BLOODIED OAR.

1777, JULY 16th, SATURDAY 12:32 pm.

Noche was fuming as she walked back into the throne room. Her destination, the other big player of MoveCity – Dharma of the V.P.D. However, as she made her way towards the exit, there was a sight that caught her eye. Protesters had filled the room, and it was far more than the fifteen or so people that were on the stairs earlier.

About a hundred people barricaded the door out. Noche grit her teeth as she approached a woman at the front of the crowd holding a megaphone. She had reptilian features, scales and slitted eyes. Her hair was black with a few white strands all held up in a tight bun. She also had a few wrinkles and a tail.

"No one is leaving this castle until Raptorman resigns!" This woman shouted. "No more chaos! No more destruction! We will not stop until we feel safe again!"

Noche took a deep breath and walked towards the protestors.

"Hey, I'm with Cross and I'm trying to help. However, I need to leave to talk to Dharma."

The woman turned the megaphone in Noche's direction and, with it still on, shouted.

"Nobody leaves until we get what we want!"

Noche winced at the volume; then her hands tightened into fists and her left eye twitched.

"What do we want!"

"To feel safe!"

"When do we want it!"

"Now!"

"Oh fuck this," Noche thought.

The blonde went to push her way through the crowd, but a group of people shoved her back. Prismatic energy became a wooden oar in response and Noche's knuckles popped as she gripped it.

"Ok, last chance, get out of my way."

Some people were paying attention to the blonde now, but none of them moved a muscle. Noche walked forward again and this time when someone went to push her, she swung at their head. Two things happened, first, that person crumpled to the ground, and second some of the crowd lunged at the blonde.

That was all it took for Noche to start swinging.

Alice sighed when that crazy blonde stomped out of the room. Being around Noche always made her uncomfortable. The woman was a powder keg always an inch away from a fire. It was a shame this situation with Raptorman had gone to shit. Maybe Noche would've had more luck if she had the ability to rewind time and start over like Alice did.

"I'm not a part of Cross, I actually am an individual who wants to help out the goodness of my heart," Shaylin said. "I'm working with them to stop DeathTech, but I haven't joined their organization. I'm my own business."

There was a loud explosion that seemed to come from the throne room, but with how frequent such noises were, no one seemed to care.

"That said I'd like to apologize for Noche's behavior. She's easily irritated, especially because of how dire the situation is with DeathTech. Edward himself can't be beaten by physical means," she continued. "If you're honest about trying to stop Edward, you'd need the ability to break the laws of physics. Do you have such a capability?"

Alice did, but only in short bursts. If only she hadn't pushed her powers past the breaking point in her youth. Maybe then she wouldn't spend her life glitching through time. Either way, Raptorman didn't respond. He locked eyes with Shaylin, but at least seemed to be listening.

"Whether it's you, Cross, the PLC, or some other faction... Someone will have to stop Edward and doing it in a direct fight is the worst way to go about it," Shaylin said. "The only way to defeat him is to strip him of his supernatural powers. Something to keep in mind if you plan to attack him."

There was a blood-curdling scream that echoed through the hall. That seemed to get everyone's attention more than the previous explosion. Alice and the gang all made their way out into the hall and towards the throne room. Raptorman stayed behind, his eyes looking down and to the side as if he were lost in thought.

It only took a moment to reach the throne room and once they did everyone's faces went pale. Blood and bodies were splattered all over the place. Fortunately, no one seemed to be dead, but some of the injuries looked severe. Everyone was either unconscious or in agonizing pain.

Standing on top of a reptilian woman, grinding her foot on the lady's face, was Noche. In her hand was a wooden oar drenched in blood. The blonde looked up and gave everyone a sharp glare.

"What took you so long?" She asked with casual indifference.

Alice's mouth hung slightly ajar – she couldn't believe the sight she was taking in. Had Noche really attacked all these people? No one was dead, but with how things looked some people were gonna wake up wishing they were. More than one person had an arm or a leg bent at the wrong angle.

It was at that moment Alice glitched. She took in her surroundings – ten DeathTech soldiers fighting a hundred Cross soldiers. It was the first battle in the war, but it was the sight before her that held her full attention. A younger Noche was before her, and the girl looked shaken.

"Blood... So much blood," Alice muttered, her eyes locked on Noche's. "All those innocent protestors. Noche... How could you?"

The blonde couldn't break away from Alice's hawk-like gaze. A DeathTech soldier was approaching, Alice raised her sniper rifle and Noche flinched. There was a bang, and a pocket watch fell as the soldier was shot in the head. Two more pocket watches fell to the ground followed by two more DeathTech soldiers. It was a perfect triple headshot and it had only taken Alice five rewinds to get her aim right.

