Ark 25/Episode 54: Black Flames

I
( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8wgcWty67A )" Mr. President?" Said a soft spoken girl as she glanced over at Yani whom had been staring out of his window. Staring out of The White House. And staring out into Steed Fall. The City that surrounds the white house, an impenetrable fortress almost where all of the military officials of the United States reside along with the Pentagon. As Yami stood there with both of his hands behind his back he turned his head to look over at his secretary of state, she'd duck her head down, not daring to meet the gaze of President Yani. Ever since he devoured Zeus.... Yani's power was phenomenal. He created Stead Fall with his power alone. And made it home to his army. “I have.... information on the Two heading Kingdoms in The Sky lands sir. And I have information on what may appear to be terrorist activity out over in new California sir. In The LA regions. " “Tell me... of the Terrorist Activity first. " He says still staring out at his marvelous city. " Two Terrorist Agencies. Known as The Order, and The Infinites have both shown signs of being in this area at once. I would like to add.... That Lions Corp was seen there as well." "Ah, so they are responsible for the Death of Mayor Cotton? Figures. I told that fool...." He said stopping himself in mid-sentence before looking back over his shoulder. “And what of these... Kingdoms you spoke of?" "Uh... Yes sir. The Kingdom of Azrael. And The Kingdom of Phantom. Are about to breaching into a war. As you know, both 'Kingdoms' Brush off your rule over the United States, and follow their own laws within their own regional commands. I would like for you to know sir. That your men have been speaking of invading them and taking back our American soil if you've ever considered it." "In due time. But not now, now would surely and truly be unwise. What else do you have? " " That's it sir." "I see, you may go. I'll tend to it quickly, thank you Sarah. “She would have smiled exiting the room and leaving Yani to his thoughts as he scowled. " How long... will you stand there in those Shadows, Kin Tasanagi? “Yani said turning around to face, the black and blue suited male as he finally stepped from within the shadows of the room." Judging from you being here. You’re trying to what... Assassinate me?" Yani said smirking as he turned around to face the young Tasanagi. “The Name’s Nik, Kin's not here anymore. The Order wishes to make a deal with you. They wanted to see if you be interested to know that there on the move for another Shard of Nirvana." Yani's expression changed before he tilted his head down, locking his chilling dead eyes onto Nik's. “Go on.” “They wish to know if you will assist them. Information like that? We want it to go over your head. Let us do what we have to do. And we won’t kill you." " Oh? Daring words. Why didn’t Varex send himself to deliver the message over some wet dog? Does he not know who I am?" "Victor Varex says that'd I'd be more than enough to defeat you. If need be." "Haha, that's precious. Boy I could alter the very reality you live in, turn the very air you breathe into fire. "Yani said stepping over so he'd get right into Nik's face. His cold callous eyes staring down at the young man before he continued to speak. “I can smell your biggest fears, taste them. I am the Pinnacle of Darkness. Embodiment of all things twisted. I'd mind your next few words boy." " No... Yani Farhan." Nik's voice shifting back over to Kin's tone as he took a step forward. "You will yield to me. I will bow to no man. I have no master. I am my only King. And If I need to prove it…" Kin/Nik said as he took a step forward squaring off with Yani as his eyes glowed a bright red from underneath his mask. “Then I will..." Yani and Kin had a stare down between both men before Yani busted out in laughter, making his way over to his desk. “Tell your boss...he has a deal. On the condition he lets me take that pretty little daughter of his out on a date sometime... I absolutely adore...redheads." Yani said smirking from ear to ear. Nik/Kin would have nodded his head before he stepped back into the shadows and just like that.... He was gone. Yani pulled back into his seat, kicking his legs up and closing his eyes as he allowed himself to drift into a light sleep.

Present Day...Back in LA... 11:45Pm Friday night... windy, cloudy skies. Full moon...

"Knight, do you copy me? Did he give you the run down on the layout of the building? Cant believe that guy was able to steal it in the first place." Kang said through Eden's ear piece as he continued to speak. "Alright Knight. We have two ways you can take this thing. The guys back at the base have set you up with gear that allows you to impersonate one of the heroes Inc. operatives. We have security clearance for levels 1 and 2. But if you reach a level 3 lock, your own. You may be able to steal a level 3 access pass if you’re stealthy enough. The other option is pure stealth, no disguises. No tricks, you get in. And you get out. No point in wasting anytime. Remember Heroes Inc. are filled With Metahumans and peak humans trained down to the T in the ways of combat. Were gonna need you to stay on your toes here. Confrontations are not wise. But if you find you’re self-gridlocked. We'll send in Yami. She's been getting the hang of her dark powers. She could level the place but that’s a last resort. Matter of fact we'll make an option. If your bunkered down, you call in me and another General. Or call in Yami to assist you but you'd best choose wisely. I've given you the layout of your mask. And if you want, you can install the digital map layout that I’m sending to you right now through an encrypted message. It should read the buildings layout through your map. Follow the yellow brick road Knight, and you'll find The Nullifier. Last guy who stole this thing was Madd Dog. They've gotten smart since then. So you'd better stay on your toes.

Meanwhile...

“His readings... there not right. " Agent V said as she pushed and tapped at the buttons, reading over his brainwaves in his first and previous mission. "I thought we perfected the Z-Pathogen. Why is his former self even still alive it makes no since. We had this thing down to the T. The Science and production put behind this thing is perfect, what could ever be flawed about it. "She said as she continued her research scanning over the shakes and shocks within the brains neural link.

“Because my darling Veronica. Science and Inner spirit are on two different spectrums. You cannot outweigh each of there worth amongst each other fairly. Kin Tasanagi is from a family line where their bodies have been created to not just kill Oni's. But harness there power, to obtain it. They are extremely adaptable. Kin's subconscious could have created a blockage just in case Okami took over. So that he'd have one more fighting chance to reclaim his body. It’s rather quite fascinating isn’t it? This Onihoruda Physiology and all of its sub-species." Varex said as he ran his hands through his long goatee. They would have been in a base not to far off from America, underwater and hidden. " I suppose, we could use this to our advantage. Eventually, Nik will be lost to Kin. When his usefulness is no longer accessible we will simply kill him." Veronica turned to her father before nodding her head and pulling away from her keyboard. “Father... have you heard from Velvet?" “No, I haven’t heard from your sister in quite some time." Victor said in response. Veronica nodded her head once more, this time her eyes trailing down to a picture of her and her sister when they were much younger on her desk. Her father pulled away from his daughters work space before he crossed his arms. “You must learn... to get away and branch from the past my beloved Veronica. If you continue to linger on the hopes that your sister will join us? Then you are lost. She is too much like her mother. Rebellious, but... smart, and beautiful. I’m sure your sisters fine my child. Just... focus on the mission for now, alright?" He says placing his hand on her shoulder smiling.

“I need you to go down to the infirmary. And wake up Artemis. She will be our second solider in this war." Varex said walking off. " You Trust her? She's been against us more than a couple of times. Who's to say she won’t betray us." She said in response to her father only for him to completely ignore her. Artemis had been within a domed room, where she would have been chained up with thick, thick, thick titanium chains that would have had her arms linked to the ceiling while her feet had been to the ground forcing her to stand up. They would have stripped her down, and placed her into a black Jumpsuit, just to check to see if she had been hiding anything. And would have even disconnected any form of her Nano machines so she couldn’t reach back to Hiro and the gang. Agent V stepped lightly into the room, the blinding white room as she walked over to Artemis to examine her over. "... Hello." She said in that stern tone. "... I’m Veronica Varex. Also Known as Agent V.... it's... a pleasure to meet you again Artemis." Aretmis had been injected with The Z-pathogen as well, so she'd wait to see if her results were as extreme as how they had altered Kin. Waiting on her response.

Nik sat within the depths of a cold room, shirtless with slash marks all throughout his bodies frame. He had two blades in his hands. 15 Cyborgs all wielded with blades of their own had been circling around the young warrior. “Why do you think... he was able to beat you senseless hm? He almost made a fool out of you. That Karate is inefficient. You must learn to fight, and breathe like a warrior. Not some stupid Karate Kid wannabe." Fletcher Steve said watching Kin fight from a distance as he sicked the cyborgs back onto the blue eyes Tasanagi. His skill was improving; with each blade attack sent he managed to dodge and maneuver himself out of its trajectory or clashes his blades with his attackers. But Nik needed more than skill, he needed to be a killer. He shifted into his half wolf state as his strength had increased and he began to HACK through the cyborgs as he shouted and screamed at the top of his lungs, his eyes going into that shade of purple again. “I see... Nik's wolf form unlike kin's who’s forms are trained and tuned. Are well and destructive. Like a berserker rage." He said as he watched him decimate through his foes.

Meanwhile...

In the Depths of LA an alarm clock, not placed by the person whom lives there would go off at exactly 11:45 PM with a loud ringing that'd make a dog cry. The Bright never resting area of downtown LA and within the area where Syl had been staying. A dead caucus had been in the middle of the room she had slept in. Hung up in a strange and ominous form. The dead bodies limps were pulled apart and blood had been written on the walls. Once Syl had woken up to see it, she'd be able to read the bloodied text clear as day as it painted itself across the white walls in a much sinister fashion. ‘Little spider... I have your dog. If you wish to obtain her from me. We’re going to play a game first. Go to Long beach, in Warehouse Number 45, something is waiting for you there. Something that only you would truly know the value of. If you do not go to this destination of which I have laid out for you. Then you’re Dog.... Dies... ' Syl wouldn’t have known whom had been the mysterious foe whom had left this rather cryptic message on her wall. But it'd surely leave her in a state of confusion, and with not much to go off on. It'd almost be implied for her to seek out this area in which this mysterious killer whom... possibly had an affinity to spiders as well. Judging from how this human had been killed in forms of a message to Syl had been posted up in thick black webbing all over the room. It had been Syl's Mother The Hellish Lady Black. And she had plans for her daughter. Syl's blood had altered her mental state to that of an even higher level of insanity. And she'd sure enough discover this for herself as well.

Meanwhile...Back at Lions Corp...

“So you think this thing is gonna work...?” David said to Hiro as he stood next to what appeared to be an unconscious man. “Yes, David. My family is branched around this Demon Mumbo jumbo alright? I think I’d know a bit about after all this time in having to deal with it. " " So, alright Lionheart let me get this straight. You wanna summon some dude named Okami. And put him... into this guy. One of the most renowned criminals in all of the world" "It'd just be temporary. The Wolfblood’s revere him; he'd be a good positive link from us to the group. And we need them more coordinated than ever." "Ok, so why this guy?" "Simple, he doesn’t have the Onihoruda gene, even you have it just from being in Kasaihana so long. This guy won’t have a fighting chance, once Okami's in, he'll take over." “And what makes you think... this demon won’t turn on us?" "He won’t..." Hiro said nodding his head. "We can count on him..." The rest of the pack would have been bunkered down to the sleeping bays of the ship. “Sup guys. The Names Agent Gold! I’m gonna be your guide around here. Hope that’s cool? If you need some water, something to eat let me know I’m your guy. The Commander’s prepping something for you guys. He said it'll take a minute so please. If you don’t mind I'd like to get to know you guys. You know, hear your stories? Were all on the same side here now. And I like to know who I’m working with. So...we'll make it a game. I'll tell you guys details of my life and then you do the same. Just give me the general run down." Agent gold said as he stared over the pack, crossing his arms. " Startttingggg.... With you. Naomi wasn’t it? Why don’t you tell me about yourself. Got any military combat training? This your first time being in PMC? And what’s up with the red... cape... thingy?" He said pulling a chair in front of him to sit on as he waited patiently for her response to him.

Meanwhile... back on the Infinites island base.

Word traveled around the base. It wasn’t long before it'd get back to The Grandmaster, originally Onigami Inu. Kin from the future had absorbed and taken control of the soul of Zaito, A powerful Oni whom wished to take this world by storm. However Inu's link and lock on Zaito was too powerful. He no longer had ambitions if Inu didn’t want him to. He sat on his throne room seat. With his arms crossed as he stared blatantly into the voids of the darkness that surrounded the room. "... That girl…" He remembered who she had been. 'Daughter of Zaito’ is what they had been calling her. It was unsettling to the King of Demon Ninjas as he pulled his hands up to his jaw. Noriko and Zaito…Had they made plans for this at some point in time? They had been in this time period for only 4 years. There was no way they'd be able to create a full blown child of Lotus size without anyone noticing it for so long. Inu wanted to get to the bottom of this. The Other Shinobi responded to her, as if she had authority over them, this displeased him as well. She was a threat. Inu wasn’t stupid his paranoia made him even more dangerous than anything. As he sat there staring out into the voids of darkness he'd stand up finally, his long black hair flowing down his back. “Bring the girl to me Mysto. I wish to speak with her." "Yes My lord.” Mysto said bowing and rushing off to do as told while Inu sat there on his throne. She was a threat, yes. But a threat with the intel that linked right through one of his main rivals’ base and all of their resources. He could crush them with that kind of information.

Tahira: Tahira sat quietly on one of the beds, with one of her scimitar blade in hand sharpening it. Since the shooting at the doughnut shop and having been picked up by a group that called themselves Lion Corp she’d been to herself almost speaking only when spoken to and to answer any calls she got from Warlock base which of course was a pleasant surprise to say the very least. Of course there had been more sightings of Nomacks in the area which meant that her family was getting close. Their frantic searching also making young princes wonder if there was any trouble back home or was something going on with her father that she really needed to know either way whatever it was would have to wait. They had more pressing issues to deal with at the moment. Like why was Elder Okami inside of Naomi now…and just what in the name of hell happened to Kin for him to be ejected like that. And then there were those hunters that came after them…some things weren’t adding up. Tah told herself softly shaking off her urge to go look for Kin once more in order to think on things a little bit more. Hopefully with a much clearer head too. But again no such luck as a man that rather lean and bit dangly in stature with black hair and dark eyes would’ve drop in suddenly and begin to try to get everyone to talk a bit with him. Sup guys. The Names Agent Gold! I’m gonna be your guide around here. Hope that’s cool? If you need some water, something to eat let me know I’m your guy. The Commander’s prepping something for you guys. He said it'll take a minute so please. If you don’t mind I'd like to get to know you guys. You know, hear your stories? We’re all on the same side here now. And I like to know who I’m working with. So...we'll make it a game. I'll tell you guys details of my life and then you do the same. Just give me the general run down." The lanky gentleman would say looking at them all as he crossed his arms over his chest continuing forth with the conversation. . "Startttingggg....With you. Naomi wasn’t it? Why don’t you tell me about yourself? Got any military combat training? This your first time being in PMC? And what’s up with the red... cape... thingy?” As he pulled up a chair and took a seat in it. Tahira of course being wary of answering any question without any consent from the packs alpha as whatever is said could mean the very life or death for them above all things. She herself after the what happened over the course of the past few weeks starting not really trust the many as she had in the past. Tah was starting to wonder if that in truth was her own actions or a rising of her own wolfblood instincts now talking. The young Nomack continuing to sharpen the blade she was hold until it gleam and sitting down on the bed next to her before reaching towards the other that lay in his hoister and  proceeding to do the doing the same to it.

At the Infinites’ base….

