Oracle sat silent, Reclaimer's words still sinking in. She knew that he wouldn't hesitate to hunt them all down and make her watch as he killed them all.

She knew that his threats weren't empty, and she could trust that he would carry them out. But she had meant what she said when he mentioned Mirage. If he laid a hand on him there would be hell to pay.

The monster he had talked about would turn on its creator.

Oracle couldn't shake what he had said about her though, about her monster. How he said that she was deadlier than most of his men. How he knew her well, knew how she thought, how she fought.

The scary part was that he truly did. He knew her inside and out. Hell he had known her longer than her own parents. She and known him longer than her own parents.

She realized something then, something that she couldn't see before. Because Reclaimer knew her so well, she knew him just as well. He had trained her. She knew strengths and weaknesses.

Oracle knew his fighting style, knew what to expect. A potentially fatal flaw for both of them. More so for her because Reclaimer knew what she would and wouldn't do, and he didn't have anyone who was close to him. He never had as far as she knew.

He viewed love as something that got in the way. Perhaps the person he did love hurt him in some way, or they got taken away from him. Friends were a foreign concept, he deemed them as 'allies', which were more effective then friends.

Oracle on the other hand cared for someone. She cared for Mirage deeply and couldn't bare to lose him, just like he couldn't bare to lose her. But if it came down to it she would sacrifice her own life to save his, so that he could lead the Rogues and the planet to a better future if they won this war.

If that was her only choice when the final moments of the battle came she would do it. She wanted to see her planet free. If she had to release the monster inside she would.

But she was afraid. When Mirage had told her what she had been doing she had locked that monster deep inside of her. Reclaimer had let some of it loose only minutes ago, something she hadn't done in a little while.

She was scared of it, of what she was capable of. Oracle didn't want to hurt those she cared for. She didn't want the monster to become her, which is what she was afraid of the most.

Oracle shook her head, trying to clear the jumble of thoughts from her head, trying to get them straight. Her body ached from the fight with Silencer and the Peacekeeper.

She felt as though her head might explode, and all she wanted to do was rest. But she was still handcuffed to the table, with only a metal table to rest her head on.

Oracle looked at the handcuffs and wondered who had the keys to them. If she could figure that out, she might be able to escape...

There's a guard outside the door, they have the door's key, maybe they have this key as well.

Oracle supposed she would have to wait until they decided to feed her. Then she could get these wretched things off of her wrists.

Suddenly an idea came to her. Reclaimer knew her well, but he also underestimated her. Oracle could tell by the way he spoke about her, spoke to her. He only saw her as his pawn on chessboard, but in reality she was the Queen. She could move anywhere she pleased.

Oracle knew that the plan was dangerous, if Reclaimer found out her motives he would double or maybe even triple the guards surrounding her cell, and she would have no hope of escape.

But, if she appeared to play along...

Oracle resisted the urged to smirk. She had her plan, now all she needed to do was execute it.

What seemed like hours later a guard came in to feed her. A Peacekeeper followed close behind, keeping an eye on her as the guard took off the handcuffs.

He set the tray down and stepped back, giving her space. She ate quickly, not realizing just how hungry she was. Oracle hadn't eaten since before her fight with Silencer.

Suddenly she remembered Mirage, and the anger she had felt towards Reclaimer returned. All she needed was to gain enough of Reclaimer's trust that he let her out of the handcuffs, which meant that he had to come back to her cell so she could agree to the deal.

Then she could get out, back to the base and see Mirage again. When the guard secured the handcuffs around her wrists again and left she waited, knowing that Reclaimer would be back at any time.

She entertained herself with thoughts of escape. She had been down on the sub levels before, and knew that one to four guards were at the elevator entrances, and now guards patrolled the hallways.

One was outside her door, and a Peacekeeper and a guard came in when she was fed. Oracle looked out the door, and saw a guard pass by it, and started counting the seconds.

When the guard showed up again Oracle deduced that she had about three minutes to get out before the guard came back around, but there were two guards, which narrowed that window of time down to a minute and a half. She would need to fight them, which meant that she needed a weapon.

The guards that came into her cell didn't carry a weapon, which was smart. Reclaimer knew what she would try, and didn't give her any options. The only one who carried a weapon was the Peacekeeper.

She would need to fight the Peacekeeper to get the staff they carried, and then she could move on from there. The staff wasn't a loud weapon, she could use it to get out quicker. With the battle unable to be heard she would have more time to get out before reinforcements were called.

Oracle looked at the metal table, judging weather it could be moved or not, and decided that if she put enough weight on it she could move it.

She could get up and move around the table to the left or right to dodge attacks, but it wasn't a large range of motion. She could still work with it though.

About an hour and a half later Oracle was broken out of her thoughts by the door being opened.  Reclaimer entered and sat in front of her, and she said nothing as usual.

"Have you made your decision?" He asked, looking into her eyes.

"Yes." She said, her eyes watching the Peacekeeper as the soldier moved to take his position behind her.

"What is this decision?" Asked Reclaimer.

Oracle took a deep breath, looking into Reclaimer's eyes.

"It will keep them safe, and I can finally forget about this war. I want to join you again, not have to worry about any of this, have a normal life. I want to be your best."

Reclaimer smiled evilly, and stood.

"You truly wish to?" He asked, looking her in the eyes.

No. She thought.

"Yes." She said, looking straight into his merciless grey eyes.

"It's good to have you back." He said, standing.

"Release her." He ordered.

"Rest, you will need you strength."

The guard with the keys to her handcuffs came over and undid them, and she shook her hands, glad to have them free.

"You will start your missions in a few days, however there will be guards accompanying you. I can't fully trust you, not yet." Said Reclaimer, signaling to the Peacekeeper.

"It will be a new beginning."

Oracle heard the door close and turned to the bed, allowing herself a small smirk.

There won't be a new beginning.

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That was a fun chapter to write. I enjoy writing Oracle and Reclaimer together like this. Anyway, I'm excited for what happens next. See you for the next one!

~~Nightfury107