[hr][hr][i][h1][color=red]Meifeng Zhao[/color], [color=dodgerblue]Lihua Zhao[/color], & [color=darkslateblue]Reed Taylor[/color].[/h1][/i][hr]
[i][u]RAVEN/DOVE West Coast Joint Headquarters.[/u][/i]


After the collective fiascos at the debate [i]and[/i] the ballroom party, it was time for Meifeng and the others to try to pick up the pieces.

Meifeng was in the lobby of Headquarters, with her arms crossed, leaning up against the front desk with her arms crossed. She was pissed that the Hound not only got away, but the F-F's other bastards tore up the debate. She was waiting for the others to show up, so they can officially discuss what the hell just happened. Her eyes turned towards Lihua, who was filling out something so damn fast that she thought the pencil was going to catch fire. While talking on the phone at the same time. She was in a pretty deep conversation, so Meifeng knew not to interrupt her.

Glancing elsewhere, she instead caught the sight of Reed practically bursting from one of the offices, clearly agitated about something. It wasn't often that the DOVE Investigator looked so furious over something as he did at that moment 

Meifeng raised an eyebrow at Reed. "Yo, Reed, what's up?" She had to ask.

"You haven't been briefed?" He asked, making little effort to hide the frustration in his voice.

"Well, I probably need to brief you on my fabulous time at my little cousin's birthday," Meifeng sarcastically said as she rolled her eyes. "In short, the Family sent in the Hound and kidnapped Jiao-Long and his wife." She shrugged.

"Shit..." Reed trailed off for a moment, neurotically rubbing at his brow as he heard news. "They're not the only ones those bastards took." He looked her straight in the eye for a moment, before finally spitting it out. "They took Cindy."

"Yeah, I... What?" The shock didn't register on Meifeng for a moment there, then it all hit her at once. "The fuck?! You mean those bastards have Cindy?! What happened?!"

"Whilst you got hit, another one of those bastards who had the same power as Shizu came after the people at the debates. Cindy and Alice tried to stop him but..." Reed hesitated at the next part. "Another assassin turned up. The same one that hit you whilst you were in Singapore. They killed Carter and tried to kill Faith Avalos too, but I pulled [i]her[/i] back to the first-response team." 

Honestly... Meifeng couldn't give a fuck about those stupid debaters, [i]they have Cindy.[/i] They could be doing anything to her best friend.

"I'm sorry." Reed blurted out. "I should've been faster, I... I could've backed her up. [i]Fuck.[/i]" He should've been there. It should've been [i]him[/i] they took, not her.

"I..." Meifeng said, clenching her fists. First her uncle, now her best friend? She just couldn't believe all this shit. That just strengthened her resolve. "Know what? Fuck this pity-party bullshit - I don't care who's ass I have to put my foot up, I'm getting Cindy back, I'm getting my uncle back, and I'm getting anyone else they have back."

That, at least, broke Reed from the weight of the guilt, for the time being. "I'm with you there, Mei. Quentin would be too, if he wasn't in a god-damned hospital bed."

"Yeah..." Meifeng said. "I got a lead on one of the big boys, too. The same guy that works with that Ezekiel bastard that went on a rampage a week ago. I'm going to be looking into him in a second."

At that point, Lihua had returned to the front desk, and put a clipboard onto the desk, saying.

"... I am finished."

Making Meifeng's eyes go wide.

[hr]

"... Of course, Ms. Zhao, you have my full endorsement."

Maximilian Cornell himself spoke to Lihua over the phone, and Lihua herself had to sigh in relief when she heard those words.

"Thank you, Mr. Cornell, it means a lot from me. Goodbye."

Lihua honestly spoke, before hanging up the phone. Because, she was filling out something that she'd never thought she'd be writing ever again in her life. But, to fulfill her promise to the Liu sisters to recover their father - the brother that she loathed until just yesterday - she's going have to break a promise to [i]herself[/i] to fulfill another. Because, she just doesn't see herself making any meaningful progress in saving Jiao-Long [i]unless[/i] she joins the very organization that she renounced seven years ago.

[i]RAVEN.[/i]

It's true, for the time being, Lihua Zhao has decided to join RAVEN in hopes that she can defeat the Founding Family, and the Polaris organizations with their resources. With Biyu here... and Lihua directly opposing the Hound, it's becoming obvious that Lihua was going to be pulled back into the mix. One way or another. It was regretful since she was so intent on swearing the organization off a few years ago... But, now that Lihua's involved, she has no choice but to join if she was going to save Jiao-Long, and return order to this city - for Lijuan, of course. All Lihua wants is a quiet, peaceful, life.

Is that so much to ask?

With Maximilian Cornell's recommendation, [i]and[/i] her already impressive track record, getting back into RAVEN should be fairly easy. Only problem was her physical... she gazed down at her stomach, and realized that she has certainly put on the pounds lately. She'll have to work it off. She didn't know if she would get her previous position back - being a brand new organization and all - but, all she needed to be was a RAVEN. She finally filled out the sheet, and sighed as she put the pen under the clip. She walked over to the front desk, which was being manned by Marianela, and put it on the table.

"I am finished." She said, as Marianela grabbed the clipboard.

[hr]

"Wait..." Meifeng said, looking over towards the clipboard before looking up at Lihua.

"You're...?"

"Yes." Lihua said with a nod. "If I am going to properly assist you in recovering Jiao-Long... I'm going to need RAVEN's resources."

"Whoooa now." Meifeng said with a smile. "Are we going to be a mother-daughter duo?" She laughed a little.

"I believe so... for now." Lihua nodded her head.

"I'd like to let you know you have my full recommendation!" Meifeng said. 

"Thank you, but I already contacted Maximilian..."

Reed had quietly looked on as the Zhao Matriarch announced her return to RAVEN. That was a good sign, at least. "I think everyone will be glad to have you back," he finally said, "Might even get a smile from that brother of mine."

Lihua had to put on a fake-smile as she said, "... And it's good to be back." To be honest, she was only joining RAVEN again so she can resume having a quiet life. So she can live up until her old years, and annoy Meifeng's grandchildren. 

"Alright, where's Alice by the-"

Right at that precise moment, the TV began disrupting. It emitted a loud and ear-grating hum, while static overcame the TV. Until the static faded, and showed a dark room, with three silhouettes...


[hr][hr][i][h1]...[/h1][/i][hr][hider=Kanye West/Jay-Z - No Church in the Wild (Instrumental)][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PVQU0UaZGc[/youtube][/hider][hr]
[i][u]Televisions all over Baybridge...[/u][/i]


All over Baybridge, televisions and computer screens were intruded upon by the Family's finest hackers.

They all displayed the image of a very dark room, barely illuminated, and showing three silhouettes that belonged to the Blessed Three. Few would realize this, because they are obscured in shadow, but those familiar would recognize Blake, the defacto leader of the Blessed Three in the center, sitting in a chair with his leg crossed over the other, Ezekiel standing to his right, and Julia standing to his left. Shrouded in darkness, their eyes glowed an eerie white color. Everyone looked in confusion as to who, or what, they were, and why they were appearing on everything connected to the internet.

"Hello, denizens of Baybridge." Blake said, his voice was booming, and carried authority like a leader.  "We have commandeered your devices to make an announcement - not just to Baybridge! But, to the world!"

Blake smiled from behind the shadows, few could make out his pearly whites.

"We are the Founding Family, an organization of science that has been operating in this very city and beyond for [i]decades[/i] now. You have most likely been hearing rumors about us, but we are here to confirm that the rumors are indeed true, there [i]is[/i] an organization ruling things from the shadows. Don't worry, we [i]are[/i] benevolent... until the foolish tests our patience. You have heard [i]wonders[/i] about our loyal subordinate, the Black Hound?"

The camera turned towards the Black Hound, who was standing tall and proud against the wall, eyes flashing red. The camera recentered on the Blessed Three.

"Personally, I'm not fond of violence - but, it's the only language you understand. Haha! But, more about the Family itself, because you all are most likely confused," Blake loudly cleared his throat, "Every human being alive is crafted through genes. Who their ancestors mixed with. Contrary to popular belief, not [i]everyone[/i] is born equal. Many are born better than others - all because of genetics. The Family believes this genetic excellence leads to great things. Better scientists, better athletes... and just better people in general to save you the redundancies. But, don't mistake us for being a bunch of Hitler master-race wannabes... the fallacy in his system was that he focused far too much on superficial looks, and didn't look deep enough. An African-American man is as likely to have perfect genes as his so-called 'Master-race.'" He finger-quoted.

"Now that you know the Family, now it's time to learn what we want from you," Blake said, "Not everyone can be perfect like us - if they were, then we wouldn't be all that perfect, would we? So, we service those with imperfect genes. For years now, we have been subtly leaking our medical and technological advancements to the world - some of which you may be enjoying as we speak! We have a grand goal that will improve the lives of [i]everyone![/i] But, only if you cooperate with us. That's it. All we want is the world's cooperation..."

Blake trailed off, laughing slightly.

"...But, yet your so-called champions, RAVEN and DOVE, insist on doing the opposite for whatever reason - I don't know why. You should all know that being lead by the blind does no one good. So, we once again have to do the [i]opposite[/i] of what the Family is made for, and will have to intimidate you into compliance."

His tone became much more sinister.

"What we want is Dr. Cross, Ignatius, and the Mannequin - just those three - and for RAVEN to, uh, let us work in peace. But, like I said, you're forcing our hand here... and I'd hate to see this city [i]bleed[/i]."

Blake narrowed his eyes.

"So, we're giving RAVEN five days to release the trio before everyone suffers on their behalf - and believe me, we have many ways to make [i]very[/i] bad things happen. If you want to try us, then go ahead, I'll tell you that it won't end well for you, your family, your friends, and all of your descendants." Blake threatened with a smile, he got up off the chair, and walked over to the side with his hands behind his back. "And, to RAVEN, I'd like to let you know that we have one of your champions of truth and justice."

