The young woman awoke from her daze, seeing nothing but the ruined laboratory around her. She was marked with ruin having her arms and legs covered in scars and bruises, but instead of the red blood she remembers, it was black like oil. Her breath smelled of gasoline and she felt heavier. She rubbed her forehead, groaning as she brought herself up to a standing position.

    "What... the hell?" she asked herself, looking around for any signs of life aside from her own. She stumbled around for a good while finding some bandages and other medical supplies she used to keep herself healthy, not that she needed to as she was no longer human. Rain began to pour as she managed to find a road, following it to a lone gas station. A sleek black Cadillac CT5V Blackwing was parked at one of the pumps, being topped off, however, there wasn't a driver in sight. Nonetheless, the young woman hobbled in, parched for a drink. She walked into the store, the bell chiming as she came through and over toward the drinks, however, none of them seemed to appeal to her appetite, as she made her way by the automotive shelf, seeing quarts of oil all lined up nice and neat. She grabbed the synthetic 10W-60 and cracked it open, chugging it down as fast as she could. She fell back onto the ground, trying to finish the bottle when she saw a woman dressed as a witch in all black, staring down at her with pitiful orange eyes.

    "You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" she asked the young woman, who's response was falling back, blacking out.

    Late one night, outside of the facility, a truck rolled up to the entrance gate, and a guard motioned for the driver to roll the window down.

    "Ah, working late again Jeff?"

    "You know it, ya bastard," the driver said to the guard with a smirk, showing his company badge. "Got a new shipment of test subjects."

    "I see. Head on in, Boss says you're running late." The driver nodded and drove into the facility, where guards stood at the cargo loading dock waiting for it.

    "It's about damn time," the lead scientist said. He was a short, angry little man. "These test subjects need to be taken straight to the lab. Stat!" The cargo bay door on the truck was opened to reveal several people bound and gagged. They were mainly teenagers and young adults. They were all dragged off to the lab and set loose under the watchful eyes of armed guards. The short scientist welcomed them all.

    "You monkeys are nothing but orphans and runaways so I'll put this in terms you understand. If you live through my science project, we'll let you live. If you die... well you're screwed. Now strap 'em down!" The kids were surrounded by guards who dragged them to tables they were strapped to. One child, a young, pale woman with long black hair and silver eyes, had more strength than was thought so it took four guards to strap her down. "In this experiment, you'll be injected with some fluid that will forever change your genetic makeup." With all the subjects secured, they were all injected with a glowing black serum. Once they were injected, all the staff left the room and the restraints holding them down came undone. The subjects stood up and rubbed their injection sites for a little bit until one boy fell over heaving.

    "H-Hey what's wrong?" another boy asked him.

    "I feel... oh-" he was interrupted by himself vomiting oil.

    "Ew, what is that?" a girl asked before her body began to change. She screamed in pain as her arms became mechanical shafts and her hands became wheels and tires. Her torso became metal and her legs mechanized as her skin turned dark, and her contorting body too sprayed oil and gasoline all over the floor. One after another the subjects changed in different ways, the pale woman falling to her hands and knees which were becoming wheels, tires, suspension and driveshafts.

    "They're... turning us..." she muttered before she felt her insides clench and turn mechanical. But she could still sense what was going on around her, as one by one, transformations halted as the subjects died mid-metamorphosis, leaving nothing but piles of human flesh and blood, and iron and oil. Yet she, however, was able to feel that she had become a complete vehicle. Her hands and feet had become wheels, her mind had become her powertrain. Her body, the carbon car body.

    "Intriguing, most intriguing indeed!" the scientist said, coming back into the room. "One success. Make sure you're all writing this down," he said to the other scientists. "The Czinger 21C lives. Someone get me her files."

    "Why have you done this to me?!" the woman demanded, her voice carrying through the vehicle's stereo system, and her engine revving.

    "For the future of humanity my dear, it is time we become one with transport. The rise of Automorphs starts today." The woman snapped, and spun herself in all directions, running over guards and transforming, grabbing their weapons. "Someone stop her!" Using the guns she grabbed, she shot every guard who came after her and she also was able to partially transform her feet into the wheels and tires for increased mobility as well as turning her skin into carbon fiber for defences. It was after a mere moment of this violence when she blacked out.

    The sound of distant thunder woke the woman from her slumber. She was on the ground, wounded and tired, she pulled herself up and looked around seeing the facility ruins sprawled around her in all directions. She hobbled around, finding some scattered first aid kits she used to patch herself up, she found a metal rod to use as a cane, and she came out of the building as it started to rain. The tears of the sky mixed with her own as she hobbled away, and a piece of paper floating in the wind caught her face. She pulled it off and looked at it, seeing it show her picture with her name and scientific data.

    "My name..." she muttered, having not remembered much before waking up the way she did, so she folded the paper and stuffed it into one of her pockets before continuing her journey toward the facility gates. She had noticed her blood was not red, but black, like oil. She couldn't taste anything, and trying to drink the rainwater made her feel sick. But she knew she had to find something to quench her. Anything. She continued down the road until she came across a lone gas station. A shiny black Cadillac CT5V Blackwing was fueling up, however, the car seemed to be just as deserted as the station. However, this was of no relevance to the young woman as she hobbled inside, the bell above the door ringing slightly as she walked over toward the drinks, seeing how none of them seemed to suit her internal appetite, so she headed for the automotive supplies and grabbed a quart of oil, using what little strength she had left to wrench it open, but as she brought it up to her lips, she fell back onto the floor, as if she was too late. Before she blacked out again, she could see a blurry woman standing over her.

    "You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" her distant voice asked as the young woman blacked out. "How tragic. She was so young too." The woman who was dressed as a witch for some reason, helped the passed out girl drink some of the oil and carried her outside, transforming into the Cadillac from before, and the young woman ended up laid down in the back seat. "Rest well, brave soul," the Blackwing said into her stereo. "For when you awaken, you will join the true fight of our lives."

    The young woman awoke with a start, tears in her eyes, as she jostled herself from her nightmarish slumber.

    "Hey you, you're finally awake," a voice to her left said. She moved her head to look and saw the witch-like woman she vaguely remembered before passing out. The witch took off her hat and smiled down at her. "How do you feel?"

    "Tired," the young woman replied with a sigh.

    "Tired? My my, you just woke up from your 37-hour nap."

    "What?"

    "You've been out cold since... well, you passed out on that gas station floor. I had to completely flush your fluid systems. And you're a very complicated car mind you." The witch went to the computer she had connected to the young woman's arm.

    "Who am I?"

    "Who are you? You're lucky some mild amnesia is all you have from the experiment they did on you. Then again, that is the most common side-effect."

    "What? Experiments?"

    "Don't worry," the witch said as she turned back to the young woman. "I'm just gonna make sure you're healthy," she explained as she shone a light into the young woman's eyes, watching her pupils dilate and she could almost see the wires that would have formed her now internal organs, tissues, muscles, and pretty much her human-form body.

    "Um... that still didn't answer my first question."

    "Don't worry, you can read your case file when I'm done."

    "You keep telling me not to worry."

    "Because I mean it, damnit." The witch continued with her check-up. "Now come on, get up and do some stretches for me." The young woman pulled herself up and moved around, stretching her arms and legs in various ways. "Good, you seem to be functioning mechanically."

    "Mechanically?"

    "You really don't remember, do you Honey?" The young woman shook her head. "Well then I suppose while I file your test results, you can read your case file," she said, handing the young woman a file. She sat back down on the bed and opened it, seeing her name, face and information.

    "S... Syth? Is that me?"

    "Yep. You're Syth Blaylocke, a 22-year-old Automorph female."

    "So... I'm an Automorph?"

    "Yep. You can change into your vehicle form, an American Czinger 21C at will. Just... not now. That would be too messy for my lab."

    "So if I'm Syth, who are you?"

    "Ah yes, you can call me Schwarze. Just know that everyone else calls me 'Nachthexen'."

    "Why do they call you that?"

    "Because I like my witch attire, thank you very much," she said with a pout.

    "I'm sorry Schwarze, I wasn't trying to insult you," Syth sighed and stood back up. "Alright, I think I understand everything now."

    "If you say so. Now look, the reason I saved you is that I could tell you're an Automorph. You see that sort of glow around me?" Syth rubbed her eyes and squinted at Schwarze, seeing this faint orange aura about her.

    "I do now that you mention it."

    "All people who are automorphs have that glow, but the colour is different per person. Mine's orange right?"

    "Yeah."

    "That's what people tell me."

    "So... what colour is mine?"

    "Yours is a greyish-white?"

    "Why is that a question?" Syth asked, seeming offended.

    "Well, it's kinda hard to tell. It's there but it's almost clear. You're a very pure being, Syth."

    "Is that why you saved me? I interest you?"

    "Not just in that way," Schwarze said. "There's a group of Automorph terrorists who are on the loose, and I need some help taking them down. And with you being such a nimble vehicle, I think you'd do very well against them. They are just some SUV's after all and you're a complete track-built road car." Syth thought for a few moments.

    "You really think I can take em?"

    "You can't seriously be doubting yourself," Schwarze said in a scolding manner. "You're more than capable, Sweetie. In fact," she said, getting close, holding Syth's chin in her fingers, looking her in the eyes, causing Syth to blush. "Compared to SUV's, you're quite the overkill. Much like my associates."

    "Ah... associates?"

    "Yes. They should be here tomorrow. For now, I suggest you take this time to get used to your vehicle body. There's a test track out back."

    "Test track?" Schwarze just smiled, nodding and going back to her lab work. Syth shrugged and headed out of the lab to the test track, an abandoned airfield.

    Syth walked out to the edge of the track on the old runways. She glanced around, hearing the sound of an engine roaring in the distance until an odd-looking red and black car came into view. She brought her hand over her eyes, shading them from the sun to get a better look at the car.

    "Is that... a B2?" she asked herself as the car came rolling to a stop, transforming into a woman who did a front flip and landed in front of Syth.

    "Privyet," the woman said in a Russian accent. She brought a cigarette to her mouth and lit it.

    "How are you smoking?" Syth could only bring herself to ask.

    "Same way I did before those sukas turned me into a machine," the Russian replied. "My name is Petra Zynzk. I am a Marussia B2."

    "Um... okay."

    "You must be new. Well then Girly, show me what you can do."

    "Huh?"

    "Your car form."

    "O-Oh. Right." Syth blushed and walked onto the track, transforming into her Czinger form.

    "21C? Impressive." Petra walked around her vehicular body, inspecting her from every angle. Syth could only feel like blushing, as Petra inspected her from top to bottom, quite literally. "You're quite well built. Now do a lap."

    "I don't know the course," she responded through her radio.

    "Watch for the braking signs and cones. Now go." Syth floored her accelerator and sped off, using her vehicular senses she could feel her way around the track. Petra watched as this new girl went around the track as if she's done it before. "She's a natural... natural. Like she's done this before. How can someone who was changed into a car, not a week ago be this good?" Schwarze came out to watch just as Syth finished her lap and transformed back into her human form while Petra was staring at her stopwatch app with disbelief.

    "What is it?" Schwarze asked Petra.

    "There's... no way in hell you're that good," Petra glared at Syth. "You've only been a car for a few days!"

    "Well," Syth struggled to find her words. "I just feel like I've done this before?"

    "Really?" Schwarze asked. "I wonder if maybe a side effect of your transformation was natural skills?"

    "That's yerunda!" Petra said. "Absolute bullshit!"

    "You could say that, but I'm serious. Since the experiment completely skews our DNA, it's possible that on the microscopic chance, the DNA mutations gave her an innate ability for track racing."

    "Um... what's that in English?" Syth asked with an odd expression.

    "If this was an anime, you've got the best damn plot armour."

    "Why do you keep bringing up anime?"

    "It's fun to watch."

    "Whatever, I'm going for a drink," Petra said.

    "Don't leave the compound," Schwarze said.

    "I won't," Petra said, walking off. Syth sighed and Schwarze patted her head.

    "I know she can be a bit of a bitch, but she'll warm up to you."

    "You really think so?" Syth asked.

    "Of course. Now come on, I have a friend flying in to join us."

    "Flying?"

    "Yeah. She was an experiment done by USAF."

    "She's a jet?"

    "Oho, Sonya's not just any jet. Commander Rhysen is one of the best aircraft, no... best vehicles ever produced."

    "Sonya... and Commander Rhysen?"

    "Ah, Commander Sonya Rhysen. She's the same person, older than myself, but I'm far superior when it comes to intellect."

    "Just how old of a jet is she?"

    "Not too old." The air was then split by the sound of two afterburners firing. "Ah, there she is." They looked west and could see a raven-black silhouette against the sky coming into view, two tailfins, two jet engines, and a long fuselage.

    "Holy shit," Syth muttered despite the jet noise.

    "Twin Pratt and Whitney J58's," Schwarze said as the stealth jet came in for her landing, releasing her parachutes. "Commander Rhysen is a 1969 Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird." Syth was in awe of the great machine as she rolled to a final stop at the end of the runway, and Schwarze was already in vehicle form going after her. Syth transformed and did the same.

    Syth watched as the SR-71 slowed to a stop. She stayed in her vehicle form as the spy plane slowly transformed into a taller woman with long, yet ragged black hair and a military uniform that had clearly seen better days. She sighed and pulled her goggles from over her eyes and set them on her forehead.

    "So Schwarze, I heard you got some new playthings?" Sonya asked.

    "Well, I wouldn't call them 'playthings'," Schwarze said, transforming. "I feel like they're more students." Sonya sighed and rolled her eyes, lighting a cigarette.

    "Jeez, does everyone here smoke?" Syth asked, transforming and walking over to Sonya.

    "Ah yes, the Czinger," Sonya said, eyeing Syth up and down. "Once I train you in combat we can easily take out these shitty SUV terrorists."

    "You really think so?" Syth asked and Sonya paused.

    "If you already doubt yourself then you have no place here. Scuttle off and hide with the rest of the fucking cowards." Syth scoffed and slapped her, sending the cigarette falling from Sonya's mouth.

    "Maybe we should start now then?" Syth asked Sonya, who after a couple moments bit her finger and blushed.

    "Oh, I like you," she said sensually. Syth went wide-eyed and stepped away from the masochist.

    "Commander now's not the time to show off your masochistic side," Schwarze said, clearing her throat.

    "O-Oh, right." Now Sonya cleared her throat. "Anyway, Czinger, we'll start tomorrow at 05:00."

    "My name is Syth," Syth explained.

    "She may not need much training," Schwarze said. "She had a natural ability on the track as if she's been a vehicle all her life."

    "How long has it been since your initial transformation?" Sonya asked her.

    "A few days," Syth answered.

    "Lucky plot-armoured little bitch," Sonya muttered.

    "What the hell did you just call me?" Syth demanded.

    "Don't worry about it," Sonya smirked. "At the rate, you learned your vehicular body, you should be able to perfect combat training in a week or so." With her final word, Sonya walked away with Petra as the two of them smoked.

    "You don't smoke, do you, Schwarze?" Syth asked her.

    "God no," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "I have a separate room for them to smoke in. By the way..."

    "Hm?"

    "How many people would be comfortable being around?"

    "What do you mean?"

    "Well, remember earlier I said I consider you a student of mine not so much as a soldier?"

    "Yeah."

    "Well, I've been spreading some emails and messages... and you may be getting some more classmates."

    "I see," Syth brushed the hair from her eyes as she stared off in the distance. "I suppose I wouldn't mind a few more people."

    "Good," Schwarze said with a smile. "They should be arriving over the next few days."

    "Alright. Do you think you can tell me more about these terrorists?"

    "Nope, that'll be Sonya's job. I'm just keeping you all healthy, and making sure you all follow her orders."

    "Hold on, this whole operation was your idea."

    "Yeah, I guess I worded that badly." She thought to herself for a moment. "Sonya's in charge of your combat training, whereas I'm in charge of everything else."

    "Yeah, you could have just left it at that," Syth sighed.

    "Anyway, how about you go hit the track some more. Let's see if you can improve your time."

    "Alright," Syth nodded and transformed, driving back onto the track and Sonya stood by and watched, seeing Syth not only get faster each lap but maintain higher average speeds.

    "Holy shit," Sonya muttered to herself, smoking another cigarette. "She's amazing on the track. Well then, let's just see if she has the combat skills to match." Meanwhile, all Syth could do was empty her mind and focus on simply driving faster and faster. She didn't even figure out by simply letting her mind go blank all she had to do was just see and react to her immediate surroundings and after a point, the racing line for the track became second nature to her and all the while, Sonya stood and watched, wide-eyed in shock and wonder.

    The next morning after Syth's first gruelling combat training lesson, she, Schwarze, Sonya and Petra were gathered at the table in the building for a liquid breakfast.

    "Remind me again, what does jet fuel taste like?" Petra asked Sonya.

    "Well, one type of jet fuel, known as Jet A, is pretty close to diesel fuel chemically, but it tastes a bit thinner. It's more kerosene-based."

    "Just try not to drink too much, Commander," Schwarze said. "It's expensive."

    "You brought me into this operation damn well knowing my transformation ability," Sonya responded, pouring herself more from the large canister on the other side of the room. Syth and Petra just glanced at each other while Sonya and Schwarze glared at each other for a moment. Just then, a beeping noise came from Schwarze's computer and the TV screen flicked on, showing there was a car at the complex's gate. "Someone's here?"

    "Ah, I know who that is," Schwarze said, pressing a button on her keyboard.

    "Hallo?" a female German accent came from the large black crossover. "Schwarze? Are you home?"

    "Ah, Vogelscheuche, come on in." She pressed another button and the gate opened, and the car drove into the complex, appearing at the door a minute later. Everyone was greeted with a shining black Volkswagen Atlas Cross R Line.