The news of Lotus’ return to the isle had begun to spread like wildfire despite Noriko’s desires to keep the flames of this kind of knowledge to a minimum until she was granted a chance to speak privately one on one with Onigami Inu, the new Grandmaster in regards to her station and stakes within their ranks. Like most Noriko knew of what had truly transpired between the he and the Master’s former self, the man who in truth been the girl’s father and that it would only be a matter of time before the acknowledgement, praise, and the aspirations Lotus’ presence would bring from the other shinobi and generals would lead the Grandmaster to desire to either kill her or worst being that biologically she was the heiress to the empire that he took over in her absence. And heaven only knew what worst could be in the mind of the being that was once known to all in another time as Kin Tasanagi. The older woman thought as she made her way through the base towards the eastern sector, the location of training hall where most from her understanding had gathered a bit after dawn upon learning that Lotus was there meditating. Even with her eyes closed Lotus knew that her coming here to meditate had been a wrong move to say the least, especially since it was beginning to draw attention that she really didn’t need especially now since there was a new grandmaster in town. The young shinobi thought as she sat in a traditional Japanese fashion upon her knees on the floor dressed formally in leather made black and blue bodysuit which was lace up rather loosely about her ample bosom, her long dark hair pulled up into a ponytail at the crown of her head then held in place at various point by three blue colored hair bands, on her feet she wore a pair of thigh high boots the same color as her body suit, and in the midst of her brow she wore the bindi jeweled that had once depicted her status within the rank of the Infinites but like so many things around her. (http://img04.deviantart.net/e9bb/i/2012/161/1/a/kitana_mk3_costume_by_sratitoo-d531f5r.jpg ). That was no longer as with the death of the old Grandmaster, she like the others we’re now the new one’s his servants unless she was somehow taken in and adopted. Something that she was hoping that they others in the base would come to understand in light of her return but it seems that in their minds they had other plans. And none of them were too good. Lotus told herself mentally as she sat there allowing her memories to resurface in a manner in which she could’ve understood the process taking much longer than it should have given all the information that she now knew between the Infinites and Lion Corp, her murdering the product of the rape that had happened in the club while down in the Bermuda Triangle, and now the knowledge of the apparent death of her father’s former mortal form at the hands of one of his Commanders made focusing hard to say the very least. As soft droplets of water made their way down her cheeks while the others at least 10 or so two of them being the commanders known as Crockill and Death Blaze, also two of Lotus’ trainers looked on at the girl, both rather surprised to see that the rumors about her return that were moving about the place were indeed true. -C-

Tahira: “Don’t look so shock gentlemen.” Noriko said calmly walking up towards everyone from behind. “Her mission was no different than any that we ourselves have undertook, she knew the risks and that death was a part of it. But now that she has returned, I must educate her further in ways to become useful to our new Master.” Noriko’s tone was a rather resentful one as she spoke those last set of words. The ideal of Lotus being forced to serve with them rather than to lead them and have another child steal her birthright was disgusting to say the least to her. She could only pray that to some extent that Inu would take some pity upon her being that she was now an orphan once she’d proven herself worthy and loyalty to his cause and adopt her as his own just like he had the girl Yami. The older woman shifting her void less gaze in the direction of ‘her child’ taking note of the tears that she cries, immediately attempting move in to console her only to have the voice of Death Blaze stop her, “You know as well as I that Lotus is the true heir of the Infinites Noriko, it should be she that Zaito is inhabiting not that cumbersome fool Inu.” “Yes I completely agree with Death Blaze here, our princess should preparing to avenge our falling master not being groomed to become a puppet on a string that Inu can cut off whenever wants like the rest of us.” CrocKill added thus causing Noriko to lower her head shifting her gaze back some taking note of two very peculiar looking shadows that were also lurking in the room. “Silence both of you!” she’d bark her eyes still honed in on them as she spoke. “There will be no talk of such foolish so long as Lotus is in my care.” Both shadows taking flight the moment that they were noticed by the silver black haired woman while both commanders stood there wondering just what hell kind of act was Noriko trying to pull here. “If I were you two I’d learn to guard my tongues more carefully, as the Master has eyes and ears even you do not know of…Lotus has been our responsibility since she was a child and regardless of how any us might feel about this matter, we all know that this recourse is the best solution.” Croc would open his mouth to protest as Noriko would resume her walk again the woman declaring again, “That’s enough I said! Unless you want the mistress to cry tears for you as well.” This comment silencing reptilian male as the sound of the woman’s heels against the dojo hall floors became the only sounds anyone heard afterwards. Noriko stopping on for a moment grab several tissues before making her way towards the girl extending them towards her with her right hand. Lotus would open her eyes sensing the woman’s motherly like presence above her as she knelt beside her, the young girl bringing her left hand to her face to touch it lightly before drawing it back to see that her finger tips were wet. The irony that she was crying at the memories of her and her father resurfacing made her look at the trickling droplets as if they were something foreign. “I haven’t cried since that night long ago when I was a child.” Lotus stated referring to the night when she first meet her father Hiro who she would later come know as Master Zaito, Noriko, and the first set of Infinite Commanders. “It so strange that after all these years and what I’ve been through why would I be doing so now.” Taking the offer tissue from Noriko’s hand with her own and drying her dampen eyes and cheeks. “Because despite everything we all have taught you, Daughter of the Demon…you like he (her father) are still human and can afford the luxury to grieve unlike the rest of us battle axes here.” Noriko explains. “And despite his nature towards you at times child, he loved you and you know it.” She would listen to Noriko’s words solely without speaking remembering that the words “love and compassion” had really no meaning in the world that they were a part of, a lesson her father taught her once but perhaps here in the midst of the situation known to all as death they had a bit of merit. The 21 year old nodding her head just as the footmen who were in the room would suddenly come to attention Croc and Death Blaze stepping back somewhat as the form of another within their ranks would step forward causing Noriko to look up with her orb less eyes narrowed at the turquoise dressed shinobi ninja known as Mysto, Lotus however upon feeling his presence slowly going to move right foot forward, her leg bent at the knee some then using the muscles inside of it, used it to push upwards with the gale and grace most befitting a geisha before bowing at the waist in his general direction with right palm upright and left in the form of a fist resting in it. A sign of utter most respect to the consulate of the Grandmaster. “It is good to see you again, Mysto.” She says standing fully upright again knowing that if he was here that her time of solitary peace was over, the new leader of the Infinites wanted to know what the hell was going on within his ranks now. “I take that if you are here that means, that I‘ve been summoned to the inner chambers is that correct?” If he were to answer her with a “Yes.” Or any other statement implying it Lotus would’ve have responded, “Very well then lead the way.” Keeping in mind that she no longer had any authority to say much against it as Noriko looked towards her in order to contest it but Lo just simply shook her head before she could even get a chance to move her lips. “Entering the inner chamber without permission from the Master is punishable by Death without Resurrection, you know this Okaa-san. Even if it is a new one I doubt that rule has changed any. Don’t not worry I will be fine I will explain myself, origins and all to him, and try to undo whatever rebellious natures might have befallen the rest of the warriors here my return here might have caused.” Lotus would stay following behind Mysto if indeed he were lead the way towards a place she knew like that back of her palm. Leaving everyone wondering if a woman of her beauty and intrigue should be going to see Inu alone at all. -E-

Keyolus Ceaser: As Zaito sat there with his eyes dead set on Lotus whom had been guided into the throne room after Mysto nodded his head in terms of Zaito summoning her. Once Lotus had entered the room Zaito, or better yet Inu. Had pulled his helmet from his head and stepped down from the throne seating so he could speak face to face with Lotus. This action alone would have shocked a lot of the other Shinobi. “Lotus..." He said as his long black hair flowed down his back and his bright golden eyes chiseled themselves into her own. He took a deep breathe before he began to speak. “It... this is quite odd to me. Zaito had plans apparently, Plans that none of us were aware. But from what I’ve gathered. He sent you out in forms of gaining intel on Lions Corp. He found out they had been a threat from the start, and decided to set you up to gain proper intelligence. A brilliant plan seeing as how successful it was. You were stationed with them two years ago. And were even trained in Diablo Island. You’ve even done a great amount of missions for them. Your father was intelligent. But all of us feared him." Death blaze and Crockill looked at each other from hearing this on the outside of the throne room doors, and even they had to agree. All of the Commanders had mostly liked the new rule of Inu. And even had said that sometimes... he was too soft. “Your father became a tyrant. He was always planning without talking to us or the other commanders. Killing us mercilessly. We had no word here, we but weapons and tools. To his game and yes Lotus, I slew your father. I killed him because his vision was blurred, it was lost. I killed him in the ways of Warrior, the ways he believed in to his dying breathe. So even in death, and even when not deserving. I respected... your father. But I’ll tell you like I told the others. We are an organization, a clan, a Yakuza almost, of warriors. A foundation built on the burrows of strength. And power. But I also give word, an opinion... and law. We as a unit, as a family will take this world by storm. I wish you no foul when I say this to you. That I wish to take your hand in marriage. So that we may continue our rule together. As I’m sure your father would have intended." Inu said with a smirk on his face. The Two Shinobi's at the door would have pulled their masks off out of surprise by the request alone.

Tahira: Noriko despite Lotus’ warning did so follow the two a bit of the way falling back upon reaching the corridor where in lay the throne room, the older woman offering a prayer or several as the girl she saw as her own was lead towards the massive chiseled doors with the Infinites crest upon it, the doors swinging back to open as she herself along would’ve proceeded forwards inside. Her amber orbs falling upon the elegantly designed room with its mounted weapons, statues of jade, and other various items that stemmed from the ancient yet wonderful times of her ancestors before turning her gaze in the direction of the reason she’d been brought her in the first place. His esteemed stature sitting upon the throne that once had been her father’s wearing the armor that made know to all within this compound as to who it was that was the commander of them as she continued to walk with one foot in front of the other in figure’s general direction stopping only when she’d reached the middle of the room, a place where only a dim bit of light casted itself down upon her like spot light on a stage before bowing formally again at the waist to the new Lord of the Infinites gracefully, her eyes meeting his form once more as she stood upright only to see the man in front of her reach upwards to remove the helmet of Akuma from his face revealing himself to be the one of the ones who in fact had sexually assaulted her in the Pink Pussy, then stand, and proceed to walk towards her after having shocked all the other Shinobi who were also baring witness to this scene. Lotus on the other hand had to keep all her feelings in check as part of her wanted to run away screaming in terror, the other could understand as he didn’t know who she was then nor she him, while the latter wanted to kill him instead for having been violated the way she had been. The young woman remaining silent with her eyes focused upon him despite the emotional turmoil she might have been in during this exact moment, allowing her ears to listen to what might have to be said. "Lotus..." Inu would’ve began, Lotus taking note of his attractive facial features as his long black hair flowed down his back and his bright golden eyes that commanded the attention of her own amber colored orbs as he’d taken a deep breath before continuing onward still, "It... this is quite odd to me. Zaito had plans apparently. Plans that none of us were aware of. But from what I’ve gathered. He sent you out in forms of gaining intel on Lion Corp. He found out they had been a threat from the start, and decided to set you up to gain proper intelligence. A brilliant plan seeing as how successful it was. You were stationed with them two years ago. And were even trained on Diablos Island. You’ve even done a great amount of missions for them. Your father was intelligent. But all of us feared him." Inu’s statement was a surprising one at best but not entirely new to the 21 year old either as she too had experienced on one or more occasions during her training with him personally just how ruthless her father could be. The scars across her back that were hidden mostly by her long black hair were a sign to all that no one not even his own daughter could defy him and get away with it. Lotus also taking note with her peripheral vision the looks the other Commanders and shinobis gave once this too was brought up, seeing for herself that Inu wasn’t alone in his statement. They agreed that her father was indeed a vicious tyrant. Her ears listening onwards to Inu as he gave his reasons for slaughtering the former vessel of Zaito and taking the reins himself. “Your father became a tyrant. He was always planning without talking to us or the other commanders. Killing us mercilessly. We had no word here, we but weapons and tools. To his game and yes Lotus, I slew your father. I killed him because his vision was blurred, it was lost. I killed him in the ways of Warrior, the ways he believed into his dying breathe. So even in death, and even when not deserving I respected... your father. But I’ll tell you like I told the others. We are an organization, a clan, a Yakuza almost, of warriors. A foundation built on the burrows of strength. And power. But I also give word, an opinion... and law. We as a unit, as a family will take this world by storm. I wish you no foul when I say this to you. That I wish to take your hand in marriage. So that we may continue our rule together as I’m sure your father would have intended." As the last part of his statement flowed from his lips, Lotus was completely knock for a loop as being adopted into things was the most she’d really believed would happen for her at this point. She’d never really considered being proposed to at any point. Croc and Blaze removing their masks to show her their own shocked faces only proving just how serious of a matter it was to boot! Her mind rapidly started to weight in carefully her options at this point as she was far from the fool that Inu might have assumed she was, she had information that he needed and once it was given she would’ve out lived her usefulness to him. And most likely be killed as she was still a threat to him. But at the same time he spoke the truth in regards to Hiro or rather Zaito, he’d often told her when she became of age to seek out a plausible mate that he would honor no man as his son in law who could not kill him in battle, namely one his own Infinite Commanders and since Inu did manage to succeed where so many have failed Lotus decided to take his proposal as a sign of an apology of sorts in regards to his previous actions towards her. Yet she would remain every vigilant of him less he fall back from his actions thus allowing the thoughts in her mind after a period of silence to move forth from the cortexes of her brain unto the soft painted pallet of her lips. “Indeed, my lord I will not stand here say that my father did not have some very questionable and ruthless tactics as I myself have been on the receiving end of some of them. Nor will I say that he was a saint either as anyone with eyes can clearly see that I wasn’t the only person here that in truth feared him, though we all obeyed his commands without hesitation. Yes Hiro was smart to fear the Lion Corp here in this world especially, after beginning to notice that his other self was someone almost other worldly who was stronger, smarter, and more cunning than he ever was. As to me being dispatched in order to obtain information in regards to the Corp, this is also true. I was sent out from the isle two years ago prior to your arrival to gather intel on them but due to certain event transpiring within location I had been assigned to do this from,” Lotus explained. “I was granted an even greater opportunity to join them, train at their base in the Bermuda Triangle, and do several very high in depth operations despite my low class rank of being a Dog in the Maru Jeitai division which gave me assess to certain personnel files, operational standings for their headquarters, flight plans for their hellicarrier and floor plans of the various bases, weapons, and even some top secret files. With this privy it was able to download most of what was just stated to our own main frame here on the island once my memories began to return while still stationed outside of these walls. I was in the process of training to become a Shadow Dog when this latest mission brought me and the one you know as Blue Demon to New California where of course I was killed in action and hours later resurrected here.” Lotus would’ve paused there at that moment to catch her breath as surely explaining all of was a mouth full for her, as she continued to weigh in with care as to what next would come from her lips in regards to Inu’s ‘marriage proposal’ seeing as she’d already just confirmed verbally that she had given the Infinites just what they needed to move forward with any more plans. Nor did she lie about this either, having used a former superior or rather a false ID to hack into the main frame and transfer in what was needed before severing the connections completely with a virus the likes that even the Boom Network could only imagine. “You however are indeed correct my lord. My father, the former Master would’ve given me to no one but the strongest of his Commanders. The one that was able to cut him and finally give him peace to be honest and being that you Onigami Inu were able to do so, I will most humbly accept your marriage proposal.” She says bowing to him her words were subtle and soft much like the petals of the flower that her name is from as she wanted to believe that his words were truth and not river of lies and poison that she was aware all too much that all shinobi were capable of. -C- Tahira: Which made her wary from the beginning when first asked the question even with all words spoken between them and her answer given Lotus still wondered if she in fact did the right thing by saying yes to Inu, despite the mild attraction she oddly had towards him. -E- Keyolus Ceaser: Inu would have nodded his head before he looked over to his men. “DANCHOU!” Death Blaze the former vessel of Danchou a powerful Yakuza boss that hates the Tasanagi family with the utmost level. Stood there, his eyes slanting as his eyes met those bright golden eyes that he despised so much. “Send word to Kang that I’ll be away. I have... a few matters to attend to." He said fixing his suit. Death Blaze eyed him up and down before pulling his mask back on and bowing. “Yes... My Lord..." He says finally exiting the room. Before long the sounds of a bubbly bouncing child laughing could be heard down the hall. Female shinobi rushed after the blue ninja outfitted baby had been wearing. It was laughing with a kunai in it's hand kicking from wall to wall. It couldn’t be any bigger than 3 years old and the fully grown shinobi warriors couldn’t keep up. “LADY KEIKO!” Said the Ninja Nannies as they rushed over to the child but she'd simply kick off the ground and blast right over to where Inu had been. Closing his eyes shaking his head with a smile on his face as he caught the child with his metal cladded hands. Holding her highly into the air by her tummy. "Keiko what Have I told you about disturbing daddy." She struggled in his grip; despite her age and size her speaking skills were quite well. "You sayss nots tos distrubs yous." She said with her light lisp due to the toy in her mouth. Inu would have nodded his head placing her onto the ground and ruffling her hair. "Yes Daddy did. Now... go play with the other children daddy had come here for you. Ok? " " Buts is wants to plays ins heres!” She protested before kicking dirt and allowing one of her Nannies to lift and carry her away. “Sorry My Lord..." She said bowing with Keiko in her hands. He'd shoo her off shaking his head with a smile on his face. Watching as they exited before he turned his attention back to Lotus. "Meet me in my chambers we have things..." He said looking her up and down before passing by her his cape flowing in the wind. “To Discuss. Make yourself home, after all this... is your home now. Any ceremonial perpetrations will be made tonight, so we may proceed with what needs to be done tomorrow. "He says as he marched down the halls of his base he'd pull his helmet right back onto his head. Some of his guards rushing to her side and bowing before standing again and pointing her out to just where exactly his chambers had been in the first place. It had been in the highest tower on the island and the furniture was priced over in the millions surely enough. ( http://orig12.deviantart.net/8e39/f/2013/223/0/1/royal_bedroom_with_pool_by_scorpiia-d6g4ddc.jpg ) With a pool in the middle of the room it gave off an ocean breeze sent and everything else was contrasted perfectly." Lord Inu will be with you shortly." The Shinobis’ said bowing their heads before they went there way.

