[hr][h1][i][color=dodgerblue]Lihua[/color], & [color=red]Meifeng[/color] [color=red]Vu[/color][color=dodgerblue]hong[/color].[/i][/h1] [hider=Soul Callibur III Ost - Healing Winds][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIvyEZ5oWTY[/youtube][/hider][hr] They moved as a group, Lihua doing her best to carry Anna despite her own (self inflicted) wounds, and exhaustion creeping up on her. Meifeng was doing all she could to hoist Anna under [i]her[/i] shoulder. Jennifer was doing her best to keep up, but her body hadn't quite repaired itself yet (Close, but not quite). She was a few steps behind the rest of them, but was doing her best to keep up the pace. Lihua was leading them (to the best of her ability) to the exit, though, it was a little hard to remember because of the maze-like labyrinth that this place was. She was ready for anything. The halls of this place started seeming a little more familiar, and that's what Lihua used to push them towards the exit. A mass of footsteps heading towards them, and Lihua came to a stop, part of her wanted to grab her shotgun. It was a squad of NEST Agents, armed with assault rifles, hauling many Scientists by the arm. One soldier noticed her, then gestured for the rest of the squad to notice. "Agent Vuhong?" He asked. Letting out a sigh of relief, Lihua said, "Yes..." Lihua lead the group over to the NEST Agents. "Come this way." The NEST Agents surrounded them, and took Anna off their shoulders, and also grabbed Meifeng and Jen. Leaving Lihua to walk on her on her own (Which is fine). She followed the group until they were pulled out of the sewers, and back to the surface. Which they were immediately assaulted by streetlights, and rain. The area around the manhole was covered of NEST vehicles (trucks, cars, and so on), ambulances, and VPD cars. Droves of NEST Agents, were questioning kids and arrested scientists. Anyone who was injured was being placed into ambulances, and quickly hauled off. Lihua let out a low groan as she hunched over, clenching the fleshy wound done to her arm. "Agent Vuhong," A female NEST Agent in armor addressed her, as she walked up and asked, "Do you need to get on one of those ambulances?" For a moment, Lihua put her hand on her head and looked over her shoulder at the agent. Almost like she was considering it. Before she swattered it down by saying, "No, I am fine." "Alright, then." The NEST Agent said - but Lihua by her tone that she was skeptical of her claim. That wasn't what Lihua was concerned with, she was interested in knowing what is going down in the base. Before the Agent could stumble off, Lihua asked her, "Agent, what is going on inside the base?" "Well... we're extracting the kids, and everyone they experimented on, along with detaining any and all of the scientists in there," The Agent began, she shook her head, before she began talking about personal thoughts, "This is... something else... we manage to bag a few mad scientists every now and then, but nothing [i]this[/i] big." "I know... I have a [i]strong[/i] feeling this might be the beginning of something big... have you heard of the Hands of Science?" Lihua asked. "No." "Well, that's what these people are calling themselves... and I have the feeling that there's [i]much[/i] more where they came from." "Shit, we're going have to look into this." Lihua nodded her head. "It'll be my priority.... however, I should tell you that I captured a group of scientists... trapped them in a concrete. You might need me to get at them, before they starve or resort to cannibalism. Also, I have to report four Metahumans that I have done battle with, and killed. Three off them are Ghoulish looking things, and another was a large monster behind a trench coat. They should be brought into the morgue immediately for examination." The Agent nodded her head in return. "I'll grab another Agent and we'll escort you down. Let's go." Right before Lihua had the chance to walk down, Meifeng moaned from behind her, sitting on the back of a ambulance, "[i]Mom...[/i]" Her cheek had bandages over it, but the Paramedic was still treating her other injuries. Cleaning off her wounds, and applying bandages. [i]I can stick my tongue through my cheek.[/i] Meifeng thought to herself as she realized that all she could taste was her own blood right now. Lihua gestured at the NEST Agent, and she went off to go find the third member of their party. That left her to go talk to Meifeng. She walked up, and asked her (In Chinese), "[i]What is it, Meifeng?[/i]" "[i]You're going to go now? I...[/i]" Meifeng trailed off in Chinese, looking away for a moment. "[i]I'm afraid I have work to do... there are plenty of other children down there that need helping.[/i]" Meifeng let out a low growl, and hung her head off to the side. "[i]That's how it's going to be? You help me, then leave me to go do your job? Typical, it's obvious that you care more about your job up until I'm in trouble and "mother-mode" turns on and you start giving a shit.[/i]" She hissed at her. "[i]I...