    "You didn't need to use my German name you know," it said through her speakers before transforming into her human form. Syth watched in mild fear as the woman appeared taller and taller, wearing an all-black tuxedo and trousers, long black hair, leaving one eye uncovered, as the parts of her skin Syth could see were covered in long stitched scars. She smiled a sharp-toothed smile, scars of course at the ends of her lips, she bowed and placed her small top hat on the top of her head, making her height nearly 10 feet tall. Even Commander Rhysen was a bit wide-eyed. "Anrede," she said. "As you heard Schwarze say, my name is Vogelscheuche. Or Scarecrow if you prefer." She glanced towards Syth's left but offered her gloved hand to her. Syth reached up and shook it awkwardly.

    "Um, I'm over here," she said quietly.

    "I'm aware. My apologies, my human eyesight does not work, so I use my vehicle cameras and parking sensors as a way to see around me."

    "My God you're tall," Petra said.

    "A mere side effect of the experiments they did on me. The same goes for my eyesight and scars all over my skin."

    "But why is your name Scarecrow?" Sonya asked.

    "Schwarze gave me that name because she couldn't ever find my experimentation files that would have listed my true name."

    "It's true," Schwarze shrugged. "I looked through every database and paper I could find, but nothing on ol' Scary here."

    "Please, don't use that silly pet name," Scarecrow said, blushing slightly.

    "Well, you need some cuteness to contrast with your tall stature."

    "If you say so," Scarecrow walked away, ducking under the doorframe toward the bedrooms.

    "I feel as though we should apologize," Syth said. "We shouldn't have made her feel like that."

    "Well way to volunteer yourself," Sonya said, pushing her toward the hallway.

    "Wait, I'm not apologizing for all of us!"

    "Just do what your heart feels right," Sonya said, leaving Syth in front of Scarecrow's door, which had a rather crude drawing of a scarecrow on it.

    "Schwarze must have drawn that," Syth muttered to herself before knocking. The answer was only silence, so she knocked again.

    "Come in," Scarecrow's voice answered softly. Syth opened the door to find it dark inside so she stepped into the room carefully. "Please, close the door."

    "Okay," Syth replied, closing the door leaving herself in total darkness with only Scarecrow's voice. "I'm sorry Scarecrow. I didn't mean to make you feel self-conscious."

    "Don't worry, it is fine. I'm sure none of you meant any ill-will. I know I'm quite the sight to behold."

    "Don't use such cruel irony Scarecrow, I want us to get along."

    "My understanding is that the blind character gets to make the blind jokes."

    "But you really shouldn't," Syth implored and Scarecrow giggled.

    "You know you're quite the interesting young woman. What was your name?"

    "My name is Syth Blaylocke."

    "The black hair and silver eyes. Yes, you're the one I shook hands with."

    "Y-Yes." There was a bit of a pause between them as Syth was unsure what to say next.

    "Are you scared of the dark?"

    "N-No, not really."

    "I'm not fond of it, but I have grown used to it. However, than can be times when the dark may seem... scary." Suddenly Syth's feet were knocked out from underneath her. She fell with a cry, but then she noticed she had fallen onto what felt like a mattress.

    "S-Scarecrow?!"

    "Trust me Syth there are also times when the darkness can be comforting." Syth closed her eyes despite being unable to see anything until she felt Scarecrow's long arms gently hugging her. Unsure of what to do, Syth hugged the tall woman back but she heard Scarecrow gasp. "Um... Syth?"

    "Oh..." By now Syth had realized she was touching Scarecrow's buttocks and immediately let go. "Sorry."

    "Oh nein, it's fine." Syth then felt a flick to her forehead before a single light bulb clicked on, lighting the room. Syth drew in a sharp breath as her eyes took a few moments to readjust. "There. All is forgiven," Scarecrow laughed.

    Later that day, Schwarze had everyone gathered around the table.

    "Until the rest of the party arrives, here's what we'll be doing," she started, placing files on the table. "These are the five SUV terrorists that we have targeted. Some old contacts of mine managed to meet one of them, Wysteria Dirkson, a Jaguar F-Pace."

    "Who were these contacts?" Sonya asked.

    "They ran a club back in the city harbour before the Daiya attack. The majority of the metro area is a war zone so naturally, they've moved shop."

    "Makes sense," Syth said.

    "Yep," Schwarze nodded. "But our targets are the five of them. Wysteria Dirkson as mentioned just now, Culla Callum, Vanity Kinson, Seto Barchetta, and the one leading them, wanted serial killer Jacki the Ripper. We know Wysteria's the F-pace, and Culla is a Rolls Royce Cullinan, Vanity is a Tesla Model X, Seto's a Lamborghini Urus, and Jacki the Ripper... she's an Aston Martin DBX."

    "They really are SUVs," Syth muttered, looking at the files.

    "And you're quite the track weapon," Scarecrow said. "Like I'm sure Schwarze said, you just might be overkill."

    "Even I'll concede," Petra said, drinking the rest of her fuel cleaner. "Syth, you're far superior to me, but you can't fight them alone."

    "That's why I'm bringing in help," Schwarze said. "I have a few friends on their way and there's one that I need to go pick up if you're all willing."

    "What do you mean by that?" Sonya asked.

    "Well, she's very different from us, and we'll have to watch her closely."

    "Why's that?" Schwarze sighed and pulled out another file and placed it on the table. Syth opened it up.

    "Oh my God," Sonya breathed. "You can't be fucking serious."

    "What is it?" Scarecrow asked, turning toward her left slightly.

    "The serial killer known as 'Nevermore'?" Petra asked. "Are you insane?!" Syth stared at the picture of the rather fair looking young woman with long black hair tied back in a beautiful, stylized braid. To unassuming eyes, she'd be any other ordinary young businesswoman.

    "She's a serial killer?" Syth asked Schwarze.

    "That's what official records say," Schwarze answered, as Scarecrow held the file on her left so her vehicle driving camera could see the paper. "She was actually an assassin hired by many foreign countries. There's hardly a language or culture she doesn't know."

    "So how'd she get caught?"

    "She was found out back in Russia just after an assignment and was forced into retirement after a hostage deal was negotiated."

    "Basically, she was caught, and returned alive simply on the basis she wouldn't kill anyone anymore," Sonya explained. "I happen to know her last record I had access to said she was kept in a government facility in the far north."

    "With help from Sonya here I have been granted the privilege of visiting her to see if she'd like to join our cause," Schwarze continued. "But I'll only go if you all agree." Sonya stood back as Petra, Syth, and Scarecrow conferred for a bit.

    "She could be trouble," Petra said.

    "Yes, but with what we're up against, a serial assassin may come in handy in fighting terrorists," Syth said.

    "I vote yes," Scarecrow said and Petra sighed.

    "Da, da, okay," she said. "But you two will watch over her first."

    "Gladly," Scarecrow said a bit quickly.

    "Alright then, we're agreed," Syth said with a smile, nodding at Schwarze who turned to leave, but Sonya grabbed her shoulder, looking at her phone.

    "There's been another attack," she said, turning on the television. The news was talking about a massacre during what was apparently a street performance. The video they showed was from various building and shop cameras as well as some recorded phone footage.

    At the time, one Jacki the Ripper was walking along the sidewalk, humming happily to herself as one Vanity Kinson walked with her.

    "Humans are fascinating creatures, aren't they?" Vanity had asked her, with an insane smirk on her face.

    "You don't need to say it so loudly, but yes," Jacki agreed with her English accent. They continued walking as a mother and her child walked the other way, going by them.

    "Wow, a top hat!" the boy had exclaimed, causing both Jacki and the child's mom to stop and look down at him. "You must be a magician lady!" The mother had attempted to scold her son, but Jacki laughed.

    "Perhaps I am, little one, perhaps not," she said with a smile, bending down to his eye level and using sleight of hand to seemingly pull a nickel from his ear, which she handed him as he laughed. Others walking around had seen and stopped, seemingly expecting more.

    "You seem to be attracting a crowd," Vanity said.

    "I'm aware," Jacki noted, pulling a deck of cards from her sleeve and doing some card tricks and by then a small crowd had indeed gathered. "I suppose for my final trick," she said again using sleight of hand to produce two machine pistols from under her sport coat, "I'll make you all disappear!" By the time people noticed it was too late and Jacki opened fire.

    The news studio had shown all the footage including that of Jacki shooting, and there was some cellphone footage of a white Tesla Model X speeding away in electronic silence.

    "So she had attracted a crowd on purpose, only to kill them all," Scarecrow breathed having figured out what had happened.

    "All the more proof, they need to be brought to justice," Sonya said.

    "No," Syth said, her voice shaking, "they need to be brought down."

    The next day, Syth was doing everything she could to focus on the track. When it came to going faster and faster, the second differences were beginning to hit mere fractions, until Petra stopped her. Syth transformed, breathing heavily as Petra handed her a drink.

    "Top yourself off," she said. "You should rest awhile before you hit a ceiling. It could be bad if you do and the ceiling comes crashing down on you."

    "You're right," Syth nodded. Petra sat down with her as Syth finished her drink.

    "Once you're ready to stand you can time me," Petra said, handing Syth the stopwatch. Syth nodded and stood up as Petra walked onto the track and transformed taking her Marussia B2 form for a spin. As Petra drove a few laps, of course nowhere near Syth's time, Scarecrow walked out.

    "Out for a few test laps, ja?" she asked with a smile.

    "Yep," Syth smiled back. After a few laps, Schwarze came out.

    "So I got a message from one of my contacts, Attero," she said. "He should be here later."

    "Attero?" Scarecrow asked, having never heard such a name.

    "W-Wait, 'he'?" Syth asked, blushing slightly.

    "Yeah, he's a guy," Schwarze said. "Don't worry, he'll have his own room on the other side of the building."

    "So long as he's not pervy," Syth muttered. Once Petra came back and transformed, having a drink herself, they heard an engine noise off in the distance.

    "That must be him," Scarecrow said, holding her hand up to her ear. "Tell me when you see him."

    "Not quite him," Syth said, as she noticed the dust plume heading their way.

    "He's making quite a mess," Petra said.

    "Mess?" Scarecrow asked.

    "Is he a rally car?" Syth asked Schwarze.

    "Nope, not a rally car, but a car that is quite capable offroad," Schwarze answered.

    "He sounds like fun," Scarecrow quipped. Once the dust cloud had made its way to the edge of the track, they could see what sort of car Attero was.

    "Holy shit is that..." Syth trailed off, wide-eyed.

    "Yep, he's a Greek Korres P4," Schwarze said as the lifted coupe came to a stop before lowing itself on its overly complicated suspension before transforming into a fairly handsome young man with wavy black hair and shining blue eyes.

    "Salutations ladies," he said in a Greek accent. "My name is Attero Dominatus. It is so lovely to be working with you all." He looked around and smiled at them. "We have Schwarze, thanks for the invitation," he said, shaking her hand. She giggled and nodded. "Then we have Petra, so nice to meet you."

    "Same here," she forced a smile.

    "Ah, Syth, our hero," he said hugging her.

    "H-Hey, I'm no hero," she said, pushing him away gently. "Aren't we all doing this together?"

    "Fair point, fair point," he said turning to face Scarecrow, only to slowly look up to finally make eye contact. "Oh my."

    "My my, you're quite cute," Scarecrow said with a devilish smirk, picking the boy up. Attero gasped and blushed.

    "I hope this doesn't awaken something inside of me," he muttered.

    "I thought you said he wasn't pervy," Syth muttered to Schwarze.

    "Relax, I'm joking," Attero said with a smile. "Tall and strong Miss Scarecrow. You are a great asset to this team."

    "Thank you, young man," Scarecrow blushed sheepishly setting him down.

    "Anyway, now that you're here Attero," Schwarze said, stepping back over to him. "There's the rallycross track for you to practice on and Sonya will be teaching you in combat."

    "Ah, Commander Rhysen," he said, turning to her. "Do you know anything that pairs well with Judo?"

    "I do have some techniques that work well with Judo actually," she said. "You must have trained hard while you were in Japan."

    "Fantastic people there."

    "Let us know if you need anything, alright?" Schwarze said. "I'm heading out to go pick up Nevermore."

    "I need to head to the airbase actually," Sonya said. "Some of the USAF Colonels are meeting up to discuss some plans."

    "To fight the terrorists?" Petra asked.

    "Technically I can neither confirm nor deny, but I'm sure the answer is obvious. Keep off the runway until after I take off." They nodded and watched as Sonya walked back out to the runway and transformed into her SR-71 form and did all of her preflight checks. After a solid 20 minutes, she fired up her engines, going through all the runups, and she began down the runway before firing her afterburners and taking off.

    "Gotta love those SR-71's," Attero said to himself, watching from the highest point on the rallycross track. "So fucking cool!"

    Later that night, Schwarze arrived at the government facility where the serial assassin known as Nevermore was held. She walked up to the gates and made sure she had the papers Sonya had given her. The guards at the gate stopped her.

    "State your business here, ma'am," they said, arms on their guns.

    "Ah," Schwarze said, pulling out her ID and the papers. She handed them to the guard who looked them over.

    "Ah, official USAF business," he said with an affirmative nod. "Welcome, Miss... Nachthexen?"

    "You can just call me Schwarze."

    "Alright Miss Schwarze. Do you know where you're going from here?"

    "Um, actually no. Commander Rhysen never told me where to go exactly."

    "Just follow me." The man led Schwarze through the facility to the big locked doors down on the lowest level. There, they met an older woman wearing a lab coat who had an assistant, who mainly caught Schwarze's eyes as she was an automorph.

    "You must be Schwarze," the older lady said. "Here for the raven?"

    "Yes ma'am," she nodded.

    "Alright," she said, turning to her assistant. "Xanthe, open the doors." The young woman nodded and typed in several codes and even did a retinal and fingerprint scan. Once all that was done the doors slowly opened with a loud metallic hissing. The guard followed them in, his gun drawn at the ready. "One thing you should know Schwarze is that the raven has been behaving very irrationally lately. Having night terrors and showing symptoms of heavy PTSD."

    "I see."

    "She's actually been attempting suicide as of late. In order to keep her safe, she has had to be restrained."

    "I understand." They then had made it to the cell where Nevermore was kept. After more codes and fingerprint scans the smaller door opened with a dull metallic moan and inside the rather well-lit room Nevermore was sitting at a table with her hands in cuffs attached to said table. She glanced over at Schwarze and she saw that her mouth was gagged as well.

    "She tried to bite her tongue earlier," the woman explained.

    "I see," Schwarze said, sitting across from Nevermore. "You know, aside from being locked behind all the heavy doors, your room here seems rather nice." It had all the usual furniture and whatnot any other bedroom would have. "Look Nevermore, my name is Schwarze and you probably know why I'm here." Nevermore's response was simply looking at her questioningly. "Well, surely you've seen the news of these terrorist SUV automorphs. I've been building a team to stop them. We aren't hired by the government or anyone for that matter. I'm doing it simply because I think we can stop them ourselves. Do you understand?" Nevermore nodded once, still raising an eyebrow. "And I've come for you", she said, sitting up and taking a hold of Nevermore's cuffed hands. "I think you'll be a great addition to our team." Nevermore looked down thoughtfully and Schwarze turned toward the other two. "Oh, could you take off her gag? I want to hear what she has to say." The older woman sighed and nodded hesitantly and Xanthe took out a small key and unlocked Nevermore's gag, taking it off of her and setting it on the table. "Come on, Nevermore, what do you think?"

    "I think you're a fool," she said softly, feeling slightly dehydrated from being gagged for a while.

    "Don't you want to come with me? Back outside?"

    "Did you not hear the reason why I'm tied up like this? I want to kill myself."

    "Why do you want to kill yourself?"

    "Because... I can no longer sleep. I can no longer stay awake. I cannot exist anymore without seeing the faces of all those people I have killed. Men, women, children, automorphs such as ourselves." The woman sniffed as she began to cry. "Please... just let me die."

    "You need to understand. You killed for the sake of what people may have thought to be good. Now I can't say for each of the targets you've taken out, but please understand, these terrorists are killing for nothing more but for sheer violence, and they need to be stopped. I won't force you to kill if you don't want to, but a show of force can often be better than a use of force. Simply by knowing that we have you on our side those terrorists may think twice before deciding to unleash a bullet hell upon children and families."

    "I'm... not so sure."

    "At least come with me so you can get out of this room. I'm sure you've seen enough of it at least."

    "Can I bring one thing with me?" she asked after a bit.

    "Anything," Schwarze smiled.

    "I want... Xanthe to come with me."

    "What?" Schwarze looked over and Xanthe was blushing.

    "She's been the one who takes care of me every day."

    "Well," the older woman said. "I was planning on having her go with you anyway, as Xanthe does have all your records and..."

    "Can't she speak for herself?" Schwarze asked the older woman and Xanth came over, tugging on Schwarze's shirt sleeve, holding up a piece of paper. Schwarze look at the paper and Xanthe had written: 'I'm mute' on it. "Oh. Sorry." Xanthe flipped to another page that said 'It's okay'. "Xanthe, you're an automorph, right?" Xanthe nodded and pulled up a picture of a Ford Mach E. "You've been turned into an electric car. I suppose that explains why you're mute, sadly." Xanthe nodded.

    "Alright. Xanthe, you take Nevermore with you and drive them home. I can close things up here. Captain, walk them out for me."

    "Yes ma'am," the guard said, walking them back out of the facilities and Xanthe transformed into her vehicle form and Schwarze sat Nevermore in the seat and bucked her in as she was still in handcuffs. "Would you like a convoy escort?"

    "No we should be fine," Schwarze said. "Right?" she glanced at Nevermore and she nodded, smiling for the first time.

    "Alright well good luck," he said saluting them as Schwarze climbed in and Xanthe drove them away.

    It was a long drive home that night and Nevermore stared out the window the entire time, tears falling from her eyes.

    "Hey, what's wrong?" Schwarze asked her, hugging her.

    "I'm scared," Nevermore said.

    "Scared of what?"

    "Dying."

    "I know you're going through more pain than I can imagine," Schwarze said softly. "We're all scared of death to a degree."

    "But I can never atone for the things I've done."

