[hr][hr] [center][img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjk2LmZmN2Y2Ni5TR0Z5ZFd0aElGUmhhMkZ6YUdseWJ3LCwuMQAA/bilbo.swash-caps.png[/img] [sup][@Mr Allen J] & [@tsukune][/sup][/center][hr] [center][i]The lake that gave Baybridge its name, the buildings that lined the waterfront... Nothing seemed to have changed much in the three years Haruka Takashiro and Jennifer Caspin were away from the city. What had changed, was the hearts of the people. Not just in America. Everywhere that the two of them had been to, they were surrounded by fear, distrust, hatred... racism towards Metahumans. Which made their goal, to look for Jennifer's ex-employer Megan and their friend Cindy Keagan, much harder than expected. And now, they were back to square one. Following the leads that had brought them around the world, their next destination was home. Back to this place where it had begun. All the way to the DOVE Rally.[/i][/center] [hr] [b][code]DOVE Rally | Regal Square, Prince Ed-Field_[/code][/b] For ages now, where ever Jennifer went, she just felt like a visitor. Even in Baybridge after Megan left her, it just felt like she was not permanent. While it was true that nobody knows what exactly the future held for them, it was a slow process where she finally accepted Baybridge as her home. She finally left Verthaven behind. The girl with the prehensile spine sighed as she quickly arrived in Haruka's vehicle. Heh... she sure owed a lot to him. Doing all of this, for her? In his position, Jennifer couldn't say that she wouldn't have done the same. The drive had been pretty smooth. Too smooth, in fact. In all of Haruka's previous experiences, this was probably the prelude to something worse that would be happening soon. How ironic - to think that he was becoming as pessimistic as his own brother. And speaking of Shizuka, he should get around greeting his younger counterpart. He would have loved to give him a surprise of sorts, but he might have to give that stupid idea up, not when his twin was even harder to get hold of ever since his promotion in RAVEN. Haruka chose to park the car a little further away from the DOVE Rally area. It would be harder to find a spot nearer to the event parameter; besides, no one knew they were coming back to Baybridge, not yet. He then turned to Jennifer. "Is Megan really going to show up at this rally?" "There's a chance," Jennifer said, as she leaned back in the car. "Remember what her crew said? She was heading to Baybridge..." She looked at the window for a moment. "...And this looks like a place she'd be." [hr] [b][code]Black Fall, Pennsylvania A few weeks ago_[/code][/b] Black Fall... Jennifer heard so much about this place, and would love to be here under different circumstances. At the moment, she had a mission. She fell from a window, and landed on her knee. Two large lumps appeared at the end of her wrists, and two bone spears broke through her skin. The lights flashed on as her blue eyes scanned the room. The first thing she focused on was the hulking Nemesis. His attire had drastically changed. From a long coat and helmet to a more casual button-up where Jenny questioned just [i]where[/i] he got it from. He had a mask that transferred chemicals to his mouth area. The brute faced her down, but he couldn't communicate, so Jennifer's business with him was rather minimal. "...So, you're back, Missy." A man floated down from the sky with a blue aura... and it was Ray Drager, the annoying one with the telekinetic hands. He landed on top of the shipping container above her, and he looked down at her. "Name's Jennifer," she answered, her voice laced with venom. "I have a question to ask you." "Shoot, Jenny," Ray said, as he sat on the edge of the shipping crate, unaware of Jennifer's rather murderous plan B if she didn't get what she wanted. She stared Ray down. "Where is Megan?" "Yeah," Ray scoffed, and he grinned. "And here I was thinking I was the only person asking that question." Jennifer narrowed her eyes, as Ray raised two fingers up in the air. "Two years ago, Megan Jervious said she was investigating the Founding Family in Baybridge on her own... and never came back. Even when we went there on our own; couldn't find her." "I don't believe you," Jennifer hissed. "Well, I don't know what to tell you, then," Ray shrugged. "When you take into account she has the best shape-shifting in the damn world, the only way you'll find her..." Ray trailed off, and Jennifer had to hold her tongue. "...Is if she wants you to." Ray shrugged. "So, we just set up shop here in Black Fall, and let her do whatever the hell she wants. Honestly, it's better this way. Now, we can actually get something done..." Jennifer rolled her eyes. Knowing Ray, he probably told the truth. There wasn't much reason for him to lie. After all, Megan was unpredictable. So far, this