[/i]" Lihua trailed off, "[i]... Meifeng you know it's not like that.[/i]" "[i]It[/i] always [i]has been...[/i]" Meifeng let out another groan of irritation. "[i]You do your job, then leave me all alone...[/i]" She grasped her arm, letting out a hiss of pain. This is a bigger problem that has been swirling around them. Lihua was just standing over her, with her suit becoming more and more soaked with rain, washing away the blood and dust that had stained it before. Lihua let out a sigh, and walked over to Meifeng. Sitting down on the back of the ambulance next to her. Both were silent as she tried to find the right words to say. "[i]Is this the problem, Meifeng?[/i]" Lihua said in Chinese, "[i]You feel I don't care about you?[/i]" "[i]Feel?[/i]" Meifeng snorted, "[i]I[/i] know." Lihua let out a sigh. "[i]I do admit that there have been faults in my relationship with you... many faults. But, I[/i] am [i]trying. And I [/i] am [i]doing my best.[/i]" "[i]Okay, if you're doing your best, then why are you so quick to walk off when I'm here choking on my own blood, after I was[/i] thoroughly [i]convinced my best friend was killed -[/i] which I [i]watched[/i], by the way - [i]and kidnapped.[/i]" "[i]Because...[/i]" Lihua trailed off for a moment, cutting herself off from her previous line of though. "[i]"Because I wanted to bring the men and women who hurt you, and your friends, to justice... but, now I see the fault in that logic. I now acknowledge that I need to help you, too."[/i]" "[i]Mhmm...[/i]" Meifeng groaned again, when the paramedic. "[i]Aren't you real sentimental all the sudden?[/i]" She rolled her eyes. "[i]We can talk about it.[/i]" Lihua said, ignoring what Meifeng just said. "[i]I'll be here, by your side.[/i]" Meifeng let out a sigh. "[i]I don't even know what to talk about... they... didn't even do anything to me, but they did so much to my friends, and...[/i]" "[i]And how does that make you feel?[/i]" Lihua asked. "[i]Angry. I wanted to make them pay for that, thinking they could do whatever the fuck they want. I don't know how to put it. I feel like I could have helped them if I was faster, stronger....[/i]" "[i]I understand your anger... I am quite angry myself for what they did to the people I saw down here. I, in turn, felt a similar rage that almost compelled me to cut down each and every one of them. I restrained myself.[/i]" Lihua said, nodding her head. She put her hand on her shoulder, and gave her a smile. "[i]But that is what I, and your friends, love about you. You have a fierce and passionate love for the people around you that drives you... you are an incredibly compassionate person.[/i]" [i]An empathy... a humanity... I feel I long lost contact with. Even with you and Lijuan... I feel so disconnected, feel so[/i] less. Lihua thought herself right after she said. "[i]And you fought valiantly so they could get out safely. Opposed to taking the coward's route, and fleeing... I am... quite [color=dodgerblue]proud[/color] of you.[/i]" Meifeng didn't even know what to say. Maybe, that was what she needed to hear. Assurance. For once. Instead of getting talked down for doing the reckless thing. Meifeng looked up at her, and said, in English, "[color=red][i]Thank you.[/i][/color] Thank you so much for what you've done." "I promise I'll try to repair the gap between us." Lihua also said in English. Their moment came to an end once the NEST Agent Lihua was talking to before walked up with another NEST Agent. Both of the Vuhongs looked up at her, as she said, "Hey, we found the place you were talking about, but unless you want to whip out the power tools, we're going to need your hand." Lihua and Meifeng exchanged glances, before Lihua nodded at her. "... Take me there." She said, as she stood up and went after them. "Hey, mom, can I borrow your phone? They took mine." Meifeng asked before Lihua before she walked off. Not even saying a word, Lihua reached into the pocket of her suit, and handed Meifeng her phone. They looked at each for a moment, before Lihua turned away and followed the two NEST Agents. Letting out a sigh, Meifeng wondered if she could even remember [i]his[/i] number. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. She typed in his cellphone number into her phone, and hit call. She put the phone to ear, and waited as the ringing became more and more worrisome. "Heeeeeeey! Who's this?" A boy loudly said on the other end of the phone, wondering who the hell was even calling him. "Hey, [i]Trevor[/i], it's Meifeng..." Meifeng trailed off the second he answered. "Did you get a new phone?" Trevor asked. "No, no..." Meifeng groaned, "But, I really need you do me a favor. Can you come over here?" "Yeah, sure, anything for you." The boy said. "I dunno if the buses are out at this hour, but I'm sure the big sis will lend me a hand." "I'll text you the number now." "Are you okay? You don't sound all that fine..." "Just... come over here. I don't want to talk about it right now." "Okaaaaaaaaaay.... On my way. Bye!" Trevor loudly said, and hung up the phone. Meifeng looked at her mother's iPhone for a few seconds, the text that said call ended. Before letting her hand droop, and letting out a sigh. As the rain fell in front of her. [hr][h1][i]Heartbreaker.