"And so it is." Sonera crossed her arms.
Her eyes were sharp and weary, marred by the bruise on her left cheek that extended like a ribbon. Though in many ways, the assassin's injuries only heightened her visible determination, something Ivy had latched onto long ago. She alone was trusted with the grim news.
"She'll hit you first. Whenever she can." The heiress walked alongside Sonera, using the nearby commotion from the Consortium to shroud their conversation. Her stride was refined and feminine, harking back to her days of humanity. That was how she acted in duress. "You know that, right?"
Sonera glanced at her with a feint smile. "Until I receive my implants. I believe you are the prime target."
Ivy groaned. "Ugh. Now is not the time for compliments."
Her heels clacked against the stony path as she came to a stop. They were close to the trial grounds from their first encounter, its remains looking more like a dusty crater than anything.
"I mean it. Your powers have grown."
"And yours haven't?"
Sonera glanced at her own chest, a mixed expression forming across her face.
"Right." Ivy rolled her eyes. "As I said, she's coming for you."
"What do you suggest?"
"We can't be incapacitated at the same time. One of us has to watch her like a hound."
"That might not be possible." Sonera squinted.
"Try."
"Have you considered she might choose the opposite route?"
"Lila and Lunae are far more likely to run into a trap for our sake."
"And that is why you wish not to disclose this with them." Sonera furrowed her brow. "Hmm."
"Yrix won't stop the fight. Lila and Lunae will know of this at the given time."
"But they can't know of Alia. Not now."
"Exactly. I love Lila precisely because she cannot be subtle."
Sonera stepped closer, plucking Ivy's hand away from her side. She squeezed it in silence for only a moment.
"There is a risk of blowback." The Assassin frowned.
Ivy returned the gesture. "I know. But I believe in my heart that Alia was counting on me to disclose her plan. Why else would she announce it so...callously?"
"Can't say, wouldn't be my approach." Sonera shrugged. "But I agree with your position."
"Good." Ivy's words fell from her mouth, the heiress's expression turning sour as she placed a hand to her temple. "Mmh."
Sonera cocked her head. "What is it?"
"Lunae is really having it with Lila."
"Ah," the assassin smiled almost uncharacteristically. "Been there."
- - - - - - - - - - -
"Oh shit-oh shit!" Lila writhed, her sight blotted out as Lunae's tail wrapped itself around her eyes. "Lunae..."
"It's okay." The princess whispered into the Earthling's mind, simultaneously wagging her tail as its tip unraveled, unleashing a series of small tendrils that slithered their way into Lila's mouth. "I'll be gentle."
Lila found herself gagging as her own mind began to accept the invasion. "Aanhnhg..."
It felt addictingly good.
Is this what motivated Sonera?
"Be still. Rest your soul in me."
Her voice carried the weight of a thousand voices, muffling both Lila's tongue and mind. Soon, she was incapable of speech, no matter how it manifested. Lunae was completely in control.
"Mmh!" Her psionic voice became muffled the very moment she felt herself enter Lunae's mindscape. "Mmh-mhh!"
"Sssshh." Lunae smiled. "Be silent."
Unbeknownst to Lila, she was levitating in front of Lunae deep within the Infestare's mindscape, its surface nearly as scarred as Rena's. She had the Earthling wrapped tightly in tendrils, both Psionic and physical, spreading her legs apart as she began to probe. There was purpose in her method.
"Let me heal your pain."
Warmth.
Like a blanket pulled out of the dryer back home.
It even smelled familiar.
"I know you can't see." Lunae calmed the girl with her voice. "Just feel."
Lila felt numb, her every sense deprived as a form of relaxation crawled into her very being, its potency so great she nearly forgot where she was. Indeed, that was the purpose of her "treatment". Only through Lunae could she move on from the nightmare of the Infestare.
"I know you were scared. I know you stared death in the face. You fear for her and your own weakness."
The Earthling's legs twitched as Lunae slipped in between. She worked her fingers like delicate little blades, excising Lila's skirt before inspecting her rear with utmost care. At the same time, the tendrils from within her tail pulsed with light, causing Lila to jerk upwards in delight.
"Hnnh-." Her voice almost broke through.
Lunae smiled, "Such a nice little butt...so meek and simple. Forget."
