[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/5ZqyPyV.png[/img][/center]

While Deni was alone, she would hear a voice in her head. [color=#bd71e8]“Hello Deni. This is ‘more than friends’ Veronica speaking. I have the time to talk to you now.”[/color] There was a groan. [color=#bd71e8]“Enlighten me, there’s no need to speak.”[/color]

Deni had just returned to the place Valkyrie had offered her to stay at, after a long day of making friends and fighting random monsters while patrolling… and then the voice spoke in her head. Whelp. She leaned at the wall, taking a deep breath before she… well, didn’t need to talk, just needed to think it?

[color=9b83de]‘Okay, okay. Let me just start out by saying, I wouldn’t appreciate you actually hurting Mariette. I want to save her, along with my sister. I have no idea how to do that, but I want to save them both, and possibly also the rest of the agents of Asengav. My enemy is Asengav, not those under his command. Not that I stand a fraction of a chance against a cosmic horror, anyway, but still.

What happened was that I got consumed by Caroline, but then Caroline got defeated in the Overcity, and I was left behind. From the limited information I have, I deduce that Asengav abandoned me when I was taken. My Monster Girl form was a direct link to the darkness of Asengav, through me Justine and Caroline’s Horror could have attacked Asengav directly. To prevent that, I think he severed the link, so when Caroline then left me behind I was left with no patron. Then something, I have [i]NO[/i] clue what, gave me power. Something gave me enough power to be resurrected, where I should have died. I don’t think I actually truly died, some sliver of me remained where Caroline abandoned me, in some form of monster-state.

Regardless, I got up, looked like this, then ran into Valkyrie who agreed to take me home, and, uh, then I ran into Justine von Visceral, because that’s just how life goes. She employed me to reach Mariette… and I’m ready to help her with that if it benefits me… but I don’t want Justine laying her hands on Mariette. As I said, I want to save them. If I [i]really[/i] have to, I’ll sacrifice Mariette to save Eli, but I don’t want that, either. I… yeah. I just basically laid myself bare before you. I’m calling myself “Ronin” because if Mariette heard “Deni” is walking about she’d recollect me in a hurry, and then it’d be game over. I’m walking around trying to make as many friends as possible, because, yeah. When the time comes, I’m going to need all the help I can get.

… What do you think?’[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]“I think you chose the right person to come to. Though I find it disappointing that you don’t remember the most interesting bit. Can’t be helped though.”[/color] Deni could hear Veronica write something down. [color=#bd71e8]“I’ll fact check everything you said with your memories, but I’m not expecting to find anything out of place. More importantly, you have a debt to cover. I pay for the elimination of monsters just like everyone else, but I also pay extra when people complete assignments. If you’re looking for one, I have something available for you.”[/color]

[color=9b83de]‘I was sort of incapacitated at the time, sorry!’[/color] Deni said with an amused tone, smiling back where she was. [color=9b83de]‘Oh? I’m interested. I also sort of have a party I was hoping to go to in a couple days, there’s got to be a bunch of friends I could make there. Amanda told me about it when I ran into her on the way back. Still, what do you have for me?’[/color] 

[color=#bd71e8]“Do I know amanda? Nevermind. Unless you’re referring to the dark magical party, cancel your reservations, because you’ll be going to that one.”[/color] Veronica sighed. [color=#bd71e8]“I suspect something will happen, and I want Cindy Ford to survive it. Simply ensure she lives to the end of the party and you’ll earn 2 silver and 3 bronze.”[/color]

[color=9b83de]‘Amanda’s one of Maura's group, I thought they were working for you?’[/color] Ronin asked, raising an eyebrow on the other side. Anyways. [color=9b83de]‘Amusingly enough, I AM talking about the dark magical girl party. Want Cindy to survive it? Well. I will expect the worst to happen, then, but consider it done! You have a Reinforcement specialist on the job!’[/color] Deni replied, grinning over where she was. [color=9b83de]‘… Oh, man. I really hope it isn’t Beacon attacking, I was hoping not to make enemies with them. Spent so long having to avoid them as a Monster Girl. … OH, WELL!’[/color] Deni commented, before ending it on a very lighthearted shrug.