    "Yes, you can. We need you to fight the true evil of this world. Those who kill for utter chaos, and nothing more. Also, my friends and I are all going to be really nice and understanding to you. They all want to meet you and they want to be friends with you too."

    "If you're sure about that..."

    "Remember, you don't have to fight if you don't want to. I'm not going to force you."

    "What if I don't want to? Are you going to have Xanthe keep me tied up in my room? So I don't hurt myself?"

    "Well... I wouldn't say so. We'll get there when we get there."

    "I mean... I wouldn't mind it," Nevermore muttered.

    "Come on, Sweetie, let's not worry about that right now," Schwarze said, blushing slightly, trying to change the topic. Just then, some words popped up on Xanthe's screens.

    "I need to stop to recharge," her screen read.

    "Not to worry," Schwarze said. "We can swap up here. Xanthe I can get us home from here, okay?" Xanthe's response was pulling over and Schwarze got out, getting Nevermore out before Xanthe transformed and stretched. "Alright." Schwarze stood in the road and transformed into her Cadillac form and Xanthe put Nevermore in the back seat and sat next to her before Schwarze drove them home. "Xanthe, if you want to take off her handcuffs you can," she said through her speakers. Xanthe nodded and took the cuffs off. Nevermore rubbed her wrists for a while.

    "Thank you, Schwarze," she said after a bit. Before they pulled into Schwarze's compound, Xanthe wrote a note for Nevermore. She took it and read it.

    "I'm not fond of S and M play."

    "Oh," Nevermore said softly. "Sorry. I didn't know you didn't like it this whole time."

    "I hope you didn't like it either!" Xanthe had a pouting expression on her face.

    "Well, I wouldn't say I like it, rather... I guess I just kinda got used to it."

    "What are we talking about back there?" Schwarze asked as she pulled into her compound they got out and she transformed, looking at them for an answer. Xanthe quickly scribbled a note.

    "Don't tell her, you pervert!"

    "S and M play," Nevermore answered honestly and Xanthe facepalmed.

    "Oh, there will be none of that in the dorms."

    "I see," Nevermore said with a hint of dejection.

    "We already have one masochist in the group and I'd really not have two." She shook her head and led them inside. "You two will have to be sharing a room so Xanthe can keep an eye on you. But nothing dirty. Understand?" The two of them nodded. "Good." They quietly walked back inside and Schwarze pointed toward an empty room. "You two can sleep there, okay?"

    "Okay," Nevermore said and Xanthe nodded. Schwarze sighed and walked to her bedroom and she laid down on her bed, after hanging her witch's hat up.

    The next morning Nevermore and Xanthe met everyone at the table.

    "This is Nevermore and Xanthe," Schwarze said to everyone. "Xanthe is a Ford Mach E and is mute so she'll be writing notes to communicate." Xanthe nodded.

    "I'm Nevermore," Nevermore said quietly, "and... I'm sure Schwarze told you all... that I'm a trained killer. I have been since they made me this way. But recently I'm been having nightmares and seeing those I've killed. They're... haunting me."

    "Hey, it's alright we're here for you," Syth said, taking ahold of Nevermore's hands.

    "You were only doing what you were told... right?" Petra asked.

    "I think of killing myself every day!" Nevermore cried.

    "Hey now, there's no need for that," Scarecrow pleaded, gently putting her hands on Nevermore's shoulders.

    "Nevermore, look at me," Attero said, gently wiping the tears from her eyes. "We're all here to love and support you. You let us know if there's anything we can do to help take this pain away."

    "You'd all do that for me? Despite who I am, what I do?" Nevermore sniffed.

    "We're you're new friends, aren't we?" Syth asked, smiling.

    "Nevermore, let me say it this way," Schwarze said. "I know you're not only suffering from PTSD, but you regret killing all those people?"

    "Of course I do!" she cried. "I want to take it all back if I could!"

    "Then you're on the right path for healing. It's a long and arduous road ahead." Schwarze hugged Nevermore. "We're all here for you, and we need your help to stop the evil that's in this world."

    "That's... what they told me before."

    "Don't worry, if you still need some help afterwards, we can call in an old friend."

    "H-Huh?" she asked, wiping her eyes.

    "He'll be the last resort but he's a doctor specializing in us automorphs."

    "Okay," she said with a small smile.

    "That's the smile we're after," Syth said gently poking Nevermore's cheek.

    "H-Hey," she giggled and everyone shared a laugh.

    "By the way Nevermore," Scarecrow asked.

    "Yes?" Nevermore turned to look up at her.

    "What can you change into?"

    "Oh, I'm a new Cadillac Escalade ESV. In... Raven Black."

    The next morning, Schwarze left early, leaving a note for the others. Syth was of course the one to find it as Scarecrow came out for breakfast.

    "What is it?" she asked inquisitively as she reached for a bottle of fuel for breakfast.

    "Schwarze left a note," Syth answered with a yawn. "Apparently she's got some sort of meeting to attend to. Also, another one of her contacts should be here today... and they have dibs on the storeroom? What the..."

    "Sounds strange indeed."

    "It's too damn early for her bullshit. I need something to drink," she yawned again, pouring herself a glass of premium fuel.

    "What's going on?" Nevermore asked as she came into the dining room with Xanthe.

    "Schwarze left a note apparently," Scarecrow said. "Could you read me the full note please?"

    "Sure," Nevermore nodded as Xanthe took a quick glance at it before handing it to her. "So it says: I'm going to a meeting with my old contacts from the bar and I won't be back until later tonight. Practice your driving and another person will be joining you later but if you'd rather meet her personally then feel free to head to the national park."

    "So we get to go day-camping?" Scarecrow asked excitedly.

    "I don't think that's what she meant, but it does sound like fun." Xanthe nodded in agreement.

    "What's going on?" Petra asked stepping out and rubbing her eyes. Attero followed soon after.

    "We're going to the national park, apparently," Syth said, chugging more fuel before grabbing a bottle of octane booster and drinking its contents. "Ahh, there we go," she breathed. "Alright now I'm up."

    "Well, shall we be off?" Petra asked as they stepped outside and changed into their vehicle forms, aside from Xanthe, who rode in Nevermore. They followed Scarecrow as she knew where the park was. They all arrived after about an hour only to find the park was deserted.

    "Looks like nature's trying to take back over what small traces of humans they've put here," Nevermore said seeing the empty park ranger station, the dilapidated fire watchtower, and the overgrown restrooms.

    "Aye, that'd be the case now wouldn't it?" a female Australian accent asked from across the parking lot. They all turned in shock, seeing a woman they never noticed standing there, staring at a fence gate. "Y'all must be the band of gals Schwarze sent."

    "Me too," Attero said.

    "Aye, the Korres," the Australian nodded. "The only one who can keep up with me. He'll need to carry two of ya, and I can grab the rest of ya."

    "Xanthe and I will be with Attero," Nevermore said.

    "Aye," the boy agreed, transforming into his vehicle form, and raising on his suspension.

    "Now, the real reason Schwarze had y'all come meet me here is that we," she paused to cut the lock on the gate, "are following this trail to an old lab where they used to experiment on Automorphs. Name's Terra, by the way, Hellcat-powered Jeep Gladiator." She kicked the gate open and transformed into her Jeep pickup truck form, but she had been heavily modified with taller suspension and bigger tires. "You three get in and mind my gear."

    "Do you take all of this with you?" Syth asked as she climbed in and Scarecrow and Petra squeezed into her back seat.

    "I am an explorer after all!" Terra said enthusiastically as she floored it down the trail, Attero doing what he could to keep up. They drove down the old trail for quite some time, before they finally came up to an old building. Terra came to a stop and the girls got out before she transformed and looked around as Attero caught up and lowered himself down so his occupants could depart before he changed back into his human form.

    "Damn," he said, looking around.

    "Quiet," Terra said, turning to face them all. "We don't know who or what may still be here." She quietly made her way to the front doors and peeked inside before motioning for the others to follow. "Grab anything that might be useful." With an exchanged nod they spit up on the main floor and looked through all the rooms. They found nothing but rubble and useless broken furniture and equipment.

    "Damn, there's nothing here," Syth muttered as they met back up to head downstairs.

    "Well hey, sometimes you just turn up dry," Terra said, leading the way, suddenly drawing a gun. "Or someone's already been here." The group slowly made their way down the stairs and into the basement hallway. Terra motioned for them to follow her as she carefully made her way down the hall. Each room was filled with old tools and chairs as if they were old holding cells. The feelings of dread and fear slowly began to envelop them as they made it to the large room at the end of the hall, where there was indeed a person standing there. The long green hair and matching green and black outfit showed exactly who it was.

    "Welcome to Hell," she said in an English accent, turning around.

    "You... you're Wysteria Dirkson, aren't you?" Terra asked, pointing her gun.

    "Aye, that'd be me," she said with a smile. "I suppose you're all here to kill me, yeah?"

    "You're one of the five SUV terrorists who have been wreaking havoc everywhere," Syth said, transforming her hands into her spinning wheels.

    "But when was the last time you heard a news report about something I'd done?"

    "She does have a point," Nevermore muttered.

    "So while I am suspect you have no evidence against me," she said, walking around the room as Terra and Syth mirrored her movements, waiting for the fight to begin. Xanthe looked around the room, eyeing everyone's movements as the others began to spread out. "Wow, it seems you've all got beef with me. You know, seven on one isn't the fairest battle." Wysteria looked around before frowning.

    "What is it?" Terra sneered. "Is the Pommie scared?"

    "There was seven of you..."

    "If you're looking for the tall one," Nevermore said, as a pair of hands reached from the darkness and grabbed Wysteria by the neck and lifted her high in the air.

    "She's right behind you," Scarecrow said devilishly, having both of her eyes uncovered staring right into Wysteria.

    "Ack!" she choked, clutching at Scarecrow's wrists, eyes wide in fear.

    "Let the darkness take hold," Scarecrow said choking her slightly. "Gaze into fear so you only know darkness upon death!"

    "Crikey Scarecrow, that's a bit much," Terra said. "Let me call Schwarze to see what she wants us to do now that we've caught one of them."

    "Attero, find something to tie her up with," Syth said, changing her hands back and the boy nodded, walking off. Scarecrow choked Wysteria more to the point where the woman blacked out and Scarecrow dropped her.

    "Whoa, did you just-?!"

    "Nein nein, she's only unconscious," Scarecrow said, covering her eye back up. Just then, Attero came back with some steel cable.

    "There's an old spool of wire here," he said. "Not a lot though."

    "Eh, just tie her wrists behind her and her ankles," Terra said, hanging up the phone. "Schwarze said that we can take her back to the compound and she'll be picked up by the Government."

    "Oh, so maybe Commander Rhysen will be coming back," Petra said.

    "Maybe. Alright everyone, guess we can head home for the day." They had Wysteria packed up in Nevermore with Terra and Xanthe watching her as the others drove back. Schwarze was waiting at the compound with Commander Rhysen as well as some government agents.

    "So this is the infamous Wysteria Dirkson?" Schwarze asked as Wysteria sat opposite her in the holding cell at the compound. Wysteria had a look of shock on her face as she could only stare down at the tabletop. "What happened to the bravado I've heard so much about?"

    "Please take me away," she muttered fearfully. "I can't stand it."

    "You can't stand what?"

    "The... the tall one."

    "Scarecrow?"

    "I stared into her darkness..."

    "Hm. I wonder what she could have done to scare you so badly." Meanwhile, some of the agents were talking to Syth and the others.

    "So you're all Automorphs?" one asked her rather informally.

    "Yeah, and?" Syth responded.

    "Well, you're not what I was expecting."

    "Well, what were you expecting, the Spanish Inquisition?" Attero asked with a smirk.

    "No no," the other, more formal, agent said with a laugh. "We've never met any in person before, so we're just genuinely surprised to see that you're human like us."

    "Only we can change into vehicles," Petra said, stepping out for a smoke.

    "Y-Yeah, that," the informal one said, turning toward Scarecrow. "So what can you turn into?"

    "A Volkswagen Atlas Cross," she answered with a smile and small bow.

    "So you must have choked the target with your exhaust fumes then?" he asked with a laugh causing Scarecrow to gasp and blush.

    "Was meinen sie?!" she exclaimed. "I'm a post-dieselgate Volkswagen model!" Her lips quivered as her eyes began to water. "Shut up..."

    "Hey, quit making her cry you dumbass!" the formal agent commanded.

    "S-Sorry," he muttered.

    "Hey, you two," Sonya came into the room and the agents saluted her. "Quit sexually harassing the vehicles! We're leaving with the captured target."

    "Yes ma'am," they said, leaving the room.

    "Uh..." Attero started.

    "Don't talk about it!" Scarecrow said, her voice cracked with sadness as she wiped her eyes. "I'm fine, I'm fine," she muttered to herself, regaining her composure.

    "Don't let boys bother you, Scary," Schwarze said with a laugh.

    "Schwarze... shut up!"

    "Sorry, sorry. Alright, I guess that's one down, four to go."

    "That seemed too easy," Nevermore said. "Plus what was she doing there?"

    "No idea, she would only cry and beg to be away from Scarecrow."

    "You must have really gotten inside her head," Syth said to Scarecrow.

    "I wasn't trying to scare her that much," Scarecrow said innocently. "Guess I'm scarier than I thought."

    "Psychological warfare, I love it!" Attero said.

    "Please don't get me into some nasty scaring habits," Scarecrow muttered with a sigh as Petra laughed.

    The following day Commander Rhysen returned to meet everyone at the breakfast table.

    "Schwarze, it's nice to see this class of yours growing," she said.

    "Why thank you, Commander," Schwarze said with a stereotypical blush, one hand on her cheek.

    "Come on, I'm not here to make tropes and jokes. Anyway, I need to tell you that we've received a rather disturbing video in retaliation to the capture of target Wysteria Dirkson." She plugged a thumb drive into Schwarze's computer and pulled up the video. It showed Jacki the Ripper, sitting in a rather ornate chair, one would call it a throne.

    "So," she started in her ominous English accent, "you must be this Schwarze character I've heard so much about. You somehow managed to capture one of my subordinates using nothing but mere scare tactics, eh?" She laughed as another woman, one with long black hair and yellow cat-like eyes, and cat ears came and curled up on her lap, much to everyone's shock. Jacki pet the woman as if she was any normal cat. "I no longer consider Wysteria to be one of us, so you all may do with her as you please. However, there are still the matters of my other three subordinates who can tear apart this city with their own hands, so test us as you will." The cat-like woman seemed to purr but only made engine noises. "You must be intrigued by my pet here. Her name is Seto Barchetta, and as a side effect of her experimentation, she can only make her vehicle noises. She chose to become my pet, didn't you, my Seto sweetums?" she playfully caressed Seto's chin and the woman purred with more engine idling. "Well, Schwarze and company, we must bid you farewell, for now," Jacki smirked showing wickedly sharp teeth. The video then ended and Sonya removed the thumb drive.

    "You need to properly eject it first," Schwarze said.

    "Sorry, anyway, that's what we have," Sonya replied.

    "What was so disturbing about it?" Scarecrow asked.

    "The pet-play, I'd imagine," Nevermore muttered thoughtfully.

    "Well, yes but actually no," Sonya said, scratching her head.

    "It wasn't just that," Syth said, raising her hand. "It came off as a vague threat."

    "Sounded like that to me too," Petra said.

    "Aye," Terra agreed.

    "We do have more information on this pet of hers," Sonya said. "There have been several reports of a yellow and black Lamborghini Urus speeding around ground zero, downtown."

    "Aside from Syth and Petra, none of us can reach her speeds," Attero said.

    "That's where I come in to save the day again," Schwarze said. "I have one more contact who's quite famous in the modification scene."

    "What makes you say that?" Syth asked.

    "He was imbued with the vehicle form of a famous, record-setting SUV."

    "Which one?" Petra asked.

    "The world's fastest on technical terms," Schwarze said with a smirk.

    "No way, another guy?" Attero asked. "About time."

    "I didn't know you played on that team," Scarecrow said with a smirk.

    "I didn't mean it like that."

    "Anyway, he should be here soon," Schwarze said. "His name is Hikaru Nakai, and he is indeed the Toyota Land Speed Cruiser modified for the Specialty Equipment Market Association show."

    "Holy shit, he must be insane," Nevermore said.

    "I wouldn't say that," a voice said from the doorway, they all turned to face the young Japanese man who walked into the room, wearing more traditional clothing, carrying a katana on his hip.

    "Nice outfit," Petra smirked. Xanthe pulled on her sleeve and showered her a paper she wrote on.

    "Those clothes are designed similar to the robes the samurai of the Tokugawa shogunate wore."

    "Oh. I see."

    "The electric one is correct," he said. "I am indeed Hikaru Nakai, and I have been assigned to take out the terrorist Urus."

    "Uh, I haven't assigned you anywhere yet, Hikaru," Schwarze said.

    "Well then, I humbly ask you to let me freely choose to take out the terrorist Urus." They all had a mixed response to his oddly worded request.

    "Alright, you can take out Seto Barchetta, but take Syth and Petra with you. Sonya will take you there and have you deployed before Seto's next sighting."

    "Yes ma'am," the women responded as Sonya nodded.

    "Alright soldiers, let's deploy," Sonya said and the three of them followed her out.

    "So what are we going to do while they're out?" Nevermore asked after they left.

    "Go train on the track or something," Schwarze said. "I need to do some physical exams with you, Xanthe." Xanthe blushed and glanced away shyly.

    "Don't try anything dirty," Nevermore warned.

    "I won't. I just want to see if I can pinpoint the exact reason why she's mute."

    "But why?" Xanthe wrote out.

    "Well, if it's something I can fix Xanthe, I can give you a voice. Wouldn't you like that?"

    "I'm not sure yet."

    "I understand, but I still want to at least figure out if it's something I can fix. So come on, clothes off and gown on so I can exam you." Xanthe's face flushed but she let out a silent sigh of defeat before stepping into the closet to disrobe as the others left for the test track.

