[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Sei3A5M.png[/img][/center]

Starring: ‘Twinsanity’ Janet Powell
‘Flirting With Danger’ Trixy
 
[center][hider=Trixy][h1][color=CCBFFF]T[/color]rixy[/h1][b]Age: 30/14 | Gender: Male/Female | Wood | Skimpy
M107 | Duplication, Devour | Cradle
Flexibility, Hammer space Handbag, Training, Big Damn Hero, Eternal Style
Top Manager, Cradle Supply, Connected, Gifted artifact | Babysitter, Exposed, Penance
Devour, Devour[/b]
 
STR: 03 | AGI: 05 |  VIT: 03 | MAG: 03 | LCK: 03
 
STR: 08 | AGI: 18 |  VIT: 08 | MAG: 10 | LCK: 05
[/hider]
[hider=Janet/Cindy][h1][color=khaki]Janet Howell[/color] / [color=cyan]Cindy Ford[/color][/h1]
Age: 68/15 | Gender: Male/Female | Reinforcement, Psychic, Lightning | Uniform
Spear, Fists | Twinned Soul | Beacon
Enhanced Weapon, Healing Artifact, Dual Weapon, Gifted, Monstrous Metamorphosis, Enhanced Transformation, Ally, Incognito, Big Backpack, Defender, Fake Parents
Perfect Life, ShineSpark, Genki Girl, Magical Overload 
Vow (Charity), Excommunication, Thick Skin, Second Specialization
Chaos Engine, Broken Reincarnation
 
STR: 06 | AGI: 06 |  VIT: 06 | MAG: 06 | LCK: 06
 
STR: 13 | AGI: 12 |  VIT: 13 | MAG: 17 | LCK: 09
 
STR: 16 | AGI: 12 |  VIT: 18 | MAG: 17 | LCK: 09
[/hider]
[/center]
 
Like many other places in Penrose, the Museum of Natural History had suffered from the disasters and chaos that were going on. The place had been closed down for the duration of the evacuation, in order to safeguard the populace as well as the items inside. 
 
Now the halls laid empty, exhibits ready for those who would never see them. The entire building was silent, as if life had simply paused here and never started back up again. 
 
It was evening in Penrose, and the museum saw movement, life, once more. In the lobby of the building the lights had been turned on, and a [url=https://i.imgur.com/O7NsmK4.png]young boy[/url] sat on one of the benches in the middle of the room. A small ferret-like creature darted to and fro on the front desk, batting at brochures and paperweights as it played in order to pass the time. 
 
The front door was unlocked, and the duo in the lobby were ready for the girls who had answered the bounty request. The ferret paused, nose twitching as it glanced over to the magical boy nearby before squeaking a question. 
 
“They’ll be here,” he assured his Familiar with a confident smile. Anyone willing to take on a task like this had to be reliable. But for now, they waited. 

[hr]
 
Moving in on foot, Janet made her way to the entrance. It had been a while since she’d specifically taken on a bounty. Mostly because she was busy and her life was turmoil. Though that might just be the city  It was yet to be determined if Cindy would make an appearance, but the other girl itched for action even more so. This sitting by nonsense and constant posturing was not how she traditionally operated as of late. 
 
The Beacon girl scoped out the area for minds that might otherwise be around. Seemed the only one of note was the boy in the building. Entering through the unlocked doors she took a glance around as she approached the one in the lobby. 
 
[color=CCBFFF]”Stop right there!”[/color] A potted plant with the barrel of a M107 sticking out of it called to Janet. [color=CCBFFF]”You’re with Beacon!”[/color] The plant’s pot seemed to grow legs, legs clad in thigh-high lace-up boots, and walked closer. [color=CCBFFF]”There’s only one reason why you could be here.”[/color] The plant continued to move closer, until it stopped. [color=CCBFFF]”No way!?”[/color] The plant withered and fell off of the magical girl hiding inside of it. It was a maid with a large anti material rifle, which was no longer pointed at Janet. [color=CCBFFF]”You’re here for the bounty too!?”[/color]
 
The blonde girl would probably have reacted with more surprise if she hadn’t noticed the additional mind as she was walking. The one that had popped out of the plant matched the description of some reports. One of Veronica’s girls. Ironically she seemed to relax just a bit once she could identify who it was pointing a weapon at her. [color=khaki]”We’re not going to just sit around when people ask for help.”[/color] She put one hand on her hip casually.
 
With a sigh, Trixy’s arms sagged. [color=CCBFFF]”This is going to be an awkward mission, but Binky said you were okay.”[/color] Her eyes traveled up and down Janet. [color=CCBFFF]”Not a bad look. I don’t know what I was expecting but well, you know, words never do the real thing justice.”[/color] Trixy extended her hand. [color=CCBFFF]”I’m Trixy. But you can call me anything but late for dinner.”[/color] She grinned.
 
[color=khaki]”Janet Howell.”[/color] She smiled back. [color=khaki]”And you’re fine. I don’t have anything against the Cradle. Veronica also helped ferry me back after the assault on Justine’s castle so we’re on decent terms as far as I’m concerned.”[/color] She accepted the hand shake and glanced over to the one that presumably was the one putting out the bounty.
 
Trixy looked [i]extremely[/i] pale when Janet mentioned Veronica helping her. [color=CCBFFF]”Heh, right! Guess I was being a little too gung ho there! It’s hard to tell Beacon from the Ascendancy sometimes, but I prefer to live and let live if I can help it.”[/color] She stood beside Janet. [color=CCBFFF]”Let’s see what this guy has to say, then we can talk tactics.”[/color] Trixy pushed the door open and held it for Janet. [color=CCBFFF]”Hello good sir, it is us, your hirelings!”[/color] She let the door shut. [color=CCBFFF]”So what’s the scoop?”[/color]
 
Hearing the door open, the boy looked up to see the duo enter. He smiled, rising from his seat to meet them. The ferret jumped off of the counter onto his shoulder, riding as the magical boy strode towards them. “Hey there, I’m glad you could make it on such short notice,” he said with a warm smile. “I’m Thomas. Follow me and I’ll take you to the relic.”
 
He turned and gestured for them to follow before heading down one of the halls and further into the museum. As they walked he spoke to them, with the Familiar’s gaze shifting from one girl to the other. “Now this will involve fighting other magical girls in all likelihood. I hope that won’t be a problem for either of you?”
 
Fighting other magical girls huh? [color=khaki]”Seems to come with the territory eventually.”[/color] She would comment as they followed.
 