A light flickered on behind Blake, and in the middle of the spot-light was Cindy Keagan. Strapped to a chair, and wearing nothing but a T-shirt and underwear - having been stripped of it by the Secretaries earlier. She had the power-suppressant collar wrapped tightly around her neck, and it was clear that she was beaten up a little bit going off the blood dripping out of her mouth, and the large bruises on her face. She was panting heavily as she looked into the camera.

"...Look, whateva' they want, don't give it to them!" Cindy loudly shouted.

"So valiant even though she is at our mercy," Blake said before he swung out full force with his elbow and clocked Cindy square in the jaw. "I think that concludes our announcement... Oh, yeah, almost forgot... How [i]could I[/i] forgot? You have five days, RAVEN."

Blake raised his fingers as if he was about to snap.

"...Just so you know we are being serious."

Then Blake snapped his fingers, and the transmission cut off.

Once Blake snapped his fingers, the power went out in several major parts of Baybridge. White Coast, Hedgemount, and Roseview were all completely without power. Several parts of Prince Edfield, and Silver Hills were also depowered. All due to their hackers tapping into the power grid, and royally fucking it up. It would take [i]months[/i] for even the best electrician to repair the damage.

But, by then, the Family would have won.


[hr][hr][i][h1][color=red]Meifeng Zhao[/color], [color=dodgerblue]Lihua Zhao[/color], [color=darkslateblue]Reed Taylor[/color], & Alice Barrett.[/h1][/i][hr]
[i][u]RAVEN/DOVE West Coast Joint Headquarters.[/u][/i]


It didn't take long for the power outage to reach Headquarters - the lights shut off, before the backup generators kicked in and turned them back on a moment later.

What Meifeng [i]wanted[/i] to know was why they were getting so bold all of the sudden. They were this shadow-y organization, and now they want the world knowing who they are? Pissing them off enough to kick their shit in? Sounds stupid to Meifeng. But, what were they rambling on about [i]improving[/i] their lives? Far as Meifeng could tell, they were making it [i]worse[/i] by siccing their dog on them. Now Meifeng knows who holds his chain.

On the other hand, Lihua put her hand on her chin, and contemplated what was going on. Instead of taking it at face-value, Lihua thought about all the reasons they could really be declaring themselves to the world, and announcing their plans. Trying to hold the city ransom, basically. They could be trying to lure everyone into a false sense of security. Try to get RAVEN cocky... while spreading fear. They could be trying to make everyone think this was a foolish, rash, decision, and make everyone jump the gun. Lihua peered over towards Meifeng - essentially the [i]master[/i] of jumping the gun. They're going have to take things slow, and carefully consider their next course of action. Unfortunately, they are running out of time with this machine they're building.

"Bastards..." Reed muttered beneath his breath, barely breaking the silence of the moment. That confirmed that they had Cindy as a hostage. She was alive, but... it didn't take a genius to figure that they wanted to use her as a bargaining chip, one way or the other. And the district-wide power outages, Reed had no clue how long that was going to last - BPD were going to be stretched to their limits trying to maintain order and keep people from panicking and descending into chaos. Throw all those little tensions into the mix and Baybridge was a pressure cooker ready to explode if tipped over the edge.

Alice had been avoiding Meifeng, when Reed had offered to break the bad news she'd jumped at the chance. He might blame himself for Cindy's kidnap, but Alice... Alice knew it was her fault. That couldn't work forever, and indeed, it seemed that it wouldn't even work for more than a few hours. She glanced at the tall asian woman, then looked away guiltily, flexing her fingers uncomfortably. Tempting as it was to simply jump out of here, she knew she couldn't especially not after what had just happened. She'd seen Cindy on the screen, felt the guilt, felt the anger that came with it. The Founding Family was trying to intimidate RAVEN, it was obvious, and though Alice would never forgive herself if Cindy was murdered, she would be damned if she was going to let the Founding Family get what they wanted.

"So how are we going after them?"

"I... don't know," Meifeng said, as she was honestly dumbfounded. "I honestly don't know how we're going to do this."

"We have to find their base of operations," Lihua answered Meifeng.

With a sigh, Reed opted to play the role of the devil's advocate, "I want Cindy back as much as anyone, but... can't forget, we're also going to need people on the streets, get them working with BPD before anyone gets the bright idea to start rioting."

"I hate to say, but I have to agree with Mr. Taylor." Lihua said, raising a finger up into the air. "The Family clearly wants to start an uproar... and, at this point, Cindy is, sadly, secondary to the lives of Baybridge at large." She bluntly said. "I'll see about finding the Family's base... with my experience in dealing with Intelligence, it should be [i]trivial[/i] for me to find it." She said.

Meifeng hated hearing "her friend was [i]secondary"[/i], the same person she's known for years and trusts above all else. She was about to give Lihua lip, but caught herself.

"Fine..." Meifeng said.

"They want us to act rashly," Lihua said. "They want us to make mistakes to capitalize on... and since they just upped the stakes higher than ever before... we cannot afford to take that chance." Lihua said.

"That doesn't mean we forget about Cindy." Reed said, with a slightly sharper tone, "But we can't afford to throw in [i]everything[/i] on this one."

Alice nodded, albeit hesitantly, "but if I get the chance, I'm going after her."

"And I'll be with you." Reed affirmed her. "I'm just pointing out that we're gonna be working with limited resources."

"Yeah, yeah, we're a team." Meifeng said, putting her hand out, gesturing for the others to play. "Let's do a hand-stack... We're a team, after all."

Lihua put her hand above Meifeng, playing along without a word.

"Now I wish we had Shizuka here - and that other broad - what was her name again?" Meifeng said, referring to Maxine, and earning a brief eyeroll from Lihua.

Alice glanced guiltily at Meifeng, then added her hand to the stack, grateful that Lihua had followed on first, but not wanting to draw attention by ignoring the offer.

Reed paused for a moment, then quietly added his hand to the stack with a faint smirk.

Surrounded by the only friends that she has in this impossible situation Meifeng was inspired. Inspired by their courage. Inspired to make a great speech! Because without Cindy here, they pretty much had no leader. That means one thing, and one thing only... Meifeng.

"Remember, no matter what happens - we are RAVEN," Meifeng said, looking between the group. "Nothing's going to change that. When push comes to shove, we gotta be ready to face it. Because [i]nobody's[/i] infallible. We're on our own, but armed to the teeth with only our wits and good looks. Against an organization of Hitler wannabes and their little puppy pack. [i]Are you ready?![/i]" She smiled.

"I am ready, Meifeng," Lihua said. "Remember what I said, whatever decision you make, [i]I am behind you.[/i]" She stared.

"Good." Meifeng and the others raised her hands triumphantly, before she looked out the window, and said. "Because we got a lot of work to do."



[hr][hr][i][h1][color=springgreen]Cindy Keagan[/color], Julia O'Sullivan, & Ezekiel Anangos.[/h1][/i][hr]
[i][u]Somewhere in Prince-Edfield....[/u][/i]


After the Family's little broadcast, Cindy was brought to a dark room. Still beaten and covered in bruises, she couldn't do anything but look around.

The room was dark. That was the first thing she gathered. Other than the light above her that gave her a vague idea of what was going on. The floor was a black and white tile, and the room was [i]much[/i] bigger than she thought. That was probably the point of their loony-ass strategy. They were trying to unnerve her. Make her afraid of what was hiding. Well, if they take off this collar and rope, she'll show them something to [i]really[/i] be afraid of. If only she saw this coming, she could have made a glass blade to cut herself out of this, but the F-F moves and works in very unexpected ways.

It was only a matter of time until Cindy heard the loud sound of a door opening, and a large group of people walking into the room... Okay, now she was starting to get afraid.

Stepping into the light was a red haired woman, with a very tall, blond-haired man at her side. Around them was an assortment of men and women - most notably, one of them was hauling a friggin chair around. They put the chair down right across from Cindy, and the red haired woman was quick to sit down while the tall man stayed right before the edge of the shadows. Cindy stared directly at Julia with a raised eyebrow.

"... And you are?" Cindy asked, before Julia began laughing.

"Julia of the Blessed Three," Julia answered with a sly smile on her face. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Well, whatever it is you want from me," Cindy started off, before she narrowed her eyes venomously. "Ya' ain't gonna get it."

Julia laughed again from the opposite end of Cindy as she got up, and stepped behind Cindy. The bound girl could only feel an ever oppressive sense of danger from the woman.... but, all she did was put her hand on her shoulder, and smile when she looks up.

"Look, I personally had you taken so I could..." Julia intimately leaned into Cindy, putting her hands on her shoulders. "[i]Convince[/i] you to become a member of our Family."

"Like hell I'll join you." Cindy hissed, thrashing to release Julia from her grip, but the woman held her down.

"Well, you're about to see [i]how[/i] convincing I can get," Julia said, as the door opened one last time.

... A pair of red lights shined in the darkness, warning Cindy that Julia had called her dog of all people. His heavy footsteps pierced through the darkness, and overwhelmed even her hearing. That made Cindy recoil in fear, as she braced for the inevitable torture.



[hr][hr][i][h1][color=forestgreen]Veronica Davis[/color], & The Black Hound.[/h1][/i][hr]
[i][u]Somewhere in Prince-Edfield....[/u][/i]


So, the Family weren't planning world domination? Surprising.

Normally, Veronica would be more than content with getting a power boost, she was bent to ruin everything they knew and loved, she had to stop their machine from being completed. The only problem was that she has to expedite her plans now. If Blake's "one week" estimation was correct, then her time was fairly limited. The best she could do was sneak in, destroy their machine, then leave with her sisters, but she didn't know how that'd bode well with their personal dog. She'd have to come up with a plan that put her on top - or at least get her sisters far away from the Family as possible. But, that's just idealism at this point.