[color=#bd71e8]“I suspect that Beacon would not be fool enough to enrage the entire magical girl community in Penrose. However, I do anticipate someone trying to frame them. This is why Cindy needs to survive.”[/color] Veronica chuckled. [color=#bd71e8]“If things get crazy, I’ll update you on what to do next. I may even come up with extra assignments for you, so you will be well compensated for your help. If you don’t need anything else, I’ll be off.”[/color]

[color=9b83de]‘I appreciate it, ma’am! I am still 100% open if you want to just hang out as friends sometime!’[/color] Deni replied to the later parts, also internally relieved that it probably wasn’t Beacon attacking. She nodded, not that she knew if Veronica would know, but. [color=9b83de]‘I’m satisfied! I’ll hear from you later, then! Have a continued good night!’[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]“Be well. I think you’ll like the other agents when you meet them. Well, most of them.”[/color]

[hr]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3Pstn7T.png[/img]

[b]”Platinumskink Doesn’t think I’m cool enough to have a banner, WELL I’LL SHOW HIM!”[/b]

[color=888888]— Betty Bio-Hazard[/color][/center]


Betty was always on guard duty, but it usually wasn’t like this. Instead of remaining by Veronica’s side, she was stationed outside a bank vault. 

It was a bit nerve wracking though. Aside from it being the dead of night, Beacon and Mint were among the strongest forces in the city. Both of them had it out for Veronica and her agents. With the vault sealed up, Betty didn’t have the option to run. There was no way she could remove the contents and escape with them. She had to stand and fight if she wanted to complete the task she had been handed. The minutes passed like hours, and Betty had to be on her guard at all times. A single drop in her defenses could spell her doom. She made changes to her patrol paths so that no one could predict her movements. She didn’t look at her phone, or do anything that would distract her. 

With a sigh, Betty took a seat in the lobby. To call it that now was a joke, as the front half of the building opened up to the outside. Part of the roof had been blasted away and all other rooms had either caved in or been blocked off by rubble. It was by some miracle that this leather office chair had survived. It was the only comfort she had out here. If Betty had a choice, she would have preferred a pair of pants. Her skirt didn’t do much to keep the wind from nipping at her thighs. But if this was the only comfort Penrose would afford her, she would make due.

But it was here that she was able to spot someone coming. Betty couldn’t tell much about the individual from a distance. It looked like a guy wearing a top hat and a black cloak, but she doubted herself only because magical boys were so uncommon. With a tired sigh, she forced herself out of the comfort of her seat and walked towards the approaching stranger. Part of what made these types of situations hard to deal with was that Betty didn’t know what this person’s motive was. They could just as easily be a refuge trying to escape Beacon. She placed her hands on one of her swords.

[b]”State your business!”[/b] She sounded a little meaner than she wanted to, but her situation had that effect on her.

The stranger continued to walk closer, not stopping for an instant. [b]”I’m just looking for a place to rest.”[/b]

[b]”W-well, look somewhere else!”[/b] Betty drew her sword. [b]”It’s totally caved in. There’s only room for me here!”[/b]

He stopped in his tracks. At this range Betty could see that her initial assessment was right, and he was a boy. Fascinating. [b]”That can’t be the full story, can it? Just look at you, chilled to the bone.”[/b] There was just enough moon light for Betty to make out a smile. [b]”If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re trying to protect something, or someone.”[/b]

Betty snorted. [b]”That’s right. So you’ll understand if I can’t let you come any closer.”[/b]

The boy raised a hand to his chin. [b]”Of course.”[/b] He lowered his hand. [b]”You are Betty Barton, or Betty Bio-Hazard as the other cradle agents call you. You are Veronica’s bodyguard, and she has likely sealed herself away in that vault while you defend it from the outside. It makes sense, doesn’t it?”[/b]

[b]”If you’re thinking about breaking inside, you’ve got another think coming!”[/b] In a flash, a throwing knife was already in her hand. [b]”Leave now, or you’ll have to pull this knife out of your head!”[/b]

