Chapter 20: Scene 20 – Flytrap’s Embrace

Venus held Mars close, the traumatized Nebulossom staring blankly into the void of space. Nimble fingers ran through her hair, an alien chirping helping to sedate Mars. Gaia stood to the side, shuffling in discomfort as the two embraced before her.

"Is that the language from your planet?" Gaia looked Venus over. "It's a beautiful sound." Gaia couldn't help but feel calm, the alien droning causing her muscles to relax. She was tense when Mars had come rushing to their side, sobbing and babbling incoherently about Malice stealing her headphones. Gaia knew Martians had sensitive ears, but Mars didn't wear her headphones everywhere she went, only while outside; maybe she had an emotional attachment?

"It's our hunting cry," Venus cooed. "It lures our prey into a vulnerable state, so we can devour them effectively. For humans, it has a calming effect."

"…" Gaia wasn't sure what to do with the implication that humans were creatures these aliens considered prey. "Disturbing revelations aside, what are we going to do about that Malice? They defeated Mars. According to our training, they should have received a new ability for dealing with a Magical Warrior, even if the fight didn't result in that Warrior's death."

"That's correct." Venus nodded. "We're dealing with a Tier Two Malice. If we're not careful, it could tier up again after we fight it. Normally, I'd advocate retreat and regrouping, but Tyrants are a special case."

"Their unique properties?" Gaia thought back to what Mystery Maid had to say about Malice. "The longer we let a Tyrant fester, the more Malice will gather in one place. A self-perpetuating fortress that will grow to encroach upon its surroundings. With each tier, it grows in size exponentially. At higher tiers, they begin to produce their own Malice."

"They don't have to be a particularly high level." Venus shook her head, pressing Mars into her bosom. "It depends on the Aspects that the dungeon specializes in and if other forces support the dungeon. What do we know about the Malice, Mars?"

"U-um…" Mars felt her face heat up as she was smooshed against Venus and her breasts. She'd mostly managed to pull herself together, but thinking about her encounter made her cringe. Mars took a deep breath, her words measured. "She's a social build. Mirrors and reflections, she has Honeybees of her own. It's likely she's already recruiting Malice at Tier Two."

"Every Scene is important, then." Venus nodded. "Gaia, how many Scenes have passed on Earth since her fight with Mars?"

"Let me check." Gaia shoved her hands into a nearby patch of grass and dirt. Orange, mechanical lines began to shine on her skin, crawling up her arms and fading near the elbow. "Plenty, but I'll narrow my search down." Gaia's eyes shimmered with a spectrum of color, star-shaped pupils glittering and shrinking. "New York is not doing great. Something major is happening there."

"Focus. Magimaid has it handled. We can check on the other teams after this," Venus spoke in hushed tones. Mars squeezed Venus tight, fraught with worry. "For now, just our territory."

"Chicago, we've got seventeen active Scenes. Most of them are Warrior teams, so that's good. Then we've got three Malice Scenes and our regular PT Scenes. Ah, wait. That's not good." Gaia's irises began to dim and darken, flooding with black. "We have one instance of a human caught in a Scene. She's inside our dungeon right now."

"Can you get any more information?" Venus flinched. That wasn't a good sign. The Malice was already recruiting, as she'd suspected. "How many scenes have passed?"

"I can't see anything. If you want visuals, then we'll need cameras. You know the deal; I'm only able to tell what Scenes are happening on our planet." Gaia shifted in place, counting under her breath. "It's been three Scenes, but the human—" Gaia stopped counting and fell still. "Her Scene ended. A new Malice Scene opened, the same place but now three sources of Malice. PW#0 confirmed present; registration is faint, but I can tell she's there."

"Calico? Of course she's involved." Venus took her hands off Mars. "Mars, head back to base and tell them what you told us; if I don't return, bring everyone and burn this dungeon down."

Gaia's face twisted into a knot. "I don't know if I can do this, Venus. I'm not even a Tier Two Warrior, which means fighting is incredibly dangerous. I haven't picked my tenth skill."

"You've killed ten Malice today." Venus rolled her eyes. "You should have no problem picking out ten skills with the rewards we received from N/AS, not to mention the available titles. I'm Tier Three after today's harvests."

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"Tier Three? Not, you know, Ten?" Gaia frowned. "Aren't you one of our veteran magical warriors? Isn't that what you've been saying all day?"

"I am a veteran, regardless of my Tier," Venus chirped back. "I've been around for centuries, in one form or another."

Mars looked away from Venus and Gaia, feeling uncomfortable. She knew what Venus was about to say. "I just happen to die from time to time, that's all. Death tends to reset your progress." Venus dropped a bombshell.

"You what?" Gaia hissed. "What are you talking about?"

"She's part of a hive mind." Mars filled in the gaps. "A hive mind filled with fragile bugs that can't handle Earth's gravity."

"A hivemind with backups of my personality! The swarm won't have any trouble, just… pop! New me, the same mind." Venus made a loud pop with her lips, smiling at the others. They did not smile back. "Gaia, perilous missions are not unusual for Nebulossoms. It's good to have an expendable warrior on hand, and I have backups; I'm perfect for the task at hand. You understand, right?"

"Is that why you're willing to just throw yourself into this dungeon despite the danger?" Gaia grabbed Venus by her wrist. "PW#0 is there, plus two other Malice. That Scene is suicidal to walk into. We can't do this, and I'm not about to let you go march to your death."

"Not suicidal. Practical. Besides which, you aren't doing anything. You must wall the Malice off while I go for her core." Venus shot her a half-lidded look, shaking her wrist free. "I'm used to suicide missions. I've even taken a skill for them!" The alien wasted little time passing over a skill window to Gaia.

"The System doesn't want you to die." Gaia looked for any counterargument to this plan she could find.

"The System says many things, some of which should not be trusted. You learn to ignore the fluff she adds to skills." Venus averted her gaze. "I'm a Tyrant-killing machine. I have a right to use my body as I wish."

"This… that isn't fair." Gaia's fist clenched in its gauntlet. "I was just getting to know you."

"Being a Nebulossom isn't fair! Besides, you'll get to know the next me. Promise." Venus held out her pinky as Gaia walked past and towards her bike, furious with the alien. "Jeez. Mars, can you believe her? She's throwing a fit. We don't even know each other yet."

"She's acting like a normal person, alright? We're tired, both worn out, and I don't like how you treat yourself, so I can imagine how she feels. You've gone through three bodies in as many years. I feel like I don't know you sometimes," Mars huffed, visibly restraining her anger. She didn't have the energy to shrug her rage off entirely, not after the day she's had. "I'm headed back to base. Don't die? This Malice might want to talk."

"Malice? Talk? Honey, I'm not about to let a fifth Perpetual Tyrant take root in Chicago." Venus folded her arms. "Let Luna know I might be late for our date."

"Not telling her anything!" Mars shouted over her shoulder as she walked towards her bike. "Come back in one piece!"

"Amateur hour," Venus sighed. "Well, I'll just have to show them why I'm the veteran, and they're the rookies."

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