounded relieved, making Anya giggle. Sometimes, her powers were fun when people had these thoughts.

"Hey Anya?"

"EEP!" Anya jumped and turned to see Becky and Damian right behind her.

"Where you just talking to a car?" Sy-On boy crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.

"...n-no, I was... I was talking to Papa's car?" Anya almost slapped herself for how suspicious she sounded. Papa would never slip up like that!

"You were talking..." Becky looked like she was trying to process that, "To your dad's car?"

"Y-Yeah."

"..."

"..."

"... his name is Bumblebee," she turned to the disguised alien, "Bumblebee, this is Becky," she pointed to her before doing the same for Damian, "And Sy-On boy."

Becky tilted her head, "Huh, it's... actually a lot smaller than I remembered. My little Wiesel's personal car is way bigger than that."

Wait, Becky's dog has a car? Dogs can have cars!? Does Sy-On boy's dog have a car? Anya blankly stared at her friend, wondering if Bond could get his own car someday. Oh! It could be a spy car just like Bondman had in the tv show!

Ignoring that "small" comment for now, what's a Wiesel? Is that her pet? Anya heard Bumblebee's thoughts, which sounded really annoyed, as she saw one of his side mirrors move, showing Becky's reflection, And she has a separate car for them? Is this kid Mirage levels of rich or something?

What's a Mirage? Anya wondered before shaking her head and focusing on her friend, "Becky, please don't call Mr. Bumblebee small. He isn't small." She defended before hugging the Autobot's side, "He's the best car ever, and perfect just the way he is."

At her words, she felt Bumblebee's thoughts become happy, though there was a weird sadness to them that Anya didn't get. For some reason, they were focused a lot on his... voice box? That's what he called it, which was probably his version of a throat. Now that she thought about it, and as he started shaking those thoughts off, she hadn't actually heard him talk once except through his radio. At first, she thought all those whirring noises he made when he got drunk was just alien speech, but now...

Can Mr. Bumblebee talk at all? Before Anya could think about that any further...

"Okay, sorry," Becky relented, holding her hands up as Anya's musings were broken, "I'll admit, the nickname's kinda cute. Huh, y'know, he really does look like a bumblebe-"

"Ugh! Who talks to a car like that? It's just a stupid car!" Damian piped up, sounding super annoyed. Anya glared at him for insulting Bumblebee while his thoughts kept going, Seriously, that's weird even by her standards. I grew out of imaginary friends when I was three. Do middle class girls stick with that habit for longer or something?

So, this is the "Sy-On boy" that Anya keeps mentioning, Bumblebee wondered, Anya almost feeling him focusing on Damian, Yup. Definitely getting W-459 vibes from this kid. Brief images flashed in Anya's mind, showing Bumblebee arguing with another giant robot, this one looking like a blue/green version of him, And it looks like he's almost as much of a slaghead as W-459 started off as.

Having heard that word thrown around in Bee's head so many times, Anya couldn't help but wonder something, Is "slag" a giant robot word for sh-

"Well, since this was a waste of time, I'm going back to my dorm room," Damian turned and started walking off, leaving Anya and Becky huffing while Bumblebee's thoughts fumed behind them.

Being friends with him would be easier if he wasn't such a big dumb meanie most of the time, Anya crossed her arms.

Sometimes I wonder what Anya sees in him, Becky thought, hands at her hips.

Remember Bumblebee, he's just a kid. He'll grow up, Bumblebee felt like he was glaring daggers sharper than Mama's assassin blades at Sy-On boy, and Anya was about to join him in doing just that. But then she started picking up on Damian's own thoughts.

Stupid Anya, stupid Forgers and their stupid small car. Bet it's all small and cozy in there too, As Damian's mind kept going, Anya could see what looked like the inside of a really, really big car. Like those long ones she sometimes saw driving past Bumblebee whenever she and her family went out. What were they called? Limos? Yeah, it was a limo, and Sy-On boy was sitting by himself in the backseat of one. Must be nice, he thought, the limo's inside feeling bigger and almost frightening, Everyone gets to be all close together like a family, and her parents get to be the ones who drive her too. Lucky weirdo.

Anya blinked as she watched Damian go further away. Something about what she saw stirred something in her. There was a lot she didn't know or understand, but what she did know was what she felt from looking into those memories. And what she knew was how lonely the back of that car felt. How lonely he felt. She never got that feeling whenever she was with Bumblebee, always having her Mama and Papa (and sometimes Bond) with her. The more she thought about it, the worse she felt for Sy-On boy, even if he was being a big stupid jerk about it.

After all, she knew what that loneliness felt like.

Then, for the second time tonight, she got an idea. This time to help him feel less alone. With a deep breath, Anya yelled, "Hey, Sy-On boy!" he turned back and she put on her best pleading face, "You wanna see the inside of the car before you go?"

Damian looked surprised, face turning red for a bit, "I-I uh..." You mean I'm gonna be in an enclosed space with-with her! S-Say no! "S-Sure, i-if I have to." Dang it!

Becky gasped with a twinkle in her eyes, cutting Anya off as her thoughts went, This is just like Berlint in Love! Cars are always where the cutest couple's stuff happens!

What does that have to do with any of this? Anya tilted her head at Becky. Her thoughts were harder to understand than Papa's sometimes, and Papa thought so fast and so complicated that it made Anya's head spin. Waiting for Damian to return (though he was still cross and red-faced for some reason), she tried to open Bumblebee's door, but he wouldn't budge. It felt like he was unsure about the whole thing.

Well, Anya really seems to want to try and spend time with him. Can't exactly see why. I'd personally just avoid him, Bumblebee's thoughts were on that green/blue copy of him again, Come on, Bumblebee. You can't just think the worst of the kid. He's just a kid! Besides, W-459 got better, so maybe this "Sy-On boy" can too? The thoughts and images with Bumblebee's copy slowly started becoming more and more friendly. By the last one, they looked to be laughing and doing a fist bump with each other. With that last thought, he finally let Anya open the door, Aw, what the Pit? I'll give him a chance.

Thank you, Mr. Bumblebee! Anya quickly got in and sat in the front seat, gesturing for Becky and Damian to join her.

"So, does your dad just leave the car unlocked at all times or something?" Becky asked as she got in the shotgun seat, her thoughts giddily saying something about Papa "living dangerously." Which was kinda true, since Anya learned first-hand how the spy world was really dangerous. Shuddering, she tried very hard not to think too much about when she was kidnapped soon after Papa adopted her. Or that time with those dog bomb monsters who tried to kill her. That one was extra scary, and if Mama hadn't gotten there in time, she would've died and everyone else would be- "Hey, Anya," she heard Becky and looked to see her, concern in her eyes. Even Sy-On boy looked a little worried as Becky asked, "Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah, sorry. Just... bad memory," Anya answered, surprised by the bit of honesty she put in. Even more surprising was when Damian got up from his seat and onto Anya's, sitting down next to her. He looked really unsure of what to do, just staring at the floor for a bit. Anya was about to read Sy-On boy's thoughts, but then, still not looking at her, he put a hand to her shoulder and gave it a pat.

"I... I have bad memories too, sometimes..." he said, sounding like he didn't know how to get the words out, but what little he could say did help Anya feel better. Becky looked super happy and gave her a thumbs up. Bumblebee started thinking pretty nice things about Damian and how maybe he wasn't so bad, but suddenly, he turned on his radio and started playing...wait a minute...

Is that the Spy Wars theme song!? Anya's eyes went wide as she almost jumped up in her seat, happy to hear one of her favorite music tracks.

"Why did the car radio suddenly turn on?" Damian asked, now standing in the front seat beside her, "Is it broken or something?"

"Yeah, I don't think car radios are supposed to do that," Becky threw her two cents in, "At least, none of my family's cars do that."

Scrap, Anya listened to Bumblebee's thoughts, Shouldn't have done that, but Anya looked like she needed some cheering up. His own thoughts started becoming really sad, Besides, there's a lot of bad memories I don't like dwelling on. Don't think Anya should get lost in hers either.

Jumping to Bumblebee's defense before they could suspect anything, Anya said, "The radio does that sometimes," she then cheerfully added, "But I like it. It's part of what makes Mr. Bumblebee so cool!"

Becky and Damian went quiet for a bit before they both awkwardly nodded. "Okay then," Becky started looking around the car's interior as the radio continued playing the Spy Wars theme, "Looks pretty nice on the inside, actually."

"It's still pretty small, but it's... comforting, actually," Sy-On boy added, Anya seeing a small smile on his face that disappeared right when he saw that she was looking at him. "Uh, anyway," he stammered and started turning the radio knobs, "Does this thing have any other stations?"

After a few different bits of songs and news broadcasts played, Damian stopped on a track that went, "Never gonna give you up! Never gonna let you down! Never gonna-"

NOPE! Bumblebee made a whirring noise as he shut that track off and switched to a news channel, making a bunch of angry thoughts about how annoying that song was. Anya giggled a bit, remembering how every time it came up on the radio, Bee would always switch to something else no matter how much Mama or Papa would try to change the channel back. Not good for keeping cover, but the whole thing was just too funny for Anya to care that much.

"What just happened?" Becky asked, rubbing at her ears while Anya's giggles turned into laughs.

"Mr. Bumblebee doesn't like that song."

"Riiiight," Damian drawled, Cars can't like or dislike anything. The radio's probably broken, "Can this radio play anything without breaking?"

Giving Sy-On boy a smug smile, Anya started twisting the radio knobs to look for something cool.

Yor sighed as she walked away from the rest of parents, the cacophony of voices staying behind. For the most part, the night had gone rather well. She and Loid dressed up in their best, left Bond at home with Frankie, and found themselves split from the students as per Eden Academy's rules. From there, they spoke with each of Anya's teachers and learned about how she was doing in class, coming to learn that she'd been improving significantly.

Well, technically, it was only marginal improvements based on how she performed at the start of school, but from Yor's perspective, those kinds of strides were immense. When she was Anya's age, she'd struggled to do even half as good as her. School and studying had never come naturally to Yor, so she was glad her daughter was doing better! Even Loid was immensely proud of her improvements, if his palpable relief and what looked like tears of joy were any indication.

But after the teachers gave recommendations for how she could further improve, they started interacting with the other parents. This ended up being where Yor's night took a... well, not a bad turn, by any means, but it went somewhere she wasn't comfortable with.

She and Loid talked with a number of parents, though Loid was the one who did most of the talking. Most of it was how things were going, how their children were doing, and singing the praises of said children, as well as an entire slew of business topics that Yor couldn't understand. And that was before they were approached by Becky's parents, the Blackbells, where things became impossible for her to really follow.

It started out simple enough, talking about the girls' friendship and how happy they were around each other, but then things ventured more into their respective lines of work. Yor tried to talk about her work at City Hall, but there was very little she could say, instead passing the metaphorical baton to Loid, who, as always, had a much easier time conversing. He answered the Blackbell's questions about his work as a psychiatrist, and they, in kind, described some details of their own work in the weapons manufacturing business. They also said something about a recent endeavor that they'd been given by the Ostanian Military, with Loid seeming rather invested in the subject.

But despite her best effort, Yor couldn't keep up, only understanding bits and pieces about Blackbell Heavy Industries trying to work with some particularly difficult new technology. Something about missiles, rocket engines, and tank armor, which she had an easier time getting since she'd contended with all that before. But then things went back into logistical nonsense, with Loid commenting on how impressive the new tech had to be if it was giving BHI, one of the most reputable weapons manufacturers in the country, such a hard time. The Blackbells admitted as much and stated that they had to move the new technology to its own research factory to divert focus on it.

Before they could elaborate any further, Yor had asked, "Excuse me, if it isn't too much trouble, may I take my leave? I can't help but feel like I'm being a bother in all this."

Much to her surprise, the Blackbells seemed rather baffled by her statement. "Pardon me, Mrs. Forger," Mr. Blackbell had said, "But you haven't been a bother in the slightest. If anything, it's us who should apologize for not making much of an effort to include you in the discussion."

"No, it isn't that," had been Yor's immediate reply as she pressed the gloved tips of her index finger together whilst looking away, "It's just... I'm not very comfortable with all this... business talk."

The Blackbells gave her sympathetic, understanding looks at the time, as had her husband, who nodded and gently placed a hand to her shoulder, "If you'd like, we can head out now. I'd rather not put you in an uncomfortable position, and these things can be... well, they're a lot," his face became apologetic, "Sorry for not noticing earlier. I suppose I just got a bit caught up when I really shouldn't."

In reply, Yor couldn't help but giggle and give him thanks as her face heated up, "No, it's fine. You have way more experience with this than I do. Getting caught up is understandable." After all, Loid had been a parent and husband for years by this point, though that thought made Yor worry if she'd ever really live up to Anya's birth mother. Stowing that away at the time, she'd finished, "If it's alright, you can continue without me. I'll just go check in on Anya and see how she's doing."

"Of course. And if it isn't too much trouble, could you check in on our dear Becky as well?" Mr. Blackbell had asked of her, to which Yor nodded as she said fond farewells to all three of them. This led her to now: Walking down the halls of Eden for the student area while her husband continued his discussions with the other parents alone. Despite herself and her previous discomfort, having walked out like that left a bitter taste in her mouth. She'd left Loid to handle things by his lonesome when she should've been standing side-by-side to help him. That's what a wife was supposed to do, yet she'd failed in that.

I really am out of my depth, aren't I? Yor mused, the whole affair playing in her head on repeat. The more she thought about it, the more she worried that those other parents were staring at her with judgmental eyes. It certainly didn't help that her experience with these high-class affairs was extremely limited. Most of her interactions with these kinds of people amounted to doing extensive research on the atrocities their ilk committed behind closed doors (all of which, especially crimes committed against children, made her immensely angry) before going in to kill them as quickly as possible.

That was the first lesson the Shopkeeper had taught her: That even the most repugnant monsters should be given a swift death. Only the truly wicked took delight in the prolonged suffering of others.

Once again, she shook her head, rubbing at her temples with a sigh as she continued to the student area, Guess I can't stop thinking about it, can I?

In some ways, it was a comfort, dwelling on her job and identity as Thorn Princess. With both, she was in her element, feeling a pep in her step as she helped make the world a better place, one corpse at a time. But the longer she dwelled on it, the more it just as much felt like a detriment. Normal people didn't constantly ruminate about killing and how to kill, nor about the best methods thereof. Yet here she was now, with a perfectly normal husband, daughter, and pet dog, all while not knowing the definition of the word.

Figuratively, not literally, of course.

Just keep it together, Yor, she reminded herself as she made it to the entrance of the student area, Remember that you're enough. You're enough. You're enough. Taking a deep breath, she put a hand on the door handle, whispering one last time, "You're enough."

Opening the door slowly, she walked into the area, where the students of Anya's year and age group all interacted amongst each other. Some even said hello to her as she scanned the crowd for her daughter, all while waving a greeting in kind. But amidst it all, she couldn't find a single trace of Anya, causing her heart to pick up the pace for a split-second. Calming down, she tried not to jump to conclusions, instead searching for Miss Blackbell, remembering her first meeting with the sweet young girl from when she took Anya on a shopping trip. If she found her, then she found Anya, simple as that.

One quick search of the crowd later, and... nothing. Not a single trace of Miss Blackbell either.

Oh no, this is bad! Where are they!? Yor's heart rate quickened, her mind jumping through several worst-case scenarios of what could've happened to them before she looked to the nearest faculty member, Walter Evance from Anya's acceptance interview as she recalled. He saw her and waved, but within less time than it takes the human eye to blink, Yor had already approached him from halfway across the room, startling the older man. As he stammered in surprise, Yor worriedly asked, "Have you seen my daughter and Miss Blackbell? I can't find them anywhere!"

"Uh..." Mr. Evance managed before recovering a second later, hands waved in a placating manner, "It's quite alright, Mrs. Forger. I and the rest of the faculty here saw your daughter and young Blackbell head outside. The security teams notified us that they were going-"

Yor didn't pay attention to what he said next, body moving before her brain could catch up. Fast as she could, the worried mother opened a window and jumped out, scaling the outside walls like a spider. Upon reaching the roof, she ran forwards and hopped from rooftop to rooftop, reaching the highest point of Eden Academy. Standing on the peak, her eyes scanned every inch of schoolground that she could see in search of Anya and her friend. From security guards walking about, discussing their days, to the swaying trees and bushes, to the idle benches and lampposts (some of which had birds and squirrels resting atop them), to janitors cleaning rooms and hallways through windows, to even their tiny little yellow car parked at the front curb of the school with a few others, she saw everything.

Yet once again, no Anya.

"Anya, where are you?" Yor muttered out loud, her worry spiking even higher. Just as quickly, she calmed herself, understanding that losing control of her emotions would help no one. She focused all her senses out, feeling the wind against her skin as she sensed changes in the air, extending her hearing outward to pick up on faint sounds in the distance. But in doing so, she heard music from-

Huh? Yor opened her eyes and looked where Bumblebee was parked. Closing her eyes, she focused her hearing once again, and could make out a faint, muffled song playing from where he was.

"-mamma mia, mamma mia. Mamma mia, let me go! Beelzebub-"

With a raised eyebrow, Yor jumped down and vaulted across rooftops, nearing Bumblebee's location. Once close enough, she dropped to the ground and stood up, looking in the car's direction. From behind the window, Yor could see three figures jumping about, happily bopping their heads to the loud, muffled music. Narrowing her eyes, she recognized them as that Desmond boy, Miss Blackbell, and-

"Anya!" Yor exclaimed, hand to her chest in relief that her daughter was safe.

"So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye?"

What are they singing? Yor wondered, listening to the three belt out the lyrics. She'd heard the song at least once, recalling how it played on the speakers of a warehouse basement while she was wiping out a human trafficking ring out of country around three years ago. But despite finding it catchy, she never bothered to learn the name. Well, at least the kids are enjoying it, She did admittedly find herself wincing at Damian and Anya's singing, which... okay, it was better than her own attempts at singing, that much was certain. Miss Blackbell's was unquestionably the best, managing to sound mellifluous even while basically yelling rock lyrics. Although with how loud it is... Yor walked up to Loid's car, I should probably interrupt before one of them bursts an eardrum.

And Yor knew a thing or two about bursting eardrums.

Knocking on the window, Anya stopped singing and turned off the radio, much to the indigitation of Becky and Damian. Just as quickly, her daughter opened the door and jumped up to hug her, "Mama!"

"Anya, thank goodness! I was so worried and thought something bad happened to you!"

"Nope! I'm okay!" Anya replied as Yor still held her close but pulled away from the hug enough to see her face, "I was showing Bumblebee to Becky and Sy-On boy. They think he's cool!"

"He's... alright, Mrs. Forger," Damian said as he jumped out, crossing his arms and looking to the floor in embarrassment, all while Becky gently elbowed him, "It's nice to meet you."

Hmm, so this is Damian, huh? Yor looked down at the boy in curiosity. She'd listen to her daughter talk about him frequently (usually in annoyance), as well as how her husband wished the two would get along (any father would want his daughter to have many friends, after all), but this was the first time Yor was meeting him in person. From a glance, he didn't seem like a bad kid. Perhaps a bit uptight, but nothing bad by any means. If anything, he had an almost lonely air to him.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Yor recalled her childhood years as she looked at the boy. Even before her parents' deaths during the war, she never had much in the way of friends while growing up in Eastern Nielsberg. And after the fact, any hope for something like that was dashed as she had to grow up quickly and raise her little brother, keeping her distance from others as a means to conceal her double life. Some days, that loneliness was more frigid than a blizzard, more painful than a dagger in her side, and more suffocating than mustard gas, but she endured it all for something - someone - more important than herself. And now, because of Loid and Anya, she didn't feel so alone anymore.

Perhaps that was why Anya kept trying to make friends with Damian despite her complaints? She too saw that loneliness and wanted to ease him out of it?

Smiling, Yor bent down slightly and held Anya with one hand, extending out the other towards the child in front of her, "It's nice to meet you too, Mister Desmond."

Damian flinched for a bit, making Yor wonder if she said or did something wrong. Thankfully, before she could even begin to panic and worry about ruining Anya's chances to befriend the boy, he reached out and shook her hand. Giving a halfhearted grin of his own, he let go and asked, "So, how come you decided to leave the other grown-ups? Thought they'd all be talking business stuff the entire night."

"That's actually part of why I decided to come check in on Anya," Yor blushed at the reminder of her social ineptitude, "I couldn't really keep up with all the business and politics."

To her surprise, Becky sighed, "Yeah, I have a hard time keeping up with the kind of stuff my parents talk about too. Like, recently, they haven't really stopped talking about this new project and how they got it from the military. They found some weird, advanced pod in the woods or something like that."

For some reason, Becky's statement caused Anya to focus in on Bumblebee, eyes growing wider with each passing second. Suddenly, she gasped with stars in her eyes to an almost literal degree. Before Yor could ask what happened, her daughter all but leapt out of her arms and rushed towards Miss Blackbell, "Becky, where did they find the super pod?"

"Uh...I uh... don't know?" Becky answered, flatfooted by Anya's sudden question, "But they did show me the factory they're studying it in. I usually take tours of my family's facilities every now and then. They kinda want me to be familiar with them for when I inherit." And just like Anya, Miss Blackbell gasped, "I know! what if I talked with my parents and invited your family over for a tour? I get to meet Loid, and you get to see all the cool things we're making!"

Somehow, Anya's smile found a way to grow even brighter as the two started talking exuberantly. Yor watched her daughter listen as Becky proudly described the location in address, surroundings, interior, and output, with as much attention as she did her favorite shows. Though oddly, every split-second, Anya would steal a glance towards Bumblebee, and she wasn't sure why.

"Miss Forger," he began, eyes still on the floor. The two just stood there in a silence so awkward that even Yor had a feeling this probably wasn't normal, the boy looking as nervous as she'd felt earlier that night. It finally ended when Damian gave a bow and said, "You're an esteemed matriarch and example for your daughter. Thank you for worrying about her."

Yor blinked at just how... formal that was. It almost felt like it'd been rehearsed several times over, and she wasn't sure how to feel about that. She found herself switching between thankful for the compliment and worried for the child, but just as she opened her mouth to speak, Anya bopped Damian's shoulder.

"Tag, you're it!"

"What the-HEY!"

Suddenly, the three children were running down the walkway, Anya at the forefront with a laughing Becky and angry Damian right behind her. Yor watched as Anya bumped into one of the security guards, leading to her encircling him as her friends did the same in an effort to catch her. As they continued onward, the now dizzy guard yelled at them to be careful, all while Yor found herself stifling laughter at the whole thing.

Following them back to the student area as quickly as she dared, Yor decided to put tonight behind her for the time being. Her worries about fitting in with the other parents, her capabilities as a wife and mother, her second identity as Thorn Princess and how that affected everything else (or if it was needed anymore), all of that could wait. Right now, she just watched her daughter and took a simple joy in the sight before her.

The simple joy of watching her daughter's friendships bloom and grow. A joy she never truly got to have.

Anya bounced in the back seat of Bumblebee, still super full of energy, so she probably wasn't gonna go to sleep like Papa and Mama wanted. But she didn't really care about that right now. The night just had so much excitement!

After letting Damian and Becky chase her in a game of tag, they got back to the student area with Mama, who waited there with them. And they didn't wait long, since Papa and Becky's parents came over to pick them up just a bit after they got there. Becky must've been sleepy or something, because right when she looked at Papa, her brain started making a lot of symbols (like triangles, tic-tac-toe, hearts, and steam) before she passed out. Anya was pretty sure the symbols were a code, but she couldn't figure out what it meant.

Damian left for his dorm not long after Becky's parents took her home, saying goodbye without even looking at them. For a minute, Anya thought he was being his usual self, but his thoughts sounded happier, so maybe he liked the game of tag? If he did, Anya had to play it with him more often. Either way, Papa's own thoughts were really proud of her and Sy-On boy getting along, and Anya was happy about that to. She'd made another big step in the Friendship Scheme... which she kinda forgot about while singing with Damian and Becky, only remembering while reading Papa's mind.

Speaking of Papa, Anya stared at the back of Papa's seat and concentrated.

-aside from learning some details on upcoming developments, I now have a location to work with, his mind started going too fast again, but Anya was able to pick up where he was talking about, and it was the exact same address Becky gave her, Given that a more direct investigation of both the Blackbell's weapons developments and the pod are likely to be long term, I'll request that they send agent Nightfall. I need to stay by my family's side.

While the last thought made Anya smile, she shuddered on the inside at the reminder of that woman. It was really scary how determined she was to replace Mama, and even scarier was what she planned to do to Anya if she ever became her mama. The way she kept thinking about Papa freaked her out even more. It was actually even worse than the way Uncle Yuri's thoughts obsessed over Mama!

If Unkie gave her heartburn, then the Frost lady gave her a heart attack.

I'm glad Anya had a fun time tonight, Mama's thoughts cut into Anya's fear of Miss Frost, kinda like when she cut the bad spy's ball to pieces during their tennis match.

Though I'm still not sure about what that Damian boy said, Anya slowly frowned as Mama stared out the window, About me being an "esteemed matriarch". Still not sure if that and an assassin can really co-exist.

Mama... Anya sighed, feeling down the longer she read her mind. She didn't get why Mama thought that way about herself, or why she thought being an assassin meant she wasn't a good mother. If anything, assassins made the best moms! Just like how spies were the best dads and alien robot resistance fighters were the best cars. Papa thought Mama was great, and so did her and Bumblebee, Why's Mama the only one who doesn't see how cool she is?

Crossing her arms, she tried thinking of ways she could help Mama feel better, to let her know that she was the greatest mom in the universe. Thankfully, as if he was the mind reader, Papa placed a hand on Mama's, smiling at her when Bumblebee stopped at a red light. Anya watched as Mama smiled back, her thoughts being put at ease by Papa's presence, letting her know that he was here if she needed him without having to say anything.

Looks like Yor and Loid are flirting, Bumblebee happily thought as the light turned green, making Anya giggle a bit at how he stole her line. She could almost imagine them saying "No we are not!" if it was said aloud. Anya would admit that a small part of her wanted to be the one to cheer Mama up, but Papa beat her there, and not for the first time tonight. Even after learning all the important stuff from Becky, he beat her there too by talking with Becky's parents. But Anya couldn't be mad about that, both since Mama was feeling a bit better and because she still got to help someone else's mission.

Alright Bee, time to focus, Bumblebee suddenly sounded as serious as Papa whenever he was on mission mode (which was a lot), They're holding what's left of your escape pod in a facility outside Berlint, so getting it back might take a while. Need to figure out a way inside without drawing any attention. Primus knows how I'll pull that off with how this planet operates.

Giant robot mission! Anya beamed quietly as the streets became recognizable and they started getting close to home. Bumblebee's thoughts said something about how he didn't want the pod's leftovers to fall into the wrong hands. He got really worried when Becky was talking, so he must've thought her parents were also secretly supervillains too. Anya wasn't sure how he was gonna sneak into a weapon factory, but she knew he'd find a way. He was Bumblebee: Scout of the Autobot Resistance and the bestest car there ever was!

And she got to help him on his mission!

In her excitement, Anya almost didn't notice they were now home, only realizing it when Papa stopped the car. "Alright Anya," he said, looking back at her, "It's almost 9:00, so after you clean up, it's straight to bed."

"Not tired. Can I play with Bond for a bit?" Anya answered right away, and was about to pull out the pleading eyes when Papa looked like he was gonna say no. But thankfully, he just sighed instead.

"I suppose one hour wouldn't hurt. But once 10:00 rolls by-"

"I know. I will!" Anya cheerfully saluted before she unbuckled her seatbelt and jumped out of the car, Papa and Mama not far behind her. When Mama stepped out, however, Anya saw her opportunity and ran up to hug her.

"Anya?"

"Mama. You're the best."

"I..." she started tearing up a bit at Anya's words before kneeling down and hugging her, "I'm glad you feel that way, Anya."

Wonder what brought this about, Papa wondered, walking around Bumblebee to them. Anya just kept nuzzling into the crook of Mama's neck as she picked her up, opening an eye to see Papa's confusion turn into a still confused, but happy face, I suppose some children just have a way of knowing when their parents are troubled.

Anya felt her happiness grow a bit before giving Bumblebee a glance, What a happy family. I'm glad for them. Though, I wish I could just... Anya's happiness went away just a bit the more she listened to Bumblebee's thoughts. He sounded like he wanted to be part of them for real, but he kept backing out, No, forget it. It'd just hurt them. Besides, you have a mission, so see it through.

Don't worry Bee. Maybe someday you can, Anya lied, knowing the odds of it being okay for Bumblebee to reveal himself were the same as for her powers.

Never. It would never be okay. They must never find out.

"Better not keep Frankie and Bond waiting," Mama said, her mood even better as they all headed inside. Anya made sure to say goodnight to Bumblebee, hearing his thoughts say goodnight back. They made it back upstairs to their apartment, waving good evenings and goodnights to whatever neighbors were out and about. When they entered, Mama was the first to say, "We're back!"

"Borf!" Bond started barking and ran up to greet them, Uncle Scruffie not too far behind as Anya was put down to hug her dog.

"Bond!"

"Borf!" he licked her nose, causing Anya to let out giggles.

"Good to see he's back to his old self," Uncle Scruffie said, getting everyone's attention.

"What do you mean?" Papa asked, getting a shrug in response.

"I mean after I fed and walked him, he just sat there looking out the window. I assumed he was tired at first, but he wasn't even moving. It was like looking at a statue."

"I hope it isn't anything serious," Mama said, looking at bond in thought, Maybe he sprained something?

Uncle Scruffie sighed, "I don't think it is, because he went right back to normal when you got back. Still, maybe give him a checkup just to be safe."

While Mama and Papa looked to each other, back to Bond, and then started talking with Uncle Scruffie on what else happened, Anya felt the wheels in her head spin. It sounded like Bond was having future visions all night and wanted to show her. Turning to Bond, she focused all her attention on him, Okay Bond, show me.

Bond's own gaze became focused, and Anya began seeing a series of flashing images. She saw herself and her classmates in the school gym, a large, terrifying shadow looming over them. She saw Mama and Papa fighting a giant robot that resembled the shape of that shadow, complete with scary red eyes and buzzsaws where his hand should've been while the other had brass knuckles that read "ENSLAVE". And then she saw herself standing in front of a bunch of other giant robots, with the one in front, a tall, masked red one with bright blue eyes and a blue helmet, kneeling down to talk to her.

She saw so many things, so many new people, both good and bad. But they went by so fast that Anya didn't know when or where they would happen. She didn't even have a clear picture of what some of them were or time to memorize them. Not that she could really do that with these things anyway.

But then came the final image: A beautiful sunset over a hillside. This one stayed for longer than the others and was so much clearer. She saw a large picnic blanket with a bunch of teenagers on it. One of them looked like an older version of her, and she started to recognize the others as an older Sy-On boy, his two friends, Becky, and that muscley Watkins boy.

The one person she didn't recognize on the blanket was a girl sitting next to the older Becky. She had dark skin, red hair tied into short ponytails, and the brightest blue eyes Anya had ever seen. For some reason, she and Becky were holding hands. Actually, Anya noticed that her older self and Sy-On boy were holding hands too, just like-

Is that Papa and Mama? Anya now saw them standing just behind the teens, having not noticed since she was so focused on the picnic blanket people. Then she noticed that they were holding hands too, and she saw something glimmer on their fingers. Just as quickly, she realized what it was, Are Papa and Mama wearing wedding rings? Actual wedding rings? Are they married for real!?

But right as she was trying to process her excitement at the idea, she noticed something else. She saw Bumblebee just behind her parents, standing tall (even more than he did now) alongside some of the other Autobots, openly in robot mode. Everyone was talking, having fun, and enjoying themselves. Years later, and they were all still together.

They were still one big, happy family.

And in that instant, the vision ended. Anya blinked as Bond licked her forehead, ears picking up that her parents and Uncle Scruffie were still talking. She wasn't thinking too much about that right now, mind still on that future vision. Feeling herself grin from ear to ear, Anya interrupted the adults, "Papa, Mama! I'm gonna play with Bond now!"

"Okay but remember what we said about-" Anya stopped listening by that point and started chasing Bond around the apartment, hearing Mama and Uncle Frankie laugh while Papa loudly sighed. If she couldn't go to sleep before, there was no way she could now. Not when the future ahead looked so bright and happy!

There was still a few things Anya didn't get though: She didn't know who that scary robot was. She didn't know when he'd show up. She didn't know who those other people and robots were. And she didn't know what the future held for her even after everything she'd just seen.

But she knew for sure where she wanted to be.

She wanted to be right there with her family, the Forgers, only for real this time. And she wouldn't let any scary robots or bad guys tear them apart.

Chapter Text

Ah, this is the life, Looking up at the stars, Kelly Shiragami hummed in relaxation as she reclined in her foldout chair. The breeze was gentle, the crickets chirped, the trees swayed, her small red truck was just a short distance behind her in the grass, and the lake in front of her rippled in rhythm to the winds. It'd been a stressful week, what with work piling up and her neighbors being obnoxious, so she really needed to get away from it all for a bit. Thankfully, this old, large lake was just what the doctor ordered! A nice afternoon of swimming and fishing lifted her spirits up and then some.

"You really needed this, Kel," She sighed, calling herself by that silly childhood nickname, Who cares if all your neighbors make fun of you, call you crazy for seeing a giant machine man? Who cares if the authorities yelled at you to stop calling them in the middle of the night after a couple nightmares? You sure don't! And who needs them anyway? You don't need any jerks in your life treating you like an insane woman.

Okay, technically, none of them had insulted, yelled, or called her insane. They just told her to get some sleep (easier said than done) and that she probably just hit her head one morning. Rude, admittedly, but most of them weren't jerks about it (except her next-door neighbor Bob, but screw that guy). Still, it was really frustrating how no one believed her. Not even the Secret Police or regular police believed her. She knew what she saw!

Let it go, Kel, Kelly told herself through grit teeth. Now wasn't the time to think about her life's current woes. Now was the time to just get away from it all. No more thinking about freaky giant yellow robots, real or imaginary. Just sit back, relax, and look at the stars, Kelly rested her hands behind her head, trying to see what constellations were out tonight. She could make out a few, and was dazzled by how brightly the stars shone, but she was especially dazzled by what looked like a shooting star. The tiny spec of light flew high above in the upper atmosphere.

Knowing what that meant, she smiled and thought of something to wish for. Ugh, I can almost hear the laughter right now. "You still believe in those silly superstitions?" Well, excuse me for being a free spirit, Margret! Kelly shook her head of the jeers that one bully gave her when she was thirteen. She wanted to put it aside just as much as she did the lack of faith in her seeing... Actually, I think I know what I want to wish for, She closed her eyes, I wish for a sign. Just... something, anything, to show me that I wasn't seeing things that night.

Opening her eyes, Kelly blinked in confusion at what she was seeing. For some reason, the shooting star was flying slower than before. She blinked a few more times to make sure it wasn't her eyes playing tricks on her, but as she did, the star seemed to grow brighter and brighter. Then, much to her shock, the spec of light did something no shooting star should've been capable of.

It turned.

As the light grew, forcing Kelly to shield her eyes a loud roaring breached her ears, and it only got louder with each passing second. Realizing what was happening, her mind flew into a state of panic as she jumped out of her chair - so fast it clattered against the ground - and ran for the trees far behind her car. Mere seconds before she reached the nearest one, the light grew so bright that it could've been mistaken for the sun, and the roar almost made her ears bleed. Just as she hid, the light started dying down, the roar lessening and being replaced by what sounded like a very, VERY loud engine. Still, Kelly refused to look out of fear, even as the air violently shook everything to her bones.

Then, after over a minute of constant engine roaring, as well as shaking trees, leaves, dust, and air, it all stopped. Opening one eye, Kelly tried to calm her rapid breathing, a hand to her heart as she dared to peak out. With most of her body still hidden behind the tree, she looked and saw nothing but settling dust and the open lake, now covered in a cloud of thick steam.

W-What the hell was that!? Kelly tried her best to calm down, but that was a fool's errand. Instead, she settled for trying to figure out how on Earth a meteor managed to turn in mid-air, then (based on the sounds) stop right above the lake. However, she found herself unable to think of anything, mind devolving back into abject terror as she heard the waters ripple.

Then, emerging from the lake, she saw... it.

Rising from the water was a... a metal giant, but unlike the one she saw before, this one was in colors of navy, grey, and black. Its eyes were red as blood, staring forward with obvious contempt at its surroundings, especially as animals made their presence known. From birds flying out of trees to deer running across the grass, the forest was alive and terrified of this new presence. As it stepped on the land, water cascaded off its metal plates, giving it an unnerving shine and further emphasizing how this thing just towered over her. Kelly hid behind the tree, hearing the metal man's steps thunder and shake the earth one after the other.

Just keep still, Kelly held her breath and shut her eyes, Don't make a sound, don't even breathe! It won't see you. It won't see you. M-Maybe it's just a dream. Yeah, this is all just a bad dream and you're gonna wake up, nice and warm in bed any sec-

CRNCH!

The loud, sickening crunch snapped Kelly's eyes open as, against her better judgement, she poked her head out. A light gasp escaped her lips upon seeing the large, dark robot staring down at its own foot, underneath which she could see the legs of a poor little deer. From the look on the machine's face, it was clearly unexpected, and part of her expected, if not hoped, for it to look down in horror at what had happened. Perhaps for nothing more than a means to assuage her fears that she wasn't in life-threatening danger at the moment just being near this thing.

But no, that didn't happen. Instead, it wiped its foot against the grass, as if trying to remove a stain. The machine then lifted its foot, blood dripping off the mangled corpse that hung limp from beneath. Without a word, it grabbed the dead deer with its fingers and tossed it away without a care in the world, the body hitting the top of Kelly's truck just behind it. A rooftop was dented, glass was shattered, and the alarm echoed throughout the forest.

About the only good thing to come from this was that it distracted the machine, diverting its full attention to her vehicle. As it walked up to the truck, Kelly contemplated running away while she had the chance. She almost did, but then the machine's eyes emitted a green light that shot forward, enveloping her truck for a few seconds. Her curiosity matching her fear, Kelly couldn't help but watch what was unfolding. Then the light faded, the machine's right arm converting into what looked like a canon that took aim and fired upon her truck, reducing it (and the poor doe's body) to nothing but smoldering wreckage and charred flesh.

Upon seeing that, Kelly quickly hid behind the tree again, holding her breath in the desperate hope to go unnoticed. She heard the machine take heavy, loud steps again, sounding as if they were getting closer to her, but then she heard an... odd sound...

TSCHE-CHU-CHU-CHU-TSCHE!

Before she could even process what that noise was, lights flashed from behind her tree and a truck zoomed past her. As it went straight for the dirt roads leading to Berlint, Kelly could've sword that it was a black version of her own truck, but she couldn't get a clear enough view. No longer hearing the footsteps, she peaked out and saw that the lake shore was now devoid of life. Nothing but her ruined truck, a knocked down chair, and a series of footprints that led almost to where she was.

I-It, Kelly gulped, It's gone. You're safe. You're safe, She repeated this several times as her breathing accelerated, You're safe. Just calm down. You're safe.

Yet she didn't feel safe, and as her vision grew blurry with tears, exhaustion hit her body like a lead weight. Everything going limp as she fell, the world fading to blackness before she hit the ground.

"H-Hey! Let us go!"

"Yeah! We didn't do anything!"

"Just shut up and get in, scumbags."

Kacey grunted as she and her boyfriend, Mark, were shoved into the backseat of the car. It looked like a dark colored Chevy Biscayne with the SSS logos plastered proudly on its side doors. The male and female Secret Police officers, a red head with blue eyes and a blonde with green eyes respectively, both of whom appeared to be in their early thirties, took to the driver and shotgun seats.

"Look, I don't know what this is about," Mark glared at the officers, "But if you're gonna arrest anyone, arrest me. Let Kacey go!"

"No dice. We got evidence that both of you are guilty of abetting with Westalis agents. You're coming with us for questioning," The female, the same who called them scum, glared back as her male cohort started the car and began driving.

"B-But we didn't! We'd never do that!" Kacey was almost crying, trying to figure out how it came to this.

She and Mark had been working the late shift at the Ikitsuke Café, giving late night drinks and pastries to happy customers. While her boyfriend was busy in the back with stock, she continued serving, even saying hello to that sweet Frankie gentleman who often came by. This time though, the man had a white, fluffy dog that looked sorta like a mix between a Great Pyrenees and other shepherd dogs; he'd said something about dog-sitting for a friend. Either way, he looked cute, so she gave him some of the animal treats they had stored for when people brought pets over. After the fact, she chatted with Frankie for a bit, who seemed in a rather chipper mood, and watched as Kopi and Bond got along swimmingly.

It was always enjoyable when she saw the old stereotype about cats and dogs hating each other get defied. Sometimes, she thought about and related it to the tensions between Westalis and Ostania. During her time as a café server, she'd seen the most unlikely of people learn to get along. If they could do it, perhaps their countries could too.

Then about ten minutes after Frankie left, Mark came out, having checked that they were fully stocked for the night. They were just about ready to finish up their shift and close up shop when the SSS pair arrived in full uniform. At first, they thought the two were last minute customers that they'd have been more than happy to serve. But then they pulled out their badges and threw them into handcuffs, dragging them out while leaving poor Kopi behind. Just the thought of leaving her precious kitty alone made her want to cry even more.

"If you were gonna arrest us, least you could've done is bring Kacey's cat," Mark said, as if reading that part of her inner turmoil. She'd always loved how he could read her like a book. Her darling Kopi wouldn't last long on his own!

"Sorry, but if it means anything, I'm sure your cat will be fine," The male officer said as he drove, sounding far more polite than his companion, "In any case, assuming you're being honest, then it'll just be a quick questioning at SSS Headquarters. After that, you're free to go."

"Tch. Yeah right, you saw the photos, David!"

Photos? Kacey blinked her tears away, "What photos?"

"Wouldn't you like to know."

"Ada, enough," David chastised his partner one last time before apologetically looking back at Kacey and Mark through the rear-view mirror, "Sorry about her. She's normally... okay, she's still aggressive on a good day, but she's just in a bad mood right now. Not easy to stand out in the workplace when you have a rising rookie or two showing you up."

Ada grumbled and pouted into her seat like a child, muttering something about a "stupid Briar brat", but Kacey wasn't paying that any mind. Instead, she looked to her boyfriend and saw that Mark had the same contemplative expression she had. Wiping the remaining tears away, she tried to think of where these alleged "photos" came from, since she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she'd never once interacted with or traded information with a spy, nor had she ever made contact with anyone who could be construed as having association with one. It was likely that the photos Ada mentioned were fakes or doctored, but who could've made them? Was it an actual spy or their associate, hoping to frame them to throw the SSS of their trail, or was it a fellow employee at Ikitsuke Café, wanting to remove the competition for promotion?

Kacey shook her head, hating herself for thinking so lowly of her fellow employees as Mark gently placed a hand on hers to help calm her down. There was nothing they could do right now but hope that they could convince the SSS of their innocence when they got to the Headquarters. If they could just see the photos, then maybe they'd be able to point out oddities to prove them false. But the minute that hope entered her head, it just as quickly vanished, for she knew by word of mouth that the SSS were unforgiving and ruthless by nature. Sure, David seemed nice enough, but that was just one decent officer amidst an ocean of brutal, uncaring spy hunters who'd stop at nothing to eliminate any and all threats to Ostania. Her mind spiraled down that rabbit hole, further convincing herself that they were as good as dea-

"What the shit!?" Ada screeched as David suddenly stopped the car, cutting off Kacey's line of thought. She and Mark lurched forward, foreheads almost hitting metal mesh partition, then snapping in reverse, the backs of their heads hitting their seats. Looking up, Kacey saw a black truck zoom away, having driven while the SSS's light was green and almost ran into them.

"... David," Ada muttered, "Did you see the rear end of that truck? It looked like-"

"Like it had bloodstains on it? Yeah, I saw," David, his kind tone gone, stepped on the gas and drove after the truck, Kacey and Mark leaning back at the sudden burst of speed. The car's siren went off as they chased down the speeding truck, which didn't even bother swerving when an opposing car was on a collision course with it. Only by luck and the other driver's reflexes did it not collide with the speeder or the SSS car, and even then, only barely.

"Jesus!" Mark gasped as Kacey clung to him.

"S-Shouldn't you leave this to regular police?" Kacey asked, actually hoping to get to SSS Headquarters now so she wouldn't have to be in such a dangerous position. As if answering her prayers, a police siren sounded in the distance, an average cop car soon joining them. "There, see?" She pointed out as the police cruiser overtook them to chase the speeder, "Now how about we leave this to the appropriate authorities so we can be taken in for-"

Kacey found herself cut off when, from her position, she could see the black, bloodstained truck swerve, now driving backward to face its pursuers.

"...q-questioning?"

TSCHE-CHU-CHU!

Upon the sound of shifting metal, something happened that she couldn't see, but whatever it was, it made a loud boom noise ring out. Her eyes went wide as the police car in front of them exploded and went up in flames, rolling on its side as David swerved to the left and barely avoided it. Kacey and Mark braced themselves as the chase continued, the truck in front of them effortlessly turning forward and speeding up as if nothing happened.

"That is..." Ada stared in shock, "Not a civilian driver."

"And highly armed, from the looks of it," David nodded, his gaze now steely as he patched into the radio on dash, alerting SSS HQ that they were in pursuit of a possible terrorist before giving the street and their current location in Berlint, as well as requesting backup. Kacey couldn't really think about that now that she the gravity of her situation: She and Mark were arrested, stuck in the back of an SSS car, and in the middle of a high-speed chase with actual terrorists!

We're going to die, we're going to die, we're going to die! Kacey was hyperventilating now, Mark desperately trying to calm her down as the SSS car chased the terrorist left right, uphill, downhill, across corners and more.

"Can't you just drop us off somewhere if you're gonna be fighting terrorists?" Mark asked, his voice shaky and terrified.

"Not happening!" Ada yelled, sounding almost accusatory, as if she expected them to make a break for it the instant they were let out. If Kacey was being honest with herself, she most certainly would've run for the hills with Mark in tow.

"But they'll kill us!" Kacey screamed back, anger entering her voice at how callous the officer was.

"Look, I'm sorry. If we stop now, we risk them getting away, and there aren't any SSS officers nearby to provide support right now," David made another sharp turn, still maintaining a close, yet safe distance from the black truck, "When we corner them, stay in the car. The glass is bulletproof. Just lay low until backup arrives, and you should be safe."

"Should be!?" Kacey and Mark yelled at once. At this point, she was pretty sure that both of them didn't care if they got thrown into a slammer despite their innocence. They just wanted to be anywhere but here.

"Hold on!" David made one final sharp turn, chasing the terrorist straight down the empty concrete walkway of a port, one that Kacey recognized as where cruise ships would dock for oceanic vacations. Even at this speed, she could see that the port was devoid of ships, giving way to the vast oceans stretching out as far as the eye could see. Eventually, they came to a sudden stop, everyone jerking forward as they all stared ahead at the terrorist's truck. It'd reached the end of the port, having shifted mid-drive to face them, only to now just... sit there. Not a hint of activity came from the truck, the tinted windows and darkness of night making it impossible to see what was going on within, even with the SSS car's headlights illuminating the opposing vehicle.

"Stay put and keep your heads down, got it?" Ada barked the order as she and David (who flashed them an apologetic glance) pulled out their pistols and stepped out of the car, "Nowhere to run! Step out of the vehicle and put your hands in the air!"

Kacey clutched at her head, mind still swimming in fear and slowly dimming anger at everything happening. But as she ran a hand through her blond locks, she felt at her hairpin and blinked. Pulling the accessory off, she got an idea amidst the SSS ordering the terrorist out and looked to her boyfriend.

"Mark, you remember those lockpicking lessons from Summer camp when we were teens?"

Mark looked at the hairpin, eyes widening in realization. "Yeah, I remember," he nodded, taking the hairpin, "Hold still. I'll have this done quick."

In the background, she heard Ada's yelling get more aggressive (well, more than it already was) while letting Mark go to work on the cuffs. Thankfully, it took very little time to break her out, letting Kacey rub at her wrists before Mark gave her the pin. However, before she could get to work, the sound of gunfire rang out, making her and Mark freeze in panic. Looking up, they saw through the partition that Ada had opened fire on the truck, though nothing seemed to happen. The windshield didn't even look like it had a scratch on it.

"Ada, what the hell!?"

"They didn't get out, so I shot them! What did you think was gonna happen!?"

As the two SSS officers went into an argument, Kacey, now a little relieved, started lockpicking her boyfriend's cuffs, getting him out just as quickly. She moved to open her door, but it wouldn't budge, "Crap, should've guessed."

"There's gotta be loose screw or something we can break through," Mark started searching around the metal mesh, hoping for anything while Kacey searched the floor. If luck was on their side, maybe the SSS officers or a previous detainee left a screwdriver lying around. Anything they could use would work. As she did this, Kacey took a brief glance through the car windshield to see the officers near the truck, Ada kicking at the shotgun door.

"Anything?" Kacey asked.

"Nothing," Mark sighed, "Should've known it wouldn't be that easy."

Kacey grabbed at the mesh and started shaking it, watching as David approached the driver's door with his gun trained on it while his partner reloaded her clip. Looking back at her boyfriend, Kacey said, "Okay, new plan: We brute force this thing down and drive away. It doesn't seem too durable, so if we put enough strength in, maybe we could-"

Suddenly, a bright green light blinded them both, forcing Kacey and Mark to cover their eyes as they winced, "ARGH!"

They heard David and Ada cry out in shock, the light lasting several seconds before it finally died down. Her vision returning, Kacey looked down at herself and saw she was uninjured, seeing the same for Mark. They both looked back outside the windshield to see the officers staring at the truck, whose front lights were suddenly glaring at all of them.

And then it... it transformed.

TSCHE-CHU-CHU-CHU-TSCHE!

Oh my God, Kacey covered her mouth, unable to comprehend what she was seeing. Even with her limited angle of vision, she watched as the truck turned into a mechanical giant that towered over all of them, red eyes and a metallic grey face briefly visible before it stood to full height. Despite this, she could almost feel the machine glaring down at them.

"What the hell is that thing!?" Ada screamed, aiming her gun.

"I don't know! Open fire! Open fire!" David yelled back as the two unloaded their clips at the robot, who didn't seem phased in the slightest. Gunfire echoed until Ada started backing away as her clip ran out. But just as she reached to reload, the machine lifted a foot back and delivered a kick that sent her flying right at the SSS vehicle. Kacey and Mark yelped, clutching at each other as the windshield cracked, broken glass clattering along the dash while blood dripped into the car. Ada's limp body sprawled out against the crumpled hood, blocking their vision.

"You bastard!" She heard David yell out, followed by more gunfire and what sounded like attempts at avoiding attacks. Attempts being the operative word, as what followed was a scream of agony and a loud, wet squelching sound. Then mechanical shifting rang out into the air and Kacey heard-

I-Is that a buzzsaw!?

"Nonononono-" David screamed as the saws came down on him, causing Kacey and Mark to duck low in the back, hoping to not be seen. She couldn't see anything, but she heard it. Every haunting noise, every shatter of bone, every bloodcurdling cry. She heard it all. Desperately, she prayed and prayed and prayed for some form of escape to reveal itself, but she knew there was none. As Mark held her close, she shut her eyes and waited for the inevitable-

Suddenly, the side door swung open, causing their heads to snap up in panic and turn. To their shock, it was Ada, still alive and having pulled herself off the hood of the car. She was bruised, her left arm a mangled, dangling mess, hunched over with a back covered in blood, and barely breathing, but she was alive.

"Go..." Ada's voice was nothing but a hoarse moan, "Get out... of... here. Ru... RUN!"

Kacey and Mark didn't spare a second thought, immediately moving for the door. Right before they could reach it, however, the car was hoisted into the air, forcing them to crawl back and hold on for dear life. The car moved with such speed and movement slammed the door shut again, Mark's grip on his seat loosening as he slammed into her, knocking both of them to the opposite end and leaving Kacey in a bit of a daze. It felt as if they were being swung around like a baseball bat, a loud, crunching thump heard as the car was suddenly stopped mid-air, once more sending them flying to the other side of the back.

"Ooooww..." Mark groaned in pain, Kacey barely stifling her own as she forced herself up, feeling like the back of the car was tilted at a downward angle. As her vision cleared, she helped her boyfriend to his knees, only to gasp when she saw the window of the side door to see a giant splatter of blood plastered on it. It didn't take her long to realize who it belonged to.

"S-Shit..." Kacey stuttered as the car's angle shifted again, a faint red light coming from the windshield. Turning, she and Mark looked down the angle and saw the machine's face look up at them through fractured, bloodstained glass. "D-Door!" Kacey panicked, "Mark, the door!"

"On it!" Mark quickly moved to open the door again, only for it to refuse to budge. Realizing the door closing locked it again, Kacey rushed to the door on her side and tried in vain to open it, hoping against hope that amidst all the swinging, something was knocked loose to let it unlock. When that failed, she just grabbed at the metal mesh partition and shook at it, Mark helping her as they were desperate for it to loosen or come off the hinges or just something that'd get them out of here!

"Dammit!" Kacey cried, tears streaming down her face as the couple started punching at it, getting nothing for their efforts. Fully drained and having given up, only now did she realize that the robot hadn't done anything. It just stared, watching their desperation. And then, to her horror, she saw through the blood and glass to witness its full expression.

It smiled at them, a sinister glint in its eyes as it bore shimmering metal teeth, looking far too human to belong on this monstrosity's face.

W-What are you? Kacey didn't have the strength to even whisper anymore as the machine started swinging the car again, feeling as if they were being spun like a wrecking ball. Just as quickly, she felt gravity weaken, the outside world becoming a turning blob of stars, the moon, and the ocean below. The port, meanwhile, grew smaller and smaller each time it became visible between spins. Looking to Mark, she saw the same hopelessness in his eyes as he returned her gaze. The couple did the only thing they could do anymore.

Giving each other one final kiss, they hugged, sobbing into each other's shoulders. Kacey's thoughts turned to her parents, her family, the friends she grew up with, the friends she'd lost, the customers she'd served and cherished, and her beloved Kopi. All of them she cared for, all of whom she'd never see again. She wondered if they'd even remember her. As the car made impact with the cold waters below, her final thought arose, and would soon wither alongside her.

Goodbye everyone. I'll... I'll miss you all...

Yuri struggled to keep his breathing even as he surveyed the scene at the pier. Kneeling down, he took a closer look at Officer Ada's blood-soaked corpse, all her limbs looking like they'd been dislocated, shards of broken glass lodged deep in her back. His fellow officers, one of whom being Jeffrey, stood nearby, photographing the body from every angle to analyze the wounds at HQ. Looking over his shoulder, Yuri saw the Lieutenant, Gascoigne, and Chloe alongside a few others staring down the remains of David. And if Ada's wounds were stomach churning... he didn't even want to think about what David went through.

While the likes of the First Lieutenant and Gascoigne maintained stoic demeanors, Yuri could see in their eyes just how horrified they were by the aftermath. Chloe didn't even bother hiding hers, mouth covered as if she was trying to hold back bile. She had more luck than the older officer just behind her, who walked off and started purging the contents of his stomach in the ocean waters nearby. Turning his head back, he saw that even Jeffrey looked too disgusted to continue and headed back for the large, dark green SSS truck that brought them here. Sighing, Yuri stood up, feeling like he was about to puke himself, and walked over to regroup.

"Anything?" He asked upon approach.

"No. Nothing," Chloe gulped and managed to recompose herself, "The wounds aren't making much sense either," she kneeled down and pointed, "See these? They look like gashes from a sawblade, but..."

"If it was one, it doesn't match any I've seen or read," Yuri understood, focusing on the mystery at hand to keep his mind off the more gruesome bits, even though two came hand-in-hand. Part of the job was being able to recognize what weapons caused what wounds. He'd already taken to studying such a thing long before becoming a Counterintelligence Operative, since it'd make patching up said injuries all the easier. But this? The gashes were far too large, drilling deep into the concrete of the port itself with a pattern unknown from any legally (and illegally) available blade. The most Yuri could gauge was that it must've been a personalized weapon, but the sheer size and power left him baffled.

And that isn't the only thing that doesn't make sense about this, Yuri looked back at Ada's body and looked up to the second story of the building. His eyes met a large splatter of blood, her blood, where the body made impact before plummeting to the ground. It's clear she'd been thrown with enough force to reach such a height and cause the impact, but he didn't know of anything with the strength or dexterity to do so. Making matters even more confusing was the glass shards lodged in her back. He knew that exact type of glass as what the SSS used for their vehicles, designed to be bulletproof and very tough to break.

But there's the other mystery, Yuri now turned to Ada and David's SSS patrol car, parked a few yards away from David's remains. Aside from the blood coating part of the front and rear, it was perfectly intact without a single dent or broken window. Which begged the question: How did Ada get it lodged in her back if the only amount present was undamaged and where it was supposed to be?

The subject of presence brought his mind to the distinct lack of two. When Ada and David called in, they described the truck they'd been chasing, yet there was no sign of it. Oh sure, Yuri knew whatever bastard did this would run when the chance presented itself, but there should've been an indication of that, especially when their escape would've naturally been hasty. Where were the skid marks? What about traces of exhaust fluid from the car's tailpipe? The entire scene seemed like all that'd ever been here were the bodies and their car.

And then came the lacking presence of the suspects they'd said to have arrested beforehand. Much like the truck, there was no trace of them, and he personally doubted they were in on the slaughter. Between when their arrest happened and when the attack started, everything went by too quickly and felt too much like happenstance for them to have been affiliated with the attackers.

So, we have one officer slammed into a building, both at a height and with strength that shouldn't be possible, not to mention glass shard wounds that make even less sense. We have another killed with a weapon that shouldn't exist. We have a getaway vehicle that up and vanished into thin air. And we have two missing potential spies or their associates, Yuri rubbed at his temples, feeling sicker the longer he stayed here. But he kept that feeling locked down. His fellow officers were dead and there was a terrorist (or terrorists) on the loose, possibly threatening innocent lives at this very moment. He made a vow to protect this country and its people no matter the cost to himself, be it physical or mental. He'd see that promise through and stop at nothing to bring any who dared spill blood in his family's home to justice.

"Second Lieutenant Briar," The First Lieutenant drew his attention and tossed a set of keys, which he easily caught. He gestured for Chloe to join them and continued, "You two take their patrol car back to HQ. We'll focus on cleaning up this mess. From there, you can call it a night."

Yuri opened his mouth to protest, insisting that he remain to try and piece together the mystery, and by extension, find the culprit. However, the stern gaze leveled at him kept those words in his throat. While he understood why, given their role being to bury anything that could cause a panic amidst Ostania's public (a blood covered patrol car in the middle of a pier very much being one such thing), he couldn't help but feel patronized.

He must have seen my reactions earlier, Yuri nodded and made his way towards the formerly owned Patrol Car, Chloe in tow, Really need to develop a stomach for this. If I'm squirming on the inside right now, what am I gonna do when I have to face Twilight?

He wouldn't stand for that. To protect those he cherished, he needed to be better. And he would be, no matter what.

Getting into the driver's seat, Yuri felt hit by this... odd wave of dread. He couldn't describe where it'd come from or why he felt this way but sitting here just felt wrong somehow, almost as if he was being watched. Unable to find an answer, he shook it off as jitters brought about by the current environment and took the steering wheel. When he did, however, he saw a symbol, reminding him so much of the one on Loidy's car. Yet this one was far more angular, eyes in a glare and lacking a mouth.

"Yuri?" Chloe snapped him out of it, "Are... are you gonna drive or..."

"Yeah, sorry," Yuri turned on the ignition and slowly made his way out of the pier, entering the roads of Ostania on route to State Security Service Headquarters. Throughout the drive, he occasionally glanced at Chloe, who gazed out the window in a mix of revulsion and shame. He wanted to stay quiet, a combination of socializing not being his strong suit and wanting to give her the needed space to process things, yet the nagging feeling brought about just by being in this car kept bugging him. Silence felt worse, so he cleared his throat and asked, "Are you alright, Chloe?"

"... No," Chloe sighed, "It's just... I've seen and read a lot of reports. I know how gruesome things can get. Yet seeing something like that..." Yuri couldn't do much more than quietly agree and let her continue, "I guess I just can't process any of this. Why would someone do that? How could they do something like that?"

"Monsters don't need reasons. It's just what they are," Yuri replied with a low growl, anger at the perpetrator returning as his drive to bring them to justice grew stronger. Strangely, his answer didn't seem to satisfy Chloe at all. If anything, it seemed to piss her off, but she looked too emotionally drained to give a biting remark. Seeing as it didn't help, he returned to silence and endured the dread hanging over him, continuously dismissing it as paranoia.

By the time they returned to HQ, he felt on the verge of falling asleep, having worked around the clock all day and yesterday. As Chloe headed home and bid him goodnight, he opted to stay here for the time being. Pulling out a pair of cloths, he wiped a bit of blood from the front with one and from the back with another. He knew by the morning, the car would be cleaned off of any blood and grime, but until then...

I'll do some analyzing, see if this will lead me anywhere, Yuri exited the SSS garage and flicked the main switch, shutting down the lights. As each light dimmed, he turned and headed down the halls, the bloody patrol car now hidden in darkness and a river of lookalikes.

Chapter Text

"Okay, this ID will get you into Doust Industries second section," Frankie explained, revealing the portfolio beneath said ID that contained data on the manufacturer's newest fighter jet as he passed it forward along the counter of his tobacco kiosk. Like clockwork, Twilight gave his thanks discretely took the files and stuffed them in the inner pocket of his beige trench coat. Maybe it was because he was in a worried, moderately bad mood lately, but Frankie couldn't help letting out an annoyed huff, "You know, this isn't free."

Twilight glanced at him slightly, raising an eyebrow, "Is something bothering you, Frankie? You've been getting more and more agitated over the last week."

"Can't get anything past you, can I?" Frankie asked, snark in his voice as he was caught off-guard. Normally, when it came to Loid, he'd ask if there was any other information available, which Frankie would give him and be on his merry way. But it seemed Frankie was doing a crap job keeping his concerns in check, so he sighed and answered, "You know about my favorite waitress, Kacey?"

"Problems with your love life as usual, I take it?" Twilight, as always, sounded annoyed at the subject. He looked almost ready to walk off, but was remaining in place, probably to humor him. And any other day, Frankie wouldn't have a problem tormenting his longtime friend/business associate into helping him with his romantic endeavors, if only because of how smoothly the man's own relationship with Yor was going. But this was serious, so Frankie could only shake his head.

"No, it's something else. She's been missing for a while now."

Though Twilight's posture remained the same, he was giving the discussion more attention, "She could just be out on a vacation."

Frankie nodded, "That's what I thought too when I was visiting Ikitsuke, but then I started asking her coworkers. She never told them anything about a vacation, and the amount of time she'd been gone by that point was a bit suspect. According to them, her vacations never last any longer than five days, but she'd been out for a full week. Not to mention her… boyfriend, is missing too." He couldn't help but grumble at the word, but he did what he could to stow any pain he felt away. Missing people were far more important than his (lack of a) love life. "Topping it off, one the first day she'd been gone, one of the cafe workers said they'd found her cat locked in. He ran out the moment they opened the doors and hasn't been seen since."

"I may not be familiar with her, but it's safe to surmise that leaving her pet like that is beyond out of character for her, isn't it?" Twilight asked, giving his full attention, Frankie affirmed the question. Kacey loved Kopi more than almost anything. If she'd actually gone on a (longer than normal) vacation, she'd take him with her, no questions asked.

And then there's all the stuff I'd been learning since then, Frankie had started getting in touch with his contacts to try and find her, her boyfriend, and her cat. While there were one or two sightings of a cat matching Kopi's description, the damn thing was long gone before Frankie could even get there. As for Kacey and Mark, his sources on what happened came up dry, save for Jeffrey, who had some details from his spy work in the SSS. Apparently, there was an arrest of two people either at or around Ikitsuke Café, and while the suspects were never given any description, he was 99% certain on exactly who they were.

Which leads us into… that...

Not wanting to think too much on the nastier details, he shook his head. With them being in a civilian area (anyone who could hear was too far, but best not to chance it) Frankie kept his voice low. His words were vague, but understandable, "You heard anything from Jeff lately? Something he said about the port?"

"… I see," Twilight murmured, Frankie able to see him almost instantly put two-and-two together. He'd likely already gotten Jeffrey's full report from Handler. Having recently read it himself, the informant almost wished he hadn't, what with the highly detailed descriptions of the two SSS officers' gruesome murder. Coupled with the photo copies sent… well, having been both a former soldier for the Ostanian Army and an informant connected to the criminal underworld, he could tell a lot about a killer based off how they left the bodies, and he could tell Twilight was very much the same in that regard.

While he'd never seen them in action, nor seen the aftermath (it was rare of them to ever leave evidence behind), Frankie heard through the grapevine every rumor about Garden and how their assassins operated. Bloody and borderline superhuman as their killings could be, there was a mechanical nature to them. From what he could gather about Garden, it was a job (a dirty one, but still a job) that needed to be done, nothing more and nothing less. Back during the war, he'd worked with (and was) the same, at least until he realized the pointlessness of it all and deserted.

But then there were the other kinds, Frankie mused, having seen them from both Ostania and Westalis back then. The kind of people who stabbed bodies with bayonets long after they'd died, who laughed as the bullet went through someone's heart, and treated war like it was some sick little numbers game. The world of an informant just as much introduced him to those kinds of people outside of war too, always lurking in the shadows for a would-be victim to sink their teeth into. Whoever was responsible for killing those SSS Officers clearly loved what they were doing. And if Kacey and Mark were there, then-

"From the sound of things, it might be too late already," Twilight interjected, as if reading his thoughts, which kinda scared him for a second. Both because of the implications, and because the thought of anyone with telepathy scared the shit out of him.

Good thing we live in reality, where psychic powers don't exist.

"It did cross my mind, but…" Frankie paused. Twilight read the full report already, so he'd know where the informant was going with this.

"… they weren't there," He finished for him.

"Bingo," That last detail definitely kept Frankie up for a couple nights just trying to put together the possibilities. It was impossible to tell if any of the blood at the crime scene was theirs, given how nothing could be gleamed from Jeffrey's report (not to mention the SSS erased all physical evidence of the scene). However, the report did state that the SSS officers had been chasing a truck driven by the likely culprit of the murders, and that it'd vanished into thin air before other officers arrived, with the arrested "spies" nowhere to be found.

"Frankie," Twilight sighed, understanding and reluctance evident in his tone, "Even if they were taken, it doesn't sound like whoever is responsible for that would be the type to let them live."

"I know. Trust me. I know," Frankie sighed in kind, taking note of how the streets were now mostly empty save for the occasionally passing car. Despite what some thought, he wasn't a hapless idiot. The descriptions and images of the scene alone were enough to tell him that Kacey and Mark were likely already dead, yet he still wanted to try and fine them. Could he be accused of being a hopeless romantic doing this more for Kacey's sake? Absolutely. He'd admit that was part of the reason and he deserved a good wallop to the face for it. Though he'd rather avoid that, ugly as he already was.

But being completely honest, Frankie wanted to find both of them because, if they were still alive, someone had to help them. He knew the SSS wouldn't do a thing and were more than likely to bury any evidence that they were missing at all. Unless it was someone important or high up in the political food chain, someone whose disappearance they couldn't hide, they wouldn't care. Plus, the killer was still out there, and odds were that following the trail would help WISE in taking them down. More importantly, if Kacey and Mark were dead, then doing this might lead him to the bodies.

After the war, he'd seen so many families mourn the loss of loved ones, with absolutely nothing, not even a corpse, coming back. Frankie knew what that felt like all too well. While he knew nothing of Kacey and Mark's families, but they deserved better than empty caskets. Nobody deserved to suffer through that.

Hearing Twilight's footsteps, he looked up to see his longtime friend fully turn to face him. His expression was stone, yet the sympathetic look in his eyes was bright as day, "What can I do to help?"

"You're serious?"

Twilight nodded, "There may not be much I can do, and I'm likely to get more incoming work. That's not even getting into what I have this afternoon, so it'll have to be at a later time. But if I can help even in increments-"

"Even that'll be more than enough from you, believe me," Frankie smiled, feeling just a bit easier now. Twilight's work was as Loid Forger in Operation: STRIX, was top priority for him and WISE as a whole. He didn't know how long his request would take, so he understood if his friend couldn't help as much as he'd like. But he'd take what he could get. Although…

"On the subject of this afternoon," Frankie sighed and shook his head.

"You weren't able to get one?" Twilight asked, to which he received another head shake, "That's fine. Compared to Doust, Blackbell Heavy Industries is much more wound tight when it comes to security. Indirectly getting an ID was a long shot."

"Don't have to tell me twice," Frankie huffed, disappointed in himself and his contacts for being unable to get it. After the whole parent/teacher conference, Anya's friend, Becky Blackbell, was able to talk her parents into scheduling a tour for the Forgers in one of their facilities. More specifically, the facility housing and analyzing the pod remnants the Ostanian Military discovered.

While the plan had been for Frankie to snag an ID so he could forge copies for Agents Nightfall, that didn't work as they'd been hoping. Seemed like Twilight would have to add to his reconnaissance mission and sneak an ID out during the upcoming tour. From there, Twilight would forward Nightfall the layout and potential security threats while Frankie worked his patented brand of "forging magic". Then it was a matter of Nightfall infiltrating the factory, learning any new data BHI gathered on the mystery pod (plus any new details on whatever weapons and equipment they were making), and sending said intel back to WISE.

"Well, good luck," Frankie wished him, flashing a thumbs up, "And thanks again for helping."

Giving a smile honestly more fitting of his fatherly Loid Forger identity, Twilight replied, "You're welcome. Though before I forget-"

Yeah right. It'll be a cold day in Hell before you actually forget something, Sometimes, Frankie envied Twilight's ability to memorize countless minute details and retain them seemingly forever. Seemed just as much like a pain in the ass though.

"-did you get the pictures of those group members I asked for?"

Sighing, Frankie replied, "Yeah, that'll take a while. My contact got axed off, unfortunately."

"SSS?"

"No, something far worse: An urban legend," Frankie gave Twilight a serious glance, "What do you know about Garden?"

"-orn… Princess… T-Thorn… Princess…"

Yuri dragged the bloodied terrorist scum by his blonde hair, the First Lieutenant opening the apartment door for them to exit down the halls, considering this case completed.

It'd been a fairly recent one, with them receiving civilian eyewitness reports regarding a waiter, their coworker, at a local restaurant. They said he was acting suspicious one day and seemed suspiciously focused on a lovely couple they'd been serving that evening, spending the whole time monitoring on them. When he'd been given the case and available information from the restaurant, he got to work immediately, wanting to make certain that whoever this guy was had no ill intent. But then, while reading the reservation list and the staff's words on the matter, Yuri learned that the couple in question was the Forgers.

His sister.

For a fleeting moment, he wanted to just rush out and arrest the bastard then and there, but then he remembered Chloe's words. He was an officer of the SSS and had to be above that, so he took a good few minutes to calm himself down and got to work alongside his superior, starting with spying on and monitoring the man. The first couple of days didn't reveal much, him coming off as being a simple civilian with a loving girlfriend named Catherine, whom he lived with. Yet even outside his personal issues, Yuri suspected something was off about the man.

So he did some digging into his personal history from the SSS archives kept regarding civilians who had trouble with the law. Turns out, the man had quite a history going against Ostania's government in his youth, spotted doing everything from minor offenses such as loitering in front of government buildings to acts of vandalism, such as defacing both a police precinct and Minister Windsor's mansion. The latter act got him arrested, after which he did his time and went clean.

Now that would've been enough for Yuri to suggest packing it in and calling a day. Even if the man was being a creep on his sister, he'd done his time years ago and all accounts of his behavior throughout SSS monitoring showed he was genuine in trying to be an honest, law abiding citizen. But then, as he watched taped surveillance of the man's various visitors from his time in prison and considered calling the case a dud, he noticed the final visitor and felt a chill run up his spine. There wasn't any audio and the footage was grainy, but the man's narrow, cold eyes and how he seemed to be assessing the prisoner made Yuri worry. He seemed almost like a recruiter of some kind.

As he watched the two talk in the old footage, Yuri went through every file he could, working into the night to figure out the man's identity. Bastard had one hell of a record, as he'd learned, piecing together who he was.

Red Circus Leader: Billy Squire.

Seen meeting up with the guy after he was let out for parole too, Yuri watched the recordings from outside the prison, where the far off figure he could still identify as Squire shook hands with the newly freed man outside the gate. It all indicated that their suspect's actions drew the attention of Red Circus and their leader went in to recruit him. That was enough for the First Lieutenant to recommend they head in and take him, but Yuri wasn't keen on it, if only because the man's girlfriend was still home with him. She seemed like a sweet woman, unaware of who she was with, so he suggested they wait until their target was alone. Nobody should have to witness their loved ones, even if said loved ones were lying, worthless, no good stains on society, get taken away from them.

When the circumstances lined up and the man was alone, Yuri and his superior went in, knocking on the apartment door. Their target opened up, eyes going wide at the sight as the First Lieutenant asked him to come quietly. His response was an attempt to shut the door, prompting Yuri to kick it down and send him flying back. He ran for the couch and pulled a gun from beneath the cushions, his last coherent words being, "SSS BASTARDS!"

Big mistake.

Yuri was on him before he could pull the trigger, crushing his wrist with ease. He followed that up with hook and backfist to the sides of his face, knocking teeth out of his jaw before grabbing the scuff of his shirt and headbutting the terrorist's own forehead. Trails of blood pour from his swollen mouth, cheeks, and head. His eyes were bruised black and he likely couldn't see, but he was still breathing and could be questioned later. Looking over to his superior, who nodded, the two SSS officers headed out, people coming out of their apartments only to run back inside, terror at the sight of them evident on their faces.

"-ild assassins… orn Princess… all dead..."

And now the terrorist was inanely rambling in his battered, beaten state. It was slurred, muffled, and coming out as gibberish, but Yuri was able to piece together what he'd been muttering about. Something about someone called "Thorn Princess" and how she tore through his terrorist colleagues, saying (or at least Yuri assumed) that she was like a hot knife slicing through butter and operating with surgical precision. There was also mention of a garden of corpses, and something about her employing children as assassins to assist in her attacks.

At first, Yuri wanted to brush all this off as the nonsense of a traitor to this country, but as the First Lieutenant walked beside him, he noticed something out the corner of his eye. With each passing utterance, his superior would glance or flinch ever so slightly, a knowing look in his eyes as his jaw clenched in concern. The micro reactions hinted to Yuri that he knew what the man was talking about, and by extension, that there was more than a bit of truth to the terrorist's ramblings. He wasn't sure if the First Lieutenant had past run-ins with this assassin or if he'd just heard the name, but Yuri was fairly certain of one thing...

Whoever this Thorn Princess is, she sounds like a complete psychopath, Yuri walked out of the building and into the alleyway, the First Lieutenant closing the door behind them. On the one hand, whoever this assassin was, she easily took care of a portion of the Red Circus terrorist group for them. But then there's the fact that doing so actually made their job harder, given they now only had one of said cell's survivors, who could only give so much information. That's without factoring how he had no clue if Thorn Princess was a singular assassin or part of some organization. Then there was the bit about employing children in her dirty work, which was beyond worrying.

For now, I'll focus on finding and capturing Twilight, Yuri reminded himself of his top priority, But after that, I'll bring in this "Thorn Princess" next. I can't let monsters like that threaten innocent people.