Tahira: Inu calling Death Blaze by his human handle rather surprised the 21 year old Arab-Japanese vixen a bit. As during her father’s reign it was forbidden for most to even speak of who they once were in life let alone be called by it for fear of punishment. It was as if things on this massively floating fortress had mellowed down quite a bit since she last graced it and for the most part she liked it. Watching Blaze cast his gaze in the direction of the Grandmaster or rather now her fiancé as he instructed him to send word to another perhaps one of the other commanders that he would be away for a while, having matters elsewhere to attend to as he fixed his attire, Lotus took note of Death Blaze’s narrowing his eyes at him as if he were disgusted or angered by him or what he is as he looked Inu up and down for moment before replacing his own mask and bowing as his lips uttered a, “Yes…My Lord…” to Inu as he left the room. It wasn’t long after his departure that Lotus would hear the bubbly laughter of a child floating down the corridor, joined soon by the hustling and bustling footsteps of several others that most likely chasing after whoever it was. Causing the young woman to giggle somewhat from fond memories of doing the same when she was little girl running through these very corridors in search of an adventure or when she REALLY wanted to see her father. From inside of the throne room a light thumping sound being heard as someone began to kick off each and every wall that was around like rabbit that was being pursued by a hound. Prompting her to officially turn around to see what was the entire racket about. Lo and behold her amber brown eyes would catch sight of a three old toddler dressed in blue outfit a bit like her own only pint sized and conservative holding a kunai in hand being chased down by several breathless nannies who appeared to be no older than she was. And though she fought desperately not to laugh at the scene that was before her due Inu being present, Lotus had to hand it to the kid. She was indeed holding her own against these ninja nannies but then again they were push overs compared to Noriko who in truth had started out as her nanny those many years ago. "LADY KEIKO!” the nannies all cried out in unison as all them attempted dive bomb the tot all in the hopes of capturing her only to have the tike eluded them once more as she suddenly kicks off the ground, propelling herself through the air, and landing where Inu had been standing this entire time. Leaving most of the women with the exception of one to collide with wall and topple onto each other before being in the form of a dog pile on the floor. ‘Ouch.’ Lotus thought to herself wincing before looking to who in truth was his daughter though she didn’t realize it thinking for a moment that little one was about to be in trouble. That is until she saw Inu lower his eyes while shake his head and  began to smile, causing Lotus to understand  child was in truth his very own as he picked her up and held her high in the air with both of his hands. The oh so familiar conversation between them sounding very much like ones she used to have with her own father when she used to bolt off on her own just to see him, even right down to the protest she’d give him as Keiko would stomp her foot kicking up dust…. not agreeing with fact that Inu couldn’t stop what he was doing right then to spend time with her before allowing the only nanny that was left standing to take her as she apologized for intrusion as she bowed her head before taking the young girl away while the other regrouped and did the same. Inu’s reaction remaining as it was in his daughter’s presence as he watch them both disappear around the corner where Noriko was still stood waiting for Lotus to return. It was in this moment that Lotus came to realize while in the midst of watching this that everything was indeed different now…nothing was the same as she left it; and that by accepting Inu’s proposal she would not only become his wife but this little one’s step mother. A responsibility she wasn’t sure if she was in fact ready for especially since she had full recollection of how she acted before. She was a wild one to say the very least…His attention suddenly returning her suddenly breaking her train of through once the other two were completely gone. “Meet me in my chambers we have things..." He said looking her up and down before passing by her his cape flowing in the wind. "…to discuss. Make yourself home, after all this... is your home now. Any ceremonial preparations will be made tonight, so we may proceed with what needs to be done tomorrow." As Inu replaced the helmet back on his head and walked passed her his cap flowing in the wind. “As you wish my lord,” She’d say bowing to him as several guards rushed in bowing to her as they flanking her on the left and the right before gesturing her to follow them to where exactly his chambers where located. Lotus would take their cue with ease walking towards the door slowly but stopping short as they approached Croc who was still standing there. Giving the reptile humanoid a gentle touch of her left hand she calmly tells him, “Go to Noriko, tell her what has happened here and do not worry Croc I will be fine. I’m going out on a limb to trust Inu for the moment… and tell her and the others here to stand down. He is the Master here and nothing can or will change it…that I haven’t abandoned them… just choosing a different path. What I do now, I do for us all…for the future of the Infinites and beyond. She has to trust this….as do you all.” Giving her mentor and closet friend a hug as in truth she was scared to death here before letting go of him and moving down the hallway with the guards in tow. His only reply that he would do this being a nod of his head in agreement to her before she fades from view. ‘And who knows perhaps there is a future where we shinobi can know something besides deceit, lies, and betrayal.’ She thinks to herself being lead through the compound towards the highest tower there on the island. The one that she’d told herself as child she would explore one day when she got older but never really got the chance to, due to how hell bent everyone was from keeping her away from it. But the moment the door was opened by the guards she could see why too. As most of the furniture was priced by the millions as well as a pool in the middle of it that could very well be a bath given the size of it, as the scent of the ocean seemingly rolled in out of nowhere and helped her relax given her situation just a bit. The guards explaining that Inu would be joining in little bit before turning on their heels, exiting the room, and closing the door behind them as they returned to their original assignments. Leaving Lotus by herself for the moment as she walks about the room for a bit getting familiar with its surrounds as with become the wife of the Lord it meant she would be here from now on. That is if indeed Inu was the kind of man that did prefer to share his bed with a woman all the time and if not she could always concede to stay in her old one. But she got the feeling he might want her closer…Lotus suddenly stopping herself on a dime as she started to wonder just why did it matter at all whether or not where she was here, this was still a political marriage there was no such thing as romantic feelings between them. It was all just business between them. She’d tell herself over and over again before shifting her mind to another subject once she’d seen all there was to see before walking over to the bed and taking a seat. Her mind shifting towards Noriko a moment. As there was no doubt in her mind that Croc had already given the woman she thought of as her mother her message and that older woman was more hell bent than anything against the decision but in truth she had to have known just as much as the next person that being born the Daughter of the Infinites meant that she was just a bargaining chip for her father to extort at some point. The young shinobi bending over some to grip the base of her right boot with her hand, giving it a simple tug, slowly pulling her foot and legs from it before doing the same with the other revealing their soft caramel color, her toes manicured and painted in a soft pearl pink polish. Turning slightly to the right she curls her legs up under her with ease allowing her upper body to lay against the soft plush sheets while she rests against the pillows. “Being killed by a red headed plant bitch, resurrected by the Infinites, and now engaged to the new Lord….geez Lo this truly has been one very busy week.” She’d say out loud to herself chuckling.

No...: Syl sat up in bed startled, the sudden loud ringing noise freaking her out as she scrambled out of bed. Looking around the spotted the alarm clock, she didn't think anything of it, as she ran over to the clock, snatching it off her night stand and fumbling with it before she dropped it still ringing on the floor. Kneeling down in only a overly large tank top and black panties she rubbed her eyes and grabbed the clock off the floor, deciding to just take the batteries out, she flipped it open and popped the back off shaking the batteries out of the ringing object and into her hand, still kneeling she rolled the Double A batteries in her tiny hand and stood up. "Weird..." Syl muttered as she turned to look out the window. Still dark outside. Syl walked to the window and opened it wide letting a breeze of air rush into the room, suddenly stopping Syl caught a whiff of a metallic scent... turning her eyes widened with the sight before her. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7pfGgnWK_c) Red eyes met with the dismembered body of whoever was unfortunate enough to of been dumped into her room. The batteries crashed to the floor with a dull thud as Syl just started at the carcass. Its limbs were scattered all over her bedroom, the body itself was strung up from the ceiling by...webbing? Syl slowly moved closer to the corpse and lightly reached out to touch the thick black webbing, grabbing it in her hands, it was...thicker than hers, more gritty. Syl stepped back rubbing the black substance between her fingers her eyes studying it closely. She was not disturbed by the corpse in the room but the fact that someone got into her room while she was sleeping, put it up, wrote a message on her wall without her sensing it. Especially if he or she had spider powers like Syl she should've sensed them. Looking up Syl shook it off her fingers and was going to investigate the rest of the room, but did not have to look far before the caught sight of the message written on the wall in the victim’s blood. ‘Little spider... I have your dog. If you wish to obtain her from me. We’re going to play a game first. Go to Long beach, in Warehouse Number 45, something is waiting for you there. Something that only you would truly know the value of. If you do not go to this destination of which i have laid out for you. Then you’re Dog.... Dies... ' Syl finished reading that and stopped for a minute, dog... she didn't own a dog. Unless, Haukea! Syl paled and bolted from the room almost slamming her door open and running to Haukea's room. "Haukea!' She yelled, running to Haukea's door and twisting the knob and throwing her door open, only to find her bed empty and her blanket on the floor. And nothing else out of place. Syl wasn't sure how to react to this, Haukea was her friend but, Syl didn't HAVE to go get her. Syl fell to her knees staring at the floor, she was confused. Go get her friend? Or leave her to die? She was weak enough to be captured and Syl couldn't help that. Shaking her head Syl pushed herself up and slapped her hands on her cheeks to wake herself up. No forget that, Syl didn't even sense them leaving a body in her room, and she knew how it felt to not be helped in a time of need, she wasn’t going to put someone else through that.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGWQ3mSAXl8) Syl stalked out of the room and threw her closet open, slipping on a pair of tights over her legs and black combat boots she climbed out her window and up the side of the building, onto the roof, Warehouse 45....that was by the docks... Syl huffed and her hair sprung into action, growing long out of her scalp. Twisting and molding into two black wings that seemed to grow out of each side of her head. At a span of 10 feet in length they gave a one powerful flap, displacing all the dirt around Syl, as the black wings pulled Syl off the rooftop into the sky. A few more flaps and Syl was heading towards the water, her shadow being cast downward in the moonlight. The wings casting a dark hue over everything she flew over. Heart and mind heavy she closed her eyes and attempted to clear her mind, the nights breeze brushing across her face, it felt refreshing against her hot skin. Watching the city pass below her she sighed and landed on a rooftop nearby the warehouse, Syl couldn't trust her spiders anymore, if this person could commune with them, they'd know she was here if they didn't already. Using her wings the glided gently down to the entrance to the warehouse, large sliding doors. Sliding one of them open large enough just for her to fit through, she slid into the warehouse and her sight was met with complete darkness, she kept close to the door as she moved along it, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness of this place. The smell of old stale products wafted around the air in here, probably wasn't used in a while. It was so quiet, which was weird because if the did have Haukea here she'd be making a hella lot of noise. Standing up straight Syl's hair returned to normal as the tiny spider called out "Alright I’m here, where’s Hau?" Syl shouted into the darkness of the warehouse, her voice was shaky even thought she tried to sound sure of her self, deep down Syl was fearful of the unknown.

Keyolus Ceaser: ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8lERQBzb5k )As Syl made her way into the warehouse. The lights would flare open showing what had been inside. A Couple standing side by side, tied up and gaged. Bleeding from head to toe but they had been alive. And a teenage girl who looked no more then 17 or so, whom had been tied up in an opposite seat. A white board sat in front of them with the words displayed on them. “Within this room my little sweet...a trick for you is tightly neat. The Couple here severely beat, but don’t let appearances leave you weak This couple here are thieves and liars - with there lives they should retire. The girl you see is quite unique. She sells her body on nights discreet. A sick urchin whore, who needs her life, I’d kill her myself, wouldn’t even think twice. So now my Syl, the plan reveals, my beautiful spider its time to kill. So pick either or, but pick them wisely, or have them both die, go on you can try me. "

Was the rhyme left in black ink like webbing on the board. The Husband shook his head left to right tears pouring from his eyes as he watched his wife bleed out. While the young prostitue had been protesting with then the bandages in her mouth, shaking her head left to right as she squirmed at her hardest trying to break free. So what would Syl Do? Kill The Couple, or Kill the girl. The Choice would be heres and hers alone.

No...: ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v2KiqsOfZw ) Her arm flew up to block the light from her eyes, blinking a few times her pupils dilating into slits with the sudden introduction of the bright light. Blinking her eyes rapidly to adjust Syl slowly walked forward eyeing the people in-front of her, her eyes darted from the bound ad gagged couple standing together, to the girl tied up in the seat across from them, who in her eyes was still a child. Then to the message, on the board. Syl's red eyes scanning its cryptic message and she understood, but...Syl, struggled. Suddenly an idea came to her, she formed her hair into two large hands and grasped the couple and the girl gently. Pulling them to her slowly, Syl split herself into a wooden clone, the clone untying the girl, from her chair and pulling her to her feet, then tugging the bandages off her mouth. Syl nodded to the clone, as it picked her up bridal style, before it left, Syl spoke softly to her, "My clone will bring you somewhere safe, where you don't have to sell yourself, if you choose to stay with my clone you will get help. If you chose to leave. I’m not responsible for what happens to you..." Syl trailed off before the clone left. As for the couple Syl untied the husband first, and then set to work on his wife, spinning bandages from her mouth she began to tightly wrap the wounds with the special silk. Looking at the husband, she narrowed her eyes at him and nodded down to his wife, "I don't know what you two do, lying and stealing but stop doing it. You see where it has gotten you." Weather he agreed or not Syl would use her hair to hand him his wife and create yet another clone of herself, and then them off with it. The clone was intending to bring them to the hospital for treatment to the wife. The other clone was bringing the young girl to Runner's HQ, where the runner would take her in, and clothe her, feed her and train her if she wished.