With a sigh, the boy turned around to leave. Betty was just getting ready to lower her weapons when he looked over his shoulder. [b]”You know, it’s an interesting bit of folly, being a bodyguard.”[/b] He turned around to face her again. [b]”You’re so caught up protecting others, that you never consider that you might be the target all along.”[/b]

Betty had just a moment to scan her surrounding and noticed a murder of crows spilling in from the roof. There had to be at least a hundred of them, and even with her superhuman speed she likely wouldn’t be able to fend off all of them. Her other two swords seemed to levitate out of their sheathes and began fighting alongside her. With a bellow, she hurled her dagger straight for the boy’s face. It flew through the air until a dire wolf lunged and snatched it out of the air.

[b]”I see.”[/b] The boy stroked his chin as he watched Betty fend off the crows. [b]”You’re using wind magic to wield multiple weapons at once. You’re quite strong too, few can make my crows bleed with a single swing.”[/b] He shrugged. [b]”Draw four swords or eight, I outnumber you a hundred to one.”[/b]

Betty felt a little outnumbered at the moment, but felt like the tide of combat was changing in her favor. Every swing took out a few more crows, and one had yet to land a strike on her. But she was so preoccupied fighting the crows that she didn’t notice the enemy [i]below[/i] her. And that would prove to be costly.

She didn’t see it coming, but she could feel something pass through her knees. It wasn’t clear what happened until Betty made her next swing. That was when her thighs parted from the rest of her legs, and she fell onto her stomach. Her floating swords did their best, but the crows landed on her back and started to peck away at her flesh. 

[b]”Regardless of how strong someone is, it is just a matter of rallying enough people to take them down.”[/b] He tipped his hat. [b]”This wasn’t a fair fight, and it wasn’t supposed to be.”[/b]

Betty did her best to swing her katana at the birds that were slowly devouring her. She rolled over onto her back, but that wasn’t enough to crush them. Worse, more birds landed on her stomach and proceeded to peck her apart from both sides. She could feel she was going into shock. Past events were starting to flash through her mind, and the possibility that she would never see Binky again weighed heavy in her heart. Was there a way out of this? Should she call for backup? Would anyone come? She continued to fight what seemed like a decided battle.

[hr]

Until there came a flash of light. A bead of brilliant blue just beyond the collapsed building, which build into a streak of piercing white within a fraction of a second. Before the onset of a storm, many claimed they could feel its approach on the horizon. The change in barometric pressure. The discomfort within the inner ear, or aches in the joints. The smell of ozone from brewing electricity. All of them fell upon the battle at once, with the crescendo of a thunder crack carrying the star.

Katelyn had been on the hunt in the days since she returned from the beach. She had lost time, another two months wasted playing pretend on a fantasy resort instead of focusing on what mattered. But she still held her tenable connection to The Penrose Independent, regardless of either of their true allegiances. A call had come in - an information drop, courtesy of The Boss herself, regarding a Mint Agent that had taken to attacking one of their journalists. It wasn't on Katelyn's agenda to play hitman for anyone else, not again, but the information happened to line up. One favour completed, and one Mint operative dead.

Her Dragon's Wings had remained on standby as she watched the fight from afar. Waiting for a moment to strike. And the seconds after the other girl fell, where her target would be the least prepared for an ambush, she took her chance, flaring into life as a comet of lightning. Wreathed in electricity, and bolstered by her wind, she could cross distances at speeds faster than most individuals could perceive, which barrelled through the nighttime air of Penrose City, spear outstretched within the enchantment, on a direct collision course with The Vermin Killer.

Vermin Killer looked to be oblivious to the incoming attack, which should have been enough to kill him. When Katelyn struck, there was a bright flash and a crack like thunder. It was enough to scare away the crows pecking away at Betty. [b]”Gah!”[/b] She fell flat on her back, but was quick to prop herself up so that she could see exactly what was going on. But when the light levels returned to normal, Vermin Killer was still standing.