As they exited the alleyway, they turned left to where the SSS patrol car was parked. Like within the building, any passerby civilians either turned and power-walked in the opposite direction or actively tried to avert their gaze. Despite understanding the State Security Service's feared reputation, Yuri still didn't get why civilians acted this way when they were seen on the job. So long as they weren't committing crimes against their country, either through spying for Westalis, acts of terrorism, or otherwise, people had no reason to worry. However, he lost that train of thought as the car came into view, "What the-"

"HIIISSS!" Standing on the sidewalk right next to the car was a North Blue cat with a bell around its neck. It was covered in dirt and grime, smelled like shit even from this distance, and looked like it hadn't eaten in days. Not to mention it kept hissing at their SSS car like it was a snake coming out of the grass. Feeling bad for the poor thing, Yuri handed the terrorist scum to his superior and slowly approached the cat in a placating manner. Once close, he recollected on a time when his sister did the same for a starving dog when they were children and reached into his uniform pocket to unwrap a protein bar, good for animals to east just as much as humans.

Here you go little guy. This should be enough for-

"HIIIISSSS!"

The cat's back arched, teeth bared as it glared at him like he was the snake. Yuri leaned up in shock, but before he could process that any further, the cat ran away, already across the street by the time he stood to full height.

What did I do? He wondered, not seeing what he did wrong that could've set the thing off like that.

"At least that took care of itself," the First Lieutenant walked up to him, "Help me get this guy in. We'll take him back to HQ for interrogation."

"Yes sir," Yuri decided to forget about the cat for now and focused on his work. As the scumbag groaned, he opened the door and shoved him into the backseat of the patrol car. Slamming it shut, he went to the shotgun seat while the First Lieutenant took driver's seat, starting the car while Yuri's eyes landed on the steering wheel.

More specifically, the symbol on the steering wheel.

SSS patrol cars weren't exactly owned by any individual officer, so they got cycled between them frequently. It wasn't an issue, since they were all the same in terms of appearance and functionality. Yet every single time Yuri found himself in this specific car, his skin crawled and he felt like bolting for the hills. The symbol always made it clear which car this was, and not only did it remind him of the disturbing scene from that night, but it was just plain creepy to look at. Yuri felt like it, and by extension the car, was an omen of some kind, and he just couldn't explain how or why.

"You're staring at it again," The First Lieutenant grunted, drawing Yuri from his musings as the older man drove.

"Sorry sir."

"Something you want to get off your mind?"

"Well…" Actually, there were a lot of things he wanted to get off his mind, if only to find some way to make sense of them. Ever since he witnessed the aftermath of that bloodbath, he'd been trying to piece together what happened, but to very little avail. "I guess my mind's still on that night at the port," Yuri explained, "For starters, I had the blood we found on this car analyzed."

"What did you find?"

"That the blood around the front of the car was David's, and the blood around the back was a combination of Ada's and deer blood."

His superior stopped at the red light, the only noise present being the mumbling of the terrorist in the back. He shifted his eyes to Yuri and raised an eyebrow, "Deer blood?" Yuri nodded as the light shifted to green, "How and why was a deer that far off from a forest?"

"Yeah, and how did it get to a terrorist attack at the port of all places?" Yuri threw in another question he had no answer for (of which there were too many to count at this point), and glanced at the steering wheel again, "And then there's that symbol…"

"What about it?"

"I've seen it before. It was on the steering wheel of Loid's car."

His superior sighed, "Second Lieutenant…"

"Only it was red, less angular, and looked more like a face than a mask."

"Briar-"

"And sure, they look different enough, but at the same time, they're way too similar to each other. There's gotta be a connection somehow that-"

"Yuri!" The First Lieutenant cut him off, letting there be a brief lull of silence before he sighed again, "Tell me you're not considering the idea that you're brother-in-law had anything to do with that."

"What? No! It's just that the symbols' resemblance doesn't seem coincidental," Yuri chided at the accusation. Yes, he despised Loidy (and his Chihuahua girl of a brat) almost as much as he loved his sweet sister, but there was no way he had any hand in that event. The man was many things (insufferably pleasant, insufferably talented, insufferably sociable, insufferably perfect and not the least bit suspicious and completely undeserving of Yor), but a superhuman sadist wasn't one of them.

Besides, Yuri knew and had confirmation that he'd been at Eden Academy's PTA meeting at the time.

"Either way, don't let your in-law distract you. And much as I'd also like to hunt that bastard down, we have too many cases at the moment. Boss says we can't afford to devote any time to what's currently a dead end. You'll have to wait for something to pop up first."

"Yes sir…"

"As for the symbols, it's probably just decal one of our officers bought at a kiosk," His superior hummed, "Would explain why Loid has a similar one if they got it from the same vendor."

"Right…" Yuri leaned back in his seat, not buying it, but not voicing it either. Even outside the gruesomeness, the nonsensical nature of it just gave him a headache. There was just something about that whole scene that didn't sit right, that he needed to figure out.

"Tell you what," The First Lieutenant's tone became a lot less reserved and gruff, "After we interrogate this Red Circus trash, we'll see about gathering the others to hit the bar. Something to honor David and Ada. If nothing else, we can put their ghosts to rest."

"Sure," He replied neutrally, not exactly in the mood for the bar if he was being honest. He'd feel a lot better putting his nose to the grindstone. If anything, once interrogation was over, he'd get to work on the other cases he needed to take a look at. Gazing into the side view mirror, he tried to clear his… his head and-Wait, huh?

Yuri stared blankly at the mirror, watching as it seemed to almost slowly turn towards him. He opened his mouth and started facing his superior to ask why he shifted it, but then he noticed that even the rear view mirror seemed to be turning all on its own. Knowing that was impossible, he felt a drop of sweat roll down his brow and fully turned to see that the other door's side mirror had also shifted. His eyes focused on each one, noticing how all of them focused solely on him.

It was… it honestly felt like there were countless eyes on him, watching his every move like he was in a sniper's line of sight. The dread from before returned stronger than ever, and the more he stared at his reflection, the more he wanted to shatter it down to the last shard. He barely managed to refrain himself from that, taking a ragged breath as his fist clenched against the leg of his pants. Slowly leaning forward, he tried to relax despite his eyes never leaving any of the mirrors, Calm down Yuri. You're letting yourself get worked up over something silly. You're probably just projecting that night onto the car and your imagination's running wil-

-and then, faster than he could blink, all the mirrors followed him.

Yuri gasped, nearly jumping in his seat, What the-

"Yuri, you alright? You're looking pale," His superior's worried voice snapped him out of it. Blinking, he briefly turned to him before looking around, glancing at all the mirrors to see that they were back in place, almost as if they'd never shifted at all. When his name was called again, he sighed and rubbed at his temples.

"I'm fine sir. Just… i-it's nothing."

Maybe he really did need that drink after all.

Chapter Text

As Loid drove him into the parking lot, Bumblebee couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the massive building before him. While nowhere near as large as the weapon factories he'd delivered packages to back home (or the Decepticon ones he'd infiltrated), that didn't detract from how impressive it was. The sights, sounds, and environment of this planet never ceased to amaze him, and it almost made him forget why he was here. Thankfully, as Loid stopped him in front of the Blackbell girl, a brown-haired dog with a red bow on its head, and a gray-haired woman in a suit, he was reminded of his mission.

Gotta scope out the area, see if I can find a way inside, Bumblebee thought as the Forgers and Bond got out, Then I can get my escape pod and get out. Should be simple enough.

"Anya, over here!" Becky waved to Anya, who ran up to meet her despite Loid's protests against running ahead since they were still in a parking lot with cars driving about, even if they were close enough that it didn't really matter.

"Hi Becky!" Anya reached the girl, Bond just beside her as he walked forward and sniffed at the new girl.

"You must be Bond!" Becky laughed as the big white dog licked her face affectionately, "Nice to meet you too!" She turned and gestured to the smaller dog at her side, "This is my little Wiesel. I call him Weezy. Say hi Weezy!"

Rather than bark, the… Terrier? Bumblebee recalled Anya reading a picture book during a drive to a park with a bunch of dogs in it, and Wiesel resembled a Terrier. In any case, the small brown dog just tilted its head to the side, Bond doing the same as the two stared at each other.

"Uh…" Becky blinked and looked apologetically at Anya, "I'm sure they'll get used to each other."

Anya just smiled, "They like each other."

"Really? You sure?" Becky asked, not seeming convinced.

"Yup!" Anya chirped right as her parents walked up to greet everyone.

"Hello again, Miss Becky!" Yor bent down and greeted the Blackbell girl.

"H-Hello, my riva-I mean, Mrs. Forger," Becky face grew red, her eye twitching as she gave a polite, if rigid, curtsy to Yor. She then turned to Loid, her face's red hue growing even more, "H-Hello, Loi-I mean, Sir! I mean, Mr. Forger, Sir!"

Loid, unfazed by Becky's stuttering, gave a polite smile and replied, "Good to see you as well."

Becky suddenly got more red-faced, sputtering like she was about to pass out. The adults present looked a bit concerned in response, though the gray-haired woman seemed rather used to this kind of thing, all while Anya looked very amused by the turn of events. Bumblebee, for the life of him, couldn't figure out why the poor girl was reacting this way. Looking back to his time as a courier, he recalled a few times when bots who'd been his customers had similar reactions when he'd asked about what he was delivering them. 9 times out of 10, it was always about someone they had romantic… inclinations for…

Of course, it all makes sense! Bumblebee realized as he put 2-and-2 together, Becky has a crush on Anya and she's nervous for how Loid and Yor will react! As if to confirm his line of thought, Becky started sputtering gibberish towards Anya, Honestly, with how close those two seem, I'm surprised I didn't see it sooner. Not like Becky has to worry. Loid and Yor seem like they'd be pretty accepting and understanding of that kind of thing.

Suddenly, Anya stared at him with a blank expression and tilted head. He had no idea why she was giving him that look though. Maybe there's something behind me? Bumblebee focused his rear-view mirrors and saw a large delivery truck enter the parking lot from where Loid had drove him into. Oh! Maybe she's curious about that? Bumblebee wondered, though he felt a small tinge of envy just looking at the large carrier. Part of why he'd lost his courier job was due to the push for bots with larger alt-modes that could carry more and still arrive on time, something he couldn't hope to keep pace with. Thought I'd be over that after all these Vorns. Bumblebee shirked off the bad memory, along with the life of poverty and near constant starvation that came after the fact, You're not there anymore, Bee. Focus on the now. On the Forgers.

If he was being honest with himself, it felt… nice, being part of the Forger family, even if indirectly. He had a mission, sure, and he would see it through to the end, but in many ways, the Forgers had sense of normality. It gave him a break from the near-constant onslaught of violence he'd fought in back on Cybertron. No Decepticons, no ruins to hide out in, no conquered cities to infiltrate and report back from. Just an ordinary family and their dog, one that he couldn't be part of, and would have to leave one day once the Autobots had recovered their numbers.

Cross that bridge when you get to it, Bee sighed as Becky got over her sputtering and pointed over to the newly arrived truck, which was having large wooden crates loaded onboard. She practically shot forward like a plasma blast (must've been the nerves) towards the truck and started talking with the workers, who seemed happy to greet her with loud cheers of "Lady Blackbell!", briefly making Bee wonder how noble titles worked on this planet. Though he didn't get to think of that for very long, as upon eyeing the crates, his scanners picked up on something. Wait a nanoklik, He pondered as the Forgers and gray-haired woman made their way towards Becky and the truck, The tech in those crates, it's… it's Cybertronian! Or at least close enough.

The minute he thought that, Anya picked up the pace and practically ran towards Becky at blazing speeds, leaving everyone else to walk. Bumblebee made sure none were looking at him and discreetly drove as close as he could manage, both to get a better look and to listen in. However, right as the worker put the crate down in front of everyone, Loid, Yor, and the gray-haired woman all stood straight and turned in his direction, forcing him to stop and shut off his engines instantly. They all looked at him with curiosity, as if wondering how he got there, and it flared up his worries that he'd be discovered. Thankfully, just as Loid looked ready to walk up to him, and just as he was about to chastise himself for his carelessness, Anya drew her parents' attention as the worker began prying open the crate with a crowbar.

Phew! That was close! Bumblebee thought in relief, and if nothing else, he was at the very least close enough for his audio receptors to pick up any conversation.

"So, to start the tour off, you guys can be the first to see some of the new stuff Blackbell Heavy Industries has been working on!" Becky smirked proudly as the crate's lid popped off, Bumblebee's scanners analyzing the tech as it was pulled out. In the worker's hands was a gunmetal gray rocket that looked to be the size of Bee's rear door windows. Yor and Loid quickly noticed how the worker struggled to hold it, with the former taking and holding it with no strain while the latter inspected it.

"Is this some kind of ballistic missile?" Loid asked as Bee finished scanning it.

Close, but not exactly, Loid, Bumblebee wished he could take part in the conversation, but even if he could, Becky beat him to the punch on explaining it.

"It's actually a new prototype turbo booster the company's been working on!" The Blackbell heiress proudly explained before her posture became sheepish as she poked her index fingers together, "Heh, we uh, haven't really ironed out all the issues yet, though."

What issues is she talking about? Seems pretty solid to me, Bumblebee mused, noting the similarities between the turbo boosters and his escape pod's propulsion systems. It was more than impressive how they'd managed to reverse engineer and compartmentalize the pod's thrusters down to such a small size in a short amount of time. And while he couldn't figure it out exactly, at least not without seeing them in direct action, his scanners were picking up that the turbo boosters were capable of 1/4th his escape pod's maximum potential flight speed. Still…

It's all the more reason why I need to get my pod out of here, Bumblebee had no idea if the Blackbell's hands were the wrong ones or not. Even if they weren't, there was definitely a major risk that Cybertronian technology would fall into the wrong hands and lead to people, innocent or otherwise, getting hurt. Plus, Bee recalled, I'm pretty sure this planet isn't even allowed to have Cybertronian tech in its circulation. At least from what I remember during Elita's lessons.

The Autobot recalled times in between the fighting when Elita, back when she used to go by Ariel, gave him history lessons on Cybertron's past. She'd taken the time to try and teach him alongside "Made To Order" soldiers and other bots that'd been forced into the fighting as part of then Supreme Commander Ultra Magnus' civilian draft to recover Autobot numbers following the Cyber Ninja Corp's sudden destruction. It was all about giving an education to bots like him, who'd never been given a chance to ever have an education by the caste system thanks to being forged so low in the rungs.

Sadly, he wasn't exactly the best student or even a particularly good one, no matter how much he wanted to be. He often dozed off during lessons alongside Hot Rod back when he was R-011: A newly constructed MTO fresh from the Corcapsia Incursion. Others, such as W-459 and MTOs like G-41 (Getaway) and B-50 (Brainstorm), took to such lessons rather well, the latter two especially. Oh, how Bee remembered the teasing he got from those three on how bad he was at learning, but it was always good natured. Well, with W-459, it was good natured by the time they started getting them, at least. Bee often teased back in kind, given how ironic W-459's proficiency in schooling was due to him having been part of a street gang before he volunteered for the war effort. Getaway and Brainstorm, on the other hand, always felt like they were mocking him.

From what little he was able to pay attention to, however, he could recollect Elita teaching them about the Tyrest Accords. Something about it being a law passed by Nominus Prime following the War of the Threefold Spark's conclusion, and how it outlawed the distribution of Cybertronian technology to non-Cybertronian races. She also said (bitterly and angrily) something about Nominus' disdain for any and all non-Cybertronian life, the Nominus Edict and how it led to the War of the Threefold Spark, and something else about isolationism, but Bee had started dozing off at that point. As always, he'd been the worst kind of student.

Guess that's something Anya and I both need to work on, huh? Bumblebee smiled on the inside, remembering all the times during drives where Anya was reading something related to Eden Academy's curriculum and looked like her brain was about to overload. Her parents did try advising her through some of the questions and answers, though she still had a hard time getting it even with their (mostly... okay, entirely Loid's) help. Bee could read some of her lessons during those drives, but he couldn't exactly say anything (even if he wanted to) given his cover. Some of the math parts he understood, and the calculations weren't all that different from the ones he needed to make mid-combat for aiming and counting down how many energy charges he had left in whatever rifle he was using at the time. But if nothing else, whatever help she was getting from her parents seemed to be letting her improve.

Just wish I could do my part to, Bumblebee thought, seeing a lot of himself in the pink-haired girl: That eager kid who wanted to do better no matter how bad they were.

"So cool!" Anya cheered and jumped, drawing Bee out of it as she tried to climb into the crate. She clearly wanted to get a better look at the other one before Loid picked her up.

"Anya, it's not a good idea to jump into crates like that," Loid said as he gently put his daughter down, "You could get locked inside with no escape."

"Or you could get a splinter stuck in a vein and risk bleeding out!" Yor added, placing the booster back in the crate before she knelt down to make sure Anya didn't have any. From the way the Forger parents talked, it sounded like they were speaking from experience.

Sounds like human kids get stuck in boxes and bleed out lot, Bumblebee worried, hoping something like that never happened to Anya, or any children for that matter.

"Uh…" Becky uttered, sounding weirdly confused by what the Forgers were talking about. Even the gray-haired woman seemed a bit baffled despite hiding it better. Shaking her head, she gestured to the crate as it was sealed up again and placed in the back of the truck, "A-Anyway! These things are gonna be sent to an off-site storage facility for later."

"It's a very impressive accomplishment for your family, Miss Blackbell," Loid complimented, echoing Bumblebee's thoughts.

"I-I-I… t-thank you, Mr. Forger!" Becky's nervous stuttering returned in full, "I can tell you so much more about them!" She cleared her throat and, still crimson faced, began to explain, "We're planning on equipping them to-"

"M'lady," The gray-haired woman interrupted, bending down slightly towards Becky as she spoke, "I apologize, but I must remind you that per your father's instruction, such information regarding this and any new developments of its kind aren't to be shared with those outside the company." She faced the Forgers with a second bow, "Forgive me, but it's to prevent any potential competitors from gaining such information."

"O-Oh, right. Thanks for reminding me, Martha," Becky looked down in disappointment before her dog, Wiesel, nudged at her leg, letting her affectionately pet the Terrier. Now cheered up a bit, Becky looked to the Forgers and asked, "So, who wants to start the inside tour?"

"Me!" Anya jumped and raised her hand with Bond perking up at the idea, Yor chuckling and raising her hand in kind.

"I'd love to see the inside too."

"Well, it is why we're here, after all," Loid added before looking back at Bumblebee, "Just give me a minute to park the car." He walked up to him, mumbling, "No idea how it moved like that though. The parking lot doesn't have any inclines or anything that could've moved it."

Uh oh…

"Don't worry about it my preci-I mean, Mister Forger! I'll have that taken care of for you!" Becky replied, still a bit red in the face as Bumblebee let out another relieved sigh. The Blackbell heiress called for one of the workers, a burly looking, mustached blonde man that looked to be about Yor and Loid's age, still loading the delivery truck, "Sorry for the sudden request, but could you please park the Forger family's car for them while we begin the tour? I'm also going to need you to wait at their car for them to return once you're done. Shouldn't take any longer than two hours."

"Sure, I don't mind," The worker said as Loid walked over and handed the keys to him.

"Make sure to lock up when you're done."

"And make sure Mister Bumblebee's nice and cozy where you park him!" Anya added as she and Bond followed Becky, Martha, and Wiesel inside.

"Uh… okay then," The worker replied, watching as Yor and Loid followed after their daughter and pet. Shaking his head, he entered the car and said muttered about "kids" and "active imaginations" that Bee didn't fully catch. As the worker started him up and began driving him, Bumblebee stared at the factory/testing facility. If he was going to get in later down the road, get the remains of his pod, and get out, he'd have to look from every possible angle for a way inside. He couldn't exactly do that from a parked position, and moving about the lot without a driver would only draw suspicion at this time of day.

Guess there's only one thing I can do right now, Bumblebee thought as he took control away from the human driving him.

"W-Whoah! What the Hell!?"

Sorry about this, He apologized, activating his X-Ray visor to scan the building.

Soooo cooool! Anya had a bounce in her step as she skipped ahead of her parents and Bond, looking around at all the factory stuff. There were so many conveyor belts and people putting things together! And all of them waved at Becky and Miss Marriott as they walked by.

Ugh! Okay, first attempt didn't work the way I was hoping, Anya caught on to Becky's thoughts and she looked forward at her friend. From the way she was walking, Becky seemed very frustrated, Didn't really understand what my dad explained about the turbo boosters anyway. Thought I could try wowing Loid with the biggest words I knew, but maybe I can try it here instead? Her body language became a lot more confidant, Yeah! Mrs. Forger makes it very clear that Loid's into classy, intellectual woman. I just gotta show off my smarts and he'll surely fall for me!

Anya… didn't know how to react to that thought. Mama was a lot of things, most of them really cool and really scary. Classy? Intellectual? Nope. Not one bit. Not even the tinsiest, ittiest bit. Speaking of Mama…

Amazing! I haven't been to a Blackbell factory since I was fifteen! Mama looked around, happy and excited as she-wait a minute.

Mama had been here before? Anya looked back at her mother, who was still browsing the place.

Granted, that was to track down and kill criminals who'd broken in to try and steal Blackbell's newest top of the line weapons while the place was closed, so I didn't get the time to explore or see anything.

… Yup. Only Mama, Anya's face went blank as the usual violent images surged through her mother's brain. From her stabbing and killing the bad guys to cleaning up before a single security guard noticed that anything went wrong, Anya saw it all. She also saw some of the research Mama did on the bad guys. Though she didn't understand all of it, apparently, they were from out of country, super far in the West (like, farther than Papa's home country and past the ocean), and were working for someone with a supervillain codename.

What was the name? Anya tried to remember, since the memories went by so fast (thankfully not Papa fast) and all Mama knew about the evil leader was their name. Not even a face or a voice. Salad? Simon? Anya wondered before remembering, Silas! That's the bad guy boss's codename!

Everything and everyone is operating with such precision and diligence to their craft. I'd expect no less from Blackbell Heavy Industries, Papa, meanwhile, was looking around, smiling on the outside, but super focused on the inside. None of WISE's informants within the company have reported anything suggesting that they're planning for war, and Ostania's army hasn't made any large-scale requests for outfitting entire military units, so this is likely just standard production for them. Either that, or their research on the pod remains has invigorated production, Anya saw Papa's memories of Bumblebee's escape pod when he was in disguise, Even if they aren't, we'll need to keep tabs on whatever new developments they make.

Papa looked down at the ID around his neck that Becky and Miss Martha got from the front door people for them. Anya did the same with hers as Papa thought, While an "All Day" Visitor's pass has its uses, I'll need to grab an upper-level pass for Agent Nightfall to complete her mission. He looked over at Becky and Miss Martha's wrists, which had bracelets with bar codes and names on them, The ones they're using would fit that description, but trying to snag one from them is too risky. It's clear from the way the Blackbell's valet carries herself that she's an experienced former soldier. There's no way I'll be able to swipe anything from her or her charge without drawing her suspicions.

As Anya wondered how she could help, Papa started looking around again, For now, I'll focus on mapping the building out. Security for this specific factory was wound a lot tighter thanks to the pod's acquisition. We weren't able to get any informants in before then. It'll be equally important for me to slip the application papers for Nightfall's cover identity into the building's main office. Once I find a way to get an upper-level ID, I can bring it back to Franky, at which point it's a matter of him forging Nightfall's to take the place of the entry level pass her cover occupation would normally receive.

Papa needs to find a pass. How can he find one? Anya put on her thinking face and scratched her cheek, looking down at Becky's wrist. There had to be a place here where those things were made, right? Smiling, Anya realized, If I can get Becky to take us there, Papa can find a way in!

"Hey, Anya, are you okay?" Becky asked, having noticed her staring.

"Uh, yeah!" Anya saved face and pointed at Becky's wrist, "I just think that bracelet's really cool!"

Becky stopped and gave a proud smirk, holding up her wrist, "Glad you think so. It's a Blackbell Heavy Industries patented ID bracelet! My parents commissioned these as a major security measure. Most doors here are protected by bar code scanners, so you'll need one of these to get around. Depending on what your job is, your bracelet can access different security levels."

"That sounds so cool!" Anya whispered, really meaning it. All this security stuff sounded really hard to understand, but it sounded so much like spy stuff that she didn't mind all that much. Becky was so smart to know all of this.

Becky narrowed her eyes as she looked at hers, "Honestly, it's not as fashionable as I was hoping, but my parents always say that practicality and functionality outweighs appearance."

"Correct, m'lady," Miss Martha said with a slight bow of her head, No matter what it is, be it a gun, a blade, or armor, all that matters is it do its job and keep you alive in the heat of combat. Her thoughts became a little sad at the end, Though hopefully, you'll never have experience such a thing in your lifetime.

Becky beamed with pride as Anya heard her parents thoughts, and they sounded similar to Miss Martha's, especially the part about hoping her and Becky never see war. Focusing on Becky, she asked, "So, where do they make these things in the factory?"

"Uh, we don't make them here, Anya. They're commissioned from a vendor outside Berlint and mail ordered directly to our facilities," Becky's words made Anya panic that she was failing Papa's mission, but the next ones calmed her down, "It's part of the company's security measures, kinda like how all IDs are kept safe in the employee locker rooms for when they have to go home. To avoid any potential theft, they aren't allowed to leave factory grounds."

That means Papa just has to swipe one from the locker room! Anya sighed on the inside, glad she made Papa's mission easier.

Aw! It's so sweet watching Anya get along with her friend! The two of them must have a lot of fun discussing building security together at Eden, Mama clasped her hands together as she smiled and looked down at them.

Interesting. This is all very useful intel, and it will make my mission a lot easier, Papa sounded pleased as he looked at Anya and Becky's conversation too. His first thoughts were happy about Anya and Becky's friendship, his second being, It's a little odd that Anya's questions ended up matching with my mission parameters, but at this point, I shouldn't underestimate my daughter's imagination and curiosity.

YES! Loid's looking right at me! Becky's face was super red, and her brain sounded like it was going to explode in happiness, I knew my vast intellect would dazzle him! I just need to lay it on a little more and he's sure to notice how mature I am!

You mustn't commit adultery, my lady, Miss Martha looked at Becky with tired eyes, almost like she knew exactly what Becky was thinking.

Wait, can Becky's butler read minds too!? Anya looked at Miss Martha, trying to read her surface thoughts to see if that was the case. Instead, Martha looked down at her and raised an eyebrow, wondering why Anya was staring at her so much. Just as quickly, Anya looked away and tried to change the subject, "U-Uh, Becky! Can we go see the locker rooms next!" I need to help Papa get an ID for Uncle Scruffie to copy!

Becky's eyes narrowed and she smirked at her, "Don't think I can't see what you're doing, Anya."

"R-Really?" Does Becky know I'm a spy? Okay, Anya knew she technically wasn't a spy, but she was helping her papa, so she considered herself a spy-in-training. But her worries were cut off when Becky wrapped her in a one-armed hug.

"You want to work for my family's company someday, don't you?" And why wouldn't you? You'll be getting to work with your future stepmother!

"Uh…" But Anya's future mama is right behind her already. Unless her mother did some secret assassin missions for the Blackbells, but she doubted it. Mama probably would've thought about them by now if she did.

"Well worry not! I'm sure I can get you a job here after we graduate Eden," Becky said as she kept her in the one-armed hug, walking ahead of the grownups and dogs that followed after them, "Then you can work your way up the ladder and be my right-hand-woman. Together you and me can conquer the weapon making world!"

Take over the world!? Is Becky's family really planning to take over the world? Are they supervillains!? Anya gasped, her mind now panicking. This was bad, very, very bad! Her best friend was part of a world conquering scheme and didn't even know it. With a determined glint in her eyes, Anya knew there was only one thing she could do. Agent Starlight Anya, She told herself, Your mission is clear…

Anya smirked, You gotta be the bestest friend Becky's ever had and convince her to not take over the world!

"Anya," Becky pulled her out of mission mode, "You said you wanted to see the locker rooms, right?"

"Yeah!" Anya nodded; glad she was able to get back on track with Papa's mission.

"Great! Follow me!" Becky grabbed Anya's hand and started pulling her along. They ran down the factory's super clean halls, Bond and Wiesel running after them as the adults called their names, though Anya didn't pay too much attention.

She was just having so much fun!

"And these are our locker rooms!" Becky waved her hand around to show the room off. Anya, her parents, and Bond all looked about, seeing a large room bigger than their whole apartment floor with row after row of lockers, each with a number and colored stripe on top of them.

"What are the colored stripes above each locker number for?" Papa asked before Anya could, then he thought, I already have a solid idea of what they signify, but asking such questions does provide clarification and helps maintain the cover of the average, curious civilian.

Anya snickered a bit, Papa's always so focused.

Becky beamed and put on what she thought was a "mature" sounding voice, "Those are to help distinguish between the different levels of security access each employee has. Blue representing the lowest levels, yellow the middle levels, while red is the upper levels. Employees usually get assigned new lockers when they take on higher security jobs and each are grouped as such."

Hearing that, Anya immediately ran next to the entrances to each locker aisle until she found the red ones, all of them a shiny blue color against the clean whiteness of the floor and ceiling, but plenty having stencils, stickers, pictures, and other decorations on them.

"Anya!" Mama called out. She turned and saw her round the corner and enter the aisle to meet her, "Try not to run too far ahead. We don't want you getting lost." And these lockers feel like a maze.

"Don't worry Mama, I'm fine!" Anya smiled and reassured just as Papa, Miss Martha, Becky, Bond, and Wiesel found them. Papa looked like he was asking Miss Martha and Becky some questions about the factory. He had a lot more questions on his mind, but he was being super careful about which ones he asked. Good spies didn't ask suspicious questions, after all. Becky was over the moon with how she answered them, while Martha was a lot more casual and direct.

Walking through here, I can see a few surveillance cameras in the room. I was able to make out a few blind spots, but none of them would allow me to carry out my mission without notice. It's certainly a level of security expected from Blackbell Heavy Industries, but that'll make swiping an ID from one of these lockers difficult, Papa thought while still engaging with Becky and Miss Martha in asking and answering questions, Although, I was able to see changing rooms here as well. It's more than likely they'll have spare uniforms on hand in case an employee forgets one, and that's understandably one place where there would be no surveillance. If I can use the ventilation system to sneak in there, I can gain a disguise and make my way for the control room.

Anya looked at Papa in awe as he started planning out every step of his mission. He was thinking something about coffee and "laxatives" when she noticed that Mama was looking at the lockers sadly. Tugging at her hand, Anya asked, "Mama, are you okay?"

Almost jumping, Mama looked down at Anya and gave a small smile, "Don't worry, I'm fine." Just looking at these things brings back old memories.

Is it assassin stuff? Anya asked, managing to just barely hide her wonder as Papa, Becky, Martha, and their pets caught up, Papa looking at Mama with the same worry Anya did.

"Yor?" Papa asked, Mama giving him the same smile she gave Anya.

"You all go ahead. I'll catch up," Mama said, sweating just a little bit, "I just… I thought I saw something is all."

Mama's such a bad liar.

"… okay then, but we won't go too far," Papa nodded before continuing along, "Come along, Anya."

"Actually, can I stay with Mama?" Anya asked, drawing looks from both her parents.

"Uh…" Mama stammered, "Sure! You can stay with me." She looked to Papa, "Is that alright, Loid?"

Papa smiled, "Of course. I know Anya will always be safe with you." He knelt down at Bond, "I guess it'll be just us, won't it?"

"Borf!" Bond barked and went to Anya's side, licking her face and drawing giggled out. As Anya petted her dog, they both looked up at him as he stood.

"I guess it'll be just me then," Papa tipped his hat and turned to the Blackbells, "I hope that isn't too much trouble."

"N-Nope! No it isn't M-Mr. Forger!" Becky squeaked, sounding like a tea kettle for some reason, Thank you so much Anya!

"We'll round back here to reconvene so we can continue the tour," Miss Martha said with a slight bow, gesturing for Papa to follow. He, Martha, Becky and Wiesel made their way down the aisle of lockers and around the corner as Anya watched them leave. As soon as they were gone, she looked back up at Mama, who was looking sadly at the locker again. Anya wanted to take a peek into her mind to see what she was thinking about (maybe see a cool assassin memory), but with the look on her mama's face, she couldn't bring herself to do that.

Instead, she asked, "Mama, why are you looking at the lockers like that?"

"I-It's nothing, Anya. It's just…" Mama brushed her palm against the locker door, "These things take me back to when I was around your age." Before I joined the Garden, and before Yuri was born. Honestly, I've been an assassin for so long, it's getting harder and harder to remember what life was like before that.

Anya gasped, visions entering her mind as she saw a much younger version of her mom. She didn't seem any older than six or seven, and she was emptying out a school locker, putting her stuff in a pack. Behind her, there was a bunch of tall shadows that didn't move, just wisp like flames, and voices echoed out from them that sounded a lot like the kids her age at Eden Academy. Their whispering said things like "weirdo", "freaky", "not normal", and other mean comments that made Anya want to punch them.

She almost did, but then she heard a loud creaking sound. Shaking the vision off, she looked at Mama, who seemed lost in the memory as her hand slowly balled into a fist, crumpling the metal of the locker like paper. Bond whimpered, Anya comforting him as she opened her mouth to say something, but her words died when the locker came off its hinges, bending in Mama's hand.

"Uh… M-Mama?"

"Hmm?" Mama blinked and snapped out of the memory, looking down at Anya, "I-I'm sorry. I spaced out for a second. Did something happen?" Anya pointed to where the locker door used to be, at which point Mama saw what she'd done and what she was holding. "O-Oh! I-I uh…" Mama quickly got to work trying to fix things, grabbing the locker by both sides and straightening out the crumpled metal. It still looked super dented, but it seemed flat enough, so she put it back and knelt down to Anya and Bond, "I'm so sorry! Did I scare you two?"

"… Mama, was school… was it not fun for you?" Anya asked, petting Bond to calm herself and him down. She remembered some of her mom's thoughts, how she never got the chance to make friends at her age. Anya was starting to wonder if she really never got the chance, or if she was never given the chance.

Mama opened her mouth and closed it, like she didn't really want to answer. Luckily, she didn't have to, as footsteps were heard, Anya turning to see Papa and the Blackbells return, Martha asking, "Is everything alright? We heard something."

"N-Nothing! We're fine!" Mama stood up super-fast, Becky rubbing her eyes and Martha staring in confusion.

Did… did Mrs. Forger teleport or something? Becky wondered, No, that doesn't sound possible. Gotta be seeing things.

I'm not sure what I just saw or if I saw anything, Martha blinked a couple times and sighed, turning her attention to Mama and Papa, "Well, I suppose we should continue along with the tour. Any further ques-"

CLANG!

A loud crash rang behind Anya, Mama and Bond, everyone turning around to see that the locker door Mama pulled had fallen off its hinges again. It looked like they were too damaged to keep it in place.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry!" Mama snapped around, bowing to the Blackbells and clasping her hands together, "I didn't mean to break it!"

Becky stared at Mama with wide eyes, Wait, Mrs. Forger broke it? How!? How did she break it without a sledgehammer or a jackhammer or-or… or something else that hits really hard!? She started blinking a bit before she had a realization, Unless she's lying to make herself more desirable to Loid! Oh, Mrs. Forger's so devious and cunning! If I don't pick up the slack, she'll outwit me at every turn! That-That… No, no, no! Becky shook her head, You can't think so negatively of Anya's mom! Even if she's a rival in winning your darling Loid's heart.

Anya almost laughed at what Becky was thinking, but her line of thought reminded her just a little too much of that frost lady for comfort. It was nowhere near close to even 2/8ths as bad as the scary spy, but she still couldn't help seeing how similar it was.

To have bent this kind of metal… Miss Martha picked up the locker door. Inspecting it, she thought, This is the same alloy Blackbell Heavy Industries uses in their tank armor. For Mrs. Forger to have torn it from the hinges and dented it like this is… did she truly do this? I find that hard to believe. She narrowed her eyes at the dents around the center where Mama started crumpling it, It certainly looks like a human hand pulled this off, and I've seen people pull such feats off before. With the way Mrs. Forger was carrying herself, perhaps there's more to her than meets the eye.

Is she suspecting Mama!? Anya panicked. Was Martha figuring out that she was an assassin? The only people who could've done what Mama did were other assassins, so did that mean Martha had fought people like that before? If she learned the truth, it would be very, very bad for Mama and Papa and Bumblebee and Anya! She wasn't able to think too much on that, as Papa walked up to Mama and gently spoke to her.

"Yor, it's alright. The hinges were probably just old enough to break easily. It could've happened to anyone," Papa's words made Mama look up at him with shimmering eyes as he got close, making her face go a little red as his was full of concern, "Are you okay? If you aren't, we can stop the tour and head home now."

"N-No!" Mama stammered out, "I-I'm fine. I don't want to ruin the tour for anyone."

Papa stared deeply at Mama, "Yor, I know for certain that you could never ruin anything for anyone." Mama turned a little redder and looked down, smiling and looking lost in Papa's. Her thoughts were a lot happier too, while Papa's own went, I'm glad she's feeling better. I don't like seeing her so sad… for the mission, of course. On the inside, he started getting nervous, As the dutiful husband, it's my job to ensure my wife is well, and it might have compromised my current objective if I allowed Yor to suffer a panic attack.

Papa's such a bad liar, Anya giggled. For a master spy, he was somehow worse than Mama when it came to lying. Looking up at them, she said, "Papa and Mama are flirting."

"No we are not!" They said back, both of their faces red.

AWW! That's so cute! Becky cheered in her own head until she shook it, Ugh, no wait! You're not supposed to cheer when Yor has a cute moment with Loid! She's your rival! That should be you he's having a moment with!

Such a lovely young couple, these two are, Miss Martha smiled and watched Mama and Papa shake off their embarrassment, It reminds me quite a bit of me and Henry when we were young. Anya saw a brief image in Miss Martha's head, of a younger her and what looked like… wait…

She said his name was Henry. Is that a young Mister Housemaster Hectorson!? Anya blinked, seeing a lot of similarities between the young man in the memory and the much older housemaster. Were he and Martha married? They both wore gloves, so she couldn't see any rings. I gotta ask when I see him at school!

"A-Anyway, I'll help clean up," Mama said as she took the door from Martha and put it back, trying her best to patch up the hinges. Didn't work, as the locker once again fell, Mama catching it this time as Martha and Papa helped put it aside. "Heh, looks like it's broken for good," Mama poked her fingers together, "Sorry."

"I'll call repair crews for later," Martha reassured, "Quite lucky that its owner already left for the day. Also luck that nothing inside was damaged."

Anya looked inside the locker, poking her head around Papa's leg to see a few small shelves with what looked like photo frames with family members on them. There was also a coat hanger holding some bags and a scarf that must've been forgotten. The walls were lined with several stickers, some she even recognized from Spy Wars. But while normally she'd gush over that, the locked safe at the bottom was what got her attention the most.

"What's that?"

"Oh those?" Becky stepped in and answered Anya's question, "Employees are encouraged to use those for protecting personal items, including worker ID bracelets. On the off chance someone accidentally leaves their locker open or lock picks it, the safe makes sure that those kinds of things stay… uh, safe." Becky scratched her cheek and looked up at the adults, "That sounded a lot better in my head."

"I thought it was funny," Anya giggled, getting a smile out of Becky, which only grew wider as the adults chuckled alongside her. For Anya, however, she felt a bit annoyed as she looked at the safe. Papa's gotta find a way inside, She stared at the keypad lock, There's gotta be a code around here some-

Looks like the most worn-out keys are 1, 4, 8, and 9, Papa's thoughts cut in, I'll figure out any and all possible combinations on my way to and from the control room for the camera systems.

Oh… Guess Anya didn't have to find a code after all. That was… kinda boring, actually, but at least Papa's mission was going smoothly.

Huh, it's… odd, Papa started thinking as he adjusted his tie, The broken locker and knowing how to get the ID ahead of schedule has greatly helped my mission, as it reduces the possibility of leaving potential breadcrumbs behind. Anya gasped at that. Mama didn't even know it, but she helped a lot with Papa's mission! That was so cool! But then Papa stared at Mama and his thoughts continued, At the same time, however, Yor was under some form of stress when she broke the locker. This feels like I'm taking advantage of her and… Memories flashed in his head of the time he disguised himself as an SSS officer and interrogated Mama to figure out if she knew about Yuri's true job, And I've already done that once. I don't want to do that again.

He sighed, thoughts turning guilty as he looked between Mama and Anya, Face the facts, Twilight. Operation STRIX requires you to be Loid Forger: Father of Anya Forger and husband of Yor Briar. As part of my civilian cover, they don't know what I really am, and one day I'll be forced to leave them. In a way, I'm always taking advantage of them. Years ago, something like this wouldn't have bothered me so much. Why does it eat away at me now?

Anya felt her own smile slowly fade, both for Papa's sadness and at the thought of losing her family. She tried reminding herself that wouldn't happen, that Bond's vision said it wouldn't happen, but Papa's thoughts were starting to get to her. As she tried to reach out for her father's hand to put him at ease, however, Becky stepped in and asked, "So, ready to see the next part of the factory?"

"Uh…" Anya stammered, her friend unaware of the sadness going through Papa and Anya's minds, but spies needed to be good at hiding their feelings. So, she put on a smile and nodded, "Yeah! Where can we go next?"

"Well, I was thinking-"

"-one of our acclaimed metal works facilities! Where we make everything from knives to gun parts!"

"Whoah!" Anya's eyes were looking everywhere again, seeing all the equipment and people moving about. She wanted to run forward and get a better look, but Papa picked her up to stop her.

"No Anya," He gently chided, "This place is a lot more dangerous. Best keep your distance from the workers and equipment." Anya nodded as they followed the Blackbells around the metal working place, watching workers in safety gear forge and shape the super hot liquid metals that came out of the different furnaces. They stayed behind the yellow and black safety lines, with Papa asking, "So, from the looks of it, everyone here seems to be making knives. What are they for?"

Best to try and figure out if they're outfitting anyone. If not just the Ostanian Military, then perhaps customers from out of country. Papa's eyes narrowed, Perhaps even those who dropped the pod your family's company recently acquired. It's a long shot, but maybe I can get a clue from them about what country the pod was made in, and what dealings they may have potentially had.

Anya giggled, Mister Bumblebee's from farther out of country than you think, Papa.

"Well, this iron works specializes in combat knives for the Ostanian Military. I asked my dad why we need to keep making knives when everyone in the military's probably already got one by now. He said something about how we always need to improve designs and provide better versions."

"Indeed madam, and as more volunteer, more must be made," Miss Martha added as she walked right next to Becky, hands behind her back. Anya could hear her thoughts go, Of course, weapons must not only be improved upon, but replaced when they suffer wear and tear, or if they break. She looked at one of the newly made knives a blacksmith was working on, staring at her reflection in it, I'm afraid steel, like flesh, isn't immune to the march of time. Nor is it immune to cruel twists of fate.

Growing old sounds really sad, Anya thought, briefly thinking about Bumblebee and comparing him to the Blackbell servant. He was made of metal like the knives were, and while Anya didn't know the full story, he was apparently REALLY old compared to everything and everyone around her. Did the same thing apply to him?

Seeing how sad Martha looked, Anya wanted to say something to her, but then she noticed that Mama was being really quiet. Papa and Bond noticed it too, and they all turned around to see her frozen in place and standing past the safety line. Mama was looming over one of the workers, who was trying to sharpen a knife that she was staring really hard at.

Sometimes I forget that Mama really likes knives, Anya thought as Papa, still carrying her, wandered back to where Mama was, stopping in front of the safety line as he called out.

"Yor!"

"Huh?" Mama blinked and looked back at them.

"Fascinated by the craftsmanship, I take it?" Papa asked, smiling, It's been quite a while since I've seen this side of Yor.

I wonder if all assassins just really like knives, Anya wondered, the Blackbells making their way back to them right then and there. At that point, the worker finally noticed Mama and jumped up.

"HOLY SH-" She yelled, but stopped herself upon seeing Anya and Becky. Taking off the large gray mask that covered her entire face, revealing a smooth face with blue eyes and long black hair that was tied into a short tail. She looked maybe a bit younger than Mama and Papa. Turning to Becky, she stammered, "O-Oh, Lady Blackbell. Sorry for the outburst. I was just…" She looked up at Mama, "Startled, is all."

Becky waved it off, "It's fine. We're just giving a tour to the Forgers here. Why don't you introduce yourself?"

The woman nodded and held out her hand, "Mikaela Banes. Nice to meet you."

Papa shook her hand and introduced himself, "A pleasure. I'm Loid. This is my daughter, Anya." Anya waved from her position in Papa's arms as he looked over to Mama, "And my wife, Yor, and our dog, Bond."

"Hello!" Mama waved as Bond barked.

"Borf!"

"Hi!" Mikaela knelt down and affectionately held Bond's face, "Who's the cutest big guy? Is it you? Yes it's you!" After she rubbed at Bond's head and played a bit with his ears (much to his joy), she had this look of realization on her face and turned to Becky and Martha, briefly looking down at Wiesel, and asking, "Wait, I thought pets weren't allowed to be here?"

"Usually, but I'm bending the rules here. Besides, not like any security people will tell me no," Becky proudly said, hands to her hips before Wiesel barked and jumped into her arms. Anya read her thoughts and she sounded really glad she was able to allow Bond to be here. Anya really wanted to bring her dog here, and if it makes my best friend happy, then that's all I need.

Anya smiled even brighter, but Miss Martha looked down at Becky and gently said, "Madam, while that may be the case, I do urge you not to be so lax when it comes to such privileges. It can be seen as unbecoming to be so boastful about them in the presence of those lacking your advantages." Not to mention it can be quite a slippery slope. Too often does it start small and grow out of control.

Why does that sound like Unkie? Anya remembered reading Papa's thoughts after he came home from Mama's driving lesson (or "Mister Bumblebee's Big Scare" as she called it) and how her unkie used his Secret Police stuff to scare away the cops. While she was happy and grateful that Unkie Yuri kept Mama and Papa from going to jail (meaning she still had her family), Miss Martha's thoughts just now reminded her of that. She wasn't sure why though.

"Heh, right…" Becky blushed before turning to Mikaela, "So, uh… since we're on a tour, maybe tell the Forgers a little about your job?"

"Sure," Mikaela turned around and picked up the knife she was working on. She held it out and showed it (Mama staring intensely again) as she explained, "I mostly specialize in forging, shaping, and sharpening knives like this one alongside the others before they get shipped out."

"Fascinating," Papa hummed, "So, this is what a military knife looks like up close." It seems as though they've made slight adjustments to the previous model. Incremental and unimportant to most, but in combat situations, they can make all the difference. Of course, playing the part of the civilian Psychiatrist means I can't act like I know any of that. "It's very impressive."

So cool! Anya's eyes went wide as she wanted to reach out and grab the knife, but her position in Papa's arms meant she couldn't. That, and she was pretty sure Papa wouldn't let her play with a knife anyway. Maybe Mama would? She wondered, so long as it wasn't her knives. They were covered in enough poison to kill elephants. It actually made her wonder if that same poison would work on giant robots.

Hope not, Anya shuddered at the thought of Bumblebee being poisoned. Papa held her close, thinking she was just cold.

Mikaela smiled, "Thanks! I try my best." She looked over at Mama, who was still staring at the knife, and asked, "Miss, you uh… you doing good?"

Mama shook herself out of it, "Sorry. I… guess I'm also fascinated by your handiwork." What do I do? Normal people don't obsess over blades and weapons! Her mind flashed back to all the times she'd done just that, both before and after she'd become a Forger. It'd gone down overtime as she tried to blend in, but never fully went away. Being around all the weapon stuff here was bringing it back. But… Loid's showing interest in them. If my husband is, then, maybe it's okay? At least here. Clearing her throat, she asked, "May I see it please?" Smiling, she held out a hand expectantly, with Mikaela handing it to her as she gave it a better look, "Based on the design and hollow handle for storage, I take it this is a survival knife?"

"You seem to know about these things already," Mikaela gave a playful smirk, "Yeah, we make these either for when soldiers wind up lost in wilderness on reconnaissance or for recreational things, like family camping trips."

"So Blackbell doesn't just make weapons for military? I thought they were a weapons manufacturer," Mama asked, which was when Becky chimed in.

"I mean, yeah, my family makes weapons and it's where they make the most money, but they also make plenty of stuff for the average person too," She put Wiesel down and started counting with her fingers, "Protective gear for the outdoors, cutting tools for cooking, disinfectants for injuries, this new thing called paintball, yada yada yada."

"What's paintball?" Anya asked as Papa put her down next to Bond.

"It's uh… I think it's a game where you use guns to shoot people with… paint, I guess?" Becky shrugged, I don't know. Never played it and only heard my parents talk about it in business meetings about new products.

"Ooooh," Anya had no idea what that meant, but it sounded like fun, "Can we play?"

Miss Martha cleared her throat, getting their attention as the two of them looked up to her, "It's probably best not to, m'lady. From everything I've heard through your parents, it can be rather dangerous and result in injury." And in my personal opinion, I'd rather you not be in anything that simulates warfare. It was barely a second, but Anya saw a few images go through Miss Martha's mind. She couldn't tell what they were except one: A young Martha dressed like a soldier, shooting a rifle in a trench behind lines of barbed wire, terror in her eyes and teeth grit to the point where it looked like they'd break. With a loud sigh, the older, present day Martha said, "Perhaps when you're older, you can look into it and see if it's something you'd like. But you're too young now to be playing with guns."

Then came her last thought, Hopefully, you'll never have to.

"Fiine," Becky huffed, pouting with her arms crossed, thinking, But I want to be an adult now!

I don't, Anya giggled a little bit. Adulting sounded really hard. Good thing she had plenty of time before that ever happened. Turning around and back to her parents, she asked, "Papa, Mama, when I'm older, can I play… uh…"

Looking up, she saw that Mama and Miss Mikaela were engaged in a long, enthusiastic discussion about knives and bladed weapons of all kinds. Well, Mama mostly talked about bladed ones, but Miss Mikaela mentioned everything from guns to tanks, saying she sometimes worked with those here too. Papa, meanwhile, was listening to Mama talk her heart out, almost like he was…

What was that word? Anya tried to think on it, Mesma-no, messmo-nope. Uh… wait, Mesmerize! That's it! Mama mesmerizes Papa!

I don't believe it. I'm talking with someone about weapons and I'm not coming off as a total weirdo! Mama thought as she started going into all the combat techniques someone could do with "combat daggers" and what made the best kind of blades for close-range righting.

Papa kept smiling at all the fun Mama was having with her new friend. Yor's getting along rather well with her new friend. I'm glad for her. Of course, having a close connection to employees of a military contractor such as the Blackbells does have potential to be a good intel source and backdoor for… for… Though Papa kept up the same face, his thoughts went just a little sour at himself, No, maybe it's best to just leave it at that. At least for the time being. Given Anya's friendship with Miss Blackbell and her attempts at befriending Desmond's son, this family should have at least a few connections that don't immediately pertain to any potential spy work. Then his thoughts went, Although, being friends with the average civilian with no ulterior motives beyond that is a useful means for maintaining cover. But at the same time, isn't that an ulterior motive in and of itself? Then again-

Papa's getting really flustrated, Anya stifled a giggle at how her father's thoughts kept going back and forth between "spy mode" and "Family mode". It played out like watching two different Papas (one dressed as a normal dad and husband, the other one dressed like Bondman) aiming silencer pistols at each other arguing about family and missions. After she'd had her fill, she overheard one of Mikaela's thoughts.

God it feels so nice to be able to talk with someone about mechanical work like this, Miss Mikaela smiled and explained some of the stuff she new about maintaining and repairing vehicles. While it was mostly about the military ones they assembled in Blackbell locations, she also said stuff about regular cars too. Not a lot of people I've met like talking about this kind of thing, Her smile grew a bit forced as Anya saw memories of a younger, teen version of her watching police put an older man in cuffs, Then again, not many want to talk with you when they know you're the daughter of a car thief.

Miss Mikaela's Papa's a bad guy? Anya wondered, suddenly getting a bunch of Mikaela's memories, seeing how lonely she was as everyone in school kept their distance from her. And when they weren't doing that, they were making jokes about how she must've wanted steal theirs or their parents cars next. Anya wasn't sure exactly what to say or do, especially since she couldn't go past the safety line, but she wanted to do something to help. But then she started getting Miss Martha's thoughts in the middle of it all.

Interesting, Miss Martha looked at Mama with slightly narrowed eyes, I hadn't expected Mrs. Forger to be such a wellspring of knowledge on bladed weaponry and knife combat. Far too much of a wellspring for the average civilian, for that matter.

Oh no! Anya looked back at the Blackbell bodyguard and gasped. She was starting to suspect again. She couldn't find anything out!

I don't believe it! Becky's thoughts yelled out, Anya finding herself turning to her friend, who was looking up at Mama with jealousy in her eyes, Loid's eyes are all over her. I knew it, he's completely enthralled by her wit and intelligence! I gotta step it up! A sharp look entered her eyes, Alright, Mrs. Forger seems to know a lot about weapons, so I just have to show Loid my own weapon smarts. As daughter and heir to a Military Contractor, that should be simple enough. I listen to a lot of my dad's board meeting about his products, so I just need to repeat what he says. Becky proudly smirked and cleared her throat, walking up to the three adults and getting their attention, "Uh, sorry to interrupt, but I think we should get back on track with the tour."

"Of course," Papa was the first to speak up as he faced Mikaela, "Sorry for distracting you from your work. I hope it wasn't too much trouble."

"Not at all. It was honestly pretty fun just getting to talk," Mikaela answered, making both of Anya's parents smile as Mama held out her hand.

"It was really nice meeting you," She said, Mikaela shaking her hand. Mama had a look like she just realized something and pulled out a slip of paper, "Loid, do you have a pen?" She asked, Papa pulling one out from his pocket. His thoughts showed he knew what Mama was getting at as she wrote down on the sheet and handed it to Mikaela, "Here's the phone number for our apartment. Hope we'll meet again soon!"

Mikaela happily took the paper and pocketed it, "Same here. And have fun with the rest of the tour!"

Mikaela got back to work, leaving the Forgers and Blackbells to continue exploring the rest of the metal works, where Becky tried to show off her own smarts on knives to them (Papa specifically), which… wasn't all that much, though Anya thought it was pretty neat, at least. As they went to see all the different kinds of knives and the processes in making them, however, Mama always chimed in and said some stuff about them, usually in a lot more detail and in ways that Anya didn't understand.

Huh, even I didn't know Yor had this much interest in knives and blades, Papa mused rather happily as Mama engaged in conversation with another metal works employee, who nodded along with a smile as she described all the different ways to shape the metals and the best materials to make hilts with. Perhaps she wanted to work as a knife maker before she decided on city hall? It sounds like she's had designs of her own for a while and never got the chance to explore them. Maybe I can get her a new blade set, or take her on a tour of different knife shops around the city? I feel like she'd love that.

Unfortunately, Miss Martha also understood what Mama was saying, and that was becoming a big problem.

How do I get Mama to stop talking about knives and stuff? Anya looked between Mama, who was happily explaining things, and Miss Martha, who's thoughts were getting even more suspicious. She had to do something before Mama's assassin identity was exposed! Thinking quick, she poked Becky's shoulder and asked, "Can we please go look at army stuff somewhere else?"

Becky happily gasped, "You're right, we totally should!" Great idea Anya! If I can't wow my darling Loid here, then I need to wow him where Mrs. Forger can't wow him with her own wealth of knowledge. Which is a lot! Seriously, who knew city hall workers knew so much about knives.

… yeah, sure, let's go with that, Anya would've sighed at Becky's current train of thought, but she was too desperate to save Mama's secret without revealing her own. At least they were finally heading out of the metal works room. Hopefully she could find a way to make Mama seem less suspicious to Miss Martha in the next place they went.

"And this is where we assemble body armor!" Becky introduced them to the very large room, even bigger than the metal work and furnace room, where people were at tables cutting stuff with power saws. Conveyor belts brought in smaller bits and pieces that were put into boxes and brought around other tables, where workers were putting everything together to make the armor.

Anya gasped, once again amazed as Becky started explaining things (Miss Martha providing corrections every now and then) about how they were made and who they were usually sold to. She mentioned something about "Blackbell Combat Suits" that she made in arts and crafts that she tried to pitch to her dad, but the idea sort of fell through. Anya wouldn't know about what Becky was making since she was too busy with Sy-On Boy in making griffons.

She still didn't understand how they won first place.

Keeping her mind on the tour for now, Anya held her dad's hand and kept close as they walked around. Reading their minds, she could see that her parents were already analyzing every inch and detail of the newly made armor for strengths and weaknesses. It took them about half a minute each, right down to being able to identify the exact materials (something called "moron carbon" and "kever") and they were both even thinking the same thing.

I need to know everything I can to keep my family safe.

And then they started wondering on how potential opponents could get their hands on Blackbell equipment, either by stealing shipments, having connections to buy the stuff for them and arm the bad guys, or the buyers are the bad guys themselves. If she hadn't known both her parents for a while now, she'd have assumed that they could read each others minds.

"So, any questions?" Becky said as they all came to a stop in front of one of the tables where the armor was being assembled.

Anya raised a hand, "Can I have a body armor?"

"Uh…" I don't know if my family makes any in kid sizes. Do we? Becky turned to Miss Martha, who shook her head.

"No madam, we make neither body armor nor bulletproof vests for children." Thankfully.

"Oh, okay then…" Anya sulked a bit. She knew that her dad's suits always had the same kind of stuff they were making here lined in the fabric. It would've been so cool if she could have one for herself. Maybe she could've even get it the way Papa did and have a bulletproof dress to match his bulletproof suit.

"Anya," Mama knelt down and gently held her shoulder, "What's wrong? Did you really want one of these?" Anya nodded, making her mom rub at her chin with her other hand and think, I'm not sure about getting Anya protective armor. I know I never had or needed any, even during my first series of missions. Something like that was more of a hindrance due to hampering mobility. At that, Mama's head filled with instances from when she first started killing bad guys as a kid. They were a lot messier than her later ones. But considering how she'd almost been kidnapped by thugs and terrorists, she could use all the protection she could get, After remembering the kidnappers from the grocery store and the dog bomb monsters (Anya shuddered a bit at the reminder), she stood up and asked, "Would it be possible for us to purchase some ceramic plating and bring it home with us?"

Becky and Martha stared at Mama with blank looks in their eyes. Martha recovered first and asked, "I… I beg your pardon?"

"Yor, I'm not sure I understand," Papa stepped in.

"Well, Anya really seems to want armor of her own, so I figured that while we're here, we should get her some!" Mama happily answered, "There are a lot of dangers that I've fou-I mean, that-that we've run into, and I want to do everything I can for Anya's protection." At that, she gently rubbed at Anya's hair, with Anya jumping into Mama's arms as she was lifted up, "Making sure our daughter's safe and happy is our biggest priority as parents, right?"

"Please Papa!" Anya clasped her hands together, a pleading look entering her eyes. She was getting that armored dress and no one was gonna stop her.

Papa still looked unsure as he put a finger to his chin. I don't know. It would be rather suspicious for Anya to have something like that, and we need to maintain our guise as the average Ostanian family for Operation STRIX to continue, Those same flashes of all the times he'd seen Anya in danger went through his head, Although, Yor has a point. Our daughter's life has been put in danger too many times, so precautions are equally necessary. Not to mention that her simply being an Eden student makes her a high priority target for potential kidnappers.

He briefly thought back to his meeting with Becky's parents, Simply from meeting and interacting with the Blackbells at the parent/teacher conference, I can safely deduce that they'd just as much do anything to protect their daughter. Perhaps not send an entire army after anyone who targets her, but they'd still go above and beyond. If they're just one example of the standard parent of an Eden student, then I doubt Anya would be the only one with similar defenses given should we decide on this.

The look in his eyes became a lot more serious, Perhaps it's for the best to go with it. After all, my daughter is integral to maintaining peace between East and West. Any threat to her would be a threat to the entire world, so she must be protected at all costs.

"Loid?" Mama asked, getting Papa's attention as he smiled.

"No, you're right. It is our greatest responsibility," His answer made Mama and Anya smile as he asked, "What did you have in mind?"

Mama put Anya down and started telling Papa her ideas, mostly by taking the ceramic materials and sewing it into dresses like Anya wanted. She also asked if Loid could handle the sewing part, making Anya remember how her mom almost murdered her Agent Penguinman plushie when trying to fix it. As Mama talked, Papa listened, a brightness in his eyes as he nodded here and there. But then Mama started talking about a bunch of self-defense stuff to make up for where the armor couldn't protect, and she heard Miss Martha's thoughts.

An in-depth understanding of not only military grade combat armor, but combating, compartmentalizing and bypassing it as well. How curious.

Anya looked back and saw Becky staring up at her parents, holding Wiesel in her arms like a comforting doll and looking a little upset. Martha, on the other hand, only looked even more suspicious as Mama kept talking about things only assassins would know about. It made Anya gasp and look back at Mama and Papa (mostly Mama) as she and Becky accidentally shared the same thought.

Oh COME ON!

The tour kept going from there, and all of Anya's attempts to turn it away from anything that made Mama seem assassin-like just made Miss Martha suspect her even more. The constant failure to help her mom maintain cover from the only person who could see through it left Anya feeling really bitter about herself. How was she supposed to keep her family together if she couldn't help hide their secrets?

"Ugh…" Becky mumbled, just as grumpy as Anya was, but for completely different reasons.

How does she keep doing this!? Becky quietly fumed, walking far ahead of the adults and dogs alongside Anya, Every time I try to show Loid my amazing business and weapon smarts, Mrs. Forger always one-ups me and gets his attention! Does she know how I feel and did her research before coming here? Or is she just that good and thinks I don't have a chance with him? Which is it!?

Becky, you're challenging Mama in the only thing she's smart at, Anya groaned to herself. Throughout the entire tour, Becky kept having her own daydreams. It took her a while to understand, but somewhere after Mama and Papa ordering the armor did she get that Becky wanted to be Anya's future mother. The daydreams also came with Anya getting to live in castles and eat really fancy, delicious food. But as tempting as they were…

Sorry Becky and fancy chefs, but I already have a future that I want, Anya thought back to the vision Bond showed her, where she got to have a happy future with her parents married for real and Bumblebee got to be open about himself alongside the other giant robots. I want picnics with Papa and Mama and Autoboots, She looked back at her parents, giving them a tired smile and wave, which was returned before she looked back towards her friend, That means you can't be my new mama.

The good news there at least was how every single attempt of Becky's to one-up Mama never succeeded, with Mama always having almost all of Papa's attention (the rest was dedicated towards analyzing each and every detail about the factory for the scary Frost lady's mission) so it wasn't like she had to worry about that. The bad news was that each of those attempts usually involved Mama saying or doing something that made Miss Martha look at her with wary eyes. At this point, it felt like she was so close to putting things together and outing Mama as an assassin. If that happened, everything would fall apart, world peace would be ruined, and Anya would never get her happily ever after with her family and the Autobots!

There's gotta be something to help Mama get off Becky's butler's trail! Anya gained a determined glint as she listened in on Becky's thoughts, hoping that the next place they toured would help Mama seem like a normal mother and ward away any doubts in that.

Okay, last chance to impress Loid before we stop for the factory's cafeteria and have dinner, Becky regained some of her confidence and led everyone to the door at the right in the hallway. It was thick, solid steel, but Anya could hear a lot of what sounded like muffled gunfire coming from behind it. Right next to the door was a table with some bins, Miss Martha walking up to them and grabbing a pair of earmuffs from one and large see-through visor glasses from another. "Before we all enter, I'd suggest you put these on," Becky said, being given hers and doing just that, "It's more than a little loud in there."

"Of course," Papa took his and put them on, Even if the years of experience have helped develop a tolerance for the sound of constant gunfire, it's best to use them for maintaining cover. He made a couple adjustments to the earmuffs to make them more comfortable, Besides, "tolerance" never equates to "immunity". Sometimes I'm impressed that I have yet to lose my hearing after every gunshot and explosion I've been near.

Explosions can make you lose your hearing? Anya had no idea that was possible. Her parents never seemed too physically affected by any of the dangerous stuff they did in either memories or in what little she got to see them do for themselves (Mama getting shot in the butt that one time aside). Heck, Bondman seemed immune to those kinds of things, so she thought her parents were the same. But remembering her visit to the hospital Papa worked at for her research paper, she remembered him talking about disabled war veterans and how they needed help to recover. It really made her think, both about her parents and about Bumblebee.

If her parents weren't immune to losing senses or limbs, did that mean they were just lucky, just that good at what they did, or had yet to meet a bad guy that could do them in. And with Bumblebee…

If explosions can take hearing away, what can take away a voice? Anya wondered, putting on the same serious, thinking face as her papa, How did Mister Bumblebee lose his voice?

"Anya," Mama shook her out of her train of thought. She looked up and saw that she was kneeling down in front of her alongside Bond, both of them wearing the earmuffs and protective visors. Holding out some for Anya, she said, "We're going inside now. Are you coming?"

"Okay!" Anya put on her best smile, deciding to worry about that stuff later. Letting Mama help her put the safety gear on, she walked inside the shooting range with everyone else. Once inside, she asked Papa to pick her up so she could get a better view of what was going on. Now at around his shoulder level and with him holding an extra hand to her ear for protection, she watched in awe as a bunch of different people wearing safety gear were firing a bunch of different guns at metal mannequins wearing similar body plating to before. All of them were in what looked like booths separated by metal walls and supervised by a few people in jackets that read "Range Officer" on the back.

"And here we have the firing range and armor testing facilities!" Becky said as loudly as possible for the Forgers to hear, waving hello to some of the shooters that stopped and noticed them, "This is where we test any firearms Blackbell Heavy Industries produces, as well as test out the stopping power of our body armor!"

"It looks very well put together!" Papa replied just as loudly as they all walked down the row, his thoughts analyzing everything in sight, especially the kinds of guns that were being used just as Becky explained each and every single one of them. Unlike before, Miss Martha didn't correct her anywhere near as much, meaning most of what Becky said was correct. Anya still didn't really understand a lot of it, but she recognized a few pistols since they looked similar to what Bondman and her Papa used. She also learned from her Papa's thoughts about the other types of guns being used, like long guns, machine pistols, shotguns, and sniper rifles.

Though her father's thoughts still went by too fast for her to get them all, she did hear him think, I can recognize quite a few people here as personnel and soldiers in the Ostanian Army. Makes sense, given Blackbell Heavy Industries close connections with their country's military. It's likely that they have deals in place for the army to test their products firsthand and provide direct feedback, both for their superiors before purchasing in bulk, and to the Blackbells for instruction on what to improve. It also provides training for combat against stationary and moving targets.

So that's why the mannequins are moving around, Anya looked at the metal, featureless statues were moving back and forth and side to side on steel rods connected by conveyors. Getting good with weapons looked like a lot of work. When she saw bits and pieces of their memories, Papa, Mama, and Bumblebee always made it look so easy. More so her parents than Bumblebee, since he didn't seem to think too much about his fights. It was almost like he didn't like thinking about them, and she couldn't figure out why.

Before she could think too much about that, they stopped at a series of empty booths, the gunfire just far enough to not be so irritating. Becky gestured to them and the racks with guns on display, "Here's some of our top-of-the-line firearms. Usually, these areas are reserved for Blackbell security members who want to keep themselves sharp. It's further away from the main firing range, so it's easier on the ears." She pointed to the earmuffs, "Still a good idea to keep these on though, Any questions?"

I think now might be a good time to ask if the pod from the woods has led to any new advancements in firearms. It doesn't seem to have been used to advance any small munitions so far, but best to be certain. Papa gave a casual smile and asked, "If I may, have there been any recent developments with Blackbell's usual firearms?"

Oh boy! Loid's asking me questions! Finally, I'm getting my darling's attention! Becky blushed and cleared her throat, "Well, according to my dad, all new developments since the previous war between East and West have been pretty incremental. But he is hoping for that to change in the future. D-Do you, uh…" She started stammering and shuffling her feet, "Do you have any interest in weapons? Like, for h-hunting or something?" With how much Mrs. Forger knows, he's gotta be!

"No, not much at all, being honest," Papa shook his head, thinking, So, they have yet to truly weaponize and compartmentalize the pod's capabilities. The turbo boosters from before were likely their first lucky break. At this point, they likely know about as much as WISE does, if not at least a bit more, but given that they have more of the pod and a better means of researching it, that's bound to change soon. Best get everything Agent Nightfall needs ASAP. "I'm more so asking in regard to my own work at Berlint General Hospital. I hope that's alright."

Papa's being really sneaky, Anya giggled, reading her father's thoughts about sprinkling in just a tiny bit of the truth, since his cover job would require knowing that kind of stuff for how they hurt people and how he could treat them. He was just leaving out how he knew EVERYTHING about all kinds of guns already.

"That's quite alright. Such questions are understandable, given your occupation," Miss Marriott said with a small, polite bow, And your dedication to such a job is admirable. Even if neither I or Lady Blackbell can answer all your questions, I cannot fault you for having them.

"…" Anya could only give Miss Martha a flat look. Not that she was going to complain about it, but how did the Blackbell bodyguard suspect Mama so much but not Papa? But then she remembered how that question answered itself.

Mama's really bad at hiding, She thought, remembering how her mother opened up a lot about what she knew on weapons, how to use them, armor, getting around it, and lots of other stuff. Her father had been mostly quiet, observing and memorizing details for later. She really wanted to help her mom blend in, but they were in a weapons factory, surrounded by weapons and things that killed.

And if Anya knew one thing for sure about Yor Forger, it's that she was the absolute smartest person alive when it came to killing.

So Loid has no interest in weapons? Then why does he stare at Mrs. Forger like she's the only person around when she's talking about them? Becky wondered, her thoughts somehow louder than the gunfire as she walked up to the rack and pointed, Miss Marriott taking a pistol down, loading it, and holding it out to the Forger parents, "Either way, would you like to try one on the shooting range before we head out?" Even if he doesn't like them, letting him use one could entice him. It's like the classic move from that one episode of Berlint in Love, only replace getting to drive a car with getting to use a gun! She blushed and looked like she was about to swoon, I bet Loid would look like an awesome action hero with a gun!

Becky, you have no idea, Anya stifled another giggle, getting a look from Papa as she calmed down.

Still holding her, Papa politely said, "Thank you for the offer, but I'm afraid I must decline." Anya was about to ask why he didn't want to, especially since she wanted to see him in action, but then she picked up his thoughts, Given how the Blackbell attendant carries herself, it's clear that she's an experienced former soldier. Testing a Blackbell firearm with someone like that around would run the risk of her suspecting something, especially since she's an Ostanian soldier and would likely recognize techniques from the West. Even if I were to just throw myself off and underperform my capabilities, it's just as likely that she'd see through that. If she can recognize how a former soldier carries themselves in combat, she can just as much recognize when one is doing poorly on purpose.

He looked down at the gun one more time, It's an admitted shame. Aside from the quality of the firearm, directly testing it would allow me to gain direct intel on Blackbell's production. Perhaps even assess how much of a threat potential buyers would be if they have ill intent for the peace between East and West.

… Oh, Anya guessed that made sense. It also meant that Mama couldn't show off her own skills either. Miss Martha already thought she was fishy as is.

Besides, I feel like Anya would be excited to see something like that in action. She always loves it when Bondman shoots down "bad guys", as she puts it, Papa thought with a slight smile on his face, a brightness in his eyes. Anya felt a rush of happiness go through her, knowing that her dad considered doing so just to make her happy. As she was lost in that feeling, she heard Papa ask Mama, "What about you, Yor? If you want to give it a try-"

"NO!" Mama yelled, startling everyone before she stammered, "I mean, thank you, but no. I'd rather not."

Does Mama not like guns? Anya squirmed a bit in her father's arms, letting him know she wanted to be put down. As her feet touched the shiny white floor, she walked up to her mom and saw the worry on her face as she looked away from the group. Tilting her head, Anya began to pick up on Mama's thoughts.

Oh, just being in this room's making me nervous. I've never been good with guns, Mama's thoughts confused Anya. She fought and beat up people with guns all the time, so how was this- Every time I try to use one, I always mess it up. Memories swelled up from her earliest experiences using guns, with each time being a complete failure, It's always been so much easier for me to get into a rhythm with close-quarters weapons. Shopkeeper taught me to see them as extensions of myself. But with guns and ranged weaponry, it's just so much harder to do that. Too many moving components to keep in mind.

Huh, I thought Mama would be good with all weapons, Anya was surprised to learn that there were weapons that her mother either didn't know how to use or just plain couldn't use. Normally, you'd expect an assassin to understand every possible weapon so they could be good at every possible method of killing the bad guys, but now she knew-wait a minute…

That's it! Anya's eyes went wide with inspiration as she looked between Mama and Miss Martha, who looked at the Forger woman with confusion. If Mama showed just how bad she was with guns, maybe it would be enough to ward away the Blackbell butler's suspicions. After all, no one would ever expect an assassin to be bad with guns. And if she did that, then the family and their future would be saved! With that in mind, she tugged at her mom's leg and asked, "Mama, I wanna see you shoot the targets!"

"W-What!?" Mama gasped and looked away from everyone, "I-I really shouldn't. I'd be terrible at it."

"Please Mama. I think you'll be really cool!" And it'll save you and our family from losing cover.

"I-I…" Mama looked between her and everyone else, Anya focusing solely on her mother and giving her the biggest pleading face she could. Even more pleading than what she used on Papa earlier today. There was a bunch of conflict in Mama's head for several seconds, but she finally caved in and said, "Alright, I'll do it." If my daughter thinks I can do it, then I'll try my best! She walked up to Miss Martha and held out her hand, "Give me the gun."

Miss Martha, wide eyed in surprise, gave Mama the gun and stepped back as she took a position in a firing booth. Unlike the moving mannequins from before, there were already a few of them out and about, all staying still, fully armored in bulletproof vests, and standing in a sideways line close to the far end of the room. They didn't seem to have anything holding them up that'd help them move around anyway.

Anya, Papa, and Bond joined with Martha, Becky, and Wiesel in stepping back to give Mama some room. Mama took a deep breath and held up the gun, but…

"Uh, Mama, that's not…" Anya didn't know how to word it. She didn't know much about using real pistols, but she was pretty sure they weren't supposed to be that close to the face. Even Bond barked, like he was warning her not to do it.

"That's way too close!" Becky voiced what Anya was thinking, holding Wiesel tight and worrying that Mama was gonna hurt herself.

"Mrs. Forger, I highly advise you put the gun down!" Miss Martha said in a stern, but concerned tone, not wanting anyone to get hurt.

"Yor, you should probably move the gun away from your face if you're going to shoot," Papa added, as he tried to walk up, hands held in a calming manner.

"No no, I-I can do this!" Mama's voice cracked a bit and her grip tightened, though she did take everyone's advice into account, moving the gun further away from her face as she pulled the trigger. A few loud bangs rang out, bullets flying for the end of the room, hitting the angled metal plated wall at the end and falling to the floor. Smoke poured out of the gun barrel, but Mama bowed her head in shame, hands drooping to her sides along with the gun.

She didn't hit a single target.

"Mama, are you okay?" Anya ran up to her mother, who looked down at her with tears on the verge of falling.

"I'm fine, but I'm sorry I couldn't hit anything."

Anya hugged her mom's leg, "It's okay. You're still cool!"

"We're just glad you didn't get hurt," Papa said, gently holding Mama's shoulder as she smiled at him.

"Thanks, but I still wish I'd managed to hit something." At this rate, I'm never going to get used to these things.

Strange, Anya looked back at Miss Martha, who was staring at Mama and the gun in her hands, Though her form and aim were rather awful, the pistol didn't show even the slightest signs of recoil. That shouldn't be possible.

Uh oh…

"Uh, hey! Cheer up Mrs. Forger, I'm sure you'll get it right next time," Becky threw her two pents in, Even if you're my rival for Loid's heart, I don't like the idea of you being sad. She tugged at Miss Martha's pant leg and pointed to a different gun, this time some sort of bolt-action rifle. "Here, try something that's made for long range targets," Becky encouraged, "You'll definitely hit them with this!"

