The guard for The Central Casino was wide awake. They didn't have time any shenanigans tonight - no malarkey, no foul balls, *nothing*. Nobody ever seemed to come by, but he did notice a pair of girls talking just outside his range of "I have to worry about that." One of them sported something more traditional - a kimono, blue on the bands, white elsewhere - holding a medium-sized purse, sporting socks upon... they weren't sandals, they looked more like blocks to boost their height to the other girl's. The other lass was wearing something... more human, definitely, but it didn't look quite right. Denim overalls, over a brown shirt - with one of the arms ripped off, for good measure, of course - and some black shorts as well. On her hip was a crossbow - but weapons weren't necessarily disallowed, so long as you knew the right people. Their hair colors were complimentary - the more formal lass wore green, while the casual one wore red. After what felt like an eternity (and all the while, the bouncer definitely reaffirming his distaste for women), the two finally came up and bothered him. "Sorry, ladies, can't let ya through." The red one introduced themselves. "You sure? I think we might be on the list." The bouncer crossed his arms - muscled as ever, perfectly grey. "Gonna need to see some IDs, then." The redhead turned to the greenhead. "Song?" Song pulled out a set of two IDs, holding them in the air flagrantly. The bouncer took them into his hands and inspected them. The formally dressed one was identified as "Song Chordia", while the casual one was recognized as "Jendolyn Olerson." The guard pulled a clipboard from inside his jacket. Yeah, they were on the list, alright. "An Olerson, huh?" Jen nodded. "Yeah, though, my boyfriend was a Chordia." The bouncer raised an eyebrow. "Was?" "He...", Song looked away, before simply uttering, "was taken from us too soon." Jen sighed. "Yeah, he was. Song is all I have left of his family. It feels like there's such a gap between me and reality, though..." She turned to the bouncer. "You wouldn't be good at filling gaps, would you?" The bouncer gave a single laugh. "No, no, I wouldn't. I'm flattered, but, this big dog keeps coming by and mistaking me for his partner. The only thing he gets right about me is that I don't even like girls." "Fair enough. We should be heading in, yes?" The bouncer nodded. "Just a second." He formed his hand into a fist, save for the thumb and pinky, which were stretched outward. He put it to his ear. "Have John accompany our two guests to the high rise, yes?" From there, he returned the IDs to the girls. After a few moments, the front doors to the casino opened. A young boy opened the doors - one half of him seemed completely human, the other half, completely robotic - split straight down the middle. His hair only existed on one side, being a nice dark brown. He spoke with a strangely high pitched voice. "Please, come on in, ladies!" Jen led the way up the stairs and into the casino, while Song held her arm - the one that was ripped. The young boy greeted them at the entrance. "Good evening. You gals ready?" Jen nodded. "Mhm! Ready as I'll ever be! Song?" Song simply nodded as well, not saying anything. She was instead surveying the main floor - lots of different, but still standard, implements - tables for people to play various games at were at the forefront, with their patrons mostly wearing hoods or sweatshirts, sunglasses or visors. Further back in the pack were dozens upon dozens of slot machines - some of them literally branded as "The One-Armed <font color="#e64539"><u>Bandit</u></font>!", still roping people in. Song and Jen were not there to gamble with money, though - they had bigger fish to fry. The boy led them back behind all the chaos, into a large hallway - though, they stopped at an ordinary looking wall. The red carpet dared not to touch the crimson paint here - but for what purpose, it was unknown. He pulled out a small device and spoke into it. "Beta. Alpha. Belay. Atrocity." The wall that they had stopped at receded slightly, before opening in two, revealing an elevator room - something similar to an elevator they had seen before. The three stepped inside, and the boy pressed some arbitrary button - arbitrary to the duo, at least. It would take a bit for the elevator to get there, so they had time to ask questions. Song went first, sounding droopy, almost sad, but not quite there. Her eyes had no life. "The bouncer... is it true your name is John?" The boy turned around and nodded. "Yep! That's my assigned name! Isn't it wonderful?" "I guess... just sounds weird." "Soon enough, it'll sound normal, and *your* name will sound weird." "How so...?" The boy snickered. "It's a secret, but you look like you already have lots of secrets." Song hung their head, still somber. "You could say that. I won't tell anyone." "One day, everyone will see the light, and then they'll all change. That's what she said." Song nodded. "The Lady?" "Mhm! Don't tell anyone, alright?" "You have my word, kid." The elevator arrived. Song and Jen stepped off, and John did a salute, before heading down with the lift. Once again, Song stuck to surveillance - noticing that there too were high-value targets, just on the highest floor. Though, instead of anything expected, instead players were sat one to one with some kind of screen. Based on observation, it appeared to be some kind of poker adjacent game, with a swirling green-mint background... Before should decipher any more, though, their designated associate came in from the side. The recognition was known. They had no name, but they did have a face. Dressed in a red dress, to match the carpet, the drapes, and the paint, but also to glitter and sparkle, as well as sporting a set of high heels and... spherical skin-like protrusions, two of them, just below the neck line. Neither Song nor Jen had seen anything like it. They contrasted well with her blonde hair and red lipstick, though. Yes, yes, it was... The Lady. She spoke with a tone not unlike a person at the market, annoying the clerk with some menial issue. "Good evening, nice to make your acquaintance." She turned to address the girl in blue. "Song, I presume?" "The very same." The two shook hands, being careful not to over- or undercompensate. Jen didn't need to be asked. "And I'm Jen, nice to meet you." Her handshake was definitely more forceful, but The Lady didn't seem to mind. "Good, good. Here, why don't we take this to my office?" Jen acknowledged this giving a thumbs up, but Song didn't say anything. Something was bothering her... was it really this easy to get here? No matter, the thought was discarded. The Lady