Ivy could feel traces of it as well.
The satisfaction.
The ecstasy that overwhelmed Lila's mind.
Forget.
"Lunae." Sonera interjected. "She can't handle as much as I. Careful."
In the waking world, Lunae was caught red-handed, looming over the Earthling on her hands and knees. Her tongue was practically drooping out of her mouth, coiling over Lila's flat chest like a serpent. And her eyes, more so than ever before, had narrowed into an alien shape.
"Did it work?" Ivy crossed her arms.
Lunae took some time to piece herself together, first retracting her tongue back into her mouth before backing away into the corner of their little encampment. Lila, on the other hand, was a limp little noodle, resting in silence as her restraints began to unravel. She was at peace.
Something Ivy could feel.
"Her fear extends beyond my people," Lunae explained with a blush. "I...I'm sorry I-."
"Don't mind all that. She's a snack. I know. But will she recover?"
Sonera was confused by their conversation. Something told her Ivy wasn't exactly concerned about the ramifications of Infestare intrusion. There was something far greater at stake.
"I managed to wipe away some of the stain left by her father's creation. But that's not what she fears most."
Ivy furrowed her brow. "Is it your people?"
"No. It's you. She's afraid your newfound strength will propel you into a sacrificial role. It's...something I can relate to."
Ivy stepped closer, leaving Sonera to brood in silence. "Hmm..."
"Could you not detect this yourself? I could feel your bond." Lunae whimpered.
"It's not so simple. I feel what she feels. But part of her is indiscernible, even to herself. Only someone with your expertise can break through."
"Ugh." Sonera turned away. "Lila..."
The assassin felt a deep connection towards the Earthling. Yet at the same time, a deep resentment towards herself began to brew. Lunae wasn't exactly helping in that regard.
"So you two planned this." Sonera tapped her shoe on the floor. "When?"
"Not really." Ivy shrugged. "We felt it out. Ladies intuition. At some point, I needed Lunae's expertise to protect my partner. I can't have the Mimic haunting her. Lunae, clever as she is, figured that out some time ago."
Lunae raised a finger. "But what about-."
"I know what Lila fears. But if I can get her back to her mother in one piece..."
"The extent of your bond," the princess sat up, placing a hand on her heart. "Ivy...you can't shoulder an entire person on your own."
"I'm not alone. I have you two. We can get Lila home." Ivy huffed with a clenched fist.
"She's the only one with a life to get back to," Sonera remarked with a jagged voice. "I agree."
"Then it's settled."
Ivy plucked Lunae's hands from her side, holding them up with an empathetic gaze. Something in her mechanical eyes conveyed a message. It was the sort of gesture Lunae could easily decipher.
"Ivy..." She exhaled nervously. "Are you sure?"
"I know things have been... turbulent..." Ivy tilted her head with a fragile grin. "But I didn't forget what you did for me," she turned towards Sonera. "Both of you."
"What are you asking?" Sonera sounded worried.
Ivy took a deep breath. "When we have time...I need Lunae to search me as well. It's...my duty to begin piecing this all together. What I am. What my father plans. I do not believe the Mimic is a simple machine, nor do I believe its influence extends to just the physical realm."
"You've become quite the little strategist. Back when we first fought...that sort of thinking would have won it for you," the assassin attempted a wink.
She wasn't very good at that sort of thing.
"Well," Ivy's face turned a bit red. "I am now. And for that reason, I must request access to Lunae."
The princess blushed more heavily.
"I know I haven't been very...involved with you like Lila-," Ivy continued.
Sonera stepped forward before pressing her forehead against the heiress's. Lunae nearly snickered with pride. And Lila, still silent as the grave, remained in place.
"We understand each other," the assassin smiled as she closed her eyes. "I trust you."
Ivy did the same.
"Me too."
Lunae watched on with visible content. As far as she was concerned, things ended as splendidly as they could have given her mother's shadow and Sonera's growing insanity.
"Can we have Lila dress like this from now on?" The princess peeped nervously.
"No."
"Aww."
"We already have one girl strutting around half-naked. We don't need two."
"But she's so beautiful, in her own feeble little way."
"I know. Though we could always have Sonera-."
"No." The assassin interjected rather bluntly.
"Aww."