[/i][/h1][hr] "Awwww, crap." Heartbreaker muttered under her breath as she slammed her back against the wall - with an armored briefcase in hand. She peaked around the corner, and saw a team of NEST Agents climbing down the ladder, then running into the base with their weapons drawn. That means that the job just fell through. This could also bode badly for the Hands of Science... but not the Changeling Unit. Well, yeah, it could too, since the two groups work very closely together at times. Eh. Best that she didn't think too much about it for now. Heartbreaker grabbed her hat, and tilted it over her eyes as she started running down the opposite end of the hallway before anyone notices her. She kept running, and when the tunnel dropped to into another area, she lept down. She wondered what happened to Berlioz, and what made NEST bring down the hammer on them. She couldn't deny how great it was that all this shit went down while she [i]wasn't[/i] there. And she made it out with a shitload of cash. Time to hit up her hideout in the Ghost town. [hr][h1][i]The Nemesis.[/i][/h1][hr] The Nemesis was down, but not out. Lihua and the others should have confirmed the kill, before running off. The Nemesis was heavily damaged, bleeding profusely. It pushed itself up to it's feet, and grasped it's other arm. If it could, it would be screeching in pain. It's longcoat was torn up to reveal thick gashes in it's flesh, and it's cracked bones. It's eyes were centered on the hole it was launched through. It slowly walked back over to where the battle took place, and walked over to it's helmet. It reached down, and picked it up. The second it put it's helmet back on, it's eyes started glowing that bright red color. It looked around, it's eyes scanning the area. It seems the base has been compromised. It does not know where it's master is, but it knows exactly where to go in such an event. It turned around back towards the hole it was launched through, and walked right through it. It went through the halls of the base until it ran into another door. It could hear NEST Agents closing in behind it, so it simply opened the door with a key, and closed it behind it. Disappearing before the NEST Agents even knew it was there. Inside the tunnels, it started going north up into the Ghost Town. [hr] [hr][h1]Act III - Closing The Curtains.[/h1][hr] [hr] [b][u]The next morning... 8:23 am[/u][/b] "[i]Breaking news![/i]" Molly Schuler stood in front of the NEST Headquarters with a microphone up in her face. She was wearing a light purple pinstriped suit, with a black tie, and black high heels. She was facing the camera. She cleared her throat, before saying, [i]"It seems that the combined efforts of NEST, the VPD, and the National Guard have put such intense pressure on the Fiends that they became desperate. They launched a surprise attack on the NEST Headquarters that left an insurmountable amount of NEST Agents, or dead. What is most interesting that the Fiends used a secret entrance to blindside everyone. NEST is launching a massive internal investigation to get to the bottom of this. However, during the attack, Khan, and Burnmark, identified as Saaya Ino, and Amy Carlton, have been eliminated by the Agents of NEST. Travis, and Sulfur have also been detained by NEST Agents. Which means that every major member of the Fiends except for Plague have been removed from the picture. Along with a great chunk of the Fiends that were involved in the attack have also been detained by NEST, and are currently being questioned as we speak."[/i] After that block of exposition, Molly moved onto the next subject, [i]"However, NEST Agents have uncovered a Metahuman kidnapping and experimentation ring that has apparently been going on for some time. More than fifty people, many of which were children, have been kidnapped from all over Verthaven in the span of a few weeks. However, this ring was discovered by NEST after one of the kidnapped apparently broke free and called for help. Further investigation has revealed that they were kidnapping regular children, and have been giving them powers through means NEST refuses to comment on."[/i] She looked off, before facing the camera. [i]"Our hearts go out to the families of the fallen NEST Agents, and the people that have been kidnapped. This is Molly Schuler with the morning news."[/i] [hr][h1][i][color=dodgerblue]Lihua Vuhong.[/color][/i][/h1][hr] [i]I could be opening the floodgates here. Who knows who's on the side of the director... and just[/i] who [i]they may retaliate against.