Speaking of her sisters, Veronica was being escorted through their headquarters by the Black Hound. It was time for her scheduled meeting with her sisters, it was a way of keeping Veronica motivated, of course. Long as there was nothing wrong with her sisters, she would be perfectly content with serving the Family to ensure that it stayed that way. Veronica peered at the Hound who was walking alongside her, and merely shook her head at the near-robotic brute of a human being.

Eventually, Veronica was lead to the upper levels of the skyscraper the Founding Family used as a headquarters, and they arrived at a pair of doors. Stopping at them, the Hound pushed them open with one hand, and Veronica was immediately greeted with the sight of a bright and sunny room that overlooked the city. It was the very room that the Hound and the Foundation Woman played chess in just a week ago. A large room with couches, bar, and various pool tables. On the couch, sat both of Veronica's younger sisters that she fought so hard to protect. First was Quinn Rory, Veronica's short and chubby fifteen year old sister. She had similar facial features to Veronica - except much more rounded given her extra weight - but they had the same exact hair texture, and eye color. Her eyes were behind a pair of horn-framed glasses, and she wasn't dressed spectacularly - given that she was essentially enslaved - wearing a black T-shirt, and some jeans. Sophia Rory, on the other hand, looked much closer to Veronica. Being thin and lithe, and having green eyes, and black hair. She was wearing a light-green dress, and some sneakers.

"Veronica!" Sophia said upon seeing her older sister, almost about ready to hop out of the chair and run towards her, but stopped when she saw the Hound. Her eyes going wide in terror as the Hound stood off to the side. Watching from aside.

Veronica approached them, and said, "Sophia, Quinn, I'm so glad that the two of you are okay... Did any of them hurt you?"

"They haven't laid a finger on me," Quinn answered, shaking her head. She probably got it the easiest since they would occasionally come by and make her upgrade their soldiers.

"No." Sophia said, shaking her head, she put her hands together as she awkwardly shuffled her feet, and then looked down. "...They've been pretty nice to me."

Veronica put a hand on her shoulder. "What have they been making you do?"

Sophia wrapped her arms around herself. "...Stripping people of their free will." Tears started running down her face. "I... hate it so much. I just want to stop."

"There, there," Veronica said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault... They're forcing you to do this." She wiped little sisters tears. "...And I promise you, this is going to be over soon enough."

She looked directly into Sophia's eyes, as the young girl put her hand on Veronica's. But, the palm of her hand glowed with a faint blue light that made Veronica raise her eyebrow. [i]What is this girl doing?! With the Hound right over my shoulder...[/i] Veronica thought to herself as she was suddenly infused with information that was transferred by touch. She was beginning to be comprehend what Sophia was sending her.

[i]Mechanized Memories.[/i]

She was starting to comprehend what it was, and it was basically memory alteration that turns anyone implanted with it to turn into a slave to whoever mutters the phrase "Mechanized Memories." And Veronica knew everything about it in an instant. Sophia released Veronica, and gave her a determined look, before she nodded her head. Not a word escaped Veronica's lips as the woman finally legitimately smiled.

"Yeah, it will be over." Sophia said.

"...Alright, time's up." The Hound said, and earned a sharp look from Veronica as she sighed, before standing straight up, and saying to the sisters.

"Goodbye." Veronica said. "Until we meet again."

She walked over towards the door, and the Hound spoke to her.

"It disgusts me that your sisters were subjugated to this on behalf of the Family." The Black Hound said.

Veronica stopped for a moment, and looked at the Hound, out of sheer disgust. "...Pity, from you?" Veronica said, laced with venom. "I'm sorry, but the Family's most loyal dog, the same dog responsible for so many bodies, showing me pity means jackshit." She said to him. "Because you're just as bad as the Blessed Three - even worse because they string you along like a god damn puppet - so you can take your sympathy and jam it up your ass."

That was all Veronica had to say to the Hound, before she stormed out of there.

"Hmph," The Hound said, before he turned to the sisters, asking a very simple question.

"...Did you give her the code?"

Sophia nodded her head.

"Good, because the Blessed Three need you..."

[hr][i][u]Lower-South Royer Town, Prince-Edfield.[/u][/i]

With the commands at Veronica's fingertips, she could possibly turn the Secretaries against the Blessed Three. Maybe even poison some. She'd have plenty of time to plan. It was time for yet another bath. Just to melt the stress of a hard day away. She had the water full of oils, and she slid inside and her naked body was hidden by soap. She closed her eyes, and threw her head back. Ready to lie here until her skin pruned. This was how Veronica came up with a plan, of course. First thing she considered was how she was able to get close enough to a secretary to put in a code of her own, without getting noticed by the Blessed Three. Yeah, that was going to be harder than anticipated now. She just needs to gather more information before she starts to get bold.

The phone resting peacefully resting on the sink shook slightly.

That meant Veronica got a text. She wondered from who. It could be Maxine she met the last night... or the Blessed Three asking her to kill someone. Either way, she might as well stop now, and answer it before someone lost their shit. She got out of the bath, and let some of the water fall onto the bathroom mats that she had placed all over the bathroom before she wiped her hands off on a towel, and grabbed her phone. Veronica looked at it, and saw a text from Jennifer:

[quote][code]Hey, Hailey, can we meet at The Lobster Sands in Oakdell? There's a secluded part of the beach I want to show you.[/code][/quote]

How cute. The lonely broad think they're [i]friends,[/i] but on behalf of the Family, she had to keep this facade going long as she could. Sighing in irritation, Veronica might as well get this done with, and then get a move on to something more important. She rolled her eyes up into her head, before she began moving through the halls of her apartment, and then walked over to her dresser. She put on a white pair of underwear, before she slid on a bra, and a T-shirt. Before she put on a red sweater, and some blue jeans. This should be inconspicuous enough to hide the knife holsters on her arms... and an extra one attached to her thigh.

Once again, Veronica Davis was off... towards these weirdly named Lobster Sands.

God, who comes up with this stuff?


[hr][hr][i][h1][color=forestgreen]Veronica Davis[/color], & [color=aqua]Jennifer Caspin[/color].[/h1][/i][hr]
[b][u]Oakdell Harbor, White Coast.[/u][/b]


Veronica arrived in the Lobster Sands... the beach was closed, but it was easy to get in if you're a telekinetic Metahuman.

All Veronica did was surround herself with her telekinetic aura, and floated over the fence, and slowly walked inside. Good thing that she had brought her sandals. There was no one here, and the waves have consumed almost all of the beach. It was only her, and the moonlight reflecting off the lake. It was almost like she was meeting for a secret date... if only Jennifer swung that way, of course. Veronica walked over towards the towering rocks, and floated upwards on top of the tallest one. Well, Jenny did say that she wanted to meet by the rocks... she observed the rocks from here - until she saw a faint, electronic, light. The light illuminated a figure that was sitting down. Upon closer look, it had to be a gaming handheld of some sort. Heh, nerd.

Once again relying on her telekinesis, Veronica drifted down to a nearby rock, and made it look like she merely walked up. The regenerator turned off her Gameboy, or DS, or whatever the hell it's called as she hopped to her feet. Veronica had to put on the nice-girl facade, or else Jenny here might get a little suspicious...

"Oh, hello there, Jenny!" Veronica said as she clapped her hands together and walked up. "You said you wanted to meet me, right? You sure know how to pick the place. It sure is... romantic. Haha!" She said as she leaned in close to Jennifer.

Right now, Jennifer wasn't having any of Veronica's bullshit. She practically shoved the taller. She came here for one reason, and one reason alone: the answers.

"You know, Hailey," Jennifer said to "Hailey," her blue eyes piercing through the woman. "You know, lately, I've been having these strange headaches - and what's even [i]stranger[/i] is the visions that come with them... And, I've been forgetting things."

[i]Shit...[/i] Veronica thought to herself. This was one of the "side-effects" of Mechanized Memories when things start to contradict itself. Headaches, and whatnot. Eventually, she'd see through the alterations... she hoped that Jennifer didn't have backup with her, waiting to ambush Veroniva from behind. She had to play this cool. "Yeah, that is strange. Have you visited a doctor?"

"No, but I asked a close friend of mine, and she suggested that someone's been toying with my memories," At that point, Jennifer's gaze turned much more hostile with her eyebrows furrowed, and a bonespear beginning to punch through her hand. "...And you want to know [i]when[/i] all of this started?" She dropped the hard question. At the same time Jennifer lunged at Veronica, and her bonespear punched through her knuckles. In a burst of energy, Jennifer grabbed onto Veronica's collar, and yanked her.

"...Listen here you big-tittied [i]bitch[/i], tell me.what you did to me, and I won't put this through your eye." Jennifer demanded.

[i]Damn it. She's figuring it all out.[/i] Veronica thought to herself, but she had to play it cool. Keep character. "J-Jennifer! Think about this! If your memories are being tampered with, what [i]if[/i] they came right after - or even [i]before[/i] - you met me and just don't remember it!?" That was quick thinking on Veronica's part.

Hell, she even had Jennifer considering it for a moment. She let out a sigh, realizing that she let her anger get the best of her, and she potentially ruined a perfectly good relationship. Releasing her grip of Hailey was the first step. "...I'm sorry," Jennifer said. "I was brash... I'm so sorry...."

"Yeah, I forgive you..." Veronica's lips curled into a toothy grin. 

"...[i]Mechanized Memories.[/i]"

"Wha-" Jennifer barely even got the chance to ask before she froze up. Standing stiff as a stick, with her head hung. She didn't move even an inch. Veronica leaned in forward, and plucked the blonde-haired girl with her index finger, and surprise, she didn't even flinch.

"...So it [i]does[/i] work." Veronica said, a grin forming on her face. She had suspected that Jennifer was under the effects of Mechanized Memories, but this just confirmed it. Now, the girl was effectively being controlled by her voice... Oh! The possibilities! She had so much to test. "Now, retract that bone, love."

"As you wish..." Jennifer monotonously said, before Jennifer retracted it with ease, and skin quickly wrapped around it again, until it was good as new.