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MExeeMx_r3w )

Syl rose up to her full height after the second close left with the couple, and her eyes flashed at the board. Growing thorned vines from her hands she lashed out, grabbing the board and slamming it, into the ground breaking it. She continued swinging them wildly around the warehouse, destroying boxes, and various shelves within. One Syl had made her point clear her eyes flashed with anger as her hair began to rise around her, like a black mass that was wildly writhing around her head. "I will...not play your games..." Syl growled out, her grip on the vines tightened, as she slammed on into the ground making a cracking sound, "WHERE IS HAUKEA?!" Syl screamed into the seemly empty warehouse, but she knew better. Someone HAD to of been watching somewhere. She began to walk slowly to where the hostages had been tied up her vines latching onto and throwing anything that was big enough to hide in, behind or under. "I suggest you come out now, before I flood this warehouse with gas." She growled again. Syl was losing what little composure she had, and was spiraling out of control. Due to fighting her hunger and the metallic smell in the air that was teasing her, and Haukea's apparent kidnapping. Syl was not in the mood to play around or play games.

Marcus Miller: A masked voice could be heard within the dark voids of the room. A masked and robotic sounding voice. " YOU DO NOT GET TO MAKE THE RULES HERE YOUNGLADY! " And just like that the husbands head would explode after the sounds of ticking could be head. The blood erupted from the root of his neck as he dropped to the ground dead. " YOU HAVE...TO PICK ONE. YOU WANT TO BE A HERO!? A HERO KNOWS WHEN THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECESIONS, DONT YOU KNOW A DAMN THING ABOUT BEING RESPONSIBLE. " It sounded as if the voice would have been scolding her before the teenage girl would have been shaking, releasing the realism of the situation. The wife whom was freed now, was sobbing now as she dropped down to her dead husband cold corpse. Syl, now stacked with double the choices, things a lot more black and white. Syl had to choose, and she had to choose fast.

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_Am4cHMBKM ) Syl stopped mid rampage as the loud robotic voice sounded, and looked to see the husbands head just explode showering the area around him in blood. Syl paled as she looked at the wife throw herself upon her dead husband. The back of Syl's neck heated up in shame, she'd tried to save them all only for the woman to watch her husband die. " YOU HAVE...TO PICK ONE. YOU WANT TO BE A HERO!? A HERO KNOWS WHEN THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECESIONS, DONT YOU KNOW A DAMN THING ABOUT BEING RESPONSIBLE. " Syl flinched inwardly as it yelled at her again, and she walked over to the sobbing woman and kneeled behind her, hugging the woman, "I’m sorry..." She said before she violently snapped the woman's neck, killing her. She dropped to the floor next to her husband and Syl looked down at them blinking back the tears that were threatening to fall, she glared at the girl and put on a mock facade, "Go before I murder you too!" She yelled at the terrified girl as Syl's clones returned to her body, leaving her to run away. The vines also returned to Syl as she stared down at them her hands flying to her face, as she began to cry. Since meeting Kin in the desert Syl hadn't until now realized how much she depended on other people to help her. This moment she realized nobody was coming to bail her out, or help her she made the wrong choice and gotten someone killed, up until now Syl didn't realize her senseless killings were well...senseless. After the desert Syl hadn't killed another soul except out of necessity, she resorted to eating things that were well decomposed, and did little to sate her Nano machines appetite for flesh. Even Haukea who was now gone Syl relied on, even though Syl didn’t kill the people Haukea brought back to her they were still killed. Syl's hands rubbed at her face as she stood there and cried, her tears dripping off her chin onto the floor. Syl NEEDED to stand on her own. At this moment. Nobody was coming. And it was up to her to help herself. After bawling for a few more minutes, Syl finally wiped the tears away from her eyes and glared into the warehouse her face wet but her eyes blazing with resolve as Syl finally realized her mistakes, and was now going to fix them, starting with getting Haukea back.

Eden stood upon a rooftop; ignoring his calling for a bit, as he seemed a bit occupied. Eden quickly caught a firm grasp amongst his own collat. his gaze met the moonlight and slowly but surely he answered. “What is it?” Eden said as he walked across a naked ceiling, he listened to what Kang had to say. " Knight, do you copy me? Did he give you the rundown on the layout of the building? Eden gave off a slight yawn. “Yeah--” “Alright Knight. We have two ways you can take this thing. The guys back at the base have set you up with gear that allows you to impersonate one of the heroes Inc. operatives. We have security clearance for levels 1 and 2. But if you reach a level 3 lock, your own. You may be able to steal a level 3 access pass if you’re stealthy enough. The other option is pure stealth, no disguises. No tricks, you get in. And you get out. No point in wasting anytime. Remember Heroes Inc. is filled With Metahumans and peak humans trained down to the T in the ways of combat. Were gonna need you to stay on your toes here. Confrontations are not wise. But if you find yourself gridlocked we'll send in Yami. She's been getting the hang of her dark powers. She could level the place but that’s a last resort. Matter of fact we'll make an option. If you’re bunkered down, you call in me and another General. Or call in Yami to assist you but you'd best choose wisely. I've given you the layout of your mask. And if you want, you can install the digital map layout that I’m sending to you right now through an encrypted message. It should read the buildings layout through your map. Follow the yellow brick road Knight, and you'll find The Nullifier. Last guy who stole this thing was Madd Dog. They've gotten smart since then. So you'd better stay on your toes. Got me?” - Eden gave off a slight nod; “Yeah- Roger that.” Eden said before walking and leaping off the building and landing in the sole of his feet. He quickly brought his gaze upwards and saw the contact hanging from his neck from the casino with Christmas lights wrapped around him.

Artemis had not recalled much of what happened…one second she was being invited over by Lotus to dance and the next….darkness. But it was not the same cold dark death had welcomed her times before so she knew…she was simply knocked the fuck out. When she came to, there was certain achiness in her bones which she thought to be odd…how is that possible? Her healing factor would not allow for such a thing! Blue hues finally open and narrow at the first sight of pure white and then of a woman whom had a lot of red around her head. Shifting her body, the sniper realizes just what sort of position she was in and lifted her head up to gaze at the chains binding her…VERY strictly she might add. Whoever locked her up, knew just who they were dealing with. Giving out a groan, she shook off the haziness and began to expose that Cheshire grin, giving out a slight laugh. “Why do you think…you can keep me in one spot? Haven’t you learned by now…” Their eyes lock and that’s when she recognizes her. Agent V. The grin widens and she uses the chains to hoist herself throwing her feet up and swinging on them to attempt at wrapping her thighs around Agent V’s neck. If succeeded she’d give it a tight squeeze while bringing her close and laughing. “Let’s see if you bleed green bitch!!!” The pathogens had done their job though….shockingly enough they had bypassed the serum that turned Artemis into a super soldier and brain washed her though that didn’t change her hatred for this woman in particular even if there were something controlling her mind. If Agent V had found some way to dodge or escape out from the snipers legs she’d just swing lightly and catch herself back on the ground, arms still bound with a smirk now. “I don’t….exactly know what you did to me but I like it. Feels nice…can’t even hear Hiro’s annoying voice in my head telling me to do the right thing.” She rolled her neck to the side, inhaling deeply before finally resting her hues on agent V and flashing those pearly white teeth. “I know why I’m here…you want me to kill right? Please say yes.” Artemis could feel her empathy draining and once the serum sensed it, it did not feel like it was being attacked so it pumped through her veins to continue the pathogens work of returning Artemis back into a cold blooded murderer. The serum worked in many ways…it allowed neither the blue head to become enhanced in all areas…which is why she never suffered from being sick nor any mental illnesses as well. It controlled her empathy by controlling the chemical balances in her brain which caused her to basically not give a flying fuck who was at the end of her scope. But since meeting Darius and then afterwards meeting Hiro she’d taken back control on her emotions and block the serum from making her kill unnecessarily even though it was the serums job to ensure her survival. Now with the pathogen though, the serum could return her emotions back to zero and heightened her blood lust and animalistic tendencies. Her wrists began to turn back and forth, the harsh titanium rubbing her skin raw though she did not care for the pain, simply showing agent V she’d escape these chains soon enough even without strength…even if she had to pop her wrists out, she’d get out and if she wasn’t given a target soon…the red head would do.

Meanwhile back on the hellicarrier, Naomi and the rest of the pack had been picked up to aid Lion Corp in some form of way and all bunked up in some room. She was in her human form though her ears and tail were out all the while she was a bit on edge, pacing the room back and forth. “We shouldn’t be here…” The last time she was here, she’d been locked up for no god damn apparent reason other than the fact she was considered a ‘threat’ to society. What’s worse? Now her pack members were here too!! Okami had been silent through most of this or at least she hadn’t heard him if he was about in her mind. She couldn’t sit still, her red hues searching out the room to calm her nerves. Suddenly a man makes his way inside and she recognized him from before…one of the men who tried to fight Lyacon and she let out a cautious growl, warning him not to get too close to her friends. She wasn’t going to fight them…not again. Unless they give her a reason to she wouldn’t anyway. Though she did want a rematch with that Artemis woman…she’d obtained a scar on her shoulder blade thanks to that blue haired bitch. He tries to get them to talk and she reads his body language…it wasn’t much threatening but that didn’t change anything for her as she frowns. “Anything you wanna know can be found in my file you bastards made when you arrested me.” She pulls up her hood and continues to pace back and forth while chewing on the inside of her mouth. Lion corp followed orders…they were with the government or who ever the hell had reign of them. She pauses and looks back at him with a deeper frown. “Why are we here for? Your commanding officer was vague…and if we’re here to help how do we know you aren’t just going to arrest my pack mates? Or me again after we’ve helped you??”

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNI6HSYtSTQ) Looking out of a window inside of the Hellicarrier Lee would look to the ground below. Plenty thoughts were racing through his mind like Usagi for one what was she doing at that exact moment or did she even miss him. He smirked to himself as thought of an actual life with this girl. “Heh…” The other thing inside of his head was what happened inside of the doughnut shop and those hunters. Lee was annoyed that they got the drop on them and he wanted pay back. Not only had that but a company picked them up for a mission. The company’s name was Lion’s Corp. Lee knew very little about the company, perhaps they were some big thing but Lee didn’t really pay much attention to shit like that, maybe he should start. Lee didn’t even know what the mission was about or how long it would take. All Lee knew was that he’d have to stay alive so that he could make it back to Usagi. He would turn around and head back into the room with his fellow pack mates. The wolf would immediately notice Naomi pacing back and forth. “We shouldn’t be here…” He chuckled a bit to her. “Finally something we agree on.” He would say as he would take a seat in the corner and look back at everyone with his arms folded. His eyes glared at Agent Gold who he thought to be rather comical. He would say in a rather eerie and warped tone of voice. “I wonder when I eat you will I also become a comedian?” Lee would say from his corner as Naomi started scolding the man and the company on her views on them. “Why are we here for? Your commanding officer was vague…and if we’re here to help how do we know you aren’t just going to arrest my pack mates? Or me again after we’ve helped you??” He would scoff at the idea of getting arrested knowing he wasn’t going to go down without a fight.

( https://youtu.be/fj-10lIrboM) As Eden had made it to the destination a large pod would have drifted down from the sky crashing down next to him. Inside had been lethal and non-lethal weaponry, from grenades, to flash grenades, to tonfa, to swords, anything Eden could ever want was in that pod ready to go locked and loaded. “I’m sending you one more thing. " Kang said as he sent a downloaded encrypted program into Eden's cardinal mask. “Hello Knight. It's Nice to meet you. “A voice said through his helmet, a females voice that sounded mature and wise in dialect. " I am Rosetta. Your own personal AI system. I can hack and encrypt any kind of digital lock or so that you may need to break into. If you come across any form of information bases within Heroes Inc., tell me to hack into it, and I’ll do as commanded. “She said shortly after she was sent working immediately. Some of Heroes Inc. operatives would have been guarding the top of the building, Meta-Humans. Both dressed from head to toe in Heroes Inc. attire. There gloves glowing red in one hand, and blue in the other. They were Hadou Elementalist and could use their powers to torch there enemies and freeze them. Pacing back and forth along the top of the building. EMP radar that has the ability to pick Eden up upon arrival had been around Eden. He'd need to cloak himself and then proceeded to take out those guards, non-lethally or lethally would be his choice. Depending what and how he proceeded with this would weight a significant choice later on within the story. "I wonder... are The Infinites still in town? I haven’t heard anything." Said Guard 1 whom had his arms crossed pressing next to the door entrance at the top of the building. " Who knows. Just keep your eyes open. You never know with these assholes. If you see anyone, kill them. We’re not even taking any chances. "

Meanwhile...

Nik Had been on his right knee, with blood drenching his weapons and his body his hair had been soaked in blood as well. Fetcher Steve stood over his body, shirtless as well with two blades in his hands. Staring down at the young Tasanagi with a heated and hated glare filled with murderous intentions. As Steve raised his blade up into the air he'd attempt to impale Nik through his chest, however, pulling both of the broad swords up into an X-formation would allow him to block the blow of the strike and then drive Fletcher back. Only to kick up into the air and pull both of his blades down. Steve ducked backwards and pulled his blade and body to the right in that same motion, so once Nik landed, Steve would have lashed his blade out horizontal aimed at Nik’s face! SHING! Nik countered, riding the deflection of the blow after he parried with his right sword, the clash would have caused sparks to fly throughout the room before Nik leaned backwards as Steve stepped forward, blade in hand. As he Nik dodged the lunging strike, He would have tossed his left blade at Steve at the same time! Fletcher caught the blade with his free hand only for Nik to slide under his legs baseball style the moment he caught it, pulling himself up from behind him he'd spin his body in a 360 motion, slicing Steve across the back as blood sprayed from the wound and he hit the ground on his knees falling face first as Nik stood in the stance he just had struck the Assassin down with. Varex had been watching clapping his hands with approval before he leaned forward on the railing he had been pressed against while he watched the battle. “Are you ready to depart on your next Mission Nik? You'll have a Partner this time around. Her name is Artemis. Aka the Blue Demon." Nik had been panting, his hair hanging over his face. “You’re to meet her, go down to the pod areas. Agent V is waiting." Nik smirked tilting his head up. “I’m on my way. " He says cleaning the blade of any blood as he flung it off with a clean swipe.

Blood dripped down the halls of the Base as Nik stepped through, making his way to where Artemis had been located. He opened the slide door within the all white room. Nik's shirtless form drenched in blood and his hair as well. His right hand clenched tightly to a broadsword which had been crimson due to fletcher’s blood. "... You can leave. She's my partner. " Nik said turning his head over to Agent V. He'd wink at her and as he did, she'd roll her eyes at him before looking back at Artemis with a look of sincerity almost before walking out of the room. Nik stood there with his hands clenching tightly to his blade before cutting her down from her binds himself with the sword. “Sup gorgeous. Looks like You’re with me now..." Nik said stabbing his blade into the floor getting into his stance. “Sad thing is... I don’t run with losers. I’m gonna have to ask you to prove yourself...If I win... you'll be dead. If you win... I’ll get up and kill you. "

Meanwhile... Back in LA

Another cryptic message had been fuming from the intercoms in the building to signal out to Syl for her next task. “You want to be a hero. You’re going to need to learn how to make a sacrifice. You can’t save everyone. But... people like you? You'll never be a hero. You’re a monster. It's all you ever be. Now for the next part of the game. 4 Blocks from here. I’ve placed a bomb in ' Have a Dream ' Orphanage. The only thing is... finding it in time. Since this took you so long to do, you have about 5 minutes to get this destination and defuse the bomb, and save those stupid children. And those whore Nuns. Can you do it Syl? Can you make it in time, or will more suffer for your foolishness, and your ignorance, will you be the death so many once again? Like allllll... those people who died back in that town not too far from here. In Hightree... you brutally killed all those people. You’re known as The Black Plague of the Skylands. You’re a bestial creature, a monster, a myth. You'll never be a hero. Hahahahahahah AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH! " The Message would have cut, leaving Syl with her next job, her next mission! If she didn’t save these children, not only would they die. But she'd lose her lead on saving her friend! Time was of the essences, and it wasn’t something she could waste. -C-

Meanwhile... Back on the Knight Hawk Base.