Trixy only chuckled. [color=CCBFFF]”We’re in Penrose. We fight more magical girls than monsters these days.”[/color] She lowered her gun into her hands. [color=CCBFFF]”I prefer to fight monsters, but my lady’s wishes come before all else. She wants the artifact protected, so I’ll defend it with my life!”[/color]
 
Thomas nodded, certainly understanding of their viewpoint. “Of course. I just wanted to make sure.” It would have been a bit awkward otherwise, wouldn’t it?
 
They soon reached their destination. It was an open room, with various displays  and informational cards to describe what one was seeing. While it was not the largest in the museum, there was still a decent amount of space for people to move about and look at things without getting in each others way. 
 
“So I work for Nieth,” Thomas added. “Normally I’d have done this myself but some other stuff has come up that I also have to do, so I don’t really have the time for guard duty. Plus deities and their games, you know how it is”
 
Coming to a stop in front of a display cave, he gestured to a copper spear placed within it. “That right there is one of the weapons used to cut up the body of Osiris. It seems that Set wants to steal it, and my patron would prefer that that not happen.”
 
It was about now that Janet wished she had her sister’s Third Eye so she could see if the relic had any specific magical properties. To the naket eye it didn’t seem to have anything special about it, which would explain why it was sitting in some regular old museum and not some magical facility. There was one little question that popped into her head. [color=khaki]”Why not just hide it? With the museum closed it’s not like the public is going to miss it right now.”[/color] She would pose. It wasn’t the only thing she wanted to ask but it was the first.
 
Thomas shrugged when faced with their questions. “Because the boss said so.” After a moment though he leaned forward, hand raised as if conspiratorially whispering to them. “Personally though I think they want Set’s people to get beaten. Knock him down a few pegs, or something like that.”
 
[color=CCBFFF]”It does seem like the sort of thing you could tuck into a hammerspace if you wanted to.”[/color] Trixy examined the spear from all angles, even going as far as sprouting a tree to hold her above the thing. [color=CCBFFF]”Do you know anything about who’s coming to get it?”[/color]
 
Resuming his initial stance, the magical boy shifted towards Trixy and nodded. “Confident enough to put money on the line for it. I know that at least two girls are tasked with the heist, but not much more than that. Sorry.” 
 
Stepping up to the weapon she would look back at Thomas. [color=khaki]”So other than leaving it undamaged we can move this right?”[/color] She wanted to be sure it wouldn’t be an issue. She could just ward the thing to try and anchor it in place if needed.
 
[color=CCBFFF]”Hmmmm...”[/color] Trixy rubbed her chin with her index finger. [color=CCBFFF]”So how long do we guard it for? Just the night?”[/color] Trixy opened her palm, and an acorn appeared in her hand. 
 
Thomas hummed in thought, scratching the ferret’s head as he glanced towards the ceiling. “As long as you don’t take it to the Overcity or lose it, it should be fine. And yes, just for the night,” he assured them “Anything else I can answer for you?”
 
Janet would look at Trixy. [color=khaki]”I think that’s all for me. You?”[/color]
 
[color=CCBFFF]”No more questions. But there’s something you could do for me.”[/color] Trixy handed the acorn to Thomas. [color=CCBFFF]”Just hold onto that. When you give it back to me, I’ll know the job is over.”[/color] Trixy gave the boy a toothy smile.
 
Thomas nodded, taking the acorn from Trixy when it was offered. “That sounds good. I look forward to seeing you in the morning, at the end of a successful mission.” And with that, he took his leave. Now they could prepare for the eventual arrival of the thieves they had been hired to stop. 
 
With the task at hand, Janet would take down the spear and examine the head for a moment. Seemed pretty ordinary to her, as did the wooden staff it was attached to. [color=khaki]”How likely do you think our robbers would notice if we produced a replica?”[/color] She would walk over to an outlet and pop a cover off, touching the contacts with her hands briefly. The shock was mildly bothering, but she wanted a clearer lay of the building, the electrical could help her with that just a bit.
 
[color=CCBFFF]”Before we get to that, I’m just going to speak my mind a bit.”[/color] Trixy dropped an acorn on the floor. When she went to sit down on it, it shrug up as a stump that made for a nice place to think. [color=CCBFFF]”Thomas said some interesting things. ‘Deity’s and their games’ as well as Nieth more doing this for amusement than a real desire to protect the artifact. I don’t know my Egyptian gods, but it almost sounds like this one might be a trickster. 
We have to consider the possibility that in addition to Set, we might have to react to whatever games Nieth sets for us. We can’t trust anyone.”[/color] She shrugged. [color=CCBFFF]”Doesn’t really change anything.”[/color] Trixy stood back up. [color=CCBFFF]”Now let’s talk defense. Having a decoy spear is a good idea, but it’s likely that Set has prepared their troops to steal this thing. I’d be apprised if one or both of them didn’t have an eye for magic or an artifact for divining its location. We should hide the real thing in a defensible area. Preferably a spot that isn’t obvious, but can also stand up to attackers for a while.”[/color] Trixy dropped a seed on the ground, and it sprout into a hedge bush. [color=CCBFFF]”I can make plants grow in all sorts of directions, as you can plainly see. Iif I touch a plant, I can tell what condition it’s in regardless of where I am. I can use this to set ‘alarms’ by barricading areas. I’ll be alerted as soon as something tries to break them down.”[/color] She presented her gun. [color=CCBFFF]”I’m expecting them to have a hammerspace or simply plan on escaping into the overcity. Letting them touch it could be game over.”[/color] Trixy sighed. [color=CCBFFF]”So what can you do? What are your thoughts about all this?”[/color]
 
Janet would consider the matter. The games of gods and such for the most part were lost on her. They weren't a subject she'd ever really studied before or after becoming a magical girl. Still it was an interesting observation. She would start with her capabilities as that would open up the most chance to coordinate. [color=khaki]"Suppose my main forte is my defensive magic. I can create barriers and wards in order to block and off and defend areas. Should be able to slow them down physically and otherwise hamper movement."[/color] She pointed to her head. [color=khaki]"I should be able to track them fairly decently by their minds, so even if they are moving around a lot it'll be tougher to get the drop on us. They may know the place but I can learn that pretty quickly. Depending on their mental defenses I could potentially affect their minds."[/color] Producing her own spear she would look it over. [color=khaki]"I've mostly been a close quarters combatant so keeping it nearby me is probably best. Unless we feel we can fool them."[/color] She would prop her spear against her shoulder and open her hand. Sparks would dance between her fingers. [color=khaki]"I've recently acquired power over Lightning magic though so I've a fair number of ranged options now as well."[/color] Was it such a good idea to tell all of this to a Cradle agent. Maybe, maybe not. Thing about capabilities though is they're really only secret until you use them, and then hiding it is moot. And again they weren't really enemies on the whole.
 