Mama didn't look entirely convinced, her eyes shifting between everyone, dogs included, as they all gave her encouraging nods. Anya, meanwhile, looked between her and Miss Martha, being pretty sure that all the older woman needed was just a bit more convincing to see that Mama was just an ordinary mother and most certainly not a secret assassin. Silently, she apologized to her mother, the discomfort easy to see on her face. She hated doing this, but couldn't think of anything else to protect their family.

It's what Papa would do, even though he'd hate it too.

Thankfully, Mama regained that determination from earlier and nodded, Miss Martha handing her the rifle and a clip with bullets. Her thoughts said something about the bullets being 8-millimeter, which reminded her of the times she tried to use the bullet sizes of Bondman's guns for math class. It helped her score just a little bit higher, but the way Papa tried to teach her using that was boring.

"Uh… how do I…" Mama sounded really nervous as she tried to figure out how to put the bullets into the gun. Anya remembered a Spy Wars episode where Bondman used this type of gun and was about to suggest she pull the lever back, but Martha beat her to the punch, politely telling her mom what she needed to do. After opening it up, she tried to fit the bullets in, but they slipped from her hand and scattered on the floor.

"Oh no! I'm so sorry!" Mama got to her knees and started picking them up, Papa and Martha joining her.

As they did so, Martha thought, I've only seen this kind of nervousness with firearms from new recruits or first-time gunners. It's nothing to be ashamed of though. Anya saw a memory of a young Martha in soldier gear struggling to put bullets into a rifle, each of them slipping from her hands as the mud and dirt above her shook, I know I fumbled in my earliest experiences more times than I dare to count, but with what I've seen of Mrs. Forger, it's baffling that she's this inept.

YES! It's working! Anya smiled with delight. Everything was going just as planned and her family would be safe again!

"Yor, you missed one," Papa reached out for the last bullet right as Mama did the same, their hands touching before they looked back up at each other. Their eyes had this shimmer to them, and Anya couldn't pick up on any thoughts in their heads anymore. They were so focused on each other in that moment.

GAH! Why do Mr. and Mrs. Forger have to be so perfect together? Becky's cheeks puffed in jealousy, hugging Wiesel again as he licked her cheek to help her feel better. Miss Martha just smiled and sighed, watching the clearly in love couple share a tender moment together and being whisked back to happier times in the process. It was such a sweet moment as their hands held, one on top of the other as they continued to stare deeper into each other, lost in their own little world…

But now it was going on too long. Something had to give or they'd be here forever.

Anya decided to be that something.

"Papa and Mama are flirting."

"NO WE ARE NOT!" Her parents fired back, Anya snickering as Mama quickly picked up the last bullet and tried to figure out how to get them in the gun.

"Here, let me," Papa said, taking one of the bullets he'd picked up and putting it in. He did this a couple more times to demonstrate before letting Mama do it.

"Thanks Loid. How'd you get so good at this?" Mama asked, managing to put the bullets in as she followed her husband's example.

Loading a bolt-action rifle is rather trivial, but Mr. Forger does seem to display some familiarity with such weapons, Miss Martha thought, not sounding suspicious just yet, but it made Anya's heart stop for a second.

Thankfully, Papa smiled, calmly and easily answering, "When I was in my late teens, I used to go on hunting trips with my friends all the time. They were never really much fun for me, admittedly."

As he said that, Anya picked up some memories going through his head, seeing him and others in uniforms and helmets. It looked like they were sneaking around, about to shoot a wild dear. Their mouths moved, but she couldn't hear many words, only picking up things like "low on food", "shoot now" and "starving". The memory ended with a loud gunshot (louder than any of the shooting still going on) that made Anya jump, Becky looking at her in concern before she smiled at her friend and waved it off. She saw her Papa's face, and though he smiled, it didn't feel like a real one

Her father had these memories sometimes, where things just felt really sad or bitter and she just couldn't figure out why.

She wished she could understand though.

"Okay, it's fully loaded now. Thanks again, Loid," Mama stood up with the rifle at the ready, pushing the handle in and arming it. The adults all stood up, Papa and Martha joining her, Becky, Bond, and Wiesel as Mama got into her original position and aimed the gun. Anya wasn't sure if she was holding it right, since the back end was under her arm pit and everyone else here using a similar gun didn't hold it like that. Heck, not even Bondman or Papa (in memories) used rifles like that. It wasn't like anyone had the time to correct her, as she fired it and was way off the mark, the bullet hitting the end of the room again. She tried firing it again, but it didn't do anything.

Sighing, Mama slumped against the booth wall, I'm never going to be comfortable with guns. They just don't feel right in my hands.

Maybe this is enough? Anya looked back at Miss Martha, who was still questioning things, but it looked like she was more worried for Mama than anything else. Even Becky looked worried for her. Turning to Bond, he had that look on his face that made her feel guilty.

This was a bad idea, Anya sighed, the guilt getting to her. She got ready to tell her mom that it was okay and they should all probably go now. But before she could even move, Papa stepped forward and got next to Mama.

"Yor, would it be okay if I helped?" He asked, Mama perking up and thinking about it before nodding. From there, Papa got really close and helped Mama reload, showing that she needed to pull the crank back and push it forward again. He then helped her get into position, this time the end of the rifle at her shoulder and resting her head in front of the… the…

The butt stock? Anya almost laughed out loud learning that from Papa's thoughts. She was about to fail and burst, but thankfully Bond caught her and licked her cheek, letting the laughter erupt, but making everyone think he caused it instead. Thanks Bond! She hugged her dog and looked back to Mama, Papa standing next to her. She appeared to be in a proper shooting position this time, at least according to Papa and Martha's minds, but she didn't move at all. Head tilted, Anya stared at her mother and wondered, Why isn't she shooting anything?

Oh, I can't do this! I'll just make a fool of myself, and Anya will think I'm a terrible mother, Loid will think I'm a terrible wife, and the Blackbells will want to break off their friendship with Anya and everything's going so wrong! Mama's thoughts immediately answered. Even though she was standing perfectly still, she was panicking like crazy. Anya couldn't remember a time outside of when she was in danger that she'd seen Mama's thoughts flip out like this, and it just made the guilt from before even worse. She almost lost control, almost ran forward to hug her mom and apologize for things the older woman didn't know about.

But once again, Papa stepped in before she got the chance to mess things up.

"Yor?" At his word, Mama snapped out of her spiral and faced him, "Yor, it's okay! Just breathe." She took his advice to heart and started breathing deeply, in and out, before she went quiet and looked down at the gun. Yor doesn't seem comfortable with guns at all. She's been rather on edge ever since we entered this room, He mused, thinking back to his own first time shooting a gun. In the aftermath, it looked like he was vomiting behind a bunch of rocks, Not that I can blame her. Even for someone with experience such as myself, the sheer power behind any weapon is terrifying to behold. The ability to take a life is never something to be treated lightly.

Anya wasn't sure what he meant by that.

"Loid, I think I need help holding it steady," Mama said, just loud enough to be heard even with the shooting (which had been dying down a bit) and earmuffs, "Every time, I feel like my grip's too loose or too tight or I'll mess up some other way or-"

"Yor, it's okay," Papa said, gently holding her shoulders, "You got me. I'm right here." For as long as this family needs me, I'll be here. Mama's eyes had a shimmer, cheeks red as she nodded and Papa helped her get into position. This time, he stayed right behind her, his own hands with hers, helping her hold the rifle steady, both of them taking aim. "Ready Yor?"

"Y-Yeah. I'm ready." Mama gulped, some strength returning to her voice and posture as she pulled the trigger. A loud shot rang out, louder than all the others, as the bullet flew across the room and hit the metal mannequin right in its bulletproof vest. The force of impact shook the statue while Mama and Papa remained perfectly still.

"You did it Mama!" Anya was the first to break out into a cheer, Bond, Becky, and Wiesel joining her as they all jumped up. Miss Martha even had a bright, cheery grin on her face as she clapped her hands.

"I… I-I did it," Mama began in slow awe, "I actually did it!"

"Yes, you did it. Great job Yo-OOF!" Papa suddenly found himself in a strong hug, Mama still holding the gun in one arm as she picked her husband up and spun him around.

"Thank you so much!" Mama was so full of joy that it was infectious, that same joy now slowly running through Papa as the initial pain from the hug wore away. Anya smiled as Mama snuggled her face against Papa's chest, whispering and thinking happy thank yous. Papa was caught off-guard at first, but he ended up melting and returning the hug too, eyes closed and smiling as bright as Mama.

"How lovely," Miss Martha said, still grinning bright even as her claps slowed down.

"Sooo adorable!" Becky swooned out loud, I wish I was the one in Loid's arms though. I guess I'll try to be happy for Mrs. Forger, at least for now.

Becky, you're already happy for Mama, Anya couldn't tell if her friend was in denial about something or not. Feelings were confusing sometimes.

Still, Becky's loud excitement did make Mama and Papa aware of their current position. The two took a step back, turned red, and took an even larger step away from each other with a lot of stammering and stuttering. Papa gave an awkward cough and asked, "So, how are you feeling, Yor?"

"Much better, thanks again," Mama answered, scratching her cheek before holding the gun out, "Admittedly, I still don't feel very comfortable with these things."

"That's quite alright, Mrs. Forger," Martha walked up, ready to return the gun to the racks, "Not many people truly are. And those that find comfort with them often wish they didn't." Papa nodded in agreement, the Blackbell servant continuing, "Now, if you'd like, we can head for the dining hall. I believe the children and their pets are quite famished."

"Yeah, after all that touring, I'm starving!" Becky groaned, clutching at her stomach while Anya's own rumbled.

"Hungry," She muttered under her breath.

"Okay, we can go, but…" Mama looked over at the mannequins again before looking at her gun, "I'd like to be able to hit at least one more target. Even if I'll never really be comfortable with these things, I at least wish I could've done more like Anya would've wanted me to." She gasped, like a light bulb went off in her head, "And I know just how to do it!"

Papa nodded, "I understand. Do you need any-" Mama tossed the gun into the air and hoisted it over her shoulder like a spear, "-help?"

Faster than any of them could blink, Mama cut loose and chucked the rifle barrel first at the mannequin. It flew so fast it was a bullet in and of itself, impaling the statue right through the vest before knocking it off the hinges. The whole thing went flying at such speeds that even the other two mannequins were knocked over just from the backlash. The gun impacted the wall, impaling itself despite the downward angle while the mannequin made it hang limp before falling to the ground. As the metal clattered against the floor, there was complete silence, all gunfire having stopped entirely, Anya looking over and seeing that everyone's eyes were now their way.

"…" Anya stared blankly at the display, jaw dropping as Mama stood straight, realizing that was probably a bad idea. She slowly turned back to see that everyone's eyes were on her.

"Uh… Yor?" Papa muttered, staring just as blankly at Mama with the same expression as Anya, his eyes looking like they'd shrunk at her actions, all while Mama started stammering out excuses for how she was able to do that, saying stuff about how she used to apprentice for a "spear thrower" or something like that.

"That was…" Martha breathed out, her thoughts having way more energy, What in the hell was that!?

"W-Wow…" Mrs. Forger's crazy strong, Becky's own blank stare gave way to a gasp, her gaze shifting to Papa, And the way Loid's staring at her! There's so much love and adoration in his eyes! Did I miscalculate? Is he attracted to Mrs. Forger's winning combination of intelligence, class, beauty, and indomitable strength? How am I supposed to compete with someone like that!?

You can't Becky, Anya thought, her blank stare slowly replaced with a small grin, No one can compete with my mama.

Chapter Text

Huh, that was weird, Bumblebee mused, having driven in circles around the Blackbell factory Primus knew how many times, You'd think Becky would've seen her mom do the kind of things Yor can do. Can hers just… not, for some reason?

In his encircling of the factory to scan it, he'd found himself keeping an optic on the Forgers via his X-Ray visors. He couldn't hear anything that was being said, but he was able to see them walking around and notice their posture during the interactions they had with the staff, his current vision making everyone look like walking skeletal structures with blue outlines. It certainly looked like they were having a lot of fun. Yor especially seemed to be enjoying herself, though Bee could only base that off how vibrant her body language seemed. That, and the way she had this sort of bounce in her step at points, not to mention how she chucked a gun like a spear from sheer excitement.

Based off the way Becky and her bodyguard reacted that particular moment, he could only come to one conclusion.

Rich humans are total weirdos.

Shaking himself back into the now, he looked to one particular area of the factory that he'd seen when he first started scanning the building: A rather large room housed at the center-most area of the facility, walls stretching to the factory's roof with dozens of people in rows, all of them working on what looked like monitors that formed a semi-circle. Walkways were above them, connecting the room to each floor of the facility as people on them observed what was going on down below. But what was really important was the platform all of this surrounded.

There's my pod, Bumblebee mused, having caught it from every angle, Looks like they've actually managed to half-repair the whole thing. Huh, they even polished and shined it too. Didn't need to do that, but it looks pretty nice. Well, whatever they've restored so far, anyway.

He circled around the factory one last time, seeing Blackbell researchers on one half of the room studying the metal of the pod's reactions to various stimuli from different doses of electricity to intense heat to different forms of electromagnetic radiation. The other half seemed to have metal fragments from the pod itself, all of them working at tables to try and work with the metal and pod's circuitry, seeing how its internals ticked. People walked back and forth between the two sides, likely to inform the other of their findings.

From where he drove, he didn't have any idea how far along they were, but if the turbo boosters (which he actually kinda wished he had) were any indication…

Let's see here… Bumblebee looked up at the roof the building, Given that it's all one giant room that encompasses every floor, a rooftop drop down to get the pod's probably the best idea. But it's heavily reinforced. His scans of the building, coupled with what he'd learned about Earth via radio broadcasts, indicated that the factory was built from the ground up to be capable of withstanding natural disasters like quakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes. From the looks of it, the place was likely also built to withstand a potential bombardment, making it double as a shelter. They went the extra mile to ensure that any employees stuck inside during a disaster (natural or man made) would be safe. These Blackbell people really spare no expense on this kinda stuff, He mused, Pretty weird seeing rich people actually use that money right.

Most of Bumblebee's experience with rich folks was the uptight jerks of Cybertron's upper classes that he used to deliver packages to. Maybe there were some pleasant upper crusts back then, seeing as Mirage had once been a member of the noble house of Decimus before the war. Mirage was nice, if... eccentric, to put it mildly, but he did admit that he was a completely different bot prior to the war's outbreak. While Bee was familiar with the Ambus brothers, who were also nobility, their house was more militaristic, producing a long, proud line of soldiers rather than snooty aristocrats. He wouldn't know, as he never got to meet any of them until the war was well underway, and he doubted he'd get the chance to know what they used to be like.

War changes everyone, for good and for bad, Bumblebee found his thoughts growing bitter the more he dug down that depressing hole. Not wanting to get stuck on that for too long, however, he refocused on finding a way inside, still thinking the rooftop entrance would work best.

I could use my stinger's plasma cutter mode to get through, but it can use a lot of Energon if I'm not careful, And unfortunately, if there's one thing the war hammered into his processor, it's that he was the textbook definition of careless. Hoping to avoid that for a change, he first considered taking some of the Energon he had stored up to give himself a boost, but he didn't like the idea of using it unless necessary, given what he was storing it for. Taking one last scan of the building for perhaps another way in, he noticed something else.

Namely, the building was like a weapons factory and power plant all rolled up into one.

Place has its own power, closed off water supply separate from the city… are all Blackbell factories like this? These people really go that extra mile, don't they? Bumblebee couldn't help but marvel at it, despite having a couple misgivings. On its own, if anything happened to Berlint's power, like a blackout, that meant the facility could keep running and maintaining everything from equipment to on-site medical facilities. But at the same time, because it was disconnected from the city's power, didn't that also make it easier for anything illicit to occur here? After all, not being connected to Berlint meant that if output increased beyond a reasonable level, or if they were making something that required more power than usual, no higher ups would notice since it's off the city's radar. Bulkhead, Springer, and Kup used to tell old Wrecker stories of their vigilante days and how they busted a factory on Velocitron doing just that, overworking its employees to near death, building illegal weaponry for someone, and nobody noticing due to it running on its own independent power supply.

Ugh, probably overthinking it Bee, He shook off that thought. From what he could see via how all the skeletal structures moved about, none of them seemed overworked or abused, and he doubted the Forgers would be friends with the Blackbells if that was the case. A single factory running on its own power wasn't a definitive sign of anything bad, but it did give him an idea to help him get in.

If it ran on its own power and doubled as an energy plant, then he could bring his Energon Converter with him and make a few cubes to get a much-needed boost. From there, use his stingers to cut a hole through the roof, drop down, grab the remains of his pod, and get out while the room's empty. Should be simple enough… hopefully.

Well, at least I have a plan this time, Bee thought as he turned off his visor, stopped circling around the facility, and found a comfortable parking spot relatively close to where the Forgers and Blackbells entered. He was about to shut off his engines and rest when…

"Finally!" The human currently inside him sighed in relief and reached for the door, "Thought that would never end!"

… how the frag did I forget about this guy!? Bumblebee locked his doors right as the man touched the handle, keeping him from going anywhere.

"Hey, what the hell's going on!?" The burly blonde tried his best to pry the door open, but to no avail. Bumblebee realized he must've been too caught up in scanning the building and keeping track of the Forgers to pay this guy any mind. He couldn't let him out now, otherwise he'd probably tell everyone what happened and blow his cover.

Which is kinda ironic since the only reason I started driving with him inside was to keep that cover. After all, there were enough people in the parking lots that an empty car driving around would seem suspicious, but a makeshift valet seeming to be driving was perfectly normal.

"Stupid friggin' piece of rusted crap," The human yelled, "Let me out already!"

Ignoring that, how am I gonna get out of this? Bumblebee choked down the slight flare of anger, reminding himself that he was the one who basically shanghaied the guy. He tried to come up with options, but the only thing he could really think of was to just keep the human locked inside until the Forgers completed their tour, then they'd be on their way and out of his hair. But at the same time, that was just as problematic as letting him out now, for if he waited, the human would tell the Forgers everything that happened, his cover would be blown, and they'd probably panic and chase him away.

…

…

I really didn't think this through, did I?

Just as the human sighed and leaned back, his frustrations lowering, Bumblebee's own towards himself grew like a plasma reactor. He did the only thing he could really do in his current circumstances.

…

… HHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-

"WHAT THE FU-"

-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNK!

Bumblebee finally calmed down enough to cease with his horn. He couldn't think of any immediate radio channels to let loose with his frustrations, so the horn had to do. It didn't seem to put his unwitting captive at ease though, as he rubbed his hands against his face and muttered to himself.

"This is why I hate machines."

This is the factory's cafeteria!?

Anya heard Mama's surprised thoughts, and she would've been the same if she wasn't so awed by what she was looking at. They took an elevator ride to the top floor of the building, Becky and Miss Martha leading them to the cafeteria. What they were standing in front of looked like one giant, fancy five star restaurant. It had everything from chandeliers to fancy carpets covering the entire floor to waiters dressed up in expensive suits serving food! It was so much bigger and cooler than what they had at Eden, and the smells from the food were even more amazing!

I… I'm actually at a loss for words… Papa thought as he looked around in surprise, While fine dining is a nice luxury, it doesn't seem like a practical one to have for a weapons factory, especially with how long such meals can take to prepare. I can't tell if the Blackbells want their employees to have the best, or they overindulge in spending too much money simply because they have it.

Anya wasn't sure why spending money on stuff was a bad thing. You got to buy all sorts of cool things with it, and she knew from reading Becky's thoughts that her parents got her everything from battle tanks to private jets. This just meant that the people here got to eat the best food ever.

Well, second best, since nobody's cooking could match Papa's.

"I'll have our best chefs whip us up an amazing dinner! Anything you all want in particular?" Becky asked, Ooookay, not sure what kind of food my darling Loid likes, but I remember from Berlint in Love how Sonia seduced Vincent by cooking such extravagant meals for him! All I gotta do this time is have my chefs… cook… ugh! Suddenly she huffed and turned, petting Wiesel to calm down, Face the facts Becky! Mrs. Forger's practically perfect! You can't compete with her at anything! Bet she'd even make my best chefs look like amateur hour at a fast-food restaurant too.

This is the only thing you'd be better than Mama at, Anya stared blankly at her friend. She knew with complete certainty that Becky, by herself, was a better cook than Mama. Sure, she hadn't actually seen Becky cook anything, but it was impossible to be a worse chef than her mom. If there somehow existed a worse cook, she hadn't met them yet and never wanted to.

Becky calmed down after a few more pets and faced the Forgers, But even if I'm nowhere near her level, maybe I could be some day? She smiled brightly and helped guide them all to a table, menus already out on it, Even if she's my rival, she's also really, really amazing. I want to be just like her! So maybe she'd be willing to teach me how to be the perfect woman? Images appeared in Becky's mind, showing her training under Mama's instruction, learning cooking, cleaning, weaponry, and strength building. And even if I can only ever be half as good, maybe that will be enough for Loid to look my way?

Nope, but it still sounds like fun! Anya smiled as she took her seat between Becky and Bond at the large, circular table. She remembered training with Mama both before school at Eden started and before the big dodge-ball game her class had against that Bill Watkins kid's class. Both times, it was really, really hard, and she could still feel her muscles ache just from thinking about it, but the way Mama smiled and encouraged her made her want to keep going. It helped her get a lot stronger too!

Maybe me and Becky could learn under Mama together? Anya wondered as Martha took her seat next to Becky, with Wiesel sitting on the Blackbell lady's other side. Mama then took her seat, but Papa was the only one who didn't sit down. Looking to him, she saw that he was in spy mode, his face serious when she asked, "Papa?"

"Hmm?" Papa looked her way as everyone looked toward him, "Sorry, but I think I need to use the restroom first." Now would be a good time to get that upper-level ID from the locker room. I'll use the ventilation system in the restroom to get there, change into a disguise, then head to the surveillance camera control room. "It shouldn't take too long like last time." He turned towards Miss Martha and asked, "I'm sure I can find my way, but if it isn't too much trouble, could you point me in the right direction?"

Nodding, Miss Martha pointed to a hallway in the distance and said, "Take the second hallway on the right. It should be two doors left of that."

"Thank you," Papa nodded his head to everyone before looking at Mama, "I'll be back soon, but feel free to start without me. I'd rather not hold anyone up."

Mama shook her head, "It's fine Loid, we can wait," She looked over to Anya and Bond, "Right you two?"

"Nope!"

"Borf!"

Anya and Bond were on the same page. They were hungry now and they weren't gonna wait!

"Uh… sorry Loid," Mama said, Papa chuckling.

"It's fine. Like I said, feel free to start without me," Papa headed off to the hallway to do his super secret spy stuff, leaving them alone with the Blackbells while Becky motioned for a waiter to come close.

"Good afternoon, Lady Blackbell. How may I serve you all today?" The waiter asked, Becky looking over the menu and starting off with ordering something for Wiesel, even asking her dog what he'd like. As she did that though, Anya saw Bond freeze up before looking around in a panic. Knowing what that meant, Anya peered into his mind to get a picture of what he saw.

She saw the Blackbell factory from the outside, the sun having gone down enough that it looked like a late afternoon, kinda like where they were at now. For a few seconds, nothing happened, making Anya wonder just what Bond saw in-

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

And then it happened. The entire factory exploded, the sound making her ears ring even though it wasn't real. Something large, shiny, and metallic flew out, but it was moving too fast for her to see what it was. She didn't even have time to think about that as it flew right towards her eye, the suddenness and speed causing her to scream.

"AAAAAA-OOF!" Anya fell out of her chair and onto the floor, Mama and Bond already jumping out of their seats to help her up. She could feel Mama holding her amidst the ringing ears, asking if she was okay. She could hear Becky's voice and Miss Martha's too, both of them asking the same thing. But even with the tears starting to build from hitting the back of her head, she forced them down not a second later. She didn't have time to cry, not with what she'd just witnessed.

The factory's gonna explode! Anya was panicking now, not even knowing where to begin trying to stop it. She didn't even know what was gonna cause it in the first place! Was it a bomb? Was there some kind of equipment that was malfunctioning and about to blow up? Where bad guys attacking the place!? All she knew was that she had to stop it and she had to do it now!

"I-I-I forgot something downstairs!" Anya jumped up and patted Bond's head, causing him to lower himself so she could get on his back. She looked up at everyone's confused expressions and yelled, "I gotta go!"

Anya held on tight to Bond by the sides of his collar, rushing out of the fancy cafeteria on his back for the nearest flight of stairs. She heard her mama, Becky, and Miss Martha call out to her, but she refused to turn back.

Agent Starlight Anya had to save everyone.

"S-Should we go after her?" Madam Blackbell asked as Martha Marriott turned towards Mrs. Forger, who seemed torn between doing so and waiting for her husband. Ultimately, she clapped her hands together and sent them a nervous, if gracious, smile.

"This isn't the first time she's run off like this. I'm sure she'll be fine," She answered, though like any loving mother, she seemed unsure of herself and still wished to follow her daughter, "We'll just wait for her to come back."

Martha nodded before turning to the waiter, "In that case, would you mind giving us some time. We shall await for the rest of the Forger family to return before we begin. Just water for each of us will be enough for now." The waiter nodded, allowing all of them to return to their seats as a lull of silence came about between them, only broken by the noises the other dining employees and wait staff made. Soon enough, glasses of water were provided for each pf them, with Wiesel receiving a bowl. "Thank you, that will be all for now," Martha said to the waiter before looking toward her charge, "Is that alright with you, m'lady?"

"Yeah," Becky nodded, "I don't want to start without Anya or my dar-" She cut herself off, eyes darting towards Mrs. Forger, who smiled so innocently and nodded as she took a sip, before saying, "I mean, without Mr. Forger."

You mustn't commit adultery my lady, Martha thought, having long since lost count of how many times she'd done so for just today alone. She remembered the day her charge came home from Eden Academy, metaphorical (almost literal) hearts in her eyes as she gushed about Anya Forger's father. She talked at length during the ride back to Blackbell manor about how handsome he was in the picture Anya showed her, how they were "fated" to be together, and how she'd one day be his wife and Anya's stepmother.

There were many reasons why Martha wanted to explain to Becky why her fantasy wasn't meant to be: The fact that Mr. Forger was an adult in his late twenties (possibly early thirties) while she was a six-year-old girl, the fact that he was married and clearly devoted to his wife, the fact that Anya clearly loved her mother and didn't want to see her replaced by anyone (least of all her best friend), and the fact that her desires felt like the plot of a Berlint in Love episode than anything based in reality.

Why her parents allow her to watch such age-inappropriate television is beyond me.

But despite the many reasons she had to cease such a childish dream, she felt it was best not to. Lady Blackbell would grow out of them in her own time and in her own way. So long as such fantasies didn't lead to anything genuinely harmful, she saw no need to immediately intervene and put a stop to them. Besides, her charge was just being that cheerful, imagination filled child that she was (despite her clear beliefs that such things made her seem adult-like). If both wars she'd fought in had taught her anything, it's that one would never be a child forever.

Best hold on to that innocence while you can, my lady, Martha smiled at Becky, who took a sip from her glass with as much poise as a six-year-old could manage, The world has a cruel, sickening way of taking such things from us when we least expect it to.

But she wouldn't let it happen to Madam Blackbell, or any child under her protection. Not while she drew breath.

"Hey, M-Mrs. Forger, can I ask a question?" Becky looked up at Yor, face stained crimson as she shyly poked her fingers together. The Forger matriarch set her glass down and raised an eyebrow.

"Is something wrong?"

Becky shook her head, "No, nothing's wrong, it's just…" She gulped before gaining a confident glint in her eyes, "Could you teach me how to do the things that you do!?"

Yor looked at Becky in befuddlement, an expression that Martha shared. She looked between Martha and her charge before asking, "I… come again?"

"It's just… you're the perfect lady: Strong, poise, and dignified in a way I'm nowhere near close to being. I was hoping that ma-maybe you could…" Becky gulped, her nervousness clearly flaring up before swallowing it back down, "I was hoping you could teach me how to be just like you."

"I… I don't know," Mrs. Forger looked away, "I'm honestly not as perfect as you think. If that's what you're hoping to be, maybe you could learn under Miss Marriott? She seems far more perfect than I'll ever be."

"What do you mean? Have you seen the things you did today!? You're in a league of your own! Hell, you're better than perfect!"

"M'lady, there's no need for such vulgarity and volume," Martha gently chastised her charge, a hand to her shoulder to sit her back down. Chairs weren't meant for standing in, after all. Though flattered my Mrs. Forger's compliments, she believed that, whether Yor knew it or not, they just as much didn't apply to her. Turning to Yor, who continued to stare at the carpet covered flooring, Martha had a feeling what this was about, recollecting her earlier suspicions as she asked, "Mrs. Forger, I apologize for prying, but does this, by any chance, have anything to do with your… background, for lack of a better term?"

Now Mrs. Forger looked at her, crimson eyes filled with terror as they stared like she was a vicious predator, "W-What!? What background!? I don't have any backgrounds! I haven't even thought of a good background for my bedroom if that's what you mean!"

Sighing, Martha felt it best to just bite the bullet and answer, "I mean, you're one with quite a bit blood on your hands, aren't you?"

"I-I-I-I-" Mrs. Forger's stammering reached an apex, her entire body shaking so much that Martha almost worried she'd be the cause of an earthquake. She regretted putting her on the spot like this, but she needed to confirm her earlier suspicions.

For a civilian woman, Mrs. Forger had an unusually intricate knowledge of weaponry, combat tactics, military vehicles (specifically how to disable them), as well as protective armor and how best to make up for it's shortcomings. The way she carried herself, at times, felt like it was trying too hard to seem unassuming, like she just wasn't used to it. Her sheer strength reminded her of times she'd witnessed those in desperation use all their might to tear down the doors of armored personnel carriers, something no civilian would be capable of. And though her abysmal showing with firearms put off those initial concerns, they flared back up again after the fact. It was impossible for anyone to be that bad with guns, almost like she was pretending to be that bad just to achieve a greater semblance of normality.

It all adds up too well. I know what you are, Yor Forger.

After all, Martha would recognize a fellow former soldier when she saw one.

Seeing that said ex-soldier was on the verge of a breakdown, she said, "It's quite alright, I understand. We are two of a kind in that regard."

"… w-what?" Yor's shaking ceased, though she didn't immediately calm down.

Becky looked to her, eyes wide as polished dinner plates, before gazing back at Mrs. Forger, "Wait, you mean she's just like you, Martha? She's also a-" She gasped, happiness and awe etching its way onto her face, "That's so amazing! Anya and Loid are so lucky to have you!" Though the joy reached her eyes, she still sighed, "There's really no way I can compete."

Well, at the very least, you're being more mature than the characters of your television series, Martha thought in mild amusement. The jealous rivals from Berlint in Love that Madam Blackbell looked up to and tried to emulate were quite violent when it came to envious feelings. Often, they were too violent, and she said this as someone who went to war twice. Clearing her throat, Martha asked, "M'lady, would you be a dear and allow the grownups time to talk? I'm afraid such subjects aren't suitable for children to take part in." Though I'll try and be vague for your sake. If they come up, there are too many grisly details I often hate revisiting. I'm certain Mrs. Forger hates them too.

Becky stared between them, still awed to a degree, before she nodded and motioned for Wiesel, who'd finished his water, to join in her seat. She likely needed to keep her nerves down, and with what she was learning, Martha couldn't blame her.

"S-She knows about you?" Yor asked, surprised by this for some reason.

"Since I first became the Blackbell family's bodyguard. Though those years are long behind me, with any luck," Martha admitted, her answer shocking Mrs. Forger even more. She wasn't certain as to why, so, raising an eyebrow, she asked, "Is that a problem?"

"N-No! It's just…" Yor went scarily quiet, once more avoiding eye contact as Martha put everything together again.

"Your husband and daughter don't know, do they?"

Martha's question drew a light, almost silent gasp from Becky, who held tighter to Wiesel like he was a pillow. Perhaps, on some level, she felt as though she was watching an episode of her soap operas. Despite Martha's exasperation, given the seriousness of the topic, she was focused on Yor, who gave a reluctant nod and sighed, arms rested on the table as her head followed suit.

"It's true," She said, "They don't know. They can't know."

"Why not?" Becky suddenly spoke up, only to cover her mouth, "S-Sorry! I-I know I shouldn't ask! It's just-"

Yor shook her head, looking up, but remaining on the table, "No, it's fine. But…" She faced Martha, "I'd appreciate if we talked around the… touchier details. Too many ears and…" She turned back to Becky, "It's not a suitable subject for girls your age. Or most people for that matter."

She and I are of one mind then, Martha nodded, folding her hands beneath her chin as she rested her elbows on the table, "If I were to make an assumption, is their ignorance because you worry such knowledge would hurt them?"

This time, a nod, "There are… other reasons, though I think you already know them." She sighed, "Honestly, I'm a bit envious of you."

Martha nodded in kind, understanding the difficulties soldiers faced when they returned from war. Just as often as they found praise for their actions, they just as much found scorn. Sometimes, it was because the people back home blamed them for the continuance of war, something Martha found difficult to blame them for, given the things she'd seen soldiers on both sides do. Other times, it was because a pencil pusher behind a desk deemed them unneeded, and if not that, having failed their country, cutting them loose without any safety net.

After all that blood and horror, clinging to the few silver linings that exist, death almost seems preferable compared to coming home. If it isn't the weight of your actions, it's how everything's changed, Martha's heart went out to Mrs. Forger. It was likely that her desire to keep her background hidden from her family stemmed from not wanting to face rejection, having dealt with such already. Given how she seemed to be trying so hard to appear the average, unassuming civilian woman, Yor Forger likely never truly left the battlefield. Then again, none of them ever did, no matter how hard they tried.

"If I may by so bold and uncouth as to pry, why did you choose such a life in the first place?" Martha asked as Yor went completely silent, curiosity driven by the Forger woman's youth. She was able to tell that Yor had joined rather young, meaning she likely lied about her age to enlist in the second East-West War: The only war she could've fought in. Such a thing, sadly, wasn't an uncommon occurrence. Many died young, and those that lived were filled with regret. Some joined because of pressure, others because of naivety on what war truly was, the promised "glory" a lie that too many fell for. Martha wished to know which one Yor was, if she was willing to answer.

"To protect and provide someone dear to me," Yor finally replied, her tone solemn and her eyes a thousand miles away, "My younger brother and I… we lost our parents because of the war. He was all I had, and I…" She looked down at her right hand, just like Martha often did after her first kill, "I stained my hands, my body, and my soul, all to make sure he'd never have to. So he could live the carefree, happy life that he deserved. That everyone deserves, honestly." Her gaze finally met Martha's, "I took up the fight to protect what little I had left. I couldn't afford to lose him too."

Of all answers, Martha hadn't expected that. A light gasp escaped her lips, eyes going wide at an argument. A memory.

"If I don't fight to protect what little I have left, I'm going to lose it all!"

Those were her words to Henry when he'd argued, extensively, against her joining the Woman's Defense Auxiliary. Back then, she'd felt that there was so little left for her to live for, having lost her ballet dreams, and was desperate to do whatever she could to protect those she cherished most: Her mother, her father, and her then beloved Henry. The death of her childhood dream taught her not to trust that anyone or anything would be there for you forever. Looking at Yor now, she briefly saw a younger her, broken within yet refusing to give. Did she feel the just as Martha once did all those years ago?

Nothing left to live for but the cherished few?

Feeling a sad, if nostalgic, smile grace her lips, Martha said, "That was my reasoning as well."

Yor gasped, as had Madam Blackbell at her side, and asked, "R-Really?"

"Indeed," Martha answered, "Forgive my bias, but I find it a very noble reason to live a life of ignoble deeds. Not everyone can endure the dark side of the world we live in, but to do it for those near and dear to us…" She briefly looked to Becky, whose smile stretched from ear to ear, her thoughts going out to her, the rest of the Blackbells, to the dearly departed Lucia, and her now closest friend, Henry, "I think that's something to be commended."

Now bright red, Yor smiled in shyness and flattery, "Loid said something similar. He said that he admired those who endured such harshness for the sake of others. Even if he doesn't know, and even if I don't think I could ever tell him, I feel like he really understands."

"I believe he does. You're lucky to have met him," Martha said, seeing the love Mrs. Forger had for her husband dancing in her eyes. It was always a delight, to see such love among the younger generations. She would admit to being like her charge in that regard. Although, that delight was marred ever so slightly as Mrs. Forger's smile slowly dipped, the love still there, but confusion and worry eclipsed it. Her own worries inflamed, Martha asked, "Is something troubling you, Mrs. Forger?"

"Please, call me Yor," Yor shook her head and sighed, "And I suppose it… sort of relates to this. It's confusing."

"We'd be willing to lend an ear."

"Uh, I-I don't think I could take it. You need your ears, right?" Yor asked, sincerely confused. Martha, despite her own confusion, couldn't help but chuckle.

"Metaphorically, of course. It means we're willing to listen, if it eases your troubles," Martha turned to her charge, "Right, m'lady?"

"Y-Yeah!" Becky answered as Wiesel barked. She seemed earnest in her desire to both listen to and help Mrs. Forger with her troubles, despite her own envy. It made Martha feel a swell of pride. Her charge didn't know it, but she was beginning to behave like the mature adult she so desperately yearned to be.

"Well, in that case," Yor sighed, "Recently, I can't help but feel… my brother's all grown up now with his diplomatic job, a well-paying salary, and his own roof over his head that he can provide for himself. Everything that I tried to protect doesn't… I'm not needed anymore." She looked down at her hands again, rubbing them together, "But I don't know how not to be what I forced myself to be. I don't know what to do, or how to feel. Life is moving on, everyone's moving on, but here I am, stuck as the mess I've always been."

Martha wasn't quite sure what to say for a moment, remembering how aimless she'd felt after the war, after losing all her brothers and sisters in arms, after losing her chances with Henry to Lucia, after losing everything.

Yet despite that, she'd gained so much as well.

She'd gained a chance to regain her old dream, however briefly, when she gave a ballet performance for a post-war charity event. She'd gained a friendship with Lucia after years of stewing in jealousy. She'd gotten to see her old friend cherish someone else, and even learn to be proud for him and his wife. And perhaps most dear to her, she'd gained a place among the Blackbell family as their servant, their bodyguard, their confidant, and Becky's caretaker. Martha never got to have a family of her own, but the Blackbells were enough for her.

Perhaps Yor doesn't realize that? Martha wondered, looking at the younger woman, who still seemed so lost. Even if the war was long since over, Yor's instincts as an ex-soldier still served her now. Martha knew that even as Becky grew older, she'd always need someone to be there for her, to ensure that she could live a carefree life and never suffer tragedy. It was unrealistic to assume either she or Lady Blackbell's parents would always be there for her, but come Hell or high water, they would try.

Finding the right words, Martha opened her mouth, but before she could speak…

"I think you're needed."

Both Yor and Martha turned to face Becky, Wiesel resting in her lap, as she embarrassingly bit her lip and diverted her gaze at the sudden attention. Yor looked between the two of them and asked, "W-What?"

"I said that I think you're needed," Becky repeated, her eyes unable or unwilling to meet Yor's, "I mean, my parents are grownups, but they need Martha to look after them every now and then. She looks after me too, and I'm happy to have her." She gave Martha a thankful smile, which was returned, "Even if your brother's all grown up, I think he'd still need you."

"I-I don't know. He hasn't needed me in a long time," Yor admitted.

"What about Anya?" Becky asked, causing Yor to gasp, "I remember how she jumped into your arms back at the parent/teacher thing. And you wanted to get some stuff here to help protect her. She seemed really excited about it, so I think she needs you!"

As troubled as I am by the idea of children wearing body armor, I can see the logic in Yor's thinking, Martha admitted. Not something she'd do regarding Lady Blackbell or any child under her protection, but she understood it. Clearing her own throat, she added, "Quite. It's clear as day how much your husband and daughter are happy to have you in their lives, as well as how much you are to be part of theirs. And while I've yet to meet your brother, I can say with certainty that no matter how old he gets, he will always need his sister to help him. It's why we're here: To ensure those we love can enjoy quiet lives. That's what it was for me in the beginning, and it grew to extend to others as well."

"… Yeah," Yor quietly said, "That is why… I chose this life."

Mrs. Forger looked away, this time up to the ceiling, as if trying to see the darkening sky beyond it. As she did, Lady Blackbell muttered, "Yeah… Anya and… and Loid need you… they need you and not…"

Martha looked at her young charge, seeing envy and bitterness spike up in equal measure. The happiness was still there, just barely reaching her eyes, but it was slowly being eclipsed. She had no earthly way of knowing for certain, but it seemed as though Becky was beginning to understand that, in addition with all the other problems in pining for a much older, married man, that it was improper to be a homewrecker. A childish fantasy Martha once desired decades ago was the ability to read minds and better understand those around her, but she grew past such silly notions. In addition to nothing of the sort being possible, a person's mind was their private sanctum and shouldn't be violated so brazenly.

Wanting to ease Madam Blackbell, she reached out and affectionately placed a hand against her head, looking down at her and smiling warmly. It was enough to draw a smile out of her and a light bark out of Wiesel. Perhaps they would need to talk more about this when they returned to the manor, but for now, Becky had been placated.

"You're right," Yor's rising voice drew their attention, "Even if things are changing, I can still help everyone as I am. As I've always been. Not just for my brother, but for my husband, my daughter, our pet, and everyone else in our lives. I wanted to make the world a better, safer place, and I'm still doing that, one little bit at a time." Her smile grew as much as her volume did, a brightness returning to her eyes. Facing them, she said, "Thank you. I think… I think I'll be able to keep going as I am. Maybe someday, I'll be able to have a quiet life of my own when I'm older. You've shown me that it's possible."

"I'm sure you'll find it someday. No matter what anyone says, I believe it to be possible for all of us," Martha smiled back, certain of what Yor meant by that last bit. Someday, she'd be able to put the (hopefully) last war and her war-torn past behind, finding peace for herself just as Martha did.

"I hope so," Yor's happiness suddenly gave way to an adorable mix of awkwardness and nervousness, "Uh, b-by the way, since you both know, could you please not tell anyone? Especially not Loid or Anya?"

"My lips are sealed," Martha answered, It will fall to you to tell them when you're ready.

"I mean, I can keep it hidden…" Becky started, sounding so much like a smug gossip hen that concerned Martha. "But I have a request in exchange," She set Wiesel off her lap and stood tall in her seat, palms against the table, "Please make me your apprentice!" Yor grew startled as she continued, "You're right. You're not perfect, but that just makes you even cooler! There's so much I want to learn from you. Please teach me!"

Yor was silent once again, though only for a few moments as she gave Becky an almost sisterly grin, nodding with fists raised in cheer, "O-Of course! Since my family has a cruise coming up this Friday, we can start somewhere after Eden's midterm break," She turned to Martha with clasped hands, "But only if you approve, of course."

Martha, despite her amusement at the turn of events, couldn't help but sigh, "When my lady puts her mind to something, stopping her is an impossibility. If she wishes to learn under you, so be it." Leveling a stern, dangerous glance at Mrs. Forger, she added, "But in doing so, I'm trusting you with her life, and to ensure that nothing she learns is too dangerous for a girl her age. If anything happens to her…

"You have my word. No harm will come to Becky. I'll protect and care for her just as I do my daughter," Yor gave a slight bow of her head, an equally dangerous look in her eye. It was so unlike that of the looks she'd seen during both wars, yet just as much similar to them. The two were matched in equal measure: Mother lionesses who would fight tooth and claw for their young. Just as quickly as it came, it vanished, and the two returned to smiling at each other, the warmth now matched by respect.

"YES!" Becky cheered, jumping in her seat and drawing attention from the others currently dining before Martha leveled her a look to sit down, lest she fall and hurt herself. Her charge's eyes had an apologetic glint as she did so, "I can't wait to tell Anya that her mom's gonna be teaching me! At least when she gets back. And after Loid gets back too." She looked to where Mr. Forger had walked off and asked, "He's been gone for a while now, huh?"

"Indeed," Martha had been paying attention to that, and it was honestly starting to be a cause for concern. So she asked Mrs. Forger, "Is this… normal, for your husband?"

Mrs. Forger giggled and said, "Yes, it actually is. The last time it happened was on the day we first met Bond. He was in there until the sun began to set."

"Just gonna ignore the bathroom stuff," Becky made a grossed-out face and shook her head, "How did you guys get Bond anyway? He seems like a really nice dog."

"Uh…" Yor's nervousness returned, almost like she was unsure about discussing the events, "Actually, could we start with how you met Wiesel first?"

Becky smiled as Wiesel barked, his own happiness matching hers.

"Well…"

Chapter Text

Twilight, now fully disguised as an employee of Blackbell Heavy Industries, made his way for the factory's control room, coffee tray in his hands as he nodded to other staff passing down the halls.

So far, everything's gone to plan, He mused, having used the ventilation system in the restroom to make his way for the locker dressing room. He'd gotten changed, snuck back the way he came, and found the nearest employee break room to make coffee. Thankfully, it was sparsely occupied, allowing him to easily sneak in the laxatives.

And all that touring's given me a thorough map of this facility, Drawing from his memories, the Blackbell's descriptions, and his current trek, he now understood the facility inside and out. He'd draw up a full-scale map, floor plans included, to present to Handler, and by extension, Agent Nightfall, for the latter's mission. About the only issue was guard patrol patterns, as while he had a decent picture of them, human nature meant it was not a certainty.

Then again, that was always a risk within his line of work: People suddenly changing their minds and making last minute decisions that interfered with their objectives. It was annoying, no doubt, but nothing could be done about it. They couldn't read nor control minds, nor did Twilight ever want there to be such a possibility. He'd admit that there was a certain… temptation to the prospect, as such notions could potentially guarantee the kind of world he hoped for. A world without secrets and the wars they led to.

But it isn't worth the cost. It would only bring about more oppression and pain in the long run, Twilight thought as he rounded the corner and neared the control room. Such a world meant nobody would be truly free or even safe to truly enjoy it, rendering everything meaningless. That was why he became Twilight in the first place, not only prevent such tragedies, but to ensure that everyone would be able to live freely and happily without such worries looming over them, even if it meant dirtying his body and soul.

It's worth it so long as no one else needs to, Twilight entered the control room, instantly slipping on the mask of an amicable coworker as he said, "I brought coffee! Anyone need a pick me up?"

A chorus of positive replies rang out from the control room's crew members as Twilight walked up to them one by one, passing them each a drink. Upon arriving at the last one, he handed him a cup of coffee, which was taken by the tired camera operator, "Thanks. I really needed this." He took a sip of the caffeine and returned back to the cameras, "I swear, staring at camera feeds all day is exhausting."

"I can hardly imagine," Twilight replied. He honestly couldn't imagine that. Thanks to his years of training in WISE, he'd long since developed a strong enough fortitude to not require much rest. These days, he only needed two hours of sleep per day. If he really pushed it, he could function for 23 hours nonstop with only a single hour of rest, but that was it. Anything more than that and the effects of exhaustion would creep in.

"It probably doesn't help that nothing odd has happened today," Another operator, this one an older woman in her late forties with graying black hair, said as Twilight walked over to the camera feeds she was surveying, "Or yesterday, or even the week before that. Closest thing to excitement was when one of Lady Blackbell's guests broke a locker door." She drank a bit of her coffee, "That and when she threw a rifle like a spear. Can't say I've seen anything like that in my life."

A small chorus of agreements and murmurs answered her statement as Twilight sipped his drink. Having long since developed resistance to various poisons, diseases, and drugs, he didn't have to worry too much about the laxative affecting him. At worst, he'd just get a mild stomachache later, but having dealt with his wife's cooking, even that was becoming a non-issue. Really, he only did so for the sake of maintaining cover, as it would've been odd if the one who'd brought the drinks to everyone was the only person who didn't drink. The eyewitness reports of everyone here would single him out and potentially risk the mission.

Though, on the subject of Yor… Twilight stared at the video feeds of the locker room. Thankfully, not many were there at the moment, though it being close to the end of some shifts meant that was slowly changing. He could still see that the damaged locker had gone unaddressed and would likely remain so until tomorrow morning. Despite this, he couldn't shake off the discomfort from earlier.

It's all just a complete coincidence, but using Yor's emotional distress to forward my mission still doesn't feel right, He still couldn't piece together why he felt this way. Not to mention having such conflicts in the first place was a potential detriment to being a spy. Yet, much like how he felt about previous, potentially detrimental actions to his mission, he found himself welcoming these feelings. Either that, or he was simply incapable of not having them for some reason.

"Honestly, I thought that was kinda freaky," A second female operator, this one much younger, verging on early twenties, with crimson colored hair, threw her two pents in as she placed her mug down, "It's like that woman's some kind of crazy strong killer robot, or a freak assassin, or some kind of super spy."

Loid felt his eye almost twitch at the insults directed towards his wife. He managed to maintain enough self-control not to let anything show, reminding himself that the operator's reaction was driven by fear and lack of understanding. No different than how two countries conflicted due to neither side understanding the other.

He was at least 99.1% certain that Yuri sensed someone insult his sister by accident, however, and was probably planning the operator's arrest right now. With that man, anything was possible when it came to protecting Yor.

"Really Soph?" One of her male coworkers asked with an admonishing tone, "You gotta lay off those spy shows."

"What? They're fun! And I wasn't trying to imply anything, just that she reminded me is all…" Soph (Twilight assumed it was shorthand for Sophie) tried to defend herself in a not so convincing tone.

"Say, one of those shows wouldn't happen to be Spy Wars, would it?" Twilight said, deciding to jump to the young woman's rescue. Given his current disguise, it was imperative that he converse with other Blackbell workers rather than remain silent in the background. Especially since the laxatives would start affecting them soon.

"Uh, yes, actually. Why?"

Twilight smiled, "My daughter's quite a fan of it."

"Really?" Sophie asked, gaining a bright smile.

"It's her favorite."

"No way!" An elderly operator, this one old enough for all his hair to have turned white, "I got a grandkid who loves that series to death." He chuckled, "Kinda ironic how much he loves spies, given those SSS bastards running about."

Twilight studied the faces of the CCTV room's crew at that statement. None of them made a response, but they all had posture and eye contact towards the man of either reluctant agreement or exuberant agreement. Either way, it was clear none of them were particularly fond of the State Security Service. Few who lived in the shadow of draconian governments were ever truly fond of those that enforced it.

Suddenly, the last operator he'd given coffee to stood up, hand to his roiling stomach, "Well, while you guys talk about that, I gotta go take a break." He left, speed-walking out of the room while muttering something about a "Damned meat pie."

Twilight's eyes quickly gazed about, seeing that no one else had been affected yet. At this, he nodded within his head, Good, it's working. The amounts I put in each coffee were randomized and made by WISE to ensure that they would affect people based off overall physical constitution. This will allow everyone's departure from the room to seem less suspicious. "So…" He looked to the elderly operator, "Did your grandson ever talk about his favorite episode?" Turning to Sophie, he asked, "Any particular favorites for you?"

The operator and Sophie chuckled, the former beginning, "Well, his favorite was always…"

For the next several minutes Twilight found himself conversing with the various control room operators, starting with Spy Wars episodes and working his way to more miscellaneous topics not unlike those he discussed with his own coworkers at his Berlint General Hospital cover job. Such discussion was good for gathering more intel, and he'd managed to get tidbits here and there that would benefit Agent Nightfall's assignment later. Still, Loid was quite shocked in himself that he found himself getting invested in these conversations as the topics shifted more towards family life, even as the room's occupants slowly dwindled. Nothing the remaining ones said was particularly noteworthy, but he was invested regardless, despite keeping as many details as possible vague to maintain cover.

It was rather similar to his cover job as Dr. Loid Forger, where when the topic of families came up, he'd be able to speak with his fellow doctors about his family just as much as they'd happily gush about their own. Talking about them with others felt good. He couldn't explain why, but it felt good.

Of course, thanks to his own work, all conversations eventually came to an end. The final operator, the elderly woman from previously, stood up, "Ugh."

"Something wrong?" Twilight asked, knowing the answer as she rubbed at her stomach.

"I need to take a break, but no one's returned yet to maintain the surveillance room."

Pretending to ponder on it for a minute, he answered, "Would it be alright with you if I kept watch of the surveillance room until at least one operator returns?" He maintained an easygoing smile, "It shouldn't be too much trouble on my end, and I can inform my manager that it was a request."

With only minor hesitation (and another roil of the stomach), the operator nodded, "Alright, hopefully it shouldn't be too long. Just monitor the camera feeds until one of us gets back. Let any one of us know if you've seen anything strange." She sighed and began walking out, "But I wouldn't worry. Not much happens here anyway."

"I'll keep that in mind!" Twilight replied with an upbeat tone as the woman exited, leaving him all alone to do his work. Quickly, he checked each grainy surveillance feed, allowing him to memorize all areas of the facility and judge for potential blind spots Agent Nightfall could exploit during her mission. Typing away on the keyboard, he switched between different feeds across each area, getting a clearer picture and witnessing the room where they housed the pod from the forest.

Looks like they're in the process of reverse engineering it, Twilight knew the logic behind it: Reconstruct the pod from the ground up to understand how it worked. They were already half complete with that objective, the feed allowing him to see their efforts from every angle. From analysts studying the pod's reactions toward various stimuli, to scientists in hazmat suits study some sort of blue substance that likely came from the pod itself. Strange, Twilight thought, I didn't see that at the crash site. Perhaps whatever contained it remained undamaged?

Shifting to different camera perspectives, he saw the routes to the offices on the uppermost floors, where employee applications were reviewed for potential hiring. And seeing as those doors have the barcode locks, it looks like I'll be needing that upper-level ID to get into those rooms, Twilight mused, knowing what he had to do first as his eyes shifted to the feeds showing the dining room, where he saw Yor and the Blackbells happily chatting away. At the sight, he felt a smile make its way onto his face before he even realized it was there, Looks like Yor's made some more friends. I'm happy for her. He blinked, Huh, that's… odd…

Shockingly, in the back of his mind, part of that happiness was because both parents of the Forger family having good relations with someone like the Blackbells meant that he (and WISE by extension) would have an easier means of procuring good intel. But it was in the back of his mind rather than normally at the forefront where it should have been. He wanted to ponder more about this, but he had a mission to focus on, and unfortunately for his mission…

Wait, where's- A white blur zoomed down one of the surveillance feeds, prompting Twilight to zip his head towards it with wide eyes, Anya!

Across different feeds, he saw his daughter riding on Bond's back, traveling down hallways on the first floor. He had no clue what she was doing, nor did he have time to, as he heard footsteps from outside, signaling that one of the operators was returning. With quick reflexes, he reacted just in time as the door opened, "spilling" coffee on the keyboard and causing the surveillance feeds in the locker room to fizzle out.

"Argh! Dammit!" Twilight shouted, faking his frustration as the operator, revealing herself to be Sophie, ran up beside him.

"What happened?"

"Oh! S-Sorry! I was caught off guard and I-I spilled the coffee on the monitor," He replied, sounding as nervous and ashamed as he could be.

Sophie looked understanding and said, "It's fine. Accidents happen. We'll call someone and get things fixed up later tonight."

"Y-You sure?"

"Yeah!" Sophie nodded, "Besides, nothing happens around here anyway." She took her seat, "You can just get back to your workstation. I'll take care of things here."

"Well, alright," Twilight stood up, "If you say so. Take care."

"You too!" She waved goodbye, Twilight doing so in kind as he exited the room, walking at a leisurely pace to seem inconspicuous as he made his way for the nearest restroom to sneak through the ventilation system again. Even if the surveillance in the locker room was compromised, the rest of the facility wasn't. It would draw too many questions if he was caught on camera heading there right after what happened. Although, as he made his way, he couldn't help but wonder on just one little thing.

What was Anya doing? From the looks of it, she and Bond were frantically running about the place, but he couldn't make out their faces amidst the recording. Their body language, however, seemed rather panicked, but what were they panicking about? Did they forget something important during the tour? He didn't see them drop anything, so that couldn't have been the case.

Perhaps I'm overthinking this? Twilight sighed and adjusted his collar. Knowing how adventurous his daughter tended to be, the more likely answer was that she wanted to explore the factory a bit more or thought of a fun game for her and Bond to play, or maybe she was just looking for a bathroom and didn't know where the one nearest to the dining room was (despite having seen Twilight go in that direction). So long as she didn't leave facility grounds and could find her way back to them (which she usually could), he'd be able to focus on his mission without too much issue.

This place is practically one of the most secured buildings in all of Berlint. She'll be fine, Twilight reminded himself, Just focus on your mission. That takes priority for the moment. Whatever she's running around for can't be anything too serious.

But at that, a nervous question entered his head.

Right?

Gotta find the bomb! Gotta find the bomb! Gotta find the bomb!

Anya's thoughts were frantic as she rode on Bond's back, letting him run throughout the building as fast as he could manage. She almost bumped into several people along the way, some of which yelled at her to slow down or be careful, but that was the last thing on her mind. The factory was gonna explode, and she had to find the bomb before that happened!

Where's the bomb? Where's the bad guy who put it there!? Anya looked left and right like she'd been ever since she and Bond started running around. She tried reading every single mind she came across along the way here, hoping to get a hint that someone put an explosive or something in the building. That's usually how these things worked with her, but so far, she hadn't found anything. Finding them was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Come on, there's gotta be a bad guy around here somewhere! Anya clutched tightly at Bond's collar, her way of telling him to stop. He did just that and the two found themselves in a three-way hallway, people going about their daily routines without a care in the world. Some of them stopped to stare at her and Bond, cooing at how cute they were or looking curious before continuing on. I'm never gonna find the bad guys like this! I gotta focus super hard!

Closing her eyes, she put all her focus into her telepathy, listening in on the thoughts of everyone nearby.

Oh, I hope I have enough time to pick up-

-amn, that was exhausting! Putting together a tank takes it out of-

-lost another lottery ticket. Just my luck. One of these-

-hell is that kid doing on her dog? Wait, wasn't she with-

-really wish I'd gone to college. I could've become a doctor instead of-

-wonder how I can finally get that hot Banes chick in weapon's manufacturing to finally notice-

-so scary, everything I keep hearing about Westalis. I have family living there and they could be suffering under those-

-kay, once everything's done with the explosives, me and the boys can-

-lost my cousin to the SSS. I swear, once I earn enough, me and my family are getting the hell out of-

Anya blinked. What was the second to last thought she'd just heard? She turned her head rapidly each and every which way, trying to remember the direction she heard it. She tried feeling for surface thoughts again, sifting through everything until…

Just one more hour and then… heh, kaboom! Came the thoughts of a lanky looking man with black hair far down the hall to Anya's left, about to open a door. Poking Bond with the back of her heel, she pointed for him to run, and he went as fast as his four doggy legs could carry the both of them. But the man had already entered the room, the door slamming shut just as they arrived.

"No!" Anya went wide eyed as Bond skidded to a halt. She jumped off and tried reaching for the door handle, but it was too high for her. "Bond, help me up!" We gotta stop the bad guy! Bond did as Anya said and bent down, letting her get back on as she stood atop his back, wobbling a bit and reaching the handle. Unfortunately, that didn't work either, as no matter how much Anya pulled, the door refused to budge. It wasn't until Anya saw the scanner next to the door that she slapped her head and remembered the All Day Pass she had. Annoyed, she sighed and reached for her neck, only to be met with nothing, "Wha-"

"Borf!"

"Bond, my pass is gone!" Anya jumped down and started looking around the floor, even getting on her hands and feet like Bond to get a better look. "I-I must've dropped it! Where is it!? Help me find it!" Her dog nodded and immediately began sniffing about, the two of them searching down the hallway bit by bit to try and find it, getting confused stares from the passing workers. After a few more minutes, Anya felt her hands grow sore from all the pointless sifting. She stood up and turned to Bond, "Anything?"

"Borf!" Bond rose up and shook his head, leaving Anya to panic. The factory was in danger, her family was in danger, Becky and Miss Martha were in danger, everyone was in danger, and she lost the one thing that'd get her to the bad guy planning all this. What was she gonna-

"Anya?"

"WAH!" Anya jumped back and got into a defensive stance, closing her eyes and flailing her arms, hoping to hit whatever wanted to attack her.

What is she doing? Instead, she heard a worried, gentle thought that sounded familiar. Recognizing the voice, she opened an eye and looked up, seeing Miss Mikaela, face covered in sweat and grime from work with her long hair free from its ponytail, staring down at her. Confused and concerned, she knelt down to Anya's eye level and asked, "Are you alright? Where are your parents?" Is she lost?

"I, uh…" Anya stammered, knowing she couldn't say anything about how she knew the danger everyone was in. If she did, then Mikaela would definitely tell Mama and Papa that she could read minds or that Bond could see the future, and that meant her happy ending would blow away like the building they were in. I gotta think of something quick! Anya looked around and saw the bracelet Mikaela was wearing. Remembering what she learned earlier, Anya shyly looked down, "I-I lost my day pass and got separated from Mama and Papa during the tour. Now I can't find them." Putting on her best pleading face, which wasn't really an act with her desperation, she clasped her hands together, "Could you please help me find them, Miss Mikaela?"

Mikaela gasped, eyes shimmering just a bit, Poor kid. A child should never go through that. "Sure. My shift just ended, but I'll stay and help you find your parents," Nodding, Mikaela stood up, "Now, where was the last place you remember seeing them?"

"Uh, I don't know…" Anya lied, "I-I was trying to get back into rooms we went through to find them, but without my pass, I… I can't-"

"I get it. I think I can help with that," Mikaela held up her own employee ID bracelet, causing Anya to sigh in relief. At least now she could get into where the bad guy was. Running back to the door she was trying to get into, she pointed to the scanner so Mikaela could open it. The older woman walked over and did just that, even holding the door open so Anya could be let inside.

Where are you, Mister Bad Guy? Anya wondered, hopping on Bond's back so she could get a better look around. All over the place, she saw factory workers managing machinery that was assembling what looked like the outer casing for grenades. There were bunches of people at different tables putting everything together, and at one of them was-

There's the bad guy! Anya saw the lanky, creepy guy working with a bunch of others as she and Bond ran over, not hearing Miss Mikaela's shouts as people gasped and murmured, some yelping as they ran by. When they reached the table, Anya got Bond to slow down, letting her glare at the bomber as she read his mind for whatever evil plans he had.

Almost… aaaaand done! The bad guy proudly held up the finished grenade and passed it down the table, where it was placed carefully in a large metal box with others. You know, I thought making explosives would be fun and all, but it just ended up being so monotonous. Maybe I should ask for a job transfer? … Nah, all my friends are here. Last thing I want to do is- Blinking, he finally noticed her presence and grew confused by her glare, Uh, what's with the kid and the dog?

"Anya!" Mikaela caught up to them, kneeling down with a reprimanding look, "You shouldn't run off like that! A lot of rooms in this place are very dangerous if you're not careful."

"Sorry," Anya muttered, still confused by the bad guy's thoughts. They weren't what she suspected, and why wasn't he thinking of blowing this place up? Was he not the bad guy? Did she get it wrong?

"Oh, hey Mikaela!" The lanky "bad guy" greeted, everyone else at his worktable looking up.

"Uh… hi?" Miss Mikaela responded, arms crossed, "Do I know you from somewhere?"

Miss Mikaela's sounding kinda like Papa when he's serious, Anya looked up at the woman in question. Her thoughts and body language were… guarded, if she could put a word to it.

"Uh, no. But I'm friends with your shift manager. You come up a lot when she's praising her team."

"I see…" Mikaela seemed a bit more relaxed, though her guard remained as some of the other guys (and a few of the girls) at the table kept staring at her with bright red faces, funny looks in their eyes, or both.

"In any case, my name's-"

"Not important!" The lanky worker was cut off by the guy next to him: A brown haired, handsome man who had an annoying smirk as his eyes scanned Mikaela all over, "So, your name's Mikaela, huh? That's such a gorgeous name. Anyway sweetness, My name's-"

"Not important," Mikaela cut him off with a huff, not caring in the slightest how rude she sounded, eyes darting towards Anya for a split second, Only reason I ain't calling you an asshole is because of who's here.

I already know that word though. "Miss Mikaela, I don't like that guy," Anya pointed to the man in question, getting snickers from everyone as the man next to the lanky guy seethed quietly. He was annoying Mama's new friend, and that was enough for her. Plus, the thoughts he was having were extra confusing. Anya didn't know why he thought Miss Mikaela was a "Fox". She looked nothing like one, and something told her that Mikaela wouldn't like being called that.

"Me neither, Anya," Mikaela finished snickering.

"Really Rolf?" Lanky man slapped the guy on the back of his head, his thoughts and face annoyed. Apparently, this wasn't the first time he bothered someone like Mikaela this way. "Sorry about him," he faced Mikaela, Anya, and Bond, "He's an idiot, but he knows boundaries."

"He better," Mikaela huffed before looking at everyone, "Look, Anya here's lost, and she needs help finding her parents. Any of you seen a tall couple walk through here, maybe saw where they went? Woman in a red sweater and black pants named Yor? She has black hair and red eyes. Her husband's a blond man named Loid. He was wearing a brown suit and tie, has blue eyes. Any of this sound familiar to anyone?"

All the workers at the table looked between each other, murmuring and asking if anyone had seen them. As they did, Anya tried once again to read the lanky man's surface thoughts, picking up what everyone else was thinking in the process.

Nothing.

Not a single thought about bombs or blowing up factories. What she did get, however…

Wish there was something I could do to help, but I get off work in twenty, Images of a river, fireworks, and colorful explosions in the sky filled his head. He smiled warmly, Then me and the boys can meet up later for a nice old neighborhood fireworks show. Always loved a good kaboom.

Wait, that's what he was thinking about before? Anya tried reading his mind again, hoping to find even the smallest trace of deception. His earlier thoughts were suspicious, and his lanky, gaunt appearance made him look kinda sinister, but once again, his thoughts were sincere. He wasn't the bad guy.

"Sorry," One of the other assemblers, this one a blonde woman with short hair, said, "But we haven't seen anyone like that. If they passed through here, we were probably too busy to notice."

"Oh. Well, thanks anyway," Mikaela said before walking ahead, affectionately patting Anya's scalp, "Come on Anya, we'll keep looking."

"Okay," Anya replied, still riding atop Bond as they left the room, waving goodbye to the grenade makers.

As they entered the halls, Mikaela asked, "So, you remember where else you and your parents toured?"

Anya looked up in thought, trying to think of any other place the bomber could be. She'd have to explore as many rooms and read as many minds as possible to figure out the culprit. With Miss Mikaela's help, they'd be able to do just that.

Just hope I find the bad guy fast, Anya worried, not knowing how much time she had left.

Mission complete, Twilight, back in civilian garb as Loid Forger, readjusted his tie as he made his way back to his wife and the Blackbells from where he left. Despite his worries, both regarding potential outside factors intruding and over what Anya could've been doing, everything went smoothly.

Almost scarily smoothly.

After sabotaging the cameras in the locker room, he sneaked his way back there and grabbed the upper-level ID from the damaged locker without anyone noticing. The password was rather simple too, it being 1984. After the fact, he managed to sneak away and dawn a new disguise, getting all the way to the uppermost floors, where he used the ID to get to where he needed to go. Once the forged applications for Agent Nightfall's cover job were in place, he sneaked all the way back with the ID hidden in tow.

It all went as he'd hoped it would, and he reviewed his every memory to make sure he left no detail unaccounted for. No encountered guard patrols were suspicious, nor did they even glance at him when he walked by. He'd made it a point to wear a thin layer of latex over his fingers the entire time to avoid leaving any potential prints. By his analysis, for the most part, everything went according to plan right down to the letter.

Perhaps it was paranoia talking, or perhaps it was how missions had been going for him ever since being assigned to Operation: STRIX, but he was still waiting for the other shoe to drop: A last second twist that threw the entire operation into chaos and left him on damage control as usual. Yet so far, there was nothing, and that left him uneasy.

Remember, sometimes, things do go to plan, even if they are extremely rare, Twilight mused, more so to ease his own worries than anything else. For now, just return to being Loid Forger and focus on your family. Hopefully Anya's probably back with Yor by now, Loid took a turn and traveled down the hall leading to the dining room, his feet sinking into the carpeted floor with each step as he scanned the room for where their table. Once his eyes found the table, he saw Yor and Martha still engaged in a spirited conversation while Becky happily observed with her dog. He was too far away to hear what was being said, and his current angle meant he couldn't read their lip movements, so he approached, clearing his throat, "Sorry it took so long."

Yor and Martha's shared laughter died down as they turned to face him, his wife's expression brightening ever so slightly, "Loid, you're back!"

Nodding, he smiled back and looked around the table, seeing the Blackbells look back at him with varying degrees of warmth. Martha's smile was friendly, and for some reason, Becky's grin went from ear to ear as her face was enveloped in a bright red glow. Loid only raised an eyebrow, not understanding why she was making that face, and apparently, Becky became self-aware of it, rapidly shaking her head and looking to the floor.

Hmm, maybe she has a fever? Loid wondered before he immediately noticed a certain two absences from the table. "Yor," he turned to his wife, "Where's Anya and Bond?"

The instant those names left his lips, Yor's expression saddened, "They ran off. Anya forgot something during the tour, so she went to get it, whatever it was." Loid's wife looked away, seemingly in the direction Anya ran, "But they've been gone for quite a while now." Yor's hand clenched into a fist against the table, cracking it beneath the cloth bit by bit, "I know she's run off before and came back just fine, and I know the building is secure, but anything could happen to her and we're not there for her when we're her parents and we're supposed to be and-"

"Yor!" Loid knelt down slightly, a hand to her shoulder as their eyes made contact, both for her sake and for his, "Yor, it's okay. I'm worried too." Looking over to the Blackbells, he said, "If it's alright with our hosts, I'd feel more comfortable if we left to find our daughter and went home for the day."

"Certainly," Martha stood up, "Please, allow us to provide support."

"I'm sure Anya's okay, but I still wanna help find her!" Becky stood up in her seat, Martha remaining close as she and Wiesel jumped down to ensure her charge's safety.

"If I could make a suggestion, maybe we could start looking around where they construct heavy explosives?" Loid recommended, recalling how the CCTV room cameras showed her running in that area as he looked to his wife, "I'm certain that she's fine, and knowing how much she loves the explosives she sees in Spy Wars, it's likely Anya got sidetracked and wanted to see what the factory was making there." She's more a fan of firearms like silencer pistols as well as other, subtle tools of the trade, but I need an alibi to get us to her last known location without arousing too many questions.

"Okay, then let's go find-"

Before she could so much as get another word out, Yor had already left, a gust of wind and a dust cloud in her wake as she ran out of the dining room and down the halls, scaring a couple waiters she almost ran over in the process.

"… Anya…" Becky shook her head and stared with wide eyes, "D-Did Mrs. Forger just teleport!?" Becky asked, clearly not even seeing Yor move. Loid was able to track her movements just fine, even if it was pushing the limit of his reaction speeds to do so.

"No milady, she just ran fast. Frighteningly so, if I might add," Martha informed her charge, shocked, but based on how her eyes tracked Yor, she was able to see her leave the room, much like how Loid was. Though with how her eyes were fixated on the door that Yor just exited from, it's likely she only managed to catch up to the very end rather than throughout.

"We should probably go before she gets too far," Loid suggested, the four of them running out as well, both Becky and her dog carried in Martha's arms to help them keep pace. As they ran and avoided bumping into anyone, Loid's mind went back to the panicked body language Anya had in the camera feed. He only caught a brief glimpse, but that posture made his own worries rise up. Had she truly lost something important and just went on a search? Was something or someone chasing her?

Loid hoped that wasn't the case. Above all else, he hoped she was safe and not in any trouble.

But knowing this family, trouble always has a way of finding us.

Anya let out a huff as she laid her back against Bond's, the dog continuing to walk onward with Miss Mikaela just behind them. They'd looked everywhere! Room after room after room they'd looked for the bad guys that wanted to bomb the place, but again and again, nothing!

"Okay, so we asked around sheet metal fabrication, vehicle assembly, and engine testing. Doesn't look like any of them have seen your parents," Mikaela said, counting down on her fingers while watching Anya and Bond. The worry in her eyes grew as Anya hopped off, stepping in front of Bond when they entered a three-way hallway.

"Bond, you gotta tell me something. Where are they?" Anya asked, hoping her dog would have another future vision that'd give a clue on who the factory bomber was. Bond sniffed the air a bit before he let out a whine and shivered. Knowing what that meant, Anya closed her eyes and focused on Bond's thoughts to catch a glimpse of their target.

Instead, what she saw was her running down the stairs of her family's apartment building, a door slamming open just ahead as she bumped headfirst into something. There were the voices of her parents running up to her, asking if she was okay, and a voice she didn't recognize. The image cleared, and in front of Anya and her family was a dark-skinned girl who looked to be about her age. The only features she could immediately make out was her familiar red hair and very bright, glowing blue eyes as she tried to help her up.

Before Anya could see more or even hear the other girl's name, the vision ended, leaving her blinking a few times. She looked at Bond, who had a curious tilt of his head, ears drooping sadly.

"… t-that doesn't help me at all!" Anya moaned, looking to the floor as tears started to prick at her eyes. They were running out of time to find the bad guy! Everyone here was gonna die and there wasn't a thing she could do about it! I'm sorry Papa, I'm sorry Mama, Anya wept, nuzzling her face against Bond's and letting him lick away at her tears, I'm a terrible spy and a terrible daughter. I… I… huh? Feeling a pair of arms wrap around her in a warm hug, she looked up and saw who it was, "M-Miss Mikaela?"

"It's okay Anya. It's okay. We'll find them, I promise," Mikaela whispered, her voice conveying as much care as it could muster, a hand gently rubbing at the back of her head in a way that helped calm her down. Still feeling a few tears fall, Anya returned the hug, letting her continue to whisper how everything would be okay. When Anya let go, Mikaela let go in kind, but kept close, kneeling down with a hand gently tousling her hair, "Feeling a bit better?"

"A-A little," Anya still had no idea about the factory blowing up, but she was calm now, so maybe she'd have an easier time figuring something out.

"Good. Sorry for the sudden hug, but you looked like you really needed one," Mikaela admitted, removing her hand from Anya's head. The way the older woman looked at her kinda reminded Anya of how Mama looked at Unkie Yuri. "Like I said, we'll find your parents, but looking around the way we are isn't helping," Mikaela stood up, fingers beneath her chin and putting on a serious, thinking face, "Maybe we need to try looking at things from a different angle. From what I saw of Yor and Loid, they'd be worried sick about you, so we can assume they're also doing a search of their own." Snapping her fingers, she looked down at Anya and suggested, "How about we try waiting here for them? We let them come to us!"

Miss Mikaela started going over other ideas, but Anya stopped listening somewhere in the middle. She had more important things to worry about right now. Look at things from a different angle, Anya thought about Miss Mikaela's words. In all their searching for the bad guy, she'd read every single mind they came across and found nothing. As far as she could tell, there was no bomber. Maybe they just weren't looking in the right places, but what if…

What if there isn't a bomber? Anya remembered Spy Wars episodes where Bondman had to stop a super villain hideout's main reactor from blowing up after something went wrong with it. She remembered her papa's memories where he managed to keep a nuclear power plant from going critical at the last possible second. What if that was the problem? What if the factory was gonna explode because something went wrong?

But what's wrong with the building? Anya didn't even know if that was the case, but she was trying to look at things from a different angle, and that seemed like her best bet now. Looking around, Miss Mikaela's voice in the background sounding like it was talking to whoever passed them by, she saw a large metal door at the far end of one hallway, all alone with nothing else down there. Curious, she pulled at the grown woman's pant leg and asked, "Miss Mikaela, what's that?"

"Hmm?" Mikaela turned to where Anya was pointing. "Oh!" Kneeling down again, she answered, "That's where Blackbell's keeping some major new acquisition from the Ostanian Military." A bitter, sad memory entered her head, Anya briefly seeing an image of a five-year-old Mikaela in the arms of what looked like her father, who was dressed head-to-toe in army gear. Shaking the memory off, Mikaela said, "I have no idea what it is though. Apparently Blackbell wants to keep it very hush-hush. Something about how the military and State Security Service don't want anyone outside a few authorized personnel knowing too much."