    Much later, Syth, Petra, and Hikaru followed Sonya into the command base just outside the surrounding island of the downtown metro area. There was the stereotypical wall with images of the SUVs with Wysteria crossed out.

    "Like the setup," Petra muttered.

    "Yep, we're serious about catching these bitches," Sonya said. "Alright, you three take a seat." They of course sat down as Sonya went over the plans. "Seto's been seen speeding around the central area mainly to and from the former Diaya building. That leads us to believe that is where the targets are hiding. We've been working with Schwarze to build detectors that can distinguish the aura that all Automorphs have."

    "She never mentioned that," Syth said.

    "Because she's legally required to not say anything. Oh, and don't ask her about it now that you all know, insert legal government jargon here of course."

    "I understand," Hikaru nodded.

    "Good," Sonya continued on. "Seto usually makes runs through the ruins at 18:00. One of the targets, Vanity Kinson, also known as the Tesla Model X, has been seen in her driver seat," she said, pulling up a drone image of a blurry Vanity in Seto's seat, but the eerie part was although pretty blurry, Vanity appeared to be looking directly at them. Syth felt a slight chill down her carbon fibre spine.

    "S-Sonya, she's looking at us," Syth muttered.

    "What?"

    "Vanity knows your drone is up there. She's looking right at us."

    "So it would seem."

    "This could be a trap," Petra said. "Maybe she's trying to draw our attention to them in order for the others to carry out an attack or something."

    "Oh I know," Sonya said with a smile. "If she thinks we're gonna play into her hands then we won't. We're going to split you all up before converging on the Daiya ruins."

    "Sounds like a plan," Hikaru said.

    "We'll get each of you outfitted with some gear and armour. Let's head on over to the armoury." They all stood and Sonya walked them across the base to the armoury garage. Inside there was someone welding up some exoskeletal suit-like equipment. "Hariette!" Sonya said, and the welder stood up and saluted, although when she did, she had shoved her hand onto her welding helmet.

    "Ah, fuck!" she cried, shaking her wrist and pulling her helmet up. "Damn I keep forgetting I'm wearing this thing," she said. "Man that smarts."

    "How's the armour coming?" Sonya asked her.

    "It's nearly finished," Hariette said with a smile, her eyes still adjusting slightly. "So, these must be them?" she looked at Syth, Petra and Hikaru.

    "Yep. You three, this is Hariette, she'll be your mechanic basically."

    "Wait a minute," Hikaru started.

    "Wait, you're a guy?!" Hariette asked, looking at him with a shocked expression. "I was told there'd be three women."

    "Sorry about that," Sonya said with a smirk.

    "Welp, I hope you like breast armour."

    "Am I seriously going to have to crossdress?" Hikaru asked.

    "Don't worry, it's just armour," Petra smirked.

    "Stop teasing him," Syth said.

    "She's right," Sonya said. "Hariette, get them suited and booted. It's time we take out the trash." Meanwhile, Seto was purring with her engine hum as Vanity was gathering some papers.

    "It seems we could be targeted," she said her insane smirk not disappearing from her face as she turned to face Jacki.

    "Let them come," Jacki said, scratching underneath Seto's chin. "What can they possibly do that would hurt us?"

    "You are aware that they have an entire military force on their side, correct?" Culla, the usually silent Rolls Royce Cullinan asked Jacki.

    "My dearest Culla, I'm aware. They merely underestimate our power."

    "What should we do? Can I tear them apart!?" Vanity asked with an aroused expression.

    "Not yet, Vanity. It's their turn to attack. I'd very much like to see what they have planned. For now, you take Seto out on another supply run for me. I'm out of my favourite transmission stop leak fluid."

    "Do you need some repairs, Jacki?"

    "Not right now, but I do enjoy the flavour. So splendid."

    "Alright alright. Come now, Seto," Vanity whistled and Seto sat up and jumped over toward her, landing on her feet and transforming into her Lamborghini Urus form. Vanity climbed in and drove off with Jacki setting her empty teacup down before smiling.

    "They'll bring Schwarze and her crew right to my feet," she said evilly.

    Much later, Hariette had Syth and the others suited up, wearing tactical armour braced with steel and extra bulletproofing and but in order to not have to tune their engines, Hariette had taken their vehicle weights into account.

    "Alright," she said with a smirk. "Now that you're all armed and ready to burn let's kick some terrorist ass."

    "Well said," Sonya said. "You three follow me." They changed back into their human form to make sure their armour still fit and they followed Sonya to the mission briefing room. The three of them stood in front while a platoon of soldiers was seated behind them. "Listen up!" Sonya commanded. "We have 4 main targets but we will be focusing on 2. We'll be split into three groups and you will all follow the words of these Automorphs. They've been armed and trained for this mission. We will aim to capture but kill if necessary. Any questions?"

    "No ma'am!" the room responded.

    "Good! Group 1, you work under Hikaru. Group 2 with Petra. Group 3 is with Syth. They are your captains. Follow their orders. And Captains, lead your soldiers with pride and intellect."

    "Yes Ma'am," the three of them saluted.

    "Alright. We deploy in 20!" While Hikaru used the time to prepare his gear, Petra was talking to the soldiers she had been assigned with and shared stories and cigarettes. Syth, however, had taken the time to mentally prepare herself for the task at hand when a soldier came up to her.

    "Captain," he said. Syth looked at the man.

    "Yes?"

    "What sort of battle experience do you really have?"

    "Excuse me?"

    "I just don't see the reason to be put under the command of someone with no real experience in this sort of military situation."

    "And I don't see the reason to have someone so rude under my command. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

    "Corporal! Stop harassing your captain!" Sonya said, walking by.

    "Forgive me Commander, but I wasn't aware our captains wouldn't have any experience," the rude Corporal said.

    "I've seen firsthand what she's capable of. Enough of your bullshit just because she has oil in her veins and not the blood you have."

    "I wasn't saying such things, Commander," he said walking off.

    "What an ass," Syth muttered.

    "Fuck 'em," Sonya said. "Forget about it. You're in charge of your group, keep them alive, and they'll respect you. Don't worry Syth. You can do this. I know it." Sonya smiled while patting Syth on the head. "Now come on, it's time to deploy."

    "Yes Ma'am," Syth said with boosted confidence. Each group had gotten together and under radio command from Sonya who was flying high overhead, Syth and the others would move to each of the major bridges connecting the mainland from the downtown metro island. Syth was at the central bridge, Petra at the north, and Hikaru at the south, directly in the line of sight of the Daiya ruins.

    "Alright, I'm not seeing any movement yet," Sonya said, from her position 65,000 feet up. "I'll have to circle back around for another run. All groups move in, stay undercover." Syth and the others nodded and signalled their groups to start moving in. Syth's group were carefully moving from building to building, keeping a watchful eye for any sort of movement aside from their own.

    "Nothing yet," Petra radioed. "Heading south through the financial district."

    "We're two clicks from the Diaya building," Hikaru radioed. "No signs of movement."

    "Do we have anything from our drones?" Syth asked her specialist who was piloting a drone near the building.

    "No ma'am," she responded. "No sort of contact. Shall I retreat?"

    "Head a couple blocks south, see if you can see Captain Nakai."

    "Yes ma'am." She flew her drone a few building over and on her screen was two light reflections. "I have visual on Captain Nakai."

    "Give us 3 minutes," Petra radioed. "We can then be in position to surround the Daiya ruins."

    "Go ahead," Sonya said, as Syth looked up and couldn't see her, but she knew Sonya had just done another sweep. After three minutes, Petra radioed back.

    "We are in position and have begun to surround the ruins," she said.

    "We're starting our sweep," Hikaru said.

    "Moving to position," Syth said.

    "I have visual confirmation we have the area surrounded," Sonya said, as she flew over once more, coming down to 55,000 feet. "Begin Operation Steel Commanders."

    The three platoons began to slowly advance upon the Daiya ruins. As they moved in, Syth noticed that there was what appeared to be an entrance to the ruins at the top of what was the main stairs. The soldiers on Petra's side of the building were able to work their way around the back of the ruins as Syth and Hikaru's group slowly made their way up the stairs. Petra and her soldiers had climbed through the rubble so when Syth and Hikaru made it to the entryway they were met with Petra.

    "Guess we've swept the top," Syth muttered.

    "The only way from here is down," the drone specialist said.

    "My platoon and I will station up top," Petra said. Syth and Hikaru nodded.

    "Breitling, you stay with Petra and her platoon," Syth said to the drone specialist.

    "Yes ma'am," she saluted.

    "I can give you Britton here," Petra said, and a sniper stood forward.

    "I'll follow, Captain Syth," he saluted.

    "Alright," Syth said. "Ground to Air, we're going down into the ruins," she radioed to Sonya, who dropped to 45,000 feet and circled back around, Syth could see her up above through a small spyglass.

    "Alright stay within radio distance," Sonya replied. Syth signalled and the others began their descent into the ruins. Though the bombing was only a couple of months ago, the remnants of the tall building looked and certainly felt as if the building had fallen long ago, given the fact that the cleanup was halted due to the presence of the SUVs in the area. The soldiers kept their heads on a constant swivel, watching all around them as Syth and Hikaru led. They continued walking around for another half hour before Petra radioed in.

    "I have visual contact on Commander Rhysen. Any contact downstairs?"

    "None yet," Syth radioed back.

    "Captain," Britton said, holding up his hand, as everyone quieted and a voice was heard.

    "...and how are you, my Japanese friend?" They continued forward until there was a hole in the wall to look through and they saw below what looked like a rudimentary lab. Syth looked around and saw the Tesla Model X, Vanity Kinson. "I found you bleeding to death a while ago and dragged you back here. I know you should thank me but it is hard to say anything with your mouth pried open." Syth looked on in horror as she had a young, very beat up woman lying strapped to a table. Syth immediately signed for Britton to keep his target on Vanity as she, Hikaru and a few selected others would move in for the attack. "I know it's felt like weeks of torture but really, I'm just trying to understand our own species, as the humans see us differently." Her victim could only groan weakly. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to get JDM parts out here? Hey, don't go dying on me!" Vanity slapped the poor woman a few times. She only groaned again in response, before passing out. "Fuck," Vanity hissed before walking toward one of her tables. "Time for another jumpstart," she said, touching two battery jumper cables together. Syth and Hikaru then stormed into the room. "Fuck!" Vanity cried, jumping back, dropping the cables on the ground and Britton fired, hitting Vanity in one of her knees. "Gah!" she cried, as the other soldiers stormed into the room, securing everything as Syth and Hikaru subdued Vanity before she could make much noise.

    "Someone check on the woman," Syth said as the medics had already begun to work on the tortured woman. Vanity was cursing into a gag Hikaru had tied between her teeth. "Given what you've done to that automorph woman, and who knows who else, you're lucky a bullet to the knee is all you're getting."

    "For now," Hikaru added.

    "Captain Syth," one of the meds waved her over as Hikaru and a couple of others had Vanity fully restrained. "She's awake, but I'm no automorph medic. It doesn't look good for her."

    "Hey, what's your name?" Syth asked her.

    "M... Maki Jingcha," she mustered. "Nissan Skyline... GT... R. R34."

    "You were the Japanese police unit assigned with Zero Seiko, weren't you?" Hikaru asked. Maki barely nodded. "Sources claimed you were last seen with a Porsche, Erika Polizei."

    "Erika..."

    "Get Vanity up top," Syth said as soldiers nodded and marched her back up to Petra, who radioed for armoured pickup. By the time Syth came back down, Maki was breathing shallowly.

    "Thank you, for saving me," she said before crying her final tears of old oil.

    "There's nothing we can do, Syth," Hikaru said.

    "Please... kill me," Maki cried. Syth looked at Hikaru and she nodded.

    "I pray you to return to your family with honour, for you served your life well, Maki Jingcha," Hikaru said in Japanese placing his gun over her heart.

    "Thank you, Nakai-san," Maki said with a pained smile as Hikaru pulled the trigger.

    After the proper words were said, the medics had begun to prepare Maki's body to have her buried as a casualty of war, along with the many others whose names would surely come to meet the same distinction. The soldiers had then begun to regroup and continue making their way through this hellish compound. As Vanity's lab of sorts was swept through, no evidence was found of Erika Polizei.

    "It's become clear that this was mainly used for Vanity and her torturous experimentation," Hikaru said and Syth nodded.

    "Target Vanity Kinson has been taken into full custody," Sonya radioed. "It's getting hard to pick up your signal if you go any lower. I'd say go ahead and pull back, Captains."

    "Rodger," Syth responded. "We're pulling out." Just as everyone nodded and turned to leave, an engine roar suddenly echoed throughout the ruins as a yellow streak came into view. All the soldiers immediately locked onto Seto Barchetta, who smirked at them with cat-like eyes.

    "We have contact from Seto!" Hikaru radioed.

    "Open fire!" Syth yelled, grabbing her own gun as her soldiers spread out and emptied bullet clips in Seto's direction as she weaved her way through the fire, using some supreme agility, she began to strike down soldiers. As soldiers spread out, each one shooting at Seto, who could only dodge or use her transformation ability to absorb damage and use it to attack soldiers by pouncing and punching them with her wheels and tires.

    "She's tearing through us!" one soldier yelled as he was struck down and gored by Seto stabbing him with her CV shafts.

    "Damnit! Tactical retreat!" Syth radioed as soldiers grabbed who they could and started to fall back.

    "We've got evac trucks coming in!" Petra radioed.

    "I'm coming down," Sonya radioed as she was flying in for a landing. "I'll rendezvous at the evac site."

    "We're getting out of here!" Hikaru radioed to his soldiers who were fending off Seto, who was laughing with her insane sounding engine noises. Hikaru and Syth took positions at the end of the group to make sure that Seto wasn't following them as they left the ruined building. Once the wounded and dead were loaded onto the trucks that Petra had called, Sonya came running in and grabbing handfuls of grenades.

    "Flood the ruins with explosives!" she commanded as everyone threw their grenades into the ruins before jumping back on the trucks. "Throwing smoke," she said, throwing one more.

    "What's that for?" Syth asked as two fighter planes suddenly flew over. Syth watched as they both fired missiles into the ruins entryway.

    "Airstrike," Sonya answered. "This is Commander Rhysen, we're RTB with casualties." Syth sighed as she could only stare at the even more ruined area of the former financial district. "Don't beat yourselves up, soldiers," Sonya said. "We may have lost a few of our fellow soldiers but we have managed to capture another terrorist."

    "I didn't think Seto would be that powerful," Syth muttered.

    "Save it for the debrief," Sonya said. "Now we know what we're up against, and we'll come back even stronger."

    "Captain," the rude soldier from before said to Syth. "You did what you could."

    "But..."

    "No, it wasn't your fault... and I'm sorry for my behaviour from before."

    "It's fine. Besides, you heard the Commander, right? We'll just be striking back even harder next time."

    "Yes ma'am," he said with a salute and a small smile. Later, they had left the central downtown island and the forces there had put up stronger barricades. Later back at base, Sonya debriefed Syth, Hikaru and Petra first before going over with the rest of the soldiers. Of course, the worst part of the night was finding out who didn't make it out alive, but luckily everyone was accounted for, so even the dead could be returned home. Sonya later found Syth after Hariette had taken her armaments back for repair and assessment.

    "Are you doing alright? I know it's hard for someone in your position," Sonya said.

    "I want to get drunk," Syth responded. "That way I could forget about today."

    "Getting shit-faced won't help. Trust me, I've tried. Plus you heard your Corporal. It's not your fault those good soldiers died. It's Seto."

    "I wish I was stronger," Syth said as she began to cry. Sonya sighed and thought for a moment.

    "Just let it out and go home. Hikaru and Petra are resting up and they won't go back to Schwarze's compound without you, okay?" Syth just nodded wiping her eyes.

    After a while, Syth had calmed down and walked back to the bunk to find that Nevermore was talking to Petra and Hikaru. Nevermore looked over and saw a tired looking Syth.

    "Oh, Syth!" she said, coming over and hugging her. "The others were telling me about what happened are you alright?"

    "I'm just a little bit shaken up as it was my first time in any sort of real combat," she replied with a tired smile.

    "I was so worried about you guys. Although, Schwarze might have been worried more."

    "I see."

    "Well then we should get home then, shouldn't we?" Petra asked.

    "I can agree to that," Hikaru said as Nevermore changed into her Escalade form and they climbed in, but Sonya came over before they left.

    "Tell Schwarze that I'll be by in a couple of days," she said. "I need to finish some paperwork here."

    "Alright, we'll see you later then, Commander," Petra said. Nevermore drove off back toward Schwarze's compound and they all arrived later that night to a very anxious Schwarze.

    "You're all okay!" she exclaimed, hugging them. "You'll have to tell me all about it as soon as you can tomorrow."

    "Tomorrow," Petra said, Hikaru, agreeing with a nod.

    "Alright." The others walked off as Syth sighed. "Syth, are you alright?"

    "Since my transmutation into an automorph, I have forgotten what death looks like," she said.

    "I'm sorry," Schwarze could only bring herself to say. "I'm sorry."

    "It's okay. Sonya said it wasn't my fault."

    "It never was, Sweetie," Schwarze hugged her again, patting her head. "Go on and get some sleep."

    "Okay. Oh, and Sonya said she'll be coming by here in a couple days."

    "That's good to hear." Schwarze walked Syth to bed and tucked her in. "Have a good night."

    "I'll try to." Schwarze could only smile as she walked out of the room, closing the door softly. She walked back toward her room but gasped when she saw Scarecrow standing in the corner.

    "How is she?" Scarecrow asked.

    "Syth might need a few days worth of rest," Schwarze said.

    "I understand."

    "And don't scare me like that."

    "That's my job, is it not?" she asked with a wry smirk.

    "Scarey Scarey," Schwarze teased.

    "Oh come now. Anyway, I'm back off to bed."

    "Have a good night." The next day by the time Syth had gotten up it was early afternoon.

