They spent hours searching the fortress top to bottom. It was evening and they had covered just about every room they could find.

"Nothing on the west wing."

"Nothing in the east either."

"All the rooms are checked out."

"So are all the passages."

Jin had his arms crossed. "So there's only that place left." He walked over to a certain wall and pushed on it.

There was flickering, and the image of the wall disappeared, revealing a passage way.

"This place just keeps getting cooler and cooler."

"It's not a theme park, Niko-kun."

"I know, I know." He hummed. "This place is under the government's control, so there's massive survaillence in the area. That could be why it wasn't bombed."

"Keep your eyes opened and your guards up at all times." Muraku reminded.

"I get that." The Russian boy sighed.

Hana blinked. "Why are you with us again? The rest of your platoon is with Ban-san."

"Your group's missing Wataru, so you only have two members with you. I'm just here to fill the gap."

"... You're worried about us." She nodded slightly. "Thanks."

~~~~~

"It doesn't make sense."

"What doesn't?"

"Even if the fortress is under huge guard, that shouldn't have stopped the World Sabers from attacking it." The younger blue haired woman took a sip of coffee. "I mean, even the NDHQ has the word 'defense' in its name and they took that over!"

"And they managed to bomb all kinds of other public spaces without getting caught." Mami hummed. "Then again, the only reason they didn't get caught is because they died in said explosions."

"Gutless monsters." Her head leaned back on the chair as she thought about the recent events.

Nothing has happened consistently. They weren't attacking multiple times a month anymore. They caused a catastrophe, and then disappear for who-knows-how-long, only to come back out of nowhere. And in places they least expected.

Her brows furrowed. Places we least expect are always places with a lot of people. Where there's people, there's huge security. How did they get past... She sat up abruptly, startling the elder woman.

"Mavis?"

"Shh!" Her device patched a line and it was immediately answered.

"Hmm? You again?"

"Kousuke, how heavily guarded is Angel Star?"

"It's laughable actually. There's hardly anyone there. The only 'security' there are a couple of robots and lock codes."

"And the Kaidou Fortress?"

"Probably got like dozens of people in each wing. Why-"

She slammed the laptop shut before dashing out the doors, leaving behind a very confused Mami.

~~~~~

"This place is as lively as I remembered it." Niara muttered, looking around the room.

"This is where Sirius trapped us, right?" Yuuya slid a finger across the panel. He rubbed off the dust that gathered. "It looks like it hasn't been used in a while."

"Yeah, I don't think whatever it was Eva did here was here."

Jin nodded. "We should go further down."

"Actually, you've gone far enough." They whipped around and found the guards pointing their guns at them. There were a couple dozen at least, but what caught their attention was the man in Detector's mask.

"Bishop."

"Levanov. Still mad at me?"

"Oh, we're way past that. I can shatter you to pieces without freezing a single hair on your body."

"Cute. You're welcome to try in front of all these guns." He smirked when she cracked her knuckles. "Or rather, in front of the children?"

That was when she realized the uneasy faces they were making. She took a deep breath and tried a different approach. "Where's Eva?"

"She's alive. That's all you need to know." He mocked exhaustion. "Really, I had hoped you all went down in our previous encounter. It would save us the trouble. But no, of course you survived. Of course you'd try to go after her, even after she warned you not to."

Red eyes hardened to a glare. "What did you do to her?"

"Oh, your precious princess is going through some... modifications right now. But if you're lucky, you might just join her." His gloved palm opened and all the guards took aim.

They took a step back, unable to make any other moves. They could hardly glance at each other, much less come up with a proper plan. But they didn't have to.

"Get down!"

Gun shots could be heard from the corridor they had gone through and several soldiers fell, pools of blood forming under them. The adults pulled the children to cover behind the panels, two of them covering their ears. Hana was the only one peeking at the battle taking place.

One by one the soldiers fell, none of them able to get a clear shot at their opponent. Eventually, there were only three left along with Bishop, who was hiding behind another panel further away. The three soldiers were well hidden from the firing range, so their savior had to come out.

Footsteps came in fast. Before anyone could react, a figure ran straight to the other side of the room and shot at the three that are left.

Hana's eyes widened. "Mavis-san? How did you-"

"Ever wondered how they could infiltrate public spaces?" She cut in, her gun still pointed at the enemy group's leader. "Ever wondered how they could manage to attack all kinds of places no matter how high the security?"

Kirito's eyes widened. "The guards were part of them. They let the bombers enter."

"That's why we couldn't get any witnesses!" Yuuya added. "So far, the bombings always happen in the lobby, where the guards are stationed. All those who did see the bomber's face..." Went down with them.

"I'm gonna guess that's what the adult soldiers were tasked with. I know the World Sabers don't have a lot of those." Her gun was steady. "Now, tell us what you intend to do with the children!"

A shot rang throughout the room, but it wasn't from her.

She wouldn't be falling if it was.

"Mavis-san!"

She groaned as she sat up, a streak of blood dripping from her cheek to her chin. "I'm fine, he just barely missed."

"Your... Your skin is...!"

"Huh?" Her eyes widened when her hands felt it turning from soft to almost metal-like. "Crap, not now!"

The skin on her face disappeared, revealing a cracked mask. Her hair changed from light blue to black with white by her ears, which now bore an earing insead of a ribbon. The masked slipped off, her purple eyes with a brighter and clearer shade.

"... Moeka?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Incredulity: Doubt about the truth of something

Also:

Mavis and Moeka respectively :)