Looking over the item they were hired to guard again. [color=khaki]"My thinking is that I could put protective barriers and wards around this and potentially a replica to make it harder for them to directly identify what is contained within. Should keep them from simply being able to snatch and vanish with it as well since they won't actually be in contact with the weapon."[/color] Looking around the space she would go over the rough layout of the building the electrical wiring had given her. [color=khaki]"They likely do know the building as you said. I'm fairly certain there is a vault on the lower level. Assuming we can get in it is the obvious defensive point. Wards would probably help against metal girls and I can keep the lights on with my magic to prevent darkness girls from slipping in. If we can't get in it would still make for a solid point to be against as we won't be dealing with windows and quick exits. The nearby foundation could be reinforced with my magic instead. Force them to come to us."[/color] She went back to the front desk to pick up a pamphlet and pen. It wouldn't show everything but it had a basic map of the building and exhibits and would be a simple way to plan things out. 
 
[color=CCBFFF]”I wouldn’t wait in the room with the spear. They could just as easily have a psychic themselves. Though you should probably be nearby.”[/color] Trixy scratched her chin some more. [color=CCBFFF]”Well, let’s just play to our strengths. We can both make barriers, but they both have different strengths and weaknesses. Let me seal off all the exits so that we have some alarms to work with. You can see minds, but some girls employ minions that don’t have minds to track.”[/color] Trixy placed her hand on the spear, and vines swirled around it’s shape before they grew leaves, covering it’s shape. [color=CCBFFF]”I could make a few of these ‘false totems’ and place them in the safe room, then you could barrier them individually. That would make it harder for them to find if they can’t divine its location. I think you should guard the vault’s entrance, but it might be best if I was walking a patrol or hiding out in a different location. I’d be nearby of course, I’d never leave a team mate alone.”[/color] She chuckled.
 
Nodding in agreement, she would look up briefly. They could potentially run into a water girl as well. Having been one once upon a time she might cover the sprinklers where she sets up. And if there was fire, well them there was water. [color=khaki]"Sounds good. I'll cover the halls leading down as well so I can sense them coming that way as well. If they lack earth magic I could see about moving a tile or something and embedding the spear in the floor. Just make it an absolute pain to get to."[/color]. 
 
With something of a game plan Janet would let Trixy make some false spears surrounded in vines and leaves that she would protect with the aforementioned warded barriers, doing the same to the actual spear. It may or may not trip them up. If it did work though it would make their job that much easier. While she was alone prepping Cindy would make her way to the surface briefly. There was a particular idea she had that could help them accomplish this goal. Beneath and hidden by the protection of the true spear she would charge it with electricity. Acting as a capacitor, upon breaking the defenses the shock would be released all at once on whoever held it. Having access to the grid it was a trivial matter loading it with a truly nasty amount of power. Relinquishing control Janet would take the lot down she would see about the vault. The exact mechanism wasn't as important as finding the right circuits to activate in order to make the thing unlock. On chance of not getting in she would reinforce the foundation rather than the vault. Either way she would place spears in various nearby rooms inside, behind, and among other items. Erecting barriers she would attempt to wall off as many doors and hallways as possible. She could drop them in a moment's notice as moving may be needed. 
 
Trixy, for her part, worked along side Janet when creating her barriers. She also grew some vines over the ventilation system should something try to get through. Otherwise though, she continued to enact the strategy they thought up.
 
[color=CCBFFF]”We don’t know when they’re coming, but I think this’ll be enough.”[/color] They were never going to cover every possible tactic the enemy could attack with. All they could do was their best.
 
[hr]
 
The time passed by, silence and each other the only company that was available. The  basement below the museum was mostly used for storage and staff needs, which was why the vault was down there. Their preparations went off without a hitch, barriers erected, vents covered, decoys laid down. Mostly concentrated in the basement of the museum, it would be a mixture of physical and magical barriers.
 
Come 1 AM, and….nothing would be happening. It seemed calm and very boring in the museum right now. If one did not notice the all but silent failing of barriers along the way to the vault, and the psychic presence of not just two, but three minds total. It seemed the information they had been given was slightly incorrect. 
 
The heist was on. 
 
Having been keeping track of Trixy, she would get a psychic message from the Beacon girl. [i][color=khaki]I have three minds. They’re working their way through the barriers toward the vault right now.[/color][/i] Janet had positioned herself in a room adjacent to the vault door. Putting a little more focus on the intruders she hoped to get a little more information about them. What they were thinking off the top and perhaps something about their magic if she could manage.
 
Reaching out with her mind, Janet would get a few details. One girl, Isabelle, had gravity magic and was destroying her barriers with that as well as a sword. Another girl, Alba, had Sound magic, which she was using to mute any indication of their presence via noise. There was less from the third girl, aside from being in a close relationship with Isabelle. They were focused on the task at hand, if grumbling about the opposition and preparing for whatever fight might be at hand. 

[color=CCBFFF][i]”Let me see if I can get behind them!”[/i][/color] Trixy was walking a patrol like she said she was going to do, but with the threat spotted, it was time to change tactics. She scrambled up to one of the air ducts. The overgrowth briefly parted so that Trixy could get into position and look outward at the incoming magical girls. It was a bit tight with such a large weapon, but she managed to fit thanks to her ability to contort her body into nearly any shape she wanted. That didn’t mean it was comfortable though.
 
[color=CCBFFF][i]”Come out to the museum, we'll get together, have a few laughs...”[/i][/color] She snorted. [color=CCBFFF][i]”Can’t believe Tetrad couldn’t have come with me for this.”[/i][/color]
 
They were soon drawing near to Trixy’s position, only one barrier left between them and where she had hidden in the vents.  She wouldn’t be able to hear what they were saying because of the sound magic, at least on that side of the barrier. But she could see them. [url=https://i.imgur.com/nFyNE2E.jpg]One girl[/url] hammered at the barrier with a two handed sword, [url=https://i.imgur.com/0mD792u.png]another girl[/url] maintained their silence, holding on to a metal sickle. The [url=https://i.imgur.com/0gcPPuA.jpg]third[/url] hung back, wary for danger without any visible weapons at the moment. At the very least they seemed like they knew what they were doing.
 