    "Oh brilliant, now my sleep schedule's been thrown off," she muttered. She grabbed herself a bottle of octane booster to help her get up and Schwarze walked over.

    "Morning, or should I say good afternoon," she said with a smile.

    "Afternoon," Syth said.

    "I know you've been through a lot yesterday so if you need to take a break for a few days you can. Sonya called and said that everything will be taken care of on her end."

    "Petra, Hikaru and I aren't enough to take down Seto."

    "I know. She told me everything, as did Hikaru and Petra. I spoke with Nevermore and she said she'd be willing to help."

    "But I thought you said she wouldn't get involved?"

    "She's doing this of her own accord. I won't stop her if this is what she wants."

    "I see."

    "She's out training with Hikaru and Terra."

    "What about me?" the Australian asked, as she had just walked back inside.

    "I thought you were training with Nevermore and Hikaru?"

    "Aye, but I need a drink," she said, grabbing some fuel cleaner from the cabinet. She sat down for her drink and smiled at Syth. "I heard you fought the Lambo head on."

    "Yeah, but it wasn't enough," Syth sighed, sitting down as Schwarze walked back to her lab.

    "Don't beat yourself up, we'll just have to come with for the next round, alright?"

    "Alright."

    "Oi, come on, the whole reason Schwarze gathered us here is to take them down together, right?"

    "Yeah."

    "So that's what we'll fucking do, alright?" By now, Terra was patting Syth's shoulder.

    "Yeah," Syth said, regaining her confidence.

    "That's the spirit, Syth. Now come on, if you're up to it, come out and train with us."

    "Yeah!" Syth exclaimed affirmatively as the two of them stood up and ran outside.

    "It's nice to see her back on her feet," Scarecrow muttered, having been in the corner drinking a drink herself.

    "Stop it with your irony," Schwarze said, having walked back out and overheard.

    "Let me have my fun," she laughed before walking outside to join them.

    When it comes to automorph training, it can vary depending on vehicle and who they are. Attero was practising on the rally course Schwarze had set up for him, as he made minute adjustments to his suspension to go around the course faster and faster which also helped him with his coordination in the combat practice. Scarecrow had some offroad tires fitted and had done the same, although she prevailed in the nighttime driving exercises, being so used to the darkness. As Syth was a black and carbon fibre vehicle, Syth was able to equip some night vision technology and infrared sensors to also use the darkness to her advantage, despite the fact that she still made a loud exhaust note in vehicle form.

    "Extra tactical gear," Sonya had called it when Hariette came over with her to help with the training. And of course, given the situation, Hariette got along with Schwarze swimmingly. Hariette even took part in some of the training exercises so that she could be more adept in field repairs. Even more so when there was someone new at Schwarze's front gate.

    "Hello," the man in yellow said. "Schwarze, you home?"

    "Ah, Jaku, come on in old friend," Schwarze responded. "Who's that with you in red?"

    "Akuma Zeto."

    "The Devil Z?"

    "Don't worry, she's with me."

    "If you say so." Schwarze let them in and they introduced themselves.

    "It's nice to meet you all, I am Jaku Valentine, Automotive Extraordinaire," he said with an extravagant bow.

    "I'm Akuma Zeto, nya," Akuma said, wearing her cat-like attire.

    "So, a red cat versus a yellow cat," Attero said. "This should be interesting."

    "She probably won't fight though," Jaku said.

    "Hey, you must be the doctor I heard so much about," Hariette said, coming into the room.

    "And you must be the militant mechanic I heard so much about," he said matching her enthusiasm, giving her a fist bump.

    "Are you sure it's not dangerous now that these two have met?" Syth asked Schwarze.

    "I'm sure they'll work well together," Schwarze answered. 

    "Who knows, maybe they can make us some powerful weapons," Terra said.

    "That's idiotic," Xanthe wrote down and handed her the note.

    "No, nothing like that," Jaku said. "We'll just be here to make sure that none of you die out there."

    "I guess that's good enough," Terra said.

    "I wouldn't underestimate our abilities," Hariette said.

    "I guess you're right."

    "Anyway, you three can make yourselves at home here," Schwarze said. They nodded and headed off, Akuma instantly picking a room that happened to have several pillows in it. Hariette settled to have the garage bays and Jaku picked the room next to Schwarze's lab.

    "So what have you been working on?" Jaku asked Schwarze.

    "Just why we are the way we are," she answered.

    "I've got a bunch of notes and observations from a shop buddy of mine."

    "Shop buddy?" she asked as Jaku handed her several notebooks.

    "He ran a body shop that specialized in automorphs as he's one of us."

    "I see. I'll be glad to go through it, as I'm working on several documents that I plan on publishing worldwide so that everyone can know what life is like for the automorphs."

    "What about when ASH Corp fell through and the so-called 'cure' was released?"

    "Well, the fact it worked and didn't kill anyone as the initial transmutations have is a strong wonder."

    "That is true. Maybe we should be going after the man who took all of ASH's records," he said slyly.

    "If you want to Jaku I'll leave it up to you. What did Akuma get up to?"

    "I think she found the room full of pillows."

    "Well when I heard you were both coming over, I figured she'd like something like that. Also, how'd you really make her more catlike?"

    "I didn't really. It was more that Takashi kid."

    "Oh yes, I remember him. I hope he and Angela are doing well."

    "Anyway, I'm going to take a look around."

    "Alright, well I'll be here." Jaku nodded as he left her lab and went for a walk. He saw that Akuma had curled up with a pillow and was taking a nap. He then found Hariette setting up in the garage, getting the floor cleaned and inspecting all the equipment.

    "How's the garage?" he asked her.

    "It's a bit small but I can make do," she said. "Basically nothing too major, but I can keep up on their maintenance as they train." As if on cue, Scarecrow came in.

    "Hallo? Are you Hariette our new mechanic?" she asked, holding her hand which appeared to be horribly sprained.

    "Yeah, I- holy shit what did you do?!"

    "I went for a run on Attero's rally course but I came down too hard on my front suspension."

    "That looks painful. Come on now, transform and I'll get you something." Scarecrow nodded and transformed into her Atlas form and she drove into the bay with the two post lift. Jaku decided he'd let Hariette get to work while he continued walking around. He came to the test track and saw Petra and Syth doing laps, and actually racing each other, but of course, Petra could hardly keep up. He looked left and saw Attero tearing up the rally course.

    "Hm, I think at this rate we'll have won the war."

    Jacki the Ripper, the Aston Martin DBX was pacing back and forth in her new hideout, the top floor of an abandoned office tower near the Daiya ruins. She knew that the military was surely going to close in on her location any time soon. Soon, Culla came into the office.

    "Culla how are we going to fight off those militant prats?" she asked.

    "I would say we could have Vanity try another bombing," she answered in her much softer English accent.

    "Where the bloody hell is she anyway?"

    "Oh, she was shot and taken by the enemy."

    "WHAT?!" Jacki screamed, slamming her fists on the desk so hard it shattered. "Fuck!"

    "It seems as if Seto fought them off."

    "What?" Culla then brought in a wounded Seto. Seto had sustained a few bullet wounds but nothing too terribly serious for her.

    "AHH! My darling Seto smoochums! Come here to Mummy," Jacki cried as she hugged Seto closely, inspecting her wounds. Seto purred painfully with some misfiring noises. "Damn and without Vanity, we don't have a doctor."

    "Shall I go and kidnap one?" Culla offered.

    "No, not yet."

    "Seto's going to eventually bleed out at that rate."

    "Oh shove it," Jacki said after having rather crudely bandaged Seto's wounds. "I can think of something."

    "Alright, if you insist. I'll go look around the building," she said walking off. Of course, she went looking around for any sort of first aid kits and anything she thought could be used to help Seto as despite appearing rather nonchalant she cared for her comrades. By the time she had swept all of the floors to the main level she had found quite a lot of first aid supplies but of course, they were only meant for humans so she wasn't sure how useful they'd really be for Seto. She eventually made her way back up to the top floor. Jacki was still tending to Seto who was trying to sleep. "I found some human first aid kits," she said, dropping everything into a pile on the floor.

    "I suppose these bandages might be a bit better quality," Jacki huffed, cleaning up Seto's wounds a bit and applying the fresher bandages. "You're strong, Culla, go fortify the doors or something."

    "As you wish," she said, starting on the main level on the fortifications and working her way up. If they stormed this building it would take them a while and Culla even made sure that there was an easy way down to the sky bridge to the next building for them to escape if they needed to. Meanwhile, back at Schwarze's compound, the crew was resting up after a hard days worth of training. Hariette and Jaku had been working on tinkering and modifying their parts to make everyone stronger in just about every way possible. Especially given that Scarecrow had hurt herself on Attero's rally course, Hariette had ordered some special Dakar-spec parts for her.

    "Dakar-spec?" Scarecrow had asked her.

    "Yeah, see these suspension components are far stronger than they really need to be for you so you can put these on and really hoon around on Attero's track and you should be fine," Hariette said. "Just let do some body strengthening as well."

    "Body strengthening?"

    "So you don't ruin your vehicle body taking the bigger jumps."

    "I see."

    "What she'll do is install a roll cage and maybe some other strengthening beams inside of you," Jaku explained.

    "Oh, a stronger skeleton?"

    "Precisely," Hariette said getting her tools ready. "It'll take a while so if you want to back out now's the time."

    "Nein, let's do it."

    "Alright," Hariette said getting her tools ready. She set to work on prepping Scarecrow and Syth went in for a refuel and new tires. Jaku set about getting her tires ready.

    "You alright in there, Syth?" he asked her.

    "It's an odd feeling not having hands or feet," she said. "I don't feel any pain."

    "Thanks to the fuel additive I gave you." The additive of course was really just an ethanol fuel mix so she was buzzed.

    "I feel really warm though."

    "You're buzzed, Honey," Hariette said with a laugh.

    "What?"

    "He got you drunk."

    "Oh. Damnit." Jaku just laughed as he got her wheels mounted on her new tires before balancing them. Eventually, her wheels and tires were changed balanced and replaced and once they were mounted back on Syth, she transformed and immediately fell onto the ground.

    "Come on," Jaku said, picking her up and walked her back to her room. 

    Later that night in a faraway laboratory, a lone Vertalia Seiko was mixing a compound while referring to what little papers she had. She was crafting another one of her transmutation serums. She had used the essence of a heavily armoured vehicle mixed in with it to give it a white glow. She had placed it into the machine and just like all of her previous experiments in the labs she used to run she had it filling a machine that would inject it into her own body. In the few months that had passed and the ASH Corporation was usurped by one Yipeng Tang, Vertalia had taken what she could and gone into hiding. But her plans had been to get revenge for what had happened to her son Zero and end all automorphs with her own hands.

    "Terradyne," she muttered, looking back at the papers of the truck she had used. "Zero... my sweet baby boy." She wiped the tears from her eyes and climbed onto the table under the machine, gripping the remote she held and she pressed a button and it strapped her down, and several needles came pointing down, across her body, chest, face and even her eyes. She took a deep breath, knowing the transmutation could very well kill her. "I'll see you soon, my son." She pressed the other button and the needles came down, meticulously finding all of her major blood vessels and injecting all of the serum and she did her best not to squirm. After an agonizing several seconds the serum was inside of Vertalia's body and the needles were withdrawn. She forced herself to sit up, tearing the restraints as she suddenly had all this strength. "Ugh, my head," she muttered before standing up, only to immediately fall over, dry heaving before vomiting blood and oil. Her body began to transform as she staggered away from the machine and she slowly changed into a massive white Terradyne Ghurka LAPV. She managed to control herself and let her body become accustomed to her vehicular body as she made sure her vitals and fluid levels were good. "Fuck me..." She transformed back and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair had become ragged, her eyes sunken in, her skin was scarred and her once mature and refined beauty was gone, same as her humanity. Suddenly, there was a noise behind her. She turned and saw a woman in green standing there, with a gun drawn.

    "Who are you?" she asked with an Australian accent. It was of course Terra. "Wasn't aware a lab was down here, let alone another automorph."

    "Stay away from me," Vertalia said threateningly.

    "Or what?"

    "I said leave me alone!" she cried, charging forward. Terra began to shoot at her, but with Vertalia's new body effectively made of armour plating, the bullets did nothing to her as Terra gasped and Vertalia swung a punch, landing a critical hit right on Terra's eye socket. Oil and other automotive fluids that were coursing through Terra's body spewed everywhere as she flew back, crying.

    "Fucking hell! Fuck what are you?!" she quickly stood up and hastily retreated before Vertalia answered her question, not that she wanted to. Terra knew she had to report this to Schwarze, much to everyone's shock when she arrived driving through the gate with more than just a broken headlight. Her entire front body clip and fender were missing and she was seeping oil and coolant. Jaku and Hariette ran over to her.

    "Terra, what the hell happened?" Hariette demanded as she immediately began working on her.

    "I-I was out a-and this woman... she," Terra couldn't keep herself from crying.

    "Terra be quiet, I'm going to disconnect your battery cable," Jaku said, doing so, knocking Terra out. He was then immediately on the phone inquiring about body parts for her Gladiator form. Hariette was already removing all of the broken parts and Schwarze came out only to scream.

    "What happened to her?!"

    "She was attacked," Jaku said. "Wait, they'll be how long?!" he asked his phone.

    "Coolant hoses are destroyed, she needs both radiators replaced and her oil intercooler," Hariette said. Schwarze watched as much as she could before walking away, suppressing a gag. She went back to her lab and took a few deep breaths.

    "She was supposed to explore the old ASH Corp building," she muttered. "Unless... no, A113S was taken by the Tangs. Who else could it be?"

    "What's going on?" Scarecrow said, peering into the room.

    "That's it!"

    "What's it?"

    "Scarecrow, take Nevermore and Attero and lock up the compound."

    "What's going on, Schwarze?"

    "We may have just faced a new, even more, powerful enemy."

    The next morning, once everyone had been gathered by Sonya who came by with a file, she turned everyone's attention to the screen in the main room. Sonya had prepared a slideshow to go over the new plans.

    "Vertalia Seiko, founder and former CEO of the former ASH Corporation," she explained. "She was also the mother of former Police Leuitenant Chief Zero Seiko."

    "Why are we learning about her?" Petra asked. That's when Hariette brought Terra out of her room. Everyone gasped when they saw her face wrapped in bandages.

    "Terra was brutally attacked by her shortly after what we believe to be her initial transmutation," Schwarze said with a heavy tone.

    "She turned herself?!" Nevermore asked with shock.

    "Yes, there have been reports of a strange white armoured truck making its way for the city ruins," Sonya said. "This Terradyne we believe to be Vertalia."

    "What the hell could she be planning?" Attero asked.

    "Revenge for her son, most likely," Hikaru guessed. Sonya nodded.

    "She has been assigned a beyond maximum threat level," Sonya went on. "If a single punch could do this to Terra," she paused as Terra audibly flinched. "Then she has higher priority than the terrorists."

    "So what's the plan?" Syth asked.

    "One I hope it doesn't have to come to," Sonya said, placing her chin atop her fist thoughtfully.

    "No. No way."

    "What?" Attero asked.

    "Sonya, you're not seriously saying we team up with the terrorists to take down Vertalia?" Scarecrow asked, having figured it out.

    "Only as a last fucking resort... but yes," Sonya answered. "You three managed to hold your own against Seto, but if one punch is enough to give one of our strongest fighters PTSD then we need to think about this very carefully."

    "Let me look into Terradyne," Attero said. "Surely those vehicles have some sort of weakness."

    "Most usually do," Hikaru said. Xanthe nodded in agreement.

    "Go ahead," Sonya nodded. "Syth, Petra and Hikaru, you three will begin training with the new anti-armoured vehicle exercises we're putting together already."

    "Sounds like a plan," Petra smirked.

    "I'll join in too," Nevermore said standing up.

    "Are you sure about this?" Schwarze asked her. "You said yourself you didn't want to kill anyone anymore."

    "I know. It's going to be very hard for me. But I will not stand around when one of my friends has been hurt."

    "Hey, you don't need to push yourself," Terra said softly, her voice hoarse with dehydration.

    "None of us are going to just sit here while you recover, Terra," Scarecrow said. "We'll all put in 220 per cent while you recover because Vertalia will not get away with what she did to you."

    "You guys..."

    "Stop talking and let's get you a drink," Hariette said, walking Terra back to the garage. Once everyone was back outside, Sonya met with Schwarze in her office.

    "So what are we really going to do?" Sonya asked her.

    "I can make a few more calls," Schwarze said, reaching for her phone.

    "I suppose we'll need all the help we can get at this point. Who do you have?"

    "Here, I have a list," she said, handing Sonya a folder and she filed through it.

    "Interesting characters here. Call them."

    "I just messaged Citadel. She'll be here in a couple of days."

    "Good."

    Meanwhile, in some rudimentary dugout somewhere in the ruins of the former city center, Vertalia stood over a cowering young woman.

    "Get up you little wretch!" she yelled, kicking her in the stomach. "If you want to save your little sister you better listen to what I say!" The woman coughed several times as she pulled herself up.

    "Alright, alright!" she screamed, "just don't hurt Cavi!"

    "Look, there's someone out there who took everything from me, and I want you to go and find him. And kill him."

    "Why me?"

    "Just fucking do it, or I'll kill her," Vertalia growled, grabbing the other little girl by the neck with one hand. All Cavi could do was look at her sister with tear-filled eyes.

    "Okay okay!"

    "Good," Vertalia sneered, dropping a file in front of the young woman. "Bring me their heads." It was a file on the Tang family.

   The young woman hobbled out of Vertalia's hideout carrying the file with her. She didn't know the Tangs and she certainly didn't want to kill them, but she had to do whatever she could to save her sister. Her name was Betsy and she was a Chevrolet Trailblazer, and her little sister was Cavi, a Chevrolet Cavalier. All Betsy could think about was the safety of her little sister, but at the same time she couldn't bring herself to kill anyone, especially someone who she didn't know and could have had nothing to do with her or Vertalia, but she figured that Vertalia must have really hated these Tangs. Through days of research, she learned more of these Tangs and their habits, and soon enough, when Colin was heading to Don's used cars Betsy was hiding out in the back of his lot. As Don was looking over the strange new Trailblazer, Colin came walking around.