Veronica walked around Jennifer, carefully examining the girl. "Did you come alone, love?" Veronica asked.

Jennifer shook her head up and down, "Yes, I could not find help. Friends are all busy."

"Did you tell anyone?" Veronica asked.

"Yes... I sent a text to Meifeng and the others saying I would confront you."

Well, that makes things difficult. Veronica knows about Meifeng, and she is the [i]last[/i] person she wants to encounter, so she'll make this brief.

"I wonder," Veronica said to herself, before she deviously looked at Jennifer. "Mechanized Memories - [i]Release.[/i]"

Then life returned to Jennifer, as she shook her head as a sudden pain overcame her. Almost like someone smashed a bottle up against her skull. She tightly grasped her head with both hands, then looked around - before she realized something. She looked at her hand, realizing something was missing. "...So it [i]is[/i] true!" Jennifer loudly shouted as she pulled the back of her hoodie up slightly, revealing the freakish prehensile spine that Jennifer had created months ago. She whipped it towards Veronica's face. The tall girl merely put her hand up and created a thin shield, and the spine bounced off it.

"...Mechanized Memories." Veronica repeated, and Jennifer was put under that spell again. She walked up close to the girl, and stared her dead in the eyes. So, basically, anyone under the effects of Mechanized Memories have no memory of it while active. Hm. [i]So, this is how the Blessed Three keep their dollies in line?[/i] Veronica mused. "So, Jennifer, tell me what you're willing to do for your new [i]master?[/i]"

"Anything... I am yours, and yours alone."

She could do [i]so[/i] much to Jennifer (perhaps alleviate a little bit of tension), but perhaps she'd keep the girl's dignity. And besides, she didn't want the Blessed Three catching on. So, she was going to keep this simple...

"Mechanized Memories - [i]Alter.[/i]" Veronica put in the code specific for altering memories. "Okay, you confronted me, and it turns out I have nothing to do with your little memory problem. We both had a chat, and then you went home, played video games all night long, and went to sleep." Veronica said with a smile.

Jennifer's vision distorted as her mind created those events, and she felt pain... but, at the moment, Jenny was essentially a machine, and pain just doesn't register. Nodding her head, Jennifer awaited the next order.

"Now, go home, Jenny, I'll see you again!"

Without a word, the soulless Jennifer walked off, and Veronica could only smile. What a poor misguided fool.

The only choice she'll get in this matter is death.

Afterwards, Veronica went back to her apartment... she still has a nice bath waiting for her.


[hr][hr][i][h1]Five Days Later... 8:32.[/h1][/i][hr]


Five days without power has not been going well for Baybridge. Especially since the reveal of the Founding Family to the world, and their threat have been putting pressure on the city. The Washington State National Guard had been mobilised, and there were talks of even evacuating the city. However, they were all playing into the Family's hands. Tonight was the night where they would put their threats into motion. The city was already tense, given that the kidnapping of Jiao-Long on it's own has fired up Anti-Metahuman tensions.


[hr][hr][i][h1][color=springgreen]Cindy Gabrielle Keagan[/color].[/h1][/i][hr]
[i][u]Somewhere in Prince-Edfield...[/u][/i]


Good lord, this was inhumane as shit. Being beaten for five days straight. It was the same cycle over and over again; get tied to the chair, and get her ass handed to her, then get thrown back into the cell.

Now Cindy knows why Meifeng feels the way she does about the Hands.

Right now, Cindy was in the "thrown in the cell" stage of this vicious cycle. It was a dark cell with a bed, a sink, and a toilet. Some weirdly nice people would come around, and give her some food. For essentially being a prisoner of war, the food was nice, but she couldn't help but feel like it was laced with something. While she didn't want to eat it, she has to break out at some point. Whatever it takes. Because she can't die in here like a dog. Cindy merely lied down on the bed - shit, she hasn't had a change of clothes in days. She was still in this T-shirt, and underwear she was wearing the day of the debate - well, that the Family stripped off of her to demean her like a dog. These clothes were dirtied by her blood, dirt, or her tears.

There were footsteps approaching Cindy could only whimper as she saw the intimidating frame of Ezekiel Anagnos... the man that was recorded going on a rampage at the same time of the hostage situation. God, he was much scarier in person. Probably because he was the main man torturing her.

"Get up," Ezekiel said. "I'm taking time out of my [i]busy[/i] day to do this on behalf of Julia, so let's get this over with..." Ezekiel said with irritation.

The Secretary at his side opened the door, and Cindy groaned as the others came into the room, grabbing onto her shoulders as they carried her along. She didn't have the energy to fight back anymore - Ezekiel was so powerful... it's unlike anyone she has ever encountered before. Fighting him would be useless. She was escorted back to the same dark room that she was familiar with for days now. Cindy was shoved onto the chair, had her hands tied around her back, feet securely tied to the chair. Suddenly, a Secretary threw a bucket of water on her. It splashed against her, and Cindy whipped her head to the side and felt it hit her in the side of the head. 

One thing was certain; she was drenched in water.

"Alright," Ezekiel said as he stared at his watch. "Since I don't care for doing the work that should be reserved for the Intimidation Unit... I'll make this simple."

Electricity bounced off of Ezekiel, as Cindy's eyes went wide. Ezekiel pointed his hand at Cindy and a stream of electricity came off his hands as Cindy convulsed and shook. He was pumping her full of the right amount of electricity - not enough to kill her, but enough to hurt like hell. And she knew it was a simple use of his ability. Cindy loudly screamed and thrashed around violently as she wanted the pain to end. The Secretaries just looked on without flinching. Ezekiel stopped the barrage of electricity, and Cindy took loud pants as she tried to recover from that. Ezekiel walked up, and put his hand on her head, making him stare her in the eye.

"Now, are you ready to play along?" Ezekiel asked.

"Like... like hell I am." Cindy said. "Told ya'.... before, and I'll tell ya' again... I'm [i]never[/i] joining you... So, you can go fuck yourself."

"With that attitude, you're just going to get thrown to the Intimidation Unit as... moral support," Ezekiel crossed his arms and looked at her. "You know, it's hard keeping them in line through fear alone...." He laughed as he let the implications set in.

"Lord Ezekiel," One of the Secretaries said as she stepped into the room. "Blake said that he has something he needs to discuss with you."

"Ugh, I am busy," Ezekiel snarled at her.

"... He said that it is urgent."

"Fine, fine," Ezekiel said as he whipped around. "Come now, Secretaries, we have work to do."

They all followed him out of the room, then Ezekiel stopped and looked at Cindy.

"... Don't get comfortable," Ezekiel hissed. "I'll be back shortly."

That was certainly foreboding.... but, Cindy felt different all of the sudden. Like, stronger. Even though she was still recovering from getting electrocuted. She didn't know if Ezekiel just shocked her too hard, or... well, might as well give it a try. Cindy attempted to channel her power, and created a small layer of glass on her shoulder. That dumb bastard probably fried the collar with his weak-ass torture. Yes! This is exactly what she needs to get the hell out of here. She didn't know how long it'd take for Ezekiel to get back, but this was her shot. Cindy created a long, dense, glass blade that pierced through the ropes around her wrists as it erected, and she was almost ready to laugh out of relief that she [i]finally[/i] got the opening that she needed to escape. She grabbed the glass blade, and stabbed out the rope around her ankles.

She sighed in relief as she hopped up to her feet - her limbs were starting to get cramp - and quickly ran across the tile floor to the door... she heard [i]so[/i] many people going in and out of it, so it has to be here somewhere. She charged into the darkness, and pushed the doors open. She looked to the left, and saw no one there.... then to the right, she saw Ezekiel and his posse.

"How did you-" Ezekiel shouted in surprise. "Secretaries, get her!" He shouted, crossing his arms, and letting his secretaries do the work for him.

A black haired woman that was obvious Ukrainian in origins charged after Cindy, a red aura surrounding her as Cindy felt the piercing heat. The DOVE had no choice, she hauled ass down the other way, and created glass around her arms. When the Secretaries got close, the glass exploded off of her back, and went right into the Secretary. Covering her in wounds, and she hit the ground, as she clenched her face in pain. Ezekiel clenched his fists. 

"Why are all of you suddenly so [i]useless?[/i]"  Ezekiel said as he balled his fist at Cindy, grabbing his wrist with his other hand as he charged up a powerful electric charge. Cindy's eyes went wide as she pulled back the glass and quickly created a circular shield made out of emerald-green glass. A bolt of electricity raged out of Ezekiel's hand, but was halted by glass - which, fortunately, was nonconductive... but, not heat proof as the glass was melted by the overwhelming heat. The shield was launched at Ezekiel, and the man didn't even duck.

"... Lord Ezekiel!" One of the Secretaries shouted as she dove in front of Ezekiel. She took the full blunt of the glass disk. It knocked her back into Ezekiel, but otherwise left her unharmed. He just stepped over her as he followed Cindy at a brisk pace. The Secretaries all dove off after Cindy. 

The DOVE had no idea where she was going, but she was getting the hell out of here. Whatever the hell it took. She ran through another pair of double-doors... and caught sight of a massive room, neatly lined into rows by desks, with laboratory glassware, and equipment. Each manned by scientists wearing white lab coats looking at her confused. Cindy looked around, and saw another door to the right of the room, and started running towards it.

Ezekiel pushed open the doors and grit his teeth... he had to say something to his [i]loyal[/i] employees...

"... [i]Idiots![/i] All of you!" Ezekiel shouted. "[i]Are you going to just let her stroll out of here?![/i]"

He pointed at Cindy... but, the scientists were men of science, not soldiers. But, they have to do what is asked of them. One of the scientists rushed Cindy, but she used her glass manipulation to pull a chemical filled glassware off the desk, and throw the contents into his face. He screamed as he fell backwards, clenching his face tightly as Cindy just dropped the glass on him. For that matter, she threw the contents of the glassware into everyone's faces. The few that predicted it threw their arms up as they recoiled in fear.