One blow, another, the barrier shuddered under the forceful impacts. If there were any last preparations, now was the time. 
 
Useful information. Janet would pass on her findings to Trixy. [i][color=khaki]The one closest to the barrier is using Gravity magic. The one behind her, Sound. Seems like she's blocking out the noise they're making. Not sure about the other one. The first and the last are in a relationship apparently. Something to keep in mind perhaps.[/color][/i] She wasn't entirely sure how relevant that last bit was, but it could be useful to use or be aware of. Passion was a thing that could run both ways. 
 
[i][color=khaki]That barrier won't last long. I may not have sound magic but I bet they aren't expecting to hear anything. When they break through I can provide a distraction.[/color][/i] As far as the senses were concerned, they were all just signals to the brain. And that was something she could take advantage of. She would wait for Trixy's mental response, which was basically instantaneous in the mind space. 
 
Trixy licked her hand and swept her hair back. [color=CCBFFF][i]”I can work with this.”[/i][/color] Trixy also relayed their weapons back to Janet. That the two in a relationship had swords, and the one in the middle had a staff. 
 
With a muted ‘crack’ the barrier shattered, letting the trio pass by. As they drew nearer, Trixy would be able to hear better as she came within the effects of the sound magic. “Stupid barriers,” Alba grumbled. “They want to make this as hard for us as possible before we fight.”
 
“We could always make our own entrance,” Isabelle pointed out as a hand rested on her sword. 
 
The third girl nodded. “We shouldn’t let them lead us into a trap if we can.”
 
Frowning, Alba hummed in thought as she glanced over at the walls. “That may be a good idea. At the very least we might be able to bypass some of these barriers. I told Set we should have brought Marigold but nooo….”
 
Isabelle grinned as she stepped over to the left side wall, knocking on it with a closed hand. “Your confidence in us is overwhelming. Me and Iona will crush anything that stands in our way!” She then prepared to do some ‘creative demolition’ to get them further through the underground levels. They ended up with Alba in front, Isabelle in the middle, and the third girl behind. 
 
As they stepped forward Janet would reach out with her mind. The three would “hear” a shuffling behind the wall they were examining. There was then a deep hum as if the charging of some device just before a loud bang and flash of light. None of this was actually real of course. Complex visuals would take a whole lot longer to force on the mind’s eye. But the girl had essentially applied a mental flasbang against them from a false direction. [i][color=khaki]Now’s the time.[/color][/i] She would send out to Trixy.
 
The trio stumbled at once under the effects of Janet’s psychic magic, earning a string of curses from Alba in the process. They might not know immediately that it was psychic magic, but all of them did not have to think hard to guess what would follow an attack like that.
 
[color=CCBFFF]”Hyea!”[/color]
 
Trixy hurled the seeds as soon as she was told. Some but not all sprouted, forming a ball of woody vines laced with seeds.The ball wasn’t too big when it landed behind the last girl, maybe a foot or so wide at most. But as it rolled, more vines emerged, causing the ball to rapidly expand in size. While her trap ball expanded, she hopped out of the vent and aimed her rifle at the center most girl’s leg.
 
Trixy’s vine ball sprouted behind them, cutting off the exit and reducing the space that they had to work with. Bad when one considered the attack from the two girls appearing in their midst.
 
The Beacon girl herself would rush out of the opposing room to her decoy and charge at the intruders. Ordinarily her speed was above average at best. However, coupled with boosts from Reinforcement and Lightning she would give herself a burst of speed to close the gap. This being the first engagement there was no telling how they would lash out from being startled. Ahead of herself she maintained a barrier, however her target was the one she had less of a read on. For the moment she would avoid using her spear, instead seeking to deck the girl with a solid punch in the confusion.
 
 Janet would have the initiative thanks to her magic, racing in and decking the one she knew the least of. The girl hit the ground with a groan, needing a moment to recover. 
 
“Rica!” Isabelle cried at the impact, unleashing a blast of Gravity magic to push both Trixy and Janet away. It would also keep her from being struck by the bullet at least, though she was still forced to do some fancy footwork to keep from being entangled in roots expanding from the impact. Her sword rose as she growled. “You’ll pay for hurting my sister!”
 
Alba bared her teeth as she flourished her scythe, strumming a rif that energized her and her allies (though not a very in tune one). “Come on, give me a good fight would you,” she challenged as she swang her weapon at Janet to drive her away from the fallen Rica.
 
Bracing herself after being shunted by the gravity magic the Beacon girl would manage to stay on her feet. Sisters huh? Well that helped clarify things just a bit. Thankfully the rushing tactic seemed to work so far. Pretty quickly she was confronted by the sound girl and her weapon. Conceding ground wasn't too much of an issue in this case. The punch was just the opening. [color=khaki]"If you say so."[/color] Summoning her spear Janet would parry the scythe. The other weapon's blade meant it required a pretty wide movement at this distance but that was fine. Keeping this one busy was enough at the moment.
 
Rica, who for the most part would be fine given the general resilience of magical girls, would begin to feel a pressure on her mind. Maybe she hit her head too hard when she fell or the strike was harder than expected. Janet sought to take advantage of the girl's dazed state. There was something almost like a still small voice that grew in intensity. It was a calling. No, a command. Sweet and soft but kept repeating. [i][color=khaki]Sleep.[/color][/i] Depending on Rica's mental faculties and potential residences sleep might start sounding pretty good right about now.
 
Trixy was mid-air when the gravity blast shoved her backwards. She hurdled through the air, but managed to roll onto a prone position once she landed on the ground. Distance was good for her weapon, so there were no problems being thrown further away. 
 
[color=CCBFFF]”You guys are twins?[sub]Twins are pretty cute. [sub]Hot even. [sub]But I’m in a relationship right now. [sub]And I’m starting to enjoy the spanking.[/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub]”[/color]
 
The ball of vines continued to grow. While Trixy was capable of some crazy instantaneous growth, it could only be applied to seedlings, and one at a time. It was a bit like stove top popcorn, where the ball grew the most when the first half of the kernels popped. 
 
Trixy aimed her anti matter rifle. It would have no difficulty ripping through her vine barrier, and she could track all of her potential targets with the nifty scope she had. She fired another round at Isabelle.
 