The Criminal struggled in his binds shaking his head left to right as he forcefully tried to rip himself from his binds. “Alright... I think I did it right..." Hiro said as he pulled the chalk from the floor. It was a Star, with a moon drawn on the right and left of it. One moon was black, the other was white. "Keyth told me about this, it’s in that book he got from fathers study. The one he wrote. Its called an ' Oni-Binding Circle' Certain Onioligist have learned how to summon Oni's and even send Oni's into certain humans. All we have to do is bring forth the blood of an Onihoruda onto this Circle. And whisper its name and it'll appear." David stood there yawning playing in his phone. "Yeah, yeah can we get this magic mumbo jumbo shit over with? I don’t even know why you know about all this crap, you’re a solider." Hiro backed from the circle they had drawn around the bound criminal. " I was a Tasanagi first. I’m a Tasanagi by blood." Hiro said as he closed his eyes and then said his name. 'Okami....’

“You want to know why your here. " A voice said after what Naomi had said out loud to the group, a masculine muscle head brawler, bruiser, tough made humanoid TRUCK stepped into the room. His massive form would terrify even the most powerful of fighters and with good reasoning. General Kane, was his name. Resurrected to be brought into battle once again through the means of science. He was a cyborg now... and a damn powerful one. “Your here, because you are all Wolfbloods, linked to the Wolfblood Alpha known as Kin Tasanagi.” He said stepping into the room with a folder before tossing it over a Table as pictures of Nik on the field that night had been taken by people around the city, and within the club who watched him fight Red Dawn. “Your Alpha, has been brainwashed, our intel teams just relayed these files over to us. Something Known as the Z-pathogen has been injected into his body, and has taken over him. He no longer has remorse; he's a killing machine, used by an Shard of Nirvana hunting group known as The Order. He killed the Mayor of LA. And now the Order is using him to kill other officials in there goals. Going for high ranking officials who make and shape this word so they can gather the broken remains and mold it to the way they see fit. And lets be honest, the only person who can stop a controlled wolfblood. Are other Wolfbloods. You’re his pack, and your his family. I don’t look human, but i still have heart. And I know a pack, is a family. You need to save him, you need to stop him, before its too late. Before he's lost forever. Do you understand? Hey little red riding hood? Come with me. You and the other girl, Tahira was it? You two boys stay here. Agent Gold will show you two around. But I need to speak with these two specifically. Let’s go." he said exiting the room and making his way down the hall.

Back on the Infinites base

Zaito would have made his way into his quarters, stepping through a white Gi, similar to what Eden had worn when he finished his training. The sleeves were missing, and the various tattoos from his many professions before this one had displayed themselves on his scarred flesh from his past life. The Words 'Kasaihana' had been tattooed at the top of his Back around the shoulder areas. “I see you’ve gotten yourself well accustomed. I hope everything is to your liking..." Inu said with his hair draping down over his face, the thick lion’s mane like hair soon tied up into a pony tail as he did so swiftly. His masculine form towering over her as he stood in front of her. " Tell me... What were your thoughts when your father instructed you to do this mission? He must have had this set, as you say before me and Kang's arrival. We, being the two newest of the Commanders. I guess it'd make since that he'd be afraid of Lions corp. When he saw that it had been himself that was the leader of this Organization. Hiro Tasanagi... in my world. Was a much different man than this world’s Hiro Lionheart? “He said pacing about the room. "I’m invading Austria tomorrow. We'll turn it into our main base of operations. I do have to ask... one of them got into a fight with someone known as The Red Dawn. I don’t have any information on him. Can you describe his appearance? Anything that may have stood out about the assassian whom killed the Mayor? " He says crossing his arms.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zRhenXuCpM&index=4&list=PL6akIKaXBeU2Xfh8kdSnmSZcw1ftwq1Km ) Syl's heart rate sped up as the words echoed around her. She had 5 minutes to get to an orphanage and find a bomb and diffuse it, bolting out the warehouse, past the dead couple, Syl's hair once again formed into the mighty blacks wing and pulled her off the ground and into the air. 5 minutes, 300 seconds and it was slipping away. Flying over the warehouse Syl's eyes frantically looked around for something that looked like an orphanage, but couldn't find anything she had no way to tell how much time she was wasting, so she did the next best thing, ask someone for directions. Swooping down on a man walking a block away from the warehouse Syl would land in front of him and vines would grow from her hips and drag him up by the collar. "Where's Have A Dream?" She yelled at him. "T-the o-o-orphanage??" He asked back stuttering heavily due to his fear. "T-t-that w-w-way, a-a-ab-bout three blocks!" He pointed to his left and Syl's eyes darted to the side and her head snapped in that direction. Dropping him and the vines retreating back into her waist her hair flapped powerfully once again and she flew off in the direction she was given. She had no clue how much time passed before she landed in front of the building. Barging through the doors she frantically looked around, she had no clue where to even start looking. It was late at night so her sudden entrance into the building would surely startle and scare the building inhabitants. Syl pushed past the kids and various adults as she frantically began tearing up rooms looking for something that resembled a bomb. She had a clue about what to look for but, it could've been anywhere. Syl turned to a woman standing there before she ran over to her and grabbed her holding the front of her shirt she stared at her, trying to remain clam and not startle them any more than they already were. "Look was any wierdo people in here today? At all did they go anywhere?" She questioned the lady, her voice shaky and unsteady. "Don’t bullshit me we don’t have much time here!" Syl screamed trying to keep her composure but it was slipping from her. The message got to her immensely. She knew she was a monster but she could still save people right? If she saved these people now it'd make up for everything she'd done. At least she thought so. As for being a monster, she already come to terms with the fact she was bred for killing and wouldn’t be able to live normally no matter how hard she tried...

"I see you’ve gotten yourself well accustomed. I hope everything is to your liking..." Lotus heard a male’s voice say from the door, the pretty little vixen’s amber eyes shifting their gaze from the wall in front of her into that direction only to see the master of this room standing in the mist of the doorway dressed in white sleeveless Gi. His rather muscular fore arm and biceps denoted the various inked out sketches of lives long lost along with an endless array of battle scars made the young woman avert her gaze just a bit. As a male with nice body and the wounds to show how he earned it was sorta of a weakness as Inu moved to tie his wild hair back in place walking over to her reclining frame that still remained against the soft makings of the bed. “Not much more one can do when she is thinking about the plans that need to be made for her wedding, given the time allotted. Yes it is, I’ve always wanted to know what was up here for years.” She’d reply looking up at his towering frame as it hovered over her own of 5’6. Lotus making no attempt sit up like most would’ve done when in Inu’s presence. Establishing with herself during their brief interlude between their initial meet and greet in the throne room and her being left alone in Inu’s chambers the young beauty had come to the conclusion that if this were going to work that they both would need some place where they could be themselves without a care in the world. Namely here in the room they would be both sharing to put things more simply. Where they both could forget about who they were and be what they wanted be…to each other if that were the least bit possible. She thought. Inu’s voice drawing her back to from her thoughts. “Tell me... What were your thoughts when your father instructed you to do this mission? He must have had this set, as you said before me and Kang's arrival. We, being the two newest of the Commanders. I guess it'd make sense that he'd be afraid of Lions Corp. When he saw that it had been himself that was the leader of this Organization. Hiro Tasanagi...in my world was a much different man than this world’s Hiro Lionheart." His question was a simple one so simple that Lotus was almost afraid to answer it, remembering carefully that day when she stood before her father who was leering at ones through a time window that he’d protected who would become Kang and Inu in their time line battling the Greek Gods. The pretty little ninja’s formalities dropping as she moved to sit up, “If you are speaking about the infiltration of Lion Corp Inu then I will have to be honest I thought he was nuts…there were far more qualified individuals beside I in our ranks especially in his commanders that could’ve done this job blindfolded. Yet he chose me…but when I asked why…he told me it was because I was the only one he trusted with such an important mission. So yes I’d say this was all planned out way ahead of your arrival as this order was given when he was still scoping you and Kang out as potentials.” Lotus’ gazed would look up to meet his own, her opened honesty probably shocking the warrior as she admitted knowing the fate that would befall he and the future Connor much later on her legs curling up under her fully sitting upright form. “The things we do fear are only figments of our imaginations, but the things that we SHOULD fear are our OWN creations. My father, started telling me this shortly after we arrived in this world and he begin to observe those in this time line that he knew from his own including himself. When he saw in Hiro Lionheart and this world’s Corp what he and we (the Infinites) use to be, things began to change rather drastically…it was almost as if he lived in a constant state of paranoia or fear to say the least. Father started to obsess with destroying the Corp staying that he would be the Infinite ultimate obstacle once he saw that not only did Lionheart beat the darkness he succumbed to with ease in your world but used and made it his own. Thus making himself into an invincible warrior. Commander Lionheart’s escape from this base with the help of Artemis probably only substantiated his fears of just how formidable of an enemy the Corp is to us further into reality for him.” She said watching Inu’s calm prow less demeanor the almost exact kind she’d seen from the assassin that took out the mayor several days before turn into that of a man who’d turn pacing about the floor in worry. “You’re concerned about something other than Lion Corp, what is it if I may ask?” Lotus inquired not sure if Inu would divulge what was bothering him so or not to her his only few hours old betrothed. But ironically enough he allowed what was bothering him to flow passed his lips for her hear. “I’m invading Austria tomorrow. We'll turn it into our main base of operations. I do have to ask... one of them got into a fight with someone known as The Red Dawn. I don’t have any information on him. Can you describe his appearance? Anything that may have stood out about the assassin whom killed the Mayor?" Lotus would allow her legs to uncurl themselves from up under her as she began to recall the one who called her “beautiful” and told her to baby sit the now deceased mayor moments before he killed him, along with being killed herself. The young ninja’s recollection of the male assassin’s height, body tone, structure, and other key features slowly recoiling themselves from her memory banks as she began speaking, “You mean the male assassin from the Order as I have bone to pick with the bitch ass red head.” She said sucking her teeth a bit. “He was 6’2, short black hair that might have been longer but cut recently due to the unevenness of it, the same build as your own body wise which I could tell despite the would be super hero get up he had on. His face was covered by a mask so the eyes were hidden but if I were compare I’d say you two also have the same facial structure….and you both have the same type of body language to boot (Military training talking)….If I didn’t know any better I’d say this guy was you or…past you….or….whatever you get the point but that impossible. The Kin of this world fell off the grid the moment the Sector Games ended. Nobody knows where he is.” Lotus concluded unaware that she’d unearth to Inu, just where in fucks name his former self might have actually gone.

On the Hellicarrier…..

"You want to know why your here." The voice of a masculine muscle head brawler, bruiser, tough made humanoid TRUCK boomed almost causing Tahira to jump the moment he stepped into the room causing her to inhale his scent for memory purposes the same as she had done Agent Gold only to come up with a more metallic scent when attempted this as her eyes beheld his massive form. A form that would terrify even the most powerful of fighters and with good reasoning but unfortunately being in the Skylands since birth had quickly shaken her from that. He was a cyborg this she was sure of... and from the looks of it a damn powerful one as appeared that his creators has spared no expense in making him. Meaning his human body was long passed its time in existence or so Tah had wagered listening to him bark on. “You’re here, because you are all Wolfbloods, linked to the Wolfblood Alpha known as Kin Tasanagi. The tank of humanoid metal would say tossing down a folder filled with pictures of Kin fighting some capped crusader onto the table that lay in front of them in a fashion that some even slide from it right onto the floor. Tahira herself instantly moving to grab the pictures that falling to see for herself just what the hell the noise was all about and why they were so important all of sudden to the outlanders military, her golden eyes peering down at the photo-optic paper almost too stunned and bewildered to even try to understand what was going on, the worst of the shots were the blodgett pictures of the dead mayor which almost made throw the pictures back down onto the table, the Warlock in her cancelling out all her other emotions for the moment as she turns replace her blades in their hoisters while her ear however continued to listen to what the male said. “Your Alpha, has been brainwashed, our intel teams just relayed these files over to us. Something Known as the Z-pathogen has been injected into his body, and has taken over him. He no longer has remorse; he's a killing machine, used by a Shard of Nirvana hunting group known as The Order. He killed the Mayor of LA. And now the Order is using him to kill other officials in their goals. Going for high ranking officials who make and shape this word so they can gather the broken remains and mold it to the way they see fit. And let’s be honest, the only person who can stop a controlled wolfblood is another wolfblood. You Are other Wolfbloods. You’re his pack, and you’re his family.” Upon hearing this Tahira would immediately break her silence, turning upon the heel of her right foot looking at the large titan and literally staring him straight in the eyes despite her size. “So let me get this straight with all your technological advances including yourself,” She’d state letting the giant know that she’d taken a whiff of the air around them and learned that he wasn’t human in advance. “You’re best defense is to put us up against Kin, “his family” as you so called us and that will just solve this little fucking problem? Well allow me point out one factor General, was it?” She asked checking out the rank badges that were on his uniform. “We just narrowly escaped a group of hunters, which for all we know could be helping the group that took Kin…how do we know you assholes aren’t on some pure fuck shit huh? That while we are risking our asses you all won’t sneak the back door?” She’d demand probably making the rest of the pack look at her like Tah what the hell or where the hell did that come from…due to no one knowing about this side of her besides Kin. To which she’d hear the solider reply “I don’t look human, but I still have heart. And I know a pack, is a family. You need to save him; you need to stop him, before it’s too late. Before he's lost forever…Do you understand? Hey little red riding hood? Come with me. You and the other girl, Tahira was it? You two boys stay here. Agent Gold will show you two around. But I need to speak with these two specifically. Let’s go." Tahira would glance over to Naomi pretty much knowing she was outta line but for the first time since Grey’s death she was happy to embrace her aggression she’d kept bottled up for so long before taking her blades with her. “Yes its Tahira…” she’d say following him if Naomi hadn’t already done so herself. “And just where are we going, if I may ask?"