Just gave Cindy even more room to keep running. She ran through the doors, and... oddly, enough. Didn't hear anyone pursuing her, but she didn't care. Above her, she saw a sign for the main lobby, and she turned right. The main lobby was in sight, but she didn't see any guards, or anyone there. No alarms. Nothing... something was odd here, but Cindy was too busy. She shattered the windows of the lobby, and hopped through it, scratching her foot as she ran, and ran, and ran....

Ezekiel slowly walked up to the lobby, and grinned as he watched Cindy leave. "... Oh well." He said as he turned around.

Suddenly, a massive headache overcame Cindy. Making her stop in her tracks as she grabbed the side of her head. What the fuck was going on?! Cindy thought to herself... before the headaches faded away, and she raised her head....

[hr][i][u]Courtbridge, Prince-Edfield.[/u][/i]

... When Cindy raised her head, she was in an alleyway. A dark alleyway in... where ever the fuck. She took a few steps forward to help re-orientate herself, and was assaulted with the street lights as Cindy instantly realized she was in Courtbridge. There were restaurants... but, the streets of Courtbridge were desolate, as everyone was in fear of the Hound, and everything he could do. How did she get here again....

Oh yeah.

She hauled ass here before stopping to take a breath. But, where was the Family's base... When she tried to ponder about it, suddenly, she couldn't remember how she got here as she felt a light headache. Okay, didn't matter, she had to get back to headquarters.

... In her underwear, and a T-shirt.

[i]Peeeerfect.[/i]


[hr][i][h1][color=skyblue]Wendy Emily Lucker[/color].[/h1][/i][hr]
[i][u]Academy 61, Roseview.[/u][/i]


Once again, Wendy was forced to take a break... though, the situation in Baybridge was getting worse by the second.

The God damn Family announced themselves to the world... and then knocked the power out.

That went far out as the Academy. Her dorm-room was dark as night, save for the candle that was illuminating the room. The Family must be more cocky than Wendy thought... but, given that they have one of the most important men in the Metahuman world, and easily the most important DOVE. So, they have a lot of reason to be cocky. Most importantly, Wendy knew that the Family was nearing completion of some plan. She didn't know what it was, but she was personally wondering where Diana came into all of this, but she felt like she was going to be finding out soon enough.

Following the Hound's advice, Wendy was upping her training program with Rowan. It was more difficult to pull off since the power was out, and most of the students were advised to stay indoors out of fear that the inevitable riot was brewing in Baybridge. Hopefully, Wendy could stay out of that, and focus on the real matter. Combating the Family. She was starting to realize that the stakes were getting higher here, and getting Diana back may not be easy. In addition, she has considered the possibility that they would retaliate after all of this. She may have to become a soldier in a war that she never wanted to fight. But, once again, Wendy already accepted that fact. But, will she get out alive?

With determination, and the help of equally determined and passionate friends, then she might pull through this.

Her phone buzzed (which Wendy was only running off her own electrokinesis and [i]very[/i] low-powered settings), and with a quick glance, it was her mysterious contact.

[quote][code]Look, I'm going have to take a risk here, but the Hound and a large chunk of the Intimidation Unit are launching an attack elsewhere, that means it'll be perfect for you to infiltrate one of the facilities that could be containing your sister. If not, you could be saving a lot of lives from the Family, but it's a big lab, so the stakes are going to be higher. Are you ready?[/code][/quote]

Of course Wendy was, she was working her ass off trying to save Diana, like hell she was going to stop because the stakes were raised.

[quote][code]Of course I am.[/code][/quote]

[quote][code]Good. Here's the tricky part; it's on Hailey Boulevard in the Hope Science Center... a place you're not going to get into without help. Fortunately, for you, there's a secret entrance the Family uses to get in and out. Touchstone Pizza, you can't miss it. It's less secure, but there's still plenty of cameras. I'll try to keep them, and security, off you.[/code][/quote]

Okay, Wendy made sure to gather all of this information... part of her wondered if the Hound was going to appear again.

[quote][code]The address is 4214 Apricot Street. Good luck.[/code][/quote]

Wendy was going to need [i]more[/i] than luck. She was going to need help... for once, she was going to contact Kiri and Jessica for backup, but first, Rowan:

[quote][code]Rowan, where are you? I'm ready to put the hurting on the Family - are you?[/code][/quote]

It was a simple question, and Wendy wasn't going to even bother messaging Jessica or Kai until Rowan replied.

Soon enough, she got a buzz on her phone in response.

[quote][code]Where are we meeting?[/code][/quote]

It was a question that answered her question, but it did its job.

[quote][code]At the school gates. I'll be there soon.[/code][/quote]

[hr]

Wendy was the first to arrive at the school gates after making sure everything was in order. She brought lots of spare paper (just in case she needed to do a hasty regeneration like before), batteries, and small concrete rocks that she broke off from the building. All of which should be enough to give anyone who stands in her way a hard time. She was working on a few tricks.

Rowan showed up a couple of minutes later, wearing his hoodie and the metal rings that he'd slipped on beneath his sleeves, his bag slung on over his shoulders.. "Where we goin' today?" He asked, with a raised brow.

"To one of their labs in Silver Hills," Wendy said, tightly grabbing onto her satchel. "We're gonna sneak in through a secret entr-"

In the middle of their conversation, a shadow hopped high up over the fence, and landed next to them. Wendy was caught off guard, and had to take a few steps back because it was so damn surprising. She raised an eyebrow, before she shined her cellphone on the shadowy figure... to see it was Jessica Rosefey, holding the chubby Kai Anaru in her arms. Everyone looked at each other confused for a moment.

"Oh, sorry for spookin' ya', heh," Jessica said. "But, when Wendy told us to meet up, I got a little overexcited."

She put Kai down, and the gigantic girl took Jessica's side.

"... Hi." Kai said.

"So, what's the plan?" Jessica said, putting a hand on her hip.

"Well... we're going to sneak into a Family base through a pizza place... and look for Diana, but...." Wendy said, as she reached into her satchel, and pulled out a can of spray paint. "It's time we stop pussyfooting, and show them we mean business."

She displayed the spraypaint among the group.

"They all got an ego the size of the moon, so let's screw with them where it counts." Wendy said, shaking the spray paint, and deviously looking at Rowan. "Let them know how much we feel about their [i]"empire."[/i]"

Of the three of them observing, it was Rowan who couldn't help but flash a wry grin. "So that's why I couldn't find any paint on the art shelves." He gave off a low chuckle, one made him sound more evil than he ever had before.

"Let's find the monument of their ego, and just ruin it," Wendy said. "It's gotta be somewhere... a statue or something."

Nodding her head, Wendy said. "Alright, let's get a move on."

"Yeah, we can take my RV," Jessica said, throwing a thumb over her shoulder. "You're gonna have to get over the fence on your own, though." She chuckled.

Getting over the fence was not a problem for Wendy. As she just casually walked through over to the fence, and turned into paper. She went over the fence, before reforming on the other side as if she teleported. She walked towards the RV, as Jessica grabbed Kiri again, and hopped over the fence. Followed by Rowan. Eventually, the four made it to Jessica's RV, and each took a seat somewhere as Jessica turned on the vehicle, and the lights. Since the Family shut off the power, it was dangerous roaming these streets alone. Especially with the street lights, but once they get to Silver Hills, it's going to be smooth sailing from here.

Wendy was more than ready to go straight into the pits of hell for Diana, and so was Rowan, Jessica, and Kiri... actually, she was glad to have these people by her side. While they weren't the strongest compared to the likes of Ezekiel, and the Hound, they made up for it in determination. They had so much to lose by going straight in, and so much to gain - In the end, they were just a bunch of teens waging their own war against a criminal organization that looked powerful enough to make the governments of the world tremble.

Wendy grinned as she looked out the window.

They were going to see who's trembling in the end. 



[hr][i][h1][color=forestgreen]Veronica Davis[/color], & [color=Crimson]Maxine Diaz[/color][/h1][sub]Written in collaboration with [@FernStone][/sub][/i][hr]
[i][u]Lower-South Royer Town, Prince-Edfield.[/u][/i]


Since the power outage Maxine had barely been in the RAVEN headquarters - her day off had coincided with everything shutting down. She'd been given the duty of street patrolling; something she was fine with doing. In the grand scheme of things she wasn't quite suited to large operations. She was too inexperienced, she'd realised.

And Lower-South Royer Town wasn't a bad place to be in.

[hr]

The activities of the Intimidation Unit has grinded to a complete halt.

Even the smaller missions like intelligence, and subtle assassinations had stopped. All because the Family was gearing up towards the grand offensive against RAVEN. Starting with the attack on their headquarters. Once again, Veronica was left out of that mission for the sake of keeping her cover. Big operations were not Veronica's specialty... but, she knew that she couldn't let the Family have Dr. Cross and their posse back. They'll have the machine done in no time - and that was something that Veronica couldn't have. She was wearing her usual outfit which consisted of a sweater, a leather jacket that's been modified with many false pockets, jeans, and her steel-toe boots. Naturally, she had an array of knives hidden in both her jacket, and in her knife holsters, and her pistol hidden away in.

Because, tonight, Veronica was going to take a risk.

One that would probably not end well. She was going to break the facade and tell "Maxxie-poo" that she's been played like a fool. It was fun, but it's time to put that RAVEN to good use. She was hoping to leak information about the Family's movements to Maxine. Thus giving the only people who stand a chance against a monster like the Family the info they need to destroy them for good. But, if it goes wrong, she'll have no choice but to feed the girl to the sharks. She really hoped that it wouldn't come to that, but to save the world from the Family, she's most likely the only person who can help RAVEN stop them. Which means she's far more important than Max.

Sighing, Veronica pulled out her phone as she sent a text to Maxine.