Metal clashed on metal as Alba’s swing was met by Janet’s spear. A curious eyebrow rose, but after a moment her grin widened just a bit more. “Now this is what I’m talking about,” she agreed before stepping forward as she spun her scythe for a sharp downwards slash. She kept on the offensive, doggedly pursuing the rigorous fight that she wanted.
 
Down below, Rica tensed as she felt the pressure upon her mind. “Get….Get out of my head!’ she yelled before unleashing her magic. Janet would be rooted in place as gravity magic fell upon her, making moving that much more difficult from the force upon her. Rica then shifted, rolling back before rising to her feet. 
 
Isabelle would not be prepared for Trixy’s second shot, clipping her torso with it and sending her stumbling back. “Fuck!” she swore, a hand rising to press against the wound. Not that it stopped the flow of blood, but it helped. “Sis, the artifact,” she called out to the other girl.
 
Then she pointed her sword at Trixy, pained determination on her face. “Get lost,” she snapped before unleashing her magic as well. The ball of vines would be subjected to gravity magic, collapsing in on itself from the pressure until it had been crushed. That would let them see Trixy at the very least, so she wouldn’t be taken off guard like this again. 
 
Spear and scythe were not dissimilar in their design. Long pole with something sharp on the end. On the battlefield they had their place, but the spear rivaled nearly all melee weapons thanks to their reach and simplicity. Even an idiot could figure out a pointy stick. So while Alba had to commit to wider swings Janet would use brief lunges to strike at her opponent before pulling back again. Left like this the Beacon girl could probably crack away and whittle her into submission.
 
That advantage quickly vanishes as her allies came in. Gravity magic, fun stuff. Made moving around harder for sure. It didn't count her out though. Taking the first hit right on Janet grit her teeth as the blade caught her left side. Raising her spear she managed to catch the next one and deflect it over her head. [i][color=khaki]Heads up, it's going dark for a second.[/color][/i] She would mentally communicate to Trixy. 
 
The next low slash would get caught by a barrier. It didn't survive the hit but it didn't have to. A pulse of electricity went out through the room. To the occupants it did nothing, the lights on the other hand flickered and died for a few seconds. She had used the barrier as a step and bolstered her strength to push off into the air. She wouldn't travel very high or far with the gravity pulling her down. The complete darkness wasn't long, but enough time for the Reinforcement girl to rise up and create a platform under her feet. Pushing with the force of her legs and assisted by the gravitational pull she would come down like a boxcar. Hopefully caught off guard Alba would get sandwiched and driven into the concrete floor complements of her friend. Still sensing the mind as the lights came back on Janet was ready to run her spear through her opponent if she had to.
 
The darkness didn’t bother Trixy too much. Her scope let her see through mundane darkness. Her next shot wasn’t aimed at Isabelle, but Alba. She had heard about a possible artifact, and Trixy was going to do her best to shoot it away. Or at the very least, delay Alba in exchanging it. 
 
With Janet in the air, Trixy felt confident she could shoot through Alba’s heel. Anything to lower their mobility.
 
[color=CCBFFF]”Yip!”[/color] Trixy stood up and ran in two different directions. She was only capable of doing this because one of the selves running was actually Dusty, her clone. Once that got to either side of the room, they would lay prone again to resume shooting.
 
“Hah, got you!”’ Alba cried triumphantly as she drew blood, though janret letting herself be hit was not so obviously in the moment. At least, until the lights went out. “H-Hey, what gives?!?”
 
Despite the darkness, Alba was not totally oblivious to what Janet was doing thanks to the sound of her movement. All things considered she probably could have dodged if she had not suddenly been shot in the heel by Trixy. “Fuck!” She went down, foot burning in pain and driven by the force of her falling opponent. A grunt filled the air, scythe clattering out of her grip as the lights came back on. A glare fell upon Janet, who would feel gravity return to normal for her even as Alba screamed a Sound boosted scream at her  head and much more vulnerable eardrums. 
 
Unfortunately Trixy had been mistaken in her target, and Rica produced an ankh from her pocket that was quickly tossed to Isabelle. It began to glow, healing magics applied to the bullet wound from Trixy’s weapon. She nodded to Rica, gesturing towards the Trixy in front of her and applying her Gravity magic to make her gun decide it would much rather be on the ceiling than in her hands. Which could be an issue as the grim faced magical girl stalked forward with her sword ready to deliver some sharp payback. 
 
[color=CCBFFF]”Clearly...”[/color] Trixy rolled up her sleeves. [color=CCBFFF]”You wanna see my moves!”[/color]
 
For her part Rica would turn to position herself near Janet with an eye on the other Trixy, metallic knuckledusters unveiled now on her hands she prepared to react to more gunfire or further magical tricks by the Beacon girl. “So who put you up to this,” she called out. “How much are they paying you to do their dirty work?”
 
Having been a Sound spec once she expected to get yelled at at some point. Didn't stop her from getting a blast to the face. Before it could be sustained though she formed a barrier over the girl's face with an opening directed at Rica. The scream rebounded in the chamber but ultimately the knuckleduster branding girl would get an earful of screaming. They needed to even the odds. Having already been poised to stab the girl on the ground she would pierce one of her lungs. She'd live for now, but would probably go into shock pretty fast from blood and drop in oxygen capacity. If she stayed up she'd have a whole lot harder time operating. Tough as magical girls were, most still had to breathe. Particularly those that relied on projecting their voice. 
 
Either she didn't regard what Rica said or she didn't hear it because her ears were still ringing, but Janet gave no response. The redirected sound wasn't a long lived distraction. Janet would dive and roll for the scythe that had ended up on the floor. She would have thrown it under normal circumstances, but seeing the magic her opponent had it would likely be sent back at her. Instead she held the weapon and angled the blade slightly while the banner would appear and glow on her spear. Trixy and Dusty would feel a boost of magic flow through them. 
 
[i][color=khaki]They're quick learners. Think one of you can deflect a shot off the blade to catch them off guard while they watch the light show?[/color][/i] She would ask Trixy and Dusty. She wasn't quite sure if it would work, but thus far outwitting them had been the best tactic. The seed bullets should have enough elasticity not to explode on impact.
 
Unfortunately, Dusty did not have any magical capabilities to speak of. While she was just as fast and strong as Trixy, she did not possess any magical capabilities or much durability. Even her gun didn’t possess the spectacle of Eros that made Trixy’s shots so precise. 
 
The temptation was there to just charge in. Trixy had done that previously against a pack of weartigers and regretted it. She was capable in close quarters, but there were too many people around to rely on it, especially with her opponents being both intelligent and skilled. 
 