[/i] Lihua sat there. Her chair and computer were fortunately untouched by the Fiends (Well, they used it to look up sex toys, and mail order brides). They didn't waste no time in committing adultery on the carpet. There was still a massive stain in the carpet, and the smell... Oh God, the smell. She was going to take time off until they clean up the room (Maybe spend it with Meifeng like she promised). But, that wasn't the issue. The real issue was that Lihua was sitting here in the chair, staring at the computer, with a official report with all the evidence against her open and ready to be sent straight to High-Command for them to sort it out. These Hands of Science... they might be a lot bigger and nefarious than they believe. Lihua was more than capable of handling herself. She was worried that Meifeng or Lijuan would be on the receiving end of their wrath, opposed to someone capable of handling such a thing. The mouse pointer was hovering over the send button, which would take one muscle movement to get the Director arrested for conspiracy, along with a large amount of other charges. She wondered what was stronger here, her (faint) morality, her worry for her family, or her desire to receive a reward for what happened. However... it might be best if Lihua just tells high command and gets it over with. If the Director finds out that Lihua knows something, it might not bode well for any of them (Possibly worse than the retaliation from whoever the Director is working with). She let out a sigh, before she pressed send, and quickly signed off the computer the second she received the confirmation that it had sent. She leaned back in her computer chair, and spun around somewhat in the chair. She wondered if she had done the right thing. She kept assuring herself that the Director just couldn't get anyway with helping such animals, [i]and[/i] orchestrating the attack on the Festival (which caused tons of damage). "[i]Let's just hope that the reward is greater than the price....[/i]" Lihua moaned as she got up from out of the chair. She walked through the halls of the Headquarters. The [i]ruined[/i] halls. They were still cleaning up the mess. Lihua had to step over and walk around blood stains, rubble, bullet holes, and love stains (And she did so without even paying it any mind). There were various NEST Agents (I.E Janitors cleaning up the mess). She walked through the halls, and peaked into the meeting room. Where the Director was sitting, with other NEST Agents. Probably giving a job well done on the job forged with the blood with the innocent. She... couldn't even look at the woman. She had earned so much ire from Lihua that it was getting harder to resist just walking up and slapping her. Which is why Lihua would not be joining her. She merely shook her head, sighed, before walking down the hallway. She turned to the left, and looked down through one of the windows. [i]The mighty is so willing to just sacrifice the rights and needs of the weak.[/i] Lihua thought to herself as she watched the city simply move forward. So impartial to what just happened. She guessed that's just the way the city worked. A group of footsteps rushed past her faster than she could react. She only got a glimpse of heavily armored NEST Agents as they pushed into the meeting room. Lihua turned around towards them, and took quick steps. She peaked into the room. As all she heard was the loud command of, "Director Miranda Caryl, by the order of NEST High Command, [i]you are under arrest![/i]" The men said, pointing guns at the Director. "Wait, what?!" The Director said, as she raised her hands into the air. An Agent ran up behind her, and quickly grabbed both of her arms, and then wrapped them behind her. Before applying cuffs, and hauling her out of the room. The former director peered at Lihua... who only feigned a face of surprise which matched the other Agents. Now, it's not going to be long before news of what happened reaches the rest of the branch... she was personally curious to see what the other Agents have to think about this. "Agent Vuhong," A tall man in a suit said to her. "NEST High Command received your evidence, and immediately decided to take action against Director Caryl." "I see." Lihua had to resist the urge to roll her eyes because she could tell. "But, that isn't what I wanted to talk to you about," Lihua nodded her head as she wanted to hear the big news. "We wanted to discuss more about this Hands of Science group." Lihua nodded her head. "Our Agents have been interrogating the captured Scientists, and we are finding some disturbing news. This organization is much larger and dangerous than we thought. They branch many cities and states and have a considerable amount of resources overall... we're still interrogating them. We're going to bring the telepaths in... we might have to reach out to other branches, because we're down a few." "Which means we just have to stop them." Lihua said. "There's no way we can let an organization like this exploit the general populace. Just let me get to work, I'll do what I can." Lihua turned around and began walking down the hallway. ".... We have to keep quiet about the Director's involvement." The man just blurted out. For a moment, Lihua was surprised, but