Garnet on the Astral Plane

When he got back, the place was wrecked. He checked Mari's room, no sign of her. He checked his own room, which had also been torn apart. Then he went to Potash's office, there he found Sammy getting checked by a doctor. He shoved his way through to his brother, and knelt in front of him. "I can't leave to get a pizza without you guys getting in trouble. What happened?"

"Potash has been Potash-napped. And apparently there's an infiltration of the astral plane going on right now. Lockdown has been lifted so agents can go help with security. Ugh, what horrible timing for everything."

"Anyone else not accounted for?"

Sammy shrugged. "Not sure. I got knocked around a bit and haven't been able to go check yet. Just telling you what I heard from an agent a few minutes ago." The doctor gave Sammy a few crystals.

Ilias eyed them. They looked different. "Those aren't the experimental stuff they tried to get me when I got here, right?"

"We've made a few tweaks to that after synthesizing information from trial runs. These edible crystals are the next version of what you tried."

"Those won't make you explode, right?"

The doctor looked at Ilias strangely. "Of course not. They've been thoroughly tested."

"I thought there was like a 0.0019 chance of that."

"Y-you heard wrong. Clearly."

Behind the doctor, Sammy paused in the middle of bringing the crystals to his mouth. "Say what?"

"I say stick with the stuff that isn't experimental. The ikrrr has just been kidnapped. We dont need people dying."

The doctor sighed, but brought out a container of familiar rose quartz crystals, the medical standard. "Well, Sammy, if you'd prefer slower healing, you can use these instead."

"Ah. Yeah. I'd rather not be in the small percentage that explodes, thanks."

Ilias was satisfied, and went to go ask someone else for unaccounted people.

The chair was quite uncomfortable. Potash's wrists were starting to hurt from the pressure of the ropes. She'd tried to wriggle out of them, but they were tied tightly enough to chafe against her skin whenever she moved. She could do it, given time, but she had no idea how much time she had. And if they came in before she was finished, they'd tie her up even more securely, and she'd be worse off than she was now.

As she thought that, the door opened again. Potash stopped moving. It was Ome again.

"Welcome back."

"Hello!" Ome smiled. "How are you?"

"Concerned, honestly."

"Concerned?"

"Yes. I have been kidnapped, after all. Knowing your plans for me may help assuage my concern, however."

"We'd just like to show you the truth. Of course you have all options. But uh, I do have a question."

"Yes?"

"Do you think the government could have a secret branch that made assassins? I mean look at Skater. He's never been caught and it's been years. He's killed a lot of people."

Potash pressed her lips together. "It's not for lack of trying, I assure you. The government isn't perfect; I'll be the first to admit that. But we're doing our best. Trust me, I want to see Skater behind bars just as much as you do."

"What do you think he's like? Like if you met him, face to face?"

"I really do not need to know more about Skater, or ponder his personality. I would handcuff first, think later."

"What about Veilnom? She's been more active recently."

"Same thing there. If I had my way, all assassins would be chained up somewhere they could do no more harm." Potash gritted her teeth. So much paperwork, hours of work each day, yet she never felt closer to tracking down those assassins. It was frustrating, to offer an understatement.

"I'm with you on that. But is it possible someone in the government is creating assassins and not stopping them?"

"For what purpose? There doesn't seem to be a pattern as to who Skater and Veilnom assassinate," Potash said skeptically. "Lightness, they've assassinated government figures as well."

"Fear. They create fear and people look for a leader."

"Ah, so you mean the same tactic that anti-government groups like yours use."

"We don't use that!" Ome seemed taken aback at that.

"Oh yeah? And what do you call kidnapping people and whatever chaos is going on with the invasion of the astral plane right now?"

"We're seeking potential allies. And we want to have more rights. We don't have ready access to crystal healing."

"Uh-huh... You think an agent who's been working in the government for nearly a decade is a potential ally."

"I don't know why they chose you specifically, they think you'd be more open minded to see our side of the story."

"Interesting. And what is your side of the story?" Potash could hear them out, at least. However, she wouldn't be betraying the government. Yes, she saw the injustices and inequalities. But she also knew it could be far, far worse.

She smiled apologetically. "That's not for me to tell you. Mrs. Carnitas should be arriving tomorrow."

"I see." Fake name? Or real? There was indeed a Carnitas family, of which Potash had met a few members in-person. "Thank you, Ome."

Ome nodded. "Anything else I can get you?"

"Maybe another sandwich. I am rather hungry now."

"Of course!" Ome left, and after a few minutes which felt like eternity, she returned with a good sized sandwich.

Potash leaned forwards and chomped on the sandwich. Hm. Kinda bland, but not bad. She swallowed and mumbled, "Thanks."

Ome nodded, and left.



"Your brain," someone announced dramatically, "shall now be washed. Prepare yourself."

It was a woman with curly brown hair, and in general she was generic, except she didn't seem very lady like.

"That... is concerning," Potash said. She raised an eyebrow at the woman.

"Well come on, we always bathe ourselves, sometimes a brain just needs freshening!"

"I... see. The connotations of brainwashing are very, very negative, however."

"In what way?"

"In that it's forcibly making someone change their opinions." Potash started trying to work her way free of the bonds again.

"Well I'm just freshing it, not completely making it go under a chemical change."

"The fact that we're even talking about freshening up my brain worries me a great amount."

"What? Do you never relax?" The woman pulled out crystals and started to lay them on the floor around Potash.

"Relaxing gets you killed." One hand... Maybe... If she could just get one wrist free... She suddenly felt tickled. Potash straightened in the chair. What- She felt it again, like a little rat was scurrying across her, dragging a feather duster. "What was that?"

"What was what?"

"The tickling sensation. The crystals. They're connected, aren't they?" She'd never heard of crystals that could cause tickling, though.

"The crystals are there just to help you relax."

Potash stifled a laugh as if suffocating it with a pillow. "I don't feel relaxed. I feel the opposite of relaxed."

"Hm. I'll check on it later, I have somewhere else to be. Bye!"

"Wait-"

The woman left. Potash felt the tickling sensation again, stronger. And she knew that something was deeply, deeply wrong.

(889 words)

Mid was bored already. How long had he been here? He couldn't remember. Ome walked in, sandwich on plate.

"That sandwich doesn't have bread in it, does it?"

"It does." She held the sandwich to his mouth.

"Aw, shucks. I wanted to try a breadless sandwich sometime."

"I'm sure I can arrange that later."

"Cool." Mid nibbled at the sandwich.

"Would you like pickled toes with it?"

"Depends on the kind of toes."

"Pickled."

"With vinegar?"

"Pickle juices."

"Yum." Mid nibbled on more of the sandwich, then got bored and wolfed it down in two large bites.

"So where do you think assassins come from? Where do they get their supplies?"

"The black market. Or sheep pastures, idk."

"Don't you think it could be possible that the government creates them?"

"Well, everything has an origin, I guess. Gonna be honest, I wasn't expecting assassins to be nefarious lab-grown experiments, but I'm not surprised." Mid grinned.

"Really?" She perked up a bit. "I mean like especially the ones that never get caught seem to have government aid at times, it's insane."

"Wow, it's almost like being lab-grown gave them special abilities."

"Exactly!"

"Oh, no, should we be worried about a new race of superhumans? Are we going to become obsolete?" deadpanned Mid.

"Well I dont know if we will reach that point- but it could happen in the future. Look at the Klalicks."

"True, that. You don't think the assassins are Klalicks, do you? I mean, on the one hand, it could be difficult to do all their stabby stabby stuff with only five fingers, but on the other, the claws could help."

"Not all assassins are 5 fingered. They don't seem to be the religious nuts, maybe just the people without religion."

"Mmmmmmm," Mid said. "Well, other than theorizing about assassins, what's on the schedule for today?"

"You've got a vis-"

Ome cut off as the door opened, and a woman walked in. Actually, he kinda doubted that after the first few seconds. She had the gait of a dude, scratched her face like a dude, and burped like one. "Out girl, don't you have others to chat with?"

Mid looked at the newcomer. "Good evening." He had no idea whether it was evening or not.

"Are you good with time?"

"Sometimes!"

"Well, it's morning. Today, I'll be washing your brain!"

"Ah, good night, then. And good luck with all the gunk and stuff that's been collecting in the nooks and crannies."

"OOuh, a challenge!"

Mid nodded and leaned back as much as he could in the chair. Brainwashing, eh? With words, or something else?

"Well, this here is a really nice method, it really freshens the brain." She started to set down crystals around him.

Ah, crystals. That did not bode well. Or maybe it did. Mid was fairly certain his brain was a tangle of weeds and pasta strands for anyone who wasn't him. Maybe it would implode him if he did something wrong. The woman paused at one crystal. Then she set it down and put her ear to the floor. Honestly, she shouldn't be wearing a dress and doing that. She got up and grumbled. "Can't tell when it's just a rat or it's a spielanx down there."

"Maybe it's a fly wanting revenge for all of its cousins that you killed. Bzzzzzzzzz."

"Flies don't make crunching sounds except when being killed. Anyways, toodles!" Out the woman went.

"They do when they're munching on potato chips-" Eh, she wasn't listening, huh. Mid looked at the crystals. He wasn't sure whether they looked back. They probably were, so he should find a way to get outt-

A tickling sensation started to shiver up his spine. This time, he was rather certain it wasn't a fly. Mid barked an involuntary laugh. Huh. Laughing felt good, so why not laugh more? Mid laughed until he was rocking in his chair, and then there was a loud thump and he and his chair were rolling on the ground, scattering crystals left and right. The tickling sensation decreased slightly.

The crystals were creeping Mari out. She was fairly certain they wouldn't kill her, but crystals could have any manner of other creatively harmful effects. The lady who'd seemed like a dude had said something about brainwashing...

Ah, it tickled. It felt like bubbles in the pool, rising up against her arms and fizzing against her skin- Mari stifled a giggle. The woman left.

The tickling sensation increased as the panic rose within Mari. She couldn't feel any physical effects other than the tickling, which only increased her concern, because it meant there were likely internal effects. She hopped on her chair across the room, hoping to escape the crystals, but was stopped short by the rope pulling tight, keeping the chair on a tight radius from the heavy cabinet. A floorboard popped up. Mari whipped her head around to stare at it. Another one popped up next to it and hands grabbed onto the floor, a person getting ready to pull themselves up.

Mari looked for a weapon. Nothing except the chair itself. She hopped closer to the floorboard, positioning the chair so it could topple into the floor, just in case. The person probably wasn't affiliated with the JULIETs-- she'd recognized the brainwashing lady as having been at the meeting--but they could very well be from another hostile group. The person pulled themselves up smoothly.

"Identify yourself or--" Mari gasped out a laugh-- "face the wrath of the chair." The tickling sensation refused to abate. Tears came to her eyes from trying not to burst out in incapacitating laughter.

"That, is the worst threat I have ever heard. And I've heard some fairly bad ones." She knew that voice!

"Oh, Ilias!" Him being here seemed hilarious for some reason, so Mari gave up on holding back her laughs. "I'm dying of laughter. Possibly literally, I fear. Also I think the government has been lying to us and- wait. Huh. Yes, I think my brain is getting a thorough scrubbing." She scrabbled at pieces of memory, but they floated away like bubbles in the air. She worked for the government, didn't she? But no, clearly the government was corrupt, and the JULIETs were right to overthrow them and... Mari shook her head, but her thoughts only crashed into each other like opposing waves canceling each other out.

Ilias picked up a crystal, and took off the wrapping. Then he scattered the other crystals. No more tickling. He wore dark grey clothing, like what he wore as an assassin. He was covered in dirt.

