“S. maybe it is best to leave him alone.” The girl had guts. You had to give her that. Why was she so interested in that guy? Was it because he was dangerous? The twins seemed to share your unease. You know Shelly was a powerful fighter, but pulling a stunt like this? Minutes before an important meeting? You hoped she had a plan.

“You heard him. Leave me be… and prove to me that you’re just a coward. Or step closer and let me see for myself if you’re as… capable as you claim.” The voice hiding in the darkness growled, dripping with malice. A challenge. A power play. Maybe this wasn’t a bad idea after all. Shelly wasn’t one to be underestimated. Not everyone had a winning record against Sora. And as far as you knew, she was the only one to survive a direct fight with those monstrous Hunters that attacked the city not too long ago. Nothing to scoff at.

Shelly smirked as she walked forward, her silhouette vanishing into the shadows. Oh no. You knew that smile. You barely had time to react. The sound of ripping concrete echoed through the air, the floor crumbling into the levels below. Above, through a gaping hole in the roof, you caught a glimpse of Shelly, floating midair. And that smile. That predatory smile of hers. Full of malice. Full of cruelty. Like a wolf toying with its prey.

Rust-coated blades erupted from the darkness, slashing toward her as a barrage of stabs were directed at impressive speeds. She spun gracefully through the air, avoiding them all. More blades emerged, trying to catch her, as the man started climbing up through the roof with another set of blades behind him.

The monster battling your monster.

It was a man with a gas mask. His short, black hair was messy. Almost oily. His torso… was barely a torso at all. More like a grim, mechanical carcass. Constant fumes billowed from exhaust pipes, gears spun, and pistons hissed as his metal body clanked into motion. He had no true arms or legs, only metal replacements, rusted and jagged. But there weren’t just four limbs. He had eight. No, a dozen spider-like appendages, each tipped with blades, each one of them as long as yourself. It was a grotesque marvel of biological engineering. Fascinating, and… terrifying.

“Wow…” One of the twins murmured. The three of you stood watching the spectacle unfold. A floating girl, dodging the monster’s relentless stabs and slashes, laughing all the while. She didn’t even bother to draw her weapons. She was having her fun. Sure, she had the upper hand with her ability to hover, but dodging this number of attacks in such a short time? It was like watching a child with a stick try to swat a butterfly.

(1/?)

“S, do you need…?” You started, hoping Shelly might hear you, but she was too focused. She watched the fight intently, eyes glued to Bayfor’s movements. You could yell at her to stop, but doing so might reflect poorly on your faction. Sure, she was an underling and maybe overstepping, but calling her out like a child would hurt her reputation. And by extension, yours, in the eyes of your allies.

“If only Miss Malachite were here to see this show. I’ve heard she’s a great fan of fights.“ You remarked, testing the waters with the twins. “She didn’t come for security reasons, I assume?”

“Correct.” The girl with the white dress replied. “This was a high-risk event, and exposing her in the open would make her vulnerable to attacks. But don’t worry. we’re more than capable of handling this meeting for her. Besides, we’re no pushovers. Don’t you think, sis?”

“Of course, sis.” A few seconds passed as she stayed engrossed in the fight. “Maybe, in the future, if this meeting proves fruitful, we might consider having her attend the meetings in person. She’s spoken very highly of you. Says you’re a professional, a charmer, and quite the cute young man.” She turned to you, winking and blowing a kiss. “And I can tell you, she was right.”

They thought their charms would sway you. Foolish. You knew exactly who they were. Assassins. You’d done your homework. They botched a mission in Vale, were defeated in a two-on-one fight, and because of that, mommy brought them back here. Trained in seduction, they were trying to win you over. Bad luck for them. Your heart had withered long ago.

Still, better not to underestimate them.

“I’m flattered… send her my regards as well. And tell her she’s lucky to have such beautiful daughters. She must be proud.” You could play their game. Above, the fight raged on, Shelly now parrying with her weapons to deflect strikes she couldn’t dodge. Was she in trouble?

“Oh, no you didn’t say that.” The girl in the white dress chuckled, while her sister blushed and looked away. “Let’s talk about having fun some other time. I’m sure my sister would love to get to know you better.”

“No, I don’t.” The girl in red, still flustered, crossed her arms and turned away, pouting. Oh, the hearts of the young. So easily stirred.

A loud clank echoed. Shelly was in the air, blades crossed with all of the cyborg’s multiple limbs. A contest of strength. Was Shelly strong? You couldn’t remember. You knew she was graceful. Was she in trouble? She licked her lips, savoring the moment, her eyes glowing red again. You’d promised to help per uncover the truth behind her condition, to find out why she had it.

If only Carmine would stop withholding the information… but there was no talking her out of it.

>Let Shelly do her thing. She knew what she was doing. Maybe even encourage her a little. Let her defeat the freak.
>Victory wasn’t guaranteed. You had your handgun available at any moment. Ambush tactics were your forte. Ask her if she wanted help. She could hear you.
>Intervene. A few shots in the air, tell them both to calm down. You had a meeting, and they’d had their fun. You trusted Shelly wouldn’t be as reckless as Sora. She’d hear you out. As for Bayfor? It didn’t matter. It would look bad on the Black Sheep if he didn’t stop. Win-win.
>Other (Write-in)

>>6183806
>>Let Shelly do her thing. She knew what she was doing. Maybe even encourage her a little. Let her defeat the freak.