then she realized it. "... Because, if it gets out to the general populace that NEST had a hand in one of the worst terrorist attacks of all time... well, it goes without saying that it doesn't make the organization as a whole look good." "We're going to tell everyone that the Director was busted for embezzlement and conspiracy." "Sounds good, now let me get to work. I'll get everything I can on these people... I'll see if I can string in more of them by thoroughly going through each and every detained scientist's records, and see if it leads anywhere." "Sir! We got a problem!" A young NEST Agent frantically slid into view, and shouted, "There's been a heavy leak. Someone submitted everything we knew about the The Hands of Science, and the Director, and they know about a third group called the Changeling Unit." "What?!" Lihua said, before she squeezed in by him, "Get me to a computer!" They quickly ran through the offices, and Lihua immediately planted her butt firmly on the seat as she began typing away. Whoever this leaker was, he was determined to make sure that the world knows about the Hands of Science. He leaked it to Facebook, Twitter, Wikileaks, and every major and minor news site there is. Local news channels were now playing the video which Lihua found in the base last night. Lihua immediately went to work trying to find out the source of the leak so she could find out who the hell this person is. It also mentioned a group known as the Changeling Unit. A little further digging through the files revealed that they're a baby kidnapping ring that has been operating since the beginning of time, kidnapping tons of Metahuman infants. "... [i]Changeling Unit?[/i] You have got to be kidding me." This made her worried, worried about Lijuan. Right when Lihua was using the tracking hardware, the leak was apparently coming from Singapore. Then it bounced to Australia, and a few moments later, it appeared in China. Which meant that she had a snowball's chance in hell in finding an accurate location. "... [i]Oh, God[/i]..." Lihua moaned, putting her hands over her face. She realized that, now that the world knows about the Hands of Science, NEST's job was about to get a [i]lot[/i] harder. [hr][h1][i]Megan Jervious.[/i][/h1][hr] "Hello there my little technopath." Megan said on her phone, leaning up against a wall someone in Central Valley. "Megan. What do you what?" A weak sounding, nasally teen, spoke from the other end. "Has plan A fallen through? Otherwise. No reason for calling. Unless you want Plan[i] B[/i]." Megan shrugged her shoulders up, smiling awkwardly. "I know it's short notice, love, and I [i]know[/i] you'd rather stay in that Academy and make trinkets... but a friend in NEST is telling me that they're going to stingy about the Hands of Science, and I kinda stumbled a bit..." Megan trailed off, "... I forgot to fake my death like I planned." "Unfortunate. But. Expected. Told you. Plan's odds of failure. Equal to success. Could have gone with my plan. Yes. My plan." "C'mon, Rush," Megan said. "Gimme a break here, I knew it would be a waste of time... but I thought I could do something [i]slightly[/i] subtle, you know? Not do something that's blatantly "we leaked it!"." Megan rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms. "Understood. Shall I commence?" Rush said. "It could possibly get you in harm's way... I don't know...." Megan moaned. "Megan. Are you forgetting? World's greatest technopath. NEST bends to my fingertips." The voice on the other end boasted. "So. Will begin immediately." "Wait-" Megan couldn't get out the words before she realized that it was futile. She quickly checked her phone, and realized that Rush was doing his work. The internet was being manipulated to his will, gladly sharing all the evidence on the Hands of Science, and the Changeling Unit. Tumblr, Youtube, Google, and every social media and news website out there, was now proudly displaying the information on the front page. Along with plenty of people receiving it personally in emails, and TV stations playing the videos. It wasn't long until people took notice, and spread the news... and created a storm. Megan let out a sigh. "... You know this means they'll be after us. They aren't dumb, they'll know that the one person behind all this is me." "Aware." "... Which essentially means I have to cut ties with you, Rush, and go dark. It's for your safety... I'm sorry it had to come to this, this was [i]supposed[/i] to be a last resort." "In the end. It was just that. Very well. Megan. Destroy the Hands of Science. People are counting. On you." Rush said before he hung up the phone, and destroyed it (with his penis). Megan dropped the phone onto the ground, and kicked it into a sewer grate. She let out a sigh. [i]It's time to become someone new.[/i] Megan said, as she walked into the nearest alleyway, then came out a different person. A small freckled man with curly brown hair, and a hoodie. She stepped into a crowd and disappeared. This was only the start.