Mari took a moment to recover from her fit of laughter. She took a few deep breaths, then took stock of her thoughts, going over facts and recent events. Mari remembered now. She'd kidnapped Ilias to get to the astral plane, but her target, Dr. Ghee, had already been assassinated. She and Ilias had killed that assassin and then their employer, then been kidnapped from the hospital by Mid and Potash, and started working for the government. Mari felt a few strands of suspicion when she thought of the government. Were those the result of the partial brainwashing? Finally, she greeted Ilias. "I may have been a bit brainwashed, but I'm good now. D'you have a knife on you for these ropes?"

"Please, me without knives?" He pulled out a knife, and got to work on her ropes. It was nice and sharp, cutting through the rope easily.

"...wouldn't be you at all," she finished. "Right. Come on, let's see what else is here. Two hostiles have visited-- Ome and the lady who set these crystals up. Likely others in the building. Also, maybe you're the one who needed some brainwashing or at least washing, because it looks like you tracked in half the isle." Mari rubbed her wrists to get her circulation going again, then headed for the door.

"You go ahead and walk out, I'll remain dirty but unknown until someone comes to check on you. They have Mid and Potash." Ilias said from behind her. "You've definitely got more hostiles than just two. Much more."

Mari sighed and scanned the room. "Alright, then. We'll need to prepare. Think you can rewire those crystals into something useful?" She went over and poked at the floorboards Ilias had lifted. If they could locate Mid and Potash's rooms... "If you find Mid, I can find Potash. I might stroll along the hallways and pretend I've been brainwashed if I run into anyone. Even if I'm exposed, I can at least run now."

Ilias inspected the crystal. "I already know where they are. If the crystals worked that quickly on you..."

"Then we don't have any time to lose. Where are they?" Mari mentally facepalmed. If Ilias could target her room, he probably knew where the others were. Still, her thought about pretending she'd been brainwashed could confuse the JULIETs for a few precious seconds, if needed.

He started to wire the crystals. Within a few minutes he wired 2 of the 4. He then jumped down, under the floorboards. Mari wedged the chair against the door and tied it to furniture on the sides, then followed. Hopefully that would buy them a few minutes. Once she was down he handed her the 2 wired Crystals. "Those will create hallucinations, and are meant to be thrown. Try not to be in it's range. Go to the left until you see a white marking on a floorboard, Potash will be over there, I'll get Mid."

Wiring the other crystals he headed his way. Mari glanced at the crystals in her hand, then gripped them tightly and headed left.

She held the cloth of her shirt under her nose to keep the dust out as she crept along under the floorboards. Her thoughts regarding the government were still turbulent. But more than that, she was concerned at the pace at which mind-altering tech had advanced. She'd heard about crystals influencing one's emotions a few months ago, but targeting a specific concept and changing one's opinions of it? That was scarily advanced.

Mari didn't get overwhelmed easily. But with everything they'd gotten themselves into these past few weeks... Her ribs throbbed suddenly. She winced. It really wasn't a good time. Mari'd thought she'd been mostly healed, but getting kidnapped likely didn't work wonders for her health. She gritted her teeth and moved on.

Alright, she had to plan. Was there some lab she could stock up in? Mari looked up through thin cracks in the floorboards as she snuck through the building.

One crack revealed a small laboratory. Mari waited until the scientists left, then punched her way up out of the floor from under a table. Quickly, she pocketed the gems, found conveniently-labeled chemicals in the cabinets, made a few of her signature mixtures, and stored those in her pockets as well. Finally, she dropped a beaker to the floor to shatter it. She grabbed the largest shard and ducked back under the floor.

Mari kept going. There! The white marking. Mari peeked upwards through a crack in the floorboards. Potash was sitting in a chair, surrounded by four crystals, looking very stressed. So, like usual. Oh. Except she kept laughing every five seconds, which wasn't usual.

Mari checked to see that the rest of the room was empty, then pushed up the floorboards.

"Great, you're here."

"Hey, Potash." Mari rose from the floor, kicked two crystals out of the way, then got to work on Potash's bonds, using the sharp and jagged edge of the shard to saw across the ropes.

"Better." She sighed. "I've been in the government so long, the things I should know...."

"Ah." Mari looked at Potash as she collected the crystals from the ground. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how brainwashed do you feel?" She went to the door and poked her head to the left and right. Nobody. Perfect.

"We should help them, I'm in an ideal position- no." Potash rubbed her head.

"Gonna take that as a solid five. Let's get out of here." Mari motioned Potash towards the door. "Ilias wired the crystals to create illusions. Can you do something similar with these?" She handed the crystals that were previously on the floor to Potash.

"No, I can't. I cant move against them they're good-" Potash stopped.

"Never mind. Just follow me."

Potash just nodded, her hair looking worse than she's ever seen it. That was not a good sign.

Mari checked again for people coming, then left the room and followed the emergency exit signs. They'd move faster through the hallways than under the floors. She looked back at Potash, hoping whatever damage the crystals had done could be fixed.

(1453 words)

Ilias was glad to have been able to find all three in one place, but he was also annoyed. The supposed classified branch was no longer classified, and the building had been breached, taking the most important members, and a friend. One he realized had gotten close enough to notice their absence which bothered him. The little voice in the back of his head told him how it was dangerous.

But he had kept pushing it aside, focusing on getting the three out. He didn't realize how powerful the crystals were. He should have gotten Potash first. Then Mid, then Mari. It did help that there could be two people at a time though. He pushed up the boards in Mid's room, to see Mid had managed to knock over his chair.

Mid was also rolling on the floor laughing. Literally. He came close to kicking Ilias in the face before he realized he wasn't alone in the room. Slowly, Mid regained control of himself and stopped in a sitting position. "That was a stupendous laugh."

"I could tell. You didn't hack up any organs, right?"

"Nope. Probably not. Unless my brain is an organ?" Mid rolled his eyes upwards. "Nevermind, brain's still there."

"Does it feel feel different?"

"My brain feels different every morning."

"Are you wanting to help the people who tied you to a chair and put you inside a circle of crystals like a cult sacrifice?"

"If they have good margaritas, sure." Mid grinned. "Actually... I do feel..." He looked thoughtful for a moment, then continued, "...an overwhelming need to sneeze. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaachooooooooo! Anyways, yes, let's overthrow the government!"

Not good. He was no expert with crystals, so he had no idea if they'd recover. "How about we get out of the building first? Then we can worry about the government."

"Okie dokie hokie pokie." Mid attempted to roll towards the door, but was stopped by the ropes tying his chair to a dresser. Ilias sighed, and cut him free.

"Now, let's go travel under their feet, shall we?" Ilias pointed to the lifted floor boards.

"Wheeeeee!" Mid rolled towards the floor boards.

"That's a 4 ft drop Mid-"

Mid dropped and landed with a loud "whump!" It was silent for a moment, then Mid said, "Ouch." And then, "Can I do that again?"

"Yeah sure, just not today." Ilias jumped down.

"Fine, fine. So, what mystical lands are we heading towards?"

"Potash and Mari."

"Oh, the potato and the calamari, got it." Mid started to whistle as he jumped onto the side of the narrow space.

"Yeah, that's it."

"I think... I need to sneeze again."

"Don't do it. Please. I'll punch you if it'll help."

"No, it wouldn't; it'd only-" Mid paused. "Aaaaaaahchoooooooeaurgh."

Ilias debated why he was still saving the guy. He heard commotion above him, and looked for a good crack to peek through.

Mid wiped his nose and dropped back to the floor. Ilias couldn't see much. He moved to a different floorboard. Mid hummed very, very quietly. Not that it'd be heard by those people. He saw Mari, who was dragging Potash along the hallways. They'd almost reached the exit, but unfortunately, there was a large crowd of people blocking them from the door. Amid the shouts of alarm, one person started to aim a tranquilizer at them.

As he watched, Mari tossed a crystal at the clump of people, then whirled around and sprinted in the opposite direction, still towing Potash behind her. It took effect, freezing the original spielanxes in place as they were caught up in the illusion, but more people replaced them, following Mari. Without waiting, he grabbed Mid and moved as fast as he could. Losing 2 ft of space hurt his back.

The shouts got louder. There was an explosion, and then the shouts returned in full force again. Ilias kept going. Once he could see Mari, he broke the floor boards and launched himself up, taking Mid with him.

The kidnappers scattered before him, yelling in shock. Mari grinned, then tossed another vial at the ground, creating a blast that tossed a few others back. So she was the source of the explosions. Figured.

There was another exit door about ten feet ahead of them. And only about... ten or so people to get through. These seemed better equipped, with light protection and a few crystals. A security team? A few knives should do it. Ilias looked at Mari and Potash. Potash looked to be slightly dazed, though she snapped back to clarity every few moments and looked at the scene critically. She punched a kidnapper, then staggered back, frowning at her fist.

Behind Ilias, Mid yodeled. Mid started singing about dancing banana peels as he narrowly avoided a crystal to the face. They wouldn't be of any help. He shared a glance with Mari, and she knew it too. She gave him a grim nod and tossed another vial that grew vines, trapping three kidnappers against the wall. Potash startled to attention at seeing that. The Ikrrr frowned. Also not good.

Six kidnappers left. But a few members of the original group were rounding the corner into the hallway, now freed from the illusion crystal Mari had thrown at them. The incoming kidnappers' expressions were determined.

They had to get out of this mental asylum.

They weren't far from the door. Ilias looked to the two agents. They could recognize his fighting... was it worth it? He looked at the incoming people as well as the ones in their way. The ones in their way tossed a crystal that exploded mid-air, sending a wave of heat at his face. The incoming people pulled out their own armaments.

It was worth it. He pulled out 2 knives, and he threw them. He hit his targets with 2 knives, assuring death. He danced around another, before sweeping him off of his feet and slicing him. Ilias, Mari, Mid, and Potash ran closer to the door. Just a few feet...

As the last three fighters engaged Mari and Ilias, the incoming kidnappers started to shout. "Agents Mid and Potash! Mari and Ilias are not who they say they are!"

Mari tossed a vial at them, releasing a cloud of smoke that sparked gold, but they quickly resumed shouting.

"Ilias is Skater and Mari is Veilnom-- they're the very assassins you've been trying to hunt down!"

Mid and Potash turned to stare at Mari and Ilias. Well, there was that. Ilias didn't dare meet their eyes. "Let's go."

Mari pushed open the door, adding more alarms to the cacophony. They dashed out of the building.

They were on a different rock, which meant being in a vehicle with the two. Ilias had found a taxi near the building when he had left to get the three, with no one in it. So he just sort of borrowed it. He opened the driver door and got in.

Mari tugged Mid and Potash into the backseat. They still seemed sluggish, possibly from the brainwashing, though Potash did give them a look that ensured a lengthy discussion later.



Ilias parked in front of the building, and opened the door for Potash and Mid. Mid stumbled out first, followed by Potash, who was unsuccessfully trying to smooth her black hair back into a bun. Mari looked at them in concern. Ilias looked to Mari.

We've just gotten ourselves in trouble, haven't we? He tapped.

A mountain of trouble, yes. Possibly a whole isle. The whole plane?

The whole two planes.

Mari nodded and grimaced. Ilias focused back on the two agents, Mid was opening the door. Ilias followed, feeling a deep sea in his gut.

Ikrrr Potash straightened her posture as she entered the building.

Ilias stood there quietly for a second. Mid spoke up. "So you're telling me, this entire time you could have actually done those stretches?"

"Yeah."

The Ikrrr turned around and eyed Ilias and Mari. "Now then." Her voice shook slightly, but she'd regained much of her usual confidence. "Care to explain all of that while in the holding cells?"

Ilias looked to Mari again.

She grimaced more, as if she'd chewed a lemon and then swallowed it whole. "...If we must. We did just save your lives, though, if that helps our case..."

"It doesn't excuse those you murdered." Potash stated. "Hand over your weapons."

Mari sighed. She glanced back at Ilias. He has anxiety that made him feel like puking, just like Mari upon first entering the astral plane. But he hid that the best he could, and resigned, pulled the knives and 2 Crystals off of himself, and held them out to her. Mari handed over her vials and the last illusion crystal.

