"And here we are." Haunting Nightmare said as he led me toward a another tent flap. "This is going to be your new room."

As I entered, I could hear the sound of running water. The place was huge. Huge, but empty.

"It's still a work in progress. We didn't know if you'd be joining us, after all. But I promise, we'll get it ready as soon as possible."

I took a deep breath. Alright. Okay. This is really happening.

I turned back to face him when I remembered something. Hurriedly, I opened my waist bag and pulled something out of it.

"This....belongs to Alice. She lent it to me for the mission. Please, give it back to her."

The boss glanced down at my offering and whistled.

"Hope you didn't have to use it. If someone other than Alice swings it, it can.......leave marks."

He reached his hand out and for a short second, before our fingers touched,. I could feel a faint waft of air. The handle seemed to expand very slightly, almost stretching itself into his hand before he finally grabbed it.

A dread weight I did not know had been anchored in my veins slowly lifted itself the further it got away.

See you later.

....Why did I think that?

...anyway....I took a step back.

"What now?"

Haunting Nightmare showed a half-toothy grin.

"Now you can go. I'll message the other tents, get the approval from each one, then I'll call our little gang together so we can have a proper welcome. Should only take a week or so."

He put his good arm around my shoulder and began escorting me back toward the entrance.

The walk back was mostly quiet, with me spending most of my concentration on getting used to walking on this damned floor. The two freaks knew exactly how to navigate the confusing mess of samey cloth hallways.

"We'll be seeing you." Boneyard whispered as I left the hideout.

Once I exited out of the clown mural's mouth I began to walk. No time for pondering things. I needed to go to sleep. Especially since I had an appointment to uphold.

Not that I particularly wanted to...but I did promise Jess. And while I wasn't sure of much regarding myself lately, I was certain of one thing.

I was a semi-alright friend.

---------------------------------------------

"My friend, my bosom, my partner in villainy, it's so good to see you again!" Smooth Criminal said as Jess and I entered the trio's room, followed by the greetings of the other two.

"Sup."

"Welcome back, soldiers."

"Uhm...yeah." I said flatly while Jess floated in and hugged the fop. She slipped right off.

"Hello..." she groaned as I helped her back up with a sigh.

"I'm sorry, my dear Witch. I fear I am naturally elusive to even the most genuine of affection." he chuckled and then adressed me.

"A lot has happened since last we met and we are verily, though I must insist not imposingly so, curious about a smatter of happenings, especially pertaining to yourself, my best buddy."

I looked at him for a second and then turned to Toy General.

"So, it's been a while. Everything alright with you guys?"

Smooth Criminal coughed quietly.

"Rude as ever I see....Pray tell what I did to deserve this treatment."

TG smirked and a few of his toys began to crawl out from under his bed. One ran up to me and hugged my leg. Was it the same one from last time?

I shrugged, picked it up, and set it on my shoulder. It immediately began playing with my hair.

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"Nothing as interesting as you, I'm sure." the former army man said.

"You always say you don't wanna rise up the ranks and how you don't wanna kill, but then you go and break one of them fancy, luxury lightbulbs. Really had me fooled." Slugger interjected with a smirk.

"Indeed, indeed. It's just as my dear, if a bit direct, companion says. This is big news. A big development in the relationship between the great and venerable Master Controller and the infamous Terrible Trio, name subject to change."

As he was talking, Smooth Criminal was circling me like a shark. An annoying, dopey, excited shark, but a shark nonetheless.

"Did you do it for our sake? Did my invitation rattle around in that brain of yours until you couldn't hold back anymore and needed to impress us to give you a second chance? Do you...want to join up after all?"

"I'd rather die."

"Worth a shot. So, why'd you do it then? A personal vendetta? Some dastardly malicious master plan? Did you just snap?"

"Maybe it's for Witchling." Slugger threw in.

Smooth turned toward her.

"Excuse me?"

"Don't you remember? Witchling said she did want to raise the ranks someday and MC's face got all mopey about it. Maybe she just wants to keep up with her actual best buddy?"

"Your cynical undercutting of the deep and meaningful connection I and the Master Controller share aside, it does make a certain amount of sense, my dear fellow.....ess? Fellowine?.....My friend!"

I glanced over at Jess. We had agreed not to tell them I was innocent in all of it (from her knowledge, at least), because we couldn't risk that one of them would go and blab about it to someone else. Especially Captain Sparkles here.

"Right." I said. "I figured maybe I do need to step up."

"But why murder?" Toy General asked."Not that I mind. But it is quite the jump. I had Witchling pegged as someone who would vehemently disapprove."

Jess said nothing for a bit, her eyes dark and withdrawn before she shrugged and put on a dismissive sneer.