[color=CCBFFF]”So you want to know who I work for? What we’re getting paid?”[/color]
 
She immediately broke into a sprint, Dusty too.
 
[color=CCBFFF]”Haven’t you read my blog?”[/color]
 
But they were running at each other. 
 
[color=CCBFFF]”I do this for kicks!”[/color]
 
Dusty tossed her M107 to Trixy, who tossed her two acorns.
 
[color=CCBFFF]”For my fans!”[/color]
 
Now there were no problems.
 
Trixy did not have her scope, but she did have superhuman speed and accuracy on her side. She wasn’t sure which blade she was supposed to rebound off of, but it likely didn’t matter what she rebounded off of in the long run.
 
Dusty ran for Rica. She didn’t have any magical powers, but Trixy had been able to “program” her acorns to behave a certain way once they hit something with enough force. The first acorn she threw was at the girl’s feet to make the sort of “tree stump trampoline” that Trixy loved to use to get around. The second acorn she placed in her mouth, and kept it pinched between her back teeth. She'd only bite down if it looked like the worst was to come. 
 
“Ack!” A wet sound filled the air as Alba was stabbed, which pretty conclusively ended her sound based attack. Seeing this, Rica’s expression tightened a bit as she ignored the incoming Trixy and sprinted towards Janet. Her magic lightened her for an impressive leap into the air, dodging the acorn mostly by accident. She went for a powerful downwards punch with her knuckledusters before finishing the flip some distance away with the momentum and gravity manipulation.
 
This provided an opening for Alba to swing in, the stab wound much less inhibiting thanks to her Regeneration power. Which certainly explained her eagerness to fight. With Rica as a distraction for her recovery she charged in from the side for a sharp body check as she sought to grapple her scythe out of Janet’s hands with magically provided flexibility. “Give that back!”
 
There was a significant issue coming into play thus far in this fight. Janet and Trixy had the element of surprise a number of times. While Janet thought she was taking advantage of these she clearly was not committing enough to fully make use of these openings. Didn't help that they were learning a lot about their opponents on the fly. Thus was the trouble in smaller conflicts. Still she was internally having some trouble. She wasn't against fighting but she really didn't like hurting people. 
 
They had a job to do though. Getting slammed from above and Alba getting up in her face she had to blink several times. The other girl managed to get a grip on her weapon and the two wrestled for control of it. Janet wasn't going to let go though and sent a shock through the handle, enough to lock the muscles in the sound girls hand and arm. Dismissing her own weapon Janet would use her own weight to push and slam Alba down to the floor with herself on top. A barrier would form around the two to keep the others from interfering. 
 
The defending girl lacked the resolve to see what she set in motion through. Her companion on the other hand. Transforming in a flash Cindy would clamp her hand over Alba's mouth, the metal tips on her fingers digging into the sides of her face. A jolt of electricity would wash through the girl's head disrupting her synapses. Moments after the girl's mind would be assaulted by the ancient's will. [i][color=cyan]I care not whence you came. This city is under my protection. You will learn your place and rise to its defense alongside me.[/color][/i] Like a hand reaching into her head and squeezing the pressure to give in to the command was sharp and relentless. While Cindy had been shaken in the time since joining Janet, the old girl's persona as a leader remained resolute. Bottled up as she'd been she was eager to make use of her host gifts. Simply one of the reasons for forming an agreement. New as Janet may be, she possessed a number of useful skills she simply failed to utilize effectively.
 
Meanwhile Janet made her play. Alba’s grin of triumph would fade quickly as she was grabbed and slammed to the ground, the cut wounds healing quickly as well as the damage from the electric shocks. Rica fell upon the barrier from above, gravity enhancing her punches as she sought to come to her comrades aid. 
 
Two minds battled for control. Alba might not have her age, but she had pride. The fact that this kind of psychic domination was not something done by Cindy or Janet before made it more difficult than it could have been and that gave an opportunity. “I only have….one boss,” she snarled. “And it...isn’t you.” With her Regeneration in play, her arm holding the scythe swung out until it hit the side of the barrier. The blade angled upwards as she stabbed Janet with it, as hard as her mentally assaulted body could manage. 
 
The mental attack would cease almost instantly. In its place Alba's body would seize up as electricity coursed through her before the attack could connect. [color=cyan]"Such a shame."[/color] She would say aloud. A barrier would coil around the girl to hold her further and give Cindy a solid place to grab hold. Hefting the girl up she would swing her like a weapon. The barrier keeping Rica out would disappear and her fist would slam into the paralized Alba. 
 
Bum rushed with a human shield facing away, when Rica would come in contact with the ground a current would run through her as well. She wouldn't be as hindered but it would make moving harder. Driving them toward the wall she would slam the two against the surface. Knowing the gravity girl would likely try and cause them to move with her magic she would anchor herself down with a barrier. Spear summoned and out of reach of Rica's fists she would try and drive the weapon through the two and into the wall. 
 
“Gah!” Another cry tore the air as Alba was electrocuted. Any physical damage was healed by her regeneration of course, but the coiled barrier would prove its own issue. The same could be said for Rica’s blow, though the girl showed little regret. She knew that Alba could take it.
Coming down, Rica winced at the current as it raced through her. She grit her teeth, but did not falter. Cindy would find the weight of her spear suddenly magnified by gravity spec, even as Rica darted to the side and launched a sharp punch at the arm still holding Alba. “The most random powerset,” she grumbled under her breath at the same time. Once Alba was released she would use her flexibility to slip out of the coils, returning her to the fight.
 
The punch knocking the grip loose on Alba, Cindy would shift and Rica would find her weapon magnetically attached to the other girl's fist. The metal knuckledusters would begin to heat up and burn as it began to turn red hot. Up until this point the girl had been content with trying to hinder her opponents with shocks and the like, that time was over. Already physically in contact it was trivial to use her Lightning magic to its full potency. In three quick bursts massive bolts would course through the girl with the very specific intent on guiding it through Rica's heart.
 
Rica’s eyes widened as she realized her error, her weapon fixed in place with magnetism. As it heated she hurriedly tried to withdraw her hand or dismiss her weapon, but was unable to do so before Cindy struck. Her back stiffened, eyes wide as the electricity stabbed towards its target. Then she dropped, hitting the ground with a heavy thud.

Having slipped free of the barrier, Alba took her companion’s fall about as well as one might expect of her. “You’ll pay for that!” A screech filled the air, Sound magic throwing out waves of force that would slam Cindy back into the wall. She grabbed her scythe, and sprinted forward for a savage decapitation strike.
 