Potash pocketed the weapons, then stalked down the hallway without another word, apparently expecting them to follow. Mid, who held open the door, motioned with his head for them to enter. Ilias looked at him, and actually saw pain. Betrayal.

Ilias went in after Mari, still haunted by the look on Mid's face. Had he really gotten that soft over the years? Now it would more than likely cost him his life. He remembered the last thing his master said, and now he couldn't get it out.

They drew looks from agents as they passed. A few whispered amongst themselves, likely commenting on the burn marks and raggedness of their appearances. Yes, they did look like they'd been caught in an astral storm, didn't they?

Finally, they reached the one place they'd never been: the building's prison. No one else was there. Potash pointed to two cells. "In." Her lips were pressed into a thin line, and her finger trembled subtly. She pulled her arm back before anyone else could notice.

Mari threw a last glance at Potash and Mid, then entered the left cell. Ilias didn't look back, he entered before turning around, standing in the center of the cell. Mid closed his cell while Potash closed Mari's, and the two left. They didn't hesitate as they walked away.

There was a hard cot, a sink, and a toilet. Ilias could see Mari, through bars. So they could still talk. Ilias turned on the faucet, and splashed his face with water. It washed everything off. He leaned over the sink, eyes closed as he felt the dirt and cosmetics drip down.

He heard the sound of Mari's faucet for a few minutes as well, and then Mari was quiet for a while. Finally, she said, "Never knew someone could look even more disappointed in me than my mother." She tried a laugh, but it faded before it could live fully.

"It hurts more. Especially when you get to know them. This is why I remained distant for so long." He splashed his face with more water.

"Yes, perhaps that's a better tactic." Mari tapped on the wall. It didn't seem like she was tapping messages in their code; she was just tapping mindlessly. "I just thought- it just..." She lapsed into silence again. "...Well, whatever I thought might happen doesn't matter any more. This is our current reality," she said resignedly.

"Just know, I don't regret knowing you." He replied. He didn't want to die without making sure she knew. Things sunk in. Either way, trial or none, he'd die.

The tapping stopped abruptly. Mari hesitated for a long moment, then replied, "...I don't regret knowing you either, as short of a time as it may have been." Her voice was somber, like she was also aware of their impending deaths.

"It feels like longer." He whispered. Then got down onto the floor, and laid on his side, away from the open room.

"Many assassination attempts and other such exciting activities do make time seem to stretch out," Mari agreed. She stood up with a slight rustle of fabric. "Well, at least the cells are decent. And there's a friendly roly-poly in that corner."

"I wouldn't know, never have been in a cell before." Ilias tilled his head to look at the roly-poly.

"You did get me out of jail that one time. I would rate this experience a whole three stars better than that one."

Ilias remained silent, looking back at the wall. Slowly, the roly-poly crawled along the bottom of the wall.

"At least there's good company," Mari continued. There was a slight thump as she sat back down on the cot.

"You might change that in a few minutes if I puke on you."

"Oh? I was talking about the roly-poly." Mari paused, then laughed. "Just kidding. Please don't puke. I know you've been wanting revenge ever since the astralplane ride, but now is really not the best time."

Ilias let out a bark laugh. He closed his eyes, and just laid there in silence. He was going to die.

Sammy practically fainted at the news. He'd always despised Skater, the only person he ever had hated. That turned out to be his own brother, and Veilnom was Marisol, someone he had considered a friend.

What did you do when a friend and a literal family member turned out to have been deceiving you? The questions attacked Sammy like merciless chickens. How long had Ilias been Skater? He couldn't stop a frown from forming on his usually upbeat face as he walked down the hallway. Why did both of them come to the agency? Would they have ever told him about their true identities? How--just how--could his younger brother, the one who used to bounce impatiently whenever Sammy went into his "nerd talk" and who brought a smile to his face, be the remorseless assassin who'd killed countless targets? The world had turned on its axis and Sammy was left to free-fall.

Maybe it was a sick joke, or a nightmare. Sammy approached the door leading to the prison, praying that it wasn't real even though deep down he knew it was. He scanned his ID and pushed open the door. It was a small place, only 6 cells. But 2 had closed doors. He walked over, where he saw Skater lying on the floor, back turned to him in one, and Veilnom in the other, sitting cross-legged on the bed. She stood up when she saw Sammy.

Her expression looked like she was in pain. More likely from an injury than emotion. She was an assassin, after all. "Sammy. We..."

"Why did you come to the agency?" He asked.

"That wasn't intentional, believe it or not. Our target was Dr. Ghee, and-" She stopped, perhaps sensing she'd made things worse. "Anyways, Potash basically kidnapped us from the hospital. No nefarious planning behind that. And... and I really do consider you a friend and a scientist I look up to."

"How long have you guys been assassins? If you really considered me a friend, when would you have told me?"

Her face fell. "Since childhood for me. As for telling you..." Mari--no, Veilnom--sat back down on the cot and stared at her hands for a moment. "Someday, I would've. Maybe. I can't say for sure."

"And Skater? How long?" Sammy looked to the other assassin.

Skater didn't move. "Since I was 7."

2 years after he had left. Had he been responsible for that? For not being in his life? Sammy felt like the world had flipped around him again. Had he been responsible for the creation of one of the deadliest assassins the world had seen? He drew in a steadying breath. No, he couldn't leave now. Sammy had to know more.

"Why? Why did you become an assassin?"

"That is a good question. Why would someone become an assassin?" He laughed. "Not by choice, not by choice. At least for Mari and I."

He had to know. "If I'd been there... could I have helped?" Sammy saw two Iliases in front of him right now: his baby brother, whom he'd grown up with, and Skater, the assassin he abhorred. He just... couldn't reconcile them. It took all he had to keep his expression calm.

Ilias rolled over, meeting Sammy's eyes for the first time. He looked surprised, uncertain. Sammy did note his change in appearance, scars that went along his cheekbones. He covered them well before. "I don't know. Maybe. Probably not."

And that... well, that was the final straw that broke Sammy's heart. Just knowing that there was a small chance he could've prevented this... Sammy barely stopped himself from falling to the ground. He held Ilias's gaze as his own welled up with tears. "I'm sorry. I... I'm sorry. I should've been there." If only he could've dealt with being in the spotlight for a few more years. If only he'd developed better coping mechanisms than running away and burying himself in work multiple isles away and ceasing contact. If only, if only.

"I-" Ilias tried speaking, but couldn't find words.

That was alright. Sammy couldn't find them either. He took a step closer to the bars, swallowing a sob. Sammy wasn't exactly sure how to move forward after this revelation, or whether they even could, if the trial ended in the assassins' deaths as it likely would, but still. At the end of the day, Ilias was Sammy's brother.

Ilias got up and walked to the bars. He looked like the little kid Sammy remembered. He spoke quietly. "I didn't expect a reaction besides hatred. From everyone, but you specifically. I killed people you knew."

"I'm going to be honest. There is hatred. Skater... Well, I used to think I wouldn't hesitate to kill Skater, because even if that left blood on my hands, it'd stop anyone else I knew from dying." Sammy paused. "But there's also love. You're my little brother. I used to think I'd rewrite the laws of reality to protect you. And knowing both things simultaneously is tearing me apart."

He inhaled. "I'm not in a position to ask anything of you. But please, don't let this become public knowledge. About Skater being found and captured."

"Why not?" Sammy wouldn't have agreed to a demand from Skater. But from Ilias... ugh, his head hurt.

"Because I won't go to trial. I'll be dead."

Sammy's eyes widened. "What?"

"Someone will be sent to kill me, and they will probably be more skilled than me."

More skilled than Skater? Sammy stared at him for a long moment. "I'm only a scientist. You'll have to ask the director about that."

In the other cell, Mari laid down on the cot and stared at the ceiling.

Ilias winced. "We... aren't on speaking terms."

"Makes sense." Sammy lingered there for another moment. Finally, he heaved a deep sigh. "I'll talk to him. But that's all I'll do. Right now, I'm trying my hardest not to kill you myself. Whether literally or with a hug, I'm not certain."

"You're already doing more than enough. If it helps, punch me."

Sammy was very tempted to do just that. He walked closer to the bars and raised his hand, clenching it into a fist. Ilias stood still, waiting for the blow. Sammy stared at him. Enemy, brother, child, adult, so many people in one.

Finally, he dropped his fist and walked away.

"Sammy."

Against his better judgement, Sammy stopped, a few paces from the door. He didn't turn around.

"Whatever happens, I'm glad to have found you, and terrifyingly, you knowing something that I wanted you to know about someday. And don't beat yourself up. It's no way to live."

Sammy glanced over his shoulder. Ilias stood in the same place, looking genuine. He still managed to be standing tall, even though he was in a sea of trouble. "Thanks," Sammy whispered. Then he pushed open the door and left.

Being in the cell right next to Ilias meant Mari couldn't help but overhear his and Sammy's conversation. The conflict Sammy must be feeling right now... Well, she might be destined for death or at least a lifetime of imprisonment soon, but at least she didn't have to deal with internal conflict!

She rolled over on the cot until she was facing Ilias. "I think that went about as well as it could've."

"I don't know if it's better or worse that him hating me completely." Ilias walked back over to the sink and splashed water on his face.

"Hey, every relationship needs a little spice in it." She was trying to stay upbeat. Didn't want to spend the rest of her life moping around, y'know?

"Yes, like worrying for your own brother who thinks it's his own fault and he could have done something against the worst of the worst assassins." He sat back down on the floor.

Annnnnnd it was suddenly a lot more difficult for her to stay upbeat. "That... yeah. That sucks." She rolled over to stare at the ceiling again. Speaking of family relationships, what would her parents think? Mari was an independent adult, but technically she still worked for her mom and was expected to check in with new inventions or updates on assassination progress every month, and she visited home each year during the holidays... Would they hold a funeral for her?

"That was depressing. Do something funny, yeah?"

"Funny. Hm. Like singing a song about bread rolls going on a quest to dethrone the banana peel who has decided that hot dogs are squaricanized tacos and is trying to brainwash everyone into believing that?" Mari smirked. Hey, at least she wouldn't be dying alone.

"I'm already feeling better."

"Wonderful. So am I." She started humming under her breath. "Theeerrreeeee once was a bread roll, a very brave bread roll~"

"Who'd cross the table full of hot dogs and drinks~" ilias added.

"All on the ultimate quest for truth and justice for alllllllllll~"

"Run bread roll, avoid the butter and tub full of ghee~" He tapped his foot in a steady rhythm, and sang louder.

"Don't slip, don't fall, just fight the peel and be free~" Mari drummed her fingers on the wall.

"Don't let her brainwash everyone to believe her lies~" He decrescendoed.

"Tell the truth--tacos are better--and then bake pies~" Mari did a final finger-drumroll.

"I'm running out of fancy things to say~"

"So am I so let's wrap this up, yay~"

Mari glanced at the other cell. Ilias stopped tapping, but he did have a small smile on his face.

She grinned. "Well, guess we can start a band if we survive this. Sing silly songs about food items."

"The squarican tacos."

"No. Absolutely not."

"Kidding. Mostly."

"We'll workshop it."

Perfectly timed, a man in a wizard hat walked in. For once, he was walking on the floor.

Mari sat up. "Mid."

"Director Midnightravenguard the Glorious to you, Veilnom," he said coldly. She pressed her lips together. She'd figured the director would try to distance himself from them from now on, but it still hurt.

"What does the director bestow on the living dead?" Ilias asked, still sitting slouched against the wall in between the sink and cot.

"We cannot comply with your request, Skater. The public must know of the capture of two infamous assassins to put their minds at ease."

"To restore trust in the government, you mean," Mari said.

"Fine." Ilias' hands clenched into fists. "Just know I'll never end up facing justice."

"Justice was never awarded to the victims you killed. Why should you be given it?" With that, the director stalked away.