"Recent acqui… acqua… ack-UGH!" Anya huffed, giving up trying to pronounce the word as Mikaela patted her back in comfort, but then remembered why she wanted to come here in the first place. Bumblebee's escape pod! Anya stared back at the metal door and thought hard about the vision Bond gave her. In it, she saw the factory exploding and something shiny and metallic flying out of it. Was that Bumblebee's escape pod in the vision? Anya wondered, running straight for the door as Mikaela and Bond called (and barked) out to her, What are they doing to the pod? Getting to the door just as she heard everyone's footsteps behind her, she turned around and asked, "Miss Mikaela, can we go inside?"

Mikaela and Bond looked between each other, Bond barking and scratching behind his ears, before the adult in the room sighed, "Anya, I'm sorry, but we can't go in there."

"But-but-but-" Anya panicked. If what she was thinking was right, then whatever they were doing in there to the pod would probably make the whole place go boom. They were probably dousing it with radiation or laser beams or something. She had to stop that somehow and she couldn't do it out here. Thinking of how she could convince Miss Mikaela to let them in, she pleaded, "But Mama and Papa could be in there on the tour! We gotta get inside!"

"Anya," Kneeling down again, Mikaela's face grew apologetic as she explained, "It's like I said before, whatever's in there is extremely hush-hush as far as the higher ups are concerned. Even with your family touring with Lady Blackbell, I doubt they'd be allowed in there." Miss Mikaela held out her hand that had the bar code bracelet on it, "Besides, entry into that area requires an upper-level worker ID or a master ID like the Blackbell family possesses. Mine doesn't qualify for either of those. I couldn't get you in even if I wanted to."

"But the expl-" Anya almost said before biting her bottom lip, just barely avoiding saying anything suspicious as she looked down, hair obscuring her vision, "B-But Mama and Papa and… I-I have to…"

"Hey, hey, Anya look at me," Mikaela said as she looked up. The older woman smiled in a reassuring way, a kind twinkle in her blue eyes that reminded Anya of Mama and Papa at their warmest. "I promise you we'll find them. I asked anyone who passed by that if they saw or ran into your parents, they'd tell them to come meet us where we were. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's best we go back to the intersection and wait there for Yor and Loid," Holding out an open hand, she asked, "Okay?"

No, it's not okay, Anya wanted to say. That still didn't solve the impending explosion problem, but she couldn't see any other way in right now. Maybe if her parents got here, they'd be able to help? Maybe she could try and get Mama to kick the door down or have Papa use the ID he stole for Uncle Scruffie? Not seeing any option, and with Miss Mikaela waiting, Anya tried her best to look happy and gave the older woman a hi-five, "Okay. We'll wait for Mama and Papa."

Nodding, Miss Mikaela looked ready to stand, but first asked, "Would you like me to carry you, or are you more comfortable walking?" Rather than say a word, Anya instead hugged the woman, briefly stunning her before she relaxed into it. Understanding that was her answer, Miss Mikaela stood up, Anya in her arms, and said, "Alright, up and at 'em! Let's go wait for mommy and daddy. Come along, Bond."

"Borf!" Bond followed as they all walked down the hall, away from the metal door that hid the source of Anya's worries. All she could do was look at the door as it shrank in the distance, and they returned to the three-way intersection.

Guess I gotta wait, Anya sighed, Mikaela gently rubbing her back as she tried to keep calm. The hard part was that she didn't know how much time she had left until the explosion, nor did she know when her parents would get here so they could help with-

"ANYA!"

Never mind. They're here-WHOAH! Anya found herself suddenly snatched from Miss Mikaela's grasp and into her mother's arms, who held her close and hugged her like there was no tomorrow. Surprisingly, she was also gentle, letting Anya hug back without restraint or worry.

"Oh Anya, I was so worried! I looked everywhere and-and-and-" Mama stammered as Anya read her mind, Bond barking and running over to join them. She wasn't kidding. When she said she looked everywhere, she literally looked throughout the entire factory for her.

Feeling her heart swell up, Anya pulled back while in her mother's arms and said, "I'm fine Mama. Miss Mikaela was looking after me!"

Upon hearing that, Mama looked over to Mikaela, who recovered from her initial surprise at the secret assassin's sudden appearance and walked over to them. Thankful tears in her eyes, Mama gently put Anya down next to Bond, giving the Blackbell worker her full attention, "Thank you so much for keeping my daughter safe!"

"No prob-HRRK!" Miss Mikaela didn't get very far, finding herself constricted in a bear hug from Mama, C-Can't… breathe… ribs… breaking! Anya couldn't help but giggle a bit. Even though Mama's super strong hugs hurt, it was kinda funny from the outside when someone she hugged turned blue and made a funny face. Though her giggles stopped when it looked like Mikaela's eyes were gonna pop out of her head, but thankfully Mama let go. "Phew!" Miss Mikaela caught her breath, in and out a few times, "You're… you're really strong."

"I'm sorry! I was just so happy that you were there for my daughter and got excited when thanking you!" Mama apologized and bowed. Guess you ruined a friendship, Yor, Anya rubbed at Mama's leg in comfort, the secret assassin's thoughts growing bitter, She'll probably see you as a freaky weirdo and suspect you're an assassin and report you to the SSS!

Even if she did Mama, you'd be okay, Anya knew that with Unkie in the Secret Police, the odds of Mama getting taken by them was less than zero. Sure, he was really annoying, but Unkie would rather die than let Mama get arrested by anything or anyone. Besides, it was pretty clear from her thoughts that Miss Mikaela would never do that.

"That was amazing!"

"… huh?" Mama and Anya stared at Mikaela, who looked back at her with stars in her eyes. Neither of them was expecting that to be her answer.

"I said that was amazing! You're like a battle tank in human form. How'd you get so strong?"

"I… I work out a lot?" Mama awkwardly answered.

"Wow," Mikaela smirked admiringly, "You gotta show me what your workout regimen looks like if it makes you that strong."

Mama still didn't know what to say. Even her mind seemed a bit of a blank before she finally settled on, "So… you have a favorable impression of my physical abilities and don't think I'm a freaky weirdo?"

Why does all this feel familiar? Anya wondered, her own mind going back to the tailor shop where Mama and Papa first met for some reason.

At that, Mikaela raised an eyebrow, "I mean, not how I'd word it, but of course I do! Why wouldn't I?"

"Uh…"

Seeing Mama's hesitation as she fidgeted her hands together, Anya stepped in and said, "Lots of people are scared of Mama because she's really strong." Mama started looking down in shame. "But those people are big dummies," Anya smiled, her words drawing a small gasp out of her mother, "My mama's super cool and perfect just the way she is."

"Oh… Anya…" Mama was getting emotional again as she picked her up and hugged her, Anya hugging back. Hearing Mikaela coo and say something about how sweet they were, Anya, still in her mother's arms turned to face the woman.

"But seriously Yor, your daughter's right."

"R-Really?" Mama stuttered as Anya smirked proudly.

"Yeah, if people are gonna treat you like garbage just because you're different, then they're a bunch of dumba-" Mikaela froze, eyes locking with Anya's for a second before she coughed, "Idiots. They're a bunch of dumb idiots."

I already know that word, Anya silently huffed, Mama looking thankful to Mikaela for refusing to swear. One of the downsides to her mind reading powers was that even when grownups avoided cursing around her, she could still hear them in her head. She knew ALL the bad words by the time Papa adopted her and learned to try her best not to use them.

Anya had to learn the hard way that most families didn't like daughters with potty mouths.

"Anya! Yor!"

Speaking of Papa… Anya looked behind Miss Mikaela and saw Papa running to meet them, Miss Martha just behind him while carrying Becky and Wiesel in her arms.

"Anya, your mom can teleport!"

"M'lady, as I said, she simply moved faster than your eyes could track." Almost faster than I could track too, being honest.

"She just disappeared, so I say she teleported!"

"Sorry about that, but I was just really worried and ran ahead. I might have gone a bit overboard," Mama admitted before she grew curious, "Wait, if I was that far ahead, how did you find me?"

Miss Martha smiled in a mix of amusement, amazement, and exhaustion, "It wasn't that hard. You were stepping so fast and so hard that it left imprints and skid-marks to follow."

All of them looked back to the floor where Mama had run from. Just like Martha said, there were steps shaped like the bottom of Mama's shoes, cracked outlines surrounding them. And that was without adding the dark skids from where she rounded a corner and where she stopped when grabbing Anya.

"… o-oh. I'm sorry."

"Eh, it's fine," Becky said, "We'll have people patch that up later."

"More importantly…" Papa turned all his attention to his daughter, "Anya, are you alright? You didn't get hurt, did you?" he asked, a larger flurry of worried questions in his head that went by way too quick for Anya to get any of them. When I saw her on the factory's surveillance cameras, she seemed worried, and Yor said she forgot something important on the tour, Papa's trail of thought finally settled down, "What happened?"

"I-I lost the All-Day Pass Becky and Miss Martha gave me," Anya said, which was technically the truth now, "And me and Bond got lost trying to get back to you."

"Borf!" Bond barked, trying to help by confirming her story in his own way.

"Yeah, I found them running around. Tried to help them until we decided it was better to let you come to us," Miss Mikaela added, "Hope that isn't too much trouble."

"It's not too much trouble at all. I know I said this before, but thank you so much, Mikaela!" Mama told the factory worker as she handed Anya over to Papa, who held her close.

"And like I almost said, it's no problem," Mikaela smiled at them.

"My wife is right though," Papa drew her attention, "You made sure our daughter was safe when we couldn't. I think it's fair to say we owe you a debt."

Reaching forward and patting Anya's head, much to her delight, Mikaela replied, "It's no big deal. She needed someone to help her, so I helped." The smile she had grew a little sad, "I could never stand seeing children cry."

Picking up on Papa's thoughts, Anya saw in his head a brief image. She saw him as a child, standing in the middle of a ruined street in a ruined city, bodies buried in the rubble that surrounded him, and all she could hear was his cries. His cries that sounded so much like her own.

Just as quickly as it came, it went, Papa burying the bad memory as he said, "I'm glad to hear that, and I'm glad Anya was in safe hands."

"Me to! Thanks for keeping my best friend safe!" Becky literally jumped into the conversation, getting between Papa and Miss Mikaela, "I'll talk with Mom and Dad. You deserve a massive promotion!"

"Uh… thanks?" Mikaela stammered a bit, off-put by the sudden offer, "But I think I'd prefer to stay where I am."

"Come on! You'd get to have a higher pay, an upgraded ID, and you can run your own things!" Becky kept listing off all the benefits Mikaela would get from a promotion, but her words stirred something in Anya. Something about the upgraded ID…

And then it hit her.

Bumblebee's exploding pod! Anya lightly gasped. She'd been so caught up in the warm, emotionally vibrant reunion that she almost forgot about the fact that they were all gonna die if she didn't do something! At first, while Miss Martha tried to talk Becky down from offering Mikaela a promotion she didn't want, Anya started coming up with a plan to have Papa or Mama (or both) break through the door so she could get in and mess with the machines. She was thinking of trying to get Mama to do something similar to what she did with the locker door earlier that helped Papa's mission along, but then realized she didn't need to do that. Becky and Martha were here, after all, so she just had to convince one of them.

Clearing her throat, she asked, "Uh, Becky," Getting her best friend's attention, she pointed toward the metal door down the hallway, "I saw that door before you got here, and I kinda wanna see what's inside. Can we please go in? I bet what's there is super-duper cool!" And so I can stop it from killing us!

Humming, Becky looked at the door in question and ran towards it, everyone else joining her at a slower pace. Oh! This is where we're studying and keeping the pod that I told Anya about! She's gotta see this! Twirling around, Becky smiled, "Sure. You're gonna love what we're working on here!"

She rolled up her sleeve, revealing the master ID bracelet she had on her wrist. It looked like she was about to jump up and scan her way in, but Miss Martha placed a gentle hand on her shoulder before she could even make the attempt.

"M'lady, as much as you'd like to, I'm afraid that isn't allowed," The Blackbell bodyguard said before facing the rest of them, "What's inside is highly confidential. I hope you understand."

"Sorry Anya, but I warned you," Mikaela reminded her and faced Mama and Papa, "Sorry if you guys wanted to see."

"No, that's quite alright," Papa replied, Frankly, it'd be baffling if we were actually allowed inside. Besides, I already know what's there and have inserted the means to get Agent Nightfall in as well. Now she'll be able to ensure any and all new discoveries Blackbell Heavy Industries makes in regard to the unknown pod make it to WISE first. My mission's finished here.

"Besides," Mama gently held Anya's cheek for a second, "After what happened with Anya, we're ready to head home. It's been a long day for all of us."

"Aw man! I really wanted to show you guys!" And maybe impress Loid! Becky slumped, her thoughts chiding herself. Something about being a "homewrecker", whatever that was.

"B-But I really wanna see the-" Anya was about to say "pod", but instead let out a yawn, her eyes drooping a bit as she fought exhaustion.

"Looks like someone's getting tired," Mama said, smiling as Papa held Anya close.

Papa smiled back, "It's for the best that we head home now." Checking his watch, he added, "Not to mention that it's getting late, so we'll grab a quick bite on the way back."

"Bu-bu-but the secret science room!" I gotta get in there and stop things!

"I'm sorry Anya, but you heard what Martha said," Mama sighed, "I really wish we could go in for you to see though."

Yes! Anya was getting through to her parents. If she could convince Papa and Mama, then they could try to convince Martha, which meant she could save everyone! All she had to do now was-

"How about I talk with my parents and see if they'd be willing to bend the rules a bit?" Becky suggested, bouncing on the balls of her feet next to Wiesel, "That way, next time you come here, you'll get to see the inside!"

NO! Anya panicked again. Now her mama and papa didn't have any reason to want to go back there!

Looking between her two parents, she saw that they were content with Becky's suggestion, Papa replying, "So long as your parents are okay with it, I think that'll be fine with us." Becky beamed, Anya and Bond panicking together as her dad turned to Miss Martha, "If it isn't too much trouble, I think we'll be taking our leave now."

"Allow us to help lead you out then, Mr. Forger," Martha said with a slight bow as she took the lead, Becky skipping right beside her and Wiesel.

"I'll tag along too," Miss Mikaela joined behind the Blackbells, walking in step with Mama and Papa as she stretched and yawned, "My shift already ended, so I had to leave a while back anyway."

As Mama and Miss Mikaela talked, the feeling of dread washed over Anya and Bond. The metal door hiding their doom faded in the distance and disappeared entirely when they rounded a corner. Anya couldn't do anything from her position in Papa's arms without revealing her secret or at least cluing them in onto it, and Bond's efforts to turn the group back failed. He tried gnawing at Papa's pant leg and pulling, which just led to himself getting pulled. Then he tried making a run back for the door to the pod room, only for Mama to speed right in front of him before he could get very far.

"Bond, you shouldn't run off like that," Mama said as she picked him up in her arms, "We already almost lost you two today. I'd prefer we not go through that again."

Papa hummed as Mama caught back up with them, "He seems rather jumpy for some reason." I didn't notice anything in the immediate vicinity that could make him jumpy, nor did I see anything earlier. Given what WISE learned regarding his origin, could Blackbell have had any involvement with Project Apple? While possible, it's unlikely, as nothing we've come across in both the tour and previous WISE investigations of the company even suggests it. Not to mention that he's only just now acting like this when he'd have done so upon arrival. Perhaps it's-

As Papa started mulling over possible reasons for Bond's dread, Anya's grew even worse. All she could do was look at her surroundings with a whimpering gulp.

Starlight Anya...

The exit appeared in the distance.

Mission failed.

Oh no, Anya stared up at the sky as everyone exited the building, Nononononono!

The sky looked so much like how it did in Bond's vision. That meant the explosion was close to happening and she couldn't do anything to stop it now!

"Thanks again for the tour," Papa said, putting Anya down as Mama did the same for Bond. The grownups started talking, saying something about the ceramic plating from earlier while Mikaela asked what they meant by that, but Anya wasn't listening. Even when Becky and her dog came over to ask what Anya thought of the tour, she still wasn't listening. All she could focus on was the factory and everyone inside, and with them this close...

Oh no! Anya and Bond hugged each other tight. They braced for the explosion and prepared for the worst.

...

...

...

...

"Uh, Anya, I love Wiesel as much as the next dog owner, but isn't a four-minute hug a bit much?" Becky's still living voice snapped Anya's eyes open. Lifting herself from Bond's fur, she and her dog looked up to see everyone staring at them in a mix of confusion and concern. More importantly...

"We're alive?" Anya, wide eyed as she faced Bond, who had the same happiness and relief in his small, dark eyes, cheered, "We're alive!"

"What do you mean by that, Anya?" Papa asked, making her realize she said that out loud.

Oops, Anya clamped a hand over her mouth and looked back at everyone, trying to think of a believable explanation.

Thank Primus, they're back, Bumblebee's thoughts echoed in her head, prompting Anya to look in his direction and see the excuse she needed.

"Hey look! Bumblebee's parked now! Hooray!" Anya yelped and ran over to the disguised Autobot, leaving everyone behind as she hugged his front headlight like her life depended on it.

Missed you guys too, Bumblebee seemed pretty happy that they were back. Anya was glad he'd gotten used to her hugs, even if he didn't know what she knew.

... okay then, not sure what that was about, Papa thought, Did she really just miss Bumblebee that much? Does she feel "alive" around the family car? Is that what she meant?

Why does Papa always overthink everything? Anya sometimes wished her dad kept things simple. It would've been less of a headache for him and most definitely less of a headache for her.

Becky, meanwhile, tilted her head, Anya really likes her family car. Is this just a thing for middle class people or is it an Anya thing? Still, she smiled, Eh, either way, it's kind of adorable. Maybe I should ask my parents for a car like Bumblebee.

I guess that means Anya's okay. There don't seem to be any threats in the area, so maybe she meant something else by it? Mama still looked around in worry, though it seemed to be going away bit by bit.

Children and their games, Miss Martha shook her head, something about not understanding the youth. Still, it made Anya sigh in relief that her lie was being believed.

"Uh, there's a guy in your car," Miss Mikaela pointed, prompting Anya to let go and back up, seeing that the guy Becky asked to park the car was still inside. And sleeping from the looks of it.

"I can hear him snoring from out here," Anya dully said, Bond and Becky nodding along at her sides.

Think that's bad? Try being able to hear it right next to your audio receptor! Bumblebee sounded testy, and Anya couldn't blame him. Thankfully, Papa put an end to that by knocking on the window, waking the large man up with a jolt. He looked around, dazed and confused before stepping out of the car and rubbing his eyes.

"Ugh, my head. What happened?"

"You were asleep inside Bumblebee Mister... uh..." Anya stared at his nametag and saw that it was a bit smudged, "Mister Calzone."

He gave an exhausted glare, "It's Fanzone, kid." Looking down at his nametag, he muttered something under his breath about how he "should've been a police officer" and wiped off the smudge, letting Anya see his full name: Carmine Fanzone.

"Well then, thank you for looking after the Forger family car, Mister Fanzone!" Becky congratulated like a proud businesswoman.

"Fine, just don't ask me to do it a second time."

Papa raised an eyebrow, "Did something happen?" Finding a parking spot can't be that exhausting, can it?

Scrapscrapscrap! Bumblebee was starting to panic almost as much as Anya was earlier.

"Honestly, I got no idea," Fanzone admitted and scratched the back of his neck, "Last thing I remember was falling asleep. Had a dream about your car being alive and trying to hold me hostage. Next thing I know, you're knocking on the door."

"Oh," Papa blinked before putting on a smile, "Well, it sounds like quite the dream."

Anya heard Bumblebee's own thoughts breathe a sigh of relief, Good, looks like he doesn't really remember anything from earlier. Memories came up of him driving around the factory with Fanzone still inside. When he realized this, after a few good minutes of screaming with his car horn, he got the idea to play nothing but lullaby music until his "hostage" fell asleep. Apparently, he was hoping it'd give him time to come up with a better plan to maintain his cover. Most I could think of was waiting for enough people to leave so I'd be able to transform and conk him on the head if he woke up, Bumblebee chuckled a bit in what sounded like embarrassment, Honestly, this works a lot better. No one gets even a little hurt this way.

"Yeah, sure," Fanzone sighed and began walking away, halfheartedly waving goodbye without so much as glancing at them, "Anyway, quitin' time for me was supposed to be a couple hours ago and I got a long drive home. Good night or whatever."

"... he seems nice," Mama chirped, not even getting a little that he wasn't being nice.

"He seems crabby," Mikaela threw out, reading the man's mood a lot better before turning her attention to Bumblebee, walking around the Autobot's vehicle mode and eyeing it up and down with a finger to her lips.

What is she doing? Bumblebee wondered, not used to having the eyes of someone other than a Forger on him like this. Even Anya was worried that Miss Mikaela suspected him of something, but then she read her mind and heard a bunch of big car words. She even muttered stuff about "suspension" and "tire pressure" and "differential" and "catalytic converter". Anya had no idea what any of those words meant, but Mikaela seemed a lot like how Anya felt about Spy Wars when thinking of them.

"So, what do you think of our family car?" Mama asked, snapping Mikaela out of her trance.

"Huh? Oh, sorry!" Miss Mikaela shook off her embarrassment and smiled, "I'm a bit of a gearhead."

Mama raised an eyebrow, "But your head looks normal." Unless she means there are gears in her head. Gasping, she wondered, Is Mikaela a robot? She looks and feels human enough.

Anya couldn't help but snicker a bit alongside Becky, though a couple looks from Papa and Miss Martha got them to settle down. Anya didn't see why, since Mikaela was snickering too, though she calmed down on her own and said, "No, that means I like cars. I like studying them and I like working with them." A wistful look made its way to her face as she rubbed a hand along Bumblebee's roof, "I actually wanted to work in an autobody shop but..." Mikaela's smile faltered just a bit, Anya seeing memories of job rejections and hearing things about how a car thief's daughter couldn't be trusted to work with cars, "Let's just say they didn't want someone like me around."

I really wanna punch those guys, Anya huffed to herself.

Huh, that certainly feels familiar, doesn't it? Bumblebee's own thoughts turned to what Anya saw of his work as a delivery robot and how he lost his job to other, bigger robots. While Anya was in awe of seeing so many giant robots, it also made her really sad that Bee and Mikaela lost chances for things they wanted to do. Sure, Mikaela was able to work for Becky's family now, but it sucked that it happened. Not to mention that unlike her, Bumblebee didn't get the luxury of a new job after the fact.

Unless being a super cool robot soldier fighting the forces of evil counted as a job, but Anya wasn't sure if Bumblebee got paid for that.

"If it means anything, Blackbell Heavy Industries is glad to have you onboard," Becky said, chest puffed up and hands to her hips, "And if those guys didn't want you, they're morons!"

"Yeah!" Anya agreed, jumping next to her friend.

"Borf!" And so did Bond. Wiesel just sat and panted, and everyone else chuckled.

"Thanks, Lady Blackbell. You to, Anya," Mikaela said with a snort before stretching and yawning, "Been a long day. Gotta get home for some shut eye." With one last smile towards everyone, she said, "Hope to see you all later," and turned to Mama and Papa, "I'll keep in touch."

"Bye! Take care!" Mama waved as Mikaela walked off to where her car was parked. As she drove off, Papa and Anya noticed that Mama hadn't once lost her glowing smile.

"I see you've made a new friend. I'm happy for you," Papa's smile was smaller than Mama's, as always, but it felt just as bright, especially when Mama smiled back at him and nodded.

Thank you, Loid. Honestly, I don't think I'd been able to manage that if I hadn't met you or Anya. I was even able to make not one, but two new friends who understand me! And one of them even knows my secret!

Hooray for Ma-wait... Anya gasped, eyes wider than the moon in the sky, Someone here knows Mama's an assassin!?

Turning to Miss Martha, Mama held out her hand for a shake, "Thanks so much for having us. I hope we can meet again and talk soon!" And thanks for your advice earlier. It helped me more than you may realize.

Miss Martha knows Mama's an assassin! Anya shook like a leaf, seeing bits and pieces of Mama and Martha's dining room conversation replay in their heads. Was Martha planning on saying or doing anything with what she now knew? What else did she know? Becky was there, did that mean she knew Mama was an assassin too!?

"Hey, Anya," Becky got her attention. Anya turned to see Becky smiling shyly, hands folded behind her back, How do I say this without telling her about Mrs. Forger's big secret?

Oh no, she knows!

"Y-Your mom's..."

"I gotta stop her before she says something in front of Pa-

"She's really, really cool," Becky finished, looking at Mama as she approached, Martha now shaking hands with and talking to Papa. As Mama knelt down, Becky mused, Anya's really lucky to have an awesome ex-soldier for a mom.

... eh? Anya blinked and cleaned her ears, even though she didn't need to. Becky thought Mama was an ex-soldier? Just like Papa and Miss Martha? That means her butler guard thinks Mama's a soldier lady too, Anya would've been relieved as Becky shook her mother's hand and said goodbye, but she was too busy processing that to feel any relief.

"Take care, Miss Becky! And stay safe!" Mama cheerily said as she released Becky's hand from her grip, Though with a retired Garden assassin like Martha as your bodyguard, I'm sure you and your family will be just fine.

"..." Suddenly, Anya felt her legs give out, her back plummeting to the concrete as she looked up at the sky in a daze.

"Anya!" She heard everyone, from all the adults to Becky to Bumblebee's, call out to her. She felt Bond lick at her face, but she couldn't move.

"Brain hurts... tired... hungry..." Anya had too many sudden twists for one day. As she was picked up and carried into the car by her mom, she hoped that was the end of it.

I don't think I can handle any more surprises right now.

The train slowed to a stop as she looked outside, the station bustling with so many people even late into the night. The six-year-old looked to her portly father, who suddenly awoke when the train stopped with a jolt. Looking down at her, he smiled, and she smiled back, watching him grab their bags as they waited for the train car to clear out enough and give them room to move. She turned her attention to the outside again, the station's growing number of people darkened the window, making her reflection clearer. Throughout the entire train ride, she kept the hood of her black sweater up, shrouding her face to avoid too much attention, so the clearest thing in the window was her eyes.

Her bright, blue, glowing eyes. A constant reminder of what she was.

A reminder of why she and her father were on the run.

Noticing that enough people had cleared, she and Dad made their way out of the train car, staying close amidst the crowded place. She saw how her dad struggled with their luggage and opened her mouth, wanting to help him, but closed it and reminded herself why she couldn't. Normal girls weren't as strong as her. They couldn't lift heavy, clothing-filled bags like the ones her dad carried, and they certainly shouldn't be able to lift cars like paperweights. Helping her father in such a crowded place would draw attention.

And they were here to hide.

"Meow!"

She heard a noise somewhere in all the hustle and bustle of the station, her eyes looking around to find a grey cat with a bell around its neck. It looked so tired and miserable and hungry, just sitting there next to a kiosk while everyone else went about their day. Her legs moving before her brain caught up, she approached the cat, who looked up and backed away ever so slightly.

"Hey there, little guy," She got on her knees and removed her hood, letting her long red hair flow down and revealing her face to placate the poor thing. The cat seemed a bit more at ease, so she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pack of crackers, opening it and putting them on the floor. After a few sniffs, the starving cat began eating them up. After devouring some, it started looking a bit happier.

"Meow!"

"I know the feeling," She said, petting it and getting a few purrs, Me and my dad have been there before.

"Sari! Sari, where are you!?"

Speaking of... Sari Sumdac turned and saw her dad far away, frantically looking around and calling out her name in worry, which was probably gonna add a few more white streaks to his hair. Feeling a bit guilty, she gave the cat a few more pets, "Goodbye, little guy!" And ran back to her dad, weaving her way through the crowd with ease. "I'm here Dad!" Sari pulled on her father's pant leg, "I saw a cat."

Her father, Isaac, looked down at her, relief instantly filling his eyes as he smiled, "Oh thank goodness! I thought you were taken."

That's a constant worry, isn't it? She huffed to herself, not wanting to think too much about... those people. The people that were probably still hunting for them even now, even this far to the East. Instead, she looked her father in the eye and said, "Sorry about that."

"It's fine, my dear. Just be careful," Isaac looked like he wanted to kneel down and hug her, but... well, luggage and all, "Now, let's go find a place we can stay."

"Yes!" Sari cheered as she and her father made their way out of the station and into the night of the city. Her dad finally put the luggage down and got to work on hailing a taxi. So... Sari hopped onto the luggage and sat, kicking her feet back and forth while she waited, This is Berlint, huh?

Hopefully they wouldn't have to deal with any surprises here.

Chapter Text

"Mama, Papa, come on!"

"Okay Anya, just slow down a bit."

"No way!" Anya's words made Papa sigh and Mama giggle. She and Bond ran out the door, her parents just behind her. It was going to be an outing with her and Mama today since Papa had "work" and Mama had the day off. That wasn't why she was excited though.

Really, she was just happy her family was still alive. She didn't know why the factory didn't go boom last night, but she must've done something to save everyone. After all, Bond's visions so far tended to happen unless she stepped in to do something. She just couldn't for the life of her figure out what that something was. As she ran down the stairs with Bond at her side, she thought about it, trying to think of just what she did that stopped the explosion.

… and I'm bored, Like that, Anya just as quickly stopped thinking about it as she reached the bottom of the stairs, waiting a bit for her parents to catch up. Did it really matter now? The explosion was stopped and everyone was saved! The only issue was that whatever she did to save everyone, she couldn't say anything about it to get another Stella at Eden and further help Papa with his mission. But she could live with that, having lived with secrets her whole life, even if it was a headache to keep up with them all.

"I'll wait for you outside!" Anya said when her parents walked down from the stairs, turning to run out the door so they could see Papa off.

"Come on Dad!"

… right as the door to her left opened and someone ran out.

"Let's go see around tow-OOF!"

"OOF!" Anya fell to her back, hearing her parents calls of concern alongside their footsteps getting close. She also heard a third, older voice from just ahead of her that she couldn't recognize. Rubbing at the back of her head, she felt Mama help her stand, Stupid powers! Why don't they work when I want them to?

She'd have thought mind reading meant not bumping into people so often.

"Hey, are you okay?" The voice from before asked, Anya looking up to see a dark-skinned, red-haired girl that looked to be around her age. She was wearing beige long pants, sneakers, and a black, long-sleeved hoodie. But what really stood out to Anya the most was her eyes. Her very bright blue eyes that, even in the light, looked almost like they were glowing.

For some reason, Anya thought this girl looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place her finger on why.

"Sorry for bumping into you. I wasn't watching where I was going," The girl said, poking her fingers together nervously while Anya was still stuck on her face. Seriously, why did it look so… familiar…

Wait a minute! Anya quietly gasped, I saw her in Bond's vision yesterday! She'd been too caught up with the factory explosion to pay it much mind, but now that vision was happening. She wasn't expecting it to happen so soon after the ones with Becky's family's factory! Actually… Speaking of Becky, Anya realized something else, I think I saw this girl somewhere before that too, but where did I- And then it hit. In those visions of the far future that Bond showed her, an older version of this same girl was there holding hands with Becky, which meant only one thing…

SHE'S ONE OF MY FUTURE FRIENDS! Anya gasped even louder than before as she-

"Uh, excuse me," The girl waved a hand in front of Anya's face, "Are you there? I didn't hurt you or anything, did I?" A sad, terrified thought entered her head, It wouldn't be the first time I hurt someone on accident.

"Wha-" Anya snapped out of it, realizing she needed to say something before she looked suspicious, "I-I…" Looking around for anything to point out, she ended up staring at the girl's eyes again and said, "Your eyes are really blue. They look like they're glowing."

The girl went quiet and looked away, a hand covering her face like she was trying to hide her eyes, "… U-Uh, y-yeah. I get that a lot." Please don't notice I'm a robot. Please don't notice I'm a robot. Please don't notice I'm a robot. Please don't notice I'm a-

SHE'S A ROBOT! Anya gasped, wide eyed and staring at the girl in shock. That's… that's… A grin appeared on her face from ear to ear, "THAT'S SO COOL!" She said out loud, startling everyone before clamping a hand to her mouth. "I-I mean, your eyes are… they're cool!" Anya reached forward and said, "I'm Anya!"

"I'm-" Okay, she hasn't noticed anything, but she thinks my eyes are… cool? The girl looked caught off-guard. A lot of people think they look weird. Her head filled with anxiety that she tried to shake off. Reaching forward, she replied, "Sari."

Anya tilted her head, "For what?"

The girl blinked and grunted, "No, I'm saying that I'm Sari."

"… is this about the bumping thing? Because you already apologized for-"

"No! I mean-" She took a deep breath and calmed down, I gotta work on how I introduce myself. Apparently, this happened a lot. "What I'm saying…" The girl tried again, looking right at Anya before pointing to herself, "Is that my name is Sari. S-A-R-I. Sari."

"Ooooh." I get it now. Anya smiled and said, "It's nice to meet you, Sari." She gestured to her family just behind her, "We're the Forgers!"

Mama stepped forward first, "Hello there. I'm Yor." It's so sweet! Anya's made a new friend! Mama knelt down and shook hands with Sari first, briefly blinking in surprise, "Wow, that's a pretty strong grip you have there."

Right as Mama said that, Sari's blue eyes went wide and she pulled back, "S-Sorry!" Her dad gently put a hand to her shoulder as she looked up at Mama, "I didn't mean to hurt you or anything! I just-"

"Please calm down. It's okay Sari," Mama said, showing the girl her hand, "I'm not hurt at all. See?" Her strength is impressive. It reminds me a lot of myself when I was around her age, though she feels even stronger than I was back then.

Sari calmed down, looking at Mama's hand and not seeing any injury. She breathed a sigh of relief, "Okay, good. Sorry, it's just… I kinda tend to hurt people by accident. I don't mean to, I just…"

At that, Mama frowned, Poor girl. I know what that's like. Memories appeared in her head, from all the times she accidentally broke Unkie's bones to the students she injured in high school, forcing her to keep a distance from people. She put those memories aside, regaining her smile, "Don't worry. You obviously didn't mean to."

"Still…"

"Mrs. Forger is right, Sari. You meant nothing bad by it and are trying. I believe that counts for something," Sari's dad helped put her at ease, his voice having an accent that Anya couldn't recognize.

So this guy's Sari's dad? Is he a super spy like Papa? Anya got a good look at him and saw that, for a grown up, he was kinda short. He wore a green button up shirt, had black pants, and was also pudgy in a way that reminded her of the Swan jerk from her school interview. Thankfully, his eyes, face, and surface thoughts all had a kindness that didn't exist in the Eden Housemaster. Both him and Sari had the same skin color, though he had black hair rather than his daughter's red, plus it went upward and had a large white streak in it. He kinda look like he got struck by lightning a few times.

Well, what cartoon characters who got struck by lightning looked like anyway.

"Oh, my apologies," Sari's dad cleared his throat and held out a hand, "My name is Isaac Sumdac. We just moved in."

Mama stepped up first and shook the man's hand, "Hello Isaac. I'm Yor," She gestured to Papa, "And this is my husband, Loid."

"Sorry for keeping so quiet," Papa said, shaking Mister Sumdac's hand when it was offered, "I didn't want to interrupt." And I was trying to ascertain if you have any hidden agendas. Nothing from an immediate glance. I'll have to dig a little deeper. "So, when did you move in?"

"Last night, We're…" Isaac yawned, "We're from out of town."

He looks really tired, Anya now saw the bags under his eyes. If anything, he didn't just look tired. He looked like he hadn't had a good night sleep in ages.

"I see. In that case, welcome to Berlint," Papa said, smiling as his thoughts went, Having new neighbors in the building could prove a potential complication. Before moving here, I made it a point to memorize and learn everything possible about the apartment complex's occupants, both to see who among them would be potential threats and how best to go about befriending them for the purpose of maintaining cover. Knowing everyone's psychological profiles also allows me to watch out for which among them is most likely to report someone to the State Security Service.

Papa's so smart, Anya stared up at her father in awe.

Also, the fact that my first apartment was compromised by Edgar's thugs means that I can't take any risks when it comes to ensuring my family's safety, Papa's second thought went, I still don't know how they found out where I was staying though, and I can't conceive how they accomplished that. All the more reason to cover my tracks more carefully from now on.

… o-oh… Anya grew sheepish and guilty at the reminder. She was bored and wanted to have some fun with Papa's spy equipment. She didn't mean to attract bad guys to them! Getting kidnapped was terrifying, and it still scared her just thinking if it, but Papa was able to save her. Plus, at least a couple good things came out of it. We wouldn't have moved here if that didn't happen, Anya smiled again, And because of that, I got to meet Mama, Bond, and I'm getting to meet one of my new friends now!

"Anyway," Papa said, looking to his family members, "I should probably get going. Don't want to be late for work." I have to deliver mission details to Agent Nightfall for her cover at the Blackbell factory. Since she also has a meeting at noon with Handler, I can also ask through her if she can have WISE poke around, do any digging on the Sumdacs. Hopefully, they're just a run of the mill family of two. "Sorry to keep things brief," Papa apologized to Isaac with a sheepish expression, "I hope you understand."

"No, that's quite alright. Sari and I were about to head out as well," Isaac replied.

"We're gonna explore the city!" Sari chirped, fists pumped in the air, reminding Anya a bit of… well, herself.

Is that what I look like when I'm excited? And with that thought, Anya gasped, smiled, and got an idea. "Papa!" Turning to her dad, she asked, "Can me and Mama show the Sumdacs around on our ooting today?"

"That's a great idea, Anya!" Mama nodded, Bond barking in agreement before she turned to Papa, "Don't you think, Loid?"

"Hmm. Well, I don't see the harm, so long as they're okay with it," Papa turned to Isaac, wordlessly asking permission.

Nodding, Issac said, "That would be delightful! What do you think, Sari?"

"Uh…" Sari looked between them and her dad, nervously responding, "S-Sure! I think that'd be great! Thanks!"

She doesn't seem very happy about it though, Anya was about to read her mind to learn why, but she picked up on Papa's thoughts first.

It's an admitted long shot, but maybe Anya and Yor can learn key details about the Sumdacs while they're out today. Much as I'd rather not use them for mission purposes, I'm gonna need them to do so. For all I know, the fate of our family could depend on these new neighbors and what they know.

Already on it, Papa! Anya smirked inside her head, now putting her idea into motion. This would be a win-win-win for everyone: She got to help the Sumdacs by showing them the city, and she got to help Papa with his own spy stuff. More importantly, however, since Sari was in those future visions Bond showed, that meant she'd be super important in the future. Just like the friendship scheme with Sy-On boy, making friends with Sari would be really important. Anya wasn't very good with math (though she'd been getting better bit by bit thanks to reading Bumblebee's mind while studying during drives), but there was one equation she knew for sure.

Anya + Friendship + Sari = No more orphanage = Happy ending secured.

"Come on!" Anya ran ahead for the doors, slamming it open as she and Bond stepped into the outside. She laughed and he barked while Bumblebee waited at the curb for Papa.

"Your daughter is very excitable," Isaac said, Sari at his side while Mama and Papa were at the other, joining them.

"Yes, yes she is," Papa said, It can be a headache sometimes, but it's endearing in its own way. "I'm sure your daughter's just as excitable."

"That she is, especially when she runs off on her own to have an adventure. Oh, the stories I could tell..."

"Dad! I'm not that bad..." Sari grumbled and crossed her arms before getting her hair tousled by her father, everyone else laughing, including Anya.

"Well, me and Anya would be delighted to hear them while we're out," Mama finished laughing, "We're neighbors now, so we should get to know each other." That's something neighbors are supposed to do, right?

So, we have new neighbors? Anya picked up on Bumblebee's thoughts and looked at his car mode, They seem nice, though there's something about the girl that's… I don't know, kinda off.

Can Mister Bumblebee tell Sari's a robot? Anya wondered just as Papa finished saying his goodbyes to everyone and got in Bumblebee.

I think it might be the eyes. I've seen plenty of humans with blue eyes so far, but I don't think I've ever seen that shade of blue before, Bumblebee thought as Papa began driving away, the last thing Anya picking up from him being, They kinda look a lot like Cybertronian optics, being honest.

"Huh…" Anya muttered quietly as she turned to Sari, who was currently staring at Bond before getting her face licked, giggling with one bright blue eye open while the adults smiled and watched. They really do look like Mister Bumblebee's eyes the more I look at them, Anya thought back to when she first saw him in robot mode, remembering how bright and blue his robot eyes were as she compared them to Sari's, Does that mean she's a Cy-be-tonian too?

"So," Isaac began, facing Mama, "Where should we go first to become familiar with the city?"

Mama hummed, a finger under her chin, "Well, Anya and I were planning on going to the dog park to play with Bond. Why don't we start there? We can point out any other sights on the way."

"A dog park?" Sari's glowing eyes lit up even more, "That's sounds great! Dad, we have to see it!"

Isaac chuckled at his daughter's excitement, "Alright, the dog park it is then." Turning to Mama, he said, "Please lead the way, Mrs. Forger."

"Okay then. Come along, Anya and Bond!" Mama took the lead, holding Bond's leash with Anya at her side and the Sumdacs following.

"Yay! Park time!"

"Borf!"

Yor giggled as she watched Anya run around with her new friend in the distance, the two of them chasing Bond in a game of tag. It wasn't much of a competition, since the girls, especially Sari, easily caught up with Bond time and again. Yor honestly couldn't tell if Bond was just tired or if he was letting the girls win.

Just like all the games of tag Yuri and I used to play, Yor smiled at the fond memory. Because she'd always been so much stronger and faster than other kids her age, Yuri was never able to keep pace with her, but he never gave up nor did he ever stop trying to win at the game. That determination was something she deeply admired, enough so to give it her all and never slow down, no matter how much she wanted to let him win even once. If she did that, it would've been an insult to his efforts, and he deserved a victory of his own merits.

He never got it though, and now that they were adults with their own livelihoods to tend to, it was unlikely he ever would.

"I'm glad your daughter is getting along so well with mine, Mrs. Forger," Mr. Sumdac said, looking just as happily at the scene as Yor was.

"Me too, Mr. Sumdac. And please, call me Yor. We are neighbors, after all," Yor was fairly certain good neighbors were supposed to have enough familiarity with one another to use their first names. She didn't exactly interact enough with 128 Park Avenue's other occupants to have a solid idea.

Thankfully, Mr. Sumdac gave a wistful hum, "In that case, please call me Isaac."

"Okay then, Isaac," Yor returned the sentiment as the two continued to watch their daughters play. Anya had pulled a ball from her pocket and threw it far, letting Bond go after it, or at least casually walk for it. Thankfully, there weren't too many others with their dogs at the current hour, so no one else gave the ball any chase. "Hey, Isaac," Yor began just as Bond retrieved the ball for Anya, her daughter trying to give it to Sari, "Can I ask you a question?"

"I don't see why not."

"Why did you decide to come here?" Yor asked, "To Berlint, I mean."

Her question gave him pause as he looked to the grass. For a second, Yor regretted asking and wondered if such questions were invasive. She only wished to get to know her new neighbors, both because they seemed like such nice people and to better blend in with the average person, but now she was fearing that she might accidentally push them away.

Wanting to resolve the issue as fast as possible, she blurted, "It's alright if you're uncomfortable answering! Sorry for putting you on the spot like that! I only wanted to-"

"No, no it's quite alright, Yor. It's just a… difficult subject for me," Isaac answered, shoulders sagging ever so slightly.

"If you want, we can talk about something else."

"I'm fine with discussing parts of it. It's just…" Shaking his head, Isaac looked on at the scene of Sari reluctantly taking the ball from Anya, experimentally tossing it in the air a few times, and said, "Before I began traveling, I used to be a scientist. In my heart, I still am, to a degree."

"What kind of scientist?" Yor asked. While she was no expert in any science by any stretch of the imagination (unless killing people counted as a type of science), she at the very least knew that it wasn't a monolithic thing and that there were a variety of different fields, some of which tended to overlap with one another. Maybe she knew something that could help a developing, friendly conversation between two parents in a pinch?

"Robotics, mainly," Came his answer just as Sari tossed the ball with an underhand throw, letting Bond run to get it. Yor was impressed with how far the ball went despite the clear lack of strength put into it.

"I see…" Yor began, wondering where to take the conversation with that detail, given that she knew nothing about robotics. Naturally, she went with the first thing that popped into her head and asked, "Did you build killer robots to help someone try and take over the world?" The second that escaped her lips, she panicked, Wait, is that not something I should ask?

Instead, her question drew a hearty chuckle out of the former scientist as he wiped a tear from his eye, "N-No, nothing of the sort!" Stifling his laughter, he watched as Bond returned to Sari with the ball in his mouth and replied, "My research was mostly spent alongside other scientists in helping to both decipher and reverse engineer… eh, challenging technology, you could say. My previous employers had never seen anything quite like it and needed whom they considered the brightest, most adaptable researchers they could find for the job. From there, it was a matter of figuring out what it could be used for. For a while, things were good." His expression soured, "But then events happened and, well…"

Yor watched the way his eyes flickered towards Sari, focused so intensely on her with what she could only describe as a burning, protective drive. Whatever happened clearly involved her. To what degree, Yor didn't know, but despite her reluctance, she asked, "Did your daughter have anything to do with these events?"

Isaac seemed rather dodgy, likely put off by the suddenness of her question. Yor wanted to take it back, not wanting him to be uncomfortable, but to her surprise, he relented and answered, "She was… she was part of the reason, you could say. I was already disagreeing with my colleagues' methods of research, but when Sari entered my life, I decided the best thing to do was quit. We began traveling after that."

"Sounds like a tough decision," Yor commented, looking at hers and Isaac's respective daughters as they played. Blinking, she realized something, "Wait, what about Sari's mother? Did she not come with you?"

Unlike her previous questions, this time, Isaac flat out froze with wide eyes before looking away, "Oh, uh, Sari's mother doesn't-I mean, she's…" With a deep sigh, he said, "She's no longer with us, I'm afraid."

Yor's own eyes went wide, the man's reaction, statement about when they started traveling, Sari's birth coinciding with the beginning of these travels, and the mother's absence all painted a clear picture of what happened: Death by childbirth.

"I-I'm so sorry! I had no idea!"

"You didn't know, so it's perfectly understandable," Isaac reassured her, "Though, I ask that you not bring it up around my daughter. It's a very sensitive subject for her."

"I can only imagine," Yor nodded, looking back at Sari, her heart going out to daughter and father as Bond brought the ball back again, handing it to Anya, who was now talking exuberantly with her new friend. Sari, now seeming more confident in the games they were playing, nodded and the two walked a distance away from each other, Anya aiming the ball and throwing it to Sari. Watching her daughter, Yor remembered something, and broke the silence between her and Isaac by saying, "If it means anything, I think Anya and my husband know how you feel." Upon receiving a confused look from Isaac, she clarified, "She lost her birth mother two years ago. I guess you could say my daughter and yours have a few things in common."

"So you're Anya's-" Isaac shook his head and gave her his full attention, "Forgive me. I honestly wasn't aware that you were her stepmother."

"Really? Because a lot of people tend to know right away. Or they make… assumptions." Yor replied with just a hint of bitterness to her voice. Even now, she remembered those thugs that tried to kidnap Anya just outside the grocery store and how they thought her to be a family servant. Outside of that, whenever she was spending time with Anya on outings, people were easily able to tell she was a stepmother just from appearance.

While Isaac and Sari shared numerous similarities in appearance that Yor could pick out with a glance, she and Anya shared absolutely none.

Granted, Anya and Loid don't have much in common there either, but I can only assume that's because she takes predominantly after her birth mother, Yor's eyes went half-lidded, focused on the two daughters playing catch as Anya smiled and cheered for Sari to give it her all. Actually… Yor felt a small smile grace her own lips, Anya and Loid do have one thing in common.

They both had the exact same smile. And it was beautiful.

"If it means anything, it's easy to tell that your daughter loves you very much. Perhaps almost as much as you love her," Yor was stirred out of it by Isaac, whom she faced as he asked, "How did you meet Anya and her father, if it isn't much trouble to ask?"

Smiling, Yor said, "It isn't any trouble. If anything, it's fitting, since I asked first." I can't tell you everything, of course, but maybe something like what Loid said for our Eden interview should suffice. Looking up at the tree providing them shade, Yor remembered that fateful day and began, "Loid and I first met at a tailor shop. I was fixing a dress for a workplace get-together, and he was buying Anya some new clothes. I noticed him staring at me and he called me pretty." Yor was unable to fight her blush, "Honestly, it caught me off-guard. No one's ever called me that before."

"I can't say I have an opinion on such things," Isaac admitted, slightly bashful, "In all honesty, I've never had an eye for physical appearances."

"Me neither, but it felt good to be considered that by someone," Yor's wistful mood continued. Sure, her brother had called her that, alongside sweet and beautiful, but… sometimes she felt like the only reason he called her that was because he was her brother. He pretty much had to call her that and accept her by default simply because they were family. She didn't know Loid at the time, but he still complimented her and accepted her oddities regardless. "As for Anya…" Yor began again, "Well, the first thing she did when she saw me was wish that she had a mother. Even now, I'm still not sure why she acted that way."

The only reason Yor could conceive as to why Anya did was if it was some sort of ploy to help Loid get a wife for the Eden interview, but Anya was too sweet and innocent to do something like that. Not to mention the way Loid reacted made it clear that not even he was sure why she did that either. Still, it led to their family as it was now, so regardless, Yor felt no need to truly question it.

"Before my own daughter, I never had much of any experience with children, so like before, I can't really comment on your daughter's actions either," Isaac said, "But it sounds like she loved you like a mother from the moment you met."

"… Yeah, I suppose she did," Yor muttered, not sure what to make of that. Did Anya really see her as mother material before she even knew anything about her? She didn't think she'd be any good at it at first, even with all her experience raising Yuri under her belt, but time and again, Loid and Anya sung her praises and reassured her that they couldn't ask for anyone better than her for the Forger family's matriarch.

I'm enough, Yor repeated Loid's words to her from after her initial disastrous attempt at driving Bumblebee. She'd found herself doing so less and less as the days went on, though the few times she reminded herself still helped.

Coughing, Isaac drew Yor out of herself and said, "Forgive me for my boldness, but after getting to know you, I do believe your daughter was right to want you for a mother." The former scientist smiled, "It seems she has a gift for reading people."

Yor smiled back, taking in the sounds of singing birds and other families playing with their dogs as she replied, "Believe me, no one understands how perceptive Anya is like I do." Except for Loid, of course. Even now, Yor couldn't help but be amazed at how perceptive Anya could be at times. In a lot of ways, it reminded her of Yuri, as well as how much she wanted to see Anya flourish with her gifts. "And what about your daughter?" Yor asked, watching as Sari and Anya became more invested in their game of catch, "Would you say she's the same in that regard?"

"She is. Much more than I am," Isaac answered, sounding quite proud and happy, "She's always been a better judge of character. Better than me at reading people, I mean, and I believe that she'll grow up to become much smarter than I am even now. I look forward to when she does."

Yor couldn't help but be amazed. The way he spoke, it was less that he hoped such a thing for Sari, and more that he viewed it as an absolute certainty. He had that much faith in his daughter. "Loid and I want the same for Anya," Yor said, "We want her to be happy and successful in life. To live without worry and just be herself." Turning back toward their playing daughters, Yor reminisced the times she and Yuri played catch together like Anya and Sari did now. "I'd like to think a lot of parents wants the same for their children."

Isaac shrugged, but his upbeat mood remained, "Perhaps. I know it's what my own parents wanted for me. It's why I've moved around and worked so many jobs. I'm hoping that I can find a place for me and my daughter to call home, where she can live happily as herself without fear."

"In that case, I hope Berlint can be the home you and your daughter are looking for," Yor replied honestly, "If you need any help with that, you can always ask us. As your neighbors it's our duty to help however we can."

"Thank you, Yor," Isaac's smile grew ever so slightly, but the emotions behind it were as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He started saying something about how he'd find a way to repay her for any help she and her husband would provide, but then the air shifted subtly. Yor's instincts ran wild, recognizing the shift as similar to when bullets were flying. In an instant, she threw an open fist at Isaac, stopping at the side of his face in time to catch the ball before it made impact.

It took exactly five seconds for Isaac to process what just happened. When realization hit his eyes…

"AAHH!" He yelped, jumping out of his bench seat and falling flat on his butt to the park's grassy ground. Yor got up to check on him, hearing Sari shout for her father the moment she knelt down and helped him up. Turning, the two adults saw their daughters and Bond rush up to them, Isaac rubbing at his lower back, "Don't worry Sari, I'm fine. Mostly, at any rate."

"Dad, I'm sorry!" Sari's eyes began to shimmer, "Anya and I were just playing catch and running around and I got carried away and-"

"She threw the ball really hard and it bounced off a few trees," Anya finished for her new friend, said girl looking down shyly as Yor blinked before looking to the ball she'd caught.

That she managed to throw it with such force… Yor could still feel the speeds at which it was moving when she'd caught it and found herself more than a little disturbed, To have that kind of throwing strength without knowledge of rebounding between objects is a dangerous combination.

She could still remember all the times playing catch with Yuri during her teens. When she threw the ball at too high a speed for him to catch, he'd manage to dodge it, thankfully, but then it always managed to ricochet off something in the environment and hit him either in the face or back of the head. He always took it in stride and complimented how strong her throwing arm was, but it left her guilt-ridden regardless.

Judging by the look on Sari's face, the poor girl was going through the exact same thing. And it was clear this wasn't the first time it's happened either.

"Sari, it's okay. It was an accident. Besides, Mrs. Forger caught the ball before it hit me," Isaac knelt down and gently tried to cheer her daughter up. The girl's glowing eyes didn't shimmer as much, but there was still an evident, all too familiar self-loathing in them, especially as she looked down at her throwing hand.

"I know!" Anya chirped and ran up to Sari, pulling her in front of Yor and asking, "Sari, maybe you and Mama can play catch? She's really strong and really fast, so you don't have to worry."

"Great idea, Anya!" Yor looked to Isaac approvingly, and he nodded with a thumbs up. Sari seemed highly apprehensive, looking at Yor like she was afraid of hurting her. All Yor could do was smile, kneel, and say, "Sari, I'd love to play with you. There's no need to worry. I'll be fine." Maybe playing catch with someone who can handle her strength will help her feel better?

Lord knows having someone like that growing up would've made things less lonely for her.

"I… o-okay," Sari held out her hand, Yor giving her the ball before she got into position, walking a distance away from everyone that may as well have been halfway across the park, dogs, owners, and children surrounding them in sparse numbers, all playing or talking about amongst themselves. Anya, Isaac, and Bond all stood just behind Yor, who prepared to catch when Sari was ready. From here, Yor could see the nervousness in the little girl's eyes and body language, looking down at the ball and taking a deep breath. Rearing back, she threw it at Yor with all the strength she could muster, the ball flying in a straight line for the assassin, air rippling around it like a bullet. To the untrained eye, it was probably moving too fast for anyone to even see.

But Yor's eyes could see it just fine.

Right as it was about to impact her forehead, Yor raised a hand and caught the ball, stopping it dead in its tracks. The sheer force behind it made her hand move back a centimeter, but she was otherwise unaffected. Lowering her arm, she smiled at Sari and said, "Good throw!"

"A-Are you okay!?" Sari called out, sounding both worried and disbelieving.

"Never better!" Yor called back, giving the ball a few experimental tosses, "You have a strong throwing arm!"

"That was so cool Sari!" Anya cheered for her friend, Yor turning back to see her daughter jumping up and down.

"Nice one, dear!" Isaac clapped his hands proudly, though Yor could see he was still a little bit worried. Not that she could blame him for feeling as such.

"Borf!" Bond joined with the rest, his tail wagging in excitement.

"My turn!" Yor got into a throwing position and gave Sari a determined look, "Are you ready?"

"U-Uh, yeah! Yeah, I'm ready!" Sari said shakily, though she seemed to have gained a bit of a confidence boost after watching Yor's catch. She got ready and held out her hands to grab the ball when Yor threw it.

Taking a deep breath, Yor pulled her hand back, Okay, how do I want to do this? She's around Anya's age, so I'll have to hold back a lot. But at the same time, she's clearly afraid of her own strength and holding back too much might reinforce the idea that she should be afraid of it. Not that Yor could talk too much there either. Often, she was just as afraid of her own strength, always doing her best to keep it on a tight leash with… mixed results. But she wanted to help Sari, so for her, she'd put no more strength into the throw than what was needed. Yor took into account how much force was behind the girl's ball throw, figuring how much strength to apply, and said, "Okay, here it comes!"

With that, Yor threw the ball, holding back as best she could. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, as the ball still went flying in a perfectly straight line, rippling the air and blowing wind across its surroundings, giving it the impression of a mach wave. Upon realization this detail, it was already too late to do anything while it flew for the six-year-old.

Oh no! Yor gasped, mind panicking with several options. She wanted to yell at Sari to get out of the way, outpace the ball and grab Sari before it hit, or pray that Sari could withstand the force of her throw. It was too late for the former two options, as the ball was already too close to its target to warn or outpace it. All she could do was pray, Please catch it, please catch it, please catch-

-the ball flew a few feet above Sari's head, her red hair billowing in its wake-

-it? Yor blinked, watching as the ball completely missed its intended target, instead continuing onward as its sheer speed and strength terrified everyone in the way to bolt to the side. By the time the ball reached halfway across the part, it began kicking up dust, dirt, and grass, flying even faster than ever until it reached the very end, perfectly squeezing between the rails of a fence. It could've likely gone even further, but ceased all motion when it hit the window of a black car, plopping unceremoniously to the ground and now hidden by bushes.

"… what just happened?" Sari asked, turning around to where the ball had went before turning back to Yor. Feeling the eyes of both the Sumdacs, her daughter, and her dog on her (plus a few nearby park goers), she felt her face heat up in embarrassment and shame.

"I-I meant to do that!"

"Don't worry, I'll get it," Sari said, turning and running to where Yor threw the ball.

"Be careful, Sari!" Isaac called out to her.

"I will!"

Yor could see that Sari's response didn't put Isaac at ease as much as she would've liked. "Hey, Isaac," The secret assassin gave him a reassuring grin and asked, "Would it help if I go with her? I'll keep watch while she's getting the ball." Kneeling down, she motioned for Anya and Bond to come close, "You two stay with Mr. Sumdac, and don't wander too far from him, okay?"

"Okay!" Anya smiled brightly and ran up to Isaac alongside Bond, "Wanna play with us, Mr. Sumdac?"

"I…" Isaac seemed hesitant, eyes shifting between them and where Sari was running off too, clearly worried for his daughter, but Anya and Bond were giving him the most adorable, pleading eyes they could. Yor could never resist them, and Isaac proved unable to either. "Very well," He sighed reluctantly before facing Yor, "Please make sure she stays safe. Sari's always had a tendency to find trouble. If not that, then trouble tends to find her."

Why does that sound so familiar? Yor wondered, eyes briefly shifting to Anya as she began pulling at Isaac's hand and asking to play tag. Giggling before remembering what she needed to do, she turned to where Sari went and saw that she was already past the bushes. Yor ran, deftly avoiding any whom she almost bumped into while apologizing to everyone, and reached the fence in precious seconds. She pushed past the bushes, expecting to see Sari pressed against the gate and reaching for the ball through the steel bars, but instead…

"What?" Yor whispered, now seeing Sari on the other side of the fence as she tried to reach under the black car, likely for the ball. How did she- Yor almost asked herself before her eyes glanced over the fence, seeing a spot that looked like it'd been pried open by bare hands, creating a space just big enough for a child to squeeze through, Oh! Well, I guess that'll do it.

Personally, Yor would've jumped over the fence, but Sari's method worked just fine.

"Come on! Stupid short arms! Stupid car!" Sari muttered just loud enough for Yor to hear as she stifled a small laugh. Seeing that the girl was having trouble, she prepared herself to go help with… the…

W-What? Yor froze, blood running cold as her senses ran wild. Throughout all her years as an assassin, she'd developed an acute awareness to certain dangers. She could sense the shifting of air when someone was attempting a sneak attack. She'd mastered picking up on when she was being watched from up close or afar. And she'd immediately recognized what this particular sensation was: Bloodlust.

But this felt different. Yor had become accustomed to when it was directed towards her and only her in the heat of combat, as everyone in the criminal underworld wanted Thorn Princess dead. This felt like it was being directed at everyone in every direction, and it was currently aimed the most at-

Sari! Yor gasped and wanted to yell at Sari to run. She didn't know where or who it was coming from, only knowing that the girl needed to get out of there. But as Yor watched Sari lift the car up to better reach the ball, that wave of murderous intent magnified so much on her that it was nothing short of a miracle she didn't spontaneously combust. It left Yor frozen with indecision and fear for the child, eyes darting every which direction to figure out who it was coming from.

"Finally!" Sari got out from under the car and put it down. Just as she began walking back to the fence, however…

"Hey!" An angry voice yelled as the car doors slammed open, revealing two State Security Service officers, one of whom stomped around the vehicle and joined his associate, "What the hell was that, kid?"

The Secret Police! Yor's eyes went wide, getting a better look at the car, seeing that the black Biscayne had the Security Service's logo on the side door. Oh no, this is bad!

"I… I uh-" Sari cut herself off, staring nervously at the two officers that loomed over her, surrounding her from the left and right to keep her from going anywhere.

"You what? Do you realize you could've damaged the car? It's government property!"

"She lifted the whole thing too. What kind of freak is this kid?"

The officers' words made Sari shrink and appear on the verge of tears. Clearly, that word, freak, struck a nerve. It struck one with Yor too, as she saw a mix of sadness and anger in Sari's eyes that made her blood boil.

"Kid doesn't seem like she's from around here either," The first officer said, glaring at Sari, "Where are you from?"

"F-From out of town?" Sari stammered, too terrified to even move as the officer kept glaring at her.

"So, you're a foreigner, huh? Likely undocumented, from the looks of it," The officer's glare intensified as he grabbed Sari by the arm, "You're coming with us." He looked at his partner, "Search the park for the kid's parents. We're taking them back to HQ."

"H-Hey! Let me go!"

Yor grit her teeth and was about to jump in, but Sari managed to throw the officer off, making him stumble and trip backwards as she tried to make a bolt for it. But she wasn't able to get very far, as the second officer just barely managed to grab her by the back of her hoodie's collar, leaving her to flail helplessly in the air.

"Seriously you damned brat, just stop squirming so much and-"

He never got to finish. In the span of a single second, Yor had leapt over the fence and delivered a kick to his lower back, sending him flying toward his partner and knocking them both to the floor, all while she grabbed Sari mid-fall.

"What do you think you're doing!?" Yor lowly snarled, gently placing Sari behind her.

"Grr, stay out of this, lady!" The first officer yelled, "This is State Security business."

"All I see is a pair of bullies harassing an innocent child," Yor's tone was cold, holding Sari close as she felt the girl cling to her leg. Gently placing a hand to her head, she said, "I'll give you this one chance. Walk away now, before I hurt you."

Both officers stood tall, one of them snickering, as they sauntered over to her. "You know, threatening a member of the State Security Service is a serious offense," The chortling one sneered, "We're gonna need you to come with us too."

"Neither of us are going anywhere with you!" Once more, Yor growled as her eyes darkened, her usual fear of the SSS and the consequences of getting arrested by them smothered with an uncontrollable rage.

"We're not giving you a choice," The first officer reached into his coat, the smell of gunmetal hitting Yor's nostrils as he rummaged through it, "Now, get in the car or else-"

Yor refused to let him get another word in, finding her anger too much to bear. With their car just to her right, she slammed a fist down on the hood, rattling the entire vehicle and sending the rear upward for a few seconds. The officers were left wide eyed, watching the back wheels of the car slam down with a thud against the pavement, despite the fact that it was still outwardly undamaged.

"If you so much as take a single step forward, you will wish that I'd just killed you," Yor threatened, glaring at them with such malice that they took a few more steps back. Much as it threatened her cover, and for as much as she would've preferred avoiding any confrontation with the State Security Service, right now, she couldn't bring herself to care. If it meant protecting a child and ensuring she could go home to her father, then it was worth it in her eyes.

The two officers seemed to reconsider their position, but then stubbornness made its way into their eyes and they glared back, and with that glare, Yor sensed the bloodlust from before. It'd grown tenfold, and no longer was it aimed all over the place.

Now, every ounce of it was aimed solely at her. It almost made her panic, especially with Sari's presence, but she refused to buckle.

So, these two are what I was picking up on, Yor magnified her glare to match, intent on scaring these monsters away, The State Security Service's recruiting standards must be lower than I imagined, especially if they allow such depraved men within their ranks.

Yor's projected wrath escalated, her glare matching the bloodlust in equal measure. Despite the terror the officers showed, they just wouldn't leave, and the first one seemed intent on pulling out his gun at the slightest sign of movement.

But then, his eyes widened, "Oh God… you're-" He grabbed his compatriot by the shoulder, "Get in, we're leaving."

"What? But they-"

"I said get in!"

"O-Okay, okay!" The two officers bolted into their patrol vehicle, which started up and zoomed out of there like their lives depended on it.

They didn't, but only because of current company.

What was that about? Yor questioned, relieved that they were out of trouble at the very least. Hearing a sigh of relief, she looked down at saw tears form in her eyes. Kneeling, she gently held the girl by her shoulders, "Sari, it's okay. The bad men are gone now."

Instead of answering, Sari jumped up and hugged Yor tightly. With the amount of force behind it, the hug probably would've crushed anyone else's rib cage, but not hers. Returning the embrace, she picked Sari up and began walking along the sidewalk for the park entrance, understanding that the girl needed a moment to calm down.

"M-Mrs. Forger, who were those guys?" Sari asked, sniffling just a little.

"Rotten members of a rotten organization: The State Security Service," Yor answered, struggling to keep her anger from before in check as she patted Sari's back. Oh how she lived in fear and loathing of them. As a group, and on paper, they may have been trying to protect Ostania like the Garden, but their methods were torturous, cruel, and often targeted the innocent just as much as they did the guilty. And far more often than not, the innocent suffered because of them simply for being appearing suspicious.

At her age, had she not become Loid's wife, she would've fallen under similar suspicions and likely been arrested. Though as a later encounter she had with them during a mail run while working showed, not even that guaranteed her safety. The tiniest excuse can and would be used to erase someone from society, never to see the light of day ever again. Even if they all played their parts right, her entire family would always be at risk because of them.

I won't let that happen. Not now, nor ever! Yor seethed with quiet determination, feeling the child in her arms calm down enough that she stopped shuddering. For the moment, she knew her family was safe from the SSS, at the very least. Loid was a hard-working psychiatrist, Anya a flourishing Eden student, and Yuri a dedicated diplomat. All she could do for now was sincerely hope that none of them would be anywhere near the Secret Police. If they ever got in trouble with them, she had no idea what she'd do.

"H-Hey Mrs. Forger?"

"Please call me Yor, Miss Sari," Yor smiled at Sari's light giggle. She kept the girl in her arms, but pulled back enough to face her, "Do you want me to put you down?" Receiving a nod, she complied and asked, "What's wrong?"

Staring at the floor, she grabbed at her right elbow, rubbing it and asking, "Can you please not tell my dad about what happened? I don't…" Her eyes began watering a little, "I don't want to worry him. And we just got here and I don't want to leave and… and… I'm scared that if he finds out he'll..."

"I understand," Yor placed a finger to her lips, "I won't tell a soul. I promise."

Sari smiled, looking like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, "Thank you, Mrs. Fo-I mean, Yor!" The two of them giggled and continued their trek around the park, the only sounds being their steps against the sidewalk and the playing happening behind the fence. But right as they began to near the park entrance, Sari stopped, "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"How did you do that with those guys' car? Hit it super hard like that, I mean."

"I, uh…" Yor looked up, unsure how to really explain that to her. She understood that her strength made her stand out like a headless body (not a good thing in the current political climate), and whenever confronted by it, she'd always tried to come up with the first excuse she could think of. With Sari, however, things were different. The girl had displayed similar feats in strength to what Yor could do in her youth. They were two of a kind, so perhaps what she needed wasn't a hastily thought up lie, but honesty.

Well, as honest as I can be with this, Yor knelt down again, dark red eyes meeting vibrant blue, and answered, "To tell the truth, Sari, I've always been pretty strong for my age. It led to me being a bit of an outcast growing up." She smiled sadly, shutting down those bitter memories for Sari's sake, "And as I got older and trained my body, I kept getting stronger and stronger. Much of what I can do now stems from training."

Sari took in her explanation with awe, "A-Are you… like me?"

"Huh?" Before Yor could ask what she meant by that, Sari just sighed.

"Never mind, it's just…" She stared down at her hands, "I'm not good at controlling myself like you can. Those officers were jerks, but they're right. I'm a… a freak."

Freak. There was that word again. A word no child should ever be called. A word that Yor was all too familiar with. Hearing it again made those twisted emotions blister inside her. But to hear it from Sari, who sounded so… accepting of the label, it made something inside her snap.

"No, they're wrong!" Yor's words caused Sari to flinch and step back. Realizing she was being too forceful, she reached forward and hugged her, "Sari, you're not a freak. You're just a little girl. A little girl who's had to go through so much in such a short time." She made not have had all the details, but from what Isaac described, the constant travel must've taken a toll on both of them. Pulling back from the hug, Yor saw Sari's eyes begin to shimmer again as she wiped the tears away, "So don't ever call yourself that again. You're just a little different, and that's something you should never have to apologize for."

Yor couldn't help but wince on the inside at her words, the hypocrisy tasting like acid in her mouth. How often did she try to hide away her otherness like she was ashamed of it? How often did she try to downplay her strength and abilities just to appear like the average person? Yes, she needed to keep her assassin identity hidden, but that didn't excuse the double standards coming out of her mouth. It was just another reminder of how abnormal she was, for normal people weren't this two faced. Her husband, her daughter, and her brother were always honest with her, yet she was perpetually incapable of the same with anyone, even to a child who was so much like her.

And yet upon seeing the smile return to Sari's face, blue eyes glowing even brighter, Yor couldn't bring herself to mind it this time. After all, she became an assassin to help create a better, brighter world where children could smile and live free from its darker burdens. Even if it made her a hypocrite to say "be proud of yourself" while doing the opposite, so long as it helped a young girl better live with herself, she'd wear it like a badge of honor.

But just as quickly as Sari's smile formed, it left and she looked down at her hand, this one holding the ball, and muttered, "I just wish I didn't always break things. I want to control it, but…"

As a silence entered between them, Yor looked up in thought, hand to her chin as she gasped, "I know! I can train you!"

Sari blinked, tilting her head, "Wha-"

"I mean, I know what you're going through. I've had trouble with it myself. I still struggle with my strength even now, breaking things or hurting people without meaning to," Yor looked down at her own hands before taking Sari's into hers, "But I've learned to live with it, to control it as best I can and channel it into something that lets me help my family. And because of that, I want to help you live with it too. So, if you'll allow me, I'll teach you how to control your strength."

"Y-You'd really help me?" Sari all but whispered, grinning from ear to ear as Yor smiled at the sight.

"Of course! What are neighbors for?" Yor's answer made Sari all but jump into her arms for another hug. Picking the girl up, she walked into the park, eyes glancing between dogs and their owners in search of her own. In no time, she found Anya and Bond running around, being chased by Isaac in what looked like a game of tag.

At least, Yor was sure that's what they were supposed to be doing. As it was, it looked more like they were vastly outpacing Isaac, who seemed two steps away from collapse.

He fell face first after three.

"Did I…" The scientist panted and rolled onto his back, face and upper shirt drenched in sweat, "Did I win yet?"

Yor placed a hand to her mouth, stifling her laughter at the display. Sari and Anya, however, had no such reservations, the two children letting out a bark of chortles that made Bond proud, if his own barks were any indication. Even with all the laughing, Anya still walked up to the still Isaac and clapped her hand against his own, "Yup! You win, Mr. Sumdac!"

"Hoooraaaaaay…" Isaac droned out, desperately trying to sound excited despite probably suffering from dehydration. Either that or heat exhaustion, from the looks of it. Thankfully, Bond was there to help, licking the man's face to try and help him cool down. "Thank you. Really, I needed that," Isaac said as he started to stand, now looking up at Yor as she held Sari, "Are you alright, my dear? Nothing bad happened?"

Sari jumped down from Yor's grasp, "Don't worry dad. I got the ball back and nothing bad happened at all!"

"… Okay then, I trust you," Isaac stood up fully while Sari let out a sigh of relief. Even Yor let out one she didn't know she was holding. "Yor," He began, walking up to her with a kind look in his exhausted eyes, "Thank you for taking care of my daughter."

Yor nodded, "Of course. And thank you for looking after mine." Anya and Bond ran up to her. Patting her daughter's head, she turned to her neighbors again and asked, "Shall we continue touring the city?" Since we had an encounter with the Secret Police, it's best we get away from here as quickly as possible.

For some reason, Anya gasped, but Yor paid that no mind as the Sumdacs nodded, Isaac replying, "Yes, I think that will do nicely. Anything to get inside a building, if I'm being honest."

"In that case, I know a mall we can go to," Yor led the way out of the park, everyone following her. Sari was engaged in a happy conversation with her father and Anya about how much fun the park was, even mentioning how Yor offered to help tutor her in regulating her strength. Despite Isaac once again thanking her and Anya cheering about how they could be training buddies, Yor's mind was stuck on the Secret Police encounter from earlier.

She didn't regret her actions, as they ensured Sari was safe, even if worry that she'd put herself on their radar was cropping up inside her. However, she zeroed in on something in particular one officer said: How he called Sari "undocumented".

It's probably just him making excuses to arrest someone unabated, but with what Isaac said earlier… Yor wondered if he and his daughter ever got the right papers for Ostanian citizenship. If they were just traveling from place to place, drifting without a set destination in mind, then probably not. And in a country like this, that left them at greater risk than most.

When I get the chance, I'll talk with the Shopkeeper and Director. The Garden can forge some documents for the Sumdacs to help them blend in as official citizens. Hopefully none of us will have to deal with the State Security Service for the time being.

Panting as she slowed her run to a walk, Kelly Shiragami wiped the sweat from her brow and placed her hands in her pockets. Dressed in a light red sweater, white sweatpants, and sneakers, she'd decided to go jogging on this slow day, both to relieve her stress and because she had yet to replace her old car. Kelly wasn't even sure if she wanted to get it replaced, not after seeing that… that thing take on its form and drive off.

No, Kel, don't! Kelly clutched at her head and took a deep breath. This had been a reoccurring thing ever since that last encounter, and the more she thought about each subsequent giant robot run-in, the worse it got. The first time it happened outside the grocery store wasn't too terrible, horrible static and whirring aside. But the second time just outside her home, it loomed over her so menacingly. She was so certain that it'd come to get its revenge for throwing her groceries at it that she passed out, only to awaken the next morning unharmed.

And then came the new encounter with this darker, scarier robot. The same one that came from the stars.

Aliens. T-These things are aliens! Kelly's breathing rate increased. The thought that they weren't alone in the universe wasn't something that ever crossed her mind. But she'd just seen a giant killer machine drop from the sky, murder a deer, and drive away in the shape of her car.

It was still here, somewhere in Berlint. Both of them were, and with every waking second they threatened to kill everyone!

But…

No one believes me… Kelly huffed, coming to a stop at the parking lot of Berlint General Hospital. Needing to relax, she leaned against the nearest vehicle: A yellow VW Beetle with a black stripe running down the middle. The first time, no one listened and she was dismissed as delusional. Then came this far more sinister looking robot and she'd tried again, but every call to the State Security Service went unheeded. They'd recognized her from last time and similarly dismissed her. Looking back, she probably blubbered a lot and sounded incomprehensible to them, but as she stared at the hospital, something told her it wouldn't make a difference.