While all that was going on, the space between Trixy and Isabelle continued to shrink.
 
Trixy fired two shots at Isabelle. The first was aimed at her sword holding hand, and the second one was aimed at the wall. It would turn into a small gnarled root and bounce off the wall, hopefully knocking the ankh free from her hand. Regardless of what happened, Trixy wouldn’t stop running closer.
 
“It doesn’t have to be like this,” Isabelle said as Trixy charged at her. Her confidence wavered as her hand was struck, healing artifact knocked to the ground before it could finish healing the whole wound. There was less luck with the sword though, mostly because Isabelle had been expecting such a move and was prepared for it. “This isn’t your fight. Just let us have the spear before something happens that you’ll regret. There’s no shame in not becoming involved in a squabble between gods.” She stepped back, fully suspecting that there was some trick at play here.
 
[color=CCBFFF]”A bit late to avoid getting involved, isn’t it? Don’t worry, this ain’t personal.”[/color]
 
There wasn’t anything special about Trixy’s charge. She kept periodically shooting her rifle at Isabelle. As she drew closer though, she’d take a hand off her gun and whip a vine out towards the ankh and pull it towards herself with a quick yank. It was flying straight for Trixy’s open mouth, which was wide enough to swallow the artifact in a single gulp. 
 
Meanwhile, Dusty had given up on chasing the magical girl and had turned to assist Trixy. There were no mindful tactics here, just a straight bum rush for Isabelle.
 
While dealing with incoming gunfire Isabelle noticed Dusty’s approach, as well as the acorn she held on to. “Good. Then i won’t feel bad either,” she retorted before crushing the acorn that Dusty was holding in her cheek.
 
The sound of the acorn being crushed in Dusty’s mouth caused the clone to sigh. The Warehouse, the rave, and now the museum. Surviving wasn’t something she was very good at.
 
The acorn spell was designed to activate when the acorn was subjected to an impact, but there was little difference between being hurled at a wall and being crushed by gravity. Wooden roots emerged from Dusty’s mouth, separating her jaw from her skull and splitting her body down the middle. The roots curled around an empty space in front of her, vaguely looking like the ribcage of some long dead creature. The spell was designed as a desperate attempt to lock someone in place should Dusty only manage to grab hold of them. But in a display of true irony, the roots emerging from Dusty’s body were what did her in. Where there was once Dusty, there was now only dust. 
 
“You should get back together.”
 
The wooden prison was thrown at Trixy, which knocked her off course for a moment. The still growing cage managed to lock around one of her arms. Trixy squeaked in surprise, stumbling as this new weight was attached to her arm. The display was unsightly, Isabelle looked like she was going to have the upper hand. 
 
But Trixy wasn’t out of tricks yet.
 
Trixy expended her mana any time she accelerated the growth of a plant or forced it to move. This is partially why she seldom had her plants do anything more complex than initiate a quick growth spurt. But she had just eaten a magical artifact, and her mana regeneration was in overdrive. The cage climbed over her back, seeds spilled out of her hands, and she was once again in her plant exo-suit. She extended her hands towards Isabelle and charged, vines flying out of her palms 
 
Backing off, her blade flashed in a war of attrition against the outstretched tendrils. But she could not hold for long, and soon found herself pulled into Trixy’s embrace.
 
[color=CCBFFF]”When I said nothing personal, I meant I don’t have to hurt you.”[/color] She sighed. [color=CCBFFF]”My contract isn’t even for a full twenty-four hours.”[/color] Trixy pouted. [color=CCBFFF]”Are you going to behave? You’re kind of cute but I’ll nibble your arms if you make me.”[/color] Her voice made it sound more like she was pleading than a threat.
 
“You won’t, but Set will. The memories of the gods are long, and their capacity for grudges is painful.”

Then she went for a headbutt. Their heads cracked together with a jarring impact, before she tilted herself backwards in Trixy’s embrace. At the same time she brute forced with gravity magic, yanking the exoskeleton forwards to dig into and then through Trixy. The fractured wood was cutting into her back. As the seconds ticked by, it was enough to draw blood. This was not a position Trixy could hold forever.
 
[color=CCBFFF]”Then we’ll make sure he knows you tried your best.”[/color]
 
Isabelle Would be able to free herself from the vines, but not Trixy. As soon as she pulled herself free, the maid lunged out of her “suit” as it crumbled behind herself. She fell onto her stomach, but was close enough that she could take hold of Isabelle's leg. There was no time to be indecisive, she bit through Isabelle’s knee. 
 
Isabelle was prepared, biting down at the bite to her leg and ready with gravity magic to hold Trixy in place so there would be no way to dodge her blade. It might hurt her in the process, but that was something she could live with.
Then she realized what was happening over on the other side of the hallway, bringing such violent notions to a sharp halt. “N-No,” she said, her voice trembling as she reached towards the fallen Rica. “P-Please, save my sister. She’s all I have. I’ll do anything!” Where she could be strong for herself, her resolve had now cracked entirely. How could she do otherwise for her Twin?
 
Isabelle might have been ready to end the fight, but Trixy wasn’t. Or perhaps because of Isabelle’s earlier conviction, she felt this was simply a ruse. She bit through the girl’s leg, and everything below her knee was gone in an instant. Then Trixy scrambled to her feet, holding the girl upright so that she wouldn’t fall over. She ignored Isabelle’s howl of pain
 
[color=CCBFFF]”What did you think I was going to do!?”[/color] Trixy sounded a bit perturbed. Isabelle’s blood was smeared over her chin. [color=CCBFFF]”Alright, just sit tight and I’ll save her.”[/color] 
 
Trixy shoved Isabelle into the remnants of her exosuit, which coiled around her form and locked her in place. Wounded and without a weapon, Trixy sprinted towards the other group of magical girls.
 
Mana was not a problem for Trixy right now. Between the healing artifact and leg she consumed, she was brimming with mana. What she lacked were seeds. Between the exosuit and all the barriers she made, there wasn’t a lot left over for an extended fight. Though there was one stash of seeds that hadn’t been utilized yet.
 
The katamari ball.
 
Isabelle had crushed the mass flat, but packed inside the broken fragments of the vine ball were many seeds that had yet to sprout. Like a soccer pro, she gave what remained of the ball a mighty punt. 
 