Ilias hissed once he was gone. He held his forehead in his hands.

"Do you think Mid really believes all that, or is he putting on a facade?" Mari stared at the door Mid had left through.

"With him, I don't know. Like I said, my hope died many years ago."

"I will forcibly defibrillate your hope and revive it. I think he was acting." The stiffness in Mid's voice, and the way he acted the opposite of his usual... Mari thought it was all a little too artificial.

"Like I said, it's hard to read Mid. But admittedly, he did seem to be acting. Putting up a wall."

Again with perfect timing, the wall opposite the cell fell inwards. A short person with blonde hair and a mask stepped through.

Mari gaped. "Syrah?"

The woman grinned madly. "That would be me dear. My, this place does look quite drab."

"You here to break us out? And agreed, it could do with some decorations."

"Well, of course! Why else?" She walked around the room, grabbing keys off of the wall, and opened Ilias' cell first, then walked in and shut the door. Ilias eyes her.

"Wait." Something didn't add up. Mari narrowed her eyes. "Why would my mom send you to break him out as well?"

"Please, break out and save competition?" She drew weapons, knives, and started attacking. Ilias swatted away her blades, but not out of her grip. She could have used her pistols, but this meant she really wanted to prolong it a bit more. She giggled. "You-know-who says hi!"

Mari stood frozen. She was unarmed, except for her words. But those might as well have been useless, because it was true, Skater was competition for her mother's organization. She'd heard her mother complaining about Skater stealing clients before. And now that they'd gotten wind of Skater being Ilias, his fate was pretty much sealed. There was little she could say now, except maybe... "Hey. Syrah. Have your fun later, mkay? I'm getting rather sick of being in this cell."

"Always impatient. Tsk tsk. This is a job Mari, I'd get paid very nicely." She continued to attack ilias.

"But we do need him alive to interrogate him on who he worked for. Send them some threats, remind them who's the best organization of assassins." Mari made sure the desperation didn't show in her voice.

"Well..." She hummed, not stopping.

"You wouldn't want to rob my mother of her chance to personally get revenge on her most serious competition, hmmm?"

"The boss won't be happy. He wanted Skater's corpse to be left in the cell."

"He? Are you working for someone new?"

"Just a guy who hired me. Already got me a way in, and a way out."

"Well, I'm sure 'just a guy' doesn't take precedence over my mother, head of the most active network of assassins in both planes."

"Mother this, mother that." She grumbled, pulling out one of her pistols. "Fine. I have better torture equipment there anyways."

Mari breathed an internal sigh of relief. She didn't look at Ilias. "Wonderful. Now, I would very much appreciate it if you took your rage out on this nasty cell instead."

"Well we cant have him running around." She aimed, and fired.

(1163 words)

Ilias found it annoying. He was just singing a silly song, and now he was being shot in the leg so he couldn't run. He dodged the first few, but was hit as he advanced to disarm Syrah. Now he was involuntarily sitting on the floor, while Syrah unlocked Mari's cell. "Help me carry the meat sack, yes? Your idea."

Mari strolled out of the cell. "Finally. Thanks, Syrah, will do." Unceremoniously, she hefted Ilias over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Due to the height difference, his feet dragged on the ground as she pulled him out of his cell. It didn't help with his leg. Syrah walked out the way she came in.

"Let me walk."

"Not happening, Skater." She tapped out a brief message on his shoulder. sorry

you bought me time. Fine.

Mari nodded, then followed Syrah out of the room. Syrah took care of anyone they ran into in the hallways. And did a quick check of their pockets.

"So, are you two related?" He asked.

Syrah giggled. "No sirree! Anyone related to me makes sure to stay at least a continent away." She shot a scientist who was walking out of a lab, then rifled through his pockets and started to munch on his gummy bears.

She shot the door as well. Alarms started blaring, about two minutes too late. Outside, Syrah broke into a jog and Mari huffed as she ran to keep up, unfortunately bouncing Ilias's injured leg against the ground. He hissed.

Syrah led them to a car and slid into the driver's seat. Mari deposited Ilias in the backseat, then sat in the passenger seat. Naturally, he started singing the funny food song. He'd never really tested how much patience a kidnapper could have. Besides Mari, but that's a weird story.

A knife thunked into the headrest next to him. Syrah didn't take her eyes off the space in front of her. "My car, my music." Isles passed above and below them, casting faint shadows inside the car. Classical music started blaring at full volume. Ilias raised his voice, pulling out the knife and tested it's sharpness.

Syrah swerved to the left, then pulled up at an isle with mostly suburban homes. She drove to the back of a two-story house, then pressed a button. The car was quickly swallowed by the road.

"Fun!" He said cheerfully, and continued repeating the song.

The car descended smoothly, then came to a stop. Syrah drove forwards down a dimly-lighted tunnel and then pulled into a surprisingly average-looking parking garage. She got out, then opened the backseat door. "I am looking forward to the next few hours." A not-quite-sane glint entered her eye.

Behind her, Mari grimaced. "Let's go greet my mother."

"Yeah, great place. Which rock am I dying on?" He tossed the knife up and caught it.

"Not quite a rock." Syrah winked and abruptly snatched her knife back. She strolled out of the garage, and they took an elevator upwards. A few minutes later, they were standing in a large room.

There was an astralplane in the center. It was smaller than the ones people usually used-- must be a private one like the ones that some of the richest families owned. Light glinted off of its topaz paint.

"Ooh, a little bit of bribing? Your hirer knew people." He whistled.

"You, ask many annoying questions." Syrah said. "Mari, can't I harm him just a tiny bit right now?"

"You can harm him emotionally. Try it. Could be a challenge." Mari got into the plane.

Syrah jabbed him in the back. At least here they allowed him to walk. He went into the plane, having to duck to get in. "How about chemically? You know a good way to make him take a nap?"

"There is this certain pink liquid I've found to be effective. Need my lab for that, though."

"I raided it. Some stuff is in the closet in the back."

"Ah, perfect! I do hope you were careful with the more reactive elements, though." Mari headed towards the back of the plane. Soon she returned with a liquid in a vial. It looked like the one she'd given him when she kidnapped him the first time. Ilias clenched his jaw. "Down the hatch, Skater." She brought the liquid to his mouth. He kept it shut. Her eyes pleaded with him to go along with it.

Syrah pulled her gun out. "Be a good boy."

Ilias growled, but snatched the vial from Mari and drank all of it. It took 19 seconds to take effect, and his vision was conquered by pitch darkness.

TW: torture

Mari had somehow found herself in an even stickier situation. Her life was pretty much saved now, but Ilias's was still at stake, and the time bomb was ticking for her to come up with a solution...

She, Syrah, and Ilias arrived at her mother's headquarters in the physical plane. It was a sleek office building with a back entrance for cases such as this. Her mother met them in the interrogation room. It was empty except for a few chairs, with one in the center of the room, and a small glass box on the far side.

"Hello, Mari. Long time no see." Mari's mother's black hair was done in curls, and her sharp brown eyes flicked over her daughter's appearance, seeming to analyze each inch.

"Hello, mother. I was caught up in infiltrating the government, yes. Their lab did aid in my research."

"Hm." Mari knew her mother would talk to her about that more later. But for now...

Mari took up a position in a chair next to the door as Syrah dropped Ilias into the chair in the center and clamped him to it, 2 on each limb. Mari's mother stood slightly to the side, but still loomed over him.

"The liquid should be wearing off about now," Mari informed them.

"So quick, how's needles for my method? What kind? Acupuncture, felting, sewing..." Syrah grinned.

Mari's mother smiled blandly. "Up to you, Syrah. I know you'll make him suffer."

Mari felt a pit open up in her stomach. Oh, Lightness. The situation sunk in fully. Her friend was about to be interrogated, tortured, then murdered by her mother. He started stirring, lifting his head up.

She wanted to freeze time. She wanted to rip off the restraints and carry him out of there. But Syrah was armed and her mother... well, her mother didn't need weapons to kill. And some small part of Mari was still the obedient daughter she'd always been. She bowed her head and didn't watch.

"Welcome to my favorite place in the world!" Syrah told him.

"So why don't we swap places?"

"Because I'm in my favorite place." She said.

Mari gritted her teeth. The interrogation shouldn't be too bad, although bad was relative. She meant he wouldn't die, yet.

"Get on with it," Mari's mother said softly. "I don't have time for small talk."

"Very well. Oh Marisol, won't you be watching? You did love to as a child."

Mari snapped her head up. "Yes. I was just cleaning my fingernails." It was a flimsy lie and they all knew it. But so was her loving to watch interrogations as a child. She'd thought it wasn't real at first, just an illusion like the horror movies she watched. When she grew older, she'd learned to numb herself to it and watch because it was expected of her as heir to the business. Right now, though, she didn't want to use her old strategies to distance herself from reality, because then Ilias's life would be lost for certain. She needed to be present and to think.

"Alright Skater. I'd like names of employers." Syrah made show of inspecting her needles. Ilias spat on her, looking up with the same defiant look as when he and Mari first met.

Mari's mother tapped her foot on the ground and frowned.

Syrah wiped it off, disgusted. Then found a block of wood, and swung it at Ilias' chest. He winced, but didn't cry out.

"Its rude to spit on people, and dangerous when you're in no position to defend yourself." She grabbed a needle and stabbed it in his chest part way, through the clothes, singing. "Names, names."

She continued to add more needles, and Ilias continued to remain silent.

Mari stared at him. Why didn't he just give out their names? It wouldn't cost him any more than being tortured, would it? And on a side note, she knew he'd gone through some kind of pain tolerance training now. The scars were likely a result of that-- they were too precise to be accidental. She forced herself to think logically to ignore the little stab of emotional pain each wound caused her.

The glass box. That would probably be how he'd die. It looked fairly thick, so not easy to break. Would it fill with gas? Or would he slowly suffocate by using up all the air? It must be a new piece of equipment, as she didn't remember seeing it when she'd last been here a year ago.

"I do love taking my time, but I think someone is impatient and we wouldn't want her taking over. She's got quite a few ways that are much more agonizing, but you would end up dying...." By now she had methodically placed 29 needles across his entire body. From the bent end, Mari could tell they were felting needles. They had barbs meant for knitting the strands in the felt. Those barbs were not meant to be inside a person.

Most victims would be screaming by now. Mari almost imagined she could hear the ghosts of past screams echoing faintly off the walls in this room. But Ilias didn't scream. Maybe a small wince, but he just kept watching Syrah.

Syrah was starting to look disappointed that he wasn't breaking. So she started to remove the needles from him, some very quickly, others very slowly, some she twisted. Red spots spread on his dark grey shirt. Ilias' gaze flicked to Mari for a quick second. He had an emotional wall up.

That... that hurt again. But Mari couldn't focus on that, because she had to think of some way to save his Lightness-touched life. If they took a break between the interrogation and his death, she could sneak in and weaken the glass... Perhaps somewhere near the bottom and the top. Then she'd be prepared whether they filled the box with a liquid or a gas. Now, which acid to use?

She was startled out of her thoughts by an invitation to join the torture. Both Syrah and Mari's mother looked at her. While their attention was off of Ilias, he gave her a small nod. Why did that feel even more like a stab in the gut?

"You did so love pouring acid on people when you were younger," Syrah noted.

Mari stood from her chair. She couldn't show hesitation. "Yes. I could run to my old lab and whip up a new batch of that."

She took the lack of responses as agreement, although her mother briefly narrowed her eyes at her. Mari willed her palms not to sweat as she left the room.



Well, at least she knew what acid to use now. The same creation that bubbled on the skin of victims would eat through glass as well. The trick was to use just the right amount to not eat completely through, as that would be revealed as soon as the box was filled.

Mari found her old lab exactly as she'd left it when she'd moved out a couple of years ago. Same tables and counters and drawers labeled in her messy handwriting. Well, one thing was different-- the one empty cabinet that Syrah had raided.