    "Oh hey there, young man," Don said with a smile. "You're Tang's son, right?"

    "Yeah, I'm Colin," Colin said, shaking his hand. "A Trailblazer?"

    "Yeah, it just kinda showed up here overnight. I haven't really looked it over too much so far but it seems pretty clean."

    "What do you want for it?"

    "I mean it does have the keys, and I guess if you want it, you can have it. I'd rather not have to deal with any paperwork but know that also means I won't work on it at all of course."

    "Sure thing." Don handed Colin the keys, and Colin climbed in, starting her up. "I've been needing an SUV to move some stuff around."

    "Well, I hope it's what you're looking for." Don waved as Colin drove away from his dealership and around the city for a while.

    "You know," he said to the car, Betsy listened intently, letting him stay in control. "I'm not the fondest of American made vehicles but the way you ride and handle... maybe I was wrong. About how American cars are inferior." Colin sighed and wiped a tear from his eye. "Damnit." Betsy was suddenly feeling conflicted, seeing as how one of her targets was talking so amazingly about her.

    "You shouldn't cry about me," she brought herself to say through her radio. Colin stopped in realization looking down at her steering wheel.

    "Oh, you're an Automorph."

    "Yes and... thank you for talking about me like that. I've never had anyone speak so highly of me before."

    "No worries. But now, of course, I feel so embarrassed."

    "Sorry."

    "It's okay."

    "Um... Colin Tang, correct?"

    "Yeah."

    "I really need your help."

    "With what? Do you need a repair?"

    "Not quite. It's just that... there's something I have to do... in order to save someone I really care about and love."

    "And what would that be? I'm willing to help you out with anything."

    "But..."

    "What's the worst thing that could happen?"

    "Colin... in order to save my little sister, I've been ordered to kill you and your father." Colin scowled.

    "By who?"

    "Vertalia Seiko."

    "So she's still alive, huh?"

    "Mm-hm."

    "Well, Dad did pretty much take over her company when she disappeared."

    "She turned herself into an Automporph too. She's some big armoured truck."

    "I see... we'll need to talk to my dad. Maybe we can find a way to save your sister and ourselves." Meanwhile, at Cher and Rebecca's new setup, Rebecca was going over some paperwork and Cher walked over to her.

    "That Trailblazer that was looking for the Tangs seems to have found Colin," she said to Rebecca quietly.

    "I'll let Schwarze know, she could be trouble," Rebecca said, already composing an email to Schwarze.

    "Oh, and one of Schwarze's contacts is here."

    "Is it Morohoshi-san?"

    "Yes."

    "Go ahead and send her over to Schwarze. She'll be needed over there more."

    "Sure," she said walking over to a woman wearing a mask of a fox deity. "Morohoshi-san, do you need directions to Schwarze's compound?"

    "Watashi wa doko ni ikubeki ka shitte imasu," she replied in Japanese.

    "Oh, you know how to get there? Alright, then you can go ahead."

    "Arigato," she said, standing with a bow.

    "Oh, you're very welcome," Cher said with a smile, waving as the woman left.

    "I know that Schwarze has called in some more of her contacts," Cher said to Rebecca as they closed up for the night.

    "What are you getting at?" Rebecca asked as she stood up from her desk and closed her laptop.

    "I'm just curious as to who may show up next."

    "I suppose I can agree with you on that."

    "So that was Citadel Morohoshi-san. Interesting indeed. A Japanese woman who was given an American vehicle form."

    "Indeed. A Dodge Durango R/T of all things."

    "Wait, if she's an R/T model why is her name Citadel? Isn't that a different trim level?"

    "Yes, but she told me she likes the name."

    Meanwhile, at the compound after Syth, Attero, and Scarecrow came back inside from some training, they saw that Schwarze was playing some cards with Terra and Jaku. Terra was still bandaged as her parts were behind schedule.

    "How are you doing?" Syth asked her.

    "Oh, I'm fine," she said. "The physical pain's gone away at least."

    "That's 21," Schwarze said with a smirk.

    "Damnit," Terra hissed. "You all must have been working hard out there today."

    "We're trying," Syth said sitting next to her. "What about you?"

    "Bloody parts are behind."

    "Jeep Gladiators are apparently too new that there is no aftermarket support for them yet," Jaku explained.

    "So he's been fishing for parts from other models."

    "I see," Syth said, checking the hand she was dealt. It was fourteen.

    "Hariette and I are thinking about just stealing one from the lot," Jaku said with a smirk.

    "We're trying to prove to the world now that we automorphs are not bad people," Schwarze said, dealing him a card.

    "Killing two birds with one stone, huh?" Syth asked as she was dealt over. "Damn. I'm over with 24."

    "Yes, I suppose so," she said dealing Terra a card.

    "That's 21," Terra said with a smile.

    "I fold," Jaku said, showing his hand of 13.

    "Looks like you owe me some octane booster when my stuff gets here."

    "I suppose so," Jaku said, and they all glanced up when Schwarze gate alarm notified them someone was upfront.

    "Expecting someone?" Scarecrow asked after coming back for a drink.

    "Yep," Schwarze said leaving and soon coming back with a woman dressed in traditional Japanese robes wearing a fox diety mask. "Everyone this is Morohoshi-san." The woman bowed to them before removing her mask. She was of course a Japanese woman with long, black hair. She bowed to everyone, with Hikaru and Syth bowing back.

    "Kon'nichiwa," she said with a small smile. Hikaru greeted her back in Japanese and asked her a question to which she shook her head in response.

    "She doesn't speak English but she has a little knowledge of it," he told them. "In the meantime, I suppose it's my job to translate."

    "She knows of our current plans, correct?" Schwarze asked and Hikaru translated and Morohoshi-san nodded. Schwarze smiled and handed her a folder and Hikaru had told her to look through it when she had the time. After she was introduced to everyone and everyone had gone back to what they were doing, Syth reached out to Morohoshi-san.

    "Friends?" she asked her. Morohoshi-san nodded and took ahold of Syth's hand.

    "Tomodachi," she said with a smile.

    "Tomo...dachi," Syth attempted and Morohoshi-san laughed.

    "Just about," Hikaru said, as he led Morohoshi-san off to where her new room was. While Morohoshi-san was being taken care of, Syth sighed and went back outside for some stretches and to run the course. Ever since that day she really put everything she had into her lap, she still could not beat the time of 1:28.213. She could get close but never go any faster. Jaku pulled her aside to give her some fuel and some octane booster.

    "Don't push yourself too hard," he told her. "You can't crash through the ceiling when you hit it."

    "So I've been told," she responded.

    "Look Syth, you're amazing physically, now you need to focus your aspects on your military training."

    "Man," she sighed in defeat, "I suppose you're right about that. Speaking of which, when is Sonya coming back?"

    "No idea," he shrugged. "That's not a question I can answer."

    "Then I guess I'll go see Schwarze."

    As Syth went looking for Schwarze, she only found Scarecrow.

    "She left for a meeting," Scarecrow told her. "No idea where but it sounded pretty important." Syth thought to herself before Jaku had come back inside and told her to head to the wash bays. Syth sighed reluctantly and headed over there as Scarecrow just smirked. Meanwhile, Schwarze was at the new Triple C location, a warehouse out by the cargo wings of the airport.

    "It's about that Trailblazer," Rebecca started. "She's made contact with the Tangs."

    "Why are you telling me this?" Schwarze asked.

    "Because her motives are unclear, yet she seemed to be looking for them with such haste," Cher said.    

    "You know of the fact that former ASH CEO Vertalia Seiko has transmutated herself into an armoured vehicle, yes?"

    "We're well aware, and it seems her movements and sightings have stopped as well."

    "These actions of this Trailblazer and Vertalia could be connected."

    "We'll need proof," Rebecca said.

    "We have just the car," Cher said, calling someone on her phone. "Hey, it's your time to shine. Oh, and bring the new girl with you. Thanks, see ya in a bit."

    "Who was that?" Schwarze asked.

    "You'll see when they get here."

    "Are they vehicles we can trust?"

    "Of course," Cher smiled and Rebecca nodded. "I would just about bet my life on the trust these two have." They continued to converse and after about 20 minutes, two girls in silver showed up and walked into the office. One was shorter with long hair and the taller one had dark eyeliner and long twin tails. "This is Maxxine, Pontiac Vibe GT, sister to Max Tang, the Toyota Matrix owned by said Tangs. The taller one is Layta Makoto from Japan."

    "What's going on with my brother's family?" Maxxine asked. She had not met Max yet but was caught up about his location and whereabouts.

    "There's a Trailblazer that's been stalking the Tangs and has made contact with Colin. We need you and Layta to bring her here so we can find out what's going on."

    "Sounds boring," Layta said with a yawn.

    "Oho, this shall be fun," Maxxine said.

    "You're going to need help," Schwarze said. "Let me go with you. Rebecca, I'll have you on call the entire time once we get her."

    "Please do," Rebecca said.

    "Layta, you're driving," Maxxine said.

    "Wait, why?" Layta asked.

    "You're literally the most luxurious car here, a Lexus LM300h."

    "I suppose you're correct," she sighed as they all stepped out and Layta transformed. Her Lexus form was a Japanese minivan, similar to that of a Toyota Alphard, given the Lexus LM300h was technically the same vehicle, albeit the far more luxurious version.

    "We'll relay you with information from our scouts," Cher said to Schwarze. "Her last known location was near the Tang's residence. Be aware that there have been sightings of two new vehicles at the Tang residence, one we're certain is an Automorph, the other not yet." With a nod from Schwarze, Layta drove off toward the Tang's residence. It was near nightfall by the time they arrived. They arrived and Maxxine noticed that there were not only the Toyota Matrix and the Chevrolet Trailblazer in the driveway, but a Honda CR-V and a Toyota Camry as well. Schwarze held a phone-shaped device up. She noticed it showed an aura around the Camry and the CR-V.

    "Yep, we have two more Automorphs at the residence," Schwarze said to Rebecca via her phone video call. "Camry and the CR-V."

    "It appears the Tangs have become quite the collectors," Cher said as Schwarze and Maxxine stepped out and Layta backed up onto the end of the driveway. As Schwarze and Maxxine got close, all of the vehicles transformed, the Camry speaking first, having the demeanour of a somewhat more mature woman, despite not appearing to be in her thirties.

    "Uninvited guests," she said pushing her glasses back onto her nose before putting her hands on her hips. "What is it you want with us?"

    There was a bit of a staredown between Schwarze and the Camry. Rebecca and Cher could see the entire thing from Schwarze's camerawork.

    "What do you want with us?" the CR-V asked, in a more direct tone, but the Camry stopped her.

    "Crislyn, keep your head cool," the Camry said.

    "Sorry, Cassandra."

    "We have business with the Trailblazer," Maxxine said, pointing to Betsy.

    "She's is the Tang's current form of transportation," Cassandra said. "You may not borrow her."

    "We aren't asking," Schwarze said, raising her staff and looking out from under her hat. Max, the Toyota Matrix was the first to transform his hands into wheels and tires and run in for the first strike, but Schwarze methodically used her staff and martial arts training to have him on the ground, clutching at his neck. Maxxine felt a pang of anger and fear as she watched her twin brother get hurt, not that Max knew they were related yet. "Don't worry, nothing's broken. Yet."

    "Max!" Crislyn called, running to his side as he struggled to regain his breath from the strike on his neck. Schwarze changed her stance, pointing her staff at Cassandra.

    "Hand her over, and no one else has to get hurt."

    "What's going on?" a voice asked as two people came outside the house. It was Colin and his father. "Max! What happened? What's going on here?!"

    "Tangs, we believe the Trailblazer you acquired has unclear intentions for you," Schwarze said to them. "We need her to come with us."

    "But... I don't... she doesn't..."

    "Colin, these Automorphs are your cars, and you need to sort them out," his father said. "I can't have these fights constantly going on in my driveway!"

    "But Dad..."

    "You heard me, I need to get back to work. Take this bullcrap somewhere else, please." Colin sighed as he thought for a minute.

    "Make a decision, Tang," Schwarze said, pointing her staff at him.

    "Betsy... is this about what you told me?" Colin asked her.

    "W-What?" Betsy asked from her cowered position against the garage door.

    "When we met you told me that Vertalia Seiko told you to kill us, right?"

    "WHAT?!" Colin's dad asked as Cassandra immediately grabbed him and Colin held them behind her as far away from Betsy as she could get. "That thing is supposed to kill us? Get her out of here!"

    "Please you have to understand-" Betsy started but Maxxine drew a gun she was given by Rebecca.

    "Shut up, you're coming with us."

    "Betsy you need to get the fuck away from us," Crislyn said, helping Max stand with fear and anger in her eyes.

    "She's holding my sister hostage, and she won't let either of us go until I do it!" Betsy cried.

    "Shit," Schwarze muttered. "All of you, every single one of you, into the Lexus. Before Vertalia shows up."

    "What?" Cassandra and Crislyn asked.

    "The only option now that we know what is going on is protective custody. Now!"

    "Damnit!" Colin's dad swore as he was the first in the Lexus, trying to admire its luxuriousness. "Colin get in here already!" Colin followed suit and everyone else clambered in as Maxxine and Schwarze had Betsy tied up in the back seat. "I want her to explain everything to me," he said.

    "She will when we get there," Schwarze said as she was then sent an encrypted email on a secret location to one of Rebecca's old bunkers.

    Later that night, Cher and Rebecca met up with Schwarze and the others as they had Betsy secured in a cell in the old bunker. Max had recovered from his injury and after Schwarze had apologized profusely, he and Maxxine were formally introduced and decided to catch up, much to Colin's shock. Colin's father was staring a deathly glare at Batsy in the cell.

    "I knew you were a bad investment," he muttered to her as Betsy lay crying, bound in the cell.

    "I'm sorry," she could only mutter in response over and over.

    "Let me guess," Rebecca asked as she and Cher showed up. "She spilt everything?"

    "She was told to kill the Tangs in exchange for her younger sister's freedom," Schwarze told them. "Vertalia is effectively holding them both hostage."

    "Is it possible the younger sister can be rescued?" Cher asked.

    "It's still very uncertain," Schwarze said. "What I do know is that we'll need to keep the Tangs safe because surely Seiko will find out Betsy failed her mission."

    "So what does that mean for us?" Colin asked.

    "Sir," Rebecca said, turning toward his dad. "You have taken over what remains of ASH Corp, yes?"

    "Of course," he said proudly. "That arrogant tramp couldn't run that company to save her own son's life. So I took it over during the Daiya collapse."

    "You're not in cahoots with the SUV terrorists are you?"

    "Of course not. I just wanted the company, so I took it at its most vulnerable."

    "You're a very shrewd man, but I appreciate the honesty."

    "Anyway, what are the plans for us?"

    "I'll have an associate of mine fly you both to a government facility ASAP," Schwarze said, messaging Sonya. "I'll take Betsy to my facility."

    "That's fine," Cher said and Rebecca nodded. While Colin and his dad sat around for a bit, Schwarze came back over to them.

    "My associate won't be here until early tomorrow morning," she told them and Colin's dad sighed.

    "Damnit," he hissed. "I guess it's can't be helped. Is there a couch or something?"

    "We have a room here," Cher said. "We'll allow you two to use it."

    "Fine. Colin, I'm going to bed." He walked into the room and shut the door behind him.

    "Try not to worry about him too much, Colin," Max told him, putting his hand on his shoulder. "We both know how your father is."

    "It's not him I'm worried about," Colin said quietly. Later that night, as everyone was asleep, Colin got up and was looking for a drink. Of course, they didn't have any water with them in their hideout. Just as he was about to go back to bed, the door opened and a young woman in white stepped inside in complete and total silence. Colin thought to himself if he really was seeing this woman in front of him as she was eerily silent. She then smiled at him and began writing something down. Colin watched as she did so and she handed the paper to him.

    "Hello, I am Xanthe. I'm here to pick up Betsy, Schwarze and Layta."

    "O-Oh," he said quietly. "I see. Are you mute?" Xanthe nodded in response. "What kind of car are you?" She held up a photo of a Ford Mach E. "I guess electric cars can't talk can they?" Xanthe simply shrugged as she didn't know what the exact reason was either. "They have Betsy... tied up in here." He pointed at the cell. Xanthe looked over then looked back at Colin, seeing his shrunken expression.

    "Is everything okay? You seem upset," she wrote down.

    "Well... I know she was told to kill me and my dad... but I had already... sort of fallen for her, I guess. So it hurts me... to see her treated like that, and tied up like that."

    "She could be dangerous."

    "I don't think she is. She's had every opportunity to kill me and my dad but she never did."

    "That doesn't change the fact she's been assigned to kill you."

    "I really don't think she can and even if she wanted to... I forgive her." By now Cassandra had awoken to the conversation and was rubbing her eyes as Xanthe stared at Colin with shock at his statement.

    "That's very admirable. I respect that."

    "Colin, who are you talking to?" Cassandra asked with a yawn.

    "Get Schwarze," he said. "Their ride is here."

    Cassandra sighed and fetched Schwarze and Layta, who walked into the cell with Maxxine as they made sure Betsy was secured before Layta had walked out and Schwarze and Maxxine had her packed up in the back seat. Colin walked out and peeked inside the van.

    "Colin, you should head back inside and stay with your father," Betsy muttered.

    "But..." he trailed off.

    "It's okay," she smiled with tears in her eyes. "I heard everything you said."

    "I mean... I guess I should thank you for not killing my dad and myself."

    "You're welcome. I'm sorry... I didn't want it to be this way."

    "It's okay. I said I forgive you." Colin smiled and Betsy began to cry again. "I'll do what I can to help save your sister."

