Colin's posts

"Got it." Ryker replied.

"And I'm asking so I know ahead of time." he said.

"In case I see a place while we're on the road." he reasoned.

"And I know you just ate, but I also know that doesn't mean you can't know what you want to eat next." he then said.

"Let me know if you see any areas that might be good to explore, as well."

Chris just shook his head and laughed.

"Oh, please." he said.

"THOSE kinds of entities are fiction." he told her.

"It's never been proven that anything even CLOSE to that exists." he went on.

"....wait, also, what?" he then asked.

".................oh. I said that out loud." he realised.

"None of your concern about her. Or her relation to me." he went on, though he did give more info than he intended with that.

Chris just rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, keep talking in vague terms." he said.

"They, them, whatever." he muttered.

"And whatever she does, is whatever she does." he went on.

"...still..." he mumbled.

"It was nice for Mistress to keep her around..." he said quietly.

"Oh, Mistress wanted more souls in her." Chris responded.

"And... well, the procedure left her a bit... mentally unstable." he added.

"I guess she technically IS a failure, but still one that can be used." he reasoned.

"That's all." he said further.

"Also, it's handy that she can be so many different people." he then laughed.

"A real multiple personality case."

"Oh, that?" Chris asked.

"A double-agent." he told her.

"She had someone work for the Unit so she could get close to him." he went on.

"A conduit, like him." he continued.

"One that also has multiple souls inside." he then added.

"A borderline failure, but she's still useful to Mistress."

"........" Chris was silent as he heard that.

"I..." he stammered.

"Uh..." he stammered further.

"Wait, what?" he asked.

"That's even possible?" he asked her.

"And something much larger, more powerful, and a far greater threat?" he asked further.

"...pfft." he then said.

"Sure." he chuckled, though Lilim could see something in his eyes. Something that said he believed her... but this info was something he was going to keep to himself.

Chris was about to open the case, when he paused.

"Eh?" he muttered.

"Of COURSE she does." he said.

"That is never in question. Ever." he told her, narrowing his eyes.

"What on Earth, Heaven, and Hell, possessed you to even MAKE that statement?" he asked her.

"He may be strong, but she is stronger." he declared.

"He doesn't even have active mana. He's no threat to her." he continued.

"Like an aphid before a praying mantis." he chuckled.

Chris just laughed.

"Sort of." he said.

"Just showing you that Mistress gets what Mistress wants." he told her, setting the case down.

"Nabbed a real prize, too." he continued.

"He's a natural talent of a conduit." he went on.

"Seems like a strong one, too." he added.

Ryker blinked a couple of times, before shrugging.

"Hey, not gonna complain." he said.

Once they were all packed up, he started the vehicle, and pulled away from the site.

They were on the road again, and he smiled.

"Whattya want for lunch?" he asked Eke.

Hal was silent as he watched her go, and sighed.

"...Levi." he mumbled.

"The hell is going on?" he wondered.

- - -

Chris just smirked as he walked into the room where Lilim was, case in hand.

"Mistress triumphs again." he told her.

"Another acquisition from right under the Unit's noses." he bragged.

"They're all so trusting. Bunch of idiots." he chuckled.

"....." Hal was silent as she said that.

"I can't say for sure." he said.

"I don't know." he sighed.

"But if you want, you can temporarily stay in one of the dorms here." he offered.

"I can send a team there to try and find out if there's anything strange at your home as well." he continued.

"And it's understandable you're worried." he then said.

"Who knows what's happening right now?" he asked rhetorically, shaking his head slightly, and gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

Almost as though she'd summoned him, Hal showed up a few seconds later.

"I'm here." he said.

"I was told you have something concerning." he told her.

Aly filled him in, causing him to curse lightly.

"Damn it." he said.

"If all this is connected, Levi may very well be in serious danger."

The intern was silent for a moment.

"...o-oh..." he stammered.

"One second." he said.

"Doctor Remmington!" he then called into the lab.

"There's something here you should see!" he said further, before turning back to Aly.

"Where did you find that?" he asked.

Looking around, she saw nobody.

The secretary's area was seemingly abandoned... but someone approached her.

"Sorry." the intern apologised.

"Gabrielle is missing, so we don't have anyone manning the desk." he told her.

"There something I can help you with?" he asked.