She found herself reaching for the chemicals by instinct. She could remember her younger self, testing combinations until she found the most effective one at causing pain... Later, in her teens, she'd realized sadism wasn't a usual characteristic of people. Just the people she'd grown up with. And her, apparently.

It took only a few minutes. Mari returned to the interrogation chamber with a reinforced vial of acid, leaving the rest of the batch in a small container shoved into the back of a cabinet.

Syrah was holding Ilias' jaw while using a knife to go along the scars on his cheekbones. Blood came out in small streams. "You know, I'd love to remove some parts of you, maybe A few fingers, or an entire limb, but then there'd be less of you to suffer."

She giggled, and noticed Mari. "Good! You're back. Doesn't this look fabulous? A little blood to the specimens face..."

Mari swallowed the bile that threatened to rise up. They were maiming and traumatizing Ilias further, and she was a part of it. She should just leave and never show her face again. But-- no, she had to go along with it to save his life.

A small voice in her head whispered, Really, Mari? You could splash that acid at Syrah and your mother right now and escape. It's only cowardice keeping you along this path you've chosen for yourself. She silenced it. She'd deal with it later. Probably.

"Right, very colorful, Syrah. You do so enjoy decorating the outsides of your victims with their insides." She approached the chair.

"Well of course! I've got to make it look very messy when I put his corpse back in the government building. They can deal with it, maybe some rookies will need to visit therapy, maybe a few will go find another job. Now go on, do your best work."

"Ah... ha. I almost pity those rookies." Mari didn't make eye contact with Ilias as she carefully dripped acid onto his left arm. The spirals she made could almost have been considered art, if they didn't burn away his shirt and skin and leave trails of smoke. But then again, wasn't much of art forged in the fires of pain?

Mari's mother wrinkled her nose. "You really need to invent an odor remover sometime, Mari."

"It's on my very long to-do list." Mari finished a flower and held her breath. She held the empty vial at her side and tried not to think about what she had done.

"Well, that's enough for today," Mari's mother said. "As much as I regret not having had the pleasure of seeing Skater crack, his final demise is ultimately what's most important. Let's leave him to stew in agony, reflecting on his impending death." She glanced at her watch. "And I do believe my husband has planned for tonight to be lasagna night, which I do not want to miss. Come, Mari, Syrah."

Her mother walked out first, Syrah skipping after her. Before closing the door Mari looked back at Ilias. The entire interrogation he sat there with his head up. Now he sat with his shoulders slumped and his head bowed.

Too proud to show weakness, even in the middle of agony rivaled only by looking directly into Lightness's gaze... Mari would not sob. She would not shatter into a billion pieces. She would not.

Humming that as a mantra in her mind, she closed the door.

(1785 words)

TW: drowning, violence (the writers themselves need mental help, call the funny farm!)

When Mari returned to the interrogation room, they had already gotten him into the glass box. Lightness. Her mother must have sent Syrah to do that while they were still finishing up dinner. He wasn't awake yet though.

Mari hadn't gotten the chance to weaken the glass. She pushed down the panic rising inside. She still had time. He was still alive. She smoothed her features into a smile as she looked at her mother and Syrah. Syrah grinned back. "The adrenaline capsule will release in a few."

"Perfect." Mari nodded at the glass box. "What's that going to do?" she asked curiously. Her inner voice was screaming at her. She let it. She needed to be screamed at right now, if only to know that she still had some humanity within her, somewhere, that she hadn't numbed herself fully like when- She had to pay attention.

"Kill him slowly. Painfully. As he deserves." Syrah went over to the glass box, and rapped her knuckles on it. "Wake up and die punily."

Ilias shifted, opening an eye and stared at Syrah. He still hadn't lost his will fight. He tried to use one side to help stand up, but his hand slipped. The glass was slippery on his side. Syrah laughed hysterically.

In front of the glass box, Mari's mother had a self-satisfied smirk on her face. Mari hadn't seen her mother this happy in years. "Goodbye, Skater, and good riddance. This will be an excellent early birthday present." She tapped the glass, then pulled a lever on the wall. Water started coming out from beneath him. He managed to stand, and then he tried punching the glass. It didn't yield. It only took one look, deep inside, Mari could see his stress.

Mari had to distract her mother and Syrah and get him out of the glass box and... She took a deep breath. She couldn't afford to get overwhelmed right now. Slowly, too slowly, an idea formed in her mind.



Ilias wasn't fond of the idea of drowning. Nor was he loving being in a glass box. Yes, let's watch a claustrophobic assassin drown!

He never had been claustrophobic before. Not until this. He wanted out. The water was up to his knees already. Outside of the box, Mari was talking with her mother. The mother pulled out a sunstone with a picture attached to it. Good way to know which one contacted who. But Ilias felt a chill. Looking at the photo, which he couldn't make out completely, Ilias recognized the man. Maybe. Maybe it was just a coincidence.

The photo was hidden as Mari's mother brought the sunstone to her ear. She asked a question. Then she winced, said something briefly to Syrah, and rushed out of the room.

The water rose higher. It was at his waist now.

Syrah going along his scars on his face, knife touching bone, stirred up memories. That was the worst. The acid was right under it. The needles made him hurt as he moved, but they didn't rip apart anything important, otherwise he wouldn't be dying in a glass box. He was also pretty sure he had at least one fractured rib, and thanks to her mother when Mari had left the room, a fractured leg. The other one that didn't get shot.

As for Mari, he didn't know what to think anymore. She kept him from dying then. But he was going to die now, and he had gone through much more pain. He didn't miss seeing her expressions though, how much she hurt. If she actually did.

And then Mari splashed acid across Syrah's eyes.

The water was reaching his neck.

Syrah shrieked and lashed out in Mari's direction with a dagger, but Mari jumped backwards. She darted a quick glance at the box, then tossed a vial at the ground. A cloud of lavender-greyish smoke rose up around Syrah, who held her breath for a moment, then collapsed to the ground as the smoke somehow solidified and weighed her down.

Mari rushed to the glass and pounded on it. Nothing. Well now he knew that nothing was different about the glass on the outside! She took out another vial and poured it onto the glass, but it devoured the glass too slowly, like a leisurely diner savoring a meal. The water already filled the entire box, and was taking on a red tint. He put his hand on the dissolving glass as he made eye contact with Mari.

She gave him a grim nod as she tried--and failed-- to hide the pain in her eyes. He opened a bit, showing he did appreciate it. But his lungs already were aching.



It wasn't going to be enough. She hadn't been enough. All she'd ever brought Ilias was hardship upon pain upon agony, and now she would be the cause of his death. She clenched her hand into a fist and turned away.

At the very least, she had to try everything she could. Mari glanced around the room, searching for more options. Her eyes landed on Syrah's dagger, still clutched in her hand. Mari seized it, and, whirling back to the glass box, stabbed it into the section that had been weakened by the acid.

A small crack formed. Maybe... just maybe... Mari stabbed again. A thin trickle of water squeezed out. Again. A wild, fragile hope burst open in her like fireworks. She hacked away at the glass as the acid finally ran out of steam and stopped eating away at it. The cracks widened.

Then she was stabbed in the side. Syrah.

Mari moved without thinking, her training taking over. She kept the knife in--it would stop blood loss for a short while--and sliced as she turned. It grazed Syrah's arm. Syrah raised another sharp implement. Mari ducked to the side, then stepped slowly, ensuring there was no wind around her movements for Syrah to sense. A skilled assassin like her would be able to make use of senses other than sight.

She grabbed Syrah in a chokehold from the back and pulled her to the floor. Pain from the knife wound stabbed through her all over again. Mari kicked Syrah's weapon out of her hand as they grappled, but dropped the dagger she was holding in the chaos.

With Syrah being blinded and Mari being wounded, they would have been fairly evenly matched, if not for Mari being on a time crunch. She risked a glance at Ilias out of the corner of her eye. The water was flowing out, but not quickly enough. He wasn't moving.

Mari growled and finally pinned Syrah to the floor for a moment.

"Traitor," Syrah gritted out. She pushed Mari off her, then trapped her with her body weight.

Mari didn't respond, too focused on trying to wriggle out of Syrah's grip. Syrah placed an arm across her throat. "After all your mother's done for you-"

"Don't," Mari squeezed out. She couldn't breathe.

Syrah pressed harder. "Oh, don't go begging for mercy now-"

"Don't pretend my mother did me any favors." Mari reached for the dagger she'd dropped, then stabbed upwards, straight through the heart.



Ilias tried to hit the cracked glass. He couldn't generate enough strength. It didn't help that Syrah cut the backside of his hand to stop him from creating a fist. He couldn't hold his breath any longer, and involuntarily inhaled water. It burned. He spasmed, and panic rose.

He didn't remember blacking out. But he woke without a body. He felt small and insignificant. A grain of sand on a beach. He felt pain. This wasn't the peaceful rest of Darkness. It was Lightness masquerading as Darkness. He felt pressure all around him, crescendoing. He couldn't move, he was helpless, at the mercy of a malevolent force. He did know, deep down, he'd never get to know the dark peace. He considered giving in. He couldn't fight a god. He couldn't even remember who he was.

Something else brushed against him. He remembered Mari. Annoying at first. But became a friend. One who led him to get tortured, but he still cared. She had fought for him. He could almost forgive her.

Sammy, his brother. Who thought it was his fault, even if it wasn't. But admittedly maybe he could have been able to warn Ilias about how shady the guy was. But he had every reason to hate Ilias completely.

He could move a bit more; he felt more solid. So he followed the dark, and reached out to grab ahold.



Ilias was a highly concerning shade of blue. He stared straight ahead, lifeless. Grey eyes that once glinted with humor. His shirt was tattered, thanks to her acid from earlier, but now she could see just how many scars he had. Behind Mari, Syrah's body was on the floor, twisted at an angle. She hadn't started off meaning to kill Syrah. She'd known Syrah practically since birth. And how she'd felt as she'd made the final stab, when she knew she'd controlled whether Syrah lived or died... She couldn't think about that right now. She ignored the knife wound as well. Probably not the wisest, but hey, she was still sauntering up the steps of Death's mansion while Ilias was sipping coffee inside.

Mari checked for breathing. Nothing. What did she expect? Clearly she was panicking. She had to control that better.

Alright, chest compressions. Mari positioned her hands on Ilias's chest and pushed, repeating the compressions at 100-120 times a minute. She should still be able to bring him out of it, as brain death would happen after 6 minutes.

Tears involuntarily threatened to blind her. She'd learned CPR as part of basic training, but she'd always been better at taking lives than saving them. What if it didn't work? What if she lost both Syrah and Ilias in a day?

But then, life flared in his eyes, and he started to cough up water. Mari helped him turn so that he was emptying his lungs easier. It was like a half coughing, half retching disaster for a minute. His entire body trembled.

He was alive. In thoroughly bad shape, but alive. Mari breathed for the first time in what seemed like an eternity.

She waited until he stopped coughing, and during that time, tried to ward off the thoughts that pierced her mind like little relentless spears. She'd killed Syrah. And she'd nearly enjoyed it. She was a hypocrite to find her mother and Syrah's methods distasteful while reveling in her own power.

But she was going to kill Ilias, a small voice in her head said, trying to rationalize her actions. A fool it was, but at least a well-intentioned Fool, not a Lightness-touched one. Probably.

So? Another side of her snapped back. I've known Syrah for far longer than him. Sure, I was never fond of her, but did I really kill her to save the life of some guy?

Some guy that means a surprising amount to you.

Nevermind that. What is Mother going to say? And immediately, Mari felt sick to her stomach. She felt like joining Ilias on the floor and retching up everything she'd eaten for dinner the previous night.

"Oh, Lightness," she cursed under her breath.

"Saw him." Ilias croaked.