While Vermin Killer was oblivious to the attack, his more attune companions were well aware of the incoming strike. A lunging honey badger took the shot square in the chest. Non-magical honey badgers had very thick, loose skin that enables them to resist attacks most creatures would be killed by. Even though they have a modest weight of about 20 pounds, they have no problem going toe to toe with the likes of leopards and lions. Their ability to roll and slide around inside their skin helps them absorb blows that their thick skin can’t. The result was that Katelyn’s attack caused the weasel to bounce and roll across the ground, but it was only a matter of time before it got back up on its feet and hissed at its attacker. Honey badger didn’t give a shit.

[b]”What is the meaning of this?”[/b] Vermin Killer frowned at the dragon girl. [b]”You couldn’t have tried to kill me a bit earlier? I suppose you were just pretending to be incompetent.”[/b]

Katelyn skid across the ground, carried by her excess momentum, internally cursing the creature that had blocked her attack. She had spent the time tracking The Vermin Killer - animal Interference had been expected, but not the kind that could no-sell her blows with relative ease.

The preserved speed from her enchantment ran its course, grinding her to a halt, before she began a run. A second wind of The Dragon's Wings absorbed her body, drawing from her wings an intense electrical charge that rapidly engulfed her body in lightning and air, until she vanished in a bolt of thunder, once more aimed at The Vermin Killer. At range, it gave the opponent a chance to react, but in close quarters, she could cover the distance in a fraction of a second. Still, she had learned from her first mistake - the moment the spell began, she leapt into the air, aiming to kick whatever animal got in her way, and then slash The Vermin Killer in the aftermath. 

Vermin Killer was not a stationary target, however. Nor was the wolf who stood at his side. By the time Katelyn had started sprinting, the wolf was already upon her. None of the vermin killer’s pets could contend with a magical girl, but they each had an edge in a given situation. The honey badger was sturdy, but too slow to land a decisive blow on Katelyn. The wolf was almost the opposite, unable to take a solid blow but fast enough to intercept an opponent before they attacked their master. Her kick landed straight in the wolf’s mouth. Katelyn was swift and strong enough to kick the wolf free, but the delay was all the time Vermin Killer needed to escape. His body split into several crows and scattered to the four winds.

[b]”Not today. I have an appointment.”[/b]

The wolf wrestled itself to its feet before bolting away. The honey badger trudged off, but not without giving one last hiss at the girl that stabbed it with a spear. This left Betty alone with the stranger. She crawled towards her missing feet, all while keeping an eye on the dragon girl.

[colour=DodgerBlue]”Shit, [i]fuck,[/i]”[/colour] Katelyn cursed. Control over animals had been in the forecast since the information came in, but the ability to turn into crows was new to her. She looked into the sky, watching the birds disperse, and attempting to find a distinguishable pattern in their flight, but quickly gave up, as the flock vanished in different directions into the Penrose sky. [colour=DodgerBlue]”Can’t even kill some shitty knockoff vampire, Goddamnit. Shut up, you didn’t know anything about him. Cause if you did, maybe it’d please you a bit to [i]tell me.[/i]

”So? What’s your deal?”[/colour] she called out, her gaze falling on the pitiful sight of Betty. They were a Magical Girl, but not one Katelyn recognised - and not an exceptionally skilled one, she reasoned, considering her sorry state. She began to walk towards the girl, weapon held fast, with the shaft held in the crook of her arm, and the blade pointed out towards Betty. [colour=DodgerBlue]”Why was he here? Why try and kill you?”[/colour]

Betty collected her legs before looking up at Katelyn. [b]”You’re coming clo- oh, okay, of course you are.”[/b] She held her arm over her chest, as the shirt had been torn to tatters in that spot. [b]”I’m, um, I’m not entirely sure. He said he wanted to kill me.”[/b] She winced. The snow on the ground was starting to bite at her raw stumps. [b]”Can you let me put my legs back on? I’ll tell you whatever you want to know!”[/b]

[colour=DodgerBlue]”Feel free,”[/colour] the head of the spear dropped a little, as Katelyn released a small amount of tension from her arm. [colour=DodgerBlue]”But try anything else and you die, understand?”[/colour]