entire journey was pointless, and they were probably going for Cindy more than anything. If Megan was with the Family, then she needed answers from her; but like Ray said, the only way to find her was if she wanted to be found. And that wasn't anything reliable. Honestly, they should probably just head back to Baybridge. They wasted [i]far[/i] too much time chasing after ghosts. Without a word, she whipped around and walked out the door. "...Best of luck to ya'." Ray said. [hr] [hider=Gantz OST - Track 3: Enlightened Radiation / Keimou Housha][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8n12XB90LE[/youtube][/hider] Meanwhile... Jennifer had told him that she would meet her 'old crew' on her own, and Haruka didn't even try to argue his way with her decision. It was for the best, that he should respect her wish to do what she had to do alone. Besides, there was another thing he could do while Jennifer was away on her own business. [i]Find Cindy.[/i] ...Though, the leads they could get on their friend was even scarcer than the elusive Megan. The irony. He dug his hands deeper into his windbreaker pockets. Sure, it seemed like a long-awaited chance for the two to finally take a break from all the melodrama of the place they thought they could call home, but it was hard to pretend they could enjoy this road trip, not when they had too many questions unanswered, too much burdens to bear. He turned around a corner and slipped into an alleyway. A shortcut to get to where the slim ray of hope that might be able to lead their wild goose chase to [i]somewhere[/i]. However, he wasn't expecting to come face to face with a certain someone. [i]His ghost.[/i] "[i]Oh? What a surprise![/i]" That pretentious tone in Mandarin was nowhere enough to fool Haruka, not after what he had been through these few years. He narrowed his eyes at the voice so familiar that could make his ears bleed from the cringy sweetness. "[i]...What do you want this time?[/i]" "[i]Now, now, that's not how you should talk to your elders.[/i]" Xing Huo clicked her tongue with mock disapproval at Haruka's passive-aggressiveness. "[i]It appears that I still have much to teach my precious sons, hmm?[/i]" The former Fire Spirit of Polaris didn't seem to have changed one bit in the three-year span. It was a mystery to Haruka as much as to anyone else how this woman was able to retain her youth. The young man could swear that she was definitely much older than she looked. Even stranger that this time, Xing Huo wasn't showy about her fashion sense as usual. If she hadn't called out to him, he wouldn't have given a second glance at the dull trenchcoat she wore today. Obviously not some branded nonsense, just an ordinary piece of clothing that you could easily buy from any department store at a discounted price. He narrowed his eyes at her. Which only made the lady sigh, not without some dramatic effect. "[i]After I've done so much to help you and your pitiful girlfriend, it's still not enough to earn your trust? No love?[/i]" "[i]Do I have to repeat myself and take those words out of your mouth every damn time we meet like this?[/i]" "[i]Uh, uh.[/i]" Xing Huo wagged a finger before his face. "[i]Patience is a virtue, especially at such a crucial time.[/i]" Her blood-red lips curled into a smile. "[i]I'm not as cruel as your[/i] birth [i]mother, and I'm actually here to give you good news![/i]" She suddenly leaned forward, and Haruka felt her hand in his pocket, clasping around his fingers... and something hard. A micro SD card? "[i]When you have the free time, have a look at it -[/i] alone," she chuckled, winking at him. "[i]It's not something for that rag doll you've been dragging around to see. You won't want her to see it if you want to keep that walking corpse to yourself forever.[/i]" With another melodic laugh, she straightened up and strode off; soon she was gone in a blink of an eye. Hands still in his pockets, Haruka clenched his fists, the small chip pressed into one of his palms. [hr] [b][code]Back to present time, DOVE Rally_[/code][/b] If what Jennifer had said about Megan was right, it'd be pointless for them to try searching for someone who didn't want to be found in a huge mob of people in this event. Haruka got out of the car, his eyes narrowed, a reflexive reaction due to brightness from the sun above his head. He waited for Jennifer to get off too, before he walked up to her. "We haven't really enjoyed ourselves throughout this road trip. I think this time we should try relaxing a bit, and have some fun." That was all Jennifer really wanted at this time... just to have fun. Stop worrying about where Cindy, or Megan was, and finally live by her own terms. He scratched the back of his head. "Well, just killing time together until Megan finally shows herself before us. What do you say?" She smiled. "...I'd love to."