"That's... That's probably even more concerning than the blue face and coughing up your insides. But I suspect we'll see him again if we stick around." Mari glanced at the door. Her mother wouldn't be distracted by her father for long. She'd reminded her mother of their anniversary, which, predictably, she'd forgotten and now needed to apologize for.

But how to take care of Syrah's body... Mari bit her lip, then dipped her finger in some of the blood from her knife wound and scrawled a quick message on the floor: "Skater escaped. Killed Syrah. I'll track him down."

Exhausted, she grabbed the knife she'd kicked away from Syrah and stood up. They both needed medical attention. Now that the adrenaline was draining away, her knife wound hurt in a very insistent way.

"Talk later, leave now."

"To where?" Her mother would know if they checked into a hospital nearby.

"My parent's place, I guess. You mind being a human crutch?"

"It's better than I deserve." Mari lifted Ilias's arm around her shoulders and helped him stand. Her wound burned, but she gritted her teeth and bore it. "I'm sorry. I know that doesn't get rid of any pain. Saying it even a thousand times wouldn't help. I'll still say it. I'm sorry." His lifeless face would lurk in her nightmares for years.

"Mari. If you hadn't done anything I'd be dead right now. Also, you might have to pilot a plane."

"Well, if you'd never met me, you wouldn't have been stabbed with felting needles and had your arm drawn on with acid. Or kidnapped. Multiple times." She grimaced. "And the astralplane? Sure... I'll try not to crash..." She peeked out of the peephole in the door. The corridor was empty.

"If I'd never met you I'd never have found my brother. Also, has it sunk into you that by doing this you are acting against your family?"

Mari scowled. "I'm trying very, very hard not to think about it. Don't make it more difficult for me." She opened the door a crack, tossed Syrah's dagger at the security camera she knew was there, then supported Ilias as they hobbled down the hallway. She fingered a vial in her pocket. She'd made it in case... Well, Mari would have to hope it'd be enough.

"Why haven't you done something about the knife?"

"Well, I wouldn't particularly like to bleed to death in this hallway." They turned a corner. Almost to the astralplane. Ilias wasn't looking good. He was forcing himself to keep walking. Mari tried to support more of his weight, stepping carefully so they didn't stumble. That would be quite painful and embarrassing.

Finally, they reached the hangar. Mari lugged Ilias into the plane. And then she flipped some switches and prayed desperately to Darkness that she didn't blow them up.

She tried to imitate what she'd seen Syrah do to bring them here. A few lights turned on, a few warning lights blinked... And then the strange wave that indicated a transition from the physical to the astral plane washed over them.

Thankfully, she didn't throw up this time. Ilias did though. She would've ribbed him about it, except she was... so tired... The wound throbbed with a vengeance.

No, she had to stay awake. Had to get them to Maho and Oliver's place. She summoned a last reserve of strength and inputted the address into the positioning system, then directed them there.

The mansion approached. Relief swept over Mari. She tried to bring the plane down for a soft landing, but it still crashed into the yard at a slightly destructive speed. Hopefully they wouldn't mind redoing the sod again...

And then the wound and exhaustion finally overwhelmed her, and she faceplanted onto the dashboard. She slept.

(2523 words)

Mid still couldn't quite believe it. He could, but he liked to think otherwise. They had been friends, they had helped him with his sister's death, and gotten him out of being brainwashed. But the people they killed... they needed to face justice.

Furthermore, he was the director now. He had a responsibility to the people of the agency. At noon, he'd meet with the IKRRR. They'd gotten a ping about a plane crash landing on the yard of the Ravioli mansion. The equipment they had for tracing a chemical that coated the prison cells further supported that the two assassins were there at the mansion. As for meeting, they'd be meeting in a company car.

The annoying part about being director, is that he was intercepted in every hall. Need to repair this, need to repair that, it'll cost this much and take this long, there's nothing new on the assassins or revolutionary groups. But he finally made it to the car, dumped all the paper in the backseat and got into the front passenger seat. "I call shotgun."

From the driver's seat, Potash raised an eyebrow. "Ah, yes, all of our imaginary companions are so very disappointed at having to file into the backseat." She stomped on the acceleration. Behind them, a car filled with well-trained backup followed. "So. We take them in. We put them on trial. Are you prepared to kill them?"

"Are you?" He asked back, watching to see if she had any expression.

She kept her eyes in front of her, weaving around isles. "Logic tells me it would be the right thing to do." Some lines around her mouth tightened.

"And what about the illogic?" Mid did agree, but in other ways... "You can speak freely Potash."

"No, Mid. An answer for an answer. What's your response to my first question?" She sped through currents of hot and cold.

"Logically, they need to face the law. But they'd die for sure. There's no one who hasn't heard of them. Now answer my second one."

"Fine. Illogically, I want to recruit them." She cursed softly as an isle loomed up out of nowhere and she swerved.

"We've already done that."

"I know. I'm getting soft, aren't I?" She used one hand to smooth back her bun.

"You're learning to be empathetic. Look, you can put up with me without leaving me behind."

She let out a short laugh at that. "If empathy is measured in ability to put up with you, it must be very rare indeed. In any case. I should hate them. I should feel empathy towards their victims, not them. But... I can't help but be biased, and that leaves me feeling useless, like a cheetah in the middle of the ocean."

"Good description. But... I mean they were nice. But Ilias is an actor. As for Mari..."

"Anyone can be a good actor, even without appearing on the screen." Potash's grip tightened on the wheel. In the distance in front of them, the Ravioli mansion appeared.

"Illogically, I don't want them to die."

Potash was silent for a moment. The mansion drew closer. Finally, she said, "Me neither." Then she pulled up and parked. Their backup car arrived a few moments later.

She turned to look at Mid directly in the eyes. "But this is our duty. It must be done." Potash got out of the car and strode towards the front door.

"Yeah." Mid got out as well. "Wow, how does someone crash an astralplane? Isn't there an autopilot or landing systems?" He looked at the crumpled remains of an astralplane in the front yard. Someone would be having a frustrating time fixing the lawn after that.

"No idea. Haven't ever seen the inside of a private astralplane, myself." Potash strode over to the plane. "No one inside."

Mid hopped up and entered through the shattered windshield of the cockpit. "Well there's blood. But we're getting distracted, let's get inside the mansion."

Their backup lined up imposingly behind Mid and Potash as Potash rapped on the door. The door was opened by a man who could be none other than Oliver Ravioli, and the woman besides him Maho Ravioli.

Mr. Ravioli grinned, apparently unfazed by the well-armed agents standing in intimidating poses. "Anyone want some pasta?"

Mid looked to Potash. "Doesn't sound bad to me."

Potash looked like she was struggling not to roll her eyes. She turned to the couple. "You are harboring two fugitives and deadly assassins."

"We are well aware, thank you for the astute statement." Mrs. Ravioli replied dryly.

"If you do not turn them in, we will need to resort to force." Potash gestured at their backup.

"Well, I'm quite sure you don't need this many bodies of force to take two people."

"Better safe than sorry." Potash fixed her with a hard stare.

"Waste of time and resources." She tsked.

Potash stepped closer to the door. "Well? Are you going to hand them over, or force our hand?"

"Would you turn in a family member?"

"What family?" Potash didn't blink. "You have fifteen seconds."

"You want to take fugitives and you're giving us a countdown. What are they teaching in the agency these days?" Mrs. Ravioli was doing great at sounding like a disappointed mother.

Potash glanced at Mid, a hint of frustration in her eyes. Mid shrugged, then pushed past the married couple, and looked around the mansion. Potash followed, their backup shoving past despite Mr. Ravioli's loud complaints about how they'd track dirt into the mansion.

"Search the place." Mid ordered, motioning to the groups of agents. Pairs of them split off to cover more ground.

Mr. Ravioli looked at Mid and Potash again. "So... my pasta offer is still on the table. Literally." He hooked a thumb behind him, where plates of pasta were at the table.

Mid looked to Potash, slightly pleading. She stared disapprovingly at him. Mid looked back to Mr. Ravioli. "We'll gladly accept that offer, thank you." Potash's stare was almost enough to melt iron. Good thing he was made of tougher stuff.

Mr. Ravioli looked genuinely excited at that. He gestured in a fancy bow/invitation movement. "Right this way, esteemed customers!" And then he herded them all to the dining room table.

It was pesto pasta with fresh grape tomatoes halved lengthwise. He'd set four places, so he'd either expected this or seen them from the window.

As everyone except Potash dug into their pasta, Mr. Ravioli suddenly became serious and said, "Believe us, we are just as disappointed in our son as you are. But is death really the right answer, when there's a chance of rehabilitation and allowing people to learn from their mistakes?"

"You know that from experience." Mrs. Ravioli nudged him with a smirk.

He pouted. "And just what might I have been rehabilitated from? Being simply too dazzling for mortal eyes?"

"How about your decision to marry me? Have you grown to better put up with me?"

"I think I've grown emotional calluses, at the very least." He grinned fondly at his wife. Mid couldn't decide whether to be amused or to throw up the pasta he had eaten.

The mansion shook as a loud boom echoed throughout the place.

Potash barely caught her plate before it could crash to the floor. "Ah, and those'll be our fugitives."

From the archway leading to the dining room, they could see the other agents congregating in the entryway again. In a few moments, a pair carrying an unconscious Mari and Ilias appeared.

"You're just carrying them like that?" Mrs. Ravioli frowned. "What, do you want them to bleed to death right here in our home? I don't like blood on my floors."

"They won't bleed to death," Potash said curtly. She stood up and walked to the door. Mid followed.

"Not even bothered to see what condition they're in? Honestly, you agents. So quick to deliver death."

Potash turned to her with a tired gaze. "Yet not quick enough to stop it." She left the house.

"And who's fault is that?" Mrs. Ravioli asked, walking out as well.

"Ours. That is why we must do this. To do better."

"Correct. Yours. You, agent, have a very interesting definition of the word must."

Potash didn't reply. She got into the driver's seat of the car. The other agents carefully loaded Mari and Ilias into the back seats. Mid got in the front seat. The couple stood there in their driveway, watching as the cars drove away. Mid looked away, looked at the unconscious assassins in the back, and then at Potash.

She kept her eyes in front of her and her face carefully neutral, but her hands gave her away. They gripped the wheel too tightly, trembling ever so slightly. She was either frustrated, shaken, or some combination of that. Hopefully there was no existential crisis in the mix.

Mid couldn't think of anything appropriate to do, so he just sat there, thinking about what the two had said. Opinions clashed in his mind. Why would someone become an assassin? Could what Ilias had said before, before disappearing, actually been a part of this?

Could they find another way? One Mid couldn't see yet?

TW: electric burns

Hooray((!)), Mari didn't have a knife sticking out of her anymore! Her ears were still ringing faintly, though.

Mari groaned as she opened her eyes. She recognized that bland ceiling. She was back in the cells at the agency. She turned her head to look at the other cell. Ilias was still out, but lying on the cot. One of his legs was in a splint that went from just below the knee to his foot. The one that didn't get shot. Huh. She'd have to ask him whether he got wounded when she wasn't looking or something.

Well, until he woke up, she could plan. Mari felt at the knife wound and found that it'd been bandaged. Probably treated with a crystal too, as the pain was significantly less. She wouldn't be getting around easily, but if she had to, she could. Nice of the agency to treat assassins to keep them alive until the trial where they'd undoubtedly be sentenced to death.

Mari was surprised that a large part of her rebelled at the idea of dying. Apparently, barely surviving an attack had rekindled her fire for life. Well then, that meant she had to escape. No weapons to cut through the wall like Syrah had. Not healed enough to fight their way out. That left stealth. The vents?

The next moment that she took to look over into the other cell, Ilias was standing up.

She carefully raised herself to a sitting position. The pain spiked for a moment, then settled down. "Hey," she said.

He looked over at her. "Hi."

"What happened to your splinted leg?"

"Torture chamber." He shifted to sit on the floor, leaning on the barred wall the shared.