Alice yanked younger Noche to her feet and ran. The blonde kept looking around at the bodies all around her. She raised her bloodied hands to her face and she went pale. Her knees buckled and she fell into crimson mud with limbs trembling. She was breathing faster and faster – vomit spewed from her lips.

The difference was incredible to Alice. Two years had changed the blonde from someone who puked on the battlefield to a woman who attacked a crowd of innocents without batting an eye. What had happened to have changed her so drastically?

Back in the present, Noche stared at the spot where Alice had been a moment before. Then her eyes fell on everyone else, who were all stunned speechless. Everyone was horrified at the sight before them. So what, it was just a few bastards who got in her way and attacked her. She held back more than enough, no one was dead after all. The blonde scoffed.

Her gaze fell downward, under her foot was that middle-aged reptile woman. She stomped on her head one more time just to make sure she stayed down. Then the blonde walked towards the door, threw it open, and slammed it shut on her way out. The throne room grew silent save for the sound of whimpering, groaning, and crying.

Noche made her way towards the V.P.D. and she did so alone. If her party wanted to stay by and help those assholes who attacked her that was their problem. Noche had bigger fish to fry. As she walked her eyes turned towards the giant fan in the forest.

She took a moment to watch this comically large desk fan oscillate left and right. It was unaffected by the passage of time or the fleeting concerns of humans. She chuckled and kept walking.

It didn't take long to find the V.P.D. headquarters. Despite how crazy MoveCity was, somehow, there was a map app for this place. She downloaded it onto her phone and within minutes knew where to go. The building before her stood out from the rest of the block with the massive words Voluntary Police Department in big bold letters atop its doors.

Outside the entrance were at least a dozen guards all standing at different various points across the building. They were keeping an eye on all directions, including up in the sky. Each one was wearing what appeared to be a police officer's uniform and everyone had military-style haircuts. Not to mention they all had pistols holstered; given the fact this was MoveCity, it was safe to assume those were Grim guns.

Noche approached and one of the door guards noticed her.

"Morning Ma'am. Can I help you?"

"Yes, my name is Noche. I'm here on behalf of Cross. I have an appointment with Dharma, though I'm a bit early."

He pressed on the radio attached to his collarbone.

"I have a woman here, named Noche. Says she's with Cross and has an appointment with Dharm."

There was a moment where they both stood in silence, then the radio responded.

"Copy that, can confirm Dharma does have an appointment with one Noche."

"Rodger," the man moved aside and held the door open. "You may proceed Ma'am."

Noche nodded and walked inside. Inside was a beehive of men and women in police uniforms. While it was chaotic, it was an organized sort of mess. People were rushing back and forth, papers were being stacked into neat piles, there were people standing and talking, and multiple phones going off. It was difficult not to overhear a conversation.

"I'm telling you Jake, he's real."

"He's a myth."

"Silver Silence is real."

"Wait – wait do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

The man walked over to a facet and turned it on. "Why, it's the sound of money."

"Don't."

"And look – it's going down the drain."

"James you son of a bitch!"

"Listen to all the money going down the drain while we chase down an imaginary serial killer."

"He isn't imaginary! People have seen him!"

"You remember that gazelle hybrid? The one who said his daughter disappeared while he was holding her?"

"What, the one with black fur, yellow horns, and violet eyes?"

"Yeah, that's the one. That's what a real killer looks like! People who can hide their true emotions behind crocodile tears."

Noche stopped eavesdropping and made her way further into the building. She pressed ahead, keeping her eye on the nameplates of each door. Eventually, she arrived at a wood door with a brass plaque nailed to it. Engraved was the name Dharma Ewing. The blonde knocked.

"Enter."

Noche did so and stood before the leader of the voluntary police department. Dharma was a middle-aged woman with dark skin, dreads on half her head, and shaved on the other half. She had two pistols held in shoulder holsters and unlike the other officers, she wore a black and red tactical vest. What stood out most was her right leg was replaced with a glacial pick.

She stood between a desk covered in papers and the front door. Noche could barely make out a bunch of crimes listed on the papers next to a forgotten cup of coffee. Everything in this room served a purpose, there were no personal touches save for one. A collector's case of pinned butterflies placed on top of a bookshelf.

"Welcome Noche. Please, have a seat."

The blonde walked over to a chair and sat down as Dharma walked around the table and did the same.

"I'm always willing to cooperate with Cross so long as it's within my power and reasonable," Dharma said. "Given how the war is going, I'm guessing it must be something important if it's pulling people away from fighting DeathTech."