"Maybe I should schedule an appointment?" Kelly mused aloud to no one in particular. That last encounter was so thoroughly burned into her mind that every night since she'd woken from nightmare after nightmare. Every single one had the machine rise from the waters and kill the deer like before, only this time, it noticed her.

This time, it chased her.

This time, it caught her.

This time, it killed her.

And it never made it swift, always taking it's time, red eyes filled with rage and hate while it… it smiled at her.

After suffering through all that in her dreams, seeing a psychiatrist could probably do her some good. Even if he or she didn't believe her, just getting it off her chest and having someone to talk with consistently would hopefully be enough. She was about to get off the car and head in, see if she could schedule something, but then she heard a very loud engine roar, scaring away any birds in the trees. Standing tall, she looked around and saw an SSS car driving down a road, weaving past a couple cars and around the corner to behind the hospital.

"What the-" Kelly, now curious, followed where the car went. She'd never seen an SSS car drive so erratically before. What's gotten into them? She wondered, running around the corner to see the patrol car stopped on the edge of the sidewalk, two officer getting out with hands to their knees and taking deep breathes, their faces filled with abject terror. If Kelly didn't know any better, she'd assume they were just attacked by some kind of monster. Wait! She realized, wide eyed, Maybe that's it?

Perhaps these officers had a run in with that alien robot from before and managed to get away? Maybe unlike everyone else, they'd believe and help her? Kelly was feeling pretty calm now, so maybe she could properly articulate what she saw? With renewed confidence, she started walking to where they were, slowing down as she began to overhear a conversation.

"-why the hell did we run from that bitch?" One officer, the one who got out of the shotgun seat, asked, his fear slowly replaced with anger as Kelly yelped and took several steps back, hiding behind a dumpster.

Or maybe I'm better off not saying anything to these two. They didn't seem to be in a listening mood, though Kelly was still able to hear them and poked her head out.

"Look, we can't arrest her. Did you see her face? Her hair and eyes?" The officer that'd been in the driver's seat asked, sounding kinda frustrated. Thankfully, in the throes of said frustration, neither officer noticed her.

"Yeah, I'll admit, she was easy on the eyes. Like, really easy on the eyes, but why does that matter? We suddenly can't arrest someone just because she's hot?"

"No you idiot! I recognized her from photos. She's Second Lieutenant Briar's sister!"

"… o-oh," His partner relaxed, trying to piece things together, "You mean the one he never shuts up about?"

"Yeah, I remember seeing her in a photo when we were changing out of uniform. That sister obsessed wacko's got his locker filled with pictures of her from top to bottom. Doubt he'd like it if we brought her in."

Ugh, nepotism, Kelly grimaced, both at the "sister obsessed" part and the fact that whoever said sister was, she had total immunity from the SSS, Some people get all the perks in life. Bet she could get away with murder if she wanted.

"And what about the kid she was with?" The first guy got back in his shotgun seat.

"Forget it," The second officer followed, walking around to get back to the driver's seat, "Right now, dealing with the brat means dealing with her, and that means dealing with Briar. Trust me, it ain't worth pissing him off. He may be a loon, but he's good at what he does."

He closed the door, his partner following suit. Kelly sighed in a mix of relief and disappointment, but stood up, ready to walk around for the front of the building so she could get in and schedule an appointment proper.

Before she could, however, an ominous purple light entered from the side of her vision. Snapping towards it, she saw the SSS patrol vehicle, still afar, but whose interior was now bathed in said light. No sound came from the car whatsoever, and as she started to get close, the light ceased, and the shotgun door opened, out falling-

"H-Holy fuck!" Kelly fell to her butt and scrambled back, staring wide eyed and open mouthed at a charred corpse covered in what could only be described as everything degree burns. It wore the clothes of an SSS officer, but so thoroughly scorched off that it'd been reduced to the bare minimum, the body itself sprawled on the sidewalk, small sparks of electricity arching off as it faced the sun and cloudless sky.

And then the door closed on its own as Kelly heard screams from within, now muffled as she got to her feet and ran back, hiding behind the dumpster again and sitting in a fetal position. She hugged her knees, trying to comprehend what was going on. But then she heard the car door open again, the screams replaced by a loud gurgling noise. Daring to look out, she gasped and saw the other SSS officer scrambling in front of the car, trying to keep himself steady on the hood with one hand while the other held his throat. Even from here, Kelly could see the something impaling him, blood oozing down his neck and covering his white undershirt. She covered her mouth, knowing that if any noise came out, it'd be nothing but screams.

Throwing himself off the hood, he tried to run in her direction, a croaked call for help wheezing out of his mouth before he tripped on his partner's corpse, falling face first into the pavement. Kelly hid once again, hoping to go unnoticed and unheard, but curiosity got the better of her as she looked out once again, the bleeding officer seeing her and making a desperate crawl, more cries for help choked by blood. He reached out to her, desperation in his eyes that haunted Kelly all the more.

Finally regaining some semblance of control, she went back behind the dumpster, one hand to her mouth and the other to her knees. She closed her eyes, trying to keep herself together, but she was falling apart at the seams with no idea what was going on. She just wanted to run, go home, hide under the covers and pretend life was normal and that she didn't see anything.

But then she heard the car engine start.

W-What? Kelly looked out, seeing the patrol car's rear lights glow red as it drove forward and away, That shouldn't be possible. There's no driver! Unless- Eyes going wide, she pressed her back against the dumpster wall, both hands focused on covering her mouth to not make a sound, I-Is this the same monster from the lake? It can't be. It took the form of my… oh no! Just as quickly, Kelly remembered how it scanned her car and realized it could do that more than once, It scanned a patrol car when it got into the city. These things can take on more than one form! We're being invaded by alien shape-shifting cars!

Gurgled wheezing was all she could hear, but then she heard the sound of an engine and wheels against asphalt closing in. Poking her head out ever so slightly, Kelly hoped to see someone whom she could ask for help, maybe get the officer inside the hospital with her while he still had a chance. But instead, she saw the patrol car coming back, slowing down as it approached where the officer laid on his side. She watched from afar as it turned away from the officer, driving forward and stopping before it proceeded to back up.

Oh God! Terror filled Kelly, watching as the monster's back right wheel was on a collision course with the choking, convulsing officer's head, slowing down bit by bit as it neared. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She stood up and ran as fast as she could, almost tripping when she turned the corner and bolted even faster. Without thinking, Kelly saw the yellow car from before and ducked in front of it, sitting with her back pressed against its hood and bumper. She didn't know how long she stayed like this, only covering her ears the moment she heard the familiar roar of that monster's engine. Even muffled, it sounded like a devil from Hell as it drove down the road at high speeds. She didn't know where it was going, nor did she want to.

I gotta get out of here, Kelly used the VW Beetle's hood to prop herself up, legs still shaking from what she saw. Taking a deep breath, she looked at her reflection through the car window, seeing her face and red sweater now completely drenched without her noticing. I'm such a mess, Kelly huffed as her eyes wandered all over the small car that'd unknowingly protected her, Yellow with a black stripe. Kinda like a bumblebee. Looks pretty cute too. She smiled, You know, this thing actually reminds me a little bit of that-

That yellow machine, pelted with fruits and groceries in a blind panic. Kelly remembered those awful sounds it made, how it came up to her, and how it drove off, transforming into a futuristic looking car. One with a very similar black stripe running down the middle, just like-

"I-It's you!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, jumping back and running away, refusing to look back for fear that the robot in disguise would give chase. She ran and ran and ran, almost certain that Berlint General Hospital was long behind her, but she didn't stop running. She wouldn't stop until she was safe and sound at her apart-

"HEY, WATCH IT!" A man yelled at her, Kelly stopping and turning to realize she'd run across while a green light was flashing.

"I-I'm so-" She almost apologized, but then her eyes fell to the man's car.

Or at least, what looked like a car. For all she knew, it could've been another one of those… those things.

"Lady, are you alright?" The man asked in worry, making Kelly realize how fast she'd been breathing in that moment. Rather than answer, she turned tail and ran away. She needed to get out of here. She needed to get away from everyone.

She needed to get away from them.

Chapter Text

Agent Nightfall, currently going by her cover identity as Fiona Frost, was surrounded by other doctors as she stared at the grisly scene. She displayed no emotions to such a sight on the outside, and even on the inside, she was rather numb, having seen far worse over the course of her career as a spy. The only thing that struck a chord with her about it was that it'd happened right under their noses, and yet none of them even noticed until the orderly rushed through the halls, screaming about corpses in the back of the building.

Clearly, our covers at this hospital have made us complacent, Nightfall mused, lambasting herself for her carelessness as the police set up a crime scene perimeter around the corpses. She turned her attention away from that and gazed upon Agent Twilight, currently under his alias as Doctor Loid Forger, who was a small distance away. Like many of their cover's coworkers, he had an expression of horror and disgust, though Nightfall was able to tell from the subtlest of details that, like most of his aliases, it was nothing more than a carefully cultivated mask to remain above suspicion. With law enforcement nearby and asking questions to the staff, maintaining said anonymity was of utmost importance.

As hospital employees began heading back inside, either too disgusted by the sight to stay anymore or simply needing to continue their workday, Twilight looked at Nightfall (making her heart skip a beat for a split second), his eyes darting toward the building and back to her so quickly that none but the most highly trained and observant would notice. It was his signal to meet him back inside, more than likely to discuss what they'd just witnessed and how it pertained to their current objectives. There being only one room in Berlint General Hospital where it was safe to openly, if quietly, discuss such things, she gave him a low tilt of the head: A cue that she'd meet him in the consultation room.

He left first, leaving her to remain and stare at the corpses just a little longer, taking in every detail she could. Slowly, but surely, the other staff members that weren't being questioned went inside, likely to either see if they could continue working or alert their superiors that they were heading home early. She went inside, leaving those to continue talking to the police.

Two State Security Service officers killed directly behind our cover? Nightfall understood that this was not a good sign of things to come. It was all too likely that the Secret Police would launch an investigation of Berlint General Hospital in an effort to find who killed their colleagues. The fact that murders had happened and were discovered on hospital grounds put both hers and Twilight's covers at risk. WISE would need to scramble to hide anything incriminating they might find, should the Secret Police come to the hospital in search of clues.

Although based on every detail Nightfall could see, they really needed to investigate within their own ranks first.

Approaching the consultation room, Nightfall entered and closed the door behind her, staring intently at Agent Twilight as he sat on the green seat closest to the bookshelf. She locked the door behind her and took a seat directly across, watching as his slowly shifted from the table to her.

"Your analysis, Twilight?" Agent Nightfall asked, YES! Finally, I get to spend some time alone with my beloved Twilight!

"Having two slain officers of the State Security Service will invite trouble for us," Twilight answered, a dark, steely gaze in his eyes as he shared her thoughts from earlier. All of it served to make Nightfall shiver in delight on the inside. Had she not taken his lessons to heart, cultivating a flawless poker face that could never be broken, she might've done so on the outside as well.

"We'll prepare for any potential investigations of the hospital," Nightfall said, glad to be able to discuss their work freely in this room.

As consultation rooms were designed to make patients comfortable, privacy was of utmost importance. Those that came here for one-on-one sessions felt more at ease knowing no one would be able to listen in, the rooms having been built to be completely soundproof. Such features were a blessing when WISE installed the escape routes for their agents, given that there wasn't much they could do about the noise the bookshelf made when opening to reveal it.

"Good, it's best we prepare for the worst regardless of what happens. Though that isn't my only concern," Twilight admitted, thumb rubbing against his chin, a clear sign that he was lost in that big, beautiful brain of his, "What concerns me the most is the cause of their deaths. One was electrocuted to the point where his entire body was covered in third degree burns, and the other had a disturbingly large needle jammed into his throat. Those would require some rather unorthodox weapons to have on hand. That's without factoring in how his head was crushed, which leads me into my next concern." He looked directly at her, "I take it you already noticed the tracks?"

Keeping her heart-rate steady and her face a perfect, emotionless porcelain, Nightfall nodded, "Tire tracks of a Chevrolet Biscayne, a car typically used and modified by the State Security Service for standard issue patrol cars."

"Meaning that their assailant likely stole it, but at the same time…"

He went quiet, something that worried Nightfall. "What?"

Twilight shook his head, "It's about the reports we've read regarding the first two murders of Secret Police officers at the port. The level of brutality and cruelty displayed here is all too similar. I'd rather avoid jumping to conclusions, but-"

"You believe this to be the work of the same killer?"

"Precisely. Though the question becomes if it is the same killer, why did they feel the need to steal the patrol car this time? Did they need a getaway vehicle? Why leave a blood trail by using it to kill one of them?" Twilight became lost in thought again. He was so cute when he did that. Nightfall's biases aside, Twilight's questions were beyond valid, given how well the killer covered their tracks the first time. Either they were getting sloppy or deliberately leaving clues behind like any other narcissistic killer.

"The most we can do right now is wait for the killer's next move. Thus far, they seem to be targeting members of the State Security Service," Nightfall said, getting all of Twilight's focus back on her. If such circumstances happened again with the same targets, then they'd have a clearer idea of the killer's motives.

Once was happenstance. Twice was coincidence. Three times was enemy action. And all of this enemy's actions pointed towards them being an opponent to the Secret Police. Provided it remained that way, perhaps that could be used to their advantage. And preferably in less gruesome manners that didn't threaten their cover.

"True. They do seem to be targeting the State Security Service…" Twilight's expression changed ever so slightly. He looked almost… concerned? Nightfall couldn't fathom why. Yes, the Secret Police were being killed in a needlessly violent manner. She didn't approve of the killer's methods any more than Twilight did. But she didn't have to like something to understand that it had value, and the killer removing their biggest obstacle to WISE's operations had value. Nightfall hoped her beloved would see that, and it wasn't like there was anyone in the SSS for him to… worry…

… oh. That's what this is about. "I take it you're concerned about Yuri Briar, Twilight?" Nightfall asked, thankful for how her bangs hid her right eye, for her eyelid was starting to twitch madly.

This only increased as Twilight nodded, "Yes. He's in a perilous position right now, and if anything happens to him, there's no telling how it'll affect Yor. That, in and of itself, could damage Operation: STRIX beyond repair."

And there it was.

Nightfall already knew the moment she asked that Twilight's concerns didn't rest with the Secret Police's Second Lieutenant. He found the man to be thoroughly annoying, after all, and despite only knowing of him through Twilight's reports, so did she (Twilight was rarely, if ever wrong, the magnificent man). No, his concerns lay entirely with his FAKE wife.

Yor Briar, Nightfall refused to give that woman the dignity of being addressed by the same last name as her beloved's current alias. She maintained her perfect mask, but she seethed and raged within. Oh, Twilight could pretend otherwise all he wished, behaving as if that woman's purpose began and ended with his mission, but she knew better. She saw the true hints of emotion behind his smiles at that woman. This was no longer just about Operation: STRIX for him anymore.

"Nightfall, you're clenching your hand rather tightly. Is something wrong?"

Twilight's genuine concern snapped Nightfall out of her rage. She blinked and stared at her fist, noticing that she almost drew blood, though was thankfully stopped at the last possible second.

"Yes, I am alright. My body was merely reminding itself that I have other tasks to get done." Please buy it! I can't have Twilight thinking I'm incapable of restraining my true feelings!

Spies showed no weakness, their emotions ground to nothingness. That was the most important lesson Twilight taught her, and she would rather die than fail to live up to his expectations.

"That's right, you have a meeting with Handler soon," Twilight said, granting Nightfall relief as he checked the time. Currently it was 11:30. "In that case, don't let me keep you."

You can keep me as much as you want.

"Though before you go-"

YES! I'll stay with you until I lose all feeling in my muscles!

"I need to give you the details related to the Blackbell factory operation. And if it isn't too much trouble, there's something that came up this morning and I need you to take it to Handler."

T-Twilight... needs me? Of course I'll do it! And when I do, you'll see we're meant to be together! Nightfall imagined to life they'd live once everything was over. On the inside, she was squealing and prancing like a girl who just got asked to Prom. Outside, however, she remained as unfeeling as always, and, with not even the slightest trace of emotion in her voice, asked, "What would you have me bring to her, Agent Twilight?"

"Recently, my home apartment building gained new neighbors: A father and daughter named Isaac and Sari Sumdac. Apparently, both had just arrived in Berlint. Since they're currently unknown variables, I need WISE to do some searching, see if they can find anything about them worth worrying over. It's just as likely that they're an ordinary single father and his child, but we can't afford to take chances with anything."

Sumdac… Nightfall searched through the deepest contents of her very long memory, trying to see if she'd heard about anyone of significance with that last name before. Nothing came up, which was definitely cause for concern. In the world of spies, if you've never been heard of, you were either a ghost, or a nobody. A nobody was just the average person going about their day, no cause for concern. But a ghost, on the other hand…

"I'll inform her," Nightfall briefly bowed her head and stood up, "And the details for the Blackbell op?"

Twilight told her ever detail he had fully memorized, and once she had that, she nodded, unlocked the door, and left, all while ignoring Fiona Frost's fellow coworkers as she headed out. The upcoming meeting with Handler on her "lunch break" would provide her with anything missing, namely the maps Twilight drew up of the factory layout and any camera positions, as well as the forged ID Franky Franklin created for her cover. But more important than all of that, however…

I spoke to Twilight for six minutes and seventeen seconds! Nightfall put all her focus into not skipping about, as there were still prying eyes everywhere. Once she was outside and saw that there was nobody watching her, her self control slipped and she began skipping, Oh Twilight! I love you I love you I love you! As Nightfall made her way around the hospital and neared her car, which was right next to Twilight's yellow VW Beetle with a black stripe, she did a spin midair whist maintaining her perfect poker face, I looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove you!

Having finally gotten it out of her system, she almost reached for the door of her car, but stopped and turned to Twilight's, briefly running her finger along its door handle. She rubbed her index finger and thumb together, feeling her beloved Twilight's touch from the handle. Humming with love in her heart, she stared at the civilian vehicle to the greatest spy in human history before looking disdainfully at it and turning away, "Ugly. Far too small and weak for him." The only reason Twilight would've purchased such a pitiful locomotive is because of that wom-OW!

Nightfall found herself tumbling forward, slamming right into her own car with enough force to shake it and knock the wind out of her lungs. She heard the sound of a door slamming shut behind her and felt as if she was being watched, something or someone trying to glare a hole in her head. Quickly recovering, she turned and saw nothing.

Nothing but Twilight's car. That yellow, insignificant car, standing there and serving as another reminder of how well her darling settled into his domestic cover.

Without her.

Instead, he settled in with that woman and for all she knew the two of them were probably-

Never mind that right now, Nightfall, you have a meeting with Handler to get to, Nightfall got in her car and mentally plotted the course for her destination. She'd worry about… Yor Briar later, after she completed both her upcoming mission and her strength training to finally get the edge she needed. It wouldn't be long before she could match her in a contest of physical might. Sure, she could hit a tennis ball hard enough to shatter the sound barrier… while holding back… apparently a lot, but Nightfall was certain she was this close to reaching that level. Hopefully.

But strength means nothing if I can't compete against both her cunning and beauty, Nightfall bitterly reflected over her first meeting with that woman. Loathe as every fiber of her being was to admit it, Yor Briar was stunningly attractive, perhaps more so than her. And the poise which she carried herself? Deliberately practicing tennis with her daughter in a place where she'd witness them, knowing that she'd challenge her? Truly, Yor Briar was a mastermind few could hope to match.

I will match you and surpass you, Briar. Then Twilight will understand who the ideal wife for his mission is. You'll see! As she drove out of the parking lot, Nightfall's mind was left to its own devices, all of her wrath aimed at Yor Briar, so far away yet so close in mind thanks to the hold she had on her beloved. The WISE agent wondered what devious, incomprehensibly complex schemes that woman was devising to ensnare Twilight even further.

Oh no, did I forget to turn off the coffee maker?

That was Yor's foremost worry as she, her daughter, Bond, and the Sumdacs walked along the sidewalks of Berlint, taking the most scenic path to the Central Mall. Along the way, Anya pointed out all the sights in the city that she could, starting with the local library that they entered and explored for a short while. Like at the dog park, she and Isaac mostly watched while their daughters had fun in the fiction section. While Anya mostly read and picked up books about spies and assassins (making Yor nervously sweat a little), Sari seemed more interested in science fiction books (which for some reason made Isaac appear almost wistful). Even still, it was a delight watching the two girls share in each other's interest, trading books, giggling in joy at what they were reading, even recommending comics for one another.

Although, Anya's already been developing such interests as of late, Yor fondly recalled how a movie called The Day the Earth Stood Still played on TV while she was searching for the channel where Spy Wars usually played. She was quite enthralled by the movie, so much so that rather than change to her favorite show, she just kept watching it, even when Loid told her that it was past her bedtime. Anya was too caught up in the film to listen, as was Bond, and adorably, when Loid moved to turn the TV off himself, even he was swept up in watching alongside them. Yor couldn't explain why, and when she tried to get invested, the movie just couldn't draw her attention, but seeing the others so enthralled was enough for her. By the time it was over, Anya was asleep in her father's arms while Bond nuzzled at their side, leaving Yor to carry them to their respective rooms.

I suppose that's just part of being a parent no matter the child, Yor presumed, remembering how often Yuri showed her all the new things he loved learning. Even the gross, icky things like… ugh, insects, Indulging a child's interests even if you can't understand them.

"Say, Anya," Sari began, with Anya slowing down the skipping to walk beside her, "You said something at the library about an "Eden" school, right?"

"Yup! Anya goes to Eden Academy!" She proudly declared.

"What's that like?" Sari asked, tilting her head.

Anya huffed and slumped her arms, "It's really, really hard! Too much stuff to keep up with and it gives me a headache."

"Do you… have any friends? A-At school, I mean."

"Uh…" Anya scratched her head, "I have Becky. She's my friend."

Sari smiled sadly, staring down at the concrete, "That sounds nice. Getting to go to school, making friends, I mean."

"Miss Sari, you've never been to school?" Yor asked, getting a head shake from daughter and father.

"No. With all the moving around we had to do, there was never an opportunity to enroll Sari in any schools. I've had to home school her instead," Isaac admitted, Yor picking up on a hint of shame in his voice.

That poor man, Yor's heart went out to both of them. It was quite clear that Isaac regretted being unable to provide Sari with the opportunities she and Loid could give for Anya, even though it wasn't his fault. All this travel must have taken a toll on both of them. Part of her wanted to suggest to possibility of helping the Sumdacs by getting Sari into Eden. After all, she had enough from her work as Thorn Princess to easily cover the funding, Sari seemed more than bright enough to make the cut like Anya had, and it would allow the new friends to spend even more time with each other. Everyone wins!

But that can't happen, unfortunately, Yor huffed to herself, remembering why that was impossible. Eden was a highly traditional school that only allowed children of nuclear families: Father, mother, and no more than three children. As Isaac was a single father raising his only daughter, the Sumdacs wouldn't be able to apply. Still, there are a number of public schools in Berlint, Yor pondered the possible options. Though her own time in public school, especially high school, was miserable, that didn't mean Sari's had to be. She could take the time with Loid and look to find which one would be the most accommodating and accepting towards someone like her. It'll be just like the research that the Garden does on our targets… uh, minus the killing of course.

Unless whatever they found out about the teachers made them deserving of a knife to the throat.

"Hey, maybe Mama and Papa can help you find a school here?" Anya suggested helpfully to Sari, "If you and your papa want to live here, there's plenty of schools you can go to. Bet you'll make a lot of friends too!"

It's like you read my mind, Anya, Yor thought, bemused and happy that she and her daughter were thinking the exact same thing. Though for some reason, Anya froze up and started walking a lot more rigidly. Sari, on the other hand, gained a brighter glint in her eyes, her smile less sad, yet a bit scared at the same time.

"I-I don't know. I don't think I want that many friends," Sari admitted, scratching at the back of her head, "I don't know what I'd even do with a lot of friends. I'd be fine with just a few."

"Oh. I guess I'm fine with just a few too," Anya said, patting Bond on the head, "I got Becky and Bond, and I have you too!"

"Really?" Sari asked, shocked at Anya's declaration of their friendship. But the moment Anya nodded, she let out a cheer and jumped before hugging her. Just as quickly as she did, however, she let go and hugged Bond, keeping both instances of contact brief.

She probably doesn't want to risk anything with her strength, Yor thought, listening to Isaac chuckle happily as the girls kept ahead, both of them having an almost march-like rhythm to their walking. It always brought a warmth to her heart seeing Anya connect with others, even if such instances were extremely rare. While she made a strong friendship with Becky at Eden, and she was at least trying to make friends with Damian, that seemed to be where friendship began and ended with her. Outside of those two, she focused exclusively on her schoolwork and studies (or at least, she tried to) and didn't show much interest in forming other bonds. It's almost like the most important thing was making her father proud, just like… huh.

I guess she and Yuri also have that in common. It's actually a surprise they don't get along, Yor giggled with just a tinge of melancholy. However, she stopped upon noticing her daughter giving her a very flat glare, Why is Anya looking at me like that? Was it something I said?

The moment that thought crossed her mind, Anya's face grew shocked and afraid before turning and continuing the walk ahead. She continued pointing out the sights and places to Sari, who listened with rapt attention, and Isaac, who occasionally nodded and asked further questions like… well, a scientist. Anya did her best to answer, though it was mostly describing previous outings (or "ootings", as Anya put it) that their family had taken to these places, and she kept stumbling on some of the words. Not that Yor or the Sumdacs minded, adorable as it was. Still, her daughter did look like she could use a little help describing these places.

Though I doubt I'd be much help there, Unfortunately, despite having lived and worked in this city for over a decade, Yor knew very little of its history, even the ones Loid explained. It was too much to keep up with, and she had a much easier time recognizing places based on whom she fought there, how many crooks and terrorists she'd killed, and how many bloodstains and broken limbs she spent hours upon hours cleaning up and hiding away. Yor thought back to some of her earliest assassinations in Berlint, how sloppy she'd been in leaving the bodies behind. It's a good thing the Garden was there to watch my back and teach me, otherwise I would've been caught in no… time… Feeling sets of eyeballs on her, Yor saw that the outing/tour had stopped again, this time everyone looking between her and Anya. Seeing that her daughter was staring flatly at her, not glaring (thankfully), but staring, she was left wondering, Is there something on my face? Why does Anya keep giving me these looks?

And then her mind started to spiral, Oh no! Is she angry? Does she hate me now? Did I do something wrong? I wasn't doing anything other than just following her lead. What kind of mother am I if I upset my daughter just by being here? What do I do? What do I-

Suddenly, she felt a small hand holding hers and looked to see Anya, who was smiling again. There was an almost apologetic glint in her eyes, which was odd, as she had nothing to apologize for, nor was there any reason for her to feel like she did. "Mama, I'm tired," Anya said, letting go and holding her hands up to be carried, "Can you lead the ooting, please?"

… Oh…

So that's why Anya was looking at me that way. She was just tired, Yor supposed it made sense. Exhaustion sometimes made people cranky, after all. She couldn't even begin to count the number of times she'd woken up on the wrong side of bed and just wanted to go back to sleep. Those had usually been after taking up an entire night and then some of assassin work, and that didn't even account for the one time she was shot in the butt. Having to focus all her energy on suppressing the pain of that wound put her in a fit the entire day. She still felt bad for not being able to enjoy all the fun things Loid set up for the date that followed.

But that was then. No bullets or wounds in unfortunate places to keep her from enjoying the day with her daughter. Especially now that they'd both made some new friends to enjoy it with. "Of course," She said, picking Anya up before looking to the Sumdacs and Bond with a renewed smile, "Follow me. We're almost to the mall."

Seeing them smile back, Yor continued ahead, Anya in tow as they rounded a corner, walking past people going about their day, cars and trolleys on the streets.

But then she felt it, and her heart stopped.

This… this is…

That same bloodlust from before, that same maliciousness aimed everywhere that slowly funneled itself into a single direction, and all of it pointed squarely at them. Knowing who this was, Yor froze in place, getting a feel for where the sensation was coming from. She found herself ignoring Anya and Isaac's sudden calls for concern, Bond's barks, and Sari pulling at the hem of her overcoat. Instead, she slowly turned her head,

Those two again, Yor leveled a dark look at the SSS patrol car peaking just around a faraway corner, which drove straight away and out of sight just one second after she noticed it. Even out of sight, Yor could still feel their killing intent, telling her they were likely keeping close. Out of sight and afar, but never too far. Within her arms, she felt Anya freeze up, forcing her attention away from their stalker for now, "S-Sorry about that." Yor held Anya close, gently rubbing her back before looking at the Sumdacs reassuringly, "I thought I saw something, but it's nothing. I guess my eyes were playing tricks on me."

Sari and Bond didn't seem all that convinced, though Isaac accepted her lie, sighing in relief, "Thank goodness. With how you froze up, you had us all worried."

"Y-Yeah, but like I said. It was nothing. No need to worry." I need to get us out of here right now! Once everyone else is inside, I'll stay out and scare them off again. "Anyway, the Central Mall?"

Yor walked ahead again, staying close enough to everyone that she'd be able to protect them, all while keeping her senses open for that eerie patrol car and its officers.

Thankfully, they arrived at the mall's front entrance quickly enough, Sari staring up at the building in awe while Bond sat beside her, wagging his tail.

"I take it that Sari doesn't get to visit many malls," Yor asked, forcing a smile onto her face despite her every sense going off like an alarm.

"No. I wish that were different. She certainly loves places like this," Isaac smiled at his daughter's excitement, "Especially when they have arcades."

"Oh, Anya loves those too!" Yor said with false cheer, surprised that her daughter wasn't chiming in. Looking at her, she saw that Anya's focus kept switching left and right at the streets behind them, as if she was worried over something. Did she see the Secret Police car too? Not wanting her friends and family in any more danger, she placed her daughter down and patted her head, "Alright Anya, you go on ahead inside. I'll be right with you in a bit. First, there's some… business that I need to take care of.

Hopefully, it wouldn't be that kind of business.

"What kind of business?" Sari asked.

"Oh, I uh… I need to…" Come on Yor, thinkthinkthink! What's a good excuse that won't tell them we're being stalked by the Secret Police?

Before she could tell them that she saw a scary ghost chasing after them, Anya asked, "Mama, are you gonna call Papa at work again?"

"Huh?"

Amidst Yor's confusion, Anya turned to the Sumdacs, "Mama calls Papa at work a lot. They love each other so much!"

"Daw!" Sari cooed and Isaac smiled, leaving Yor even more confused. Why was Anya lying?

"… but I've never called Loid while he's a-I MEAN, yes! I uh, need to call my husband," Yor stuttered and faced Isaac, "Could you please take care of Anya until I get back. It shouldn't take too long. I believe I saw a phone booth on the way here." I just need five minutes alone with those Secret Policemen, then it's back to spending time with family and friends.

That last thought gave her a hum of warmth despite current circumstances. Growing up, Yor never had much in the way of friends, always so focused on taking care of Yuri by any means necessary (mostly by killing and getting paid to kill). Even though she had her current friendships with Camilla, Millie, and Sharon at City Hall, it always felt like there was this barrier preventing it from feeling true. Perhaps it was her own fault for putting up so many walls to keep her double life hidden, or perhaps it was because their status as co-workers meant they had to be friends out of necessity rather than choice. Yor wasn't sure if she'd ever figure out what the true reason was.

Yet recently, between Franky, Mikaela, Martha, and now the Sumdacs, her circle of what felt like true friendships had been growing more and more. And she intended to protect them just as ardently as she did her family, starting with getting rid of their current stalker.

"Of course," Isaac nodded, holding out his hand for Sari to take. The girl happily did so, and the two followed after Anya and Bond, who took the lead and ran ahead. They entered the mall, Anya holding the door open to let the Sumdacs in before looking at her.

"Hey Mama! I know you don't really need it, but good luck!" Anya gave her a thumbs up before heading inside.

"What was that about?" Yor murmured, not sure why Anya was wishing her luck for a phone call. Sure, when it came to the idea of certain… activities with her husband, she could turn into an absolute mess who could barely form a coherent thought, but phone calls were never one of them. Which begged the question, Why did Anya lie about that?

But she wasn't given time to think about it. Not even a few seconds after they went inside, she heard the sounds of a car slow down and stop behind her, that chilling presence from before making itself known. Eyes darkening, Yor turned around and glared at the Secret Police patrol car, briefly looking left and right to see that there were few people around, and those few were quickly leaving the area once they became aware of the patrol car's presence.

Good, Yor nodded to herself. While it meant that the SSS would have no witnesses to their actions if they took any, it also meant Yor had the same should things get messy. Though she sincerely hoped they didn't. Much as there was no love lost between her and the SSS, she'd rather avoid killing any of them, given how doing so would potentially paint a target on the backs of both her and her loved ones. Even if she and The Garden took extra care to ensure all traces of the bodies were never found, officers going missing put the organization on high alert, and that carried too many risks of their eyes discovering them.

Just try to keep this as civil as possible, Yor, Taking a step forward, she tightened her fist and tapped it against the glass, holding back as much as possible to avoid shattering it.

In her restrained rage, she was almost certain she failed, yet the glass remained undamaged.

Looks like the SSS spare no expense, Yor would give them that much. They were cautious in the areas where it mattered most for doing their job. She even hit this very same car on the hood, yet there was no visible damage. As the window began to roll down, it took all of Yor's self-control to avoid doubling back in disgust, a familiar scent assaulting her nostrils.

Blood and charred flesh.

She looked inside and saw a single SSS officer at the steering wheel on the opposite end. His head turned to her and smiled, yet it felt so… empty: A facade masking something far more sinister. Yor had seen it on many of humanity's worst scum, she'd twisted those same smiled into terror for their own lives, and she'd made sure it was the last face they ever made.

Yor knew that this scent hadn't been there before, getting a brief whiff of the car's interior when the officers opened it back at the dog park. So, either they killed someone in petty anger over her defending Sari (with the other officer hiding still hiding the body), or this singular officer did something to his partner. Neither painted a pretty picture, so she'd make this quick.

I'll be peaceful now, but remember your face for later, Yor hadn't been expecting to kill anyone before her big cruise assignment, but she couldn't let this monster walk away with his crimes, Secret Police or not. As she bent down slightly and spoke with an even tone, "Excuse me, officer, but I believe I told you and your partner to leave Miss Sari alone, did I not?" Instead of answering, the officer remained quiet, yet his lip curved upward. Almost like Yor said something funny. Feeling her anger rise, Yor stifled it and asked, "Why are you following us?"

Once more, he said nothing, but bore a vicious glare of his own as he pointed to the hood of the car, exactly where Yor had hit it. "That's it?" Yor glared at him, "You go from harassing an innocent child to stalking us just because I damaged your car?" Truly, there's no depth to how petty you people can be.

He shook his head, his smile maintaining its amused appearance while refusing to say anything. Instead, he leaned forward against the steering wheel, just glaring at her lazily, almost like he was mocking her. Yor's anger rose again, almost reaching out to grab him by the collar of his uniform, but she clenched her fist and stopped herself. She was being baited, and though she wasn't sure why, she refused to fall for it. Turning around, she growled, "You'll leave us alone. If you don't, I'll find you. And trust me, I'll know exactly where to look."

But just as she began walking for the mall…

"Yor Briar. Sister of Yuri Briar. Conjunx Endura of Loid Forger."

Yor gasped and turned, facing the SSS officer, who now had a look of revulsion on his face.

"H-How did… what is a-"

"Tell me where the Autobot is, or you will die. Slowly." The officer demanded with all the blunt force of a sledgehammer to someone's rib cage. His glare at her was so loathsome, the revulsion on his face only growing, like he wished he could kill her with just a look. It was almost as if he scorned the very idea of talking to her, to anyone, at all.

The way this officer talks… it's the same voice as before, but almost like someone else is speaking for him. What was wrong with him? What on Earth was an Autobot? Or a "Conjunx Endura" for that matter? What was going on?

Apparently, she took too much time thinking about these questions for the officer's taste, as he looked behind her, to Central Mall, and smiled. It wasn't empty anymore, nor was it amused. It was filled with malice as he sneered, "Perhaps your offspring knows more than you do. So, organic, tell me where the Autobot is, or she's next."

In that instant, Yor saw red, and all questions she had were thrown away. It didn't matter what they or their answers were. All she knew was that he threatened her daughter.

And that was enough.

Within an instant, she blitzed to the car and all but leapt through the window, hands poised to reach around his throat so she could-

W-What the… Yor's mind screeched to a halt. Her hands didn't make contact with the officer's neck.

They went right through him.

The rest of her body followed suit as she crashed face first into the opposite door. She picked herself up, now seeing her hands and body going right through the officer as she quickly backed away.

I-Is this man a g-ghost!? Yor reeled back in terror, hitting the closed window of car and realizing too late that she was trapped. Just as quickly, the seat belt flew out and strapped her in place next to the ghoul, who faded away like static.

"What's happening!?" Yor asked, having never felt this kind of fear before as she desperately struggled to break free. Suddenly, the car lurched forward, driving off at high speeds. She could only look back at the mall, her daughter, dog, and friends now further and further behind.

Following his owner and her friends, Bond sniffed at the air. He could smell so many different things – Fresh food, new clothes, plastics, and perfumes – that burned and delighted his nose. Anya was excited, and so far ahead of them. Her new friend, Sari, ran to keep up, Isaac calling out for them to slow down before picking up the pace himself.

Bond would've joined, but the smell of fresh meat called to him. His belly rumbled and he made his way to a food stand with an umbrella. Getting behind it and the person cooking, he tried to get on his tip toes for a better look, and hopefully for a better chance at some delicious meat.

The cook, a woman, saw him, and smiled, "Oh hi there! Are you lost, big guy?" She grabbed a piece of meat on a stick and knelt down, "Here. It's on the house."

Bond happily barked and took bites, delighted at the taste until there was nothing left. It wasn't as good as Mr. Forger's hamburger steak, but nothing was. Must have been because he worked so hard to spear pigs and deliver fresh meat for the family. The woman smiled at Bond again, giving him head pats like Anya loved to do, before returning to cooking more meat.

Hunger satisfied, Bond left the stand to look for Anya but found that she and the others were gone. Bond scratched behind his ear, a little annoyed that they went without him, but not too bothered. He could still pick up their scent from here, even with all the other smells in the place. He took his first step to go find them-

The mother, Yor was struggling. She held back a giant foot made of metal with her bare hands, back against the ground with teeth grit. Attempting to crush her was a large machine, so much like Bumblebee and yet so different. Its metal armor was as black as the night sky, eyes glowing red as it looked down on Yor, hand shifting into a buzzsaw. The machine man smiled and brought the blade down, bloodcurdling screams filling the air.

-only to stand frozen, his head perking up in horror at what he'd just seen. Mrs. Forger was in trouble! He started for where he could trace Anya, paws pattering against the floor, but stopped and thought about it. He didn't know when or where the fight was going to happen, and he didn't know if he could go get Anya, warn her, take her along, and help her mom in time. Mrs. Forger hadn't come back yet, so for all he knew, she was fighting that thing right now. And it wasn't like he could just call up the vision again to show it to Anya since his powers didn't work like that.

He didn't really know how his powers worked anyway. He really wished he did.

But he needed to do something. For now, Anya could wait. Mrs. Forger couldn't.

Running as fast as his paws could carry him, me made it back to the front entrance and out the door, rushing past a few people who got out of his way. Some of them were knocked over, but he paid that, and their yelling, no mind right now. He didn't see Mrs. Forger, and he didn't see any robots. Sad and scared, he started smelling around to try and find her, picking up something as he lowered his nose to the floor. He sniffed ahead, walking up to where the road met the sidewalk, and raised his head.

Bond barked again, picking up a mix of startling smells. First there was Mrs. Forger's boots, her coat, then metal and blood and something burnt. It all made Bond bristle and shake, his fluffy white fur standing upright. Not wasting time, he ran after that scent, picking up its trail while it was still fresh.

"Hey Anya, where's Bond?"

"Eh? What do you mean? He's right…" Anya pointed behind them, only to see that Bond wasn't there anymore, "Huh? Where did he go? "Bond!" She began calling out to him, "Bond! Where are you!?"

She was starting to draw attention from other people in the mall. She could hear a bit of whispering, but mostly their thoughts. Some of it was sympathetic to how she lost her dog, but others just wanted her to shut up. Anya wanted to glare at them for being big meanies, but she was too worried about Bond. And now that she thought about it, Mama scaring away those Secret Police jerks was taking longer than she thought it would.

Are they okay? Anya wondered, scared for both of them until there was a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Mr. Sumdac. His eyes reminded her a lot of Papa's, all the kindness and concern, but none of his usual super serious sternness.

She wondered if this was what Papa would look like without that spy mask he always wore.

"If you want, perhaps we could go look for him?" He asked, noticing Sari's disappointment and hastily adding, "If it takes too long, we can always come back to the mall at a different time."

Sari seemed a bit more at ease after that, nodding towards Anya, Okay. I mean, Bond seems really important to her, so I guess we should find him first. Wish I could have a pet dog like that.

Anya was about to point to where she felt they should start looking, but Sari's disappointment over the mall trip being sorta canceled kept her from doing that. If Anya was being honest, she really wanted to have fun at the mall too, and she didn't want to make her new friend sad. That would ruin things, Sari wouldn't want to be friends anymore, and that meant her happy ending would be ruined too. Plus, if there was one thing Anya really wanted, it was to be friends with the super cool robot girl!

It was kinda like being friends with Bumblebee, but without the whole "giant car that can't reveal himself" part.

So, Anya shook her head, "No, it's fine. I-I'm sure Bond's okay. He's run off and come back before." There was that time he ran off and helped Papa with one of his missions. "I think he just went to go and find Mama." She couldn't help but clutch at her arm just thinking about it though. Bond and Mama were the bestest and toughest dog and woman on the planet, so they could handle any trouble they got into. But something about it this time gave her a sinking feeling. I don't know why though.

"In that case, if you're sure, where would you both like to go first?" Mr. Sumdac asked, smiling kindly as he started looking around, his daughter now having a toothy grin that Anya quickly matched, mostly to hide her worries.

"How about…" Sari searched the nearby stores just out of sight before something caught her eye with a gasp. She ran over to it, avoiding people walking about, and pointed, "Look! Let's see in here!"

Anya ran to catch up, Mr. Sumdac far (but not too far) behind. When she was at Sari's side, Anya looked up to the store's sign, which read "Toys 4 U" in bright rainbow letters. She'd been inside the toy store before, the last time being when she was distracted from spying on Mama and Papa's date (when Mama had a bullet in her butt), meaning she didn't get to buy any new toys since Uncle Scruffy had to grab her before they lost her parents. Maybe she'd be able to find something new here? Plus, she'd get to show Sari around and they could buy stuff together!

"Race you inside!" Anya zoomed ahead, even with Mr. Sumdac telling them to slow down. Sari easily ran ahead of her, both of them giggling as she entered one of the aisles of the very loud, very large toy store. Anya did her best to keep up, bumping into a few people and kids that were checking out all kinds of toys and play sets. This place is really packed today, Anya felt a headache come on, all the thoughts barging at once to the point where she couldn't understand any of them. Stopping, she closed her eyes and clutched at her ears, trying to shut them out. It didn't take too long, thankfully, but after she'd finished, she opened her eyes and asked, "Where's Sari?"

"Sari! Anya!" Mr. Sumdac's voice called out to them as he bumped into the others in the aisle, following each with, "Excuse me. Pardon me. I apologize, I just need to find-" His eyes locked with Anya and he sighed in relief, "Good to see you're alright, Anya." He looked around, "But where's Sari?" Anya shrugged and Mr. Sumdac called out again, "Sari!? Where are you?"

"Sari!" Anya called out too, noticing that they were getting some looks. So, she ran out of the aisle and looked left and right down a series of other large aisles. It was kind of like a grocery store, but with toys, toys, and more toys. She would've continued looking, but then she heard Mr. Sumdac sigh.

"I suppose running off twice in one day is tame by her standards," He said just as they both saw Sari run down the aisles in an almost red and black blur, "Still, I would prefer that we stay close."

"Mama and Papa don't like it when I run away either," Anya remembered all the time she'd ran off. Sure, she got almost kidnapped once or twice because of it but running off also helped her parents save the day sometimes, so she didn't regret anything.

Mr. Sumdac chuckled, "You both are two of a kind in that regard." Anya giggled again. He was right, since they were a psychic and a robot, but that made her wonder something. Was Sari keeping it a secret like Anya was with her parents? She wasn't able to think about it for long, since Mr. Sumdac started walking ahead, "Now, I believe she went this way. If I know my daughter, she's probably looking for where they have the robot toys."

Just like me and Bondman! "Sari really likes robots, huh?" Anya asked as she caught up.

Mr. Sumdac nodded and started looking down the aisles as they passed by, "Yes, they've always been her favorite." It's also her way of trying to understand herself.

So Mr. Sumdac does know Sari's a robot! Anya gasped a little, seeing a small memory of Sari and her dad. It looked like he was sitting down with her while she held out her hands that seemed to come apart. Black and blue circuits showed between the skin as energy sparked within her hands. Mr. Sumdac looked pretty surprised Sari was able to do that, leaving Anya a bit confused. Didn't he build her? How did he not know what kind of cool abilities he gave her?

"Mr. Sumdac? Can I ask something?"

"What is it?"

"Where's Sari's mama?"

"Oh! Uh, she's… no longer with us I'm afraid," Mr. Sumdac said just a little too fast. Anya didn't even need her powers to tell he was lying, especially as he continued, "Though I ask you not bring this up with Sari. She's rather sensitive about it." After all, knowing that you never had a mother in the first place isn't the easiest thing to come to terms with.

Suddenly, Anya was hit with another memory, this time of what looked like a super cool, super huge science lab. Mr. Sumdac, hair without the white streak in it, was wearing a white lab coat and goggles with a bunch of scientists, all of them staring at a giant metal thingy covered in rock and stone, other people in safety gear trying to remove as much of it as possible. The more they got rid of, the more it looked like a-

Is that a spaceship!? Anya was in wonder at what she was seeing. The image shifted to Mr. Sumdac and the other scientists entering the large ship, soldiers surrounding them as they explored. Then it shifted again to a different part of the ship, looking like they were in a room with a bunch of giant, empty pods, except one that had a body inside. It looked almost like it was made of some kind of… liquid metal? Could metal even be liquid? From what Anya saw at Becky's family factory, the answer seemed like a yes, but she wasn't sure.

Before she could ask any other questions, she saw the memory continue with Mr. Sumdac placing a hand against the pod, only for it to shock and knock him back. Then when he woke up, he had a white streak in his hair and walked out of the ship with the other scientists and soldiers. His lab coat was now off and wrapped around a small, crying bundle in his arms with glowing blue eyes and a tuft of red hair on her head. As they exited, Mr. Sumdac looked at the spaceship one last time, his eyes landing on the faded, but proudly displayed symbol on it. Anya recognized it as the same symbol on Bumblebee's steering wheel, which could only mean one thing…

"SARI'S AN AUTOBOOT!?" Anya exclaimed, only to clamp her mouth shut again, Why do I keep doing that!?

That was twice in one day!

"A… I'm sorry, what did you just call my daughter?"

"I'm a what now?" Sari's voice came in from behind, Anya turning to see her run up to them, a toy in her hands.

Is that some sort of insult? Mr. Sumdac's thoughts sounded a bit mad, and even Sari wasn't sure whether or not to be offended, but Anya waved her hands quickly.

"A-An Autoboot! It's a… a word I made up! It means…" Come on! Thinkthinkthink! "S-Someone who's really cool?"

"…" That makes sense, I suppose. "I apologize, for a second, I thought it was an insult," Mr. Sumdac said, his thoughts more easygoing as Anya sighed in relief.

Sari also seemed happier as she poked her shoulder, making Anya face her, "So, I'm an… Autoboot? That's what you said, right? That means I'm cool?"

"Yeah. It means you're cool!" After all, Bumblebee's one, and he's one of the coolest things Anya had ever seen.

Still getting used to someone thinking I'm cool. But is Anya thinks I'm cool, I guess that means I'm cool, Sari smiled happily and looked down at the toy in her hands. Anya got a little closer to get a better look.

"What's that?" She asked, staring at what looked like a silver toy robot wrapped in plastic and cardboard. The legs looked like they had jet wings and engines built in, and the head had an orange visor.

"This guy?" Sari brimmed with excitement and held up the robot, "It's Leader-1 from my favorite show: Challenge of the GoBots! He's an alien robot warrior from the planet Gobotron fighting the evil forces of the Renegades!"

That sounds familiar, Anya stifled a laugh, wondering how Bumblebee would react to that kind of show just as Sari asked her dad if she could buy it.

"I'm not sure, Sari. We do need to be careful with how we spend money here," Mr. Sumdac explained and thought, I need to work on finding a job first and ensure our livelihood here is stable enough. I was barely able to earn enough funds for the apartment room as it was.

Sari's face fell and she sadly looked down at the action figure. She really, really wanted to buy it, but understood why she couldn't. Anya didn't like seeing her so sad and got an idea, "Hey! What if me and Mama bought it for you?"

The Sumdacs looked at her, Sari wide eyed and happy while her dad seemed on the fence, "I don't know, Anya. I'm not sure if we should be asking too much of your family. Sure, it's just a toy, but-"

"But Dad! She's offering and I really want it! Pleeaaaaase?" Sari begged and held the toy close. She even did the same face Anya did to beg Papa and Mama for stuff. In no time, Mr. Sumdac caved in.

"Okay, I suppose that so long as it isn't too much trouble for the Forgers, we can buy it."

"YES!" Sari jumped up and hugged her, "Thank you so much, Anya!"

Anya hugged back, doing her very best not to wince in pain. It felt like her face was turning blue and her eyes were about to pop out of her skull. Thankfully, Sari let her go with an apologetic look, realizing what was happening. Not liking how sad she looked, Anya pointed to the other aisles, "Wanna go see the other toys? If you see something else, I can ask Mama to buy it too." After saying that though, Anya's worries went up, even as she tried to force a smile. Is she still talking to those Secret Police jerks? Did she have to kill them? Is she hiding the bodies?

Knowing Mama, she probably was, though if Bond really did go off to help her…

Suddenly, she felt Sari pull at her hand and drag her to look at what else they could find. Anya regained her balance and tried to keep pace with a yelp. Things became a blur as they slowed down and found themselves in an aisle filled with plush toys and figures from girly shows, some of which Anya saw maybe once or twice. She remembered reading Becky's mind and saw that she owned almost everything in this aisle.

I'll worry about Mama and Bond later, Anya told herself, even if it didn't really help. Shaking her worries off, she looked and saw that they'd left Mr. Sumdac behind again, leaving them with the few people in the aisle. "Should we wait for Mr. Sumdac?" Anya asked, looking at a cute plush dog that kinda reminded her of Bond. But since she was trying to avoid worrying about Bond, she ignored it. Instead, she kept talking and walking, "Sari?"

Sari wasn't listening, too busy gazing at all the dolls to pay Anya any mind. She picked out a cute, plush, purple dragon with green, spiky plates on its back. I remember seeing some of these a few years back. Wish I could've gotten them back then. They're just so cute! She blinked, realizing Anya was staring at her and asked, "Did you say something, Anya?"

"I was asking if we should wait for your papa."

Sari blinked again and saw that her dad wasn't anywhere to be found. If it was taking him a bit longer to find them, Anya figured Sari must've brought them here with some kind of robot super speed. Even Sari picked up on that and said, "Uh, yeah. Let's sit down and wait a bit."

Anya nodded and the two took a seat side-by-side, some grownups and kids walking past them, asking and talking about stuff she didn't find interesting. After what felt like a couple minutes – Anya had no sense of time – she asked, "Should we go look for him instead? The store's pretty big." And my powers would make it easier.

"We could, but I'm sure he'll find us," Sari answered.

"You are?"

Sari nodded back and looked up at the ceiling, "Yeah. I mean, I love running around and exploring wherever we go. There's always so many cool things to see. But my dad, he-" She tried to find the words, a small smile on her lips, "No matter how far I go, or how lost I get, he's always found me. He's always been there when I need him. He's always…"

Sari lost the words, and Anya saw a small memory. She saw Sari running past people in a panic, lost and afraid in a city where the buildings looked like they could touch the sky. Suddenly, she heard Mr. Sumdac's voice yell out amidst the loud, bustling crowd, Sari's head turning left and right to try and get a glimpse of him. The robot girl managed to see him through the crowd, still calling her name as she ran to him. Midway, he saw her too, running to hug her tight as Sari hugged back, tears beginning to fall. The entire memory made Anya happy, reminding her a little of when her own papa rescued her for the first time.

Only without the bad guys. Or the disguises. Or the silencer pistol and smokescreen.

"What?" Sari asked, seeing the look Anya was giving her. Even though she was caught, Anya just kept smiling.

"You have a good papa. He cares about you a lot."

Sari smiled again, chin to her knees as she looked down at her hand, "Thanks. He's probably the only person I know for sure that accepts me for what-I mean, who, I am. Even if I get into trouble a lot."

Anya couldn't help but feel her smile drop just a little bit. Not a lot, but a little. Something about what Sari said gave her this weird feeling, like she had heartburn from when Unkie was around, but not as bad.

Anya didn't know what it was, but she didn't like it.

Sari's really lucky, Anya huffed to herself, not sure why the question popped in her mind. Sure, Sari had cool robot powers that let her do stuff like Mama and didn't give her any headaches. And sure, Sari got to go and travel the world, having her own adventures while Anya was stuck in Berlint and Eden Academy, the closest thing she had being the upcoming vacation where her mama would be busy with assassin bodyguarding stuff. And sure, Sari had a Papa who knew her big secret from the day they met, loving and accepting her without any problems and… and…

Why does Sari get to have those things? Anya looked away from the other girl, lost in her own little world. Sari had everything, the biggest being a parent who wouldn't reject her for her powers. Would Papa and Mama still love her if she told them she was psychic? Sure, what she saw in Bond's vision gave her some hope for that, but she had no idea if they knew the truth about her or each other by then. If she ever told them, or if they ever found out on their own, would it destroy any chance of that future happening?

Why can't I have what Sari has?

"There you both are!" The two of them looked up and saw Mr. Sumdac running towards them, Sari getting up first hugging him briefly, "Did you find anything else you wanted from here?" Sari nodded and held out the plush dragon alongside her Leader-1 figure. Her dad then faced Anya and asked, "And what about you?"

"No, I didn't see anything," Anya lied. There was one thing she wanted.

It just wasn't something money could ever get her.

"We can keep looking around. I think I saw some Spy Wars stuff somewhere around here."

"Really?" Anya gasped in excitement. She hadn't seen or gotten any toys for the series yet. Plenty of books (a lot of which she owned) and a poster, but no toys. I gotta have one! "Let's go see them!"

"Alright, but let's try to stay in a group this time," Mr. Sumdac said as they started walking, Sari leading the way, "Anya, if I may ask, do your mother's phone calls with your father usually last this long?"

"Uh… yes! I mean, m-maybe? I think?"

"… well, perhaps she's already finished and simply trying to find where we are." I'm sure Mrs. Forger will find us here soon. She seems to have a good head on her shoulders.

Only sometimes, Mr. Sumdac, Anya couldn't help but flatly look ahead, reminded of everything that went through her mama's mind. Whenever she wasn't thinking of bloody, murdery ultra-violence, Mama's thoughts were always so… weird. Sometimes she was easy for Anya to understand, and other times she was harder to read than Papa. Sometimes her thoughts were funny, and then there were the moments that made Anya wonder if all super assassins were like this.

Anya loved Mama, but she confused her. A lot.

Right as they were about to enter the next aisle, Anya's eyes landed on something just to her right. Rubbing them to make sure she saw correctly, they went wide at the very large toy horsey. It was just as big as Bond, had a cream-colored coat, a light orange mane, and a horn that repeated pink and magenta colors. The unicorn was under a sign that read "Powdered Sugar", and under that was "Limited Edition" and other descriptions, one of which said it had a "Rainbow Blaster".

"Whoah…" Anya breathed out and approached the Powdered Sugar figure.

"What is it?" Sari asked, now at her side with Mr. Sumdac behind them.

"Dunno. But I want it!" Anya imagined herself riding Powdered Sugar and racing side by side with her dog. Sure, the unicorn didn't seem to have any wheels, but she'd figure that part out later. She reached out to try and pick up the box, hoping it wasn't too heavy.

"Move it. She's mine!"

Suddenly, she was pushed aside and knocked face first to the floor.

"Oowwww…"

"Anya! Are you okay?" Sari asked, her and Mr. Sumdac helping her up as she rubbed her forehead.

"Mommy, daddy, can you please help me with this?" Asked the voice that pushed her down.

"Of course, Penny," Came the mother's answer just as Anya stopped rubbing at her bruise and looked their way. She saw a girl with bright red, long hair wearing a pretty dress patterned in pink and black stripes, as well as black shoes with pink hearts on the front. The girl happily watched her dad put Powdered Sugar in a shopping cart already filled to the brim with expensive looking dolls and play sets.

Angry at getting pushed, Anya stood up and stomped to the girl, "Hey, you dumb jerk! I was gonna get that!"

The girl, Penelope, turned to her and glared. "Yeah? I got it first." She said, Anya seeing a gap in her front teeth, "Besides, you don't deserve to have something as cute and cool as a life-sized Powdered Sugar. Now buzz off, horn head!"

"… you're gonna say sorry, or I'm gonna punch you in the face," Anya warned Penelope, eye twitched and fist clenching. She glared at the bully with a fire in her eyes she hadn't felt since punching Sy-On boy in the face.

Good times.

"Ooooh, so scary," Penelope didn't look threatened in the least, though her mind wondered, Why does this loser look familiar?

"How dare you threaten my daughter, you ruffian!" Penelope's dad glared down at Anya. She only spared him a glance before going back to glaring at Penelope.

"Your daughter's the one who pushed my friend!" Sari fired back, standing by Anya's side with grit teeth.

"She definitely deserved it if she's hanging out with you. Look at you!" She pointed at the Leader-1 action figure in Sari's hand, "What kind of girl plays with awful, violent boy stuff?"

"Ugh," The mother's face contorted in disgust, "Let's just go, Penelope. We don't need to waste our time with these plebeians."

Anya had no idea what that word meant, but she hated it.

"Excuse me, but I don't take kindly to anyone who insults my daughter. Please take it back," Mr. Sumdac said, his voice sounding scarily stern. Anya looked up at him, seeing a glare in his eyes that rivaled Papa's. His hand was clenched into a fist and the grownups got into a glare off. Anya could almost see the angry lightning clashing between their eyes.

Seriously? Where have I seen her before? And why is her hair pink? Penelope thought, dragging Anya's attention back to the jerk as she and Sari glared at her, just like the adults. Lucky loser, getting pink hair. Wish I had pink- She cut her thoughts off and blinked, Wait, pink hair? I know her! "You're that Cecil Hall girl who punched Desmond!"

Now Anya was blinking in confusion, "Wait how do you know that? Are you at Eden too?"

"Penelope Sutton. Cline Hall," Penelope said with an annoying smirk.

… oh, Anya remembered now. Cline Hall was run by that big fat bully, Mister Swan. That explains so much.

"Goodness, that poor boy," Her dad looked at Anya in surprise, "Eden's standards must have fallen quite low if they allowed such a disrespectful little girl in."

"Perhaps Housemaster Henderson took pity on her? She certainly doesn't seem very bright," Penelope's mother picked up her daughter, "Regardless, let's go, my dear. You shouldn't have to spend so much time with troublemakers."

"Indeed," Mr. Sutton grabbed the cart full of toys and started pushing, him and his wife walking away from them. Penelope, from her mother's arms, smirked and stuck her tongue out at Anya and Sari, stopping when her mom asked if there were any other toys she wanted to get.

"Let's go," Anya said without another word, watching as the Suttons turned a corner into a new aisle and were out of sight.

"Really? We're not gonna go try and get back at them?" Sari asked, Anya shaking her head while the secret Autobot huffed, "Lame!"

"Not worth it," As much as Anya wanted to punch Penelope (and her parents), the last time she punched an Eden student, she almost cost Papa his whole mission. Plus, every student she'd ever met from Cline Hall was like that. They actually made Sy-On boy look nice! Becky taught her to avoid those meanies, and she did, and her time at Eden was better for it.

Aside from Sy-On boy and his two friends, but there was nothing Anya could do about that.

"I'd prefer avoiding a fight as well, Sari." Though honestly, those people were really starting to test my patience. Mr. Sumdac's words were the opposite of his thoughts, confusing Anya. He said he didn't want to fight, but he also wanted to punch those guys as much as she did, all because they insulted his daughter.

Huh, guess he's not so different from Papa after all, Anya smiled, wondering for a bit if all dads were like this deep down. She began to walk forward, hoping to get back to finding those Spy Wars toys.

But before she could take another step, the store was filled with the sound of gunfire, glass breaking and everyone screaming. Anya and Sari covered their ears while Mr. Sumdac did that and got to the floor. The gunfire stopped, everything now more quiet than a mouse for several moments.

"NOBODY MOVE! EVERYONE ON YOUR KNEES, AND THIS WILL ALL BE OVER QUICK!" A voice shouted for all the store to hear, "You'll be staying with us until payday comes in!"

A-A robbery!? Anya gasped, unable to move as Mr. Sumdac held her and Sari close, heavy booted footsteps approaching. One of the robbers, face covered in a ski mask, walked out of one of the aisles, machine gun aimed at everyone nearby, other robbers running past him. He yelled at anyone he came across to stay still and not move a muscle.

Oh man, I really wish Mama was here right now!

Come on! Come on! Let go already!

Yor struggled to break free from her restraints, using all her might to push against them. But try as she might, nothing seemed to work. It felt as if the seat belts were fighting back in kind.

Is the ghost doing this? Can it control the strength of these things? Yor wondered, staring at the material. It looked like ordinary seat belts, but anything that could resist her strength was most certainly NOT ordinary. She didn't have time to analyze the material anyway and tried to think of a way out.

I can't use my knives to break out of these. They're meant for piercing, not cutting, While she could make them slash out anything from throats to steel with enough strength and build-up, that wasn't a luxury Yor had at the moment. I tried just pushing the release button on the seat belt earlier, but that didn't work either, Not to mention she was barely able to even reach it to begin with, restrained as her hands were. Clearly, the ghost didn't just control the car, but everything inside it as well.

Can't just sit still. Gotta do something to break out! Yor kicked the dashboard in a rage, actually causing a small, but notable dent in it. But before she could kick again, the seat she was in glowed an ominous purple.

"AIYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Yor screamed as arcs of lightning covered her body from head to toe. The agony lasted several seconds before it finally faded, slowly opening her eyes to see that the chair's glow dimmed, and the dent she made was no more.

W-What was that? Yor's breath became ragged from the pain. She'd never heard of any Secret Police car that had this feature. Then again, no patrol car was possessed by a ghost, which was more or less the only explanation she could think of. Wincing in pain, she sunk back into her seat to shrug it off, Can't remember the last time I felt a shock that intense. Good thing I built up a resistance.

Yor remembered years ago, rather early into her assassination missions when she fought a serial killer who loved electrocuting people to death. The files provided by The Garden, coupled with the killer's behavior during their bout, made it clear she absolutely loved both the sound of screaming and making eyeballs pop out of the skull. Yor managed to kill her but suffered a lot of deadly shocks from the woman's electric batons. After that, she made it a point to train herself to withstand violent torrents of electricity as much as possible.

It was rather convenient for her that there was a then upcoming hurricane season. Whenever it was thundering, when Yuri was either asleep or preoccupied, Yor made it a point to go outside to the highest possible peak and hold a large metal rod at the sky. The process was extremely painful, but it paid off in the end, letting her power through even the most violent, overwhelming concentrations of electricity without too much damage to herself. It certainly came in handy during later years, when she and The Garden fought the criminal organization, MECH, and kicked them out of Ostania. Quite a few of their soldiers had a thing for rather advanced electro-weaponry, looking back.

But even that doesn't really compare to this. I can only take so much, Yor felt the last of the pain wear off. Even with her having requested the beige overcoat she wore to be just as shock resistant as she was, these torrents were powerful enough that it didn't matter. Yor looked down at the seat belts, thinking of another way out as she noticed that the material was glowing a bright red that dimmed down after several seconds. Huh, Yor stared in wonder, Looks like these belts can only take so much as well.

And then it hit her.

With grit teeth, Yor kicked the dash again, this time even harder. A much larger dent was made, and it sounded like the entire car was growling at her. The seat glowed purple again, and she sunk deep into it just as the lightning hit.

"AIYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Yor screamed again, letting her pain show. She needed to keep the ghost distracted so it didn't see what she was plotting. Continuing to kick the dash, the dent she created grew more and more. Yor could feel the lightning's intensity amp up with every single blow she delivered. Opening one eye, she looked down and saw the seat belt was glowing brighter than before, the red becoming increasingly white as smoke emitted from it.

Almost… there… The pain was becoming unbearable, but Yor screamed her lungs out one last time and delivered a final kick, the voltage reaching an apex as the seat belt burned and finally snapped. Free, she did everything possible to walk off the electrocution and immediately darted for the driver's seat, grabbing its seat belt before quickly tying it in knots to prevent a repeat scenario, followed by grabbing the head of the chair and using all her might to force it down. This left a flat surface for her to sit on, free from risk of any more lightning, as she grabbed the wheel, which strangely had a purple, angular, mouthless version of the symbol on Bumblebee's own steering wheel.

Huh, that's odd. Does this car come from the same place as Bumblebee? Yor wasn't sure what car manufacturer saw fit to put such symbols on their wheels, but she didn't have time to think about it either. Gripping the wheel tightly, she tried to wrestle control away from the spirit, making the car swerve about as it fought against her. Despite the outside being one giant blur, her keen senses were able to see where they were going, and thankfully, there were no innocent bystanders nearby. In fact, there didn't seem to be anyone out on the streets at all, or any other vehicles for that matter. It left her to wonder just where in Berlint she even was.

TSCHE-CHU-CHU!

"What the-HRRK!" Yor choked, wheezing as it felt like something strangled her windpipe. Looking down at the steering wheel, she saw that it'd somehow transformed into some kind of grabbing claw and extended outward, clutching at her neck in an effort to strangle her.

Okay. Starting to… doubt… that this is… a… ghost… Yor's thoughts were becoming more and more fragmented, both from the pain and lack of oxygen. The only reason she still had enough presence of mind to focus was that this wasn't the first time she'd almost been killed by asphyxiation, so she immediately got to work on breaking free. She tried to pry the claw off, but it twisted, forcing her one way then the next while swerving the car itself, further disorienting her. Vision fading, she looked down at the claw's arm, seeing open spaces with circuits and wires now visible.

Here… goes… s-some… thing! Yor thrust her right hand out and drew one of her knives, stabbing it into the circuits as hard as she could. The car's engine roared, as if in a fury, and the claw released her. Yor fell forward, catching herself with one hand while the other nursed her neck. She looked up to see the pincer claw twitch and spasm, her knife still lodged in the arm as purple arcs of electricity coated the entire limb.

"That should hold it," Yor said, her voice hoarse as she tried to open the door on her left, but it refused to budge. With a grunt, she punched at the window, and after a few hits, the glass began to crack. Winding her fist back, she put everything she had into this final punch, her arm piercing through the glass and shattering it to pieces as she dove out, feet first and grabbing the door frame.

Never had to put that much effort into punching through glass before, Yor thought as she flipped to the roof of the patrol car and knelt to maintain her balance. Not even bulletproof glass gave her that much trouble, only ever requiring one tougher than normal strike to break through it. Regardless, now that she was free, she looked to the hood of the car with a glare, knowing that whatever this thing was, ghost or otherwise, had no intention of letting her walk away. Pushing forward, Yor rushed to the patrol car's hood as it continued to blitz forward, jumping off. Now ahead of the car, she did a flip midair, looking down to her target.

Perfect. "HIIIIYAAAA!" Yor kicked downward as with everything she had as she descended, her foot impacting the front-most part of the hood. The force sent the rear upward as Yor's feet slid against the ground, the patrol car flipping over and flying overhead. She came to a stop, watching the car land and roll along its side several times before finally slowing down, eventually coming to a halt. Now flipped upside down, yet still appearing undamaged aside from the window, it rocked back and forth, unable to move.

"Glad that's over," Yor breathed out, her voice regaining its vigor, "Now I just have to get back to… Anya and…" Her words died as she looked around, seeing that she was surrounded by old, dirty buildings that seemed long since abandoned, factory towers in the distance both near and far. This is the factory district, Yor realized, remembering this place as the first time she and Loid fought off his patients together, and where they first agreed to their fake marriage, I'm on the outskirts of Berlint. But why would that possessed patrol car drive all the way out here?

As if to answer her question, an engine roared, getting Yor's attention as she turned to the source. To her surprise, it was the patrol car, only now upright with headlights flashing a dark crimson. "How did it-" She shook her head, "Doesn't matter!" Drawing both her second and spare knives, she entered a fighting stance and glared darkly at the vehicle, Even though technically, as a ghost, you're not alive…

"Tell me, you psychotic machine," Yor began, entering her mindset as Thorn Princess, voice lowering an octave, "May I have the honor of taking your life?"

The machine seemed to be at a standoff with her, crimson headlights glaring in pure rage while Yor glared back in kind. The feral roar of its engine clashed against Yor's quiet dignity, both of them waiting for the other to make the first move.

But then, the engine stopped.

TSCHE-CHU-CHU-CHU-TSCHE!

And the vehicle transformed.

"Oh my God…" Yor breathed out, watching in awe and horror as the machine rose.

Its parts shifted and warped as limbs took form. The rear altered into legs, the front folding to become a torso, and the sides coming apart to reveal arms and fists with what could only be described as brass knuckles. The black, shimmering alloy that made up the car enveloped each limb like armor, shades of gray between the black as navy-blue outlined it. A head looked up at Yor as the machine stood tall, casting a looming shadow that dared to consume her. Blood red eyes on a gray face stared down at her, a rage and annoyance obvious just by looking at them. Its lips curled in disgust, steel teeth bared as if seething, and then the unimaginable happened.

It smiled at her. A cruel, twisted, ugly thing that was going to delight in what came next.

Yor knew this expression all too well. She'd faced it countless times. And for the first time in a long time, she didn't know if she'd be able to walk away from it.

The black armor on its head shifted, metal clanging to wrap around its face, hiding its entirety behind a red visor that seemed a twisted parody of a police riot mask. It reached behind itself and drew a large metal stick, resembling a billy club, that glowed the same purple as before, cackling with torrents of lightning across its length.

Yor found herself overcome with panic and uncertainty, unable to make a move. But as the mechanical monster ran forward towards her, earth shaking in its wake, a single, terrified question managed to escape her lips.

"What are you?"

Chapter Text

"What are you?"

The moment that frightened question left Yor's lips, the machine jumped into the air, billy club pulsing with lightning as it stabbed the stick into the ground. Arcs of crackling electricity scattered everywhere, running across the ground and along right towards her. With a gasp, she leapt back on her hands, just barely avoiding a surge of lightning as she pushed with all her might, sending herself flying into the air and far off the electrified street. Not even a few seconds later, Yor found herself descending from the peak of her jump, twisting to land on her feet. Thankfully, she landed just a few feet outside the area that the lightning encompassed, and it dissipated not a moment too soon.

I've never seen an attack like that before, Yor grit her teeth and glared at the machine. It pulled its club out of the ground and stood tall, staring directly at her from behind that blood red mask. She'd had to deal with lightning sticks before, but never of this scale or even capable of what was just witnessed. Whoever built and was currently controlling this thing was either a master of their craft, completely insane, or both.

As if to confirm the latter, the metal on its left wrist opened up, out popping a series of long barrels that Yor would recognize anywhere. They began to spin around its wrist, which he then aimed towards her, and opened fire. The bullets hit the ground first, tearing apart the street in front of her to kick up dust and stone in a massive cloud. Enveloped, Yor's squinted her eyes in an effort to see her opponent, but she couldn't see anything through the thickness of the dust cloud.

She did hear the steps, and the rumbling of the road.

Where is that thing? Yor tried to keep her eyes peeled and her senses open, knowing the machine was coming for her. The dust made it hard, scratching at her eyes and filling her lungs as she suppressed the urge to cough and sputter. She could resist such conditions, having trained to do so, but she still had her limits. This smog and the irritation it caused distracted her from picking up where those steps were coming fro-

The air behind her shifted. A shadow loomed over her and she jumped, just barely avoiding the hand that tried to grab her. Landing on the metal wrist, she looked up and saw a crimson light shining down on her. Upon recognizing the machine's visor, in that split second, she jumped upward again, stopping midair as she reached eye (What are metal eyes called?) level with it and delivering a kick to the face with everything she had. The impact sent it staggering back, the smog finally dissipating as she landed.

… oowwww… Keep it together, Yor… She repressed the throbbing pain in her leg and stood tall, reversing the grip on her knives as she took a combat stance. Durability is through the roof, Yor thought, the machine glaring down at her, cracks slowly forming along the visor where she'd kicked it. Looks like one more hit should do it for the visor though, Within a split second, she looked the thing up and down, From the looks of it, there are openings between the armor plates, and judging by how the steering wheel had something similar, I can try stabbing the circuitry there too. If that fails, I can break through the glass and blind it. Take away its ability to fight.

The machine wrathfully pointed its billy club at her, lightning blasting out that she just barely managed to sidestep. It fired blast after blast, Yor doing everything she could to avoid getting hit, but every dodge, ever cartwheel, every somersault, every flip and twist and turn and spin, was by the skin of her teeth and nothing more. In all her time as an assassin, she'd never once had to dodge something as fast as lightning. Get struck by it? Yes. Repeatedly, for that matter. But facing it in live combat was never in the cards.

Until now, unfortunately.

And even worse, her luck ran out. Whether she was just a bit too slow in her final back flip, or the machine recognized her dodging pattern, it didn't matter. She was struck, causing her to scream as the force from the blast sent her tumbling far back, eventually rolling on the street to a complete stop. Groaning in pain, she pressed her hands against the asphalt and wobbly stood up, seeing that the machine was now a far distance away, billy club still crackling with energy.

Panting, she placed a hand to her chest, feeling the material of her red sweater. Looking down, she saw that the blast punched a large hole in her overcoat, singe markings surrounding it while the rest of the coat was covered in tears and scrapes from the street.

Strange, Yor noted as she tore off the overcoat and stared at the machine, which holstered the club and seemed to be waiting for her next move, Even with my coat's electricity resistance, that blast didn't feel as strong as the ones from inside the car. Not to mention those from the seat had already pushed its limits anyway, so I was likely taking the full force of that attack. And yet her opponent's current attacks didn't feel as strong. Was the billy club weaker than the seats? Why use a weaker attack that wouldn't do much damage? It knows what I can survive, so why would it-

Unless…

So that's what this is! Yor gasped, coming to a realization. The machine wasn't trying to kill her at all. Between trapping her and the shocks that were likely intended to knock her out, ever escalating the more they failed to do so, it was aiming for her capture. And with that came a horrifying realization.

This machine had been holding back the entire time.

It feels like it's taking everything I've got in order to fight this thing, and it's not even trying! Yor felt her hands tremble, beginning to understand how her targets felt when she came for them. But as the machine transformed back into a patrol car, headlights glowing brightly in her direction, Yor was hit with another realization. One that made the trembling, however briefly, come to a complete stop.

The machine held back. It wanted her alive. It underestimated her.

And that would be her advantage.

The engine roared for several seconds as Yor took her stance, almost daring it to try. Taking the bait, the patrol car zoomed forward at high speed, turning ever so slightly to the side as it drew close, putting it off-course for collision with Yor. She went tense as the car's side door shifted into its arm, intent on grabbing her. The machine was probably working under the assumption that both its surprise and the previous blast left her too drained to react in time.

Yor proved it wrong, running and diving forward right as it attempted a grab. She squeezed right past the machine's grip, grabbing the elbow and flipping herself back aboard the roof. The car reverted its arm back to normal, took a sharp swerve and turned a corner, intent on knocking her off. Instead, Yor held tight and refused to budge, the wind blowing her hair about as the speed went up even further. And unlike before, the patrol car made no signed of even attempting to turn, driving at maximum speed for the building directly in front of them.