Mari winced. Ilias being stabbed. Pouring acid on him. Killing Syrah. She took a deep breath and forced the images out of her mind. "I'm sorry." He probably wouldn't want her to keep dwelling on that. Or was it her who didn't want to dwell on that? Moving on to the escape plan. She tapped on the bars. Think you can take out whoever next opens your cell?

He just shrugged to her apology. "I can try."

It'd have to be enough. Mari doubted her own offensive capabilities right now, but if she had a chance at life... well, she'd take it. Crawling in the vents might be tough with a splinted leg, but not impossible. Were there any other ways? Vents? Other ideas? she tapped.

Escaping already? How'd they locate us in the first place so quickly anyways?

Mari frowned. That was a good question. Tracker, probably. But how? They'd given up their weapons upon being imprisoned, and no one from the agency had touched them since. They'd both changed at Ilias's parents' place, and burned their other clothes.

Just then, someone entered the room with trays of food. Ilias got up, and hobbled over to where they'd pass the tray through. The person eyed him, but continued to unlocked that part and push the tray through. Ilias grabbed their wrist, and yanked them towards the bars. They hit it with a thunk, and then Ilias yanked again, ensuring they were out. He took the keys off of them, and tossed it to Mari.

Mari caught them smoothly, then unlocked her cell by sticking an arm out of the bars and maneuvering the key to the keyhole. She stepped out of the cell. "That was strangely easy." When things were too easy, something was usually wrong. But... they didn't have time. She stepped over to Ilias's cell and unlocked it.

"Are you sure you want to take me along?"

She looked at him quizzically. "I literally just saved your life yesterday. And you still doubt me? Well, I did put it in danger in the first place, but we've covered that enough."

"I don't doubt you. But I'm moving about as gracefully as a flesh-eating unicorn in ice skates trying to juggle fruit."

"Well, I'm about as graceful as a banana peel attempting to tango with a peeled grape. Let's go." Mari positioned herself, then jumped up and pulled down the cover of the vent. She hissed at the pain, then pulled herself up. Of course, her wounds protested further. Ilias followed reluctantly, needing Mari's help to get into the vent. Still, for someone who'd recently been chatting it up with death, he was in encouragingly decent shape. Kind of. Mari crawled forwards.

And then a searing shock ran through her.

For an agonizing moment, it felt like she was submerged in a current of heat out in the space between isles. Ilias let out a scream, which didn't last a second before stopping. She couldn't move. The skin of her right hand started smoking. A pattern like branching lightning ran up her skin. Electrocuted?

The bottom of the vent dropped out from under them.

As she fell towards the floor, she thought, Well, might as well make use of the free healing. Unless they decide to just let us die this time.

She regretted many, many things.

(845 words)

Potash's mind was like mashed potatoes swirled with cranberry sauce with a thick seasoning of desperation, shoved in a too-small bowl of organization. It had been a long, long time since she'd felt this overwhelmed.

First, being promoted to Ikrrr. Had Skater and Veilnom been behind the assassination of the previous Ikrrr? What about the director? She had to reevaluate all the time she'd known them with the new lens of knowing their true identities.

And then there was what Maho Ravioli had said to her... But no, they were doing the right thing by putting assassins on trial. They'd killed people. Who was to say they wouldn't kill more? This was the safest option, wasn't it?

Potash dropped her head onto her desk with a thunk. She was just so exhausted. Couldn't this agency last a week without an attempted assassination, an explosion, a lockdown, or a betrayal by two people who turned out to be the assassins they'd been hunting all along?

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," she mumbled. She raised her head and tried again. "Come in," she said more clearly.

Mid entered, looking about as bad as she felt.

"We both need very lengthy vacations after all this. Well. What do you need from me, Director?"

"To come with me. You aren't going to like this."

"I don't like anything these days. Except my favorite restaurant. That has never let me down, unlike certain people." Her bitterness was seeping through. She had to stop that.

"Yes, well this has to do with said certain people, excluding me."

"Don't tell me. The rebel groups kidnapped them this time and they've started murdering the entire government. Oh, no, I've got it! They've triggered the end of the world!" Oh, great, her sarcasm too. Potash was really not herself today.

Mid raised an eyebrow. "I could get used to a sarcastic Potash."

"I couldn't. In any case. What happened?"

"Well, we know that the security in the vents work now."

"Oh. Ohhhh." Unexpectedly, Potash started to laugh. All of the new security measures they implemented, and they finally worked, just in time to capture her friends? Wait, no, they weren't her friends anymore. They never had been. That sobered her up. "Are the doctors on the scene already?"

Mid had both eyebrows up at her laughter. "They should be getting there soon. So do you want to head over or take a nap in a cozy pile of paper?"

"The nap sounds good. But if I see any more paper, I'm going to eat it. Let's head over." Ugh, her bun was lopsided, and she didn't really trust herself not to throw out more passive-aggressive quips. But she could not handle any more paperwork right now, and she was curious about the results of the electrified, weight-triggered panels.

Mid kindly opened the door for her to walk out. She passed Paper City, Paper Town, and Paper Metropolis to do so. Oh, and Paperopolia.

She closed the door behind them and strode towards the cells. "How have you been holding up, Mid? How are the other agents?"

"Haven't noticed how I am. As for the other agents, they feel both relieved, and stressed that we have the two assassins back in our building. How are you?"

"Like a cracked nut. I mean, I'm fine." She grimaced. "Functional, at least. Do get me some help if I start displaying error codes on my face, though."

"Ah, just a good 9 cups of coffee should fix you right up. It's what I do."

"You know, I'm surprisingly not as horrified by that suggestion as usual." They approached the room with the cells.

"Haven't slept in days. I might need to bump it up to 19 cups."

"Why not 113?"

"Yes, I'd never get work done with all the trips that I'd have to make to the bathroom."

"Ha! Fair enough." Potash pulled open the door. Right as she and Mid entered, Dr. Dew and Dr. Coke arrived, Dr. Dew with a frown and Dr. Coke practically bouncing off the walls. Right below the vent, Veilnom and Skater lay unconscious, on top of a panel of the vents. There was the slight smell of charred flesh in the room. Mid gagged. Potash wrinkled her nose as she stepped aside to make way for the doctors, who rushed over to offer assistance.

Finally, she said, "I hope that teaches them not to try any more escape attempts, at least."

"Well, it did give them pretty tattoos, but they did reopen some wounds." Dr. Coke replied with a smile.

She looked at the patterns of forked lightning on their skin. "I see. How much can you fix up? We do want them able to stand trial in a few days."

"Hm. They might be able to. Veilnom has a much better chance than Skater at standing."

"Right. What in the world could have happened to Skater to cause him to be in such bad shape?" Both of the assassins had been found with severe wounds, but Skater was significantly worse off, as if his archnemesis had tried to kill him in the slowest and most painful way possible.

"Well, I'm not quite sure what caused it, but it looks like he was stabbed with something very small and barbed and then had those ripped out, he does have a pretty flower on one arm painted with acid, one leg was shot, the other fractured, cut down to the bone on already scarred cheeks, and he probably has a lot of psychological trauma."

Potash raised her eyebrows. "That is quite the list."

"That's just the recent stuff." Dr. Coke said. "He's got a whole lot more, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. That's got to be one hell of a story. As for Veilnom, I wouldn't doubt she's got a story as well."

Potash surveyed the faces of the unconscious assassins and held back a wave of empathy. "Thank you, doctors. Your help is appreciated, as always." She turned to Mid and raised an eyebrow, silently asking if he had anything more to say.

Mid's eyes were wide open. "So, correct me if I'm wrong, even before all of this he's had even more happen to him before?"

"Yes, Director Midnight."

"Thank you, Dr. Coke and Dr. Dew." He nodded and walked out. Potash gave the doctors another nod, then followed Mid out the door.

Lightness... Why couldn't things be simple for once in her life?

(1086 words)

TW: guns, rubber ducks with laser eyes

Maho tapped her foot impatiently, waiting outside of the men's bathroom for her husband. She liked timeliness, which meant arriving a few minutes early. Unfortunately, Oliver did not share that, and tended to always be late. She was going to attend her son's trial, with or without her husband. She already had a deadline and he was getting very close to it.

Finally, the door was flung open. Oliver strutted out, wearing a tailored suit and a tie that shimmered with different colors when you looked at it from different angles. One would have to look very hard to see just how affected he was by this trial. He smiled at Maho without a hint of apology. "Well. I do hope we get a good seat."

"We have reserved seats, rusty wire." She grabbed his hand, and started walking.

"What a merciless correction, blinding gem." He gripped her hand tightly as they headed towards the courtroom.

"He's going to die, and I'm going to kill him for that. I want to see exactly how bad this is going to be though."

That quieted him. "Maybe... maybe the defense attorneys will be good. I wish I could defend him, but that would be a conflict of interest." They arrived at the courtroom exactly one minute before the trial was to start.

"Just be thankful they got people who were willing to do so." She whispered as she sat down.

"They were probably forced to do so or bribed by the promise of good pay." He rearranged his face into a serious expression. This trial would be broadcasted to the public.

Maho didn't need to fake. Her normal face was a poker face. "Without a doubt, and they better have been specific in doing a good job in defending them."

Oliver nodded. He examined the other members of the audience. As this trial was taking place in the astral plane, the audience members were from various ruling families. They whispered quietly amongst themselves until the bailiff instructed them all to rise. Nothing good about the assassins. Sammy sat in front of them. The two agents who took Ilias and Mari sat in the back row. Good, for if they were in a row in front of her she might just accidentally throw something at their head.

The three judges were seated at the front of the room. Ilias and Mari were on one side of the courtroom, next to their attorneys.

Soon enough, the preliminary matters were taken care of and it was time for opening statements.

The defense attorney was a bald giant. That was in sharp contrast to the prosecutor, who was a hairy midget. Oliver appeared to watch with interest as the prosecutor launched into a passionate statement underscoring the damage the assassins had done, then as the defense attorney gave a lackluster statement about how the assassins had been forced into their situations. Definitely forced; this was already not looking well. Maho refrained herself from tsking out loud.

Things didn't get any better as witnesses were called to the stand.



Both Ilias and Mari had their arms wrapped up, thanks to the burns. The thing about energy in the astral realm, is that you need a significant amount less. A few small batteries could power an entire mansion for a year. The security system was probably on that same amount, if not more.

But like smart people, they made sure to handcuff them. It was a bit tight though, as the person who put them on did so with glee.

The first witness was related to Dr. Ghee, who had been brutally murdered. Just not by him. But he did sort of put the blame on himself so, that was his own fault. She shot a glare at Mari and him as she took the stand. There were hints that she'd been crying.

The direct examination emphasized Dr. Ghee's kind character and the fact that he had been brutally murdered by Skater, as shown by the mark left on the ground. The witness, his daughter, nearly started sobbing as she talked about the effects of his death on his family.

Emotional influence on the judge. That always works well, and people tend to be more emotional than logical, or interested in experience.

The defense attorney stepped up for the cross examination. "I am so sorry for your loss," he began. "But I must ask, isn't it true that anyone could have replicated Skater's mark?"

She seemed very reluctant to answer that. "W-well yes."

"So it might not have been Skater who killed Dr. Ghee, isn't that right?"

"He was there at the scene though!" She protested.

"And what proof do you have of that?" The attorney seemed almost eager, as if he was hopeful to find evidence condemning Skater. Who's idea was it to choose this attorney?

"He was a supposed witness to my father's murder, and went into the hospital injured."

The attorney looked almost disappointed. "That's nothing new. No one, other than Veilnom, was present to witness the actual murder, correct?"

"...Yes."

"That is all. May the witness please be excused?"

A judge nodded, and the witness returned to her seat. The following witnesses each testified to other assassinations, some of which Skater or Veilnom had been seen at. The defense attorney continued to be lackluster in his defense of them, only asking enough questions to keep up the appearance of fairness. Ilias tapped his fingers, doing his best not to fall asleep.