[quote][code]Maxine, we really need to talk. It's extremely important and we have to talk. Lives are at stake here.[/code][/quote]

[quote][code]Where? I'm in Lower-South Royer Town.[/code][/quote]

[i]How convenient.[/i] Veronica thought to herself, that made traveling easier. They needed a place to talk that wasn't over the phone, or at her apartment (which is seriously bugged).

[quote][code]There's an old abandoned roller rink in Lower-South Royer Town... The High Rollers. I'll meet you there... come soon as you can.[/code][/quote]

With that, Veronica quickly proceeded out the doors of her apartment, and was quick to skip her way to this place. She knew that it wasn't bugged - at worse, it was a hangout for shitty kids - and it was within walking distance, so Veronica wasn't going to waste anymore time. Veronica stepped through the front doors of her apartment, and marched through the terrified streets of Baybridge.

[hr]

Arriving at The High Rollers - and it was a dump. It was a one-floor building made out of tan concrete blocks. Even the parking lot was surrounded by other buildings. She shook her head. The whole place was boarded up, and has a for-sale sign in front of it... even though it'll never get bought. Veronica looked around, and quickly proceeded to the freshly reboarded window. She was surrounded with a green, telekinetic, aura, as she tore the wooden planks from the window, and stepped inside. The inside was no better, good thing Veronica had a flashlight with her. Using her telekinesis to pull the flashlight out, Veronica shined it on the roller rink. It was huge, but run down. The wood was degraded, and it was full of trash and rats (all of which scurried). She leaned up against the railing of the skating floor, and sighed as she waited for Max...

Or an assassin.

Max arrived a bit after Veronica - while it hadn't been a long distance she'd had to break up a fight on the way there. She couldn't entirely abandon her duty even in her rush. The place certainly wasn't nice, but Max had been in worse hangout places as a kid. She was sure there was a reason that the area had been chosen.

She cautiously stepped in through the window, a hand moving down to a gun just in case someone else was there - the light told her there was at least one person. Hopefully who she was looking for but it was still better to be safe. 

She glanced around, and spotted Veronica, relaxing slightly that it wasn't another, probably dangerous, person.

"What did you want to talk about?"

For a brief second, Veronica wondered how this was going to go. She measured the distance between them... an estimate of their true relationship. Max may think they're close, but they couldn't be any further away. Veronica cleared her throat momentarily, as she finally spoke. She had rehearsed how to down the bomb on Max. Manipulating her a little more won't hurt.

"...Look, Maxxie, I need you to promise that you won't get mad at me. You have to really promise, because what I'm going to tell you is going to hurt a little."

Max raised an eyebrow, folding her arms and looking at Veronica. She didn't know what was about to be said, but she knew it was best to keep control of her anger no matter what - she could do that much. "I promise."

Letting out a sigh, Veronica dropped it on her... with a little white lie, of course. "You know that night when I first met you in that bar...?" She sighed again, looking off to the side to look like she was so shamed that she couldn't look her in the eye. Before she raised her head, and looked at her. "...That was no coincidence. I am an employee of the Founding Family's Intimidation Unit sent to get information out of here... everything I told you was a lie..." 

That was the big bomb, she carefully examined Maxine... she decided to take a risk. Veronica took off her jacket, and threw it on the ground in front of Maxine.

"...I mean, sure, you [i]are[/i] a little cute, but that's besides the point," Veronica started off. "I can't keep working for them - they crossed the line, for real this time."

Veronica crossed her arms as she continued her explanation.

"I wanna help you, Maxxie. I want to help RAVEN. I want to stop the Family... but, if you don't trust me, then that's fine," Veronica pointed at her jacket on the ground. "Right there is my jacket, which is full of enough concealed weaponry to warrant taking me in... I won't even try to fight." 

She put her hands on her hips.

Max hesitated, trying not to reach too much. It hurt, it really did, but hey - she'd signed up for these things. If what Veronica said was true, if she was a part of the Intimidation Unit, she didn't trust her.

But that didn't mean she'd throw away a chance to help solve all the shit that was happening. That was way more important than arresting one employee of the Founding Family.

"You're right, I can't trust you - not if you work for them. But if the information you have can help RAVEN then I'm not going to take you in." She was willing to take that risk. "So, what is it you know that can help?"

Veronica could only smile, she knew that Maxine didn't trust her, but she could change that. She still had a sob story to tell. All Veronica had to do for now was tell Maxine what she needed to hear. She got close to Max, her hands remaining on her hips as she was facing Max. "So much... I'm a high-ranking member of their Intimidation Unit, I know exactly where RAVEN needs to hit to take them out."

She put one arm across her chest, and the other on the side of her jaw. Veronica wanted to leak information about the Machine, but RAVEN needed to know exactly where to hit it, or else they'll be without a paddle.

"I also know the big thing they're planning - the Machine," Veronica started off. "Their pride and fuckin' joy... In short, it's a machine that they plan on using to turn everyone on this God given earth into a Metahuman... and make the existing ones far more powerful."

She shook her head.

"I personally want to stop them to put a curb on their damn ego...." Veronica trailed off, before she looked off to the side. She had to resist the urge to scratch the back of her neck, but she had to admit something else. "... But, I can see why you would want to stop them. It'll be Verthaven on a God damn global scale."

Max frowned, nodding. "That would be a disaster so, yeah, I'd hope that most people could see why RAVEN wants to - well need to - stop them."

"... But, that's not important right now," Veronica said, letting out a sigh. "The Hound is about to launch an attack on RAVEN Headquarters to get back the Mannequin and Dr. Cross. Their machine is close to completion... and they're that [i]one[/i] thing they need to finish it." 

The hound launching an attack was not a good thing at all... but that information itself wasn't very useful. She could warn the Headquarters, but an attack was expected anyway. "We're not going to let the Hound take the Mannequin and Dr. Cross." Max frowned more. Not that they'd had much success against the hound before. "Even if that's happening, there must be some way we can stop the machine, yeah?"

"Yeah, destroy it." Veronica said, repressing the urge to smirk. "But, that's not all. The Hound plans on inserting the I.U in disguised as BPD officers. Using BPD vehicles that they have "borrowed." They're comin' from the sky and the land..." She trailed off as she figured that she'd add on a little more. "Their intention is to cripple RAVEN in the process of recovering Dr. Cross and the Mannequin. Destroy the base. Kill Deborah and Shannon. Destroy computers Make sure that RAVEN is set back far as they can be."

"Yeah, well, I guessed that much - just assumed there was some fancy way to destroy it," Max shrugged, trying to think of what to do. She had to get this information back to the RAVENs in headquarters - but her com had stopped working meaning she was stuck with reporting back physically. Not very useful if the attack was soon. "I've got to tell HQ about this... but I'm assuming that there's more?"

"Not much else," Veronica said. "They still have your supervisor, Cindy, as a prisoner."

"I know." Max and Cindy had never gotten on, but Max knew that Cindy was pretty damn important to RAVEN. It was a tough blow. "Thank you for the information - I really need to get it back to everyone at the headquarters. If you have anymore, you know how to find me." Assuming she was still alive - if what had been said was anything to go by she'd arrive back to a shit show of fighting. Getting in was not going to be fun.

There was one last thing that Veronica had to say. She knew that Maxine didn't trust her.

"And Max...." Veronica said, shamefully turning her head to the side. She had something to say from the bottom of the heart. "... I'm not being honest here. I'm not just trying to destroy the Family because they're a bunch of narcissistic bastards... There's a personal reason...." She reached into the pockets of her jeans, and produced a picture. She held it out for Max to grab.

It was a picture of Veronica, with a uncharacteristic smile on her face, clearly holding out her phone. As her younger sisters, Quinn and Sophia were each at her side. Ecstatic. Sophia had thrown the peace sign, while Quinn was awkward, but jovial.

"Those two... I know it may sound cliche as fuck, but they're my younger sisters. Sophia and Quinn," Veronica said, as she got closer and closer to Max, staring her in the eyes. "They were kidnapped by the Family for their powers... and they're the really why I vowed to [i]destroy[/i] everything they built up."

It was the worst day of her life when she realized that the Family had taken her sisters... and the anger she felt when she was backed into a corner because the Family threatened them to keep Veronica in line.

"Look, I'm sorry for playing you like that... but, for their sake, I really had no choice," Veronica started off... it sounded strange. She was showing more genuine emotion to Max than she has ever shown in years. "I've lied, I've killed, I've had sex with so many people that disgusted me... God, it makes me [i]cringe[/i] just thinking about it. But, if that's what it takes, then so be it."

"I'm so sorry about your family," Max responded, genuinely. She couldn't imagine, or didn't want to, her close family being used against her. She didn't really have much to say. "I... I can understand why you've done what you have if its for them. RAVEN will destroy the Family, don't worry, and you'll get your sisters back."

Veronica merely sighed. "Thank you, Maxxie." She said. "Look, maybe after this, can we start again? Just start fresh. You can get to know the real Veronica Davis... and see if it works out between us." She doubted it would.

She looked at the ground, and both herself, and her jacket, was surrounded with a green telekinetic aura as it floated towards her. "...But, we'll worry about that later. You need to get back to Headquarters, and I need to head back to my people... I'll see if I can get some more useful information."

She walked around Max, and stopped at her side. "Stay safe."

Before she left through the very exit she came through. This path could very well lead to their deaths, and long as Quinn and Sophia were okay, Veronica accepted that price.


[hr][hr][i][h1][color=red]Meifeng Zhao[/color], [color=dodgerblue]Lihua Zhao[/color], [color=springgreen]Cindy Keagan[/color], & [color=darkslateblue]Reed Taylor[/color].[/h1][/i][hr]
[i][u]RAVEN/DOVE West Coast Joint Headquarters.[/u][/i]


After a few days, Lihua was gladly accepted into the RAVEN organization.

Ah, they were practically [i]begging[/i] for her talents.