Betty let out a sigh of relief before dragging herself over to her comfortable chair. While she had sat in it many times, it felt the most comfortable right now after a harrowing fight. Her wind magic wasn’t strong, but she was able to force herself into the seat without it falling on top of her. [b]”Alright, thanks.”[/b] She dropped her legs onto the ground and positioned her stumps over them. [b]”I’m Betty, in case you were wondering.”[/b] She took her arm out from in front of her chest. Hanging on a string behind her torn uniform was a tiny lantern emitting a soft orange glow. It had cracks running all over it, but they had since been filled with gold to piece it back together. Betty’s breathing softened as her legs started to fuse back together. Her open wounds emitted an orange light, and with the passage of time they slowly closed up. [b]”Have you been hunting that magical boy for a while? You seem upset that he got away.”[/b]

[colour=DodgerBlue]"Betty, right,"[/colour] Katelyn replied. But the words were half hearted. She seemed to trail off at the end, pulled into and distracted by some other, intrusive train of thought beyond the confrontation, and beyond the conversation at hand. Her eyes were firmly pulled to the item at her chest - the way it glowed, how the light reflected slightly across the gold spider web of cracks, and the number of other intricacies to its design. For a moment, she seemed almost transfixed, until she blinked it away, and looked back to Betty properly, her expression vaguely distant. [colour=DodgerBlue]"Right, uh, sorry, yeah. Yeah, a little while. He's been a bit... difficult, to follow, sorry, is, is that a Healing Artifact?"[/colour]

[b]”Yea!”[/b] Betty’s lips twitched into a smile. [b]”It’s seen better days, but it gets the job done.”[/b] She looked down at it. Not only were her wounds healing, but her uniform was piecing itself back together. [b]”Were you hurt? I can try to heal you, but it’s a little mana intensive and I just lost my legs.”[/b] 

[colour=DodgerBlue]”No, I’m fine,”[/colour] Katelyn’s response came quickly, and abruptly. Almost as soon as she had said it, she turned and walked a distance away from Betty, to stand by one of the nearby walls. Her arm raised to support herself against it, and her head pushed into the crook of her elbow as she did. [colour=DodgerBlue]”He was Ebon Mint. An assassin of some kind. Some people I know had a member of theirs attacked. Since I kill Mint Agents for a living, they asked me to help. So why don’t we start with why an assassin wants you dead, [i]Betty.[/i]”[/colour]

Betty cleared her throat. [b]”Right. That.”[/b] She reclined in her chair. [b]”I’m part of Crimson Cradle. I’m not sure how internet savvy you are, but we operate rather openly. At least in terms of who our members are.”[/b] She swallowed. [b]”And we’re led by Vermilion Veronica, who was a former Mint coin broker. She’s rather adamant about ‘exposing the mint’ and ‘removing the mint.’ I think you guys would get along.”[/b]

[colour=DodgerBlue]”You’re Cradle?”[/colour] her head slowly pulled out from her arm to look at Betty, practically glaring at her through her periphery. Katelyn took a step towards her, arm dropping to her side. The pose she held was unlike any Betty had seen, but amongst the variety Katelyn had displayed throughout their meeting, it was the most notable; rigid, almost professional and robotic. But the stance, though it hid her intentions and emotions, let slip something else. Her bloodlust. [colour=DodgerBlue]”Mint Agents can’t ever be redeemed. I hope you’re not a former Mint Agent, Betty - I don’t think killing you would be cathartic. But you can pass on a message from Katelyn Everance to Silhouette. The next time I see her, she’s dead.”[/colour]

[b]”I guess I can do that.”[/b] she whimpered.

[colour=DodgerBlue]”At least you’re smart,”[/colour] in an instant, Katelyn’s stance shifted again. It was calmer, more relaxed. The intense, near murderous energy she had mustered forward vanished behind an exterior of collection. With the conversation essentially over, she turned and began to walk. Through the building and towards the exit. [colour=DodgerBlue]”Hope we can have another chat like this, Betty. Just remember that I saved your life.”[/colour]

[hr]

Betty watched Katelyn leave without a word. She’d need to rest a bit before she went on patrol again. Fortunately, the vault door opened just a few minutes later, and its occupant stepped out into the open.

[color=#bd71e8]“Did she, now?”[/color]