Oh crud! Yor panicked, and as the building neared, jumped high into the window two stories up. The glass shattered behind her as she rolled and ran, bashing her way through wall after wall of the destitute, abandoned building. Throughout her run, she could feel the rumble and sounds of crashing and destruction far below and ahead of her, which just as quickly came to an end, indicating that her opponent had already plowed through the building. Just as she ran through one final wall, she could see the machine begin to transform and stand from the window she was rapidly approaching.

Yor didn't break her stride, continuing to run and bursting through the window. The machine began to turn just as Yor spun in midair and aimed her feet right for its masked face. With her strength and the momentum built up, she delivered a flying dropkick that impacted the upper left portion of her opponent's face. Shattered glass shot out from beneath her boots, the force of the dropkick knocking the machine to the floor while she descended and slid against the road, coming to a stop just as her opponent began picking itself up.

It turned and glowered down at her, single red eye revealed from the partially shattered mask. Yor could hear what almost sounded like a snarl of pure rage coming from it, which silenced as the left arm once more formed gun barrels around the wrist. This time, however, Yor was faster, reacting just as it moved and reaching it before the shooting began. She ran between its legs and jumped on its back, intent on climbing to where she could run her knives through the circuits between armor plates. It tried to reach for her, but she ducked and weaved just out of reach from every attempted grab.

As expected, Somewhere between running through the building and connecting the impact with its face, Yor figured that, given the machine's sheer size, it was rather cumbersome outside of vehicular form. Ranged attacks were a different tale, so the best way for her to fight was to stick close, make glancing strikes, and dodge its close-range options to the best of her abilities.

Thankfully, if Yor truly knew one thing, it was that she excelled at close-quarters combat. Narrowly avoiding one final arm grab, she took her knife and prepared to stab the visible circuits on its back. Unfortunately, it seemed that the machine caught on to what she was doing, as it jostled a bit, throwing off her attempt and instead causing the stab to fall upon the armor instead, completely shattering her knife.

"Drat!" Yor expected the armor to be strong, but a part of her hoped she'd at least be able to puncture small holes in it. Now she was down to three knives: The one in her other hand and the two spares in her boots, which she couldn't exactly reach for at the moment. Her increasingly limited weapons didn't leave her with much opportunity to-Uh oh… Yor realized that the machine was walking backwards, aiming her right for the nearest building. Thinking quick, she leapt off its back and high onto a windowsill, grabbing hold and jumping even higher until she reached the roof, looking down as the robot smashed into the building, back first. Alright, as soon as it gets off, I'll leap down and- Yor's train of though was once more cut off upon realizing it was still backing up into the building, What the-

The machine disappeared into the structure, leaving dust, stone, and brick behind. Yor felt the building shake beneath her feet, making her worry that it would collapse at any moment. However, the shaking suddenly ceased, blowing wind the only thing she felt.

No way it's over yet. What's that thing doing no- Her question was answered when a sudden barrage of bullets (likely from its gatling arm) erupted from within, tearing through the roof like tissue paper. Yor's first instinct was to cover her face, only to notice that nothing was hitting her. She looked and saw that every round was encircling her near the building's edges, like it was trying to cut a hole and send her falling down to her opponent's grasp. Making matters worse, the more the bullets flew, the more the building shook, ready to fall apart with each passing second.

Yor looked to the side and saw an even taller apartment building, emergency exit stairs lining the side. Without hesitation, she ran toward them despite risking the incoming bullet barrage. Nearing the edge, she dove forward, arms outward as she spun to twist past the rounds. In the process, time felt as if it slowed to a crawl, one of the rounds flying just past her face mere centimeters away, giving Yor a good look at the bullets.

Namely, they were huge, easily dwarfing the caliber of any gun Yor had ever faced in battle, and she'd fought them all. It was almost like someone took the rounds of an anti-tank rifle, tripled them in size, and decided to use them for a rapid-fire, arm-mounted gatling gun of all things!

Putting that aside for the time being, Yor grabbed the nearest railing of emergency stairs and used it to launch herself up to the opposing roof with a midair twirl just as the previous building began collapsing. Once the sound of falling debris ceased, Yor looked back and saw only a massive cloud of dust and dirt. Running to the edge, she looked down at the epicenter, still blocked from view.

Thank God this entire area is abandoned, Yor thought, since it meant casualties were avoided and being so open with her assassin abilities wouldn't draw attention. But that fact did nothing for her opponent, whose previous showings of durability made it clear that a collapsing building wouldn't be enough to stop it. As if on cue, the dust cloud finished clearing up, revealing the robot to still be standing, looking away from her direction and completely intact. Getting into a crouching position, Yor glanced ever so slightly over the edge, taking a quick peek at the machine as it looked around for her, taking steps forward as it did so.

Maybe now would be a good time to get out of here? Yor wasn't used to running away, always completing every fight until none remained. But even with her speed being able to outmaneuver it, her strength being able to knock it around, and having a decent idea of its weak points, she still wasn't confident that she could destroy this thing. It was still too durable and too well armed for her to handle by herself.

Yet if this thing's being controlled by someone, they can likely see what it sees, right? Which meant that whoever made it already knew what Yor looked like. Heck, the hologram addressed her and her family members by full name, so its creators already knew who they were. This thing just being around, walking about, put her identity as Thorn Princess and her entire family in danger! Though it had yet to look her way, chances of discovery increased the longer she remained here. Yor only saw two options.

The first was that she stay and fight, hopefully win, thus eliminating the immediate threat to her family and drag what remained back to the Garden so they could just as hopefully manage to trace it back to whoever built it.

The second was that she remain unseen, get back to her daughter now (Anya was probably worried sick), explain the encounter to the Shopkeeper later, and hope they could trace it with only her descriptions while the threat still loomed over their heads.

Both options have too many pros and cons to count, And unless it was a body count, Yor had never been good with numbers, What should I do? Maybe there's a middle op-

Before she could finish that thought, the machine's right arm transformed, turning into what looked like a cannon, the barrel glowing a bright orange that almost radiated heat. Yor watched as the robot aimed it at one of the buildings in front of it, barrel ever glowing brighter and brighter before a large blast of energy shot out. A thunderous boom followed upon impact, the blast breaking through the building and destroying the lowest floor, and with it, the support holding everything together.

Yor jumped and stood tall, not even know how to process what she'd witnessed, only able to stare in horror as that single blast reduced another building to smithereens. W-What kind of weapon was that!? Yor wondered several more questions immediately after, but all would be forgotten as the robot took aim at several more buildings in its immediate field of vision, destroying them all and, slowly but surely, reducing this abandoned section of the factory district to a sea of rubble and flames. Just as quickly, she understood what was going on, It's… its makers, they're trying to draw me back out. It'll keep destroying everything until there's nowhere left to hide. If this continues it'll eventually reach-

The populated areas of this district. Where people lived and worked. It wouldn't stop until she was found, and whoever built it didn't care how much innocent blood they had to wade through to make that happen.

Face hardening into a glare, she took several steps back and prepared to jump back into the fight, her first option now being the only option. She still wasn't sure if she could beat this thing, but she had to stop it now before it hurt anyone else.

No one else can, With all her strength, Yor pushed off, running at top speed and leaping off the edge. As she descended, she positioned herself to dropkick the back of the machine's head. The intent was to knock it down, face first to the ground, and then stab away between the armor and do as much damage as possible while it was too dazed to immediately stand back up.

That intent died the moment the machine snapped its head in her direction just as she closed in.

"WHAT!?" Yor gasped at the sudden display of speed from what she thought as a slow and lumbering giant. She spun into a somersault, trying to redirect herself in midair. The moment she exited, however, all she could see was the giant fist rapidly heading for her in a hook punch.

"ARGH!" Yor felt as if all the wind knocked out of her at once. Wind blew through her ears before she suddenly felt herself leave the punch. Her ears were ringing, her breath was short, everything hurt, and from what little she could feel, it felt as if she was flying. The world was a blur as her vision swam, what little she could see alternating between colors of blue, white, and varying shades of gray. Almost like she was spinning on a wheel or something. Everything hurt too much to know for sure.

How long did this last? A minute? Several? She didn't know. She couldn't tell. The only thing she did know was that when it finally stopped, the first thing she heard was the sound of a window shattering to pieces. Then it felt like she crashed into something big and heavy, followed by her falling side first onto something thin, then falling even further onto a hard, stone floor.

"Uuuugh…" Yor managed to mumble out, sensations slowly coming back. Her ears were still ringing and everything still hurt (the pain was getting worse, actually), but at least she could hear something besides the ringing now. It sounded like… factory equipment and cries for concern?

"Miss! Are you alright?" Someone said, her body feeling like people were trying to gently help her up. Vision began to clear (though still rather blurry in her left eye), and she looked up to see a few factory workers, all dressed to the nines in safety gear (hard hats included). One knelt in front of her while two more helped her sit.

"I'm… wha-what happened?" Yor slurred out, trying to ignore the pain long enough to form proper sentences.

"You tell us. You just fell from the ceiling window and crashed into the place."

"How the hell are you still alive-OW!"

"Dickie!"

"What? Don't tell me you weren't wondering that too!"

Upon hearing that, she forced herself to snap fully awake and looked about. It seemed as though she'd fallen into a factory of some kind. Turning upward, from the current angle, she saw part of a dent in what looked like a giant water tank, as well as railing for a walkway below it. From there, she remembered how she crashed in here… and why.

"I have to go." I have to stop that thing! Yor tried to pick herself up, wobbling just a bit despite the protests of everyone around her. Despite her efforts to ignore the pain, she winced with every step. It was only a little ways into her walk that she noticed something off.

From finger to shoulder, she felt nothing in her left arm.

Eyes wide, she looked down in terror, sighing in relief when she saw that her arm was still there. However, it was completely limp, refusing to budge no matter what her brain told it. And looking down on it also meant looking down on the rest of herself, letting Yor take stock of her injuries.

She saw that her body was bleeding profusely, minor cuts and large lacerations from the window crash. Bruises, big and small, could be felt beneath her clothes, which themselves had several notable tears in them. Her right sleeve up to just above her elbow was torn away, blood trickling down from a large glass shard in her lower tricep. It was only now that she noticed a dampness on the left side of her scalp and touched it, feeling both the loss of her white headband (with her hair having come undone, now falling straight down) and a stream of blood trickle down her face, traveling from forehead to eye to chin and dripping to the floor.

That's… not good… Yor, gritting her teeth and only now tasting the blood filling her mouth, walked up to the nearest steel support beam for the walkway just above her, ignoring everyone's recommendations to sit down and accept medical treatment. Clutching at her dislocated left arm, she let go and grabbed the beam, Gotta aim it right here and…

She slammed her left shoulder into the steel beam, a brief scream of pain escaping her lips as everyone around her either gasped or panicked. After a few seconds of panting, Yor was able to force the pain down. She rose up, noting the large dent she put into the beam and feeling sensations in her left arm again. Cracking every knuckle in her hand and rolling both her shoulder and fist, she made certain that everything was in working order before taking her left hand to the glass shard in her right.

"Miss, I seriously don't think that's a good-" Whatever the factory worker was about to say next was cut off when Yor pulled the shard out, not so much as making a peep. At this point, the workers stopped gasping and were just left gaping in silence as Yor tore off the lower hem of her skirt, fashioning it into bandage wrappings for her right arm.

Unfortunately, I don't have time for the other injuries, That mechanical monster was likely destroying everything else in its wake. If she didn't get back soon, who knew how long before it ran into civilians? Looking back to everyone who'd surrounded her, Yor said, "For your own safety, you need to find shelter. Tell everyone to get out of here, now."

Everyone looked at her in fright, leaving Yor embarrassed and chastising herself, Oops. Was that too blunt? She tried shifting to a more reassuring smile, but that just seemed to leave everyone confused, I guess the stress of everything that's happened has me all worked up. I've never been good with people already and I'm getting even worse!

"Uh, i-is something going on?" One of the workers asked as those surrounding them, near and far, slowly stopped working and turned their attention to the ensuing argument.

"Is it Westalis?" Asked another.

"Terrorists!?"

"Westalis terrorists!?"

"Aliens!?"

"Dickie, what's with you and aliens?"

"It's a valid concern!"

"You really need to lay off the Nortican reports."

"I'll have you know that they are very informal and-

"No! It's none of that! It's-" Yor froze, the myriad of questions coming from everyone halting. There was no way she could say anything without giving away that she was an assassin. She couldn't just say that she was in the middle of fighting some kind of man-made super-weapon. Then they'd ask about her fighting abilities or how she even knew what that was or something. The fact that I crashed in here and recovered so quickly means they're probably already suspecting me, right? Normal people didn't do things like that. They certainly didn't leave dents in steel beams. "U-Uh…" She stammered before finally pleading, "Look, I really can't say. I just need you to trust me."

None of them seemed convinced, looking at her as though she was crazy. Yor couldn't exactly blame them, and even if she could explain things, it's not like she was ever good at that either.

"Hey, I hear you," One of the workers, the one called Dickie, said honestly, "Seems pretty obvious what's going on."

"I-It is?" Yor asked, not sure if he really understood the explanation or if he could convey the severity of things. Even his coworkers looked at him in confusion.

"Yeah, I mean, makes sense with what you are."

Yor gasped, "You know what I am?" D-Does he know that I'm an assassin!? Oh God, please don't tell anyone here-

"Yeah! You're an alien super warrior fighting to save us from another alien that's here to prepare the world for a galactic invasion and came to this planet to hunt you down for their evil overlords."

"… I… eh?" Yor's mind went blank for a minute. She couldn't really respond beyond tilting her head, especially as everyone else just groaned or palmed their faces in exasperation, asking their friend if he was serious and starting up another argument.

"I mean, come on! She came from the sky, she's clearly got superpowers if she can bend steel and ignore pain the way she did, plus she's warning us about some vague threat that she can't explain like she has a secret identity. She's obviously an alien superhero!"

"… s-sure! I uh… I guess I am!" Honestly, I've been called Space Cadet by the girls back at City Hall, so I guess that's… alien adjacent, I think? Better than my cover being blown. "Just get everyone somewhere safe. I'll stay behind and fight the… uh, alien invader?"

"YES! I knew it!" Dickie fist pumped the air, "And don't worry, this district's got a couple underground bunkers that were set up during the war. I know where they are and can get others there too."

Huh, I was just about to suggest that, Yor already knew about the bunkers in this area. A few corrupt state officials tried to use them as hiding places for the Garden when they sent her after them. Knowing every potential hiding place made them all the easier to track and kill.

Nodding to the man as he tried to convince everyone (with little success, but hopefully that would change soon), she started running, weaving past workers and machinery alike. Ignoring the calls and yells, Yor focused on getting to the exit, but the moment she neared, she froze, hearing the muffled roar of an all too recognizable engine getting closer.

Did that thing follow me here!? Before she could figure out how it managed to track her, the doors and wall exploded, an SSS patrol car bursting out as everyone behind her panicked and screamed. On instinct, Yor ran, meeting the car head on and jumping onto its hood then off in a flip, landing behind it. The patrol car swung back, effortlessly smashing into machinery as people just barely got out of the way. Throughout its turn, the car transformed, shifting back into that mechanical monstrosity that loomed over everything.

Yor could see everyone else in the factory from where she stood, all of them staring in horror at the robot like a nightmare made flesh. No one made a move or a sound, likely too scared to even think of moving. Then came the screams, factory workers tripping over each other in a desperate bid to get away, all while Yor readied herself with knife in hand to-

Wait, where's my knife? Yor looked at her right hand, only just now realizing that it no longer held what she'd clutched like a lifeline. I must have lost it when I got knocked all the way here, Yor shook herself out of it and glared defiantly at the robot, but then she saw an odd glimmer in its red eye, What's it doing?

Suddenly, it turned, right and left arm shifting to energy cannon and gatling cannon respectively, both of them aimed at everyone else.

Eyes going wide, Yor ran forward, arm reaching out as she made a leap to try and stop it.

"NO!"

Bond raised his head and sniffed the air. He was now where towers blew smoke and buildings looked broken. Everything smelled bad, like garbage and gas and grime, all of it hurting his nose and making Yor's scent hard to find. It didn't help that he was tired.

He was very, very tired, and very, very hungry.

Bond had tried running through the city from where Yor was taken order to get this far, but the scary machine that took her was too fast and too far gone. He couldn't let that stop him, Yor was depending on him! So he kept pushing, but it just drained him, and he was still nowhere near close to the end of the scent trail.

He was glad that at least one person walking by was kind enough to give him some food. It gave him some strength back, but something in his gut that wasn't the biscuit told him it wouldn't happen twice. Bond had to make things go by faster without leaving him too tired to save Yor.

So he started taking cars. He'd jump from the rears of cars, using them to carry him. When a car started going too far away from the trail, he'd jump off and find another one. It worked, and it helped him reach this part of the city. But he still had to do so much running anyway, so he still got tired and hungry.

But he kept going. He had to keep going. For Yor, he needed to.

His nose wasn't working anymore, so he tried seeing and hearing. All around, Bond only saw a few people going about their days just like at the mall, only most of them didn't look happy. Instead, they looked as miserable as he was before he met the Forgers, being bullied and yelled at by people in lab coats, people outside cages poking him, and people strapping bombs to him and other dogs.

They didn't like being here. Bond didn't like it either.

Not seeing any trace of Yor or her kidnapper in this area, he stopped and tried his best to concentrate. If he could force a future vision, maybe it would give him a clue on where to look. Closing his eyes, he focused as hard as he could, waiting for the visions to begin.

…

…

…

Nothing.

Bond could only lay down, flat against the sidewalk as anyone who passed by ignored him. He was sad, he was angry, and he was scared. Was this how Anya felt whenever she tried so hard to protect her family? But she always managed it in the end alongside him. They always had each other. They always helped each other.

But Bond didn't have Anya now. He didn't have Loid. He didn't have Yor. He didn't have anyone.

He was on his own.

…

He started picking himself up and was about to keep searching, but then he heard a loud boom in the distance. His first instinct was to scramble back to the ground and cover his ears just to try and quiet the noise. When his ears stopped hurting, Bond turned to where he heard it and saw a loud cloud of smoke erupting from where a lot of smoke towers were.

This smoke wasn't coming from any of them though.

Bond watched, the people around him running away, and saw one of the towers collapsing in a cloud of smoke followed by another explosion. He didn't cover his ears this time, hearing something hidden within the explosion.

Screams.

Another tower. Another explosion. And even more screams.

Bond's every instinct was telling him to run away. Do what everyone else was doing and save himself.

He ignored all of them, running faster than he ever had before, no matter how tired he was. He ran toward the screams, the explosions, that killing machine, and Yor.

Yor was there, she was fighting that machine, and she was in trouble. Bond didn't need his future vision to know that.

He just hoped it wasn't too late.

Yor let out a small groan of pain, stirring in her unconsciousness. All she felt was warm stone against her side, her face bathed in a puddle of liquid, and… heat? The entire room she was in felt a bit too warm for comfort. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw that everything was a blur, shapes of orange and gray and black in her vision.

"Guh…" She grunted, pushing herself up and off the ground, wobbling to her feet. Vision clearing, she saw that the puddle her face had been in was the blood still pouring from her head wounds. Upon that realization, she looked up, only to gasp at the sight.

The factory floor she'd landed in was in ruins. The machinery had been smashed or blown to bits, water and chemical tanks were reduced to nothing, rubble from the ceiling and walls was scattered all about, and almost everything was on fire.

What happened? Yor could only continue to gaze in horror, the flames flickering about, The last thing I remember was-

She leapt for the machine, desperate to stop it from hurting anyone. However, her shout had all but telegraphed her intent, as the machine swiftly turned and backhanded her away, sending her flying through metal and stone, slamming her back against the factory wall. The final sounds she heard were explosions, bullets, blasts, and cries of terror.

Another gasp escaped her lips as she turned left and right, both for the machine and for any of the workers. Finding nothing, she started running, searching to see if anyone survived. She shielded her face from the smoke and flames, running through them as quickly as possible. Among them, she saw an elevated flat surface – the smoldering remains of a forklift – and used it to jump to the remnants of an elevated walkway, hoping to get a higher vantage point.

Looking down, she saw a non-flaming area of flat stone covered in cracks, small craters, and rubble. Long iron chains and steel beams littered about, as well as rubble and giant holes in the walls that led to either other parts of the factory or just outside, which itself also seemed covered in a haze of smoke and dust as if a sandstorm hit.

But what she noticed most of all, was blood.

So much blood, Yor thought in horror, her face hard as stone. Jumping off to get closer, she inspected the area to find that there weren't even bodies, just bloodstains scattered almost randomly along the floor and walls. The surroundings looking like they'd been shot and torn apart. Yor could only imagine it, being riddled with massive projectiles until there was literally nothing left of you. She'd witnessed people get so riddled with bullets that it tore off skin and muscle, but never to the point of corpses being reduced to such mulch-like stains.

Where there wasn't blood, there were scorch marks that surrounded what looked like the vague outline of a body, as if all that remained in this world of them was their shadow. After having fought this thing, she had no doubt what happened to those people, remembering how that energy weapon blew away building foundations like nothing. Somehow, those disgusted and horrified her more than the bloodstains, especially as she knelt down and dragged a finger along the ash; the closest thing she could manage to closing their eyes so they could rest in peace.

Closing her own eyes in bitterness and regret, Yor wanted to weep for these people, all innocent and going about their days, talking about their families and hobbies without any stress, only to have everything taken from them in an instant by a monster.

All because of her.

All because she led that thing here.

But she couldn't.

Inwardly, the horror, the sadness, and the regret for failing them were all present, just waiting to burst at the seams, but none of it would come out no matter how much she actually wanted it to.

Yor had been surrounded by death all her life. It followed her like a shadow. From her parents to the animals that she'd hunted to provide food for herself and Yuri, to the brutal murders she'd witnessed in her work as an assassin, and every bloody killing she'd committed in kind. She'd become accustomed to it after so many years; the sight of death, no matter how horrible, barely phased her anymore.

But often, the blood surrounding her was that of the world's most rotten scumbags, committing the most disgusting cruelties imaginable to their fellow men. Often, Yor thought that she'd grown so desensitized so quickly was because the people she killed deserved to die. As the Shopkeeper once said, "Once a wilting flower is plucked, it returns to the dirt, forgotten by time. They are removed swiftly, and we move on in kind."

Not here. Not now, where the blood was innocent. Where their only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time, all because of her. She should've been crying, covering her mouth in horror, looking away and vomiting her organs out of her body like anyone else would in her shoes. Yet there was no need for it. The emotions were there, screaming to come forth, but her body would not move, too hardened to do so.

I can't even mourn people right! Yor wanted to punch herself, the only thing stopping her being the immediate danger she was still in. Why couldn't she just do something that a normal person would for once in her life!? Why couldn't she be… enough?

Because you aren't enough.

She really wasn't enough, was she? She wasn't enough to save these people. What if she wasn't enough to save that Gretchen woman and her child for the cruise assignment? What if she wasn't enough to save her family? What if the machine was going after them right now, deciding she wasn't enough of a threat to kill? It was clear that she was being targeted because she supposedly knew something, and it wanted to target the rest too. The machine would hunt them down one-by-one, killing them all with no one to stop it.

And it would be all her fault.

All her fault.

All your fault.

All Yor's fault!

As the downward spiral continued, Yor felt her fist clench, tears beginning to form in her eyes at the very thought. She refused to let that monster or anything like it near her family.

Suddenly, the ground shook again, Yor looking up to the gaping hole that led outside. Amidst the dust and smoke, she saw a giant outline, a crimson glow on its face. Eyes narrowing in pure anger, she pulled her final two knives from her boots, arming herself. As the machine walked in, it looked down at her, mask retracting and revealing its silver face, looking down on her with curiosity of all things. It's almost like it was trying to figure out how on earth she was still alive.

That… that doesn't make sense, Yor could understand the cruel smiles. Whoever built this thing probably wanted it to be as intimidating as possible, and grins baring too many teeth would scare anyone. It certainly scared her, if she was being honest with herself. Yet as she reflected on its face, she reflected on the entire battle beforehand, remembering its every movement and action. Every attack, every maneuver, be it slow or fast, was smooth without a single trace of the rigidness one would expect from any machine, regardless of size. It was too emotional, too organic, too human, too…

… too alive. This machine wasn't being controlled by anyone.

It's alive! Yor's eyes went wide the machine, the living machine. How is this possible? Her shock was so great that the grip on her knife loosened. It was pure luck that she noticed before the weapon left her hand. And now her grip tightened, harder than ever before, almost certainly drawing blood. Before she could even think to stop herself, a question escaped her lips.

"You're alive, aren't you?"

The machine, it… he blinked. Was he baffled that she'd figured it out? That she was actually talking to him?

"You killed all these people, and you enjoyed it," Yor droned on, the ember of rage in her stomach growing the more she did so, "You want to kill my family, and you'd enjoy it. You're a living thing like me, like anyone else. Thoughts and feelings, desires and regrets, you have it all on your own. And this is what you choose to do."

He lived. He wasn't just an unfeeling machine at the command of someone else, and every cruelty, every senseless act of pain and suffering was made all the worse because of it. He was no better than the worst among her targets. Just another remorseless killer, but one who made things far, far too personal.

There would be no honor in what came next. No regret, and no satisfaction. Just a giant, metal corpse laid to rest on the pavement… even if hers had to join it.

"All these people died because of me. Because I led you to them. And because I couldn't stop you when it mattered most." Yor glared and gave him all her attention, all her self-loathing, and all of her anger. Every fiber of her being knowing exactly what it wanted, "So right now, all I want to do… is hit you. As hard as I can!"

He was silent for a few moments, contemplating her declaration. Even through the smoke, Yor could see the emotions running through his eyes, all of them moving too fast to make out. But then he smiled again; not the sadistic one from before, nor the one filled with malice, nor even the empty one. No, this smile seemed almost joyous, delight dancing in his eyes as if she'd said something interesting.

But then came the most unexpected thing of all.

He spoke.

"Good."

The machine cracked his neck and bashed the brass knuckles on his fists together, all while baring too many silver teeth down at her.

Yor wouldn't give him the first move again. Baring her own teeth and wrath, she jumped back and spun, feet landing vertically on the edge of the walkway from before. As hard as she could, Yor pushed forward, launching herself like a bullet right to the machine's face as their eyes locked, her glare meeting his glee.

Chapter Text

Anya stayed huddled next to Sari in Mister Sumdac's arms, all of them watching the bad guy robbers come and go down the lane. They all dressed up in dark clothes, from pants to sweaters to masks that covered their whole faces. When one of them got too close, Mister Sumdac hugged them tighter, protecting her just like Papa would.

That didn't stop her from being scared.

They have guns, Mama and Papa aren't here, Bond isn't here, what do I do!? Anya kept trying to think of a way out, but she couldn't think of anything. She'd had to deal with bad guys for a while now, but she almost always had her parents. She could always point them in the right direction so they could do all the super cool, super dangerous stuff, and when she didn't have them, she had Bond by her side.

Not here. Not now.

There was no Mama or Papa to point in the right direction. No Bond to give her a hint with his future vision. She was all by herself.

And she had no idea what to do.

It was just like the first time she got kidnapped when Papa adopted her. Back then, she didn't know if anyone was coming to save her from the bad guys. All she knew and remembered was how scary it was, and how scared she kept being even after Papa came to the rescue.

Looking up at another of the robbers as he passed by, big pointy nose, bow and arrow in his hands and quiver on his back, Anya thought she saw one of those same bad guys again. Especially when he looked down and glared, "Wouldst thou kindly stop staring at me like that? Tis very annoying."

"… Uh…" Anya blinked, the illusion shattered, Why did he talk like that?

"Y-You're the one robbing the place!" Sari yelled, her voice a bit shaky as her dad tried to shush her, all while he kept glaring at the robber.

"And it will cease once we've procured our gains from both this store and the mall. Now shut thy mouth and say not another word," The robber grunted and rolled his eyes, Why did our employer's spree begin with a toy store. I swear, I can't stand children.

Anya blinked again, her fear slowly being replaced by… bafflement? Yeah, that was the word. She was losing her fear because of this guy, and her mouth started moving ahead of her brain.

"You talk weird."

Right after that left her mouth, she clamped it shut, feeling the anger coming from the bad guy. That anger only grew when Sari started snickering before going quiet too. Mister Sumdac held both of them closer, able to tell that things weren't going to go well for them. It felt like he'd been in these situations before and-

"What did thou say?" Before Anya could get a read on Mister Sumdac's thoughts, the robber held the bowstring back, pointing an arrow right at her face, "Insult mine manner of speech again, and thou shall feel the wrath of arrows a thousand-fold!" Hopefully this will get the brat to shut up.

Anya winced at the arrow in her face before Mister Sumdac shifted his body, putting himself in the line of fire, "How dare you threaten children!?"

"I dare because that one-" His eyes darted toward Anya, "Insulted mine own dialect when silence was all that was needed. Now I demand the same of thou, lest an arrow let loose is your greatest desire." Annoying as the children are, I'd rather not kill them if I don't have to. The caretaker, if he doesn't shut up, however...

"D-Dad!" Sari hugged her papa close, not wanting him to die. Anya was about to jump in and do something, but then two more of the robbers ran up and held their partner back, pointing the bow and arrow away as a shot let loose by accident. It zoomed just past the top of Mister Sumdac's head and hit one of the boxes in the aisle just behind them, knocking it open and spilling a toy to the floor.

"Aaron, what the hell!?" The tall, skinny, sharp-chinned robber holding a machine gun asked.

"Yah know, the point of having hostages is to keep them alive, right? Six feet above! Blood pumping! Light in their eyes and singing Kumbaya. Ringing any bells, bow for brains?" The lady robber with a pistol added, talking really fast and kinda like one of those characters from an old comedy movie Anya watched.

"Oh pish posh, it's not like harm was truly inte-" The arrow guy, Aaron, was cut off by the lady putting a hand over his mouth.

"The other whole point of hostages is to make sure they don't know squat!" Only reason we even agreed to this job was the payout and the promise that no kids got hurt. If we gotta brain a grown up, I'm fine so long as it ain't permanent, but no one here needs to know that!

"Seriously dude, that's robbery 101," The skinny robber said.

"Oh like thou can truly talk!" Aaron grew angrier as he slapped the lady's hand off his mouth, "Or should I remind Sir Nino of House Sexton that he brazenly foretold to the hostages what our plan was in the last robbery we galvanized ourselves for?"

"Hey! I didn't know one of them managed to hide a gun on him! Besides, we still got away with the money before the cops showed up," Nino held his hands up in surrender, trying to defend himself.

"Alright, I'll admit, not your brightest move hun," The lady robber looked back at Nino, face a mix between annoyed and affectionate, Honestly, he can be such a goof sometimes, but he's my goof.

Anya saw a brief memory in her head, the skinny robber and lady robber breaking out of a jewelry store in the middle of the night, alarms roaring behind them. The two ran hand-in-hand for the escape vehicle where Aaron was yelling at them to hurry up, both of them wearing golden rings on their fingers.

Ooooh! Bad guy married couple! Anya gasped, her fear slowly being replaced by excitement at what was going on.

"Yeah, okay, fair enough babe." One of us has to be the smart one. Glad it's you, Nino rubbed the back of his head but still smiled.

"Ugh, most the both of thou do this here?"

"Well, considering we're trying to keep a low profile. Incognito. Anonymous. Nameless. Faceless. That whole shebang, I think the fact that you said my husband's name out loud makes this your punishment, doesn't it?"

"Geez Sammy, calm down. It was an honest mistake," Nino gently tried to calm his wife as she got in Aaron's face.

"Oh come on with it! Why must I be brought to the headsman for such a misdeed and not him?" Aaron accusingly pointed at Nino, with Sammy getting between them.

"Simple, Double A Dumbo," She poked his chest, "Unlike you, he just used the nickname." Not like he said Samantha Sexton or Samantha Lomow. Then I'd punch him in the shoulder for that.

"I… I'll have you know that I-"

And then they started arguing, trying to keep their tones hushed, but it kept getting loud every now and then. Anya felt a small smile on her face, watching everything unfold while trying to read their minds for how the robbery was gonna go. Things were starting to get a little fun again, especially since she now knew the bad guys didn't want to seriously hurt anyone. But she was still scared without her parents or Bond here to help. She tended to get scared even with them around for these kinds of things.

"Uh…" Sari began, drawing hers and Mister Sumdac's attention. She looked between the three robbers and them in confusion before whispering, "S-Should we try running or crawling away or something?"

"No, they're too close. If we all move at once, they'll notice." Mister Sumdac said, trying to sound as calming as he could to them, Even with… whatever is going on here, they seem perceptive enough to realize we're gone.

Anya nodded, but tried to look around for something, anything, that could give her an idea on how to stop the bad guys. No Mama and Papa around, so she had to do this herself. Her eyes landed on the toy that was knocked to the floor by the arrow robber, seeing that it was some sort of car – looked a lot like Bumblebee's model too– with an antenna and remote control.

Maybe that can help? Anya poked at Mister Sumdac, both him and Sari looking at her while the bad guys still argued. She pointed to the toy car and whispered her idea into their ears. Sari looked like she thought it was clever, but her dad didn't seem very sure.

"It sounds too dangerous, Anya," Mister Sumdac whispered back, I don't wish to risk the safety of Yor's daughter.

"But dad!" Sari pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper as her bright blue eyes shimmered, putting on the same begging face that Anya often gave Papa. It only took a few seconds, but he caved in and nodded to Anya, repositioning himself and them so they were out of sight from the still arguing crooks. He looked back at them before giving Anya another nod, letting her go and crawl for the remote control like mad. The moment she grabbed it, she looked back to see that she hadn't been noticed and crawled back into Mister Sumdac's arms, doing her best to hide the remote.

Right when she got back, the three stopped arguing when Sammy yelled, "Okay, shut up!" She dragged a hand down her face and calmed herself, "Look, hows about we put a pin in it and just get back to patrol, kay? We can get back to it later. Right now, we got an important score here and I'd rather we make our moola and find a nice motor court before any buzzers catch our tail."

What does any of that mean? Anya heard a lot of those words in movies, but she could never figure them out.

Nino shrugged, "Whatever you say. No skin off my back."

"… fine," Aaron reluctantly replied, his voice actually losing his accent before just as quickly getting it back, "But mark my words, woman! This shall be brought to discussion when we're done!" The three of them started walking away when he added, "I believe a renegotiation of the dynamics of our trio should be in order, starting with-"

"For the last time, we're not putting you in charge."

Following her husband, Sammy added, "You both already agreed that I'm the head honcho – the big cheese – of our three-man team. And in case you forgot, last time we let you take lead, you ended up-"

Okay, now they were far away enough for Anya to stop listening as she pulled out the remote. Looking at the toy car, she pressed a button and the joystick, making mini-Bumblebee drive forward. After a few tries, she was able to get it to go where she wanted, zooming out of the aisle and circling around them before sending it right for the feet of the arrow guy. He kept walking with his robber friends, only to step on it and slip, sending him falling on his back. With one hand on the bowstring, he ended up accidentally shooting an arrow into the ceiling, cracks forming where it landed.

"You alright, man?" Nino asked, holding a hand out alongside his wife to help their friend up.

"Argh! What bloody thing got me?" Aaron reached down and held up the toy car, "How did this infernal device even get there?"

"Seems like this place ain't good on upkeep if they're leaving little toy irons around," Sammy added, still confusing Anya with her words when she looked up at the ceiling, cracks forming more and more before a large chunk of it broke apart, rubble falling down onto the three as they screamed.

"WOULD YOU IDIOTS KEEP IT DOWN!? THE BOSS IS NEGOTIATING WITH MALL SECURITY OVER HERE!"

As the dust cleared, Anya and the other hostages still in the aisle saw the three buried, limps poking out and groaning heard.

"… uh… I meant to do that," Anya quickly said, not wanting to look stupid. Either way, the Sumdacs and other hostages started to stand up, Sari hugging her quickly.

"Anya, that was awesome!" She whispered, causing Anya to puff her chest. Only a truly talented super spy like Special Agent Starlight Anya could pull off something like that.

"It was most impressive," Mister Sumdac praised too before he motioned for the other hostages in the aisle to come close, his face getting super serious, "We need to find a place to hide. Do you know where the staff room is?" The others shook their heads, Mister Sumdac putting on his thinking face, "Well, looks like we'll have to look for it. Everyone stay close. We're bound to run into more of them."

Mister Sumdac's definitely been in something like this before, Anya thought as they all followed him down an empty aisle, remembering her interrupted mind reading attempt. She tried again, this time seeing brief flashes of Mister Sumdac running through a dark, scary forest with the moon high in the sky. Unlike the real Mister Sumdac, the memory looked completely terrified, Sari shivering in his arms. What were they running from?

Who were they running from?

I-I don't wanna die…

Anya gasped, hearing what sounded like that Sutton girl's thoughts as Mister Sumdac reached the end of the aisle and leaned against the side, motioning for everyone else to do the same. While the others did, Anya and Sari poked their heads out slightly to see one of the robbers looming over the Sutton family, who were all on the floor, toys and cart scattered about, as the parents held their daughter close to protect her.

"Keep that gun away from our daughter, you cretin!" The father looked ready to punch the bad guy, but the sudden rifle to his face kept him from moving.

"You know, I could never stand rich people like you. Always thinking you're so enlightened. So much better than the 'lowlifes', as you like to call us," The robber said, his voice so disturbingly low that it brought all of Anya's fears from before back up. "Can I be honest with you? I don't think the boss needs everyone here to live," Anya didn't even need to read his mind to know he was smiling, "So let's play a game. You three get to decide who lives and who dies. Sound like fun?"

Anya and Sari gasped, Mister Sumdac tensing up as the really bad guy knelt down, gun pointed up to the ceiling, "So, who's it gonna be?" He pointed the gun at the glaring father, "Daddy?" then the equally glaring mother, "Mommy?" then the whimpering Penelope, "Or their spoiled spawn?" He stood up again, "Choose carefully. You only get to choose once, and only once." Too easy. All I gotta say is they tried to run and I had no choice but to kill the whole family. Always more fun making them think they have a chance.

NO! Anya bashed her fist against her head. While she didn't like Penelope, she couldn't leave her to die. But she also couldn't just go in and beat him up, and she didn't have time to set up a big trap like the one Red Circus guy she tricked. She didn't have Papa's super spy skills or Mama's super strength and speed, how was she gonna-

Then it hit her as she turned to Sari, who was also in the middle of figuring out what to do.

Mama wasn't here, and she didn't have her strength, but she knew someone who did.

"Psst! Sari!" Anya whispered, getting her attention. Looking around, Anya found some baseballs in the aisle and picked up a couple, "Mama taught me that if you aim for this one spot on the head really hard, it knocks a person out no matter what. I think we can do this!"

Mama didn't, actually, but Sari didn't need to know that. Anya just needed to convince her to use her super strength on the guy.

Sari looked at the ball, completely unsure, I don't know if this will work, but I trust Anya. She nodded and took the ball, whispering, "Let's do it!"

"Be careful, both of you," Mister Sumdac whispered, still assessing the situation, I have my doubts that it will work, and I'd rather something where they aren't putting themselves in danger, but we're short on time. While he's distracted, I'll try and rush him and get the gun away before anything else happens.

You won't need to, Mister Sumdac, Having seen Sari's super strength back at the park (and read her mind to see the patrol car lift), Anya knew this would work.

She hoped.

"Times up!" The robber declared, grinning, "And the winner is?"

Anya and Sari poked their heads out again and saw that he was aiming the gun at the Suttons, both of them watching as the parents looked to each other and hid their daughter behind them. "Please," The dad said, "Take me if you want. But spare my wife and child. I don't care what happens to me so long as they live."

"No," The mom jumped in, "I can see that there's no negotiating with you, so if someone must die, let it be me. But my husband is a good man, and my daughter deserves at least one of us in her life. Please, just let them go."

"M-Mama… p-papa…" Penelope was on the verge of tears, reminding Anya so much of… of herself when she lost… when she lost her mo… her mothe-

"Hmm, two tempting options, but how about…" The robber readied himself to fire, "All of the above."

The Suttons braced themselves, hugging each other and shielding Penelope as best they could. Anya's body moved without even thinking as she ran out, winding back and taking aim for the man's head. With all her might, she let loose and threw the ball, sending it flying straight for his head, hitting him hard enough that he dropped the gun and almost fell down.

"O-OW!" Instead, he winced and rubbed at the side of his masked face. "What the hell was-" He turned to Anya, ignoring the confused Suttons and glaring, "You!" He started menacingly walking toward her, "Damn brat. Who gave you permission to get up and move around?"

I'm starting to regret my choice, Anya thought right as Sari ran out, joining at her side and throwing the ball at the bad guy. It was a really strong, really hard throw, but like at the park, Sari's aim was off, so the ball didn't hit him in the face like she was hoping.

Instead, it hit him in the crotch.

"GAH!" The robber cried, which turned into a really high-pitched squeal that Anya couldn't hear after a few seconds. He clutched in pain at where the ball hit, sinking to his knees with tears in his eyes.

"… I meant to do that," Sari quickly said, Anya smiling at her and holding up her hand for a hi-five. Sari smiled back and returned it just as her dad walked out and up to the downed robber.

"W-Who are-" Those high-pitched words were all he got out before Mister Sumdac punched him to the floor. Anya watched as Mr. and Mrs. Sutton breathed out in relief and hugged their crying daughter. Even though she still didn't like Penelope, Anya was glad they were still alive.

"Are you three alright?" Mister Sumdac knelt down and asked the Suttons as the other hostages followed from their hiding place.

"Y-Yeah," Penelope shivered in her mother's arms while her father let go to start standing.

"Thank you, sir."

"You saved us," The mother whispered, Not bad, for plebeians, I mean. Anya puffed her cheeks in anger, but that's when she noticed Mrs. Sutton shake her head, Ugh, no, Margaret. The least you can do is try to be grateful!

Better, Anya smirked, glad to be recognized, until she noticed Mister Sumdac pick up the bad guy's gun. At first, she thought he was gonna use it like her papa would and kick butt, but then he took out the magazine, throwing it and the bullets in a nearby trash can before grabbing the barrel and holding the gun like a club. Even then, he looked uncomfortable just holding it in his hands, like it was infected or something. Wondering why, Anya turned to Sari and opened her mouth to ask.

But almost like she was the mind reader between them, Sari beat her to it and answered, "Dad really doesn't like weapons."

"Oh…" Anya breathed out. She wanted to ask why, but Mister Sumdac was already talking again.

"Follow me. We need to find the staff room. From there, we can barricade ourselves in and figure out an escape route," He began leading the way, Sari picking up the ball she'd thrown while Anya reached into the trash can and took out the magazine and bullets.

Sari looked at her funny, "Anya, what are-"

"We can still use them," Anya said while Penelope complained to her parents about leaving her Powdered Sugar toy behind, even when they shushed her and kept her close. "Your papa doesn't have to shoot anyone, but maybe I can take the bullets out trip one of the robbers?"

Anya's answer was met with a nod. Having everything they needed, she and Sari rejoined the group and stuck close, moving slowly and low to the ground to avoid drawing any attention. She was feeling a little less scared, but it never went away. And the more she looked at Mister Sumdac and the Suttons, the more she wished Mama and Papa were here.

But Papa was at work, and Mama…

Where are you? Between Mama taking too long and Bond running off, Anya could only assume that the Secret Police attacked her and she was busy fighting them. The more she thought about it, the more she calmed down.

This was Mama. She could handle it.

Yor grunted and sidestepped the machine's stomp, leaping back as and jumping high to try and climb on. Just as he was about to bat her away, she somersaulted in midair and landed her feet on his arm. The moment he moved, Yor used the extra momentum to push herself away, flying off and grabbing the railing of a still intact walkway and landing on it. The instant her feet landed, she heard the telltale sound of his gatling cannon priming, forcing her to run as a barrage of bullets tore apart everything behind her.

Even through the flames and smoke, she could see the end of the walkway, broken and mangled as it was, but she could also see the chains dangling from the ceiling. With grim determination, the moment she neared the end, Yor leapt into the air and grabbed one of the chains, using it to swing right back around to her opponent while continuing to dodge the onslaught of firepower. However, the bullets ceased once she was nearing him at high speeds, where he charged and jumped into the air, intending to grab her from the chain. He almost did too, but Yor let go and flew upward just past his head and toward the ceiling, using her hands and feet to push off and descend on him, kicking the back of his head hard enough to make him stumble. Not letting up, she grabbed at his helm to hold on, winding her fist back and delivering a punch that knocked his head to the side and sending him to his knees.

Jeez! That hurts! Yor reflexively shook her wrist to stave off the pain. Whatever material he was made of was too much for her to reliably punch through like most things. Combined with her strength having waned from the previous punch she took, coupled with the surrounding flames and smoke weakening her by the minute, she needed to end things fast.

Now with an opening, she took her knife and aimed for the circuitry she could see around his neck, driving it downward before he had a chance to recover, hoping to severe something important and kill him quick.

Those hopes died when the knife shattered on impact.

And their corpse was completely desecrated when her opponent began to stand, taking advantage of her stunned state to grab her.

"GAH!" Not for the first time in her life, Yor felt the pain of her entire body being put in a hydraulic press, the hands trying to crush her. It took everything she had to keep that from happening, her strength against his. Opening her eyes amidst it all, she looked up and glared into his crimson eye, visible through the broken glass of his visor. Near the beginning of the battle, she'd hypothesized that it was a potential weak point, but with how her previous knife shattered against the first potential one, coupled with the fact that she was down to her last…

Don't see any other options right now! Yor struggled, slowly pushing his grip open, forcing him to shift his grasp to crush her in one hand. He lifted upward with clear intent to slam her into the ground, but right as his hand went up, Yor managed to break free, sending her flying back. Spinning backwards, she realigned herself and readied her knife, staring down at the machine as their eyes met. Time almost seemed frozen the instant she threw the knife as hard as she could, launching it toward its target with nothing to stop it. Right as it neared his eye, Yor hoped against hope that this would blind and weaken him, giving her, at the very least, some much needed breathing room.

The eye is clearly made out of some kind of glass, I threw it with everything I had, I've broken through his glass window already, and my knives have pierced through glass before. This has to do somethi-

The knife shattered against his eye, leaving Yor gaping as she landed and slid back against a blood covered floor.

"That's… that's impossible…" She muttered, questioning just what on Earth her opponent was even made of. Between the durability of his armor, the transforming abilities, how even striking at what looked like weak points was a fool's errand, it was almost like every facet of his being was something that shouldn't exist! No, Yor shook her head and steeled her gaze towards the metal monster, who glowered down at her and seemed ready to attack again, You were able to hurt him before. He's not invincible. He just wants you to think he is. The moment you let him get to you like that means he's already won. Don't let him.

Clearly, her knives weren't of any help, small as they were and lacking the durability to withstand impact with him. She needed something bigger and tougher to hurt him with. Her eyes began darting all across her current field of vision for something to work with, not letting them off her opponent for a single nanosecond.

Just as his arm shifted into its energy cannon, she saw the steel beams and iron chains scattered behind him. And just as he aimed the cannon, she knew exactly what to do.

But before she could, he fired, not at her, but at the walls far to her sides and even far behind her. Cracks began to run along above where he blasted, reaching the ceiling as the structural integrity came undone. Gasping, Yor resisted the urge to cough as smoke entered her lungs and blitzed forward, realizing at the last second that it's what the living machine wanted. Not wanting to fall into his trap, she took the closest dilapidated piece of large equipment in front of her and used it as a jumping off point, sending herself to the wall at her right. The moment her feet landed, she kept up the momentum, and ran along the wall, using her speed and hard stomps to anchor herself.

Her opponent didn't like that, blasting away at everything behind and just above her to force her down. It didn't work, as she instead forced her body to run faster until she was in a position to launch herself for the chain. He tried to make another grab for her, with him just barely missing her by a hair. The moment she was on the ground, Yor rolled and took the chain as she stood up, wrapping one end around her arm and sending the other for one of the steel beams that she kicked into the air, tying it up like a lasso. Once wrapped, she spun it in the air and threw the beam to his chest before he could make a move for her, which knocked him back with a groan of pain.

Refusing to give him a moment to breath (could living machines breath?) she spun herself around like a wrecking ball, smacking the beam into his face twice over when, on the final spin, she jostled the chain loose, launching the long metal bar into his chest again, this time with enough force to send him crashing into the wall behind him.

That's when the sound of cracking stone and groaning metal echoed among the roaring flames, a telltale sign that the building was on the edge of collapse.

I gotta get out of here, Yor quickly wrapped more of the chain around her, enveloping her waist and other arm, which took hold of the opposite end. She quickly ran for the hole leading outside, dodging, serving, and jumping past falling debris as she did so. As she neared the exit, she pushed herself forward, leaping far from the collapsing building and turning back to watch it crumble. Nothing remained but a mix of a massive cloud of dust which covered a mountain of stone and steel.

There's no way that's the end of it, Yor tightly clutched the other end of the chain, watching the rubble with worry, After all that, there's no way he could've gone down from just a falling factory.

Right on cue, the silhouette of a large metal fist punched through the rubble, sending debris flying into the air and scattering around her. The machine rose out and stood atop the mound, features hidden by the haze of smoke and dust that surrounded everything in sight. Leaping down and prowling around Yor, appearing undamaged from having a factory collapse on him. He stared at her with his one visible eye, seemingly… impressed.

It disgusted her.

Gritting her teeth, she looked to the surrounding debris and saw amidst the broken stone a large piece of jagged, curved metal. It was likely a ceiling fragment that became bent out of shape from everything that happened, but it almost resembled a blade. With that in mind, she launched the chain, knocking it into the air and twisting to wrap the metal up, pulling back and spinning it to generate a light gust that dispersed some of the haze around her. It wasn't much, but her lungs had less to worry about, however little that was.

Once more, her opponent smiled. Whether it was at her ingenuity or choice of weapon, she didn't know. It certainly didn't make her revulsion fade in the slightest. All she knew for certain was that the end of his right hand shifted, forming a large buzzsaw that revved up, spinning just as fast as her makeshift chain-sickle. Both of them stood almost perfectly still, the only movement in the air being that of their weapons.

The machine made the first move, so fast Yor almost couldn't track it. Rather than charge, he punched the ground, his saw tearing into it before he tore it out, sending a barrage of jagged stone and dirt her way. Before it hit, Yor jumped high, flipping upside down and twirling over it to launch her chained blade at him. He reacted in kind, just as quickly deflecting with his saw as she landed, spinning to send it his way again, this time for the opposite side. Just as it was about to connect, he blocked it with his left arm, which shifted to form his gatling cannons that spun, pulling Yor along and yanking her off the ground.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Yor panicked, her voice getting raspy from all the smoke and dust that'd been going through it. With his left hand raised, he spun her around like a twisted amusement park ride, likely intending to slam her into everything and everything until she gave out. Not giving him the chance, Yor began to unfurl the chain around her waist, increasing its length until by the final spin, her boots made contact with the roof of a smaller, adjacent factory warehouse. Putting her strength into her legs, she forced herself to a total halt and whipped the chain free from his gatling gun, pulling it back.

Right as she wrapped it around her waist again, however, the machine jumped high into the air and landed across from her on the rooftop with almost disturbing grace, careful not to let his weight collapse it. Between his sheer size and weight, she figured that the roof beneath him would collapse regardless of caution, yet he now treated it no different than any other surface.

Why do I keep expecting him to make any sense? Not like what he even was made sense to begin with. Regardless, Yor's brief moment of panic was just as quickly replaced with the familiar rush of conviction as she sent the chain sweeping for his legs, hoping to wrap him up and knock him off. Instead, he lifted his foot and stomped on the chain, about to bring his saw down to deprive her of the weapon. Thinking quick, Yor pulled herself forward, darting like a bullet between his legs as she just barely avoided the buzzsaw and recovered her chain-sickle, sliding far back behind him.

Yor launched the chain forward in a spinning slash, blade meeting saw in a clash of sparks. Spinning it at her side, she threw it out and slashed away again, this time for his head, only to once more be deflected. Clash for clash, spark for spark, both of them were attacking as rapidly as they could, Yor trying to keep him on his (metaphorical) toes to prevent him from doing anything else. Neither of them was able to bypass each other, until finally, she found it.

A moment of carelessness.

The upward slash she delivered sent his own arm up in kind, opposite side too well-guarded, but his right was now defenseless. Using her leg, she wrapped the chain around it and kicked it downward, the makeshift blade connecting with the circuits between the armor plating of the shoulder and body.

"ARGH!" He roared in pain as the blade stabbed into him. He tried to reach for it, but Yor refused to let him get a hold of it and gain the advantage. Instead, she pulled back as hard as she could, tearing the chain-sickle from his shoulder. Upon grabbing it, she looked to see him groaning in pain, a blue substance oozing out of his wound like blood.

Bumblebee felt like he had to yawn. After a long day of just sitting and waiting for Loid to finish work, he'd been repressing the urge to just drive off and do something else, preferably get back to work gathering Energon for the base. But each time, he had to remind himself why it was a bad idea to do so right now.

Loid was at work, and people would notice. Thus, the daily grind.

Things weren't completely monotonous. He got to knock around that rude, dancing femme with the emotionless face who called him "ugly" and "too small and weak". He was quite adorable and capable, thank you! And even before that, there was the other femme who… concerned him. The way she screamed and pointed at him was scary, as if she knew exactly who and what he was.

But I honestly don't remember ever running into her. And I think I would have noticed if someone saw me out of vehicular form. Maybe she just hates the color yellow or something? In any case, Bumblebee still had a ways to go before Loid's work ended, so best buckle up and-

"BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!"

What the- The Autobot emblem on his steering wheel flashed a bright red, his scanners detecting… This can't be right. Can it?

An open Energon signature?

The machine placed his large metal hand against the wound, much like Yor did with her own, pulling back and staring at the blue liquid pouring out. He clenched his fist and looked to her, those same flecks of that ugly admiration still present, but there was now a semblance of annoyance dancing within his visible eye as well.

Good, Yor readied her chain-sickle, spinning it slowly, Glad I'm having an effect.

It was against who she was, being so petty and personal toward an opponent. She'd always been taught to remember that they were people, yes, but to also treat them only as targets. Never more and never less, for getting attached or holding grudges was always a potential death knell for any assassin. But this… this… whatever he was, after everything he'd threatened, everything he'd done, ignited a fire in her heart that wouldn't die out.

Not so long as he lived.

So, despite the danger to herself, she didn't care. She welcomed her anger. She'd let it fuel her, and it'd help her kill him.

Yor took a stance, bladed end of the chain spinning behind her as the opposite hand was held toward the machine. With it, she beckoned him, leveling a small, fake smile as a taunt. The gesture was met with immediate viciousness as the machine aimed his saw blade at her and, to Yor's surprise, fired it. The spinning buzzsaw turned on its side and flew for her so fast that she almost couldn't dodge, sidestepping it by the skin of her teeth and watching as it tore into the roof, embedding itself deep within the metal.

You're mine now! Yor rushed toward him, spinning her weapon and delivering a long-range strike for his right hand, which he caught as she'd hoped he would. He pulled back just as she pulled forward, sending her rocketing toward his closed fist, which she flew past, using the chain to swing around him. Unwrapping it from her waist and arm, she swung more and more around the machine, using her speed, weight, and strength to force his right fist into his face. Yor then followed that up by swinging herself all around his body and ensnaring his left arm to it, preventing him from using his weapons. The gatling gun couldn't be aimed for her, the buzzsaw was far away from him, he could no longer reach for his lightning baton, and if he tried to use that energy cannon, he'd blow up his own head.

"Don't even think about moving!" She snarled, now standing at the back of his neck, pulling the chain to hold it all together. She strained under the effort as he pulled and pushed against the bindings, the entire battle having severely exhausted her. If felt like she was running on nothing but fumes, yet she persisted.

It's almost done. You have him right where you want him. Just end it! Yor wasn't sure how she could do that though. Her current position stayed her hand since she risked freeing him if she so much as moved wrong. That wasn't even getting into how she had no clue about his biology or the fastest way to kill him, or if he even could be killed. Did he have something resembling vital organs she could target? And how would she get past his armor? She couldn't use her weapon where she stood, but maybe she could try and physically tear into his circuits? Whatever she was supposed to do, Yor didn't have long to think about it, since her captive foe started chuckling in a low, deep, mechanical tone that sent a chill down her spine.

"Clever move, for an organic," The machine said, voice praising and mocking in equal measure, turning his head as much as he could in his position to see her. His red eye was filled with condescension, "But clever won't be enough… assassin."

At his final word, Yor's eyes went wide, thoughts running in a panic, H-He knows!? How!? The battle must've clued him in. I revealed too much about myself and now he knows! But… but it almost sounds like he's fought against other assassins before. Does that mean he knows about The Garden? Does he know about the Shopkeeper? What else does he know!?

Amidst all her questions, her grip began to loosen, and before she could even begin to rectify it, a loud hum met her ear. It sounded like it was coming from his right hand, drawing her attention to see the wrist was now glowing bright blue. The glow almost distracted her from the familiar echo of a buzzsaw screaming in the air, leaving her with just enough time to look up past his shoulder.

To her horror, the buzz saw, its center now sharing the same blue glow, was flying right toward them. Yelping, she ducked right as the machine began to pull his right hand away from his face despite the chains. He pulled, slowly overwhelming her weakening grip, and the buzzsaw flew between his face and fist, tearing apart the chains.

Within an instant, Yor's entire trap fell to pieces, sending her flying back as the machine turned, right fist shifting back into an energy cannon. He took aim, not at her, but at the warehouse roof, blasting away at it.

At where she would have landed.

"No, no, no, NO!" Yor plummeted down into the warehouse, flailing in the air as she tried to reorient herself. Thankfully, she managed to do so at just the last possible second and land on her feet, one knee to the floor before she began to stand up.

Unfortunately, that was when she noticed the shadow enveloping her. She looked up to see the machine's giant foot right over her, no time to even try and dodge it. As fast as she could, Yor raised her hands up and held back against the stomp, a resounding shockwave and gale force wind shaking the entire warehouse. It brought Yor to her knees and scattered away everything that wasn't bolted to the ground, even knocking down a few things that were.

It's… too… much… Yor strained, sinking deeper to the floor. Her entire body shook, covered in sweat and blood as she tried desperately to lift the foot off her. For a few, very brief moments, it seemed like it worked, and when the foot lifted, a wave of respite washed over.

Only for her everything to be bathed in agony as the foot stomped on her even harder than before, face crushed against the cracked floor. It lifted, and all she had the strength to do was moan in pain and roll over to her back, the world a dark blur of moving red lights circling around a larger, motionless light that shown in a mixture of dull gray with shades of blue. As Yor's vision began to clear, she saw a blackness loom over her and felt something envelop everything below her neck. Once she could see clearly again, nothing could be done.

She was trapped underfoot, everything hurting as the machine knelt down, arms against his knee and mask retracting to show his grinning face.

All Yor could do was glare at him, baring her teeth in a fury. Blood and bile filled her mouth as he moved his right hand behind him. The wrist glowed blue again and a familiar, muffled buzzing filled the air, the flying saw blade tearing through a wall and roaring into the room as it returned back into his hand.

"Not bad, assassin," His metal teeth glimmered in the dark, raising his left hand and playing with something between his fingers. Yor's glare only intensified when she saw that it was a small knife.

Her knife.

Must be the one from his steering wheel, Yor remembered how she stabbed it, how it was the only damage her knives could manage against him. Those knives had seen her through many battles, and yet they were reduced to nothing against this new foe.

"Now…" He flicked the knife into the air and caught it like a coin, "Where is the Autobot?"

Yor glared up at him, "I… I don't know wh-HRRK!" She felt his foot press down hard against her, forcing the air out of her lungs. With what little room she had, Yor moved her hands enough that her palms pressed against it, pushing hard as she spat out, "I don't even know what that is!"

He evidently didn't like that answer, pressing his foot down harder and leaving Yor barely able to breath. The screech of his buzzsaw filled the warehouse as he held it out, slowly bringing it down upon her. "Last chance," He drawled out, clearly not believing her, "Where. Is. The Autobot?"

"E-Even if I… knew… what an Autobot was… I-" Yor opened one of her eyes, continuing to glare in defiance, "I still wouldn't tell you anything!"

Yor accepted that would be her death knell, watching as he lowered the saw down upon her. Closing her eyes, she could hear it draw closer and closer to her neck. She thought of Loid, of Anya, of Yuri, of Mikaela, of Martha, and of her City Hall co-workers, saying goodbye to each one of them. Right when the blade reached centimeters above her neck, she closed her eyes even tighter.

I'm sorry, She thought, trying to make peace with what felt like her final moments, I failed you all. Mom, dad, I'll see you soon.

But suddenly, the blade stopped. Yor opened her eyes to see the machine pull up, looking down at her in a mix of curiosity and confusion. It was an expression that she was certain was on her face too, bloody and bruised as it was.

"You really don't know. Do you?" He asked, the pressure from his foot lessening ever so slightly. Yor refused to answer him though, leaving the machine to ponder, fingers rubbing at his chin. He looked up to the skylight he made in the storage building, as if trying to assess the situation before he finally looked down at her again, reapplying the same pressure from before.

I don't know if I can take much more of this, Yor pushed with all her might, but at this point, there was so little left to give.

"Some time ago, either you or your Conjunx Endura came into possession of a vehicle baring this symbol," He held out his right hand and opened it, emitting a yellow light, "Do you deny it?"

The light projected an image of a metallic face. It looked exactly like the one on-

Bumblebee? Yor gasped, unsure of what she was witnessing, Is he saying that Bumblebee's the-

"All I needed to know, organic," The machine cruelly remarked with a smug, tooth baring smirk, making Yor realize that he'd been just as much gauging her reactions. She gave him what he wanted without even saying a word! And just as much as him, so too did she, and his intent was clear.

Yor was of no further use to him.

Once more, he powered up his saw and held it up high, this time intent to smash it into her face. Yor strained herself once more, trying to push the foot off enough to get out despite her exhaustion, but he kept the pressure up and wouldn't budge.

Have to… get out! Yor screamed within her own head, glaring at the monster taking clear amusement in her struggle. It was all but guaranteed that he'd target Anya next, followed by Loid, all while killing anyone in his way until he got what he wanted. And with this… this demon's personality, there wasn't a doubt in Yor's mind that he'd just keep killing and killing even after he achieved his goals.

But just as he brought the buzzsaw down…

"BORF!"

Bond!? Yor looked in the bark's direction and saw the Forger family dog, swinging in from on high via a ceiling chain that he held on to with his teeth, a large hook at the end of the chain itself. The mechanical devil was so caught up with her that he didn't see Bond until he started wrapping the chain around his right arm, stopping it just before he could tear Yor to bloody chunks. Now caught off-guard, he watched as Bond let go, jumping off from his grip as the chain began to pull his arm up.

Bond must have hit a lever before he started swinging! Yor silently thanked her dog and felt a surge of renewed strength, Now's my chance!

Taking advantage of her opponent's distracted state, she pushed one last time against the foot with as much force as she could muster. It lifted, finally giving Yor the room she needed to get up and out from underneath the machine. Frantically searching the room, her eyes locked with Bond's and she made a mad dash for him. Upon grabbing the dog, she bolted for the large hole behind the monster made when he summoned his saw blade earlier, jumping through it just when she heard the sounds of a chain being shattered and a ceiling collapsing.

"Hang on, Bond!" Yor ran through the area as swiftly as possible, eventually reaching the streets and jumping from rooftop to rooftop, all in a bid to put as much distance between them and that demon. She had no idea how long this was kept up, nor did she even know what direction she was heading, being completely aimless about it. The only thing Yor knew was that she heard the sounds of destruction and energy blasts far in the distance become increasingly muffled the further she ran.

And she had no intention of stopping until she knew they were safe.

Thankfully, it wasn't long before she was rooftop running in the familiar, cleaner, more populated areas of Berlint. The casual hustle and bustle, coupled with the peaceful ambiance, was enough to let Yor know that they'd gotten away. From here, she could see a few notable landmarks, the current building she was on being a sports hall.

"We better get back to the mall," Yor told Bond as the two of them landed to the building's side, "Anya must be worried sick!"

"Borf!" Bond seemed even more eager to get back, yet he also seemed worried. Must've been the encounter with that robotic devil from before. Either way, she ran around the corner and almost reached the front entrance, intent on continuing along the fastest route she knew.

Don't worry Anya, I'm on my wa-

Suddenly her face hit the concrete, body refusing to listen to her anymore.

What? Why can't… I… Yor understood what was happening. The last of her strength had been used up. All that remained was this sense of tired. She wasn't sure if she could even feel pain anymore, her entire body so completely and utterly numb to everything, even Bond's face licks to try and get her to wake up.

"Oh my God!" Yor heard a muffled voice, followed by footsteps racing to her location. Her body was rolled to its side, a blur shaped like a woman circling around to kneel in front of her. Gently, or at least Yor assumed so, she held and shook her, "Miss! MISS!?"

Then in came another voice, "Melinda! What happened!?"

"I don't know, but this woman is in bad shape and needs a hospital. Run back inside and call an ambulance!"

Muffled footsteps ran, the world becoming even more blurry, and the last thing she heard, besides Bond's barking, was the woman's voice.

"Miss, can you hear me? Please stay with us. We're going to get you some help, just hold on for a while. Everything will be okay."

Those last words repeated in her mind as the world faded to black.

Everything will be okay.

Everything will be okay.

Everything will... be... o... kay...

Phew! I think that's everyone, Anya wiped the sweat from her face, helping Mister Sumdac bring the (hopefully) last of the hostages into the staff room in the far back of the store, All in a day's work for Starlight Anya!

Okay, so it wasn't as super easy or cool as Anya hoped it would be. Sure, she was able to trip one of them by spilling the bullets onto the floor, hitting his head hard enough to get knocked out cold, and Sari got another one with a slingshot. Didn't completely knock the robber out and she almost got both of them, but in came Mister Sumdac swinging the rifle like a bat. It was so cool to watch!

Not as cool as her papa kicking butt, but still pretty cool.

And sure, Mister Sumdac's thoughts made it very, very clear that he didn't like doing it, but Anya still appreciated him protecting everyone. She knew Sari appreciated it too.

Lucky Sari. So lucky that her papa loves and protects her even when he knows about her. So lucky to know it for a fact and not be scared that it wasn't.

Anya shook that last thought off, What was that?

Why did she suddenly start thinking about that now?

"Good, there's a phone in here," overhearing Mister Sumdac, Anya put that aside and ran in, seeing everyone huddled for safety while Sari's dad checked the phone at the table, "I'll try and call the mall's security and tell them where we are. If they know we're safe for the moment, then they can break through the gate and send people inside without worrying over us."

Just like sending a distress signal in norse code! Anya got excited, almost jumping and clapping her hands as she remembered all the times Bondman did this on TV. She even remembered seeing through Papa's memories when he did the same thing during a few of his past missions. Something about emergency extractions after retrieving a "target" or "asset".

"Penny, no, don't-!" Hearing the loud whisper of Penelope's mama, Anya turned to her, then to the door just in time to see it open and slowly begin closing.

"What happened?"

"Our daughter, she…" Mr. Sutton started before realizing he was talking too loud, "She said she forgot something and ran out to go get it."

"It's too dangerous. I need to go get her!" Mrs. Sutton almost stood up, but the other hostages stopped her. A bunch of whispered arguments started up, saying that they'll just get them all caught and end up back where they started. Either that or really, really dead. At least one or two of them had thoughts that were VERY mean about it too.

Forget it. That rich brat signed her death warrant the moment she ran out of here for some stupid reason. It isn't my problem.

Honestly, better her than any of us. Plus, these folks seem like those high and mighty rich types. Doubt they actually care about their kid.

They were starting to make Anya mad, even though she still didn't like Penny.

As Mister Sumdac tried to calm the ensuing argument down, Anya looked back at all of them and then to the door. Quietly, she tip toed for it, slowly opened it just a bit, then closed it behind her. Looking both ways and trying to hear for any bad guy thoughts, she started sneaking around, trying to find Penny. She looked down each aisle to see if there was a bad guy stalking it.

Don't look like there's many bad guy stalkers left, Anya thought as she kept looking, The rest gotta be at the front with the mall police.

Found it!

That was- Anya heard Penny's thoughts and started making her way to them, sneaking down an aisle or two. She had to walk past a couple bad guys that she, Sari, and Mister Sumdac knocked out cold. It didn't look like they were gonna wake up, but Anya didn't want to take any chances, especially since she could still hear their thoughts.

They were muffled and slow, but still there.

Finally, she saw Penelope from afar, back turned to her, when she sneaked down to the end of an aisle and turned a corner. She was in the middle of trying to lift the life sized Powdered Sugar figure that fell out of its box, only to trip because it was just too big. A lot of her thoughts were really frustrated about it.

Why do you weigh so much, Powdered Sugar!?

Oh, she came back for the toy! Anya kinda got it, if she was being honest with herself. If Mister Chimera or Penguin got lost where the bad guys were, she'd probably want to get them back too. Or try and get Mama or Papa to get them for her. Penny didn't have Anya's mama and papa to do that, though.

But right before Anya could go get Penny, she started hearing a bunch of different thoughts at once coming from an aisle just behind the rich girl.

Ugh, still no clue what the hell even hit us.

The ceilings in this place are weak.

Why does this kind of thing always gotta happen to us?

No, some of the bad guys are waking up! Anya hid behind the corner and poked her head out, watching as the three robbers from before (Aaron, Nino, and Sammy) walked out and spotted Penelope.

"Greetings child!" Aaron said in the same funny way as before, but he sounded like his usual angry self, scaring Penny, "Where art thine folks?" Seriously, where are they? I haven't seen any hostages around since waking up. Did the employer move them to the front of the store for negotiations?

"I-I-I-"

"Easy Aaron, you're scaring the kid." Kinda part of the point, but still… Nino knelt down and asked, "Did you get separated from your parents?"

"I… uh, k-kinda?" Can't let them know where everyone's hiding!

"Well Sugar Plum, might as well keep you company until negotiations are done," Sammy said, leaning against the end of an aisle and putting her gun away. The three robbers just quietly kept an eye on Penelope, Nino pacing, Sammy leaning, and Aaron huffing. Penny was scared out of her mind, but Anya could tell that none of them wanted to hurt her at all. Not even Aaron, though she was pretty sure that was because Penny wasn't making fun of his voice.

Or saying anything at all, just keeping her eyes on the floor.

How do I get those three away from her? Anya sat down behind her cover and started thinking as hard as she could. This was starting to feel a lot like when she had to save Mama from that Red Circus villain when she was out with Papa, but back then, he was thinking of how to make a bomb, which she used against him. None of the evil people here were thinking of how to make anything explosive. They were all thinking of what to do with the money after the heist.

Except for the crazy guy. That guy was a jerk.

The problem here was that she needed to knock out all three at once to get Penelope away from them. If she didn't, they'd alert the bad guy bosses up front and make things worse. Checking her current aisle, there weren't any toy cars to try the tripping thing from before, and there weren't any balls to throw around or slingshots to use either.

"Say, that's a life-size Powdered Sugar, right?" Sammy asked, leading to Anya poking her head out again in order to see what was going on.

"Y-Yeah…" Penny answered, still not looking up at any of them, "She shoots r-rainbows and stuff…"

"Huh, neat! Didn't know these things could do that," Nino looked the unicorn over, wondering how it worked, Does it actually shoot a laser or something?

Between Samantha's giggle at her husband and Aaron sighing before twisting the horn off to pour water into it, Anya actually almost forgot the three of them were robbers attacking the store. If the small smile on Penelope's face was anything to go by, even she forgot about that for a little bit.

When she pressed something on the horse, shooting a mist of water with a rainbow in it, her smile became a bit brighter at the three bad guys. "Thanks!" She said before remembering who she was talking to, "I-I mean, you're all bad guys! But… t-thanks…"

"Fair enough, Sugar Plum," Samantha shrugged, not taking it personally.

"Yeah, we kinda made peace with the whole 'we're bad people' thing a long time ago. Can't really go around doing what we do and claim moral high ground, y'know?" Nino rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

"Those may be your thoughts, but I prefer to see mine self as a swashbuckling gentleman who steals from the rich and gives to the poor!" Aaron threw in with crossed arms, a smug smile as he added, "Namely, ourselves."

The three laughed, and surprisingly, Penelope laughed with them. It was super awkward, but also weirdly genuine, at least from what Anya could pick up reading her emotions. In the middle of it all, Anya was distracted from thinking about ways to try and save Penny, but then she was distracted by something else.

Sari poking her head out two aisles ahead of her.

Did she follow me to help? Anya wondered, the redhead hiding back behind the aisle. None of the people ahead were looking their way, so Anya poked her head out even further to see what Sari was planning and-

TSCHE-CHU-CHU-CHU-TSCHE!

Anya almost gasped at the sound, so much like the one Bumblebee made but also so much lighter. Poking her head out just a little bit more, she saw Sari sitting down, her hands having come apart just like in Mister Sumdac's memory. This time though, there was a glowing ball of energy between them.

Sooooo coooool!

Hope this works! Sari thought as she was about to stand. Anya feared being seen, so she went back to her hiding spot, only poking her head out just a tiny bit this time. Sari leaned out a bit, the ball of energy in one hand, and looked up to the ceiling just above the three store bandits. Anya could feel Sari forcing her worries down when she threw the energy blast at the ceiling, causing rubble and debris to fall down on them all over again. The three of them screamed in a panic right as they got buried, leaving behind a very scared and very confused Penelope.

With dust gathering, Anya took the opportunity to get out of her hiding spot and run to grab Penelope by the shoulders, shaking her, "Penny! Come on, we gotta go hide!"

"W-Wha-ANYA!" Penelope looked back, her thoughts sounding touched with tears in her eyes, Y-You came to get me?

Anya was here the whole time? D-Did she see me blast the ceiling? Does she know? Anya could feel Sari panicking behind her. She turned and saw the robot girl poking her head out, wide-eyed and worried. Sari saw her and hid behind the aisle, making Anya realize she made a mistake. But before she could go to her and lie that she didn't see anything…

"Could someone tell me what's going on over here!?"

Anya went rigid as three more bad guy robbers stormed in, pointing guns at them. The tallest saw the three robbers sticking out of the debris and grabbed Aaron by the arm, pulling him out. As the three started to wake up, he yelled, "Get up you idiots! I'm not paying you to sleep on the job!"

This guy must be the boss.

"And as for you two…" He snapped a finger and the other two that came with him grabbed them by the backs of their collars. They tried to shake and panic out when he demanded, "What happened to the rest of the hostages? Start talking!"

"I-" Anya bit her tongue when a knife was brought to her throat, reminding her too much of those dog terrorist bombers.

"Hey, leave them alone!" Sari yelled from behind them. The robber guys turned, Anya seeing Sari look ready to punch them in the kneecaps. Too bad she didn't notice the last robber, a much bigger, taller, stronger man, walk up from behind until his shadow loomed over her. He grabbed her by the back of her shirt right when she turned, holding her out so she couldn't do anything.

Anya knew she could blast him, but not without revealing her secret.

Ugh, always hated kids, The big burglar thought, walking to the boss with all three girls held out, "What should we do with them?"

"Bring them out front. We can't find the others, so they'll have to do," He said, glaring at Anya, Penny, and Sari. The whole thing made the three robbers from earlier nervous.

Nino stepping up first, "What exactly are you planning, sir?"

"Just planning on using two of them as hostages."

T-Two?

"And the third?"

"... an example."

E-Example!?

"Hold up just one stinkin' minute!" Samantha barged in, angrily pointing her finger in the boss's face, "That wasn't part of the deal! You said no kids were gonna get hurt!"