led them all behind a couple of doors, before coming to one guarded by two bouncers, identical to the ones out front. Wordlessly, one of the guards opened it, letting all three pass. Inside was something... definitely strange. The room was all white - not indistinguishably so, but still basic. The carpet was fur - like, *real* fur, and opposite the wall they entered from, was a large glass window. It overlooked the entire city - not a point could not be seen, and not a point was hidden from view. Jen perked up. "You have a wonderful view, miss, uh..." "You may simply call me The Lady. Even if it sounds a little odd." "You have a wonderful view, The Lady." Song didn't say anything. The Lady was curious. "Is she alright?" Song spoke just loud enough for everyone to hear. "Jen does most of the talking for me. I'm here as emotional support." "Hmph. Very well. Shall we sit?" The Lady motioned for the two to take seats at a large white table. In the center was a single succulent plant - something Song *definitely* had never seen before, given that she should be familiar with the whole place. The Lady spoke to the only other one who would speak properly. "So, what brings you all in today?" Jen looked over to Song. "You have the case files, right?" Song nodded, producing a manila folder from her purse. "It is... how do you say... Information on a mystery. Your old strategist..." Song trailed off. Luckily, Jen was always the support. "We think we might know where he is." The Lady raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you guys are *serious* serious." She belched out a laughter, one that could be described as mildly evil. "With him back, I could finally- well, you know the rest, right? I feel like everyone knows by now, thanks to those filthy no-good-" "We actually don't know, The Lady." Once again, The Lady laughed. "You don't know about The Light?" Song took a stab in the dark. "Implants memories, right? Makes you believe whatever's needed?" "No, no, you're *far* off. The Light is what will help separate everyone, The Light will keep everyone pre-occupied so *real* business can occur. Now, about that case file..." Silently, Song passed the folder along. The Lady was engrossed in them, as Jen silently put something into the succulent. "Wow... so, he really did die. Wow, that... that explains a lot. I appreciate this, you have no idea what this means to me." Just then, Song heard something in her ear. "Guys, you need to evacuate!" The Lady perked up. "What... what was that?" Again, the voice. "They're going to blow it up-" Just then, the lights of the room dimmed, before turning red. A robotic voice was heard over the intercom. "All faculty members, evacuate immediately. Do not use the lifts; take the stairs." The Lady stood up from her chair, taking on something of a defensive, but crazed stance, pointing from Song, to Jen, then back to Song. "Y-you traitors! None of this is real, is it?? Where's Era?? What have you done with him?? Who are you?? Where's *Era?*" "Right Here." Ika shook her head, removing the proverbial mask, drawing her dagger from her purse, before lengthening it to the whole blade, pointing it at The Lady. Meanwhile, Mako, who was similarly cleansing herself of her masquerade, blocked the door with the table, bolting it. "E-era?! You're- you're with them?? The traitors, the enemy?? I *raised* you, I *helped* you, I-" "You made me do things I should have never done. I am a new person, with a new name, and a new life." She made advances, forcing The Lady to back to the window, her palms covered in sweat, trying not to think of the grim reality of the situation. "What is this, you're going to force me off of here? Just for what, a little revenge? What is this, tell me!" "It's the end of an Era." Ika kicked into her as much as she could, breaking the glass, shattering into what could almost be described as confetti. Ika made sure to stay back, away from the ledge, but The Lady fumbled, trying her best to grip on, but there was no use. Velvet chimed in from the earpiece. "Ika, what did you *do?*" "You didn't like The Lady? She's on her way to the ground, probably at terminal." Velvet sounded perplexed. "What, you're *serious?* Well, then, hop on your line and get out of there!" As instructed, Ika tossed her sword into the air, it retracting and turning to its whip form. Without cue, she whipped into the air, causing the various brass-encrusted diamonds to hover in the air, drawing a line. Dropping the weapon, it turned into a platform big enough to ride on similar to a snowboard. "Mako, now!" "Good! Didn't think this door would hold much longer! Mako grabbed her crossbow from its holster, before hopping on the platform with Ika. It was a tight fit, but she held onto her partner with one hand, and the crossbow with her other, before they took off into the night, riding along the electricity the line had to offer, feeling the air on their skin, before never being... "Hey, traitors! Guess who's still kicking!" ## Oh, Fuck!! To their side, a helicopter rose from out of view, its side door open, revealing, of course, The Lady, but also another guard, piloting it. Mako immediately aimed her crossbow, but did not shoot quite yet. "You thought you could get rid of me that easily, huh? I'm impressed. I didn't think my own protégé would betray me like that." This time, Ika would do all the talking. She only focused on the path ahead of her, and not the annoying woman talking to her. "Truthfully? Yeah. But I'm trying to seek forgiveness, and right now, you're not helping." "Forgiveness?" The Lady took on a twisted smile, grinning quite literally ear to ear. "Did you lose The Light, Era?" "What I lost was my memories. I want to know who I was." "You were pathetic. You *are* pathetic. You made the desert, you made the land you despise now. Soon you'll see like I do once again. How the world needs chaos and disorder, to gain order." Mako took a shot, but it was easily dodged. The lady blew a raspberry out the window, as the helicopter ascended higher than the line. Ika tapped into hear earpiece. "What's the plan, Vel?" "The plan?? Ika, I have no plan! I lost control of my squadron, you're on your own, I'm sorry!" The line cut out, and the earpiece broke in two, falling from the sky, taking an aeon to reach the ground. "Mako, you alright?" Mako held on with all her might. "I'm fine, just... tired." "Me too. Doubt we'll be let back into our room. Or the city." "They don't know our names." "True, but... We should just [[Camp]] outside for the night until we think of something. Whatever that Light is... we need to stop it, right?" "Alright... but rest first, okay?" Ika nodded. "Okay."