"The prosecution rests."

The defense attorney began to call witnesses. First up was Sammy. He settled himself at the stand, fidgeting with his fingers a little before forcing them to fall still. He made eye contact with Ilias and gave the barest hint of a tired smile. After all this, he still stuck with Ilias. Ilias felt warmth in his chest, and it wasn't caused by bleeding.

Sammy and the attorney ran through some basic questions establishing Sammy as Ilias's older brother. He probably hated all the attention on him right now. But still, Sammy sat there, head lifted and voice clear.

"...Did Skater ever have a choice to be an assassin?"

Sammy paused. "No. No, he didn't."

The crowd burst into murmurs but quickly hushed.

"And why do you say that?"

"He spoke to the wrong person once, and then I suspect he was forced to become involved with a group that would not easily let one of their own go."

"Objection!" The short attorney stood up. "This is speculation."

"Submitted, Your Honor." The defense attorney nodded to the judge. What, he wasn't even going to fight back? Ilias clenched his hand into a fist and then released it.

"Sustained. The testimony shall be stricken."

The prosecutor smirked and muttered, "Looks like even their own side is rooting for their downfall."

If Ilias could, he'd toss the guy through a window just to wipe of that smirk. Nevermind being sentenced to death quicker than that guy could hit the ground.

A different judge looked pointedly at the prosecutor. "It would do you well not to make comments such as that in court. Would the defense like to continue?"

"Yes, Your Honor."

The defense called a psychologist to the stand. "Now, doctor, what can you tell us-"

Someone incinerated the doors.



The explosion threw the people in the last rows forwards as a blast of light like Lightness incarnate illuminated the room, including Mid and Potash. When it faded, a figure stepped through the smoking ruins of the doors.

She had a snarl on her face. And she was Mari's mother.

Mari looked on in horror as her mother first made eye contact with her. "You failed," she spit out. Then her mother shifted her smoldering gaze to Ilias, who was next to her. "You. You are the bane of my existence."

People scrambled out of the way as she ran up the corridor between seats and pulled out portable mini machine guns. Two more assassins followed her, aiming their own weapons at Ilias.

Before Mari's mind could do much more than send off blaring alarms, a giant rubber duck appeared to teleport in front of them, holding a silvery shield that blocked her mother's and her mothers' associates' attacks.

She glanced around. Their defense attorney was hiding under the table. One of the judges was holding a rubber duck and aiming laser blasts out of its eyes. She looked positively delighted to be doing so, as if she'd just been waiting for something to get rid of her boredom.

"Nothing like being surrounded by insane people." Ilias muttered. "At least I'll die with the title of 'greatest annoyance to everyone'."

"Yep," Mari replied. "Combined with most likely to attract destruction."

The sounds of the rubber duck going pew pew continued, and Mari heard her mother scream in frustration. Had this been the final straw to send her off the deep end? To be fair, thinking Skater had killed a longtime friend of hers then escaped would be a thick straw, good for pushing people into deep pools.

"For once, we aren't in the middle of the fighting," Mari observed. They couldn't do much with those handcuffs on them, but more importantly, they would probably be executed immediately if they tried to fight.

"Well, we kind of are, but we aren't actually fighting." Ilias scratched his face, which had stubble.

"Yeah. Almost like a vacation." Mari cracked a smile. "Oh, how my standards have lowered."

"I know right?" Ilias grinned.

She leaned back in her chair. One of her mother's associates let out a dying scream. The judge cackled maniacially and pulled out another rubber ducky, which shot frost blasts from its mouth.

"Well, there's the part that our fate is being decided by someone who is insane." He watched the judge.

"...Ah. But was there any chance of the verdict being 'not guilty' anyways?" Mari bet that judge was a cool aunt or grandma.

She heard her mother scream again, and something twisted inside her. Shouldn't she feel something more? Her mother was being attacked here. But... well, her mother had started it. Besides, they'd been drifting away since adolescence, and already the happy memories of blowing stuff up in the backyard were faded next to memories of how they tortured enemies and... Mari closed her eyes tightly. Better to just wait it out and see what happened. Arms went over her head, and hugged her close to a warm body.

Mari opened her eyes and blinked. "Ilias?" she whispered. She... couldn't remember the last time she'd gotten a hug. From her father, maybe, years ago. It felt... nice. Huh. The explosions in the room seemed to fade. He smiled in a sad understanding way, and didn't let go. She leaned in closer, and he rested his chin on her head.

It seemed like hardly any time until the fight ended. The shield duck teleported back to the judge, and Mari could see the aftermath.

Apparently the dying scream had not been let out by a dead person. Her mother and both of her associates were groaning on the floor, pierced by various laser wounds that had then been frozen. It looked extremely painful, but none of the wounds were life-threatening.

The rubber duck judge huffed in satisfaction. Then she sat down primly and stowed away her ducks.

Mari relaxed by a fraction. Her mother wasn't dead. It might be better for the world if she was, but, Lightness blind her, she still felt a wave of relief. Was that a sign of weakness or strength? Did it matter?

She sagged into Ilias at her side as a different judge called a brief recess. "Thanks," she murmured.

"No one should see their parent like that." Ilias replied softly.

She nodded and closed her eyes again, but this time, it wasn't from being overwhelmed. Somehow, she felt a small measure of peace, as if Darkness was here.

When she opened her eyes a moment later, a security team had come to lug the uninvited guests away. People who had been watching the trial were filing out through the now-empty doorway, picking their way through charred bits of door.

Carefully, Mari extricated herself from Ilias's hug and smiled at him. "Well, looks like our fates have been delayed for a few minutes."

"When are we not delaying our fates?" He smiled back.

"Fair enough." Two guards escorted them to a room off the side of the main room. Probably didn't want them mingling with the audience or attempting to escape. Ilias gave his guard a hard time by using him as a crutch.

Mari glanced back one last time at the rubber duck judge. She was discussing quietly with the others. Mari stifled a foreboding feeling. Really, the worst it could get was a death sentence, which was pretty much what she'd expected anyways. Hopefully she could get a final meal, though. She knew exactly what to ask for.

They left the room, and were seated in chairs on opposite sides of the room.

People filed back into the courtroom. Potash took her seat next to Mid, now a few rows in front of the back row, seeing as the chairs of the back row had been thrown into disarray when there had been that intrusion. She thought she'd recognized the lady as the head of a powerful agency of assassins. Now, though, people held their breaths as the judges spoke.

"We have heard enough. Our verdict is guilty on all charges of murder. The two assassins are sentenced to death."

There was a fraction of a second of silence in the room, and then the majority of the audience burst into cheers and applause. Potash, in contrast, sat there stiffly, eyes focused on an invisible point in front of her. She'd expected this, but now that it was happening...

Jerkily, like an automaton, she turned her head towards Mid. He looked pale and nauseated.

"People can cheer at another being sentenced to death... I don't care how horrible the crime is. It's sickening." He said to her.

She nodded, still feeling slightly disconnected from the world. It... it should feel good, shouldn't it? She'd never cheer at a death, but shouldn't it at least feel right to protect the world from future murders by Skater and Veilnom? Shouldn't it?

Guards approached the defendants, and led them out of the building, while the audience started to file out. A few even jeered or yelled at them, but they didn't look back, limping side by side. Potash and Mid sat there longer than others.

Potash took a deep breath. "Well, that's the mission to capture Skater and Veilnom completed. On to the many other tasks of our agency, I suppose."

"Yes, captured, and seen to their deaths." Mid stood up. "Let's return to our paperwork, shall we?"

Potash grimaced as she rose. "Yes, let's." Sarcastic Potash emerged again in her mind. Hooray, more paper. Tempted to just make paper airplanes or eat it at this point. She shushed the voice and responded with a much more sensible, "I want to take all the papers in my office and drop them into a current of heat."

"That I'd gladly do." Mid replied.

"Unfortunately, I would get fired." She started to walk towards where the door had once stood.

"Well I am technically your boss."

"Doesn't mean you can or should show favoritism."

"If you burn your paperwork all the others can burn theirs. Consider it our mourning for the loss of people today."

She let out a surprised almost-laugh at that. "That... that almost sounds plausible." She started to fantasize about watching the dreaded papers burn... Then shook her head. Paperwork had a purpose, even if she disliked it sometimes. Most of the time.

"You got any better ideas?"

"The punching bag," she replied.

"Great idea. I'll have to be doing paperwork though."

"Good luck."

"Yeah." He opened the passenger door and got in as soon as she unlocked the doors.

Potash drove them back to the agency efficiently. She'd just have a go at the punching bag until she could make herself move on from this. With time, surely things would get better. She wouldn't keep thinking about the complexities of all this and how Ilias and Mari would be dying and- No, not Ilias and Mari. Skater and Veilnom. She focused on parking.

Mid hummed absentmindedly, and after a few seconds Potash recognized it as one of Ilias' songs.

She finished parking the car, but didn't release her grip from the wheel. "Please... Please stop," she gritted out. She'd never be able to watch another Ilias Ravioli movie again, would she?

Mid stopped, and sat there for a second. "It's always harder when it's someone you know. But we did the right thing. I'm pretty sure that steering wheel is turning purple from lack of oxygen. Why don't you beat up a few hundred punching bags instead?"

Potash exhaled. "Yes. Yes, that's what I'll do." She slowly released the steering wheel, giving the poor thing a pat on the top for all it'd suffered lately. Mid got out, and headed off in his own direction. Potash slumped against the wheel for one moment, then decided the wheel had had enough of her and went off to seek out some punching bag victims instead.



Once a couple dozen punching bags had been decimated, Potash decided to pick on a target her own size: Mid's door.

She weakened it with an initial kick, then bashed it in with a solid punch.

Mid was sitting at his desk, doing paperwork, with obvious signs of crying. He looked up at her. "Did you really have to kill my door?"

"I'm sure it'll be honored in the door afterlife. Now, I see three possiblities here: they've started hiding chopped onions in the paperwork, the paperwork is frustrating to the point of tears, or... Skater and Veilnom."

"I'm just very, very tired, and conflicted internally." He wiped his face.

Potash could relate. Possibly more than anyone, other than maybe Sammy. After all, she and Mid had been the ones to introduce Mari and Ilias to the agency and had spent a significant amount of time with them. She'd thought they were friends. And Potash didn't make friends easily, so that was saying a lot. "Here." She handed Mid a protein bar she'd picked up on her way from the training room. "Can't have you fainting from hunger."

"I'm not dying anytime soon, I've had a lot of liquid." He took the protein bar.

"Good. Now, about that internal conflict..."

"What about it?"

Potash took a breath. "There's a certain contact I have. In the government. They're in charge of recruiting."

"Is this going where I think it is...?" He took a bite out of the bar.

"Yes." Potash made eye contact with Mid. "We could save them. It... There's still conflict in me. But somehow, it decreases slightly when I consider this option. How about you? What do you think?"

"Yes." He took another bite.

And the world somehow felt a little less heavy.

Then suddenly she was being squeezed in a hug. She stiffened, her face contorting into an expression like that one time she'd eaten an incredibly sour lemon and chased it down with a jalapeño. "Director, I am not a teddy bear. There are no free hugs here."

"You are the best teddy bear- I mean person I know." He stopped hugging her, but he had a great smile on his face.

Potash's face continued to do acrobatics. Finally, it settled on an eyebrows-raised, forehead-scrunched, frown-with-the-tiniest-hint-of-a-smile position. "...Thank you? I think?"

"You're absolutely welcome." He sat down in his chair, and spun around.

She was pretty certain her face could have won the Olympics in gymnastics. Potash stood there for a moment more. Then she said, "I'll let you know what my contact says."

"Thank you, Potash."

She left, pulling up the door she'd busted and propping it against the doorway so it at least covered some of it. Would this work? Well, even if it didn't, at least she'd be postponing the paperwork she had to do.

(1192 words)