Which is why she was able to bypass some of the useless bureaucracy, and get into RAVEN in a few days. She didn't get her rank of head of their intelligence right off the bat, but she is still a high-ranking intelligence officer. Working under one of their Head of Intelligence was a pleasant experience - he was honestly surprised how quickly the Zhao Matriach went to work. And Lihua herself was surprised that she was able to retain so much information. Ah, being in NEST - despite all of it's flaws - was unforgettable, and her worth ethic just doesn't change. And she didn't miss the big fat paychecks she got. Being a teacher was fun and all, but this comes more naturally to Lihua. 

Hopefully, they won't be too upset when she leaves.

But, the moment they gave her an office (a small office much like her first one in Verthaven), she went to work finding Jiao-Long. Lihua was scanning for any and all Family activities... but, quite frankly, couldn't find anything. Not even an assassination, much like she heard was going on going off of their reports. Since that was out of the way, Lihua dedicated all of her efforts towards investigating the power outage. Which was difficult with her limited resources, but the first thing anyone with two brain cells would put together was that a majority of the Founding Family's activities took place in Prince Ed-Field, and Silver Hills. They were practically narrowing it down for everyone. But, they were cocky. Either they were hoping civil unrest was enough to slow RAVEN down, or... they could be hiding their machine elsewhere, and throwing everyone for a wild goose chase. What Lihua wanted to know was where their pride and joy was.

Their Machine.

Jiao-Long said they wanted his genius for a machine. What kind was the question. Probably something aiming towards world domination, or... Lihua narrowed her eyes.

[i]Godhood.[/i]

One thing that Lihua would never forget was Luis' ramblings about Godhood, and becoming the one above all. She wondered if it was possible that Luis passed on this knowledge to someone else. Or, if Luis got them from the Family. There was so many questions, but the answers were all in his diary... which she hadn't bothered to translate recently, because there were more important matters to deal with at the moment. If it could give a man Godhood, then it must be stopped at all costs.

With no leads on the other hand, there was practically no way to find out where it's located. Which was like finding a needle in a haystack, so to speak.

Sighing in irritation, Lihua reached into her desk, and pulled out a large bottle of whiskey... Hey, it was her office. Lihua had her old office in Verthaven littered with hidden alcohol, because she sure as hell needed it. She took in a deep gulp after gulp of her whiskey, before wiping her mouth off, and putting it back. She was breaking every regulation ever made, but whoever the hell wants to enforce them at [i]this[/i] hour can - [i]honestly[/i] - kiss her ass. Sliding it back into the desk, Lihua figured that she got back into work. This is why she wishes that she had some kind of super-telepath in her employ. All of the "bad guys" have some kind of fancy Metahuman at their fingertips. The Berserker, Flashbang, and the Witch Mother, of the Changelings came to mind.

But, wasn't the Witch Mother's granddaughter working in DOVE?

"Hey, Mom, you're going to want to come to the lobby," Lihua's earpiece buzzed with Meifeng's voice as the older Zhao tried to figure out what was going on.

"We found Cindy."

[hr]

It was a miracle that a patrolling RAVEN found Cindy before the Family caught up.

She was transported back to headquarters, escorted by RAVENS, and walked through the doors. Damn, it was dark all the way out here in White Coast, that blackout the Family has induced is certainly doing it's job. It'll be a matter of time before people are throwing molotov cocktails and bricks through everyone's window. But, that wasn't the matter now, what Cindy wanted to do was get some God damn medical attention. When she stepped through the front doors of the lobby, Cindy saw Lihua and Meifeng.

And she barely got a second to ask questions before Meifeng closed in and hugged her.

"Oh my God, I'm so glad you're alive," Meifeng said, not letting go of her embrace for a moment. "I swore they were going to kill you."

"Yeah, glad to be alive myself..." Cindy said, then she clenched her stomach, as she suddenly felt a wave of sickness.

Meifeng released her grasp of Cindy, and put her hands on her hips.

"...But, you look like shit." Meifeng said, before her hand gripped onto her shoulder. "We need to get you to a medic, then you'll tell us everything. Maybe we can find our lead for Christ sake."

"Yeah, okay..." Cindy muttered as she was dragged along.

[hr]

"...That Ezekiel bastard electrocuted me, and his stupid-ass didn't realize he fried the collar around my neck."

Cindy explained to the Zhaos as she laid down on the hospital bed, wearing a hospital gown as Jade put her hands on the DOVE's stomach. She channeled her powers into Cindy, and healed all the wounds she sustained while being imprisoned by the Family. It was a slow process, so Cindy explained.

"I got free, but then Ezekiel came back, and I had to haul ass all the way out of there, and back to Headquarters... That's pretty much it."

The more analytic Lihua Zhao narrowed her eyes. There was something wrong here, and she could still. She had one arm crossed across her chest, and the other on her chin. "... Cindy, do you remember anything about the base? Where was it?"

"Well, I was busy hauling ass, so I didn't have time to take in the scenery," Cindy said, rolling her eyes. "As for where it is... [i]Arrrrgh![/i]"

Her line of thought was cut off when she experienced a headache. The same one that she experienced earlier when she thought about where the Family's base was. She grasped onto her head tightly, and Jade was caught off guard. Especially since they were practically merged.

"Her brainwave activities are off the charts... figuratively speaking." Jade noted.

"Cindy, are you okay?" Meifeng asked, stepping over, but was stepped by Jade putting a hand up.

"Don't touch her," Jade warned. "You'll throw me off."

Relenting, Meifeng crossed her arms.

It wasn't long before the headache faded. "Every time I think about [i]where[/i] that damn base is, I get this headache. I don't know why."

"Jade, is there anything odd about Ms. Keagan?" Lihua asked, raising an eyebrow, and crossing her arms. Something was wrong here. Cindy just makes her great escape without a hitch? Lihua could just smell the bullshit. She turned her attention over to the discarded power suppressant collar. It was apparently electrocuted off... but, if it was fried with so much electricity, then why wasn't Cindy killed? The water would have to have seeped into the electronics, and those are sealed. Very suspicious.

"If there was, I'd know by now," Jade confidently said. "I know Cindy inside and out." She smiled.

That comment made Cindy raise an eyebrow, and Meifeng chuckle, but had Lihua thinking.

"...What about the brainwave activities?" Lihua asked.

"I don't know, they just suddenly sparked when she had that headache, and they were gone just like that." Jade shrugged. "If it's anything mental, then sorry, it's out of my area of expertise." She shrugged.

"Hmmm..." Lihua trailed off.

At that moment, Reed had quietly entered the room with a sports bag undearm. "Figured you'd need some clothes, I grabbed some spares from downstairs." He set the bag down on the table adjacent to Cindy's bed, clearly relieved to see her in one piece.

"Thank you." Cindy said, as Jade finally healed her. She felt refreshed, she had some burns on her from when she was . She looked at the clothes, and then to each member of the group. 

"...Ya'll can go now."

[hr]

After getting dressed in her standard DOVE uniform, consisting of a suit top, a suit skirt, and boots that she borrowed from another DOVE, Cindy was briefed on the situation by Meifeng, and the others. From what she can tell, the Family hasn't been doing anything. Cindy was walking alongside Meifeng, Lihua, and Reed.

"...Thus, we haven't had an idea of what to do next," Lihua explained. "Other than prepare for the siege."

Cindy shook her head. The Family definitely knows how to force them into a corner, and that was what pissed her off the most about them. She shook her head. "Well, I'm just glad to be back in the-"

Their conversation was interrupted by the sharp crackling of gunfire. Immediately, Meifeng pressed her earpiece, and asked.

"Control, what the hell is going on?!" Meifeng asked.

"We're under attack!" A mission control shouted.

"By who?!" Meifeng shouted.

"...[i]The BPD![/i]"


[hr][hr][i][h1]The Intimidation Unit.[/h1][/i][hr][hider=Donna Burke - Sins of the Father OST][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZAHk0g-Nfk[/youtube][/hider][hr]
[i][u]RAVEN/DOVE West Coast Joint Headquarters.[/u][/i]


A number of helicopters could be seen buzzing overhead Baybridge, each bearing the colours and insignia of the the Baybridge Police Department.

Down in the streets below were vans bearing the same insignia - the BPD's lettering plastered clear as day across them. Few people would've questioned it, especially given the current situation, yet there was more to it than that.

Inside each and everyone of of them were the paramilitary agents of the Intimidation Unit. All wearing the colours and uniform of Baybridge's finest, dressed up as SWAT response team members, only... they weren't. It was all part of the Hound's plan. The man himself was in a helicopter that was set to arrive last, with the Phantasm at his side. He knew what the Family was doing was wrong... but, he had no choice.

As planned, the helicopters were making a beeline towards the RAVEN/DOVE Joint HQ building, a monumental construction which effectively overshadowed all other buildings in the district. It was hard to miss. Closing in, the choppers made a steady descent, approaching the helipads 

"Huh? We weren't told we'd be getting you guys this early."

"Yeah, change of plans." One of the "response team" members muttered as the last helicopter made its descent. The door slid open and after a few of the IU agents disembarked, weapons at the ready, the silhouettes of the Hound and the Phantasm came into view as both assassins stepped down onto the helipad. 

"Really? What's... oh shit-" The poor bastard who'd been conversing with them moments before had looked on; he was immediately silenced as one of the paramilitaries smashed the butt of their rifle against his face, then finished him with a boot to the skull.

On the Hound's orders, the initial strike team breached the rooftop access doors and descended into the building. A few moments later, the rough crackle of gunfire could be heard throughout the building as the upper floor descended into chaos. "... The hell's going on upstairs?" One agent in the lobby asked, only to be cut off as a loud clatter erupted from beneath their feet.