"Well, It's not like I'm gonna start murdering peeps now. MC is her own woman, ya know? I'm not her babysitter. Besides, who did she murk? An Enlightened and a bunch of their fanboys and girls? Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say."

Jess floated a chair over to her as she talked.

"I mean, It's not like she took over an....I dunno, explodey guy or whatever, and went havoc in a random mall. She just took care of some pests."

Slugger chuckled and put some greens into a little tank where she kept her slimey pets.

"Cold. I like it, princess. That's the right attitude to have as a professional bad guy, I think. Don't moralize, don't be a fucking maniac, just keep your eyes on the prize. Whatever that may be for you."

"The question is..." TG followed up. "What now?"

Jess looked at me. That was indeed the question.

"I have some pies in the oven. The future.....it's not certain, but I have a.....general outline."

The little soldier on my shoulder, presumably bored, climbed on top of my head and began braiding my hair.

"What about you?"

Smooth Criminal raised his hands in the air.

"How very kind and amicable of you to ask, dear compatriot, but I fear the Terrible Trio, name subject to change, cannot discuss such private, important matters with non-members. Our aspirations are great, our schemes complicated and dastardly and our motivation at an all-time high, yet sadly, despite the strong, almost familial bond our two groups share, it simply has to be the case that our actions remain shrouded in the tantalizing veil of ephemeral darkness we Villains call secrecy."

"You could have just said you have plans to."

He frowned.

"I guess that's another way to put it."

"Okay, guys." Slugger groaned, stretching her arms as she got up. "We're all dressed down for the occasion, and I'm hungry. Let's go get something to eat."

"Finally, someone speaks sense. Anyone got preferences?" I said as I opened the door. Smooth, Jess, TG, and Slugger followed me out one by one.

"Only the finest of restaurants will do."

"Ya sure? I could really go for some fast food right now."

"A nice steak and wine sounds nice."

"I want something greasy. Seems you're the tiebreaker MC."

And so we spent a somewhat grating but overall enjoyable afternoon at a Burger Joint.

------------------------------

A few days later I sat on the bed in my apartment and stared at the wall.

For the first time in forever, I had absolutely nothing to do. No plans. No runs. Not even minor ones.

Both the Eternal Gloves and my induction into the Freakshow were at least two or three days away at the very least.

I had spent the last couple of days hanging out with Jess, but now she was busy too.

What.

To.

Do.

I looked at my phone.

9 AM.

My thoughts drifted to the past. Back in the day, whenever me or Luisa were free but the other wasn't we would go to specific places. Me to a VR Arcade called Memory Hole and Lu to a little laid-back women's gym called Tiger Lilly. The busy one would meet up with the other there when they were done.

....Come to think of it, depending on the shift plan, the early morning or late evening were usually the times of day when this would happen. I wondered if she still went there?

Before I knew it I had gotten up and was checking the list of available bodies in the complex. My eyes stopped on a specific candidate. Room 113. Madeline Cho. 22. Minor Mind Reading Power.

Without really thinking much about it I made my way down to the first floor and entered her room.

There she was.

A young Asian woman, lying motionless in bed, hooked up to some kind of medical machinery. I reached down and touched her face. No reaction.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and started concentrating.

-----------------

It was when I was halfway to Tiger Lilly that I began questioning what the fuck I was actually doing right now.

Possessing a braindead person felt different.....Easier....Comfier.

There was no burning in the back of my mind of a consciousness that wants to return to its body. It felt just like....like being myself.

Effortless.

There were a variety of clothing options in her closet, as well as a plethora of fake IDs.

I had chosen a relaxed, laid-back look. Like someone on the way to a gym.

But why? I hated working out. I should've gone to the Memory Hole instead.

Stupid ass brain.

I soon arrived at my destination.

Out of the way, away from prying eyes.

A real insider tip.

A hidden gem.

When I entered, the familiar smell of lavender air fresheners and a hint of sweat entered my nose.

Everything looked just as I remembered it.

Not that I spent as much time here as Lu, but despite never once working out I was basically a regular. Watching her train, shooting the shit.

I felt something in my eyes but quickly wiped it away.

If I was already here I may as well do some work. Get all this nostalgic memory shit out of my system forever.

I approached the receptionist when something hit me in the back.

"Wow, a new face. Don't see that very often." a familiar voice said, sending shivers down my spine. "I thought I was the only one who went here this early."

I turned and looked into her grinning visage. The vile traitor who left me to rot like the others. And this time, I didn't have a job to do, something else to focus on.

"I'm Luisa. Nice to meet you."

I grit my teeth, remembered the fake ID in my pocket, and took her outstretched hand with a warm smile.

"Laura. Likewise."

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