The leader of the V.P.D. took a sip of coffee. There was the faintest of mouth twitches when it reached her lips, but she drank like it didn't bother her.

"It is. You may or may not know, Edward and his birds of death have powers that almost seem supernatural. Well, one of those abilities is turning fear into raw strength," Noche said. "Edward has been using people's fear of a civil war breaking out in MoveCity to empower himself. Cross has sent me to get rid of that fear."

"And I take it you've already seen Raptorman."

Noche's scowl was all Dharma needed to see.

"Well, that's exactly how I feel," Dharma chuckled. "Alright, I'm willing to help. However, I can't allow my position to weaken."

"It doesn't need to be forever – only shut down the V.P.D. until Cross defeats DeathTech."

Dharma grabbed a file on her table, walked over to Noche, and handed it over. Inside was a picture of a girl no older than four or five. The first paragraph explained how she was at the beach with her family when a man grabbed her and ran off. His augment was much stronger than the parents and he escaped with the crying child.

"What is this?" Noche asked.

Dharma handed the blonde another file. She opened it and a similar story was played out, only this time it was a little boy near the mountain range. Dharma handed Noche three more files, and each one was the same scenario retold in a different way. All these files had barely scratched the pile that was stacked on her desk.

"Did you notice that all those kidnappings are children? Did you notice that was for this week alone?" Dharma said. "Do you know where most of these abducted kids end up?"

Noche shook her head no. Dharma walked over to a corkboard and pulled a newspaper article off of it. She tossed it onto the blonde's lap.

"V.P.D. shuts down child sex-slave ring. Dozens are rescued and reunited with families."

Noche's eyes widened ever so slightly.

"For the past few decades, there has been all sorts of organized crime out in the desert," Dharma said. "No one was doing anything to stop them. Not until... my daughter went missing and I stepped up."

The leader of the V.P.D. turned to the window and stared past at the shut blinders.

"Even now, I can still see her so clearly. The way she was lying on that dirty mattress, covered in bruises, syringes, and used condoms. Dead," Dharma paused. "I can't shut down the V.P.D. Not even for a day... I know what can happen in a single day when no one's willing to help you."

Noche took in a deep breath and let it out slow.

"Alright. At least your reason makes sense," she said. "But that doesn't change the fact something needs to be done. DeathTech is planning something big. Something world ending, and I don't mean that figuratively."

"Then it's fortunate I have a plan where we can both get what we want," Dharma said. "Every ten years, MoveCity hosts a tournament. The winner gets the chance to become the new ruler of MoveCity."

"I've heard about this."

"Well, that tournament takes place four days from now. On the twentieth," Dharma said. "Under normal circumstances, no one from the V.P.D. would be strong enough to defeat Raptorman. Myself included... But if someone like you were to stand up to him."

Noche stared at Dharma. "What makes you think I can take him."

"I had my team assemble a file on you, Noche. I'm aware you've been in the Asylum for the last two years," she said. "I'm also aware that President Medusa has made it clear the Grave Brothers did treason and framed people for many crimes. Yourself included."

Dharma walked over to Noche and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"That doesn't change the fact you gained power from being surrounded by all that drive metal. If anyone has a chance at beating Raptorman, it's you."

"Why not have the Generals do it? Like Dreg?"

"If you think things in MoveCity look bad right now, imagine how people will react when they see Cross trying to take it over," Dharma shook her head. "No, someone as well known as the Generals would end badly... But you, not many people recognize you. Eventually people will figure it out, but by then the V.P.D. should have firm control over MoveCity with your leadership."

Noche thought it over. "Tournament's in four days you say?"

"On the twentieth," Dharma nodded.

A smile crept its way across Noche's face. "Good."

With that, the blonde left.

Dhrama kept her cool until Noche had left the room. The moment the door clicked shut the leader of the V.P.D. let out a held breath and walked back to the table. She rested a hand on its surface while a bead of cold sweat dripped down her temples.

"What the hell? Why did that girl have me so freaked out."

She turned her gaze down to her hand; it was trembling.

"Am I... Afraid?" She whispered. "I never felt like this when standing before Raptorman or Dreg. So why do I feel so nervous standing next to someone who's not even half my age?"

Dharma clenched her fist and took another deep breath.

"I'll have to be careful around her. My instincts haven't been wrong before. It'd be stupid to stop trusting them now," she said. "For whatever reason, Noche strikes me as a terrifying person. Hopefully, I don't figure out why."

Noche closed the door behind her and let out a sigh. Dharma gave off similar vibes to Medusa. Both were serious women who gave off vibes of being stressed out. Though she could respect that.