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSmT1H79RiA ) After the intervention that took place, which lead to a few good things. Jacob himself would’ve been belly up, in what looked like a tub full of ice water. His eyes closed, and his soaked blonde locks floating above his head in the water as well. His body shifting every few seconds, as his breathing began to pick up. His eyes stopped preforming their movements that only get preformed in rem sleep, symbolizing he was waking up. Jacob’s eyes opened and he shot up from the cold water! With a loud gasp, he’d take a few hurried breathes in and begin wiping his face down, and hurrying up and out of the tub. His bare feet hit the ground, as he walked around in the nude on full alert, not sure of what he should do or where he should go next. ‘Relax, relax Red Dawn!” Jacob’s eyes shot straight up to look into the observation window of 2 medics looking him over. Jacob took in a few deep breathes before yelling out. “Get! Me! A towel!” a few moments transpired, and the medics would’ve come in with multiple towels and a cup of coffee guiding Jacob to a briefing room. “Where am i?” A voice chimed in as the door opened. “You’re in the base stationed in this portion of the city. It’s relatively new, but it’s good enough as a pit stop I guess you could say, for the other Hero members.” Jacob only had a towel around his waist at this point. Why he was being opted to be kept nude was beyond him, but it helped that he wasn’t exactly out of shape, quite the opposite. The woman known as Jade Fierce would’ve walked in and sat down opposite side of Jacob. “That was a rough job you did in there. The Mayor died…you failed your assignment dawn.” Jacob would’ve balled his fist and slammed it onto the table. “Dammit…I got caught up in capturing the culprit rather than protecting the perp.” “It’s a terrible thing, but you’ve not time for self-pity. Like we say, here we take our losses in stride, and work harder the next time around. Which as a matter of fact is exactly what you’ll be doing.” Miss Fierce would’ve pointed at the screen. “After that attack on the mayor they went off the grid. We don’t know where they may try and pop up next. Even with a list of places they could potentially make their way to…we’re sending meta’s to all of these areas marked in red. As a type of effort to prevent them from fully being successful and at least getting us a heads up.” Jacob nodded to this notion. “So where does that put me?” “In resting right now. You got bruised up pretty bad. On one hand we’re happy the liquid body armor works wonders. If not for that your rib cage would’ve shattered into your lungs, and killed you on spot. You’re lucky to come away with some micro-fractures.”

Jacob would’ve looked down at the bruises on his sides. “That’s where that phantom pain’s coming from. Well at least I can use those fractures in an advantageous matter…” Jacob would’ve stood up. “Where’s my gear. I can’t be on bed rest.” Jade furrowed her brow. “Didn’t you hear me? You almost got creamed out there. We can’t throw you around like that and expect you to hit the ground running every time. “Jacob made his way for the door. “But I do hit the ground running, and I make it fine every time. I’m on this case, and I will find out their targeting patterns and figure out who’s going to be hit next. Then when I’m called I’ll share that information with the others and maybe we can start going on the offense. Gathering these men into one place…hm. actually that might work. Can we get into contact with these targets?” Jade would’ve stood up. “You’re suggesting they take or a good many of the targets and group them together?” Jacob nodded. “The fewer the targets the less we have to strain to find each important individual. But if we cluster them together-“ “You’re painting a bigger target.” “A bigger BOOBIE trapped target. They’ll take the bait, because that’s their mission. If we set up our pieces right they’ll know their walking into a trap, but they know they’ll have no other way to accomplish their goal. Get on the phone with the other bases near that location, or any other heroes available for deployment, and map my idea. I’m going to see about my shield…” “Don’t order me around Dawn. I am you’re superior…but I will pitch this idea. With the right equipment it might not be such a bad thing.” Jade would’ve begun making her way towards the office area and Jacob would’ve been walking in the base still in a towel mind you, towards the weapons room, to see if he could get any deets on his shield…he remembers it being shattered and torn right in front of him. Just the thought that something unbreakable could even have that happen to it is almost unfathomable. The thought of it, trounced Jacob and he needed to find out why

When he made his way there and opened the doors, he’d see Red Steel or Wong, looking over the shield in pieces as it floated inside of a tube, of molten hot liquid. (http://images-cdn.moviepilot.com/image/upload/c_fill,h_338,w_620/t_mp_quality/capshielddisplay-avengers-2-age-of-ultron-captain-america-s-broken-shield-means-what-jpeg-145812.jpg ) “So it is broken…” Jacob said as he waked in. Wong turned to look at him and narrowed his eyes at his physically perfect body. “He looks like a total tool!” he thought to himself. Wong then spoke. “Oh? OH yeah it’s totally broken. But I’m fixing it as we speak. It’s in the process of remolding itself now, as you can see by the pieces floating closer towards one another. “ Jacob walked beside him and folded his arms. “How did it break? I thought the adamantium and Vibrainium properties would’ve done their jobs against anything. I’ve taken blows from people who bench 50 tons with this thing, even fallen from air plane heights and not even so much as a crack. “ Wong would’ve pointed his finger in the air. “Molecular tampering. See the -c- purple lines where the cracks of the shield are?” Jacob nodded as the areas where the pieces were cracked glowed with a purple hue. “That’s the result of cutting on the atomic scale, a scale so small it’s only possible to do with what’s known as Antarctic Vibrainiumxrite. Antarctic Vibrainiumxrite is also known as Anti-Metal due to its effects. Whereas Wakandan Vibrainiumxrite absorbs vibratory energy into its molecular bonds, Antarctic Vibrainiumxrite, through a means that is not yet understood, emanates vibrations which cause the atomic and molecular bonds in nearby metals of other kinds to weaken. The result is to cause nearby solid metals to liquefy. If huge quantities of Antarctic Vibrainiumxrite were gathered together, at some unknown point the accumulated mass would increase logarithmically as more Vibrainium was added. This stuff makes adamantium look like a complete joke. The fact it gunned through your shield is no surprise HOWEVER.” Red steel would’ve tapped on his wrist and pulled up a computer monitor with specs on it. “I’ve developed a process to reverse this. You see while this anti metal is anti metal molecularly it is still vibrainium. I can reverse the harmful effects, and actually increase the amount of vibrainium that was contained into it before but keep it at the same weight and mass with proper compression of course, but I still needed a holding agent. Hohohoooo! “ Red steel was nerding out. “And that’s when I found THIS!” He’d reach his gloved hand into a small cylindiqil box and pull out a blow cube like stone. “What is that…it’s resonating. Some kind of physical energy?”

“This, my primitive him em hard friend, is Seiryoku stone, originally from Nagara network, but completely bought out by Son Enterprises.” “I thought all of that went up in flames with the rest of the city?” “It very well did. However there were scraps and left over materials all over the place! You should’ve seen the “scraps” He used air quotes. “I picked up from around Yun Tower when it went up to. You wanna talk about being hard at work.” Red Steel would’ve cleared his throat. “Continuing on this here is a stone produced by Aiden Nagara after his time in the Shinto Realm. This is a man-made variant of the Seiryoku Stone he found there and made his weapons "Godkillers" with. The stone acts as a medium for Chi-Molecular flow. To put it simply when a person passes a chi flow into the stone it will take it, amplify it, and expel it with an enhanced velocity. To get complicated with it, when further testing was done on this stone it was shown to react with other resources. When combined with certain metals, for example, and a chi wave was passed through it, the result could lead to the stone expelling flames or ice. After extensive research Aiden Nagara theorized that the limits of different reactions could very well be limitless. The stone is also known to let off a glow when reacting to nearby chi wavelengths. It glows in a color to match the aura of the chi flowing through it.” Jacob frowned with one side of his mouth. “That’s all handy dandy but I can’t use chi. I have an understanding, but my body was genetically tampered with. I’m impure I guess you could call it.” “This is true BUT! You yourself won’t be using the chi. “ Red steel would point back to the shield. “The shield’s Vibrainiumxrite properties will resonate and bond with the properties of the stone, meshing and melding together to form and all NEW kind…of unbreakable. Now when you come into contact with that radioactive metal, its effects will be nullified because of the constant productions of metallic-mandarin infused, particles! Huh?! Isn’t this the most genius thing you’ve ever heard of?! Do you KNOW what you could do with this?!?” Jacob nodded. “I’m aware. I just miss the simpler things…so. When I hold it, and the metal can’t be molecularly tampered with does it do anything else?” Red Steel would rub his chin. “I have no clue. We won’t know until you use it. I do theorize, that it’s possible…it could store mandarins because of the vibrating and -c-

Absorbing properties of the metal…don’t know what good that would do unless you released it. In any case, I’m going to continue working on the shield. It’s melding nicely, so come back in a few. I’ve also fixed up your suit, it’s good to go, but be careful on those ribs. You have limits and you got pretty done in, in your last bout.” Jacob looked at the giant x scar on his chest. “Tell me about it…I’ll go put the outfit back on and come back in a bit for the briefing.” Jacob would’ve made his way out of the armory, and proceeded to his temporary room there where he got wind his outfit was going to be.

Meanwhile

Mangler would’ve been in the room, 3 levels below the entry of the base, with a clip board in his hand, hanging upside down, and looking at the nullifier, writing down and recording the progress and stats on the machine, to make sure it’s running at maximum optimal efficiency. The machine emanated in the center of the room, and Mangler would’ve watched it, watching it operate and recharge its battery. “I pray we never have to use this thing. This thing alone could make life difficult for all of us….”-e-

" I-I-I-I NO MA'AM NO ONES COME IN HERE I PROMISE! " She said staring at Syl and stumbling back into a wall. That's when MORE THEN LIKELY... Images of Syl and Kin training from almost 3 years ago within the jungled wilderness that he'd use to take her would blurr back into the voids of her mind.

Flashback... 3 years ago.

" Syl..." Kin would have said, a much younger Kin with his hair neatly cut and his shirt off. He stood with both of his hands on his hips as he towered over her. He was naked, and so was she. They had been training for what seemed like hours and days on end. This easily noticable by the cuts and dirt that coated there naked forms. " There will be times, when you must use your ability to solve issues and face enemies you cant see. And once this day comes. You'll need to know how to use what you have. Your hearing is nowhere near is good as mine, nor your smelling. But you have millions, trillions, billions of spiders at your disposal. Syl with your power... your every at once. The plants speak to you. All you have to do ask them questions. Along with those spiders of yours. You can find anyone, you can find anything. These spiders are your minions. There your subordinates. Use them, allow them to assist you. Never forget to use the little things in your arsenal... they matter the most..."

Flashback... Over, back to the present.

The bomb would have been ticking loudly under the basement hidden under some brick tiles in the wall. Would Syl be fast enough to reach her goal? Would she user her powers LIKE SHES SUPPOSED TO ( Which if you wanted to you could a made a clone to do this shit while the real syl handled other things XD Just saying ) Or will she run out of time, the clock was ticking and she had to think on her feet fast. If that bomb went off it'd be the death of all those children inside... herself, and then soon after? Her best friend. Syl had to think, and she had to think fast.

Meanwhile...

General Kane would have taken note to how this Tahira spoke to him but he wouldnt put too much thought into it. Other wise her tone would have angred him, and an Angry General Kane would be an issue even for Hiro. As he guided them into the room where David and Hiro had been he'd stop at the door before looking back at Naomi and then Tahira. " And to be frank. Wolfbloods are unpridictable. If Technology solved all of our problems then yeah. We wouldnt need you. Not to mention these guys have Artemis. They have someone that belongs to the both of us. Were not enemies, but whats that saying? Uhhhh... The Enemy to my enemy is a friend? Or something like that. It doenst matter, dont correct me if Im wrong. You get what im saying. " He says finally opening up the door and Hiro would have turned to the females before nodding his head. " Good, you brought them. Everythings done now... were just waiting for him to wake up. " Hiro says as he makes his way over to where the tied up crimnal had been.

" Wait... is that.. " " Luke Towers..." " THE!? LUKE TOWERS!? " General Kane said shouting at the top of his lungs. " Thats right. " " Luke towers... the Ex-Owner of the Black Vipers, killer of cities?! The Guy who took down the Armada back in 2119?! The Immortal Luke Towers!? How did you even get your hands on this guy. " " I caught em, beat him in hand to hand combat in a volcano. " General Kane ran his hands down his face before david walked across the room laughing and shaking his head. " He's not kidding you know. Best fight ive seen in my life. " " Gee Anderson... Maybe you should have gotten it on Camera next time. " "Maybe Next time I will Kane. Maybe I will. " Hiro would have shaken his head. " I could have used one of our operatives but that would have killed them. Luke can handle this and its only temporary. Once were done with him... we'll throw him back into Prison. I wanted Okami in a body he could grow acustomed to. Something that he could use to help us fight a league of deadily super spies. "

" And it worked..." His booming voice said as he turned his head up to look up at the group of men in the room. Okami or rather... Luke Towers stood to his full height and broke the metal cuffs binding him before he clenched and unclenched his fists. " Nice Fit Hiro. You have good taste. " " I try. " Hiro says in response to Okami whom turned to face himself in the mirror. " Exllence. Let us move forward with the rest of our games. This man... he looks alot like Drankin. " " Thats because... he's Drankin's fathers little brother. There family line is a mysterious one." " Yes... I do sense my brother oto's power slightly here. He wont be happy about this. But... duty calls. Tahira,good to see you through mortal eyes. Hiro, fetch the others. I know exactly... what we must do..." " I'll have them meet up with us in the brefing room. "

Meanwhile...Back on the Infinites base...

Inu had been listening to what Lotus had said to him."... Just as I suspected." Inu says as he sat on the bed, sliding his hands through his hair before he stared out at the pool. "There using Kin Tasanagi. The Order is using him... in hopes of creating a perfect killer. They wish to crush and crumble this world into dust. I can’t allow them to continue on with their plans. This will not be shaped by their foolish goals; using stupid and imbecilic artifacts to shift and change the world instead of using their own proper power. "Inu said turning his gaze back over to Lotus before he pulled himself onto the bed completely and removed all variations of his all white attire so he'd soon be completely naked. Lying on his back as he stared up at the ceiling. "If The Order is using him. Then Things will surely be troublesome in the long run." Inu seemed uneasy, tense now unlike how calm and collected he had been before. " You know. My thought process seems to work flawlessly when there’s a mouth latched onto my cock. Why don’t you assist your Lord and soon to be husband by enticing your assistances on him hm?" he said with that booming voice of his. His masculine form building and ripping with veins that coursed through every bicep and triceps, and all throughout his scared body. His length lying on his right thigh circumcised and pulsing with veins amongst its girth clearly and visible on its own. He didn’t even crack a smile in his proposition. He was dead ass deadly serious as his eyes locked onto her own. Waiting for her to possibly do as told. Or better yet assertively requested.

Walking Tahira only listened to what the General had to say, a bit grateful that he didn’t take an offense to her earlier remarks when in the mode of combat. The old soldier guiding she and Naomi into the room where two other males were she denoted by the soft smell of men’s aftershave and cologne even from outside the door as he stopping abruptly at the door to look back at the two women to add, “And to be frank. Wolfbloods are unpredictable. If technology solved all of our problems then yeah, We wouldn’t need you. Not to mention these guys have Artemis. They have someone that belongs to the both of us. We’re not enemies, but what’s that saying? Uhhhh... The Enemy to my enemy is a friend? Or something like that. It doesn’t matter; don’t correct me if I’m wrong. You get what I’m saying." to his early statement. Tah understanding just what he was trying to say though that term never did make much sense to her growing up until she officially became a Wolfblood and suddenly found herself with the rest of the pack. Kane opening the door only to have the first of the men a blonde and from the looks of things, he was the one in charge turn towards them saying, “Good, you brought them. Everything’s done now... were just waiting for him to wake up." Almost at once her curiosity spiked as to just who the hell they were talking about, the young Nomack entering the room with her Alpha allowing her golden eyes to wander about aimlessly her orbs spying the other male who she sniffed out but only moments ago as well while taking careful note as she just where she was before finally lowering her gaze to the individual that was laid out and chained down to the table. Okami’s presence radiating so strongly from chained up individual that it was making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end which shouldn’t have been the case due him being inside of Naomi now since his recent boot from Kin. Her right brow arching in a manner looking to the blonde wondering just what was really going on around here before asking. “Okay forgive my tone in advance as I’m in “Warlock mode” as I so call it. But who the fuck is that guy? What is going on around here? And why do I sense Elder Okami coming from here when he’s supposed to be somewhere else or rather someone else, huh?” Tahira would rave trying to get an understanding on everything that had been going on during the last couple of days and now this latest development before raising both of her hands to say if any of the three would have tried to explain any of it. “You know what never mind, I don’t I wanna even know I’ll pull the pieces of this together somehow on my own. Just please tell me what do wish for me to do in regards to him once he has awakened?” Watching Hiro walk over to the tied up gent, Kane exclaiming to the top of his voice that the guy was someone named Luke Towers among other titles given to him none of them Tahira herself knew personally as the men went on talking as if they were all taking a trip down memory lane or something. The young wolfblood still of course listening having learned that this man was now Okami’s vessel and once they were done with him it would right back to prison for him. “No offense…I sorry what your name again?” If Hiro would’ve given Tah his name and rank officially she would continue. “Commander Lionheart, just what makes you think when a man like this Luke person gets a taste of that kind of power he’s just going to let go without so much as a whim and go back to being invisible in a jail cell again. I only ask because I was also trained to fight supernatural beings like him and myself.” The caution in her voice being oh so very REAL as she spoke her as the last thing she wanted to do was hurt the Elder because of a power hungry human. Okami’s booming voice soon heard there after as the male he was in awakened. Tahira turning her head lowering it somewhat in respect to the Elder in his new form as first spoke to the man Hiro complimenting him on choice in vessels before going on to add that the body was the descendant of his brother Oto, then addressing her. To which the young wolfblood would ask. “It’s good to have you about again as well Elder Okami but are you sure that you are alright with this?” her consider was genuine of course as the Father of them all called for Hiro to summon the others to the briefing room so that they could get down to the matter at hand, which was going after Kin she wagered.