    "Thank you." With that, Cassandra pulled Colin back inside as Schwarze climbed into Layta with Xanthe and Maxxine following. Schwarze was the first to speak after a while once Betsy had stopped crying.

    "You do understand that we cannot guarantee Cavi's safety, right?" she asked Betsy as she stared out the window, watching the land go by.

    "Even if I have to reason with Vertalia to let her go and kill me instead I will," she responded slowly.

    "Reasoning with Vertalia is out of the question. She won't listen to anyone at this point, having gone off more than the deep end."

    "You can do what you wish with me, just save Cavi."

    "We'll think of something, okay?" Layta said through her wonderful sound system and Betsy just smirked wryly. Meanwhile, farther down the road behind them, the white Terradyne was tearing down the road kicking up a massive cloud of dust into the dark sky. It was Vertalia.

    "So that dumb bitch thinks she can outsmart me because she failed," she muttered through her interior speakers. Of course, the only one who would hear her was Cavi, who was bound and gagged in one of her seats. "Guess I get to kill you both tonight." Cavi cried out into the tape that was covering her mouth. "Oh shut up. I'll make it painless." As the military vehicle continued her relentless pursuit, Schwarze and the others several miles ahead had no idea of the coming danger, and it wasn't just Vertalia. Even farther ahead of Schwarze and the others, there was a pair of SUVs speeding down the road, unknowingly heading straight for them.

    "Jacki, do you really think this plan will work?" Culla asked in her vehicle form while Jacki was behind her, with Seto laying down in the back, wrapped up in blankets and bandages.

    "I don't care what it takes at this point Culla," Jacki said irritably. "My sweet Seto is in very bad shape and you know that she'll only get worse from here."

    "So what makes you think reasoning with Schwarze and company will work?"

    "I don't, to be honest. But I need to save my Seto!" Back down the road, Schwarze's phone rang. She checked and saw it was Sonya.

    "Ah, Commander, what's going on?"

    "Check your surroundings now!" Sonya yelled through the phone with a lot of jet engine noise in the background. "You got hostile traffic both on your 6 and 12!"

    "What?!"

    "What's going on?" Maxxine radioed over.

    "Look out behind us," Schwarze told her. Just then, she got a message from Xanthe.

    "We have oncoming traffic at high speed."

    "What is it?"

    "SUVs!"

    "Schwarze there's a huge truck coming up behind us!" Maxxine radioed.

    "Oh fuck everything!" Schwarze yelled. "Terrorists in front of us and Vertalia behind us!" She pressed some buttons on her phone sending a distress signal and she called Syth. "GET EVERYONE TO MY LOCATION NOW!" Back at the compound, everyone was scrambling to suit up as they got onto the road and headed for Schwarze's direction.

    "Can we make it in time?" Nevermore asked. She had climbed into Syth while Scarecrow was riding with Hikaru and Attero was carrying Jaku and Terra. Akuma was carrying Harriete and Petra was following closely behind.

    "We'll make it!" Back in Layta, Schwarze was busy checking her phone. She knew Sonya was flying in on their location and the others were speeding toward them from farther behind Vertalia.

    "Layta," she said to her.

    "Yeah?"

    "We're gonna play some chicken with those terrorists."

    "What?!" she and Betsy cried.

    "They wouldn't be coming right at us out of the blue like that. I'm sure they don't know that Vertalia tailing us yet anyway. Just don't slow down at all and keep your prerogative!"

    Soon, the SUVs came into view. Schwarze smirked and licked her lips, ready for some real action.

    "750 meters to impact," Xanthe messaged.

    "Just keep going!" Schwarze said.

    "500 meters."

    "A little more!"

    "250 meters."

    "Come get us you terrorist assholes!" she yelled uncharacteristically. 

    "100 meters!" Just before Xanthe was about to hit her brakes, the SUVs slammed on their brakes and turned sideways blocking the road. Xanthe braked as hard as she could with Layta following suit then Maxxine did the same and she immediately turned around to watch for Vertalia. Schwarze immediately climbed out of Layta, staff in hand ready for a fight. Jacki and Culla transformed into their human forms and Jacki carefully set Seto down.

    "So we finally meet face to face," Schwarze said.

    "Yes, you're not as primitive as I had thought," Jacki said with a tip of her top hat.

    "So what brings the rest of you out here looking for us?" Now Jacki had frowned, trying to swallow her pride.

    "I've come to bargain."

    "Schwarze!" Maxxine yelled as the big white Terradyne came up behind them and slammed on its brakes but it couldn't stop so Vertalia steered herself into the ditch. Everyone just watched in shock as the vehicle came to an eventual halt in the dust cloud before slowly transforming.

    "Shit, I'm heavier than I look," Vertalia swore under her breath, holding onto Cavi who was crying and whimpering into her gag. "That's going to take some getting used to."

    "Who's this now?" Jacki asked.

    "Vertalia Seiko, our maker," Schwarze said.

    "Ah, I see I've got some good luck," Vertalia said looking around. "I have Schwarze and company right where I want them and the SUVs within my grasp."

    "We have no qualms with you," Culla said.

    "Oh but you do, even if you don't know it."

    "Jacki, our intel suggests that Vertalia may be stronger than you," Schwarze said.

    "And why are you telling me this?" Jacki asked her.

    "As much as I fucking hate it..."

    "...we're going to need to kill her together, aren't we?" Jacki asked, slowly moving to stand by Schwarze and face Vertalia.

    "I don't like it any more than you do."

    "I'm bloody aware." Soon the sounds of engines cut into the tense air.

    "That must be your backup, Schwarze," Vertalia smirked. "No matter, they can't defeat me." In a matter of seconds, the others arrived and they all transformed. Syth, Hikaru, Petra, Jaku, Akuma, Harriete, Scarecrow, Attero, Nevermore and Citadel. Layta was keeping an eye on Betsy with Maxxine keeping guard of the two of them.

    "You know, fifteen against one seems a bit unfair," Vertalia said.

    "It won't be much of a fight," Nevermore said waving her hands around. Little did anyone know, that was her signature weapon, razor monomolecular wire.

    "You think your pathetic razor floss will kill me?" Vertalia mocked with a smirk.

    "No, but it can hold you still," she smirked, drawing her hands back and suddenly Vertalia tensed up.

    "Sh-shit." Her grip on Cavi loosened and the little girl fell onto the ground.

    "Don't hurt Cavi!" Betsy cried out.

    "She'll be fine!" Sonya's voice cracked into everyone's phones. "Nevera!" Suddenly, a young woman sped through them, sliding under Vertalia and grabbing Cavi. She wore a black suit and had short black hair. Her pale eyes shone behind her black-framed glasses.

    "What the-?!"

    "Everyone hold onto Nevermore!" Sonya's voice cracked through again just as a faint jet noise began to fade into the air. Everyone immediately grabbed her shoulders and formed a line, holding onto each other.

    "What are you doing?!" Vertalia asked.

    "The only thing we can do to defeat an armoured truck such as yourself!" Just then, the massive SR-71 fuselage came through the bleak sky and at very low altitude, aimed right at Vertalia.

    "No no no!" she cried, knowing what was coming next as she tried to fight her way out of the razor wires.

    "Kamikaze bonzai!" Citadel cheered.

    "Not quite but I like your spirit!" Sonya cried back as she flew right into Vertalia, clipping her with her wingtip, and completely decimating her as she was hit at nearly mach 2. Everyone was then blown down onto the ground from Sonya's jet exhaust as she tried to steer away from them. Once everyone had gotten up, they saw no trace of Vertalia other than a dark stain on the ground.

    As Sonya fought for control over herself, everyone stood in shock as the image of Vertalia standing there one second then completely gone the next went through their heads.

    "Bloody fuck," Jacki exhaled, being the first one to speak as Sonya went down in a nearby cornfield.

    "Holy shit," Syth muttered.

    "Goddamn," Schwarze coughed, suppressing a heave before getting her phone. "Sonya, are you okay?"

    "Yeah," she responded after a bit. "I went down in the field. I'll need to stay here for the reports, but I'm okay. Just some scratches." Soon after the others began to return to their senses.

    "Cavi! Cavi!" Betsy was crying out, fighting her bonds. Nevera set to work untying the little girl. "Maxxine untie me! Please!"

    "Let her go," Schwarze nodded and Maxxine cut her loose. Betsy ran over, stumbling slightly as she grabbed onto her little sister.

    "Betsy!" Cavi cried.

    "Cavi!" she cried in return as they held onto each other and cried for a while.

    "That's so sweet," Syth smiled. While they were fawning over the reunited sisters, Schwarze turned back toward Jacki.

    "What was that you said earlier?" she asked the terrorist.

    "I had come to bargain," she said. The others had overheard and looked over. "Seto, my pet has been gravely injured by your soldiers."

    "I missed the part where that's my problem."

    "Look, this is hard for me, okay? I don't want her to die!"

    "But you're all terrorists. Why should I help you?"

    "That's why I've come to bargain," she said with tears in her eyes as she took off her hat and bowed. "If you can guarantee Seto's safety and survival, I'll hand her and Culla over to you and your government."

    "Wait, you'll do what?" Culla asked with shock.

    "Why not just turn yourself in too?" Schwarze asked as Jaku and Hariette stepped forward.

    "Because... you and I both know that it's far too soon for our final battle."

    "I suppose you're correct."

    "Wait, Schwarze, you're not-" Syth started, but Petra held her back.

    "Syth be quiet," she whispered to her.

    "Jaku, Hariette, get Seto," Schwarze said. They nodded and went over to Seto. She glared at them but purred painfully. It sounded like her engine was running without oil and had been for some time, as she was overheated. "Hikaru and Citadel. Restrain Culla."

    "Wait, Jacki, you can't do this to me!" Culla cried out. "I've done nothing but serve you!"

    "Desperate times call for occasional betrayal, Culla," Jacki sighed putting her hat back on.

    "You bitch!" Culla screamed angrily. "You fucking c-" she was cut off by Hikaru tying a gag into her mouth.

    "Hey now you can't go around saying such naughty things," he scolded her as Citadel tied her tightly.

    "Nevermore, have your razorwire ready," Schwarze said. "If Culla so much as moves take her head off."

    "Yes ma'am," she said, moving in next to them.

    "Jacki, you are aware you've just turned your final two teammates over to us, correct?" Schwarze asked her.

    "I'm aware," she responded. "You may do with Culla as you please, just... make sure Seto stays alive."

    "You have my word as a fellow Automorph, Seto Barchetta will be kept alive." Now it was Schwarze's turn to tip her hat.

    "Thank you," she nodded but did not smile as she glanced around. "I guess it's time for a tactical retreat." She transformed into her DBX form and sped off in the other direction.

    "Did you just let her escape?" Sonya asked.

    "Oh, were you not listening?" Schwarze asked her. "She handed Culla and Seto right over to us."

    "I know but you all still should have done something. With Vertalia out of the way, you all could have easily taken her. I'm disappointed."

    "But you're always disappointed," Syth said with a giggle.

    "Don't sass me Syth," she said with a pouting tone and everyone laughed.

    Much later the next day, after Sonya's crash into the cornfield had been properly dealt with, she was returned to her airbase for repairs. Schwarze had a discussion with the Tangs about Betsy and after a reluctant agreement from his father, Colin could keep Betsy and of course, Cavi. Meanwhile, back at the compound, Schwarze had formally introduced Sonya's contact, Nevera. She was of course a Rimac Nevera, an electric hypercar. Xanthe felt an immediate connection with a fellow electric car, however, thanks to some newer technology Nevera could speak with an electronic voice via a voicebox.

     "Hello everyone, my name is Nevera," she spoke. "I may be an electric car like Xanthe, but I can speak with a voice box."

     "That sounds so cool," Terra said.

     "It does come with a few inconveniences, so consider yourself lucky you don't need one."

     "I see."

     "Well, never mind that," Schwarze said pouring some glasses of fuel for everyone. "We managed to take out a powerful enemy and we're just down to one so let's have a toast while we rest up before the final hunt!"

    "Cheers," everyone said raising a glass of fuel. Not only were Terra's repairs finally finished, but with Vertalia out of the way, all they had to do now was focus on Jacki. Xanthe and Nevara then gave their glasses to Hikaru.

    "I can't believe I got to see a Blackbird in action, that close!" Attero said.

    "I'm surprised we survived the jet blast," Petra said.

    "That just goes to show, that you're all stronger than you think," Schwarze said with a proud smile.

    "I didn't even know that was Commander Rhysen's plan," Harriette said.

    "I mean hey, it worked, didn't it?" Hikaru said and Xanthe nodded in agreement.

    "To think that Jacki the Ripper would go so far as to turn in her own colleagues," Scarecrow noted.

    "That's what I'm apprehensive about," Syth said. "How do we know she won't just go out there and find more recruits?"

    "Precisely," Schwarze agreed. "Once Sonya's back up and running we'll be right back to work tracking her down."

    "Aye, sounds like a plan," Terra said.

    "Schwarze, I am going to return to Sonya, to check up on her," Nevera said.

    "That's fine," Schwarze nodded. "Let us know how her recovery is going."

    "Yes, ma'am," she nodded, heading out. 

    "So what are we going to do until then?" Terra asked.

    "Well, we've managed to take out the emergency target," Schwarze said pulling up her phone and bringing up a message from Rebecca. "Because of that, Cher and Rebecca are going to have a celebration at their club." She forwarded the message to them.

    "And I take it we're going?" Scarecrow asked.

    "Damn right, we all deserve it." Later that night, they all put on some more casual clothes and headed out for the Triple C. They drove in convoy and once they arrived, they saw the woman in yellow standing outside the door. She walked up to Syth who was the first in the line.

    "21C, huh?" the woman asked.

    "Uh, yeah," Syth said through her speaker system.

    "Let me guess, you're with Schwarze?"

    "Yeah, she's back there."

    "Hey relax, kid," she said with a laugh. "I'm Bonnie the bouncer. Y'all are good." She walked over and knocked on the garage door and it opened, with metal rock music spilling out into the air. "Head on in."

    "Thanks," Syth said as she drove in, everyone else following her. Schwarze stopped to talk to Bonnie.

    "I see you've been well," Schwarze said rolling down her window to talk.

    "Speak for yourself you old hag," Bonnie smirked.

    "Hey, you know damn well I'm only a few years younger than you are."

    "I know, I'm just fucking with ya. You should know this, Nacthexen."

    "You still insist on calling me that, huh?"

    "I'm probably the last one, right?" she asked and sighed.

    "Hey, enough focusing on the past. Who's playing tonight?"

    "Some new group called The Calloways."

    "Sounds like something Petra would enjoy. I'll see you around, okay?"

    "Damn right you will. Now get on in there." Schwarze honked and drove inside, the garage door closing behind her cutting off the loud music. "That damn witch," Bonnie sighed with a smirk. "After all of these years, she can still put up that sort of fight. It's amazing from what I've heard that Jacki the Ripper isn't as scared as she should be."

    After a few minutes, the song ended and Syth and the others met up by the bar. Xanthe and Nevermore sat down and immediately opened a drink menu. Jaku and Hariette sat down at a table and talked about other projects they would work on for the group. Syth sat down with Petra closer to the stage, where the band was moving stuff around, getting ready for the next song. Syth took note of the band's singer, a woman about her age with long orange hair and black clothes.

    "So that's The Calloways?" Attero said, sitting in the chair between them.

    "I mean I guess so," Syth said. "They look pretty cool."

    "They are. They're one of the most famous Automorph metal bands."

    "They're the only Automorph metal band," Petra said.

    "Well, yeah... but you get my point," he said.

    "Alright everyone," the lead singer said into the microphone. "We need another 10 minutes or so before the next song because someone dropped their fibreglass drumsticks on the concrete floor." There were a few spread out voices of discontent. "I know, and I apologize. While Matti's digging for those, I'm gonna grab a drink. 3 glasses of fuel please." As the bartender prepped the drinks, Syth made her way to the bar, meeting the woman there.

    "Three glasses of fuel," the barkeep said, handing her the glasses. Syth watched as the woman drank them all quickly, a few gulps per glass.

    "Impressive," Syth said sliding some cash to the man behind the bar.

    "Oh, hey, you don't have to do that," the woman said. "I can cover myself."

    "Hey, it's cool, much like your music," Syth said. The woman blushed slightly and smiled.

    "Wow, that was just as smooth as those drinks," she giggled sheepishly.

    "I'm Syth."

    "Whoa, that name's so badass," she said with awe. "My name's Zenith. I'm a Calloway Aerovette."

    "Guess that's where the band name comes from."

    "Aye," she nodded with a smile. "What are you?"

    "Czinger 21C." Zenith gasped.

    "Holy shit!" Zenith had her hands over her mouth in shock.

    "I'm not that cool, am I?" Syth asked, this time it was her turn to have the sheepish tone.

    "You are! Hey, how late are you staying tonight?"

    "Um, as late as I can I guess."

    "We're going to have an official intermission here in about an hour. Come find me in my dressing room." Zenith was nodding affirmatively as she stood up and headed back for the stage.

    "Wait, why?" Syth called after her, but Zenith couldn't hear her. She thought to herself for a few moments.

    "You should take her up on that offer," the barkeep said with a smile as he set a few polished glasses down.

    "What makes you say that?"

    "I think she's fallen for you."

    "HUH?!" Syth asked loudly. She looked back toward the stage as the band regrouped and began playing their next song, starting with the heavy bass riffs before the drums joined in with the electric guitar. Syth noticed that for the rest of their set Zenith was singing, or sometimes screaming rather, out wholeheartedly, looking at her the entire time. "Has she really fallen for me?" Soon, their set was up and they announced the break.

    "Alright everyone we're gonna take about half an hour, okay? Vortec here just had to slam his bass down."

    "Sorry," he said.

    "Anyway, we'll be back. Get ya a drink and take a leak."