"That was before we lost the other hostages," He shoved her finger away, I can't afford to let the authorities outside know that they got an advantage or else they'll swarm the place. This will all be for nothing if that happens and I ain't letting us get caught. They need to know we mean business so my crew can get paid and get away. If I gotta off just one kid, and only one kid, to make sure of that, then so be it. Staying out of jail's more important than anything else. Besides, none of them are my kids. "If you got a problem with it, then it's coming out of your pay." He turned to the others, who still held the three girls, "Now bring them out front."

Anya could only hang helplessly as she and the others were dragged away, trying to jostle out to no effect. She looked back at Nino, Samantha, and Aaron, who all looked conflicted and regretful as they stayed put and stared at each other.

They were helpless, and no one was coming to save them now. No one could save them now.

This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all.

We're doomed!

Loid let out a sigh of relief as he took a disposable cup from the water dispenser, counting the individual bubbles that rose up as he filled it. Now full to the top, he took a sip and turned his head over to the blue seats filling the waiting area, scanning for any faces belonging to high profile intel sources in business or politics. It was part of his daily routine, often in the hopes that despite his reclusive nature, his primary target, Donovan Desmond, would check in for whatever unknown reason. So far, nothing of the sort came about. He'd grown to accept it, despite the mild disappointment, as it was a long shot anyway.

Actually, there were very few patients today, but that was understandable given recent events.

Hard to believe such murders could've happened without our notice, Twilight gripped the cup tightly, using all his self-control to avoid crushing it. The debacle spoke volumes to how far he'd fallen as a spy if he could go so long without realizing such a thing happened so close to him. His mind thought of as many possibilities for who the killer could be, as well as what motive they had. Between the sheer gruesomeness of the deaths and the fact that they were done in such a long, painful manner, he could only think of one possible motive: Sadism.

Normally, Twilight wouldn't worry so much at this. He'd fought sadists and sociopaths before, bested them all, and ensured they'd never hurt anyone again. But with how this one managed to get away with it, his clearly degrading espionage capabilities, and the current circumstances surrounding Operation: STRIX, it left Loid wondering…

If this killer… if they did this outside my home… Loid's thoughts began spiraling. If Anya or Bond went off to play, or if they and Yor went for a walk and this same killer just so happened to be nearby… Would I notice before it was too late? What if I don't? What if I can't save them?

"Dr. Forger," came a voice from his side, snapping Loid out of his ever-darkening musings. Turning his head, he saw a couple of his fellow hospital staff approach him, both of their faces marred with worry. "We've been checking in on everyone to see if they were alright," one of them rubbed at her arm, eyes to the floor, "I mean, besides the whole… y-y'know? And the State Security Service coming in…"

Right, them too. "I'm doing quite fine, but I'll admit that the whole thing was terrifying," Loid replied, sounding as reassuring as possible as a hand to his pocket while he took another sip of water. It didn't take long for the State Security Service to catch on that two of their own had been murdered here, which led to the hospital staff, Loid included, being interviewed – or rather, interrogated – for answers. Thankfully, Loid was able to ward off any suspicion and answer their questions. He supposed it was just good luck that Yuri wasn't among them, chomping at the bit as he was for any excuse to have him executed.

Then again, there wasn't any way he could've been here, given that it'd "reveal" his true occupation to Loid, which carried the risk of him informing Yor. At least as far as Yuri knew, of course. In a way, his desire to protect Yor was just as much a benefit to Loid as it was a hindrance.

"I'm just grateful none of us were taken in for questioning. I fear I wouldn't last a day in their custody," said the second doctor, releasing a nervous sigh as he went to get a water cup of his own. The rest of his co-workers were able to do the same as him and avert suspicion, though it was clear that the experience combined with the killings left everyone on edge.

"Is it wrong to say I wouldn't have minded if Director Gorey got arrested?" The nurse huffed, crossing her arms, "I-I honestly don't think he's responsible, but with how much of an arrogant jerk that guy is, something needs to be done about him."

Ah yes, the Chief Medical Director, Loid repressed a grimace just thinking about the man, who seemingly loathed him the longer he worked at this hospital. Despite Loid's best efforts to get on his good side through gifts and compliments, Gorey only seemed to gnash his teeth more and more, envying all the praise he'd been receiving since beginning his cover. That same envy was what led to him trying to convince the Secret Police that Loid was the killer, citing many false claims and outright lies.

The man had no idea that Loid overheard everything from around the corner, nor did he know that the officers had already interrogated him.

Ironically enough, Gerald's efforts almost resulted in his own arrest by the State Security Service, them finding his entire demeanor suspicious, as if trying to divert attention away from himself. Taking the opportunity, and understanding full well that Gorey was innocent, Loid had stepped in to defend him. He cited that he was a respected (a lie), strong-willed (also a lie), valuable asset to the people working here (technically true) and that there's no way he could've possibly committed such a heinous act (completely true).

Still, it'd been enough to ward off their suspicions. And judging by the tearful expression Gorey had in the aftermath, he was genuinely grateful to Loid for saving him. Perhaps he'd made some progress after all.

I'd best find an opening to turn this conversation around, on the off chance he's listening in somewhere, While Loid hadn't picked up on Gorey listening in from any nearby corners, letting himself be caught in a conversation slandering the man, regardless of how justified it was, could make gaining assignment to VIP patients a bigger challenge than necessary. The potential intel from them could make or break his mission, for all he knew.

"Not to mention the way that man stalks after Miss Frost. Frankly, and I hope I'm not out of line for saying this, Dr. Forger, but I think you'd make a much better Chief Medical Director than him," His fellow doctor said with an earnest smile toward him, which was matched only by the nurse's.

"I agree."

"WAH!" The two medical staff members turned to see Agent Nightfall, currently under her alias as Fiona Frost, standing right behind them as if she'd been there to entire time.

Which she was.

"W-When did you-"

"I had just arrived, and I've already noticed Director Gorey's previous actions toward me," She interrupted the nurse, eyes narrowed so slightly that most wouldn't notice, "Don't worry about him. I can handle myself should it ever come to that."

"I know that you're more than capable," Unfortunately, he's vital towards procuring new sources of information. Though if he were actually a threat to you, I don't doubt he'd have long since been buried in six different locations outside Berlint by now. "Though at the same time, do you feel this might be a bit too harsh?" Loid still didn't pick up on the chief medical director's presence, but pressed on, "I honestly don't think anyone deserves to be arrested by the State Security Service, and Director Gorey isn't that bad."

The two staff members looked between each other while Agent Nightfall maintained her blank, emotionless gaze, never wavering from him for even a second. Loid couldn't help raising an eyebrow at that, if only because it was impossible to read his fellow WISE agent. Did she disprove of how he was going about his mission? Why?

"Heh, leave it to Dr. Forger to see the good in someone when there might not be anything," The nurse chuckled before sighing, "You're right. It's probably too harsh to wish that on anyone, but the director just drives me up a wall so much it hurts. A lot of us have too much experience with what an ass that man can be. You're still relatively new here, so I don't think you understand."

Believe me, I do, Loid recalled all the cover jobs he'd had previously. He'd dealt with people like Gorey so often it likely made up the difference the nurse was talking about.

"Not to mention all the insults and rants he goes on regarding you. How can you defend someone like that?" asked the doctor.

"Well…" Loid pondered, trying to come up with a convincing lie, "It's because I understand his frustrations with me. I don't know him, so he likely works just as hard as anyone else here." He doesn't. "Meanwhile, I just arrived, and while I'm flattered by all the praise for what I do, I don't feel like I deserve it." I really don't. This is just a cover job. Nothing more. Twilight reminded himself strongly of that last part. Smiling, he finished, "So, put in his shoes, I'd probably be reacting the same way."

Once more, a pair of side glances and a blank stare behind them. "Honestly, I don't believe that for a second, Dr. Forger," The nurse gave a reassuring smile, Agent Nightfall's finger twitching for some reason, and said, "You're just so kind and honest with everyone. There's no way you'd be like Director Gorey."

Both of those are categorically untrue, Twilight thought, a bitterness in the back of his throat that he couldn't explain. He was neither honest nor a good person by any stretch of the imagination. He was a spy of WISE, a man whose life was defined by secrecy, lies, and doing anything and everything possible to see a mission through, no matter how the cost to himself or others. Though he'd made peace with this fact long ago, he couldn't help envy those who didn't possess such burdens.

He especially envied his wife in this regard.

Yor's been far more of both those things than I ever was, Loid couldn't help smiling, an act that drew the same reaction from his colleagues, likely convincing them that he'd accepted their compliments. Aside from the lie of their marriage, Yor had been so honest and kind to him, her life so innocent and devoid of the cruelties someone like him endured or even inflicted. And how did he repay that kindness and honesty? With lies and manipulation, all of which would one day come crashing down the day Operation: STRIX came to an end, because, unfortunately, it would one day end.

… Perhaps I'm not as at peace with this as I thought, He fought the urge to grimace, questioning why he thought of his mission ending as "unfortunate". Something like that was supposed to be a good thing. Was it because its end meant he'd have to leave his family alone and unsupported? I don't understand how. I'm already making plans to ensure that Anya will be taken care of by Yor, as well as ensure they'll never want for anything once I need to take my leave.

Though even that thought, of leaving them, made his stomach turn in ways he couldn't explain.

"Dr. Forger," Agent Nightfall stepped forward, shoving past the two staff as they glared at her, "If I may speak to you alone, I'd like to discuss something regarding a recent patient request you've put in," She said while mouthing, 'I received word from Handler regarding your request about the Sumdacs.'

That's good. Any new intel I can gain will be a great help. Nodding, Loid replied, "Very well, shall we take this to my office?"

Agent Nightfall nodded and the two were about to start walking away, but suddenly, the echo of the front doors bursting open halted them. "Everyone, out of the way!" shouted a paramedic as the wheels of a gurney rumbled, "Need an emergency room, stat! This one's really bad!"

Loid, Nightfall, and the two staff members currently with them watched as the paramedics and a civilian woman ran across the entrance area. They carried along the gurney as fast as they could, and rested on it was-

Feeling control of himself slip, Loid's eyes went wide, a cold sweat escaping his brow. The cup in his hand fell, spilling its contents on the floor as he bolted forward in a panic, a name screamed from his lips.

"YOR!"

Within a single second he reached the other end of the room and pushed past the paramedics, eyes gazing in horror at the sight of his wife in such a state. She was bleeding everywhere, covered in bandages and medical gauze across her arms and forehead. Her clothes were riddled with tears, revealing cuts both big and small, as well as bruises and first-degree burns. As Loid tried to comprehend all of this, so many questions filled the air at once.

"Wait, did Dr. Forger just call her by name?"

"That's Loid's wife?"

"Oh my God, what happened to her?"

"Poor woman!"

"Was she attacked?"

"She landed in front of me while I was leaving the sports hall," The civilian woman said, her dark, curly hair hidden beneath a bandanna and eyes behind a pair of sunglasses. She must've heard at least a few of the questions amidst the myriad. "I asked my attendant to call for here," Her entire body was shaking, eyes darting around the hospital like she was scared of it. And yet she pressed on, "I stayed with her until they arrived, but with how bad things looked, I couldn't bring myself to walk away until I was certain she'd make it." The woman looked at him, eyes and posture conveying honest sympathy, "I'm so sorry this happened."

Something about this woman seems familiar. "It's alright. You have my thanks for helping her," Loid replied, deciding that her identity didn't matter right now. He turned to the paramedics, "Get her to the emergency room."

"Doctor, don't tell us how to do our-"

"NOW!" Loid glared at the man, frightening him and the other paramedics into action. As they pushed the gurney away, he followed them alongside the civilian woman and Agent Nightfall, his hands clutching at the stretcher's side. "Yor, can you hear me?" He asked as his wife whimpered, a desperation in his voice that he didn't think possible, "You're at the hospital, alright? You're going to be fine, I promise!"

"L-Loid…" Yor moaned, delirious to her surroundings, "Bumblebee… ah… t-tobot."

What? Loid wondered what that could mean, watching his wife fall into unconsciousness. While Bumblebee was the name of the family car, what did that have to do with her current state? The car had been in its parking spot the whole time. And who or what on Earth was a "Tobit"? Was it the name of her attacker?

Who did this to her!? His hands clutched the metal of the gurney in a white hot rage, bending it beneath his fingers. No one, barring possibly his fellow WISE agent, noticed this, especially as they arrived at the emergency room. They brought her in, surgeons and doctors already prepping up, but that's when one of the paramedics stopped them, the rest wheeling Yor inside.

"I'm sorry sir, but you'll have to wait out here."

"Are you insane!? My wife's in there!"

"Exactly my point, sir. You'll just get in the way. Let the doctors do their work and-"

"I'm a doctor, let me-"

"Doctor Forger!" Nightfall's hand grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to face her. "You are emotionally compromised right now. Whether you want to accept it or not, you will just get in the way," Though her face was as emotionless as ever, Loid could see something shimmering in her eyes. It was as if it genuinely pained her to have to say all of this. Of course, he also noticed her lips mouth a different set of words, them being, 'You can't let anyone clue in on how your skill set extends beyond the field of psychiatry. Should you help them, you'll risk your cover.'

Loid glared at her for a mere moment, an unintended reaction, until the truth of her words (said and hidden) sank in. His shoulders began to sag as he took a seat in the hallway, "You're right. I'm sorry."

Whatever was said after that was muffled to his ears, everything from the past five minutes just sinking in like a ship's anchor. So many questions filled his mind: Who attacked Yor? How powerful or dangerous was this attacker that they could do this to her? Where was Anya? Was she still with the Sumdacs? Was she safe?

But there were two questions that kept popping up the most: How could this have happened? Why did this have to happen?

Why… Loid felt a stinging wetness blur his vision. One hand went to wipe away the unprompted tears while the other felt a fuzzy sensation enter its touch. Removing the hand from his face, he looked down and saw Bond, rubbing his head against Loid's other hand in an effort to comfort him.

Had he been here the entire time? Loid had been so caught up with Yor that he hadn't even noticed. Feeling a small warmth from Bond's efforts, he gave an equally small smile and patted his head, the dog nuzzling into it. He's just as worried for her as I am, Seeing how ragged, dirty, and tired Bond was, it was likely the dog helped to bring Yor here. Here the two of them were, tearing themselves at the seams for Yor, which brought forth another realization, He needs to know what happened.

"I need to make a call," He stood up, ignoring the worried glances behind him as Bond followed. It was a risk, as he was letting the State Security Service into this building again right after they'd just left. Combined with his current state, he didn't know if he could pull the wool over someone's eyes like he normally could. But at the same time, it was all the more likely that he'd find it even more suspicious if Loid didn't call him about this and kept it hidden. That was reason enough to take the risk.

Though both of those things were the furthest from his mind right now.

Yuri's still Yor's brother. He has a right to know, Loid approached the phone and dialed for Yuri's apartment. It was likely that he was currently working with the Secret Police at the moment, but Loid knew that SSS operatives had their landlines patched in with HQ, mostly as a means of weeding out potential traitors. If the man wasn't there, his call would get through to him regardless.

Sure enough, Yuri's prerecorded voice announced that he wasn't home and asked to leave a message.

"Yuri, it's Loid. I'm calling from Berlint General Hospital. Something bad happened to Yor..."

Chapter Text

"And unfortunately, that's all the details we've gathered so far regarding the recent murders."

The first lieutenant of the State Security Service sighed and placed the dossier on the table, rubbing at his temples as a headache overtook him. He heard the shuffling of his fellow officer, Second Lieutenant Briar, who took the dossier to read for himself while Captain Gascoigne pulled out a lighter and lit the cigarette in his mouth.

"God damn…" The Captain grumbled, inhaling the smoke as he looked into the files Briar was currently reading through, which contained everything from autopsy reports of their murdered officers to photos of the crime scene. Said photos had been taken and provided by the standard law enforcement that arrived first. They were hesitant to give them at first, particularly the police commander back at their HQ, but a bit of pressure from up top convinced them to hand the evidence over.

Though the First Lieutenant felt a pang of regret in accepting the evidence, gruesome as the images were. Even with all the years under his belt, the sight was almost too much to stomach. He'd needed a good beer and a smoke break to both numb himself and process it all. And that was from a second-hand perspective.

Others seem to be having a hard time looking at it too, He analyzed their respective reactions. Gascoigne was smoking like there was no tomorrow to relieve the stress and horror of what he was looking at. Briar, on the other hand, looked like it was taking every ounce of willpower to not throw up. In that regard, he was already doing better than Chloe. After a minute, the poor young officer had to excuse herself, leaving the room with her mouth covered to no doubt lose her lunch.

Can't say I can blame her, The First Lieutenant waited for them to finish reading, but then he saw something shift in Briar's eyes. There was definitely an anger in them, no doubt fueled by two more of their own falling on their watch, but there was something else in them too. Looks like the gears are turning in his head, Knowing Yuri's analytical skills were beyond reproach, despite his eccentricities, he asked, "Notice any devils in the details, kid?"

"Yeah…" Briar muttered just loud enough for them to hear. Putting the dossier down and scattering the pictures throughout the table, he pointed to the image of the headless officer. "See here?" He asked, not pausing for answers, "Look closely at his neck."

Both the First Lieutenant and Captain, despite the images making them sick to their stomachs, did as asked and looked at the corpse in question. On his neck, it looked like there was something sunken behind the blood, almost like a hole was punctured in it. Humming in thought, he looked to Yuri and asked, "A stab wound?"

"Yeah, and whatever weapon was used seems far more cylindrical, almost like a large sewing needle. I don't know anything off the top of my head that you'd get at a local shop or black market to make those kind of stab wounds, so I'm assuming it's a custom job. And look here." Yuri pointed to the photos of the second corpse, covered from head to toe in burns that left the poor bastard unrecognizable, "These kind of burns... haven't we seen these kinds of burns before?"

"Yeah, those are electric burns," Gascoigne commented, having an easier time looking at this one than the previous, though he was no less horrified. None of them were strangers to electrocution, but this... Okay, sure, some burns were often left on the spies, spy associates, and traitors to their country that they captured and executed via the electric chair, but never ones that covered the entire body. If anything, this was far worse than anything they'd ever inflicted upon Ostania's enemies, as the burns were so severe that they entered the fourth degree.

"But you can't even get these kinds of burns with what we've got here at HQ, and that requires an entire room of equipment and electrodes attached to the bastard. In order for the killer to have done this and stolen the patrol car so quickly with no trace left requires that the equipment be compartmentalized to such a small degree, and that's... it's insane," Pulling out his flask, the First Lieutenant took a quick swig, the images still burned in his mind, but going down much easier. This job gave a lot of them sleepless nights, both from the things they saw and the things they had to do. He found it easier to sleep nowadays, mostly out of numbness from all the years, but after this? He doubted he'd be falling asleep tonight.

Thankfully, the thoughtful look on Briar's face kept him focused on work, "Anything else you're noticing?"

"No, but I'm getting some ideas," The Second Lieutenant rubbed his index finger and thumb against his chin, "That's two more of our officers killed in a sadistic manner by weapons that seem almost custom built, ranging from outlandish but plausible to flat-out impossible. Not to mention any potential trail to the killer is coming up cold, even if the killer stole one of our patrol cars. All of this sound familiar?"

"The murders at the docks," He didn't even need to think twice about it.

"You think it might be the same guy?" Gascoigne asked.

"If it isn't the same guy, then definitely part of the same group at the very least," Briar sighed and closed up the dossiers, "Guess we'll add two more names to toast tonight's drinks in honor of, huh?"

"Yeah. Seems like it," He and Gascoigne nodded in a matter-of-fact manner, respectively taking another swig of liquor and drag of smoke. With the rate they were losing good officers at, it seems as though they might be having toasts more often than they wanted. The only silver lining he could find in all this was that at the very least, they died as loyal countrymen and not traitorous scum.

In this day and age of spies from the West, it can be hard to trust anyone.

"Sir, if I may, I'd like to request being assigned to finding this killer," Briar stood at full height and gave his salute, the determination in his eyes on overdrive. Something told the superior that even if he or their other superiors said no, he'd find a way to work on it anyway.

Besides, recent events are definitely changing a few things, Sighing, the First Lieutenant pulled out a cigarette of his own and said, "You'll have to ask Director Wilker for the assignment, but he likes you enough. Not to mention with four of our own in body bags, chances are he'll want his best working this case. "

"More importantly, if you do end up working this case, make sure you don't join them," Gascoigne added, helping light the First Lieutenant's smoke. Briar gave a determined grin, but before he could respond, Chloe ran into the room, out of breath and looking worried.

"Yuri! I-I mean, Second Lieutenant!" She hastily saluted before running over, "We just picked up a call to your apartment. It's from Loid Forger."

"Ugh..." Briar grimaced, the usual annoying envy at his brother-in-law cropping up when they really didn't need it to, "What the hell does Loidy want, and where does he get the gall to interrupt someone else's work!? Doesn't he have his own jo-"

"It's your sister!" Chloe yelled, shutting Briar up, "Someone attacked Yor and she's at Berlint General Hospital! It's really, REALLY bad!"

The silence from Yuri was downright palpable. His eyes went wide and shimmered with absolute terror, as if trying to think he'd misheard, but knew that he didn't. Even with the First Lieutenant finding the kid's sister obsession frustrating at the best of times, especially when it interfered with their work, he honestly felt sorry for the poor guy here.

Especially as the silence went on to the point that it somehow became deafening.

"Yuri, you still there-"

In an instant, Yuri bolted out of the room right through the nearest wall, leaving a perfect outline of his body, "HANG ON YOR! I'M COMING!"

They all looked where he went, seeing him run through wall after wall, leaving the exact same outline. Other officers and staff in the rooms ahead looked at both the holes and the departing Yuri, equally as perplexed as them.

"Well, that's gonna put a dent on our budget," Captain Gascoigne tipped his hat upward, sounding almost amused by what Yuri was doing.

Officer Chloe, meanwhile, looked a lot more worried, "Do you think he's gonna remember that we're on the top floor of the build-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Yuri's distant cries could be heard as he plummeted all the way to the ground, a loud thump audible even from here, as well as the equally loud, "I'M OKAY!"

"Never mind," Chloe still looked worried though, and seemed to notice the First Lieutenant's lack of concern over Yuri's fall.

"What? He said he's fine," The First Lieutenant could already imagine a battered, but perfectly functional Yuri rising from a crater that just so happened to resemble all the holes he put in the top floor.

"But he could be hurt! What if he ends up in a full body cast because of that!?"

"Kid, this is Yuri we're talking about. He's too stubborn to let something like that stop him. Especially when his sister's involved," Gascoigne said as the First Lieutenant handed him his flask. In all honesty, he fully agreed, despite the younger officer's misgivings. While whatever shriveled organ he had remaining in place of his heart went out to Yuri and his sister, he didn't worry too much for either of their physical states.

After all, they're Briars, He mused, puffing out smoke, understanding one undeniable truth in this web of lies and deceit they called home.

Briars were just built different.

Contrasting everyone else currently in the hall with her, Agent Nightfall leaned herself against the wall. Standing next to the operating room door, which itself was next to Agent Twilight, she looked down on his sitting form as he affectionately rubbed the head of the Forger family dog, who had been properly cleaned and fed. It was clearly done as a means to keep his nerves in check, and the sight filled Nightfall with a blistering rage masked behind her blank stare. Unfortunately, this perfect mask must have slipped somewhere, given that the mutt – Nightfall knew his name was Bond, but frankly, she couldn't care less – was now looking at her and shirking away as if she were diseased, causing Twilight himself to take notice of her.

"Is something wrong, Fiona?" Twilight asked, and normally, such a question would leave her heart jumping for joy. This time, however, anger overcame love, and it refused to move.

"No," Nightfall replied in as firm and stiff a manner as she could muster, "I'm perfectly fine."

Twilight kept looking at her until he seemed convinced and returned to petting the Forger dog, calming him down as much as himself. With a sigh, he muttered, "At least I know one of us is fine."

But I'm not, Nightfall wanted to say, but every instinct she had held her tongue. She was the exact opposite of fine. She was burning and seething and snarling and frothing and screaming on the inside and it had nowhere to go. She couldn't let it go anywhere, lest she fail to be the spy Twilight her to be. And it was all because her beloved mentor was so focused on… that woman.

I've seen the small smiles and hints of emotion Twilight gives her, but the way he reacted when she came in like that… Agent Nightfall bit her tongue hard enough to draw blood, which she quickly swallowed to hide the injury. The bitter, copper taste matched what was in her soul, knowing that this woman had somehow, beyond all possibility, made Twilight hers.

Those hints of emotion from before were just that: Hints. Even then, Twilight still had the sense of self to maintain the mask he'd always worn. It felt like a knife being driven into her heart, watching those small bits of true feeling be brought to the forefront by Yor Briar, yet she could stomach it. She could maintain herself, convince herself that this was nothing more than a temporary thing. It was all just for the mission (even though it wasn't) and she'd find a way to help him get over his fake wife to be with her and only her.

But this… the mask was gone. Twilight, the moment her broken, battered body rolled in, was no more. This was the true emotions hidden behind that mask. Every bit of his true self, all for Yor, and none of it for her.

And that's not even getting into the second worst part of this mess, Nightfall's gaze moved from Twilight to the woman sitting directly across from him, the disguise of glasses and a bandana not remotely enough to fool her.

Melinda Desmond.

The wife of Donovan Desmond and former First Lady of Ostania noticed her gaze, a cold sweat forming on her brow as if intimidated. Rather than avert it, Agent Nightfall maintained eye contact, trying to get a read on the elusive woman, for this was a rare opportunity. This caused Mrs. Desmond to focus all her attention to the floor, now sweating bullets with her hands clutching tightly at her purse. What little attention she diverted elsewhere was rapid and erratic, looking all around as if surrounded by enemies aiming to take her life.

As expected, she's just like her husband: Hyper-paranoid and reclusive. All Desmonds really are the same, Agent Nightfall scoffed and reflected on what little WISE knew of the woman. The former First Lady kept to herself, save for a small, exclusive group of acquaintances within the Lady Patriots Society, of which she served as chairwoman to. However, she was uninvolved in either politics or the affairs of her current family, meaning that as far as intel went, she was a high-risk, low-reward target. But Nightfall knew that if there was even a 1% chance of Melinda knowing something about whatever Donovan was plotting, no matter how minor it may be, the risk was more than worth the effort. Unfortunately for us…

She glanced between Twilight and Melinda for a brief moment. In all the time they'd waited here, not once did her former mentor so much as ask a single question toward the Desmond matriarch or even look her way, too focused on his FAKE WIFE's condition to make so much as a single, token attempt at information gathering. A potential, crucial component for ensuring the success of Operation: STRIX had practically been handed to them on a silver platter, yet WISE's greatest spy didn't even give it the time of day! It was as if it meant nothing to him! And it was all because of her.

Yet if wasn't for her, this intel source wouldn't have fallen into our lap to begin with! It killed Nightfall on the inside to even think of that. By complete accident, the Briar woman had handed them a boon to their mission. Somehow, she just so happened to land directly in front of Melinda Desmond, completely injured to the point of slipping in and out of consciousness and garnering enough sympathy that the former First Lady opted to directly take her to the same hospital that Twilight, under his Loid Forger alias, just so happened to work at.

It's a trick. It has to be a trick! Another ploy masterminded by the fiendish, cunning Yor Briar to keep me away from my beloved! Nightfall told herself, repeating said line of thought like a mantra to stay sane, but she couldn't even manage that much.

Not this time.

Agent Nightfall kept her arms cross as she got lost in her own head, the ongoings of the hospital environment becoming a blur of random staff walking by, looking upon them with worry or engaging in idle chitchat with Twilight's cover identity, offering him sympathies of one kind or another. The longer this went on, the tighter her hands coiled around her arms, fingernails digging into the fabric of her dark-blue sweater. Though she maintained a facade of serenity and neutrality on the outside, a torrent of confusion and anguish raged from within.

I've fought in many gunfights and fistfights. I've taken injuries and given back just as good. I've nearly died more times than I can count and pulled myself from the brink. As much as I want to cast this as another of Briar's ploys, I know what fatal wounds look like. There was no faking what Yor had just gone through, whatever it was. Yor Briar truly suffered, fought something big and dangerous – for there was no way she could've sustained such injuries otherwise, given her ludicrous strength – and was damn near at Death's door as a consequence. Agent Nightfall wanted to be happy about this, as it meant something or someone had almost removed her greatest obstacle toward gaining Twilight's affections and becoming his wife for Operation: STRIX (and beyond). She should've been happy about this.

… so why am I not happy about this? She closed her eyes and kept her breathing as quiet and rhythmic as possible, all while her fingernails tore through her sleeve and threatened to do the same for her flesh. Yor's death was meant to be a cause for celebration, yet every single time she tried to picture it, all she could see was the face of Twilight in pure agony, every fallen tear like a knife in her chest. She couldn't bare the idea of seeing him in such a state, having finally seen the sheer depth of the feelings behind every mask he'd ever worn. She'd finally seen the real Twilight, but he'd been summoned not by Nightfall herself, as much as she wished and wished and wished to be the one who brought such a thing forth from him.

No. Instead, this was caused by… by…

… by HER.

Yor Briar. You ruined everything! The torrent within Nightfall raged so strongly that she wanted to punch and kick and hurt everything in sight just to make the pain go away, so she kept her eyes closed.

Why did that woman have to come into her beloved's life!? Why did she get to be the one who made his heart skip a beat!? Why did she get to be the one whom the real Twilight belonged to!? Why couldn't she have completed her operations faster!? Why couldn't she get here sooner!? Why couldn't she get the chance to be Twilight's wife!?

Why?

Why!?

Why!?

Why!?

WHY!?

If a mind had lungs, Nightfall had thoroughly exhausted hers with all the internal screaming she did. Opening her eyes, she felt them blur as a wetness leaked out, despite her every instinct working to force it back in. Once more, she saw Twilight, the man that should've been her husband, affectionately petting the dog, both of their eyes trained on the door to the operating room where she rested in wait. The pain and terror from before remained in his eyes and posture, but there was something else that seemed to be joining the other two emotions. Was it… hope? Optimism? The same thing she felt about their chances together?

The same thing that crumbled more and more with each passing second the longer he stared at that God damned door?

Everything we'd been through together… Nightfall looked away from him, determined to let no one see her cry, Every mission, every training session, every meeting with our superiors, every secret rendezvous to pass along information, you-! Y-You just… you never-

Not once did Twilight ever look at Nightfall the way he looked at Yor. Just what did this Briar woman do to earn such a thing? What did Yor do to be enough?

Why am I never  enough ?

Nightfall's stoic, unfeeling demeanor threatened to crack as she felt tears fall to the collar of her white shirt, staining it. Despite the very idea of doing so inducing the urge to vomit, she was actually… thankful to Yor for once. Because everyone was focused on her recovery, no one spared her a glance, and no one saw the true tears fall from her face.

Her tears were meant for no one.

Not even her beloved.

"Dr. Forger."

Ugh, and now he's here, Nightfall quickly wiped away any remnants of her tears and turned to see Chief Medical Director Gerald Gorey, who was currently walking up to Twilight and looking down upon his sitting form. Are you here to gloat? To mock Twilight's pain? You've always hated him since he arrived, and now you intend to hurt him at his lowest!? She narrowed her eyes ever so slightly, her equivalent of glaring daggers, The moment you let out a single insult, I'll break and bury you, superior or otherwise. No one insults my beloved!

Especially not now.

"Director Gorey," Twilight said, dawning the mask of Dr. Loid Forger. Or at least, Nightfall thought that's what he did. There were small telltale signs Twilight had when he was putting on an act. But in this case, while some of the signs in his body language were present, others weren't, and his behavior hadn't changed in the slightest.

The line between Twilight and Loid Forger feels like it's beginning to blur, Nightfall blinked, so shocked that she didn't know how to feel that familiar anger at Yor for doing this to the love of her life.

"I know I should be working right now," Twilight continued, the mutt whining as he did, "And I'm sorry, it's just that-"

"No, no, that's... alright. It's understandable, even," Gerald held up a hand and briefly spare Nightfall a glance, that same infatuation in his eyes disgusting the WISE agent to no end. Not a moment later, he shook his head and gave Twilight his full attention. Clearing his throat and rubbing the back of his neck, he looked almost awkward, as if trying to force the words out. "Listen Forger, I came by to…" Gerald sighed, "I know I haven't been the nicest to you, but I heard about what happened to your wife. I just wanted to say that I… I'm sorry."

Twilight and Nightfall's eyes both went wide at that statement. She kept a close watch on both Gerald's eyes and body language, looking for even the tiniest hint of deception in them. If this was some sort of ploy to try and get rid of him, he was a dead man.

But she found none.

There was nothing but sincerity, shocking as it was to believe.

And though Twilight was taken aback, he offered a grateful smile in return, "Thank you, Director, that... it means more than you know."

It clearly means more than I will ever know, Nightfall bitterly tried to comprehend Twilight's feelings for Yor as the conversation continued.

"I'm sure it does. Now, I never got to thank you for saving me from those State Security Service bastards earlier, and given recent, uh... overheard events-"

So he did overhear Twilight's conversation with the staff.

"-I'd like for us to try and start over. If you need anything, anything at all, I'll do what I can to help."

Twilight nodded, and Nightfall had mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, part of her still wasn't quite sure if this was a trick of some kind. But on the other, she couldn't trace any ill intent from her cover identity's obnoxious admirer, not to mention he lacked the skill or wit to pull off even a halfway decent ploy to begin with. As a further benefit, Twilight now had the Chief Medical Director's support, which could grant him access to VIP patients, many of whom would be a treasure trove of potential intel.

Yet once again, a storm raged within, because this new success came about from her.

How does she keep doing this!? Nightfall was beginning to realize that between Melinda Desmond and Director Gorey's sympathy, Yor Briar was doing far more for Operation: STRIX than she ever did, and all without lifting a single finger (not that she could right now anyway). As a suitor and as an asset to Twilight, she fell short at every turn.

Just what on Earth was Yor's secret? What made her… enough, in Twilight's eyes? And how could Nightfall accomplish such a feat.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, as this line of thought was causing her to spiral), she didn't have time to ponder on these questions, as far in the distance, beyond all the prominent hospital noises, motions, and other going ons, she felt something rupture the building.

Then it happened again, and again, and again. It was barreling through the walls like an RPG.

And from the look on his face, Twilight noticed it too.

"Actually, on the subjected of needing things, could you by any chance move exactly seven steps to the right? You're gonna have to trust me on this," Twilight informed the Chief Medical Director, clearly aware of the irony in being a spy asking for trust. He then looked past Gorey to stare at Melinda Desmond, "You as well, Miss… I don't believe I got your name."

Are you KIDDING ME!? Did Twilight not even recognize her!?

"Uh, o-of course," Gerald did as he was asked, confused, but accepting of the request.

"Certainly, Dr. Forger," Melinda stood up and got next to Gorey, and within seconds, the wall she was sitting in front of burst to splinters of plaster, dust, and brick, creating a thick cloud that enveloped the entire hallway. Gorey, Melinda, and any other staff still walking through the hallway began sputtering and coughing, all while Nightfall, Twilight, and the mutt withstood the dusty shroud. With hers and Twilight's greater eyesight, they saw a tall, angry silhouette emerge from within it, crimson eyes glowing in rage and glaring daggers at WISE's top agent as the cloud slowly dispersed.

"LOIDY!"

The figure yelled, elongating Twilight's cover identity in a childish, insulting nickname before he stomped forward, hunched and revealing himself to be Yuri Briar, who…

Okay, frankly, the man was an absolute mess, his black suit and beige overcoat covered in tears, filth, and splotches of his own blood. His face was battered and bruised, cuts on his right cheek with blood pouring and spurting from the top of his head. He was panting, crazy, angry-

"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED!?"

… and loud. Irritatingly, annoyingly, obnoxiously loud. Yes, Nightfall knew those meant the same thing, but she'd gladly use each and every synonym they shared to describe him, for there were no other words to describe him as.

Stubborn, perhaps, since by Nightfall's estimate, the injuries he'd currently accumulated really should have killed him long before he even got close to the hospital.

"Yuri, I-"

"WHERE THE HELL IS YOR!?" Yuri screamed, interrupting Twilight and grabbing him by the collar of his shirt with one hand, the other pulled back in a fist, "WHERE IS MY SISTER!?"

Though Twilight gave no visible reaction, everyone else did. Gorey and Melinda tried to dissuade Yuri and calm him down, as did the rest of the staff that weren't intimidated away, but Nightfall, however…

"Yuri Briar," Nightfall breathed out the name like it was poison on her lips, right behind the man in an instant and grabbing his arm, "I suggest you calm down and release Dr. Forger, or you will lose this hand."

"AND WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?" He turned back, glaring bloody murder at her.

"Fiona Frost. I'm a psychiatric nurse here, as well as a co-worker to Dr. Forger, the same man you clearly intend to punch in the face. Now release him, or I'll be forced to break an oath," Nightfall tightened her grip on his wrist, her body losing all self-control as her hand tried crushing it, but Yuri proved unaffected, either in too much pain or far too durable for her strength to affect.

The Briar family truly was a blight on her life.

"Yuri, Fiona, calm down," Twilight held up his hands in a placating gesture before giving Yuri his full attention, "I'm worried about her too, that's why I called you, but I don't think Yor would want us tearing ourselves apart over her." Nightfall raised an eyebrow at her beloved's blatant hypocrisy, but he seemed to realize what he'd just said and looked down in shame, "Believe me, I've done too much of that already."

Agreed, Nightfall thought as the mutt whimpered again. She honestly didn't want Twilight tearing himself up over Yor at all, but she wasn't going to get her wish anytime soon. It did seem like she was going to get her wish regarding the second Briar, however, as he glared back at Twilight and seemed intent on throwing his fist, though Nightfall could feel his hand shaking, as if torn between whether or not to do so.

Thankfully for him, cooler heads prevailed as he relented, letting Twilight go and lowering his fist – which Nightfall released – before he took to the nearest seat. All the staff sighed in relief, as did Melinda Desmond, and even the mutt seemed capable of expressing said emotion. But Nightfall didn't, still leveling her cold stare at the State Security Service agent while Twilight took a seat next to him.

"Loid," Yuri muttered, voice so full of sorrow and rage, "How did this happen? Who did this to her?"

"I don't know. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, I… I'm not blaming you," Yuri said, once more shattering Twilight's mask, the only emotion on his face being utter, genuine bafflement. Nightfall would've been frustrated that another Briar managed to pull this off, if less so than before, had it not been for her own bafflement at what he'd just said.

If he isn't blaming him, what the hell was all that about!?

"I still don't trust you, but this is… I know you'd never do something like this to her. I don't know if you'd ever hurt her or how you'd hurt her, but not like this. Never like this." He went disturbingly quiet for several seconds, leaving them all unsure how to react. Things got so unnerving that Directory Gorey excused himself, as did all other staff still in the hall, leaving only them: Nightfall, Twilight, Yuri, Desmond, and the mutt.

"… is she gonna be okay?" Yuri asked, ending his silence, but still staring at the floor. The mutt tried to let himself be pet by him but was refused.

"Yor's stronger and better than all of us put together," Twilight said, somber as Bond approached him for petting, which he was more receptive to, "I have to believe she'll be alright. It's just about the only thing holding me together right now."

To hear Twilight admit that felt like another stab to Nightfall's heart. She wasn't sure if she could take much more of this.

"It's just…" Yuri looked like he was struggling to let the words out, as if he was trying to be completely sincere, but didn't know how, "Loid, I can't lose her." He sounded so small. Tears began falling from his eyes, a light sniffle heard, "She's-She's all I have. Everything I've ever done is for her and if something bad happens then-"

"I know," Twilight said, his voice sounding as if it was wavering, "You're right not to trust me, but you can when I say that I understand how you feel." He leaned back and sighed, rubbing a hand against his face in abject despair, another rarity from him, "I should've been there for her. I should've known something had happened. I'm supposed to be her husband, and I failed at that completely."

There was another silence from the two, Nightfall and Desmond as outside observers. The two of them even had the same reaction: Turning awkwardly towards each other, unsure of what to do or say. Melinda just seemed frightened by the new arrival while Nightfall was just... lost. She'd never seen Twilight so broken before, and she had no idea how to help put the pieces back together. There was a roiling in her gut, a feeling that she knew just who could accomplish such a thing.

But that woman isn't available right now, and she's already bested me at everything else so thoroughly that I- The thought of her putting Twilight back together was too much to stomach right now, leaving her to seethe and glare. Unfortunately, she didn't realize until ten seconds in that Desmond was still in her line of sight, eyes narrowed to near slits scaring the daylights out of the former First Lady as she looked away. Nightfall chastised herself for such incompetence, once more negatively comparing herself to the Briar woman. While Yor drew in potential boons to Twilight's mission like moths to a flame, all Nightfall could ever seem to accomplish was turning them away.

"For what it's worth, you're not the only one," Yuri finally answered, diverting their attention back to the two (false) in-laws, "I'm her little brother. It's my entire life and job to protect her too, but I couldn't even manage that." He grimaced, tears still falling, "So, this is what it's like, being in the same boat as you, huh? Can't say I enjoy it."

"… yeah…" Twilight quietly said, as if there was nothing else to say.

"… Loid."

"Yeah?"

"Whoever did this to Yor…" Yuri's gaze grew tense, sharper than any blade and harder than steel. Nightfall was shocked to find that it genuinely terrified her, especially with his tone colder than anything she could ever pull off, "They're gonna die."

"… yeah," Twilight said nothing more than that one word, but it was said so deeply and carried the same weight as Yuri's declaration. His eyes were equally as sharp and solid, a look never seen on him even at his coldest and angriest.

Nightfall didn't know what to make of this, seeing such people, SSS and WISE, two entities so normally at odds, now perfectly aligned in with a common purpose. It was like watching East and West, Ostania and Westalis, find a true, genuine peace for the first time in what felt like forever. For one single moment, their mission was truly complete.

Peace.

It was just a simple word, but one that held more weight than most would ever realize, and one so completely foreign to Nightfall. Her entire life, for as long as she could remember, was defined by endless conflict. Despite how all WISE agents fought to maintain the fragile peace between countries, none of them ever truly experienced something quite like peace. The very concept was a dream, one that they would carry for the rest of the world, but one they would never truly live.

But this family, the Forgers, brought something out of Twilight.

With them, did he come close to achieving that peace? The very same no spy could ever reach? Was such a thing truly possible for people like them?

And the more she thought about it, the more Nightfall's rage burned, her inadequacies to the Briar woman festering all over again. How did a lone, civilian woman accomplish in mere months what Nightfall had spent almost her entire career as a spy trying to achieve? Not just Twilight's true affections, but giving him the one thing he, no, any spy yearned for but could never truly reach: Peace.

If I want even the smallest, singular chance of earning his love, I must know her secret, Nightfall grimaced at the very idea, knowing that such a thing meant infiltrating Yor's social circle (if one existed), but she'd do it for the sake of accomplishing her mission. But the question becomes: How do I take her place without destroying this... this peace that Twilight's found?

She'd already seen him destroyed once today, and that was enough for a thousand lifetimes. She couldn't bare seeing it again.

"Uh… s-sorry to interrupt," Melinda Desmond raised a voice at Nightfall's side, drawing Yuri and Twilight's attention as she walked up to them, "But could we please not talk about killing anyone? It's rather discomforting. Besides, this is a hospital, and I don't think Yor would want either of you to talk about such things."

Yuri narrowed his eyes, "And you are?"

"Oh! That reminds me," She briefly looked at Twilight before giving both of them her undivided attention, "I never did properly introduce myself." She gave a small bow and said, "My name is Melinda. A pleasure to meet you both."

Nightfall saw something shift in Twilight's eyes. Perhaps it was recognition? Before she could identify it, he smiled at Melinda and replied, "Nice to meet you, Melinda. I'm Loid Forger, and this is my brother-in-law, Yuri Briar." For his part, Yuri looked more than a bit indignant at Twilight and Yor's marital status being acknowledged – a sentiment Nightfall shared in, though it disgusted her to share any sentiments with this man – until Twilight faced him and added, "Yuri, Melinda's the one who found Yor and brought her to the hospital. She helped save her."

The anger in Yuri's eyes vanished in an instant. He stood with hands at his sides and bowed toward the woman, blood dripping from his head to the floor as he all but yelled, "Thank you, Miss Melinda! I don't know how to even start repaying you, but I swear on my life, I'll find a way!"

Desmond seemed more than a little put on the spot by his sudden declaration, but recovered and waved her hand, "No, it's quite alright. You don't have to pay me anything. I only wanted to help, and I-hold on." She looked to Twilight, "You said your last name was Forger, yes? You wouldn't happen to have a daughter named Anya Forger, do you?"

"Yes actually," He nodded, "And you said your name is Melinda. Would I be correct to surmise that you're Melinda Desmond, by any chance?"

FINALLY! Nightfall internally screamed in relief. It'd taken far longer than it should've, but at least Twilight's perfected spy instincts were returning to the forefront.

"Uh, y-yes! What gave it away?" Melinda answered, nervously backing away a step. Clearly, she didn't like any attention being brought to her status. Or at the very least, her married surname.

"You mentioned my daughter and her class, so I assumed that means you have a child there as well," Twilight calmly answered, "I've met Damian once, and you look remarkably similar, especially around the face and eyes. From there, I just put two and two together." He gave a few more pets to the dog, who nuzzled into them, "I must say, your son's a bright lad, and I'd like to apologize for what my daughter did."

Oh Twilight, you brilliant man! Nightfall couldn't help but gush on the inside, keeping a straight face as she watched his skills return to the forefront. In almost an instant, he was able to give a believable reason for how he knew her that didn't draw attention to their true target: Donovan Desmond. Given how divorced Melinda was from the political affairs of the Desmond group, it was quite obvious that she wasn't on good terms with her husband. Pointing out such connections would push her away, but using her own words to mention her son and work from there turned the tide of conversation to their favor.

Although, she once again noticed that same flash of guilt and worry in Twilight's eyes, and she was able to pinpoint its presence at the mention of Operation: STRIX's most vital asset. She wasn't sure why he had that, however, only able to assume it was distaste for how the girl had ruined their early chances of forming a rapport with the Desmond child.

Perhaps if that woman raised her properly in your absence and wasn't such a coddling-

"Oh, don't worry about that, it's fiiiiine. It's totally fine, really! I promise that it's fine!" Melinda waved off Twilight's apology with a tone that seemed all too cheery and sweet to be believable. Nightfall picked up on it quite easily, as did Twilight, and even Yuri saw through the act.

"I'm glad to hear that," Twilight dawned his usual mask and smiled, seeming real enough for most civilians, but only Nightfall knew its true meaning and met it with a nod towards Melinda. It was for the best that they do not pry too much, lest they risk losing the potential information they could gleam off the former First Lady.

"Well, Desmond or not, you still saved my big sis's life," Yuri started before he looked left and right, "Speaking of Yor, which room is she in?"

Melinda opened her mouth to answer, but Nightfall quickly slammed her palm against it, keeping her from talking as she interrupted, "If we tell you, do you promise not to barge through the walls and tear the building to pieces like an emotional, obnoxious little brat?"

"Fiona!" Twilight whispered in frustration. It hurt to displease him, but she ignored it for now, having had enough of these Briars for one day, especially as this one stood up to full height and loomed over her by approximately seven centimeters. The deep, blood red glare on his face terrified Melinda enough that she backed away into a seat. Even Nightfall would admit that she found it surprisingly scary, but she stood her ground. Yuri was just a bratty newcomer to the SSS, and she'd faced far worse than him on the daily.

"Listen here, Frosty," Yuri sneered, giving her a similarly derogatory nickname to what he gave Twilight's cover identity, "I don't know who you are with this whole emotionless jerk act, but you're not gonna get what you want in life keeping up like that. Maybe you haven't noticed, but my sister is here, and last I checked hospital rules and regulations, I have the right to see her. Now tell me where she is, step aside, or I will see to it that you are executed."

Nightfall glared back, eyes narrow slits that bade for his blood in kind, "And I couldn't care less who or what you are. As far as I do care, you're a disturbance to our jobs. Keep up what you do, and all you'll ever be is a disturbance, deserving of nothing but removal. Now, if you want to know where your sister is, I suggest you stay on your best behavior and keep that in mind, lest I decide to remove you here and now."

The two of them glared, making their desire for the other's death as clear as day, all while Twilight tried to placate them both, but neither had the intention of backing down at this point. It was as if two auras enveloped the entire room, coating one half in pure ice and the other in burning hellfire. They clashed and tried to consume one another, but neither managed to win out, stalemating again and again until finally, simultaneously, both sides ceased and relented.

Calm down, Nightfall. Don't give him reason to suspect you, Perhaps it was too late for that, but if his previous behavior and Twilight's reports were anything to trust (and she was certain they were), then Yuri Briar was a sister-obsessed moron. He'd probably forget this entire encounter the moment she agreed to let him see Yor.

"Alright," Yuri sighed, trying to calm himself down in kind, "I promise I'll try. Now, please let me see my sister."

At that, Nightfall pointed to the door behind them, "She's currently still in the operating room."

Yuri Briar nodded, managing to keep his word.

… for all of ten seconds.

"YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!" He lunged for the door, just barely being stopped by Nightfall, who grabbed him from behind in a hold, one arm around his neck and the other behind his head as he kept trying to reach for the door.

"Should've seen that coming," Twilight sighed from behind her as Nightfall's hold began strangling Yuri, all while Melinda remained frightened in her seat. "Fiona? Fiona!" He poked at her shoulder. Normally his touch alone would alight her entire body, but she was a bit too preoccupied right now, even as he made his request, "Could you please let him go before you end up killing him?"

"I would if he stopped fighting back and sat down," Nightfall answered, her voice as neutral as her face, though there was another reason why she couldn't let him go unless he did that, and it was one she gave voice to on the inside, HOW THE HELL IS HE THIS STRONG!?

It was taking literally everything she had to keep him from moving so much as a single inch forward. If she wavered even slightly, he'd be released like a slingshot and launched directly into the operating room, hence why he needed to back down first before she did. But Yuri gave no indication of doing that in the slightest, so neither would Nightfall.

Seriously, first Yor and now Yuri!? Are all Briars like this? Are they genetic experiments? What kind of training regimen and diet are they on!? Her mind swam through all possible explanations for how they were this tough, and before her arm threatened to slip even slightly, one of the doctors opened the door to the operating room and gave a polite bow.

For some reason he wasn't reacting to the fact that she was in the middle of choking Yuri out.

"It's done. Mrs. Forger is in recovery, and we've moved her to the hospital room next door. She's ready to see you now."

A sudden blur of white and yellow zoomed by, entering the operating room faster than any, even Nightfall, could track. The sound of a second door closing and shutting within the room ahead followed. Somehow, that was what shocked the doctor and not the current display.

"Yooooor..."

Speaking of which, Nightfall seeing that his entire face had turned blue and his eyes were on the verge of popping out from his skull. Any more of this and he'd probably asphyxiate...

...

...

...

... Tempting, but I'll do as Twilight asks for now. Besides, killing an undercover Secret Police officer here would be detrimental to my cover, and there's enough SSS blood on the ground already, She relented, releasing the man as he stumbled forward a few steps to catch his breath. It was only upon releasing him that she noticed how the blood covering him now just as much covered her. I'll have to burn these clothes when I get home, Good thing she had spares. As she thought this, Yuri ran into the room, haphazardly shoving the doctor aside while ignoring the yells from him and those in the operating room that he needed medical attention. Nightfall turned to where Twilight was and, for as much as it killed her to do so, said, "Dr. Forger, I believe we can go check on your wi-"

Aaaand he wasn't there anymore. Neither was the dog. The only one left was a very confused looking Melinda Desmond.

"Where did he-" Nightfall quickly realized what that blur was and sighed, though inside, she found herself seething again. Having been trained by Twilight, she knew the man's physical capabilities and limitations, having seen him at his absolute best. Yet in all their years fighting alongside each other, never, not even once, did she ever see him move that fast. One half of her was impressed that he'd far exceeded even her wildest expectations, but once more, the rage came from who was bringing this change about.

Nightfall should've been the one to not only bring out Twilight's true feelings, but she also should've been the one whom he pushed past his limits for.

"I... should probably go in and join them," Melinda patted Nightfall's shoulder. Whether as a gesture of affection or an attempt at placation, she didn't know. "She had me spooked when I ran into her. It wouldn't feel right if I left before making sure she was okay," She walked into the operating room before poking her head out and looking Nightfall's way, "Miss Frost?"

Nightfall remained quiet, pondering her options. Frankly, after everything, between this whole mess with Yor and dealing with the somehow even more obnoxious Yuri, she'd had her fill of Briars for one day. However, staying out here or returning to the daily grind of her hospital cover meant leaving Twilight alone in a room with his fake wife, which also meant-

"I'll be right there," she immediately said at the very thought, speed walking behind the Desmond woman. They were guided by the operating room doctors, who pointed them to where Yor was resting. Melinda was polite enough to offer in opening the door, but Nightfall insisted she do so, citing her conduct as a nurse.

That, and she wanted to be outside that woman's presence for as long as she could manage before interaction became necessary.

Once Desmond entered, Nightfall could no longer delay the inevitable and followed, entering a hospital room with a window shining the afternoon light inside it. Her gaze shifted from that to the sight of the still unconscious Yor, now in a hospital gown with medical wrapped around the worst of her injuries, resting on a hospital bed. Twilight (with the mutt) and Yuri were on opposite sides worriedly waiting for her to awaken. While Twilight sat quietly in his seat, hovering nearby and keeping watch of his false wife, Yuri tightly, yet softly held Yor's hand, rubbing at it and tearfully begging his sister to wake up.

Nightfall felt something the longer she looked at the display. It wasn't the envy or raged that burned inside her whenever this woman became a subject or presence, though said feelings were still prominent. No, this was different, almost like just seeing Yor in such a state made her feel… ill? Bitter? Like she wanted to punch herself?

Whatever it was, she didn't know. And she didn't like it.

Sighing, Nightfall tried her absolute damnedest to put any and all feelings regarding Yor away for the time being as she took a spot next to Twilight, standing beside him while Melinda stood next to Yuri. Amidst everyone's worries, she looked down at Twilight again and saw that once more he was trying so hard to not come apart at the seams. She wanted to comfort him, to be the shoulder he could cry on and rely upon like a true, proper wife and confidant. After all, with his fake wife indisposed right now, it was her time to shine, right?

But she couldn't. No matter how much she yearned to do so, her body refused to move. She just couldn't do it.

She didn't even know how to do it.

… what's wrong with me? Nightfall raised an open palm to her face and stared at it, clenching it into a fist a few times. She got so caught up in this, Yor's murmuring almost escaped her. Everyone, herself included, now gave their full attention to the injured woman on the bed, who's eyes slowly began opening.

"W-Where am I…?"

"YOR!" Twilight and Yuri said simultaneously, both of them leaning forward with relieved smiles. Tears of happiness and relief mixed into Yuri's previous crying as continued to hold his sister's hand, though he didn't do much else beyond that.

At the very least, he has the sense of self-control to not do anything that would strain his sister's injuries, Nightfall thought in gratitude, Wait, why would I be grateful for that!?

"Yor, are you alright?" Twilight asked, Yor sitting up and clutching at her head.

"Just a headache… a-among other things," She tried to brush off, but all the clutching at her body in pain made it clear that wasn't working. Nightfall tried to ignore the worry on Twilight's face and focus solely on Yor. With narrowed eyes, she tried to take some small form of satisfaction, seeing the obstacle standing between her and her beloved in such pain. The false wife had been brought so low, exactly how Nightfall felt with how her constant inability to surpass this woman kept getting shoved in her face. She wanted to revel in this moment, to finally have some small victory over Yor Briar, who remained in pain as Twilight gently rubbed at her back.

This is how it feels. Every single time I think of you with him, the way you look right now is- Nightfall's eyes went wide for a split-second, What? I… I can't- To her absolute shock, she felt no satisfaction nor revelry. Nightfall glared even harder at Yor, trying to force herself to feel such things, but as her eyes wavered, she found nothing.

Nothing but that same bitterness and sickness from before, only the more she tried to force it, the worse it got.

Giving up, she shook her head, not in the mood for diving down whatever that rabbit hole was. Instead, she felt a pair of eyes on her and faced the source, seeing a viciously angry Yuri glaring bloody murder at her. Clearly, he saw Nightfall's glares toward his sister and was responding in kind.

Huh, well two can play that game, you State Security Service lap dog, Nightfall gave the man her coldest glare, which often froze even the most depraved terrorists she'd ever faced stiff with fear. It came in handy on a few of her missions, for intimidation was often as valuable as information in the spy world.

No such luck with Yuri. If he felt any fear, he showed not a single trace, only continuing to make his wrath towards her clear as day.

"Uh, Yuri?"

"Fiona…"

At the call of those names, they subsided their wrath for each other and turned to see Yor and Twilight giving them looks. The former was concerned for her brother, while the latter was just flat and unimpressed with her conduct, sending another knife into her chest that left her balking.

Melinda just looked confused and scared again, as if the combined intensity of the glares threatened to scare her out of the room and thus deprive them of a potential intel source.

You stupid, useless idiot! Nightfall chastised herself before she took a deep breathe, "I apologize."

"Yeah, me too. Sorry sis," Yuri gave another, single, split-second glare toward Nightfall, so fast none with special training would notice, before Yor received his full attention, eyes shimmering as he let her hand go, "I'm glad you're alive."

"... right… alive..." she went quiet, looking down at the blanket and clenching her hands into fists, scrunching up the fabric. Nightfall noticed the wide, yet dull look in her eyes as she stared down. She'd seen such a haunted expression on a number of WISE agents, often newcomers eager to serve their country in espionage before reality came crashing in to destroy their preconceived notions. Just as much, however, had she seen it on experienced agents who returned from deep cover missions into criminal organizations, having seen some of the worst crimes imaginable for the sake of gathering intel and stopping such monsters. Even with Twilight's instructions taken to heart, she too often felt horror and disgust during her own infiltration missions, though her perfect, stone-cold mask hid it from her peers.

Every single time she saw such horror on one of her own, however, she felt this bizarre… urge, if she could find the right word for it. Like she wanted to reach out and put a hand on that person's shoulder for some reason. She wasn't sure why though, and she couldn't fathom what purpose that would serve, as it didn't pertain to any active missions. So, like any other emotion she had, Nightfall did everything to suppress it, figuring it would just go away overtime.

It never did.

And now, looking at Yor, watching the broken shell of a homewrecker, she felt that same urge to put a hand on her shoulder and do… something that didn't involve crushing it. Even as Melinda Desmond knelt at Yuri's side and took Yor's left hand into her own with a soothing motion to them, even as Twilight took her right hand and continued rubbing at Yor's back in an effort to ease the pain, even as Nightfall's heart filled with rage at the sight of Twilight and this woman, the urge still persisted.

"Yor, it's okay. You're fine. You're safe here," Twilight said the expected words of one trying to calm someone down, but they sounded so sincere from him. Not the least bit an act. Yet despite her hatred for his fake wife for bringing this out of him, she was also feeling something different.

Something she couldn't describe.

Something she couldn't just throw away, no matter how much she wanted to.

"Yeah, it's okay sis. I… we got you. We're right here," Yuri added gently, rubbing at his sister's shoulder. A practical move, as among the injuries Nightfall could make out upon her arrival was extensive damage to the left shoulder, as if it'd been dislocated and forced back into place.

Though on the subject of her injuries... Nightfall's eyes scanned the medical wrappings on Yor's arms and forehead, as well as those covering the burns and deep cuts running down her lower neck and upper chest. She knew more lay beneath the blanket and her gown, but Nightfall's recollection of Yor's state prior to the operating room remained crystal clear. Some slashes she could recognize as being from glass shards, others as scrapes from getting dragged along the ground or through walls. The burns, however? While she could tell plenty of the visible ones were from fires just from how often she'd seen such injuries, others look almost like-

Electrical burns, her eyes narrowed once more, this time ever so slightly that none could tell, as her near flawless memory went back to earlier today, those electrical, fourth-degree burns seared into her brain. Perhaps it really was just coincidental, but as she knew: Once was happenstance, twice was coincidence, and three times was enemy action.

And if this truly was the same attacker, then they were already on the third time.

But before she could question Yor, Twilight beat her to the punch, "Yor, before anything else, where's our..." He swallowed his breath and tried again, "Where's Anya?"

If Nightfall hadn't let out a sharp, but easily ignored breath through her nostrils, she'd have probably gasped in horror. It didn't take a genius to know what Twilight's question was going to be.

"Where's our daughter?"

"It's..." Yor sighed, either in relief or exhaustion, as she shook her head, "Don't worry Loid, she's safe."

Relief almost immediately flooded Twilight's eyes, though the guilt and worry from the first time said asset came up remained. So that's what it was, Nightfall fumed a bit on the inside but immediately put it aside. Now wasn't the time or place, given that she needed to get some answers out of Yor. Besides, she reminded herself, The last thing I should be processing is the nanoscopic possibility that I MIGHT be envious of a God damned six-year-old brat for managing to draw this side of Twilight out just like her mothe-

"I left her with Isaac and Sari to go inside the Central Mall," Yor – and Nightfall still couldn't believe she was thinking this – thankfully continued, drawing the WISE agent out of her spiraling thoughts. "I told them to do that while I-" She went deathly silent for a few seconds, nervously looking at everyone in the room, face almost blanching before she stammered out, "I-I-I..."

Why does she refuse to divulge the information? Given the circumstances, even Yor had to know it was prudent that they be made aware of what happened. Though she was naturally unaware of their true natures as WISE agents and an SSS officer, their covers as doctors and Yuri being her brother meant she'd be inclined to tell them. Unless, of course, she has something to hide. But what could Yor Briar possibly have to hide? Least of all from her brother and... ugh, her husband.

Before she could press the woman for intel, however, Melinda stood up and leaned forward, gently wrapping her arms around Yor in a hug. Twilight, Yor, and Yuri were just as shocked as Nightfall was by the act, not expecting such... warmth from a Desmond. All intel they had on the family pointed towards cold detachment being the norm beyond the bare minimum for social appearances. The only one who didn't seem surprised by the display was the mutt, who tilted his head curiously.

"Shsh. It's okay. No one should ever have to endure what you went through. Whatever it was," Melinda released Yor from the hug and looked into her eyes, that same warmth just as prominent. The false wife even seemed touched by the gesture.

"Your voice," The bedridden Briar realized, "You're the woman who found me after I fell unconscious."

She nodded and smiled, "Call me Melinda. After what I saw, I couldn't leave without making sure you pulled through."

"Thank you, Melinda! I swear on my life, I'll find a way to repay you for this!" Yor held Melinda's hand, smiling with her pain forgotten. The act caused Twilight to lightly chuckle.

"You know Yor, Yuri said the exact same thing."

"What? It's true! She saved my sister, so I owe her!" Yuri defended before turning to the woman in question, "Seriously though, if you ever need anything, I'll do my best to help."

"I appreciate it, but it isn't necessary. All I did was have my attendant call the ambulance when I saw her. That's hardly worth starting a fuss over."

"It's worth more than you realize, believe us," Twilight said, affectionately petting the mutt as it let out a small bark, looking down at it with a thankful expression. Reluctant as she was to agree, Nightfall ultimately did so, even if she knew her reasons were different from her mentor's. Clearing her throat, Nightfall finally managed to get a word in.

"Mrs. Forger," Nightfall hated having to acknowledge what was supposed to be a farce of a marriage, but social customs and present company gave her no choice in the matter, "Given the state you were in when brought here, could you tell us the cause of your injuries? We'll need to keep a proper record and know what recovery methods to prescribe." And perhaps figure out a few details on the recent killings, should you have been victim to the killer in question.

Rather than answer, Yor instead looked down at the blanket and her injured body, shaking her head. She opened her mouth to answer a few times, but each attempt to speak ended before it could begin, Yor staying quiet every time. Either what happened was so brutal she didn't want to think about it, or she was perfectly willing, yet couldn't find the right words for it.

How am I going to get the information out of her? Nightfall tried to think ways to do so, but much to her surprise, she couldn't. Aside from her previous visit to the Forger household and her tennis challenge, interactions with Yor have been within the range of limited to non-existent. She'd actively made it as such until she was ready to challenge the woman once again for her position as Mrs. Forger. She knew details about her, but not enough to know exactly what to say in this specific situation. And unlike her first visit, Twilight and Yuri's presence limited her ability to make such attempts.

Twilight would undoubtedly pick up on my efforts, and should I cause Yor any discomfort, Yuri will lash out, possibly even try to force me out of the room. I... I don't know if I can question her without coming across as too forceful, and asking everyone else to leave is out of the question. How should I go about-

"Yor," Melinda began as Nightfall mulled over her options. With her train of thought interrupted, she turned to the Desmond woman, who held Yor's hand and continued, "I know it's a difficult question, especially after what happened to you." She turned her attention from Yor and looked to both Twilight and Yuri, "But I've seen how much your family loves you, and I fear that keeping them in the dark like this will only worry them even further. I'm not saying you have to tell them everything, nor should you if it's too much to bear, but carrying such a weight on your heart will just as much hurt yourself as it will hurt them." Her serious, if worried expression slowly gave way to a heartfelt smile, "It doesn't even have to be now. When you're ready, I know that they'll understand you."

Nightfall wasn't sure what to make of her words, but there seemed to be a light in Yor's eyes in response to them. One that she couldn't quite comprehend, especially as Twilight interjected, "She's right, Yor. You don't have to tell us now. Take your time." His eyes were heavy with concern as he took her hand, tenderly running his fingers along it, "We're just... worried."

"Yeah, Yor I-" Yuri began, cutting himself off with a brief look of disgust in his face, as if he was still struggling with the idea of being on the same page as Twilight. Thankfully for his physical health, he put it to the side and sighed, "Don't get me wrong, I really want to know what happened. But if talking about it hurts you-" He briefly leveled a glare at Nightfall before focusing on Yor again, "Then we can leave it for now. The last thing I'd ever want to do is anything that'd end up hurting you."

Funny, you'd think being State Security Service would do that job plenty, Nightfall crossed her arms just as the mutt rested his head on the blankets near Yor's legs, upon which she rubbed a hand gently against it. The light in her eyes shown a bit brighter with each of their affirmations, and as she finished petting the dog, she took a deep breath and faced them all.

"Okay, I'll start from the beginning."

Twilight, Yuri, and Nightfall leaned in close, but not too much to invade her personal space. The Desmond woman attempted to leave, thinking it was a matter between family and hospital staff, but she was reassured that she could stay if she so desired.

Upon Melinda sitting back down and leaning in, Yor looked down at Bond, smiling as she continued petting him, "I was taking Anya and the Sumdacs from the park to the Central Mall. We stopped by a library first; Anya and Sari had so much fun there."

"Quick question, who are the Sumdacs?"

"Our new neighbors. Anya insisted on showing them around the city since they just arrived in Berlint," Twilight quickly answered his false brother-in-law, who seemed satisfied with the answer before giving Yor his full attention again as she continued, though Nightfall had partially tuned the conversation out for being, thus far, complete drivel. Instead, she focused in on the mentioned neighbors: The Sumdacs.

Ah yes, the Sumdacs, That was something Nightfall never quite got around to talking with Twilight about thanks to Yor's sudden appearance and state. As requested, she'd brought the subject up to Handler, who dug through everything they currently had on hand alongside contacting HQ back in Westalis. When they responded back near the end of her cover identity's lunch break, she and Handler were shocked by the available intel they'd found on the Sumdacs.

Or rather, the absolute lack of available intel.

There was absolutely nothing on the Sumdacs at all, which would normally point to them being simple nobodies, except for one small, very significant detail.

There wasn't even a single trace of their existence that they could find anywhere. Even if you were a nobody in or from some far away country, WISE would've been able to find at least one or two key details about you. Perhaps a birth certificate or a previous job you held. The point being, there would always be something, but with the Sumdacs? It's like they just spontaneously appeared in Ostania out of thin air. And that meant only one thing...

We're dealing with ghosts, Nightfall pursed her lips and rubbed an index finger and thumb against them. Why were they here? What do they want? Were they in any way connected to the earlier SSS killings? Even if they weren't, the fact that they didn't exist in any way on paper pointed to the possibility of them being in hiding, which begged another question.

Who are they hiding from?

"-but on our way to the mall, I noticed that we were being followed," Yor's tone and the subject matter grew grim, and her petting of the mutt ceased despite leaving her hand on his head, "It was a Secret Police patrol car, so when we got to the mall, I asked Isaac to take Anya inside with Sari while I tried... talking to them."

"Hold up, someone from the State Security Service attacked you!?" Yuri stood up, snarling in a rage. Just from the look in his eyes, it was clear he wanted the names and faces of the colleagues he intended to bury.

So, his devotion to his sister supersedes his loyalty to his organization? Interesting, Nightfall mused. Perhaps that particular detail could be put to good use later on?

Yor shook her head, "No. It wasn't one of the Secret Police, it was... the window opened and..." her gaze slowly became more and more haunted, "I can still smell the blood on those seats."

"Yor?" Twilight's worry spiked.

"He knew about you, and Yuri and... and he-he threatened to hurt Anya and I just-I lost it and jumped in to fight him but-"

"Sis, please stop!"

But Yor was too lost, ignoring her brother and clutching at the sides of her head, eyes wide with panic, "He was too strong and-and I kept trying to fight back-"

"Yor, that's enough!" But even Melinda went unheeded.

"The shocks, the blades, the fire, the buzzsaws and-and all those people!" She clutched into her hair as if she was about to pull it out, "Oh my God, I can still hear them screaming in my hea-"

"YOR!"

Everyone in the room yelled her name (or barked, in the mutt's case), to try and reach her. But the most shocking thing to Nightfall was that she yelled her name alongside the rest.

Why did I do that? "Mrs. Forger, it's alright. You're safe," Nightfall's tone remained as stiff and emotionless as ever, but there was a slightly higher cadence to her voice, once again shocking her. She certainly hadn't been trying to do that.

"It's okay sis. He's not going to hurt you. Not while I... while we're here," Yuri gently pulled her into a hug while Melinda placed a hand, light as a feather, onto her shoulder.

"Just follow our voices, Yor. Follow them through the screams."

"We're here, Yor. We're all here. You're not there anymore," Twilight gently took his fake wife's hand as the mutt whined, his actions more than anyone else's putting Yor at ease, or at least as much as she could be. Once more, Nightfall felt embers burn inside her at how genuine he sounded, yet it was strangely tempered by... something else she still couldn't put a word to. She still wasn't sure what to make of what she'd just felt, but she shook her head and went into deep thought. If nothing else, Yor's words and reaction confirmed everything they needed to know.

Looks like Yor had an encounter with our recent State Security Service killer. No, not just an encounter. He specifically targeted her. He knows about her family members, and if he knows that, then what else does he know? Nightfall's mind began to spiral at the horrific implications. Did the killer know about Operation: STRIX? About WISE's agents currently in Ostania? About their cover identities? The more she thought about it, the more this bubbling sense of dread filled her body, superseding all other emotions she tried to bottle up. With a light, inaudible gulp, she looked to Yor and asked, "I know it's a... difficult subject, but your attacker... did he say anything to you? Anything about a motive? Anything we can use to inform the police?"

Anything we can use to protect our mission?

Yor went quiet again, but it wasn't a long, unnerving silence. After a few seconds, she spoke, "He didn't talk much, but when he did, he kept asking the same question."

"... what did he ask?" Melinda was the first to speak up, now just as curious as the rest of them. It was clear Twilight and Yuri wanted to voice the question first, but their respective affections for Yor as (fake) husband and brother respectively kept them from immediately voicing it, as neither of them wanted to say anything that'd risk hurting her. Furthering her shock, even Nightfall wasn't sure if she wanted to ask such a follow up question. Regardless, with it out in the open, they all waited for her answer.

"He... he asked..."

Yor put a hand to her chest and breathed, clearly remembering the pain she felt.

"Where is the Autobot?"

Autobot? What on Earth is an Autobot? Nightfall wondered, looking to Twilight, who looked back at her with the same question evident in his eyes. While Yuri was focused more on his sister, it was clear that he was wondering the exact same thing. Melinda, on the other hand, just seemed lost, though she seemed to be wondering about it too, and Nightfall wasn't sure if any member of the Desmond family, regardless of involvement in the National Unity Party's affairs, learning about this was a good idea. Nothing could be done about it now, but she feared it might come back to haunt them.

Strangely, the mutt was looking between all of them in terror. She wasn't sure why though.

A sudden knock drew everyone's attention to the door, where one of the nurses from the operating room opened up and stuck her head inside, "Is everyone doing alright?"

"Better now, at least," Yor nodded and gave a reassuring smile, though it faltered a bit as the nurse walked in with a far more serious expression, glancing down at a file in her hands.

"Is something wrong?" Twilight asked, his worry rising. Nightfall found her own worries rising in kind, despite herself.

"Is my sister dying!?" Yuri panicked and all but jumped from his seat, sending it flying behind him, "Is she bleeding internally? Did her attacker secretly poison her? How did you not figure this out before-"

"Yuri, please calm down!" Yor grabbed her brother and forced him still, somehow overpowering him despite her injuries and his exuberance.

"... No, thankfully, it isn't anything like that," The nurse said, clearly caught off-guard by Yuri's sudden outburst. "And thankfully, we were able to remove all the glass and shrapnel we found in her system. She isn't at risk of infection anymore, and we can safely say that she'll make a full recovery in record time. However," She looked down at the file's contents, "Well, I think it's best to show you first."

The file was passed to Nightfall and Twilight first, given their cover jobs here. Allowing Twilight to open it, she hovered over his shoulder, feeling her own eyes widen to a surprising degree at the contents.

Inside were X-Rays of Yor's skeleton, revealing the areas that where the most heavily damaged from her attacker, which was very notable around the bones in her left arm, her back around the shoulder blades, and ribcage. Nothing was truly broken nor required casting, but the damage was extensive. And yet the most concerning thing wasn't the severe injuries, but the smaller ones. Lining almost her entire skeleton from head to toe was a series of fracture marks, all of them small and having long since healed and nothing that would impede a person – especially not someone with Yor's level of strength – but those were the key words: Long since healed. A number of them had been present for years, perhaps well over a decade by Nightfall's estimate. Others were younger and barely noticeable, but it was still clear they'd been there for a long time.

All in all, it actually wasn't too dissimilar to the kind of fracture marks that tended to be found on the bones of WISE's longest serving or most active field agents, but it was jarring to see such a thing on a civilian woman.

How much Hell has this woman been through? Nightfall wondered as she and Twilight looked between each other before passing the file and images to Yor, whose breath hitched at the sight.

"Oh," was all Yor said, not seeming too surprised by the fracture marks. Yuri tried to get a better look, once more wide-eyed with terror, though this time he tried to keep it under control, likely for his sister's sake. At the same time, Nightfall noticed his expression become downright melancholic.

"Sis, I-" Yuri gulped, "I knew you worked yourself bloody back when we were kids, but... I didn't know it was this bad."

"Regardless, the good news is that much of those smaller fracture marks are largely superficial. At worst, it's cosmetic damage rather than anything too severe," The nurse looked at the Briar siblings sympathetically. "But that doesn't mean they should be ignored either. Coupled with what you'd just... well, survived-"

Nightfall found herself nodding along. Honestly, there was no other word to describe what Yor had just been through.

"-there was a genuine risk that these healed wounds could've gave way to something worse had you been less careful or less lucky. Now, with the bone injuries you've currently sustained," The nurse's serious glance made Yor sweat a bit, "They should recover rather quickly. However, we strongly recommend you avoid any strenuous activities. Otherwise, the damage to your bones could very well worsen and incapacitate you for even longer."

"H-How long should I..." Yor couldn't bring herself to finish, eyes shimmering worry at the answer.

"By our best estimate, about five days at least and nine days at most."