The “ball” didn’t go nearly as far as it should have. A wad of broken vines was not the most aerodynamic shape in the world. But Trixy was strong enough to kick it towards the two fighting magical girls. And then, it exploded with growth. It did not discriminate. Alba and Cindy were equal game for the expanding vines. The only one who was spared was Rica, who seemed to be pushed by the vine mass if anything. Eventually, Trixy could bend over and pick up the magical girl. She examined the girl before looking into the mass of vines she had created.
 
[color=CCBFFF]”Are you jerks done fighting?”[/color]
Alba was fully focused on getting her just revenge on Cindy, so much so that like the other fighter she was not prepared for the vines that she was suddenly swept up in. “H-Hey, what gives!” She thrashed, hacking and cutting at her bonds before she caught sight of Isabelle.
“Sorry,” Isabelle muttered, averting her gaze. “I can’t. Not while Rica….”
 
Slammed against the wall, Cindy was ready to respond to the attack. The plant ball however was unexpected and while she attempted to block the vines she was still caught up in the tangle of them. For a moment she glared at Trixy for interrupting her plan. She was not as good with communicating her intentions as Janet had been. [color=cyan]"How this resolves is up to them."[/color] Her head would swivel back to Alba. [color=cyan]"What say you? The means to resuscitate her yet exist, but she has not long."[/color] For her, reviving Rica was a simple matter. The effect she induced was deliberate. Trixy may have sorted it out on her own already. 
 
Alba growled, anger stewing for a few moments before she took a couple deep breaths. “Fine. Yeah, we’re done.” She might not like it, but she knew when the odds were against her. Set, this whole thing had been a mess.
 
With a snap of Trixy’s fingers, the vines parted around the two fighters. The exosuit also released Isabelle, and the wound in her leg was capped off by a wooden growth. It was by no means proper healing magic, but she would not bleed to death. One of the roots also took the form of a crutch under Isabelle’s arm. She then lowered Rika to the floor. 
 
[color=CCBFFF]”Get her up.”[/color] Trixy walked towards her gun, which had fallen to the ground at some point during this fiasco.
 
Brushing her hair back behind her as she stepped forward, Cindy would kneel down by Rica. Stopping for a moment her eyes would look over the girl. She would reach one hand up and rest it on the downed girl’s forehead. Placing one hand against her chest and bringing the other down against her right side she would do her work. It didn’t cause the convulsive effect one might expect, Cindy could be much more precise than that, however after a few seconds her chest would rise as she started breathing again. 
 
Standing she would glance over to Isabelle. [color=cyan]”She is stable, but she will not wake for some time.”[/color] Moving back she would look to Alba, who was the only one capable of carrying the unconscious girl. [color=cyan]”You may take her.”[/color]
 
Still grumbling under her breath, Alba restrained herself from further attacks as she was freed from the vines. Instead, like Trixy, she walked over to retrieve the one surviving Healing Artifact that had been forgotten about in all the chaos. With how the trio, well, duo, looked, they were going to need it.

Isabelle hobbled over, still getting used to operating on one and a half legs even with the crutch that Trixy had provided. Her eyes watered as Rica began to breathe once more, relief evident. “Thank you,” she said with a small bow.

Returning to the duo, Alba carefully hauled the unconscious gravity user over her shoulder. Without another word she turned and began walking out the way that they had came. Isabelle would pause rather than follow them. “I would say you should be careful, but honestly I don’t know. He may try to retaliate directly, or influence things in the future. Or he may not care about this at all. The battle between gods is eternal, so how much this actually matters is beyond my ability to judge.” Having given her pseudo-warning, Isabelle would slowly follow the others out of the museum.

As Isabelle was leaving, Cindy would respond. [color=cyan]”I have no qualms with your god. Please inform Set that your sister’s revival was with the understanding that in doing so it would keep her from the clutches of his brother in the underworld.”[/color] Seeing as the two siblings were in a rivalry, offering acknowledgement of their history could be of help. She knew enough that slighting Osiris in any way would likely be pleasing to the very one that effectively made him the Lord of the Dead.

As they left, silence descended once more. 

[hr]
It would be several hours before Thomas returned, plenty of time for them to recover and deal with the mess that had been made by the brief yet fierce fighting. The sun had not yet risen, though the time for it to do so was drawing near.

“Hello?” Thomas called as he stepped into the area where the spear had originally been stored. “Is anyone here?” 

Recognizing the mind, Janet would emerge from further in the building with the spear. It was still in the protective barrier they’d placed on it the day before. [color=khaki]”Thomas, good to see you.”[/color] Raising the artifact for him to see she would offer a smile. [color=khaki]”As you can see all is well with the target.”[/color] She wasn’t quite going to remove the shielding just yet. Didn’t hurt to be cautious.

Trixy approached Thomas from the side, almost like she had been waiting in ambush for him. She hadn’t conversed much with Janet/Cindy since the last group of magical girls were repelled. [color=CCBFFF]”You’re early.”[/color] Was all she said before extending her hand. 
Thomas nodded to Janet, pleased to see that the artifact was still there. While she was cautious, his mind and that of his familiar would read as the same as when they had last seen each either. “I’m glad to see it.” 

Turning to Trixy, he would address her question as well. “Neith let me cut a couple of the less important rituals short when she became aware of the fighting here. If I promised to do it later, of course.” It took him a moment to realize what she was indicating, before his eyes widened. He turned his head, nodding to his Familiar. The ferret raced down and retrieved the acorn from his pocket, before scurrying along his outstretched arm to place it in Trixy’s hand. “One acorn, as requested.”

Trixy looked over the acorn. [color=CCBFFF]”I doubt my lady approves of your mistress’s games. Less so when she involves her agents in them.”[/color] She slid the acorn into her pocket. [color=CCBFFF]”When Veronica beckons, she’d better pull through.”[/color] Trixy took a step back and folded her arms.

Seeing the acorn Janet would place her other hand on the barrier and it would break with a crack of thunder. It apparently had a good amount of charge around it that would have done a number on most other magical girls. [color=khaki]”Then we’re done.”[/color] She placed the spear back in its case.

“She will,” Thomas assured Trixy. He was as sincere as he could be, whether she believed it or not. A wince followed at the crackle of thunder, but could appreciate how seriously they had taken this. “Good luck in whatever comes your way next.” 

A subtle nod was the only thing Trixy did to acknowledge the boy before turning around to leave.

Janet would give a brief salute and follow Trixy out the door. As they left Thomas turned to the case, kneeling as he resumed carrying out his Goddess' rituals. Silence fell in the museum once more