Meanwhile... Back on the Infinites base

“... Just as I suspected." Lotus watched as Inu took a seat on the bed, sliding his hands through his long dark hair; his eyes focused upon the pool in front them. "They’re using Kin Tasanagi. The Order is using him... in hopes of creating a perfect killer. They wish to crush and crumble this world into dust. I can’t allow them to continue on with their plans. This will not be shaped by their foolish goals, using stupid and imbecilic artifacts to shift and change the world instead of using their own proper power." Turning his gaze back towards her before proceeding to pull himself further into the depths of the bed’s covers while removing any and all clothing from his body. As his bride to be watched with just a hint of modesty in her face as she’d done her fair share of teasing and sexual antics during her time away from the base but never had she really been so up close and personal with a naked man before. The situation was a bit too surreal to her. Lotus trying everything she could not to sit there and stare but by the Gods...he was making oh so hard not to wanna. She admitted openly to herself the half of herself that was purely perverse starting kick into high gear once Inu was complete naked lying on his back behind her. "If the Order is using him then things will surely be troublesome in the long run." “I would agree but it does explain just where he’s been for the past 2 years.” She interjects hoping that rationality would better ease things for them both here as Lo did notice just how uneasy the ideal of the Order having the young Tasanagi in their grasp made Inu. Nor she couldn’t blame him either…it’s not every day someone else fucks up your future. She’d tell herself extending her right hand towards him in a manner that was rather alarming to her as it attempted to touch his cheek in order in a reassurance gesture. As her eyes feasted on the rugged, chiseled yet battle torn form that once supposed to be the future of the very same person they spoke of. The very outline of rock hard frame from his chest to soft phallus that rested slightly against the makings of right thigh and tight sack overwhelming her senses with desire, her hand leaving his cheek in order to admire more intimately what she saw with the touch before Lotus moved even closer towards him. Her nails moving his skin quite possibly enticing him. “You know. My thought process seems to work flawlessly when there’s a mouth latched onto my cock. Why don’t you assist your Lord and soon to be husband by enticing your assistance on him hm?" She’d hear him say the gesture on his handsome face implying that he was neither joking nor playing with her in any way. He expected her comply without hesitation, that gaze into her own eyes only to seem further this indication. By this point her hand would’ve been upon his abdominal near his navel the slight traces of pubic hair there caressing her finger tips as the young woman weighed heavily in her mind as to how she would reply to this, her mouth having not touch a man like this since the attack she wondered how Inu would react to learn that she in truth didn’t know much about it as her taste was really with the ladies. Lotus stopping her touch for going any further as she sighed to honestly give her answer, “Forgive me Inu as the heavens know that I desire to please you any way that I can but in area that you request I am still a rather poor student due to my sexual involvement being limited women despite what involvement I did have with men. But I am willing to learn if you are willing to teach.” Her honesty verses playing false to Inu or making some lame ass excuse as to while she couldn’t or wouldn’t do it most likely intriguing him further especially upon learning that she also was also bi-sexual too. A fact that Lotus didn’t believe that her father even knew.

" Syl..." Kin would have said, a much younger Kin with his hair neatly cut and his shirt off. He stood with both of his hands on his hips as he towered over her. He was naked, and so was she. They had been training for what seemed like hours and days on end. This easily noticeable by the cuts and dirt that coated there naked forms. " There will be times, when you must use your ability to solve issues and face enemies you cant see. And once this day comes. You'll need to know how to use what you have. Your hearing is nowhere near is good as mine, nor your smelling. But you have millions, trillions, billions of spiders at your disposal. Syl with your power... your every at once. The plants speak to you. All you have to do ask them questions. Along with those spiders of yours. You can find anyone, you can find anything. These spiders are your minions. There your subordinates. Use them, allow them to assist you. Never forget to use the little things in your arsenal... they matter the most..."

Syl mentally had to slap herself. In her panic she'd forgotten all about her powers. She kneeled down and closed her eyes, taking deep breaths calling upon her spiders she 'd use them to find any traces of C4, Magnesium etc, ANYTHING giving off a chemical smell. They found it. Inside the wall a few spiders were swarming it. Syl decided now wasn’t the time to run through the building taking stairs. So, Syl took the most direct path, Syl used her Panzer Kunst, training and began to perform Tree Coating. Syl coats her arms in a bark like substance, turning them into club like appendages. This renders her arms heavier on impact, delivering more force to the strike. Syl fused her arms together into a thick trunk like shape and slammed it down into the floor creating a hole in the floor, as she fell her hair rose around her. Landing on the concrete floor of the building she swung her arms again into the wall breaking about a 4 foot hole and nestled in it was the bomb, with seconds left Syl clones herself and the clone grew wings, out of her hair it took the bomb and nodded to Syl flying out of the hole and knocked another whole in the ceiling and soared into the sky. After she just barely cleared the orphanage before it blew up, destroying the clone.

The real Syl fell onto her ass and ran her hands through her hair pushing her out of her face, shaking she broke down into tears and drew her knees to her chest and began to cry, "I cant do this...I cant keep doing it." She pressed her face into her knees and her hair fell around her she whimpered into her knees, she loved her friend but how much more can she take? She knew Kin wanted her to be good but, it was so easy to just let everyone die. A few spiders crawled into her hair and she pushed herself up, slowly exiting the building. Looking at her hands she took a deep breath and steeled herself, she knew she had to see it through to the end and get Haukea back.

“You’re here, because you are all Wolfbloods, linked to the Wolfblood Alpha known as Kin Tasanagi.” Lee would immediately look up as he would see the big huge tank of a man walking as he mentioned Kin’s name. “Hmm…” The man kept talking. “Your Alpha, has been brainwashed, our intel teams just relayed these files over to us. Something Known as the Z-pathogen has been injected into his body, and has taken over him. He no longer has remorse; he's a killing machine, used by a Shard of Nirvana hunting group known as The Order. He killed the Mayor of LA. And now the Order is using him to kill other officials in their goals. Going for high ranking officials who make and shape this word so they can gather the broken remains and mold it to the way they see fit. And let’s be honest, the only person who can stop a controlled wolfblood is another wolfblood. You Are other Wolfbloods. You’re his pack, and you’re his family.” Lee’s eyes widen as he heard the good news of the once who was lost Kin still alive. “My rematch!” Lee exploded into fireworks…No literally...Lee was excited to know that his chance at a rematch with Kin wasn’t out of his grasp. He pranced around with a loud grin on his face as he rubbed his hand together thinking about knocking him back into his regular state of mind. “Well, I see he wasn’t weak enough to die…” Lee looked towards the reader of this post. “Yo Jay I do believe this call’s for a song.” And with that a instruments would be heard picking up in the background (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVok-7tDFF8) this was going to get weird… Lee would spin around in a comic like fashion and would have on a dress. “WRONG DRESS CLOTHS!” He would spin around again this time wearing a black tuxedo with a top hat, a moniker, and a black cane. “That’s better…Ahem…” He would fix his bow tie. “Grinning down through the gates watch the night suffocate All  the light as it smothers the sun I can tell by the moooooon! You'll be joining me soon As a guest in my fortress of fun!” He danced around the room in a rather ballerina type form making it out into the main part of the hellicarrier. From this point he would point to two of the female Lion’s Corp workers and they would instantly almost as if it was magic have on show girl clothing. “And I can't wait to see you!!! And once again free yoouuuu! Released from your humorless air!...Someday I will replace that big frown on your face with a smile and a murderous glaarrrreeeeeeee” The three pranced around turning the hellicarrier into a showcase with a stage coming out of nowhere where Lee was accompanied by more Lion Corp show girls dancing across the stage like this was Vegas. “We are two of a kind Violent, unsound of mind!! You're the yin to my yang, can't you seeee? And if I were to leave you would grumble and grieve. Face it, Tasanagi You'd be lost without me! You'd be lost (You'd be lost) You'd be lost (You'd be lost) Face it, Tasanagi You'd be lost without meeee!!” With then the show would go on through the kitchen and with Lee still accompanied with his mini army of Lion Corp Show Girls. “I'm just trying to show you. Just how well I know you. I understand just how you feel. Threw your reason away 'Cause you had one bad day. And your mind let go of the wheeeeel!” As he sung images of him and Kin’s first fight would pass through the night’s sky as the hellicarrier flew through the sky. By this time some of the guards of the Lion Corp was trying to stop Lee but the show MUST GO ON!!! “Still we're fated to battle You pout and I prattle Don't you ever tire of this game? But you'll not make it end Cause I'm your only frieeennnd! We are opposites but we're the saaammmmmmmmeeee!” He continued the show on outside on the deck of the hellicarrier carried by his mini army of show girls, well they were holding him up as he was standing on their palms...the showgirls kinda strong… BUT “We are two of a kind Violent, unsound of mind. You’re the yin to my yang, can't you see? And if I were to leave You would grumble and grieve. Face it; Tasanagi You’d be lost without me! You'd be lost (You'd be lost) You'd be lost (You'd be lost) Face it, Tasanagi You'd be lost without me!” The show would stop at the tip of the hellicarrier again another stage would drop as if out of nowhere Lee sung his heart out to the large crowd of Lion’s Corp workers and guards all listening to his song from their dinner tables each set for two. It seemed like everyone had their own opposites at the table. “We have so many wonderful stories! I have studied the mind of this wolf A hero with no praise or glory Just his golden claws and his pack and his... Gray!!!” The record would skip as the crowd was quiet. “Wait no she’s dead AAHHHAHAHAHOOOOHOHOHHAHAH!” He music picked back up and he broke out into a tap dancing solo as the spot lights glowed on him and the crowd watched. “We are two of a kind Violent, unsound of mind. You're the yin to my yang, can't you see? And if I were to leave you would grumble and grieve. Face it, Tasanagi. You'd be lost without me! You'd be lost (You'd be lost) You'd be lost (You'd be lost). Face it, Tasanagi You'd be lost without meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” As he finished a series of fireworks would go off and in the faint distance a visual image of Lee and Kin trading blows would be seen in the clouds while the camera would zoom out and all could be heard was Lee’s manically laugh.

" W-What..." Inu would have said before turning his attention back to his length and then back over at her. " Interesting. " He said standing from the chair before he'd make his way over, towering over her completely. His right hand latching into her hair he'd jerk her up and onto her feet so she'd be standing with him as he lashed his tongue across the right right side of her face. His eyes lowering and that demented scowl on his face seemed to glow as his eyes shifted into a bright and hellish red." Then I suppose... I will in fact have to teach you then. " He said as he proceeded to kiss her, going tongue first untill...

" MASTER! " Said one of The Infinite shinobi as he rushed into the room, bowing down his right knee. " We have visitors sir. From the Black Viper Unit. They've come here in hopes of speaking with you for an audience sir. The Leader wont take no for an answer she insist that you speak with her right now sir! " Inu scowled at his subordinate before he looked back over to Lotus, allowing his tongue to slash at her bottom lip before he pushed her back onto the bed. He grabbed one of the blades off the walls twisting it into his grip before he pulled his pants back on, tossing his cape over his shoulder as well."... Very well... I'll speak with her immediately. "

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XZVeAEcqEI ) " Yes S-! " Before the subodinate could finish he would have been choking him without even touching him now, using the his own shadow as he litterally crushed the Ninjas throat and snapped it, killing him instantly. " What have i told you all... about Knocking... " He said then sending a push blast intot he ninja so his body exploded in a burst of blood and then proceeding to absorbing his soul. This making it so this one shinboi would not be recreated through the soul Catcher. " I will be back with you soon enough. Please... get some rest we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. "

Meanwhile...

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMGsapR0FJY )After a bit of time Luke ( Okami )Would have dressed himself up approreitly with some of Hiro's old gear patting himself down and looking at himself in the mirror.

( https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3b/ef/9e/3bef9e5fe6e879267dc72419cf2a6266.jpg )

" Fits Nicely Hiro. Thank you. " " Your welcome Okami. How's Luke doing? He giving you trouble with his body? " " No, this one is a physical titan just what I need. But spiritaully he is as weak as infant. This body is mine until i chose to do so with other wise. " Hiro nodded again, by now the others would have been brought into the briefing room where David would have been leading the group into the room. Agent Gold had been terrified by Lee's musical performance and due to this he was a tad shaken up. His eyes staring at the back of his head not speaking up much as long as the pyshcotic 4th wall breaking wolf blood was around. " Your all here. Excellent. " Okami said as he fixed his top a bit and placed both hands behind his back. " As you all know. Kin has been taken by The Order. He's already made one assassination out on the Mayor of LA. In order to stop all of this. Were going to need to find Kin, and defeat him. The way this thing that injected in him works. It has to Kill you, to bring you under its control. The only way im assuming to remove it would be to rekill him, so that it will disperse from his body. We will need to track him." Okami said pacing back and forth throughout the room until Hiro would chime in behind him. " Indeed. We've marked the potential places The Order will hit Next. Were looking at Azulon, and 2nd soul. Any of the kingdoms of Skyland they wont touch. It doesnt have purpose no one in those places hold politcal standing. We dont know where he's going to hit but thats what we have you guys for. " Hiro said only for Okami to walk infront this time to speak. " Each of you know's kin's scent. You all have enhanced sensory to some certain extent. With you all's noses we will be able to track him and Artemis down. We have to catch him before he kills someone else however. "

Hiro would have hit a button as a monitor showed images of Kin/Nik in Tibet just a few hours ago. " He's already killed the pope. And even attacked some of the russian government. 600 dead, 20 of them governmental officals of some sort. What we've linked to the attacks and assassinations is that the order are taking out specific people not just anyone but those that hold some kind of political standing that branch off to some form of organization that was created 13 years ago that disbanded, something similar to groups like, the Nebula Core, The Infamous and mysterious agency known as Primis and even the Illuminati themselves. These officials have answers, they have information that we need. We need to catch them before he kills them. So, your mission. Find Kin, Find Artemis, and Stop Kin from making his assassinations, and stop him from hurting anyone else. Got it? But we can’t be everywhere at once. That's fine however. Tahira and Kaith? You’re going to second Soul with David Anderson as your commanding officer on this mission. Lee and Naomi? You’re going with Miguel Foxe as your commanding officer. " Hiro said crossing his arms. " And I will be here helping from the base. My job will not come until later. But I will be guiding you all on this task, are we clear? " Okami said with that booming vocie as he stood side by side with Hiro. "If we don’t have any questions you may disperse. Get some rest, tomorrow is a long day, we have a lot of ground to cover with not alot of time. " Hiro said turning his back ont he group.