"Alright, tournament in four days," she smiled. "Time to kick Raptorman's ass, make this city my bitch, and then punch Edward into a fine paste."

The blonde went to walk forward before noticing there was a small girl holding a glass bowl filled with water and a single goldfish. However, it was the large burn scar on the kid's face that caught Noche's eyes.

"Kat! Where did you go!"

A woman approached from around a corner while holding two cups of coffee. Her single eye narrowed at Noche as she pushed herself in between her and the kid.

"Who are you?"

Noche scowled, "Hey, I'm not the one who's supposed to be keeping an eye on a kid."

"I'm not a kid!" The girl shouted.

"Kat, get behind me," the woman said. "I asked you a question."

Noche jabber her finger into the woman's collarbone. "You best be careful with your tone of voice."

"Touch me again, and I'll rip your finger off."

They had a stare-off before it was interrupted by the girl.

"Her name is June. My name is Kat. We're Kat and June Sanctus. Who are you?"

The blonde dropped her gaze from the annoying woman and stared at the kid. "Noche L. Grim."

"Nice to meet you Noche."

"Yeah."

"I'm Lieutenant June Sanctus," the woman said.

"That's nice, I'm Noche from Cross."

June raised an eyebrow at that, before turning away from the blonde and facing Kat.

"What are you doing here? I told you you're supposed to wait in the guest room."

"But I got boooored. Besides, all the officers know me. You've been working here forever."

"Why do you have a goldfish?"

Kat looked down at the bowl in her hand and then back up at June. "I... Stole it?"

Noche chuckled and June shot her a glare.

"Well someone appreciated my joke," Kat said in a smug tone.

June sighed. "Look Kat, I'm going to need you to wait here while I talk to Dharma. Can you do that?"

Kat did a salute. "Aye, aye, captain."

The woman kept her eyes on Kat for a few seconds, before turning to glance at Noche, and then walking into Dharma's office. The blonde turned to walk away.

"Hey wait!"

Noche turned to see Kat starting to follow her.

"Beat it. I don't got time to entertain some kid."

"Hey, I'm not a kid. I'm fourteen."

Noche scoffed.

"It's true!"

"Well I'm sure you and your goldfish can go have fun being teenagers somewhere else. Shorty."

"Oh yeah, well how old are you?"

"Twenty."

"Ohhhh, look at miss old lady. Someone call the old lady shop, cause they let out a wrinkly old, lady!"

Noche couldn't suppress the chuckle that escaped her lips. Kat placed the goldfish on the nearest officer's desk. He stopped typing for a moment to look at it, then noticed Kat, shrugged and went back to work.

"Look, I'm sorry about my sister. She can get a bit overprotective," Kat said.

"Yeah, I can tell. You both seem like such joys to be around."

"I am a joy to be around," Kat said with a little courtesy.

Noche smiled, but quickly wiped it off her face. However, it wasn't fast enough to escape Kat's notice and the girl smiled right back at her.

"So, how much older is your sister? Ten years?"

Kat gasped. "You think she's that old! Oh my god! I'm gonna tell her!"

"What?"

"I knew this job was too stressful. Woe, my poor sibling. Covered in gray hairs and with bags under her eyes. Woe be to June."

Noche chuckled.

"No, she's only three years older than me. She's seventeen."

"Woe to June is right," Noche smirked. "But hey, at least she can ride a roller coaster."

"I'm not that short!" Kat shouted.

The blonde laughed; a moment later Kat laughed too.

"Thank you for not picking a fight with her. I know she can be a big ol pair of grumpy meanie pants... But she's trying her best. So thank you."

"Yeah. No problem Kat," Noche smiled. "Seriously, I got to get going."

"Okey dokey then. Well Ms. Grim, it was nice to meet you. I hope you have a good day, doing official Cross business. Like marching and polishing your boots and... Doing boot camps."

"You don't know anything about the military, do you?"

"I know they're smelly."

"Good one Kat, good one."

"Thank you. I am a professional."

Noche chuckled and walked away. Kat picked up the goldfish bowl and made her way back to the spot June told her not to leave. As they went their separate ways Noche's mind lingered on the massive burn scar across Kat's face. The blonde could still feel the fire racing across her chest when a red hot anchor was placed there.

Even when she resurrected in a new body, she kept the burn scar. It was hard not to keep it when she couldn't forget the pain. To see a similar type of scar on a kid, for a moment it tugged on Noche's heartstrings. Then the blonde hardened herself. She couldn't let herself get soft like that, not when there was a job to do.

"Tournament, Raptorman, Edward," she said under her breath. "I'm gonna beat them all. Then all my problems are gone."

With those words, Noche left the V.P.D.