    "Or don't because then you got bad seals." While the band went off doing more work with their gear, Syth snuck around toward the stage and Zenith met her there, grabbing her wrist and pulling her backstage. Schwarze noticed this and raised an eyebrow.

    "Oho, and just what has she gotten herself into?" she asked herself with a sly tone. Zenith led Syth to the room she was given to prepare for the show. It had a desk with a mirror and plenty of space for her things and a small bed in the corner.

    "So... Zenith, why did you drag me back here again?" Syth dared to ask.

    "Syth... you're the coolest person I think I've ever met so far in my life," Zenith said with her cheeks reddened.

    "Thanks... wait where is this going?"

    "I know... as cars we can't really get off, but... do you think that maybe... I could... kiss you?" she asked softly, giving her a begging look.

    "What?"

    "Please? Something's telling me... that I could really use this. I... I need it."

    "I mean..." Syth's face was just as red as Zenith's. She thought for a moment before sitting down on the bed.

    "Well, tonight is a celebration for me I suppose. I guess one couldn't hurt."

    "Thanks," Zenith said softly, before gingerly grabbing Syth by the wrists and getting on top of her on the bed. Syth noticed that Zenith's eyes were glazed over as if she'd lost herself.

    "J-Just one, okay?"

    "Okay," Zenith whispered in a sultry tone as she leaned in, her lips meeting Syth's and Syth noticed something. Zenith's lips tasted of E85.

    Syth laid there and enjoyed the moment for what seemed like several minutes. It was her first kiss, and when Zenith seemed to come to, she immediately sat up and jumped back.

    "Oh-I'm... I'm sorry!"

    "Hey, it's okay," Syth said, softly touching her lips.

    "No, no it's not," Zenith said. "I fell for someone too quickly again!"

    "O-Oh." Syth realized that's why Zenith looked like she had lost herself just before the fun part.

    "Damnit I did it again! Fuck me..."

    "Zenith, why is this a problem for you? I... I actually liked it."

    "I mean... I used to have a really intimate partner."

    "Oh. Did I make things awkward or something?"

    "No... I did. She and I... well, we had a bit of a falling out that ended somewhat violently."

    "Oh." Syth wondered what she should say next trying to come up with something. She could tell that Zenith was thinking pretty hard too, trying not to cry. "Um... you don't have to tell me anymore. I can just go and forget about this."

    "Please don't," Zenith said, grabbing her arm. "Just... let me play one more song for you."

    "O-Okay," she nodded, knowing that this was something Zenith had to do. They walked back out and Syth stood right in front of the stage as Zenith got the band together.

    "Alright everyone, there's one more song I'd like to play for you all, tonight," it was obvious that she had a bothered tone in her voice. "It's something I kinda have to do at this point. This song is one of my favourites, which you'll think is weird because it's more folk and bluegrass. I've done something very similar to what you'll hear, so just... yeah. Anyway, it's by a group called The Dead South and we're going to cover their song 'In Hell I'll be in Good Company.'" Syth didn't know the track but had a few rough ideas just going by the title. Zenith still performed the folk track in her metal style though. Syth paid full attention while Zenith sang, tears falling from the eyes of both of them. Syth listened as the song was sung, the lyrics reading out how she had killed her wife, knowing the only salvation being the good company that was surely awaiting in Hell.

    "...In Hell, I'll be in good company," Zenith finished, leaving the audience stunned before the applause slowly started. "You don't really need to applaud this, but I appreciate it." She shut off the microphone and turned to her band. "Alright, let's pack it up for the night." As they worked, Schwarze came up to Syth, who was wiping her eyes.

    "What on earth did she tell you back there?" she asked.

    "Well, I think what happened... she had started to crush on me, but then she told me that we shouldn't be together and she said it in the only way she knew how."

    "How tragic."

    "I... Is there anything we can do to help her?"

    "I mean, Jaku's a brilliant doctor, but he's no psychotherapist."

    "She's right," Jaku said, walking over and into the conversation. "My guess is she had a falling out with her former intimate partner."

    "She told me that much before coming back out here," Syth said.

    "And now she feels as if she doesn't deserve love anymore because of what she's done."

    "You could be right."

    "He is," Zenith said, waving them over. They headed back behind the stage as the band was just about done packing up. "My partner... God, I don't even remember her name anymore... but... she was more than my partner. She was my owner."

    "I see," Jaku said.

    "But I've always felt bad about what I had done. I even agreed to serve time."

    "Surely you should still be serving though, right?"

    "Mmhm," she nodded. "I started the group whilst in prison and I only got out because I somehow made a record deal." They all looked at each other then back at her, as Schwarze sent a message asking for Nevermore. "Sure I've had fun, but it's always on my mind... and... and I hate myself for doing something so fucking awful," she began to cry. "I want nothing but to take it all back!"

    "Even if it meant no big band money?" Jaku asked as Nevermore showed up.

    "Of course."

    "What's going on?" she asked Schwarze who filled her in.

    "Syth, you have a lot of good friends here, and I'm glad I met and performed for you all, but it would be best if you just forgot about me," Zenith said, standing up. "The band's waiting for me."

    "Before you go," Syth said, grabbing her hand.

    "Yes?" Zenith asked and Syth kissed her quickly, on the lips.

    "Take some time, to work over your thoughts, and come back and see us, okay?" Zenith blushed before letting out a small laugh.

    "Alright," she said, holding onto Syth's shoulders and bringing her in for a hug. "It's a promise."

    Later that night, once the band was done, and they left, Syth waved goodbye to Zenith, after sharing phone numbers. As they drove home, they stopped to let Terra and Scarecrow refuel. As Syth walked around, she heard noises coming from a ways away and snuck off to investigate. She peeked around a corner and saw a group of men surrounding a woman in a beautiful white dress.

    "Come on now, Miss, don't play with us," one of them said, clearly harassing her.

    "Don't act like we didn't hear the sound of your idling 2J," another said.

    "Oh, you boys are so silly," the woman said. "I'm no Supra. I'm a Toyota Previa!" she said, kicking her way past them and transforming into an old minivan, but a highly modified one at that. The guys moved to chase after her as she drove away and past Syth, but Syth stepped out from her hiding spot.

    "Leave her alone!" she yelled, reaching for a holstered gun Sonya gave her.

    "Shit, they're automorphs!" one yelled as they ran into the darkness.

    "Hey, are you okay?" Syth asked the woman.

    "Oh, I'm alright," she said, transforming back into her human form. Syth noticed she had mud on her dress.

    "You got your nice clothes all dirty though."

    "I'm not too worried about that," she said with a smile. Syth then realized why the woman seemed familiar. She was at the new Triple C earlier when they were there.

    "There you are," Petra's voice rang out. "I was about to call you, what's going on?" She walked over to Syth.

    "Some jackasses were harassing this woman, I happened to overhear," Syth said and Petra looked at her.

    "Well, you're quite the dirty one."

    "Hey, it's fine, really," the woman said.

    "They could come back. We don't live too far from here. Come with us, and we can get you cleaned up."

    "Hey, it's fine, really."

    "It's really not," Syth said, taking her hand. "It's a nice dress, so come on." She led the woman to the others and they departed back for the compound. Schwarze let the woman stay overnight and in the morning after a good detail clean, she introduced herself.

    "My name is Miss Previa," she said with a curtsy. "Thank you for taking care of me."

    "Glad to be of service," Schwarze said.

    "So what all do you do out here?"

    "It's a training facility for a mission I'd rather not discuss."

   "I see. Well, don't let me be a bother, but does it have something to do with this Jacki the Ripper I was hearing rumours about in the Triple C the other night?" Syth and Schwarze exchanged a few glances. "Well, that answers that question."

    "See, I'd rather not associate as to bring you harm," Schwarze said.

    "I understand," Miss Previa said with a smile. "However if your program ever needs funding merely let me know, okay? It's the least I can do."

    "Hmm," Schwarze thought. "Miss Previa, what sort of funds could you be able to provide should we need it?"

    "How many millions are we talking about?" she asked bringing the whole room to a halt.

    "Mill-"

    "What the..." Syth muttered. Terra's open mouth dripped her fuel drink.

    "What's wrong?" Miss Previa asked.

    "Miss Previa," Scarecrow asked, slowly standing up, glancing to her left. "What do you mean by millions?"

    "Well, I'm a third-generation multi-billionaire in my family," she said with a blush.

    "I see."

    "Well, I'm over here."

    "I know."

    "She's blind," Syth said.

    "Well Schwarze, are we going to welcome her?" Petra asked.

    "I'd love to," Schwarze said, "but she'll need to clear background and security checks through Commander Rhysen."

    "Whatever I need to do," Miss Previa said with a smile. After a couple of days, Sonya came back through and cleared Miss Previa to join the program. Once the rest of the introductions were done, Miss Previa handed a file to Sonya.

    "What's this?"

    "If we're fighting SUVs," Miss Previa said with a smile. "Then I have someone who can help. She's head of my security team."

    "We have plenty of capable fighters, Miss Previa."

    "I believe she is more than capable, Commander," she said with a smirk.

    "What makes you say that?"

    "I know you have that pet raven of yours."

    "Hey," Nevermore said, seemingly offended.

    "I meant no harm," Miss Previa smiled. "You have your raven, I have a phoenix."

    "A phoenix?" Sonya asked, but then suddenly, a woman in a suit, dropped from the ceiling, bowing to Miss Previa.

    "Ma'am," she said in a heavy Japanese accent.

    "Ahh, Centura. About time. Please stand." The new Japanese woman stood, quite tall, but not as tall as Scarecrow. She was about Sonya's height. "This is Centura. She's a new Toyota Century SUV."

    "Another Japanese?" Petra muttered to herself.

    "I hope you all get along with her."

    "So we have a raven and now a phoenix," Attero said. "I suppose if we were to have a Maserati Birdcage the set would be complete."

    "Hey," Nevermore said and Attero shrugged. Centura shot him a glare.

    "Enough of that," Schwarze said. "I'll have Sonya run Centura through-"

    "Oh, that's been done, right Centura?" Miss Previa asked and the woman nodded.

    "How?" Sonya asked.

    "I told you she's capable," Miss Previa smirked and Sonya sighed.

    "Right... well, anyway. Centura, you'll be running exercises with Nevermore, okay?" The Century nodded. "Good. Let's group up for the next round of training here in 30 minutes." As the group of them ran their training exercises together, Sonya, Schwarze, and Miss Previa were talking about the group's funding, as Miss Previa was more than willing to donate to the cause to help end the fight against the terrorists.

    "Have you considered normal donations for militant causes?" Sonya asked her.

    "Not normally," Miss Previa said with a smile. "But I feel as if I should be the start of that move to help maintain whatever peace we can get."

    As Syth and the others were out training, Schwarze and Sonya were conferring with Miss Previa on tactics, on how they could move their forces quickly, rather than just convoy to any conflict points.

    "So are you suggesting some troop vehicles?" Miss Previa asked.

    "That may be the way to go," Sonya sighed, thinking to herself. "But what is going to be strong yet fast enough?"

    "I know a former friend of mine turned herself into a Torsus Praetorian," Schwarze said. The other two looked at her with weird expressions. "What?"

    "What do you mean former?"

    "We didn't have a falling out I'd say, we just haven't talked in so long."

    "I see."

    "Oh I know," Miss Previa said. "I can go ask around the industrial yard. I own some of the companies there... I think."

    "It's a stretch but I suppose it wouldn't help to go look," Schwarze said.

    "I still don't even know what a Torsus Praetorian is," Sonya muttered.

    "Why don't you look into that while we go ask around the industrial park." Sonya and Schwarze climbed into Miss Previa's minivan form as they drove off to the industrial part of town. They started at the metal mill, where Miss Previa talked to the staff manager.

    "I appreciate you visiting Miss Previa," he said, "But I'm not sure any members of the staff here can fit your qualifications, especially on the Automorphic aspects."

    "I see," Miss Previa sighed.

    "Should we check the brickworks?" Schwarze asked.

    "No, they won't have anyone either," the man said. "Go check the shipping yard, they should have a lead." With his advice, they headed down to the shipping yard, where all the containers were being loaded onto the cargo ships, with help from Miss Previa's contact, they were pointed toward a dockworker, a strong, very muscular woman.

    "Oh hey, Miss Previa," she smiled. "How can I help you all?"

    "We're looking for an Automorph who can move a crew safely and quickly."

    "Sounds like a military vehicle or something," she said, moving loaded containers singlehandedly. "Glad my compact human form allows me to move things quickly."

    "What vehicle are you?" Sonya asked.

    "Oh, I'm a Hyundai 10,000 Floating Sheerleg lift vessel."

    "How'd they fit all of that inside your human body?!" Sonya asked shocked.

    "You know, I'm not too sure myself. But it gives me the strength to do just about anything without any ill effects so I can't really complain now can I?"

    "If you want to look at it that way I suppose," Schwarze said.

    "Anyway, the one I can't support would be your cause, though I am glad you spoke with me. I know who you should ask. Head up to the forestry and logging area in the mountains and speak with Kylikki. She's Finnish so she isn't hard to miss, not that there's anything wrong with that of course. Her accent is unmistakable."

    "I'm not familiar with the Forestry Association," Miss Previa said.

    "Not to worry, she brings us lumber and logs to ship out so she and I speak every few days or so. She was just here yesterday so she should be up there... at least until Monday."

    "I suppose we'll head there next," Schwarze said.

    "Alright, let's go," Sonya nodded.

    "Thanks for stopping by Miss Previa," the strong woman smiled and went back to work. They stopped by the compound to refuel.

    "Oi, where are you all headed?" Terra asked.

    "Official business," Sonya said.

    "The Forestry Association," Miss Previa said.

    "Who's driving?" Terra asked. "I know the way up there, it's all dirt and mud roads." The other three looked at each other. "And seeing as your group has a Cadillac, a modified yet lowered minivan, and a spy jet, I think I can at least give you a lift up there."

    "I could barely get Centura up there last time," Miss Previa said, "so maybe we should let her."

    "Hey, I won't even meddle in whatever you've got planned," Terra said. "I'm sure if it's for the benefit of the team. Let me at least get you there, come on," she said, running outside. They went outside and climbed into Terra's crew cabin. "Off to the forest," she proclaimed through her stereo. "I even know a shortcut!" She sped out of the compound and up on some backroads through the farmyards into the forest and up the mountainside until they came to a side entrance to the Forestry Association's working area. An employee walked from the gate building over to Terra. Miss Previa lowered her window and smiled at the man.

    "Oh, is that you, Miss Previa?" he asked.

    "Oh hey, I didn't know you were working here now," she told him.

    "Yeah, the benefits help my wife a bit more than our last job."

    "I suppose that's a valid reason."

    "What brings you here?"

    "We're looking for the Automorph Kylikki. Is she available?"

    "She'd be over at the mills or the warehouse, I don't exactly know."

    "It's fine, we can find her."

    "If not then check the mess. She could be on break."

    "Thanks."

    "It's no problem. Nice to see you again." He smiled and went back into the little building and opened the gate to let them in. Terra drove them to the central lot and parked.

    "I can wait here if you want to split up," she said.

    "That'll work," Schwarze said as they climbed out. Schwarze checked at the mills but was told that Kylikki was out. Sonya checked the warehouse and was told the same. Miss Previa asked around in the mess hall before a couple of workers spoke up.

    "Oh, she went out cutting trees this morning," one said.

    "Yeah, she should be back any minute now actually," the other said, checking his watch.

    "Okay, that's fine. Thanks, boys," Miss Previa smiled and met back up with Terra, the other two joining them. "She went out working on the trees," she told them.

    "Well, that explains that," Sonya muttered, reaching for a cigarette.

    "Don't light that here!" Schwarze said. "All the sawdust in the air and you'll torch the side of the mountain."

    "Goddamnit." After a couple of minutes, the gate leading to the grounds opened and the sounds of an engine filled the air. Some workers gathered to watch as a large blue truck drove in pulling 3 trailers full of logs, the truck itself carrying a load of logs. It said Sisu on the front of it.

    "That must be her," Schwarze said.

    "What tipped you off?" Miss Previa asked.

    "The fact that Sisu is the Finnish characterization for their stoic yet pure unadulterated ruggedness. It doesn't have a literal definition in English. The Finnish highly cherish it."

    "Are you sure it wasn't the loud folk metal?" Sonya asked, noting the loud music coming from the truck cab.

    "That too." The truck parked up, the trailers all lined up as some small cranes set to work on the unloading, the truck first. Once the truck was unloaded, it was disconnected from the trailers and it drove over to the group where it transformed into a muscular woman wearing a hard hat and a high-visibility vest, carrying two axes.

    "I was told people were looking for me," she said in a thick Finnish accent. "Meet me in the mess." She turned and walked into the mess hall.

    "I already like her," Terra said.

    Sonya and the others met with Kylikki in the mess hall. She sat across from them with a small smirk as she drank some glasses of diesel fuel.

    "So... you need someone who can move troops?" Kylikki asked Sonya and Schwarze.

    "Yes, we were told you know someone who can meet our requirements," Schwarze said with a nod.

    "I see. Yet another party interested in only my friend. We do not just help any military."

    "We're far from ordinary," Sonya said. "Surely someone in your position understands this."

    "I'm well aware, but we are not fond of the military recruiters."

    "What about mercenary work?"

    "Oho, so now we're offered payment?"

    "Is that more to suit your needs?" Miss Previa asked. "How much would you like?"

    "Hey, let's not get ahead of ourselves here," Sonya said, stopping Miss Previa from grabbing her chequebook.

    "I know who you are, Miss Previa," Kylikki said. "I'd wring all your assets dry if you hired me."

    "Let's not," Schwarze said.

    "Yes. After all, I can't do much myself as a timber truck. I suppose the least Erika and I can do is hear what you have to offer. She and I will arrive at your location soon."

    "I can give you the coordinates," Sonya said, handing Kylikki a piece of paper.

    "Kiitos." Eventually, back at the compound, Sonya and Schwarze were awaiting the arrival of Kylikki and Erika, her contact.