Meanwhile...

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UVEAVHJ3pM )Syl had successfully dispatched the bomb and the sound of an intercom going off all around the city could be heard by the twisted voice on the other end. “Clever, clever girl. You saved all of those children, how's it make you feel... being in the spot light Syl. " The voice said all around the city. This would have even caught some attention to the officials and Heroes Inc. due to the explosion. "Your next task girl, will be a fun one! Down the street from you... is your friend Haukea. Check apartment number 667. In the Olster Hotel suite. You can’t miss it... Come on little spider go up the water spout..." She said before bursting out into ghoulish laughter. Haukea would have been a bloody mess with a scar across her stomach. Something however... underneath the scared tissue that had been stitched together rather roughly... had been a ticking noise. A light one... but a ticking noise. “OH OH OH OH! But before you go..." The Voice said as the same building she had just pointed out and instructed Syl to go to. Had burst into flames! " BETTER GO QUICK! Your friend might now survive if you dilly dally HAHAHAHAHAHAH Come onnnnnn Move little spider... MOVE! " 15 others had been in the building all screaming and shouting as there ID pad rooms had been locked and they were all stuck within the rooms getting ready to face the same fate as Syl's friend. " PLEASE SOMEONE HELP! PEOPLE ARE TRAPPED IN THERE!" Said the Hotel owner as he rushed out of his car pointing at the burning building. " SOMEONE PLEASE!’

Jacob would’ve sat in his room, letting his long blonde hair hang carelessly over his neck, as he closed his eyes. He couldn’t sleep. The supplement he took was going to force him to be awake and alert. As awake and alert as one could get without the need for sleep. His ribs…were hurting. It was mostly a phantom pain at this point, but micro fractured ribs are at least better than bruised ribs. One made them tougher, and the other mad them brittle. Jacob bandaged himself up, the wraps stopping just below his pecks. He’d had the lower half of his suit on, some wear and tear damage still on there form his bout with Nightwolf. Jacob opened his cerulean blue hues and looked to the upper half of his battle suit, slipping it on and over his upper half, and the gloves, along with their ballistic add on function. He’d stand up, and do a couple of stretches before placing his hands on his hips and strapping his utility belt around his waist. “I’d better grab some more…”lethal” supplies. I’m not fond of killing…but that Nighthawk. I’d have to put him down. There wouldn’t be any other way.” Jacob nodded, contempt with this thought, as he made his way back down the long corridor and decided to head back to the armory to see how the shield was coming along. As he walked back inside, he could see it…floating in the tube, as it was back together in one piece.

“You really did it didn’t you Wong.” Wong would’ve turned around rubbing the back of his neck. “I mean I told you I was gonna do it. It was a bit of a chore, but alas nothing I couldn’t tackle. It’s about time for the draining process…would you like to do the honors and pull this lever?” Jacob nodded and walked over to the lever pulling it. As he did the holding liquid would’ve begun to drain out of it. He watched it as it did, and watched the glass tube lower out of the slots, and as it did, the shield would’ve fallen forward and Jacob would’ve caught it in his hands. “wow…it feels. Virtually the same as it did before…” Jacob would’ve traced his hand over the shield to see the cracks were gone. Literally as if they disappeared and had never been there to begin with. What was different was the white glow that flashed off of the shield for a moment. Jacob squinted his eyes at this thinking he was seeing things, but he wasn’t sure. He’d attribute it to himself and hold it with both hands high in the air. “Now Jacob I have to tell you I ammmmm not to sure what the properties of the stone are just yet. We might have to run some test or something you know? See what this thing can or can’t do, so you don’t go in blind.” “Well there’s no better way to test it than the field. I’m going to go talk to Mangler and see if he’s gotten word of anything new for me. Any more targets or something like that…then I need to see if Jade took my advice or not.” Jacob stuck the shield to the magnet to his back and nodded. “Feels good to be whole again. I’ll keep my communicator on lock in case you need to contact me.” Jacob would’ve exited the room, and began walking towards the room he thought he’d recalled Manlger being.

Meanwhile Jade would’ve been working on the phones, trying to see if she could switch the game up. “yes…I know this idea is crazy but it needs to be done. We can’t do it all over the world, but we can do it in this city. I want teams of 5 moving towards every single target I’ve sent you on the enemies hit list. You’re to gather these targets up for the night and group them together in one place and one place only. On these teams I want 3 meta’s and 2 peak humans. The meta’s are for the possible heavy hitting threats, and the peak humans for the small stuff. The mission is to keep these individuals grouped together and lessen the hunt for the enemy. It’s a trap. They’ll know it is, but in one of these groups we’ll have somebody they need…I want this done immediately before the night is over with.” Lotus heard the surprised in Inu’s voice no doubt the shock of having learned that she enjoyed the company of woman sexually verses the few males she had as lovers or rather tormented for her own deviant little pleasures warranting the words, “Interesting.” To flow from his lips. Lo taking to cue his golden eyes looking from his flaccid length still lying untouched by the woman in front of him to her before motioning his body upright from the bed once again in order for his right hand to latch on the thigh length ponytail that was held high on top of head. A move that would normally would’ve made a normal woman stand to her feet when forcibly pulled but Lotus of course was far from normal as the jerk to her feet Inu attempted to pull only seemed to heighten her sexual intoxication as her body was being made to stand at full attention. Her lovely features reflecting only the euphoria not the pain that she was in as she experienced this. Not only that but when he went run his long wet tongue over the right side of her face, she would have used her teeth to nip at it. Her oni half getting the better of her as moves her head in closer toward his own as her lips pressed erotically and wildly against his with, “Cum fuck me now.” Type of kisses. Lotus permitting herself to taste the copper like flavor of his blood if indeed a puncture wound had been made that was deep enough to do so as she proceeded to suck on, flick at, and even taunt him further into lust. Her own body despite the grasp he might have on her hair gravitating towards his, the soft full warmth of her feminine curves underneath the blue and black leather bodysuit she was wearing pressed so closely to his own naked body without any restraint  most likely causing the soft flesh that was resting against his thigh to stirred, and becoming firm and ridged as the hand that rested still on his abdominal would finally lower itself to heavy sack below it caress the two nodes inside with her palm and delicate finger tips. Her amber hues showing a soft hint of red as she pulls away from the kiss, but not before she issues Inu one last challenge by using tip of her tongue playfully flick it at his bottom lip. The look in her eyes showing him that she rather enjoyed making him HER bitch once she’d made leveled enough by his grasp of her hair to see the red of his own iris’ and that would be demented scowl of his. "Then I suppose... I will in fact have to teach you then.” Lotus would hear him say her own lips smirking letting him know that she was gamed. “Then by all means do it.” She’d say before allowing Inu to move in and kiss her once again, his tongue entering her mouth first as she moves her out again to mate wildly against his own, her left arm motioning upwards then around his shoulder just in time to have someone burst into the room and ruin the play by play action….

MASTER!" Said one of The Infinite shinobi as he rushed into the room, bowing down his right knee. "We have visitors sir. From the Black Viper Unit. They've come here in hopes of speaking with you for an audience sir. The Leader won’t take no for an answer she insist that you speak with her right now sir!" Lotus would pull away from their kiss more annoyed that the young shinobi just barged the fuck into their room without knocking verses the news that he baring “Don’t tell me people have forgotten to knock around here too?!” She groaned the name of the group that had been spoken of being an unfamiliar one to her. “A thousand pardons my Lady, I heard of your engagement to the Master but I was unaware that you both were one another’s company.” Lotus would hear Inu scowl as the only words she could muster upon hearing the footman’s excuse was, “Idoit.” His gaze shifting towards her as his tongue lashed at her bottom lip before being pushed back onto the bed. The realization that there would be endless nights just like this as she looks up from the covers just in time to see her fiancé grab on the blades from the wall, twisting it in his grip before moving to redress himself again and informing the guard that he would speak with female visitor immediately once he was fully clothed again. But not before killing the man for his rather abrupt and rude intrusion of their personal affairs, Inu taking care to absorb his soul so that he couldn’t be reborn by the Soul Catcher shard in very pool she and so many others like her had been downstairs. "I will be back with you soon enough. Please... get some rest we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." He’d instructed her. Lotus managing to get her bearings once more in order for her sit up in the bed before moving towards the edge again in order to stand. His concern for her wellbeing almost sounding genuine to her ears as she says, "I will be here. Oh and can you please have one of the maids fetch a few garments and some person items from my room? I'd like take a bath before I do." Lotus taking in consideration that she was still training attire. If he were to answer yes or something close to that affect she would've kissed him softly on the lips thanking him before turning on her heels with back toward in order to undress. If still in the room as she do Inu would be given a full preview of what he'd seen in the club two years ago now finely aged to perfection The soft round shape of her breasts that bounced softly against her chest were now high C or mid D cup by observation their mocha kissed tips erect commanding a month's attention while her waist and hips were more in depth in curves and thicker in their shape and figure. Much like a woman's would be after giving birth to her very first baby. While the mold and fit of her ass was just begging for a man toss a quarter at it, so he could see it bounce right off it as Lotus moves her to unbound her long wavy raven colored hair from ties last. Allowing it once to cascade over her back covering her completely from any more prying before walking towards the bathroom leaving her fiancé to whatever matters that needed to be attended to. -C-

Tahira would've quirked a brow at Okami's borrowed body. The young Wolfblood still trying to comprehend just what in the world was going on as the father of them all conversed for a moment with Hiro allowing the others time enough to rejoin them before finally getting down to the nitty gritty. The elder of course taking the floor in order to reiterate the situation in regards to Kin and what they needed to do to get this Z-pathogen out of his system. From there Hiro would interject just what the Order's plan of action was for world domination explaining they were after two world nations. But the commander nor his team knew which in fact would be their first targets. All they did know was they each location had a potential key figure that so how had the power shape the world by their influence and mostly likely their deaths to boot. Causing Tahira to immediately face palm herself muttering, "So we're going in blind. Huh?" The images of Kin mass murdering spree of political and religious figures alike making Tah grimace as she couldn't believe that this was indeed the same person as Okami and Hiro both continued to conversation each giving their stakes, stand points, and orders to the group. Tahira for the most part was to with Kaith another to Second Soul while Naomi and Lee with one more ti another location. While Okami would with Hiro on the hellicarrier until such time he was needed. The rest was chalked up to various form of questions something that Tahira wasn't really all into at the moment as she turned with those who were preparing to go. -E-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nve2ttY9zpw ) Syl heard the loud speakers throughout the city and shook her head. "I can't..." she whispered to herself. She wasn't going to go. She couldn't take this pressure, pressure of all these lives depending on her. Until she felt weight on her back, one of the children, was hugging her. She looked at him as he smiled at her missing his two front teeth. "You can do it plant lady." she said to her with a heavy lisp. Syl couldn't help but smile as she pushed herself up and shook these negative thoughts out her head. No, these people needed her. Now was not the time to give up, she pat the kid on the head before she took off, flying up and out of the hole she flew through the orphanage, and out the door. Flying up into the air, it wasn't hard to spot the burning hotel. Flying towards it she landed smack in front of it, the glass door already shattered due to the heat. Her body was screaming at her not to go in, but she had to. Syl's plants and spiders counted 15 other people in the building as she sighed, this was going to be difficult, never had she created more than a few clones at a time...can she do 15 at once? And keep track of them all? Syl stood in front of the building as her body seemed to morph into a tree like substance, and 16 other Syl's grew from various parts of her. Altering her body and the clones to mimic that of a Xerophyte. The physical and behavioral adaptations of desert plants are as numerous and innovative as those of desert animals. Xerophytes, plants that have altered their physical structure to survive extreme heat and lack of water, are the largest group of such plants living in the deserts of the American Southwest. First starting as tiny bumps but blooming into full human shapes that pulled themselves out of the original Syl who like the clones soon returned to normal. The 15 clone Syl's would each sprout wings of leaves and use them to fly up and begin extracting people out of the windows, by kicking them in, and fastening them to the fake Syl's by wrapping vines around their waists. As the clones came down they'd wait around with the people making sure that everyone was safe. But the clones were not without harm, many of them were badly burned, as even their resistance to heat wasn't nearly high enough to stop a straight out inferno.

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0MEIzRlM8s ) While the clones were helping people out of the rooms the real Syl steeled herself as she flew up, and found Haukea. Her plants inside the building had long since burned away and Syl was relying heavily on the remaining live spiders too keep track of Haukea. Locating the room on the near top floor Syl would stop right outside the window, and coat her right arm in a layer of thick bark, punching in the window, Syl flew in through the window. She stumbled a bit as she ran to Haukea, taking a look at her friend is such a state Syl covered her mouth with her hands as her eyes welled up with tears. The clones outside, all stopped and looked up at the window as the all flew up on their leave wings. The clones in various states of injury made their way to return to the real Syl, who was trying to figure out how to extract the bomb that was currently inside her friend. The clones remerged into a single clone to stood near Syl and nodded, just as the last one. Syl took a deep breath and the tips of her fingers sharpened into small thorn like appendages. She carefully cut at the stitches until the wound opened. Syl's hand turned back into its normal shape and she reached into the wound, withdrawing the bomb from within Haukea's body. The clone stepped forward and took the bomb, and pushed it into her chest where various vines grasped it and pulled it into its body. It nodded and took off out the window leaving the real Syl to rebadged Haukea's body using leaves. Growing vines from her back Syl would grasp Haukea's body and take off out the window, above them the bomb exploded high over the city, killing the clone. Syl landed on the ground and fell to her knees, her vines still clinging to Haukea as the blue haired female remained unconscious. Syl would push herself up and signal for someone to come help Haukea as the hotel burned behind them. "I-I got everyone.." she panted, small burns littered her body and some of her hair was singed...but' she'd live. Syl rubbed her eyes as she looked up into the sky, "Who are you...?" she whispered softly.

Kaith would have been standing there half way listening to the male in front of him speak which Okami had now taken over apparently they were supposed to go save kin, everything had to do with Kin lately Kin killed the pope Kin killed this guy or that many people , in Kaith mind that really didn't matter so what he he's going around killing things or people humans do it all the time though it was funny to him how humans placed more value on one person's life over the other, Okami had said that Kin killed six hundred people twenty of which were government officials, what about the other five hundred and eighty of them, what were they just people , were they soldiers, pedestrians, its funny how people seemed to do that with no actual thought to it, if someone died on the street no one would even care but if the president died in the same matter how many people would flip over it , Kaith understood that some peoples death would affect society differently or more than others but still who decides which life is more precious or important, maybe Kaith was just weird for thinking like he does but that’s how he views things. Okami continued to speak saying that Kin was targeting specific people who had political power and that it had something to do with some people who called themselves nebula core and some other ones like prim - something and illuminati, apparently they had answers to things so they were supposed to find them before he killed them, so Okami paired them off into teams of two with someone who was supposed to be a commanding officer or whatever Kaith got paired with Tahira and the first thing that popped in his head was her dragging him around, which was nice cause that meant he didn't actually have to walk she could just drag him along like before but he knew deep down that wasn't gonna happen, then Okami said they we free to go so Kaith simply turned around and walked off to go find some place to sleep-