That's... good, I suppose, Nightfall mused, still surprised she felt as such about Yor Briar. Twilight, Yuri, the mutt, and Melinda all seemed to share the same sentiment. Where Twilight nodded with a prominent relief in his eyes, Yuri's own relief was far more overt as he let out a loud sigh and smiled gratefully to the nurse. Melinda's own smile was much simpler, seeming happy that Yor's recovery would be quick and without incident. Nightfall supposed she could understand that, since most in Yor's shoes would either take much longer or have never survived.

And yet the only one unhappy with the news was Yor herself. Though her face was now hidden behind her black hair, Nightfall did sneak a glance at her eyes before the strands covered them. The way they looked... it was as if someone told her she was the world's greatest mistake. Something about that look just seemed... wrong. Like it hurt just witnessing it, but Nightfall couldn't tell why it felt that way.

"Is there anything else we need to worry about?" Twilight asked, so caught up in his relief that he had yet to notice Yor's sudden bout of misery.

"Yes, actually," The nurse turned to Yuri, "Would you kindly follow me? Your own injuries seriously need tending to. Like, right now."

Nightfall nodded to that too, especially since it would get him out of their hair for a while. Instead, Yuri shook his head as another spurt of blood escaped, causing it to fly forward and leave small droplets of crimson on Yor's blanket, though she didn't notice in the slightest, given her state. "No way!" He answered, "I'm not getting any examinations done until my sister's all cleared up."

God, I wish he'd just pass out from blood loss already, Clearly, this insufferably high tolerance for pain was genetic. In a way, it was almost admirable.

Almost.

"... of course," The nurse sighed, giving her attention to everyone as she bowed, "I'll be a few minutes with the prescription ointments for the burn injuries and lacerations. They should help clear up any external injuries with minimal scarring left behind. I'll also bring a wheelchair for you to help her out."

As all but Yor gave their thanks, she exited the room and left the six occupants behind. Twilight let out a sigh of relief and twisted in his seat to face Yor. "If nothing else, at least things had a silver-" He froze upon seeing Yor's current state, her shoulders now shaking as the blanket just beneath her face was slowly being stained with tears, "Yor?"

"Sis?" Yuri now noticed as well, leaning closer, "Sis, what is it?"

"Miss Yor?"

"Borf?"

She answered none of them. Not Twilight, nor her brother, nor the Desmond or even the dog. She just quietly wept and sniffled, both of which felt like they were starting to increase in volume.

"Yor, what's-OOF!"

Twilight's attempt at reaching out for her was cut off when Yor all but lunged for him (as much as she could from a sitting position), crying into his chest and holding him tight like a life preserver. Nightfall felt her anger rise, but then she heard the woman's blubbering, "I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry I keep failing everyone!"

"What?" Twilight, aghast, pulled out of the hug and held Yor by her shoulders, looking her dead in the eye, "Yor, you haven't failed anyone."

"But I did. I failed you, I failed Yuri, I failed Anya, I failed all those people and now I'm going to fail-" She bit her tongue, silencing herself and weeping as she held Twilight's wrists, "Why am I never enough?"

The instant that question left Yor's lips, Nightfall felt as if all the air had been knocked out of her by a sledgehammer to the sternum.

"Sis, don't say that! You are good enough. Hell, you're better than good enough!" Yuri ran around the bed to face his sister in his efforts to cheer her up.

"You could fail a hundred times over and you'd always be more than enough," Twilight said as the mutt barked in what sounded like an agreement. Once more, a knife was driven into Nightfall's heart, watching Twilight give all his affections to this woman, who looked between him and her brother with tear-filled eyes.

Instead of cheering up at such kind words like any average civilian was expected to, Yor broke down even further, tears staining her cheeks like rivers as she once more hugged Twilight. Despite a single second of confusion, he returned the gesture and quietly shushed Yor, whispering relieving words before looking to Yuri and nudging his head for him to join. The SSS agent seemed repulsed by the idea of entering a hug with his (fake) brother-in-law, but one look at his sister's weeping form and he instantly relented, joining into the group hug.

"It's okay Yor. Let it all out. We're here."

"Yeah. We're here sis. We're all here."

"Borf..." The mutt's bark was much more somber as he jumped onto the hospital bed, nuzzling in and joining the hug. Melinda stood back, but clasped her hands and watched, clearly not wanting to impede on the "family" moment, all while Nightfall just stared, completely confused.

Here was Yor Briar, broken in a circle of affection, most of all from the one man who should have been Nightfall's. Such a sight should have made her blood boil like lava, and yet... nothing. No rage or envy or despair at the sight. Try as she might to summon that hate, it just wouldn't manifest. Not like this, after seeing Yor brought so low, not after...

"Why am I never enough?"

No...

No, no, NO! Nightfall shook her head, her stoic mask cracking just a tad as she gritted her teeth and clutched at her head. Stop it, Nightfall! Stop feeling sorry for her! Stop seeing yourself in this- She turned away, Yor Briar is the enemy. Your rival! She is the one thing standing between you and your beloved! Such feelings are irrelevant. They are as much of an obstacle as she is, perhaps even more so. Remember that! Remember that she stole him from you!

She held to that. She held to such thoughts like they were her own lifeline. Even if she couldn't feel it now, she'd fan that rage into an eruption for later. She'd let it be her driving force in her mission. Love for Twilight and hatred for Yor would see her through and she'd finally get what she wanted. And yet...

Why does hating this woman hurt so much now?

She couldn't take it anymore. She needed to tune things out. Seeing a radio in the corner of the room, she did just that by walking up to it and turning it on, where the news instantly started playing.

"-still in the middle of a standoff between Central Mall security, the police, and a group of robbers-"

What? Central Mall? Didn't Yor say something about-

"Fiona, turn up the volume," Twilight demanded. She turned back to see Twilight having released Yor, who's red puffy eyes were focused on the radio. Yuri still held to his sister to maintain comfort, but all his focus was just as much on the radio.

Not wasting a second, Nightfall did as she was asked and the news report continued, "-right now, officials are trying to negotiate with the ringleader, as they currently have three hostage children-"

"Anya!" Yor gasped, hands to her tear-stained cheeks as Twilight tensed up, worry filling his entire being. Even Yuri looked concerned for his fake niece.

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Melinda tried to placate, "Maybe your daughter managed to escape? Maybe she wasn't in that store to begin with?"

"-we're able to identify the first hostage as the daughter of the Sutton family. The other two are... uh, some foreign girl and another girl with pink hair and... are those horns or headpieces?"

The instant that was said, the sound of shattered glass filled the room. Twisting around, Nightfall looked to the bed and saw that Twilight, Yor, and the mutt were gone, the only trace they were ever here being the broken window they must have jumped through. Nightfall blinked, Melinda blinked, even Yuri blinked, now realizing he was holding empty air.

Then the roar of a car engine could be heard in the distance, prompting everyone to face the window. "Oh no! The nurse said she can't strain herself!" Yuri exclaimed as he all but lunged out of the room straight from the bed, "Sis! Wait for meeeeeeeeee!"

Right then and there, just as tires screeching against asphalt could be heard from afar, the nurse and a few doctors slammed the door open and saw the display.

"What the heck is going on!?"

Nightfall looked to the staff, then to Melinda, who looked to her, then the staff, then back to her before she opened her mouth to speak. Then she closed it as Nightfall opened hers to address the nurses, only to sigh and close it in kind, rubbing at her forehead with her palm.

Please just let this day be over soon.

The sound of writing and tearing of paper made her look up and see Melinda, now nervously holding a check out. "Pardon me, but I really must be going. I can't really stand hospitals all that much," She muttered just loud enough to hear before bowing and pressing the papers towards her, "Please give this to whoever runs this hospital. It's to cover the damages."

"Mrs. Desmond. It's just one window. I don't believe this is nec-"

"It's for Yor's brother, actually."

"... oh," With everything that happened after the fact, Nightfall somehow, despite her perfect recall, completely forgot about all the walls he tore through. Nodding, she took the papers as Melinda bowed one last time, speed walking out of the room. Now alone with the confused nurses and doctors, Nightfall decided to further inspect the check, reading it with her usual blank expression now fully restored.

...

...

That is a lot of zeroes.

Chapter Text

"Sis, wait up!" Yuri ran into the hospital parking lot just as Loid's yellow VW Beetle was about to drive by. Seeing that things were too dire and the car was going too fast to stop, he did the first thing that popped into his head. "HUP!" He yelped as he leapt forward and managed to grab the backdoor handle, putting his legs to the test as he tried to keep up with the car's speed. He was… mostly successful, even as they left the parking lot and onto the road. As Yuri's feet stomped hard against the asphalt amidst all the running and driving, he shouted, "COULD YOU PLEASE OPEN A DAMN DOOR!?"

Almost immediately, the window to the door he'd been clinging to for dear life lowered, and far faster than he expected it to be capable of. But he didn't spare this much thought, not as an oncoming car was about to hit him as his sister yelled, "Yuri! Get in!"

He did just that, taking a seat next to Loid's barking pet dog right before the car could strike him.

"What were you thinking, Yuri!?" Loidy yelled, sounding equal parts concerned and frustrated.

"I was thinking about the doctor's orders. Yor shouldn't be straining herself like this, so I'm lightening the load," Speaking of, he turned to Yor and said, "Thanks for opening the window sis!"

"I… I didn't actually," Yor replied, too focused on turning the radio knobs to pay him much attention.

"Oh, well then th-" Yuri swallowed his pride, reminding himself that his sweet sister was here and wouldn't take kindly to any rudeness. Besides, now wasn't the time for any of that. Sighing, he managed, "Thanks… Loid."

"That wasn't me either," Loid answered, eyes laser focused on the road as his hands clutched tightly against the steering wheel, leaving Yuri to raise an eyebrow. If neither of them opened the window, who did? The dog? Did he even know how to do that?

Maybe Sis taught him how? Yuri wondered and nodded while Loid bobbed and weaved past any cars in the road, ignoring the honking and yelling of passing drivers. After all, Yor was the greatest person in the world, and if anyone could teach a dog how to do mundane tasks, it was her.

"Guys, I think I found the station!" Yor exclaimed as she turned up the volume. Yuri and the dog, Bond if he recalled correctly, leaned forward to get a better listen. As they did so, Yuri anchored Bond down as Loid swerved past another car, all while he anchored himself to the driver's seat by pressing a hand hard against it.

"-rently they're demanding $100,000 dalc for the horned, pink haired girl and the foreigner respectively. For the Sutton daughter, they're demanding $1,000,000 dalc in exchange for her release. We have no word on the other hostages in the store, nor any visual. At this point, we can only assume-"

"Hold on, Anya! We're on our way!" Yor's eyes held a gaze of pure steel, her voice so low she sounded almost like an entirely different person. There was a small part of Yuri that burned with envy for how much adoration and care his sweet sister clearly gave to the chihuahua brat, but he bit it down. Whether he wanted to accept it or not, Anya was in danger, and if something bad happened to her, it would destroy Yor in a way no one could ever fix.

Besides, he could hate and suspect Loid all he wanted, but Anya was just a kid. Loidy's kid, sure, but still just a kid. And no child, neither Anya or the other two girls she was trapped with, deserved to go through such ordeals.

As his gaze shifted to Loid, the news report became background noise as he saw that same steel determination in the man's eyes. Though his… ugh… his "brother-in-law" didn't say anything, his actions did all the talking. The way he smoothly shifted between the lanes, weaving past traffic at the highest possible speeds without even a hint of error or fear. Such skills were impressive, far beyond what the average civilian doctor should've been capable of. It was like the mastery of a professional racer or a stunt driver, something that someone who'd mastered multiple roles would be capable of.

Something only a spy would be capable of.

… at least, that's what Yuri wanted to think.

But Loid knows me. He knows that I'm here. If Loid Forger really was a spy, he wouldn't reveal his capabilities in such a brazen manner. No, a spy would be far too cautious for their own good when it came to the talents they showcased, especially around people they were already familiar with, so this was clearly something else. Yuri had a good idea what it was, even if the concept was foreign to him.

It was a father who would do anything to protect his daughter.

Then again, maybe it isn't too foreign a concept. After all, what was he but a brother who would do anything to protect his sister? Where those two things not the same? Or at least similar enough?

Ugh, don't think too hard about this! Yuri shook his head as blood trickled down it. Those two things weren't the same. Sure, they sounded similar and just needed to change who was protecting who, but they weren't the same! Loidy and Yuri had nothing in common! Nothing except for both of us wanting to protect Yor-OW! Yuri slapped himself in the face, thankful that Loid and Yor were too preoccupied with the road and news to pay his actions any mind. Just focus on the road and making sure he doesn't miss the… huh…

Now that Yuri was focusing on that, he noticed the car was going much, much faster than the speedometer claimed, and thinking back, it started speeding up the moment that radio broadcast started. Strange, as Yuri didn't see Loid hit the gas or even do anything to cause that. Not that anyone could've done anything to magically make a crappy VW Beetle go faster than logic and design said it should've gone in the first place.

Seriously, where the hell did Loidy even find this thing?

"Hang on, what's-" The news reporter suddenly sputtered, a bunch of yelling echoing in the background from what sounded like both the authorities and the robbers alike. He even heard a few very loud exclamations of "dad" and "papa" and "Mr. Sumdac", the last of which he recognized as Anya's voice.

At the sheer panic in the three young voices, Anya's especially, Yuri felt his heart skip a beat, blood running cold. And just from their expressions, Yor and Loid shared that exact same feeling.

"Loid," Yor breathed out, "That was-"

"I know," Loid nodded to Yor as slammed his foot on the gas, perfectly dodging oncoming obstacles and swerving around a corner, the car somehow going even faster.

"W-We have a sudden development! All the other hostages have arrived from somewhere in the back and-and it looks like a number of them are carrying guns! Where did they-wait… now it looks like three of the robbers are in front of the former hostages and… they're helping them!? Is this a mutiny!?"

"For the last time, let them go!"

"You idiots, are you trying to get us thrown in jail!?"

"We've made peace with such an outcome. Besides, tis hardly the first time we've escaped such dungeons!"

"Okay, that's it! Talk like a normal person or we're gonna see what the Sutton kid's brain looks like!"

"You bastards let our daughter go, now! Or else we'll… we'll shoot!"

"M-Mama!"

"Drop the kids right now or we start loading you and your saps heads with lead!"

Anya whimpered and kept her eyes shut, only opening them just a tiny bit to see what was going on. Everyone's voices were so loud, their thoughts so angry and scared and scary that it was giving her a headache and making her nose bleed. The cold metal of the gun to her head made everything worse. She could see how much the person holding her wanted to fire it.

In front of them were the hostages, most of them armed with guns taken from the bad guys she, Mister Sumdac, and Sari knocked out before, plus whatever extra weapons – side arms, she remembered – the Sextons and Archer guy had. Those without guns, like Mister Sumdac, had things like metal baseball bats or brooms. The three silly, nice bad guys were on their side too. Apparently, they really didn't like the idea of hurting kids.

Maybe we'll make it out okay? Anya hoped, but she was too scared to believe it. Especially when the bad guys still had guns held to hers, Sari's and Penny's heads while their boss kept his machine gun pointed at everyone else. He was doing his part to keep everyone back, but the three robbers holding them were doing most of the work.

Thankfully, she was adjusting to the headache and could hear everyone's thoughts better, even if they were still a lot for her. None of the former hostages, especially their parents and the three ex-bad guys, wanted to make any moves, too scared of hurting the three girls. That was bad, but the good news was that most of their captors didn't want to hurt them either. Even though the bad guy boss said he wanted to do it to "send a message", he was still really on the fence and wasn't sure of himself, mostly because the three of them were the robbers' ticket to lots of money and freedom.

Anything happened to them, and they'd lose both.

But the bad guy holding me really wants to shoot, Anya whimpered and looked up at him, so big and tall and scary.

He looked down and glared at her, Stupid little pink-haired freak. Boss should just let us pull the trigger and get it over with. Better to fight our way out.

Why does this keep happening to me!?

Anya's eyes went wide, panicking for a bit. Between this guy, the Edgar guy and his goons when Papa first adopted her, and that scary Kepler guy, she had the worst kind of luck with these psychos. It was still super scary, but it was also kinda just starting to get annoying.

Looking over to Penny and Sari, she saw Penny's tear-stained face and read her thoughts. Penny was just as scared out of her mind as her parents, who looked like they had no idea what to do. Anya really wished she could do something to help her, maybe find a way to say that things would be okay even if it was a lie. But Sari…

Sari looked scared, but not too scared. She wasn't crying, and was looking around, her thoughts making it clear she was trying to find something to use so she could break free. Something about shock fingers and images of her hands generating electricity popping into Sari's head. It was like she'd been in these kinds of places before. Turning over to look at Mister Sumdac, Anya saw that his own face and thoughts, while scared, were calmer than the other adults.

Okay, just gotta break free without revealing my powers to anyone. Shouldn't be too hard. Right?

Sari, just hang on. We'll find a way to save you three.

It sounds like they've been in stuff like this before, Anya remembered how Mister Sumdac said that Sari got into trouble a lot, just like she did. Was this the kind of trouble they got into? What other kind of adventures did they have? Were all of them just as dangerous and scary?

And looking at them, and ignoring all the tense glaring and yelling, Anya reminded herself of all the times she'd been in these situations before. Yeah, she had Mama and Papa back then, and later had Bond, but she was still able to do a lot. She saved a kid from drowning and stopped a Red Circus terrorist with just her powers and what she could find. If she could do that, she could find a way to save everyone super-fast.

But how? Anya looked around for answers, eyes falling on Sari again. The robot-girl's face was growing more and more nervous, not seeing a way to break free from the hold or the gun against her head. At least not without revealing what she was.

Sari's powers kinda have problems, don't they? Anya realized, thinking back on her own powers and how easy it was to hide them. They didn't transform any part of her body like Sari's did. Anya thought back to all the fear she felt from Sari earlier, when the secret Autobot thought she saw her robot-powers. That fear was so much like Anya's own that it felt like a punch to the stomach. If Sari couldn't use her powers, then it was up to Anya to do something about it!

Starlight Anya, here are your mission objectives:

Objective 1: Save Penny and Sari.

Objective 2: Make sure Sari's secret stays secret.

Objective 3: Save the store and everyone in it.

Objective 4: Stop the bad guys.

How?

Uh…

Anya focused on everything else around her. They were still in the same hostage situation with all the yelling, glaring, gun pointing (bow and arrow pointing for the Archer guy), and really, really loud thinking. She wasn't able to grab anything from where she was being held, but the big mean jerk holding her was distracted, finger not on the trigger and his grip on the gun a bit loose. Looking down at his arm, she also felt his sleeve, and it was kinda thin, like one of Papa's "civilian" shirts.

A light bulb went off in her head.

Heh.

She grinned, narrowed her eyes, looked at the sleeve, opened her mouth wide, and bit down.

Hard.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Anya bit even harder as the bad guy started screaming, flailing his arm about to try and shake her off. She held onto his sleeve as tightly as she could with her hands and teeth, not letting go and not letting him win. Everything around her was this giant blur as she heard a bunch of yelling all over again.

"Stop that you moron!"

"Just hold still an-ACK!"

"Penny, run now!"

"Okay Mama!"

Anya heard running somewhere in the screaming.

"Hey! Get back he-"

"Don't move an inch! Get behind your parents, kid!"

"Dammit! We lost one! Nice going you fu-"

TSCHE-CHU-TSCHE!

Anya heard those cool robot sounds from before, followed by electricity, a thud to the floor, and more running.

"Sari, are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah, I'm okay!"

Sounds like they're free! Anya couldn't see what was going on, everything still a giant blur because of all the flailing while her bite victim screamed and cried in and out of his head. This bad guy's a really big baby, Anya thought, trying to figure out how to get out of this, Okay… if I let go at the right moment, I'll fly into the hostages and be safe!

After all, Papa timed things just right on his missions all the time. Okay, he was at least able to always see what he was trying to time, but everything always worked out for him when he did it.

1… Anya started counting, 2… 3!

Anya let go and soared-

"OW!"

-right into the floor, back first. Her ears were ringing a little bit and everything was even blurrier. Anya was pretty sure she saw Bumblebee with jet boosters flying over her head.

"Uuuuuuuugh…" Timing stuff is hard.

"That's it!" Anya heard the bigger bad guy yell as a foot stepped on her chest. It didn't crush her, but it kept her from moving and now she was the one flailing her arms. Screw the pay and screw getting arrested. This brat's dying! His thoughts were really, really angry as he pointed his pistol to her head and yelled, "Nobody move! I'm blowing this little shit's brains out!"

Anya whimpered, looking between the police, mall security, and news reporters on the other side of the toy store's steel gate and the hostages, three good bad guys, and Sari and Penny over with their parents. All of them were completely frozen in terror and worry. Even the bad guy boss, who was still standing between the armed hostages and his men, was shaking nervously. The other bad guys – the one Sari shocked and the one that lost Penny – also had the same faces as their boss, all of them staring at the big guy holding Anya down.

"Uh, buddy?" the one Sari shocked started, his body still smokey, "You think maybe you outta calm down?" Seriously, we kinda need this last kid alive!

"Don't care! This brat bit me!"

"And you cost us two hostages!" the boss yelled, "Don't screw this up more than you already did!"

"You're the one who wanted an 'example', right? Well, here's your Goddamn example!"

Anya saw his finger on the trigger. It almost felt like time slowed down as he pressed against it. She couldn't move; she couldn't scream. Tears filled her eyes as she closed them shut, too terrified of what came next.

BANG!

...

...

...

Anya heard the gun go off, but… she wasn't dead? And now it sounded like there was gasping, whispering, a gun clanging on the floor, and… was someone choking? Because she could hear a gargling sound, and the bad guy's foot felt like it wasn't on her anymore. Anya felt so many questions enter her brain, but all of them disappeared when she heard the second bestest voice of all time.

"DON'T. TOUCH. MY DAUGHTER!"

Mama! Anya gasped and opened her eyes. Looking up, she saw her mama, dressed in a hospital gown with wrappings around her arms, legs, and forehead. She was holding the big bad jerk up by the neck, his feet dangling in the air. Anya managed to get up and run around to better see, and she started to nervously sweat at the look on Mama's face.

RAGE.

So much rage.

Mama's eyes were so red they looked like they were glowing. She snarled at the bad guy like she wanted to rip him in half. Anya read her mind, and everything was even scarier than how Mama looked right now.

She saw burning fires. She saw a dark, giant shadow with red eyes that glowed with pure evil. She saw Mama fight this thing before getting crushed by its foot, the image flickering back and forth, replacing the shadow with the bad guy and Mama with Anya. She watched as Mama rushed the flickering bad guy shadow and pinned him to the ground, her face so full of anger that Anya couldn't even recognize her anymore.

Anya could only watch as the visions played, the scary lady throwing her fist into the flickering figure's chest and ripping out his-

Mama, w-what happened? Why are you… Anya knew that her mom's thoughts could get scary, but they were never this scary.

"M-Mama…" Anya tried to call out, still crying when she looked down at her. In almost an instant, all of Mama's anger disappeared, her eyes still red and puffy, but no longer scary.

What am I doing? Mama saw how afraid Anya was, that she was the one scaring her, and all her thoughts grew really, really guilty. Sighing, she glared at the bad guy she was choking one more time and spun, throwing him right toward the other two bad guys that held Penny and Sari hostage. One of them was able to jump out of the way in time, but the other got hit, sending both of them right into a wall and punching a giant hole in it.

… Ooooooooowww… They were groaning in their heads. That meant they were fine. Kinda.

"Why you-" the last robber pointed his pistol, ready to shoot. Mama immediately got between him and Anya, but she didn't have to do anything else, because Papa was on the bad guy faster than Anya could blink. And just as quickly, Papa snatched the pistol from the robber, unloading the magazine to the floor and popping the only bullet in the gun out of its slide, catching it like a coin. The bad guy got angry and tried to punch him though, but Papa was much faster, hitting him in the throat with his pistol and knocking him to the floor.

That was for Anya, Papa glared at the choking crook before shifting to the bad guy boss, who nervously aimed his machine gun at him. Before his finger could even twitch on the trigger, Papa already threw the gun he'd snatched right for magazine, nearly knocking it from the boss's hands and breaking it, scattering the bullets to the floor.

"Grr. Damn you!" The boss grabbed the gun muzzle, holding it like a club as he ran forward to bash Papa in the head with it. Mama tried to make a dash for Papa to help him, but she stumbled, leaving Anya to help her stay steady. What happened? Why was she so beat up? Who could've beaten her up like this? How could-

"Oh no you don't!"

"BORF!"

Unkie!? Bond!? Anya watched as Mama's brother – who was already super beaten up for some reason – and Bond ran in, catching Papa and the bad guy boss off-guard. Papa still didn't get hit though, Unkie reaching him fast enough to push him out of the way and take the gun to the face. Thankfully (Anya couldn't believe she thought that about her Unkie), the gun didn't seem to hurt him all that much, even if the attack made him stumble a bit.

If anything, the gun was in worse shape as it completely broke into pieces against Unkie's head. Everyone, from Mama, to Papa, to Unkie, to Bond, to the bad guy boss, all looked at the broken gun on the floor before the robber looked up and nervously laughed, "Heh… p-please go easy on me-"

Unkie glared and grabbed him by the face, shoving him really, really hard. He was sent him flying and sliding until he was right at the center of where the hostages stood, all of them way too surprised by what was happening to do anything.

"… what the hell was that?" Sammy asked, Nino and Aaron looking between each other and shrugging while Unkie walked toward them in scary stomps, Bond running up to their downed former boss to growl in his face, leaving him whimpering.

"You three!" Unkie yelled, "Drop your weapons and get on your knees, hands in the air."

"Yes, yes, we understand how this works, Sir Suddenly-Appears of Bossalot," Aaron rolled his eyes the three of them did as ordered, the regular police and mall security swarming in from-

Huh, didn't see that until now, Anya blinked and stared at the large, gaping hole in the steel barred gate of the store as the authority people checked in on everyone, asking questions and providing comfort while arresting all the robbers. It looked kinda like Mama tore right through it just by running really fast.

Although now that she was looking, Anya also noticed that the news people weren't there anymore. It's like they were never there in the first place. Did Unkie use his Secret Police badge to scare them all away?

"Anya!" Papa called out, running to her and Mama before kneeling down to check on her, "Are you hurt?" Anya shook her head, with Papa sighing in relief as he pulled all of them into a group hug, "Good. I'm… I'm glad you're okay." I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner. I should've… I need to be better than this.

Anya felt tears fill her eyes again as she hugged both her parents just as tightly. Papa was acting a lot more emotional than normal, and Mama looked really hurt. Did that have anything to do with it?

I… I'm just happy they're here, Anya hugged them again, but she still worried over Mama. Before she could ask, she saw her Unkie and Bond walking over to them. Anya giggled as she hugged Bond, letting him lick her face a little.

"Uh, Chihua-I mean, ehem! Anya," It felt like Unkie was trying to focus on her and not Mama, which was really weird. For Unkie, at least. "You, uh, you doing alright?" Unkie knelt down, looking so awkward like he was trying to force the words out, "They didn't uh… hurt you, or anything? Did they?"

Anya tried reading his mind to see if he was being his usual weirdo self, if he was doing this just to impress Mama or make her happy or something.

He wasn't.

Unkie really was worried about her. It was awkward, and he was annoyed with doing this at all, but it was real, and Anya couldn't help but smile a little.

"I'm okay, Unkie. Mama saved me before the bad guy did anything," Anya gave Mama another hug, still feeling how worried she was. And with how scary her thoughts were before, she needed to calm her down. Papa was super worried too, but Mama had to come first, so she asked, "Are you okay Mama? You look hurt really bad."

"I'm fine, my sweet. It's not as bad as it looks." It's honestly much worse than it looks. Frankly, now that the adrenaline's worn off, it's taking everything I have right now to NOT pass out. Don't think I'm gonna be able to walk much without help. "I'm just glad you're okay. I'm sorry if I scared you," Mama hugged back gently, letting Anya nuzzle into the side of her head. She could hear Papa's relief and Unkie's grumbling, but she was more focused on Mama, whose thoughts went, The look of fear on her face before… I can't believe I terrified Anya like that. I guess I'm still on edge thanks to that… that demon.

Demon? Is that what hurt Mama? Are demons real?

Anya blinked and started seeing into Mama's memories. She saw the dark shadow creature from before, only now the vision was fully cleared up, revealing a giant black armored robot that was so much like Bumblebee. He actually looked kinda familiar, sorta like-

The evil robot from Bond's visions! Anya gasped, Mama fought him!? And Mama… s-she lost?

How could Mama lose? Mama never lost a fight!

She didn't get to think about that too much, because more of Mama's memories started pouring in. Anya saw them fight in a barren city, then a flaming factory. She watched as Mama slashed him and made some kind of blue stuff pour from his shoulder.

Giant robot blood! His blood was blue? Was Bumblebee's blood blue?

But then she watched as Mama was crushed unto his giant metal foot, so much like how Anya was crushed under the big bad guy's foot earlier. The machine was so scary, eyes glowing red as he brought a saw blade down and almost cut off Mama's head. Then he lifted it, and Anya heard the question.

"Where is the Autobot?"

H-He's looking for Bumblebee!?

Anya remembered something she'd heard and seen in Bumblebee's thoughts a few times, about other giant robots in dark armor and some kind of symbol. She saw a symbol on the steering wheel from Mama's memories, all glary and angulary. Mixed with the dark armor, and the question he asked, was he a-

"A DECEPTITON!?" Anya gasped, covering her mouth when she realized she'd said it out loud and gotten her family's attention.

"What?" Unkie asked first, What the hell's a Deceptiton?

Is that some sort of new word Anya made up?

"Anya, what's a, uh-" Papa stammered for a bit, testing the new word, "Deceptiton?"

She went with the first thing she could think of, "Uh, I… it's a toy I think I saw?" Anya's a genius!

"… is it something you'd like to get?" Papa asked.

Anya shook her head, "No, I don't want it." I don't think anyone wants that bad guy robot around.

Then why did you blurt it out!? Ugh, I'm never gonna understand Loidy's kid, I swear, Unkie's own thoughts were kind of annoyed.

Papa, meanwhile, looked a bit concerned. She's probably still in shock. Whatever that toy was, it must've been the last thing she saw before the robbery began, so she's holding on to a pleasant memory. Honestly, after everything she's been through even before this, I don't blame her. I'm going to have to make sure she's mentally sound when we get home. Too often I've seen people succumb to severe mental breakdowns, and I won't allow Anya to suffer the same. Besides…

He looked over to Mama, I almost lost my... lost this family twice over today. I won't let it happen again.

Papa's memories showed Anya how Mama arrived at the hospital, all bloody and broken and barely breathing. Anya gasped at what she was seeing.

The bad guy robot did t-that? Anya whimpered a little, Mama hugging her in response. If the Deceptiton could do that to Mama, what else can he do? Is Bumblebee in serious trouble? How am I supposed to help him against that!?

Anya's usual plans for these kinds of things were to try and point her parents in the right direction. But Mama couldn't fight it, and because of that, she doubted Papa could either. Maybe she could point Bumblebee in the right direction, but she wasn't sure if she could do that against the evil robot without revealing her powers and risking her future.

What am I gonna do?

Anya let out a low hum as Papa carried her out of the mall in one arm, his other helping hold Mama steady while Unkie did the same for her other side. Mama insisted she didn't need all the fuss, but her stumbling made it clear they were helping no matter what. Anya wanted to help too, but she was too small to carry Mama, and the rest of her family was more than enough. It bugged her, but Papa bought a sketchpad from the toy store to help her feel better, even helping buy Sari that Leader-1 figure she wanted.

It didn't completely help, since the fear of that evil robot was still in the back of her head, but it helped just a tiny bit.

When the police and mall guys finished checking that all the hostages and their kids – they stayed back in the staff room during the standoff – were okay, everyone was ready to leave. They left the first chance they could, Papa and Unkie wanting to get everyone home so Anya and Mama could get some rest. After the day she'd had, and after seeing what Mama went through, Anya knew she needed a good nap.

It bummed Anya out a bit though, but at least they got to say goodbye to the Suttons and Sumdacs. Papa did most of the talking though, having a short, but friendly conversation with both families. The Suttons kept it short, wanting to get their daughter home as quickly as possible, all of them thanking Anya and Sari before saying goodbye. After that, Papa talked a bit more with Mister Sumdac, even offering to help drive them home since they could make just enough space in Bumblebee. Mister Sumdac said it was fine, that they could walk home well enough, and that he and Sari just needed some air to shake off what happened.

"I must say, despite the robbery, we still had a fun day with your wife and daughter," He'd said, smiling nervously before asking, "Is it always this hectic in Berlint, though?"

"Not always. Some days are better than others," was Papa's answer. Anya wasn't paying much attention to the rest of the conversation, too busy focusing on the Decepticon from Mama's memories and Sari, who'd quietly been hugging her new Leader-1 figure with a worried face.

Did Anya see me blast the ceiling? Does she know? Is she going to tell anyone? Are we gonna have to go back to running and hiding again? What if she tells someone and those people hear about it? They found me once already. Can they find me again?

Those were Sari's thoughts while their papas were talking. Anya had no idea who those people were for Sari, and she didn't get the chance to read her mind to find out because Mama's injuries started acting up again. It distracted everyone, ending the conversation. Anya had been able to say goodbye to Sari one last time, but now Sari was nervous around her.

All because of her secret. A secret Anya only knew about because of her own secret.

Anya slumped in Papa's arm (he just thought she was tired) as they got closer to where Bumblebee was parked, worried that she'd ruined things with Sari, a girl she really, really wanted to be friends with. She knew that part of it was because of Bond's future visions, but there was also something else. Something that didn't feel like spy stuff or secret double life stuff. Sari's powers, her fears, her everything, it was all so much like Anya's and so different at the same time. It made her wonder...

Can I tell Sari my secret? Anya didn't know. She didn't know if she wanted to know. She'd been hiding her powers for so long and was so scared of getting sent back to the orphanage that she didn't know if she could trust anyone. She didn't know if she could even trust Mama and Papa! But Sari was... she was just like her: A weird girl from a weird place with a big secret. Maybe she was the only person that could really, really understand?

Maybe she was the only person Anya could really, really open herself up to?

She didn't know. And it was just so scary not knowing.

But I want to know, and the only way to know is by-ugh! Why does this have to be so confusing? Anya sighed right as they got to Bumblebee's doors, Papa putting her down so she and Bond could get in the back. She was about to open the door, but then her powers picked up on Bumblebee's thoughts.

Why's Yor staring at me like that? Did I do something wrong? Wanting to see what Bumblebee meant, Anya looked her mother's way and saw that she was glaring at him. It wasn't a murdery glare like she usually gave to the bad guys, and nowhere near as bad as the one she'd been giving the robbers. This one looked kinda... scared? Unsure? Focusing her powers, on Mama, Anya tried to find out what it was.

Bumblebee... Mama's thoughts were full of instances from her fight with that dastardly Decepticon, Are you really the Autobot?

MAMA KNOWS!? Anya gasped, now seeing the evil robot show her Bumblebee's symbol, explaining that their family car was just like him.

I haven't seen you do anything to stand out as some kind of killer robot. He could've been lying to throw me off, but...

"Sis, what's wrong?" Unkie asked, his worry spiking like crazy on the inside.

"Injuries acting up again?" Papa put a gentle hand to Mama's shoulder, also worried, but a lot less crazy about it.

"N-No, I'm... I'm fine. Just a little dizzy, is all," Mama opened the shotgun door and got inside, glaring at the dash before she looked down and saw Anya, who was clutching her new sketchpad with one hand and petting Bond with the other.

"Mama, is something wrong with Mister Bumblebee? You're glaring at him like he's evil or something."

Mama's eyes went wide for a second, but she closed them and sighed, calming herself and reaching down to rub Anya's cheek. "No, nothing's wrong with him." At least I hope not. "I just thought I saw a... a spider was all."

Huh, I didn't see anything, and usually I can see everything inside me... including stuff I wish I didn't, Bumblebee remembered a time when he saw Anya picking her nose and stuffing the booger somewhere between the seats. The entire car shivered in disgust for a bit at the memory. Anya just gave him a flat glare. What, did giant robots not get stuffy noses?

"In any case, we should probably get going," Papa got in the driver's seat while Anya and Bond got in the back. "Yuri, if you need a lift, we have room," Papa looked Unkie up and down in worry, "You look pretty beaten up yourself. I can make a quick stop back at the hospital to get you checked in."

How'd Unkie get that beaten up anyway? Anya read into his mind and saw him fall from the top of a building after running through a bunch of walls. Yeah, that'd do it.

But then Anya saw him running through the streets, only for a truck to rush by. Then another... then another... then another... then another... then he got flipped over by a lady on a motorcycle, who came over to check on him, taking off her helmet and-

Is that Miss Mikaela!? Anya watched Mama's friend help him up and offer to take him to the hospital, but Unkie just kept running, completely ignoring her and making it pretty far without hitting anything.

And then a kid on a scooter ran over Unkie's foot. He hopped on the other and yelled at the kid to watch where he was going.

The kid raised a middle finger at Unkie and rode off, calling Unkie a really, really bad swear word.

What a big stupid jerkface! Anya puffed her cheeks. Sure, she didn't like Unkie much... okay, she didn't like him at all, though maybe she liked him just a tiny bit after today. But even then, that kid was way out of line.

Yeah Loidy, I already know that. But I don't need you to tell me that I can't handle getting run over by five different trucks, a motorcycle, and a kid on his scooter. Or was it four different trucks? Honestly, I think the blood loss is making things a bit fuzzy. "No thanks. I got something I need to work on." Need to start investigating whoever attacked my sister and killed those officers before the trail gets cold. Unkie bent down a bit to better face Mama, "Sis, please try to take it easy."

"Yuri, I... I don't think I can." Not with that monster still out there. I have to keep him away from all of you, Mama looked down at the car dash sadly, And then there's whether or not Shopkeeper will still let me do the bodyguard mission on the Lorelei. Not to mention Bumblebee and if it's... he's... if she... if the car really is the Autobot. If he is, that's another threat I might have to deal with later.

... Oh...

Oh no.

Mama thought Bumblebee and Autobots were evil just like the Decepticons. If Anya wasn't panicking before, she was definitely panicking now. She remembered the scary memories of what Mama wanted to do to that Decepticon. If Mama ever found out that Bumblebee was a giant alien robot, then that meant-

Mama's gonna kill Mister Bumblebee! But Bumblebee was the good guy! Desperately, Anya tried to calm down, remembering that Mama suspected, but she wasn't sure just yet. I gotta keep Mama from finding out, Anya hugged her sketchpad, I gotta keep Mister Bumblebee safe!

If Bumblebee got killed by either the big bad robot or Mama or anyone else... Anya didn't even want to think about that.

"Yor, if I may," Papa put a hand to Mama's shoulder, "You work harder than anyone else I know, and you're always trying to shoulder everyone else's burdens." Something I'm all too familiar with. "You can trust us to take care of ourselves every now and then. Not every battle has to be yours."

Papa's words weren't helping Mama this time, I know that, Loid! But this one needs to be!

... I really hate it when that bastard's right. "Yeah. Sis, we're self-sufficient enough that you don't need to constantly stress yourself out over us." Unkie smiled and pointed a thumb to himself, "Take me for example. I'm a man now! I've got my full-time job, plus I know how to take care of myself and hold my own in a fight. I-" suddenly, Unkie's face went blank, feeling like a nuclear bomb went off in his head, "-don't need you... constantly stressing over... around me... any... more..."

Unkie went super quiet, and for the first time, Anya actually felt worried about him. She tried reading his mind, but it was completely blank, like the bomb wiped everything out. Mama and Papa looked worried too. Even Bumblebee was worried about him, and Anya was pretty sure he liked Unkie even less than she did.

Yuri's not looking too good. Is he having a bad memory of some kind? Bumblebee felt weirdly sympathetic toward Unkie. Something about how he had a lot of bad memories of his own, not that Anya got to see them. Suddenly he had an idea, Maybe if I honk my horn, it'll snap him out of it?

NO! Anya couldn't let him do anything that'd tip Mama off, so she jumped from her seat and yelled, "UNKIE! WAKE UP!"

"WAH!" Unkie blinked and rubbed at his eyes, looking at all of them. Awkwardly, he turned around, "Right! So, anyway... see you later!"

He suddenly started running away, getting so far so fast that Anya didn't get to read a single thought from him. The rest of them were left in silence before Papa shrugged and started Bumblebee's engine, beginning the drive for home.

The man who killed those SSS officers, the man who attacked Yor... Papa felt super angry deep down, It's likely that he's responsible for the attack at the docks as well, meaning he's just as likely responsible for Kacey and Mark's disappearances.

Anya wondered who Kacey and Mark were.

When we get back from the cruise, I'll talk with Franky. He's already investigating what happened, so combined, we should be able to locate where the killer is.

Oooh! Uncle Scruffy and Papa team up mission! Anya got excited at the idea, knowing that Franky made all sorts of gadgets Papa could use. But then Papa's thoughts kept going and everything got scary again.

That bastard targeted my family. I won't let him get away with it, Papa's anger was starting to scare Anya. It wasn't as bad as Mama's, but it was still enough to make her worry that he'd have scary thoughts.

Clearing her throat, she asked, "Papa, are you okay?"

Hmm? "Oh! Yes, I'm perfectly fine, Anya!" Truly, I've fallen as a spy if I can't even lie convincingly anymore, Not even Papa bought what he was saying, "It's just... it's been a long day."

"Yeah. A really long, really bad day," Mama slouched in her seat, leaning against the door and staring out the window as buildings and cars went slowly by. She felt so miserable, and Anya didn't even need to read her mind to see just how bad it was.

"Yor, I-" Papa started, but got cut off.

"Loid, please. Just... not now. Please..." Mama begged, the car becoming depressingly silent after that.

Don't think I've ever seen Yor this upset or hurt before. What in the Pit happened? Bumblebee's... whatever he had for a heart, went out to Mama. It sounded like he was trying to think of a way to cheer her up, but he couldn't.

Not without revealing and putting himself in Mama's line of murdery, assassiny sight.

Wanting to say something to help cheer her up and help keep Bumblebee's secret, Anya opened her mouth, but then Bond started licking her face.

"Bond!" Anya huffed, not in the mood for it, but he kept at it, so she gave up and looked at him. He stared back, and suddenly, she saw it.

She saw the Blackbell factory again. She saw it exploding and the mystery object flying out, only this time it kept going, picking himself off the ground.

Bumblebee? Anya gasped as the vision continued, the dark scary Decepticon walking out of the flaming factory and chasing Bumblebee into the city. The two fought and tried to kill each other, but people were everywhere, and Bumblebee was both distracted by everyone and hurt from the factory explosion. He was spending so much of the fight trying to protect everyone. He kept trying to save them, yelling and begging for them to run in his beeping voice, but then the Decepticon pinned him to the ground and started blasting.

Not at him, but at everyone else.

The vision ended, and another played, this time with a large amount of Berlint in rubble and flames, screaming echoing in the night.

N-No, not again! Anya thought in terror, reminded so much of those visions she saw the first time she and Bond met: Of Papa dying and a big nasty war starting. She felt so helpless when the visions showed Bumblebee managing to just barely get away and hide, the Decepticon looking for him before giving up and turning into a car to drive away, going back into the city, waiting to strike again.

Once again, the vision shifted, this time showing her what looked like dead, burned, and blood covered bodies in the factory rubble, some she could even recognize.

M-Miss Mikaela... Anya felt tears start to form at the sight of the woman's corpse. The more she looked at the bodies, the more she recognized: Miss Frost (in a disguise that the explosion destroyed), Becky's dad, and Miss Martha. The visions shifted again to the flaming city, where Bumblebee's fight with the Decepticon led to busy streets full of cars. She saw the Suttons in a limo that went up in flames, the parents dying in a blast of energy while Penny was left trapped in a burning car.

So much destruction, and all of it was followed up with visions of news reports.

Ostania was blaming Westalis for the destruction and threatening to go to war, just like what would've happened with the dog bombers.

Anya panicked and panicked and panicked some more, wondering if all this was going to happen while they were on the cruise. She had to find a way to stay behind. She had to find a way to stop it. No matter what, this couldn't happen!

What do I do, what do I do, what do I- Anya was cut off when Bond licked her again. At first, she thought it was to help her feel less stressed, and she wondered why he wasn't freaking out like her. But then she read his mind again. She started seeing those same visions, but this time, they... transformed.

The vision of Bumblebee flying out of the exploding factory transformed into him standing in front of a lake, looking like he was investigating something.

The vision of them fighting in the city transformed into Bumblebee initiating a car chase, getting the Decepticon away from everyone without causing any damage.

The vision of the battle in the streets transformed to what looked like them fighting in a prison, all the prisoners running away, and three of which she recognized from the earlier robbery. Despite the people, it didn't look like anyone died, at least from what the vision was showing her. In fact, the vision shifted again to show her every single death, all of which faded to static and white, and then they were gone.

An entire bad future, gone in an instant.

Anya blinked, W-What was-HOW!?

Ugh, can't think of anything to cheer Yor up right now, Bumblebee's thoughts cut her off as she looked to his radio, Focus, Bee. Trust everyone else to handle that. She's tough, and she'll get through this with their help. Right now, you've got an Energon signature to worry about.

Energon? Anya blinked again, remembering that word from Bumblebee's thoughts. He said he was trying to make Energon and was succeeding in that nowadays, but she still had no idea what that was. All she knew from his memories was that he had these blue cubes of the stuff stored somewhere.

I can still trace it, and it looks like it's moving somewhere in the city. But the fact that it's here at all is concerning. I remember that the Blackbells were storing up the Energon from my escape pod, but that Energon would be inert and out of power by now. So, if there's an active signature in the city... Bumblebee went quiet as Papa turned a corner, I hope I'm wrong, but it probably means a Cybertronian got wounded and is leaking Energon right now.

Anya's eyes went wide, remembering Mama's memories from before. She remembered how Mama slashed that big mean robot and made him bleed blue, the same blue that those Energon cube things were.

Energon is giant robot blood!?

As Anya was processing the new detail about giant robots, Bumblebee's own thoughts continued.

Whatever it is, I'll have to postpone the factory infiltration for now. Can't risk making any extra Energon to bust through the ceiling. Not when it'd put me on someone's radar when I have no clue if they're friendly or not. I gotta focus on tracking down where the signature ends and find out. Hopefully Optimus just sent backup and they got hurt by accident, but... please let me be wrong about this.

Anya kept staring at Bee's radio, putting the pieces together. He was investigating the Decepticon because he detected Energon, which only happened because Mama made him bleed.

Mama made that happen... Anya gasped as the car came to a stop, Mama changed the future. Mama saved all those people and helped Bumblebee stop the Deceptiton!

Her mama made the bad future go away!

This is so cool! Anya bounced in her seat, so excited. Now no one was gonna die, and it was all because of Mama! She wasn't just an assassin. She was a superhero! She did something awesome that'd definitely help her... feel... better...

All of Anya's excitement fell apart, remembering that Mama couldn't know. If Anya told her, Mama either wouldn't believe her or ask how she knew that, which would lead to her and Papa finding out about her powers, about Bond's powers, and Bumblebee. Papa would send her back to the orphanage, she had no idea what would happen to Bond, and Bee?

Now Mama wanted to kill Bee.

If she and Papa find out about all this stuff, Anya's happy ending will blow up, Bumblebee's driver door opened as Anya was left in a huff, the one thing that could help Mama being something she could never find out.

Papa walked around to the other side, opening the door to help Mama out as she said, "Loid, when we get inside, I need to make a call to my job. Let them know what happened and how it'll effect my job on the Princess Lorelei tomorrow." Maybe I can still force myself to do it? I know what the doctors said, but the Gretchers are counting on me! But that's only if the Shopkeeper will even let me, and with how everything hurts, I don't feel confident that I can.

I know you can do it, Mama! Anya believed she could. Mama could do anything!

Except for cooking, but that was beside the point.

"Of course," Papa nodded, Mama wrapping an arm around his shoulder, "Is there anything else I can do to help?" I know she probably just wants to be alone for now, but it just doesn't feel right. But with the way she was back at the hospital... Anya saw Papa's memories, this time of Mama breaking down in a panic attack with everyone trying to calm her down. How can I help her when talking about it will just make things worse? I've never seen her so helpless before, Papa looked down in shame, I don't know if I've ever been so helpless before. Westalis's so-called "greatest spy", and you can't even help your wife.

"Mama, Papa..." Anya breathed out, so worried for the both of them, but especially her mother. Jumping out of the car with Bond, she ran to catch up, but stopped upon seeing that her hands were empty, "I forgot my sketchbook!"

"Okay. We'll wait here," Mama said as Anya jumped back inside and grabbed it. She was about to run back out, but she had an idea.

I know how to help Mister Bumblebee! Anya knew that the other giant robot was a Decepticon, but Bumblebee didn't. She could warn him, and her new sketchpad could help with that. Taking the black colored pencil it came with, she started drawing up what the evil robot looked like from her memories of Mama's memories, then wrote down a message at the bottom: "Beware the Decepticon".

Now Mister Bumblebee will know what to look out for! Anya tore off the paper and left it in her seat where Bee could see it. She ran back inside with her dog and parents. All the way upstairs, Anya kept looking at her mom, who was slouched in a pain and sadness that didn't want to go away.

Anya was worried about her, Papa was worried about her, Bond was worried about her, but none of them knew what to do.

None of them knew how to help.

How do I help her? Bumblebee wondered, watching the Forgers head inside. Being honest, he was actually kind of ashamed that it took him so long to notice Yor's injuries, but by that point, he'd been so caught up worrying over Anya thanks to learning of the robbery she'd been involved in. But what could've done that to her? Bee felt like the only thing he could do to help was to find and track down whoever did that to her and make sure they could never do it again. But that was a tough ask. I don't even know who they are, and I can't ask Yor.

It's times like this that he really hated his cover as the family car. As frustrating as it felt in the beginning, he found it growing on him. He found this family growing on him. A family that he'd grown to care for yet could never be a part of.

A family that he could never truly be there for even when he was physically present. He couldn't do anything to help Anya with her homework or school troubles, he couldn't do anything to help Loid's hospital work when he looked a step away from death by exhaustion.

And now he couldn't do anything to put Yor at ease, physically or emotionally.

Things would be so much easier if I could just reveal myself, But Bumblebee couldn't do that. Not without inciting panic and having to go into hiding again.

Not without having to leave them. And as inevitable as it was, the more time passed, the more he didn't want that to happen.

But there has to be something I can do, Bee tried to think of something, but between his mind going back to the concerning Energon signature and needing to establish a base with said signature in mind, he kept coming up blank. Ultimately, he relented and decided it was best to leave this to the Forgers.

They'll be going on their cruise tomorrow. That sounds like the perfect place to put her mind at ease, Being honest, Bumblebee knew nothing of what cruises were like, having only heard about them via word of mouth or the occasional advertisement for interstellar luxury cruises between Cybertron's colonies prior to the war. But what little he did know painted them as ideal and a great source of fun for entire families. Hopefully it works and Yor will be feeling better by the time she gets- Bumblebee cut off his line of thought when suddenly, something caught his optic. He shifted his mirrors to get a better look inside. On the back seat, he saw a white sheet of paper, left behind from Anya's sketchbook.

Huh, she must've forgotten it, Bee mused, trying to get a closer look, and...

... eh?

On the paper was... something. It looked kinda like a black, bloated starfish thing with red eyes on the topmost leg, which looked pretty spikey. All of its limbs were mismatched and in varying sized that made it seem like it would fall flat on its face if it so much as took a step. And then there was the... uh, writing, if it could be called that, at the bottom.

"Beuuqeb Ar Decaladodon."

... what the frag?

What the hell? Yuri groaned, shambling forward on the sidewalk as all the injuries he'd accumulated felt like they were finally starting to catch up, Why did I run off like that?

And why did he leave his sweet sister with those sister stealing Forgers?

Retracing the end of their conversation, all he'd done was tell his sister how he didn't need her looming over him anymore, all stressed out on if he was happy and healthy. The entire point of why he became so self-sufficient in the first place was to protect her and he... he'd succeeded, hadn't he?

Wasn't that supposed to be a good thing? Why didn't it feel like a good thing?

Is it because I failed even though I accomplished what I'd set out to for her? Yuri wondered, staring down at his gloved hand. He could still feel the bones aching from all the damage he'd taken today. All the training he'd done to become a Second Lieutenant in the State Security Service, all the cases he'd solved to reach this point, everything to create a safer, better country for his sister to call home... and yet all of it proved useless. He couldn't be there for her when it mattered most, making him look at his bloody, battered reflection in a store window.

After everything, you're still the same pathetic brat who has to sit back and watch as your sister bleeds for you. Some brother you turned out to be.

Clutching his fist, he vowed that, come Hell or high water, he'd find whoever attacked her and make him suf-

NO! Yuri shook his head. No suffering. Just a quick, simple execution. No giving the bastard opportunities to get away or give him the luxury of more time.

Just find him and end it.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Staring into the window, he noticed a State Security Service patrol car pull up at his other side, turning his attention toward it. In doing so, a growing feeling of familiar unease welled up inside him, the dark, tinted windows preventing him from seeing whoever was inside. As the unease grew, his eyes widened for a split-second before he narrowed them, glaring at the car and discreetly reaching for his service pistol.

Yor said the bastard who attacked her did so with a stolen patrol car, Yuri turned the safety off and slowly approached, stopping just in front of the door and waiting for the pin to drop. The window rolled down as Yuri prepared for the worst, If this really is the guy who attacked my sister, then I'll-

-it was Chloe.

Oh, never mind, "Hey Chloe. It's... it's good to see you," Yuri said, letting out a sigh of relief he hadn't realized he'd been holding. After what happened with his sister, he was just glad to see a familiar face from work. Turning the safety of his service pistol back on, he fully pocketed it and opened the door, taking to the shotgun seat as the window rolled back up. He slouched in his seat and leaned against the door, letting the weight of the entire day wash over him as his body relaxed just enough that he could still be on alert.

"Chloe, I know it's gonna sound weird coming from me, but could you take me home?"

Yuri waited for a response of affirmation or for the car to start. And waited.

And waited.

And waited.

But then he noticed that they weren't moving, nor was Chloe talking.

Yuri shifted to face her, seeing his fellow officer just... stare at him with the most impassive expression he'd ever seen in his life. There was something in her eyes that he just couldn't recognize, which was odd, since he liked to think he was good at reading people (job requirement, after all). It felt like... malice? Discomfort?

Actually, the more he looked into Chloe's eyes, the more he noticed how empty and dull they were. So odd from his coworker who was so usually easy-going and lively. And the more he looked at Chloe herself, the more that familiar dread returned, somehow worse than ever before. It felt like something awful was about to happen, yet he had no idea what.

Did something happen after I left? Yuri was about to ask, but suddenly, Chloe smiled and closed her eyes, tilting her head innocently.

"Of course, Yuri Briar," Chloe's voice sounded just too sweet for his liking. It almost sounded forced, and the way she said his full name, it's like she was sneering at him.

The car started, and they were off, an awkward silence lulling over them. The longer it lasted, the worse the feeling of doom became, and the worse it got, the more Yuri wanted to jump out of the car and just walk home. Looking toward Chloe again, he noticed how she drove in an almost mechanical manner, every movement stiff and weightless. There wasn't a hint of motion beyond the bare minimum needed to operate a car, and just watching it freaked him out. He wasn't even sure if Chloe was breathing.

That, combined with the uncomfortable silence and this bubbling feeling of concern, made Yuri reach his hand out, wanting to ask if she was alright. But right as his hand was about to touch her shoulder, she turned and faced him, making Yuri flinch back under her gaze. Those eyes, so full of contempt behind the dull, empty shade of pink. What did Yuri do? Why was Chloe acting like this?

As Chloe kept driving, she never stopped glaring at him, perfectly following all traffic laws without even needing to look at the road. The only time she averted her gaze was when a stoplight turned red, a family of four and two puppies crossing the street. Yuri watched them go by, and he'd admit they all looked kinda cute together. The two children actually reminded him a little of himself and Yor back when they were little. It reminded him of what he was fighting for, easing a weight from his shoulders, if only a little.

But then that weight came back in full when he noticed a change in Chloe's expression. It looked... impatient? It was like she wanted to just go now, regardless of the family walking by and-actually, no. It was like she wanted to flat-out run over them.

Just like that though, the family finished crossing, and Chloe drove onward, letting Yuri release another relieved sigh as he finally asked, "Chloe, did something happen? You're acting a bit, uh... how should I put this?"

"What is it, Briar?" Chloe didn't even look at him. Her voice was a stiff monotone, yet there was definitely a tiny hint of contempt in it that was just barely noticeable. It's like she hated having to talk at all.

"You're acting kinda sorta maybe just a tiny bit, uh... scary."

Things went disturbingly quiet again, with Yuri sweating as he awaited Chloe's answer. A few seconds passed, and it slowly dawned on Yuri that, aside from when she closed her eyes to greet him with that oh so forced smile and tone, he hadn't seen her blink once.

"Today was... annoying," Chloe finally answered, slowly turning to face him as she continued driving, "I heard that an anarchist might be in the area, so I began searching for any signs of them. I found one, as well as a particularly annoying little bug. I tried to swat it aside, but it refused to die and stung me. And just when I'm about to kill it, a dog showed up and distracted me, causing me to lose the anarchist's trail."

... okay, that sounds... tough, I guess? "Sorry to hear that?" Yuri wasn't really sure what to say. Between Chloe's creepy behavior and the rest of the day he'd been having, he was at a loss, especially since it felt like Chloe was taking it way too seriously. "Well, look on the bright side," Yuri tried to cheer her up so hopefully things wouldn't be as off-putting, "You managed to get back at it for stinging you, so... silver lining?"

That was a way his sister tried to cheer him up whenever he got a sting or bug bite and killed the insect in retaliation. She'd always patch up his bumps and say, "You avenged your boo boos!" in a playful, silly tone that always put him at ease. He was pretty sure that wouldn't work on Chloe right now though, so he tried to stick with the spirit rather than word for word.

Chloe just stared at him. And stared. And stared. And stared.

Please tell me that didn't make it worse! Yuri was about to retract his comment, but suddenly, Chloe's lip curved upward and she began snickering.

"HA! True. Very true," She said wistfully, a certain light returning to her eyes, "I'll admit, it put up a good fight, for a bug at least. It just made the mistake of being a problem."

Just glad Chloe seemed to be somewhat lightening up, Yuri decided to play along, "Yeah! It must've been, like, the dumbest bug alive to try and mess with the SSS! But you showed it! No bugs are gonna sting Chloe and get away with it!"

Chloe's snickering devolved into full out laughter as she threw her head back. Feeling a bit less stressed, Yuri laughed along with her, even though he didn't really find it funny, but friends/coworkers did that, right? They laughed together and shared awkward jokes? Plus, Chloe was being less creepy now.

But as he stopped laughing, Chloe just kept going. And going. And going.

Ooookay, was my joke really that funny? Yuri started freaking out again, especially as Chloe's laughter began to sound borderline maniacal the longer it went, eyes wide open, yet never once blinking. After a solid two minutes of laughing and driving in the slow-moving traffic, she finally, finally stopped, a wave of relief washing over Yuri as he said, "I'm, uh, glad you're feeling better, Chloe."

"I'm just looking on the bright side. That sting did give me a good idea on how to lure the anarchist out."

"Maybe I can help? I'm good with tracki-No, wait," Yuri huffed and gazed to the car's floor, remembering his priorities, "Sorry. But I have an important case to work with whoever this State Security Service killer is. Between them and what happened to Yor, I-"

Suddenly, Yuri felt like he was being watched from every angle, his skin crawling as a cold sweat started to fall from his brow. He slowly looked to Chloe, noticing that she wasn't so much as side glancing at him. Why did he feel this way? Why did it feel like he could die at any second just from sitting here?

But before he could think too hard on it, Chloe asked, "Speaking of your sister, what's her current condition?"

Yuri's eyes went wide for a split-second. Not so much by the question, but by how clinical it was. Chloe's entire demeanor was the antithesis of how she informed him of what happened, all that heartfelt concern replaced with cold apathy. Too offput, both by Chloe and the frightening atmosphere, he answered, leaning back in his seat, "She's... been better. Like you said before I left, it was really bad. She's gonna be in pain for a while."

"Any current suspects, or will you annoyingly insist on it being your sister's Conjunx Endura?"

Conjunx End... what? "You mean husband, right?" What the hell kind of word was "Conjunx Endura" supposed to be? Chloe just glared at him without saying a word. Seeing that she wasn't gonna answer, he sighed, "Honestly, that was my first thought but Loidy... ugh, Loid had nothing to do with this."

"WHAT!?" Yuri's words sparked the biggest emotional reaction from Chloe, causing her eyes to go wide, her entire face filled with shock, and the car to suddenly stop, prompting those behind to honk their horns at them. Chloe ignored said horns and exclaimed, "All your insufferable ranting about how he's, and I quote, 'a no-good sister stealing slug', and yet you don't suspect him!?"

Do I really rant about the Forgers that much at work? Yuri knew he got called out for it quite a few times, but was it really that bad? Shaking that off, he replied, "Chloe, you didn't see what I saw at the hospital. You didn't see how broken he was because of what happened. I don't trust him with my sister. I don't think I ever will. But Loid would never do something like this to her."

Loid truly loved his sister. Loid truly cherished her more than anything else in the world. Yuri hated having to acknowledge that fact, but he couldn't find a single shred of deception in Loid's demeanor back at the hospital. Even if everything else about him was a lie, even if he was a spy, there was no faking that kind of love.

A love that was stealing his sister from him, and yet also a love that would fight to the bitter, bloody end to protect her. To take that away meant depriving Yor of such sincere love that would defend her no matter what. It meant putting her at greater risk, the absolute opposite of everything he wanted to do. Yuri didn't know what to make of that, only able to clench and unclench his fist in a rage that pulsed in him like a heartbeat. Seeing that love made him hate Loid Forger all the more, all while hating himself just as much.

He didn't know what to do with any of these feelings, and it just kept making him angrier and angrier.

Suddenly, the car horns honked again, snapping him out of his anger as he and Chloe looked back behind them. Once more, Chloe's impassive stare returned, so thoroughly focused on the cars for several seconds. If Yuri didn't know any better, it was liked Chloe was scanning every single detail – from license plate to model to color pallet to driver – that she could about the cars to their rear. Why? He didn't know, but the longer it went, the more weirded out he got.

"Maybe we should go?" Yuri suggested, his partner not even acknowledging him as she turned around and started moving again, turning a corner to go through a tunnel.

"So, Forger was broken by what happened?" Chloe asked, this time engaging the conversation. The dim light of the tunnel shrouding her body like a silhouette. "He shouldn't feel so awful. It's not like he could've done anything to stop what happened." She shifted her gaze toward him, "And neither could you."

It was either his imagination, the darkness of the tunnel, or all the blood loss he suffered from, but he could've sworn Chloe was smiling at him. Not a friendly, reassuring smile that said, "Don't feel bad. It could've happened to anyone." No, it was more like she was baring her teeth at him in a twisted grin that all but screamed, "I want to see the light go out."

They exited the tunnel, the darkness ended, and Chloe's face was neutral as ever. No hint of any smiles, creepy or otherwise.

"Chloe, what did you just say?"

"That both you and Loid Forger would've been powerless to save Yor anyway. Neither of you would be enough," came the answer with an almost casual shrug, blunt and loveless, Chloe fully back to this disturbing phase. Yuri wanted to protest, but the words refused to leave his mouth. He wanted so badly to say that he could've done something, anything, to save his sweet sister from what happened today, but he couldn't. Deep down, he knew why, and it killed him inside just thinking about it. Slumping in shame, he finally forced it out.

"You're right."

Yuri looked outside at the passing cityscape of Berlint, remembering the first time he'd seen such a large city. It was all so much to take in, the countryside of Eastern Nielsberg having been all he'd ever known by that point. Everything was so... overwhelming, but none of it loomed over him like this feeling of helplessness.

"My sister's the strongest person I know. Ever since we were kids, she'd always fought and protected me. She always worked herself to nothing but blood and bone just to make sure I'd be safe and happy," Having grown up watching that, it broke his heart every single time Yor returned home covered in blood, all smiles and warmth to put him at ease, pretending she wasn't suffering for his sake. He wanted to pay her back for that, to show just how much she and her sacrifices meant to him.

But how the hell am I supposed to pay back a lifetime of self-sacrifice if I'm still too weak to protect her? "If Yor fought back with everything she had and couldn't win, then there's no way me or Loid can stand up to her attacker either," Yuri dragged a hand down his face, both to wipe away his building tears and his growing physical and emotional exhaustion, "I mean, I couldn't even overpower a God damn psychiatric nurse! What hope am I supposed to have against a killer she just barely survived!?"

"You couldn't overpower a medical professional?" Chloe asked. Her tone wasn't... it wasn't mocking like he'd expected, and boy did that say everything about how she was acting that he expected it to be.

No, it was genuine curiosity.

"Interesting," Chloe continued, drawing his attention, "What did the nurse's strength feel like?"

Yuri raised an eyebrow towards her. That was not the kind of question he'd been expecting, but he played along and answered, "It felt like I was fighting against someone who lifts and punches boulders for a living."

"Why were you fighting her?"

"Because I was trying to see my sister and she kept me in place. Honestly, she-" Yuri was about to describe just how frigid the woman was by comparing her then to how Chloe was now, but held his tongue, not sure if that was a good idea. Instead, he sighed, "She was so cold and impossible to read. She never emoted, even when making threats. The closest thing I could read about her was that she hates me and seems to hate Yor. It felt like she hated me the moment I entered the room."

"And why do you think that is?"

"Because I was being disruptive to the staff... and I may have busted through a bunch of walls."

Chloe hummed, leaving Yuri wondering what was running through her head and why she wanted to know about that Frost woman. As if reading his mind, she started asking questions, "Tell me, Briar. Who was this nurse? What did you say to her?"

"Uh, her name was Fiona Frost, and I-" Yuri thought back to that conversation, "I may have threatened to execute her, I think?" He rubbed the back of his head, "Sorry, guess I got so caught up that I-"

"Don't be. You made the right choice. Her response?"

Yuri blinked. Normally Chloe called him out whenever he went overboard with his authority as a member of the SSS. Either she suspected something huge about Fiona, or that sting messed her up more than he realized. Would certainly explain why she was acting all creepy. A way to process the pain, perhaps?

Shrugging, he said, "She said, in order, that she didn't care, that I was a disturbance to her job, that I deserved to be removed, and demanded that I behave or she'd remove me herself." Yuri glowered just thinking about the woman, but he also started recognizing a few things that seemed off, "Actually, the way she worded it, it felt like she-"

"-was threatening to kill you," Chloe finished. Yuri's eyes grew wide, realizing the threats made right under his nose, but he just as quickly tried to think of other explanations, not wanting to jump to such conclusions with his sister's life in the balance. But then Chloe continued, "You said that you threatened to execute her. How did she react to that?"

"She... didn't," Yuri answered as it slowly dawned on him, "The way she glared at me, it was almost like she expected that threat. Like she-"

Like she knew he was a member of the State Security Service!

"And she said you were a disturbance to her job. Exactly whose job are we a 'disturbance' to?"

Yuri went quiet, digesting Chloe's words before breathing out, "Spies from the West."

"Strength within excess of what the average organic can survive, a job within immediate proximity to the murder of two State Security Service officers, potentially working for an organization with access to resources that could provide her with the weapons needed to perform such murders..." Chloe listed off, "It seems you have a prime suspect."

Yuri wanted to agree, as things slowly but surely were lining up. The way Fiona acted – completely without a trace of emotion – was perfect for a spy. The SSS did train to read facial expressions, eye contact, and body language as best as possible. But Fiona's whole demeanor made reading her an impossibility, and her occupation as a psychiatric nurse was just as perfect for information gathering. Her physical strength did match Yuri's current expectations for the murders both behind the hospital and at the docks, not to mention the way she appeared to know his secret occupation and the contempt she had for both him and his sister.

Still, things aren't completely adding up. "Hold on, if she's really our killer, then something isn't right," Yuri explained, remembering a key detail his sister shared, "Yor said that her attacker was a guy. So how could it be Fiona?"

"Perhaps Yor's attacker was in disguise to lure her into a false sense of security?" There was something in Chloe's tone that Yuri couldn't immediately register. All he knew was that it felt lighter than before. "In fact," she continued before he could think too hard on it, "What Westalis spy do we know who's a master of disguise and a bringer of chaos to the people of Ostania?"

Yuri didn't even need to think on that, knowing the answer. His eyes narrowed into an absolutely vicious glare as he seethed and grit his teeth.

"TWILIGHT."

"If this Fiona Frost is Twilight's current alias, you'll need to monitor her as closely as possible. You managed to make her slip up once, so perhaps you'll get lucky and manage it a second time?" Yuri heard Chloe's words, but all he could do was glare at his hands, clenching them into fists so tight that they threatened to break all of his fingers from the strain.

Fiona Frost was Twilight.

Twilight killed innocent people.

Twilight killed his fellow officers.

Twilight tried to KILL HIS SISTER.

He didn't know when his fist made contact with the window of his seat, only realizing it at the sound of cracking glass. Yuri looked at the window and saw his cracked reflection, red eyes burning with so much rage that they threatened to melt the glass then and there. Breathing in and out, he calmed down, reminding himself that he couldn't jump to conclusions just yet. He tried to look at all the pieces to see if something was missing.

While it was a very strong possibility, all data the State Security Service had on Twilight pointed towards him being male. Then again, there wasn't much to begin with, and they didn't know anything about what Twilight even looked like. Who was to say that Twilight being known as male wasn't something curated for maintaining cover? The same could even be said for Fiona Frost just as much being a disguise for the West's greatest spy. Not to mention all the questions she asked Yor.

I still couldn't read her face or body language, so she could've been putting up a front to seem innocent, Yuri pondered, remembering how Fiona's emotionless demeanor broke to try and calm Yor down.

Or was she trying to stop her from saying something incriminating?

He groaned, feeling a headache coming on. Yuri wanted more than anything to just work through the night trying to figure this out, but even he understood he wouldn't be able to accomplish anything if he didn't wash off and get some sleep. He was about to ask Chloe how much longer until they arrived, when he suddenly became aware of that impending feeling of death from before. Slowly, he looked toward Chloe, only to find her glaring bloody murder at him.

What did I do? Yuri wondered if it was the window. Why was Chloe so angry about the window?

"Anything else," Chloe narrowed her eyes, "Yuri?"

Yuri gulped, not knowing if Chloe calling him by his first name in her current state was even more terrifying or not.

"Uh, y-yeah, actually," He collected himself and asked, "Back at the hospital, my sister mentioned something her attacker questioned her about. She said he asked about the whereabouts of something called an 'Autobot'. Any chance you've heard that word before?"

Chloe said nothing, just glaring for several seconds more, a look in her eyes that made him feel small.

Made him feel weak.

Made him feel like he was less than an insect that didn't deserve to live, and she was more than happy to oblige.

"Haven't heard it before," Chloe finally said through grit teeth, never once letting up her glare.

"You sure?" Yuri found the courage to ask as he unfastened his seatbelt and pressed his back against the door.

"Completely," Chloe replied, the door suddenly opening as Yuri fell out, landing on his butt.

"OOF! Wha-HEY!" Yuri quickly stood up just as the door closed, leaving him outside, "How am I supposed to get home!?"

Chloe rolled down the window, "Look behind you, frag head."

Ignoring the word "frag" for now, Yuri turned around and saw his apartment building. "Oh!" So we're already here. "How long have we been-"

"The past eight cycles. You were just too busy discussing our prime suspect to notice."

What the hell are "cycles"? Are those supposed to be minutes or something?

Conjunx Endura, frag, cycles? Did Chloe join some sort of off-work sci-fi book club?

"In any case, don't worry about this so called... Autobot. I'll take care of it. You just focus on Fiona Frost."

Yuri heard Chloe roll up the window and, remembering something important, he turned around and grabbed the top just before it could close all the way.

"Chloe, wai-AAAH!" Yuri yelped in pain as he felt his fingers get crushed between the glass and doorframe. "Chloe, c-could you-GAH!" He tried to ask for her to roll it down, but it felt like the window was trying to roll up even harder. Is she trying to crush my fingers!? "I... just have... one more question!"

After a few more seconds of pain, the window rolled down and Chloe asked, "What?"

"It's just-" Yuri shook his fingers, easing the pain a little, "It's something I'm trying to figure out." He looked down at the concrete, feeling lost as he opened up, "My sister was attacked, possibly by Twilight, and I just can't figure out why. She's never hurt anyone before. She's the sweetest, most loving person on the planet. She's done everything right by the book and then some and-" Yuri sighed, "I just don't get why Twilight attacked her. What did she do in his eyes to deserve that? I can't understand, so I'm wondering if you can."

Once more, Chloe impassively stared at him, gaze feeling like it was trying to bore a hole in his head, like she just wanted this conversation to end already. Thankfully, it didn't last long, and Chloe began to list potential motives, "It could be because Yor was witness to something she wasn't allowed to see, and thus, has to die. It could be because she has something Twilight was looking for, and they're willing to do anything to get it. It could be because she crossed the wrong person and made herself a target. It could even be because of you."

"Me?" Yuri didn't like what Chloe was implying.

"You're the Second Lieutenant of the SSS, and one who's long since been investigating for spies from the West. Twilight just as likely targeted Yor to send a message."

Yuri felt a flash of anger, but it just as quickly felt washed aside, his heart filling up with an immense guilt that threatened to consume him.

Yor was targeted because of... me?

Yuri felt his eyes start to grow glossy, tears threatening to spill the more he thought.

I did this to her? I-I put her in danger?

"If you ask me, I think Twilight did it for something far simpler," Chloe's voice sounded livelier as Yuri looked up, forcing his tears down to hear her answer, "Fun."

"Fun? That's it?" Yuri couldn't believe what he'd heard Chloe say, She can't be serious. Is she really trying to say that Twilight, the greatest threat to Ostania and deadliest spy in the world, killed all those officers and innocent people and tried to kill and torture my sister just for fun!?

His opinion on spies from the West and the organizations employing them was already rock bottom as it was, but despite being agents of chaos, he wanted to believe there was some rhyme or reason to their actions. He wanted to believe that they had a coherent, understandable goal in mind. If what Chloe suggested was true... just what was the gain!? How did torturing the innocent for fun in any way benefit them or their causes?

"It's like you said, Yuri. Monsters don't need reasons. It's just what they are."

Without another word, she rolled up the window, and within seconds was off, slowly driving away into the distance. Yuri watched her leave, still too baffled, too full of confusion and rage to move from his spot. The oppressive, frightening atmosphere was thankfully gone, though the tension from before remained. He just couldn't fathom what it was or if it was coming from the car, from Chloe, or from his inner turmoil anymore. As he tried to figure it out, he scratched his bloody chin and looked down, only to notice something.

"What the-" Yuri knelt down where the patrol car had parked, noticing small splotches of a blue substance that almost seemed to glow in the afternoon light. Had that always been there? Where did it come from? What was it?

Without a word, Yuri pulled out a white cloth and pressed it against the substance, letting it soak into the fabric. Once as much of it was absorbed as possible, he pulled out a clear plastic bag and dropped the coated cloth inside, sealing it up tightly.

Did this come from the car? Yuri wondered as he stood up, once again looking to where Chloe had left. Her behavior on the way here had set off damn near every alarm bell in his head. He wanted to brush it off as a side effect of the bug's sting just making her grumpy, yet it just felt too off for comfort. It didn't feel like Chloe at all.

It felt like someone else wearing Chloe's face.

We're all going drinking tonight. I'll ask her a few questions then, Yuri made a mental note to make sure she didn't drink any alcohol. If she got too inebriated, any answers she gave would've been suspect at best. Stretching, he turned and headed back inside to wash off and get some rest. He'd start investigating first thing tomorrow.

No matter what, he'd see to it that justice would be done.