At this moment, a BPD truck charged through the parking garage's gate at high speeds, punching through it. Followed by several other vehicles who punched through the lowest level of the building. A legion of armed goons came following out, shooting their guns wildly, and the last person to exit was Bonecrusher, who so was merged with so much machinery that he was practically an automaton at this point. The worst part about Bonecrusher was that he was wielded a massive M134 Minigun, that was being fed from an ammo belt leading into a pack on his back. Another truck came up, and two men emerged carrying a bulky, man-sized case, matte black with a combination lock concealing its contents from observation. Covered by Bonecrusher's overwhelming firepower, they advanced into the building.

As the Hound stepped off the helipad, and pressed the communications button on the side of his helmet, "Keep the sarcophagus covered." He said as he readied his M60, the Phantasm at his side held a T91 assault rifle tightly in his fingers. "Everyone else... everything is fair game. Destroy Headquarters. Leave nothing intact, and no one alive."

He nodded his head as he slung the weapon over his shoulder.

"I'm leading the push into the prison sector." The Hound announced as he marched into the depths of the building, stepping over empty shell casings and broken bodies on his way.

At all levels of the building, staff and civilians alike scrambled as the two-pronged assault began. Agents rushed around, confused in the face of a threat that they only knew was approaching them, some only half-aware of the fact the enemy wore BPD uniforms. Those on the upper floors who weren't dead or had escaped were putting up a stubborn resistance, gunfire breaking out in the offices as the paramilitaries pushed further inwards, stacks of paper sent into disarray and computer screens riddled through with bullets. One such defender, an aging DOVE case worker, had managed to bottleneck the IU's forces by pushing a vending machine in front of one of the doorways and holding it in place with sheer strength... until one of the "specialists" of the IU put an end to that by using his own metahuman strength to force it on over the DOVE as though it were a paperweight.

The assault continued, unfettered.


[hr][hr][i][h1][color=red]Meifeng Zhao[/color], [color=dodgerblue]Lihua Zhao[/color], [color=springgreen]Cindy Keagan[/color], & [color=darkslateblue]Reed Taylor[/color].[/h1][/i][hr]
[i][u]RAVEN/DOVE West Coast Joint Headquarters.[/u][/i]


"...The fuck?"

Meifeng raised an eyebrow as she hissed into the comms. Why the hell would the BPD be attacking RAVEN? Are they working for the Family? Nonetheless, they didn't have time for this, because they had to mount a defense regardless of who's attacking them.

The tactical Zhao matriarch quickly pieced everything together. "Meifeng, if it's the Family, it is [i]obvious[/i] what they hope to accomplish here."

"Other than killing everyone here," Meifeng started off, as she prepped herself. Pulling water out of a nearby fountain by force. "They want their Hands lapdogs back, and their Changelings."

"Look," Cindy said, turning her head towards Meifeng. "The high-security cells have special defenses in place. Even the Phantasm won't get past them, but..."

A group of armed men ran up to the hallway, Meifeng noticed the BPD uniform, and immediately acted off pure reflex. She forced water out of the fountain, it floated up into the air, and then she slammed it down. Freezing along it the way. A thick wall of ice was created, and it was utterly barraged with assault fire. It was coming apart... and it was for the best if they haul ass the other direction before it breaks.

Meifeng gestured as she broke off into a steady sprint... going slow enough so Lihua could stay close. Cindy was running close as she could to the two, as she generated glass over her arms.

"Hey, Meifeng," Cindy said. "We gonna need some weapons if we're gonna even hope of stopping the Hound this time... even if there's defenses, it won't mean shit if the Hound destroys them."

"To the armory, then?" Meifeng asked.

"I would [i]love[/i] some body armor right now." Lihua said.

Reed was following along, his pistol close at hand. His thoughts drifted towards Quentin, who last he'd seen was half-asleep in one of the rooms back on the Hospital Wing... his brother would have to wait. If they didn't hold these people off, whoever they were, everyone in the building would be dead. "Armory's this way!" He shouted to the others, leading them along a side corridor which ran along the HQ. Seven years in Baybridge had been more than enough time to leave him with the ins-and-outs of the building, so he was able to take them along the shortest route.

They followed behind him, to the tune of distant gunfire and more than a dozen voices over the comms warning others of an attack from the BPD... and from a metahuman who's description could've only matched that of [i]Bonecrusher.[/i] That was enough to settle any doubt as to who was responsible.

Soon enough they were at the HQ's central armory, men and women of both RAVEN and DOVE rushing in and out with whatever they could use, some only barely having any time to equip themselves with body armour. "In here." Reed spoke up again, leading them past the officer in charge of supervising the armoury and past the now-unlocked security checkpoint, where they were met with the sight of dozens of lockers and secured weapon racks. Nearly a third had already been picked clean already, but the four of them had been close enough that they were still able to take what they needed.

Obviously, the first thing Lihua and Cindy put on was body armor. A simple kevlar vest with the RAVEN logo on them. Meifeng wanted to slip into her RAVEN armor... but, getting that damn thing on would be [i]impossible[/i] during this bloodbath, so she had to settle with body armor, but she brought a utility belt. She needed a weapon, something that would take a bastard out. She had grabbed an Bushmaster ACR, her standard weapon, and grabbed several clips of it, and slid it into her utility belt. Though, if they're going up against the Hound, they're gonna need [i]more[/i] than bullets. Containment foam was the only thing that could slow that big bastard down. So, Meifeng used her Captain status to grab a containment foam sprayer, and attached it to her utility belt. While grabbing an extra canister. The Meta-suppressant gas would be worthless, so she didn't even bother grabbing it.

Meanwhile, Lihua had grabbed a weapon that she hasn't held in [i]years[/i]. A Mossberg 500 Tactical. With extra shells attached to the stock. The weapon felt so [i]heavy[/i] in her hands. It was probably symbolic... Lihua was picking up the lifestyle that she had sworn off years ago. She was probably getting overly sentimental. Before she could dwell on it any further, however... "Time and a place for nostalgia." Reed was up and ready to go, an AR-15 tightly gripped in his hands. The DOVE investigator had shrugged off his jacket in favour of wearing a simple chest rig, carrying as many magazines as he could, a comms piece in his ear.

"Oh, sorry." Lihua said, as she grabbed the shotgun, and like Meifeng, grabbed a containment foam sprayer.

Finally, Cindy had elected to use a Glock 15, and brought a [i]lot[/i] of clips. It would tickle the Hound and Bonecrusher, but she could at best fight back against them. Her main draw was going to be her defense, speaking of which, she was going to need plenty of glass. It was time for her to use a trick that she hasn't used in ages. She stuck her hand up, and put her palm straight up. A ball of molten glass formed in her hands from bottom to top, and then she threw it against the ground. The orb had exploded into a tree-like structure, comprised of plenty of glass. She stretched her hand out, and pulled the glass around herself to create a curved shield. She did the technique again, and created another tree made out of glass, which she added to the shield. The "glass seed" technique, one that Cindy learned at a young age that lets her rapidly create glass structures, and had perfected around her. She had molded the shield into a multi-layered glass pane with a mixture of dense, and flexible glass - basically creating bullet-proof. A technique that Cindy had been using for years now. One of the tricks that her mother taught her, before... [i]Thank you, mom[/i].

More reports were coming in over the comms however, again of a cybernetic metahuman which could've only matched Bonecrusher's description, this time of a force of "BPD" officers and the assassin pushing towards the maintenance corridors beneath the building, having pushed through from the parking lot. That was when it dawned on Reed just [i]what[/i] they were gunning for. "Shit, we gotta move, on me!" And with that, he filed out of the room as fast he could, the others following on behind him as he led them towards one of the stairwells leading down towards the floor beneath the building, right in the direction of Bonecrusher and his escort. [i]Or was it the other way around?[/i]

"That metal fucker," Meifeng hissed as she followed behind Reed, followed by Lihua and Cindy.

The group hauled ass, practically invisible in the stream of agents that were running out of the armory, and ready to jump into the action. With the group of four them, they had to quickly intercept Bonecrusher. Cindy started running ahead of the group, saying, "I know a shortcut!"

Running through the hallways frantically was a great plan for getting to Bonecrusher, but not ideal for avoiding the goons the Hound brought with him.

It wasn't long before they came across a group of armed "BPD" SWAT officers, and Cindy immediately threw her glass shield up. It quickly met a barrage of bullets, that stopped them from killing the proud RAVENS. Cindy had to grit her teeth as the sound of as every bullet hit the shield. But, Meifeng had run up with her rifle, an idea cooking in her head.

"Remember that team up move I came up with!?" Meifeng had to shout over the bullets. "The one where you make holes in the shield, and I shoot through it!?"

"Yeah, yeah, kind of!" Cindy said, as she created a small hole - large enough for Meifeng to fit her rifle through, but small enough so that Meifeng doesn't get shot with a bullet or two. She started barraging the men with bullets, while Cindy pushed closer and closer. LIhua opted for another option. She looked up at the ceiling, and raised her hand up into the air, and pulled concrete out of the ceiling and slammed it down on the IU. The men and women were crushed by rocks, as Meifeng cut them down. To put the final blow on them, Cindy took a risk. She sent the shield forward at high speeds and shattered it into a million pieces. Even with the armor on, the glass cut through it effortlessly. Within moments, they were cut down.

Piecing the shield back together, Cindy barked, "This way! Hurry up!" 

The group made a turn, and they were quick to arrive in the hallway leading up to the generator room. The maintenance corridor was dark, and was only illuminated by the dimming light bulbs overhead. There was [i]zero[/i] reason for the likes of Cindy and the others to come down here. They were fortunate enough to arrive here before Bonecrusher... but, they could hear the heavy footsteps of the beast approaching them quickly. Meifeng reloaded her rifle as the mighty Bonecrusher came in sight. Holding a chaingun, being the one that was leading the charge.

She narrowed her eyes, as she realized there was no way to put a dent in him.

Laughter came from Bonecrusher as the barrels of his chaingun twirled. The group immediately dove behind cover - with Lihua flipping up a block of concrete to take cover behind as the machine gun went [i]wild[/i] and sent bullets everywhere.

They were well and truly pinned.