[Lily POV]

  After Ivan left, I let Kim and Jill get some rest since both looked like they were still on the verge of falling over. This meant I was alone to go over everything that had happened and how to prepare for when it gets out what Kim did to the Shift, because even though Ivan will try to keep it quiet, I know we can't hide it for long. Before I could get too deep into pnning for the worst, I got a notification from Gale that he was on his way back to base.

  "Well, that's one less thing I need to worry about."(Lily)

  With Gale on his way back and Ivan hopefully done with his debrief, we can start looking into ways to keep Kim from being used by the shader members of Gleipnir. One of the first things we need to keep away from them is their original identity, so they don't use their family as a bargaining chip. Luckily, I left them with a device that sends an SOS signal if they are in danger. I didn't tell Kim about it because it was initially just a precaution, so I didn't want to worry her. Now, it seems more of a necessity with what happened. I pulled out a new notebook because I had just finished filling out my st one.

  "With the pace I'm going through, I'll need to stock up soon."(Lily)

  With Kim around, I've filled out twice as many notes as before, which doesn't even consider Jill. After opening the book, I started to write some notes while waiting for Ivan to return.

  [Boss POV]

  One of my subordinates barged into my office, shouting at me while my secretary tried to pull him away.

  "Boss, this isn't good! Chase and Mick have failed and been captured along with Audrey."(Goon)

  After a huff, I waved my secretary away and told her to close the door.

  "Ok, now tell me everything from the beginning."(Boss)

  "Well? Everything was going according to pn, Chase and Mick nabbed the girl from the Doctor, and Audrey was captured. But instead of taking her back to the trucks, the fox transformed somehow to follow Chase and Mick with Audrey in tow."(Goon)

  "I'm still not understanding how they failed. Even with Audrey, those two should have been able to handle them. They even had a hostage to leverage."(Boss)

  "I don't know! But with them captured, it is only a matter of time before we are next."(Goon)

  The man started to shiver as he mumbled something about dissection and a witch. I could only assume the possibility of being sent to the Doctor for interrogation was the cause.

  "Then we need to get away before one of them talks. How many mutants do we have ready for our takeover?"(Boss)

  The man thought about it before answering.

  "We have over a hundred medium-sized ones and over twice that of the smaller ones."(goon)

  "Not as many as I would like, but it will have to do. Get them ready to be released on a moment's notice."(Boss)

  "But sir, without the cocoon we cannot control them!"(goon)

  "I know, they are to be a smoke screen for our assassination attempt, and getaway."(Boss)

  "Understood!"(goon)

  "Good, now go."(Boss)

  He rushed out of the room to fulfill my order, and I began preparing.

  [Gale POV]

  After dropping off the three prisoners, I immediately started to head back to base, where I could rex with Lily and the rest. I was about halfway back when I got a call from Ivan.

  "Hello, what's up?"(Gale)

  "I just got out of the Chef's office. Unfortunately, the man has a more extraordinary eye for detail than I, or I'm bad at diverting from topics."(Ivan)

  "It's probably the former. The Chief had a lot of information on this incident. He did pn to smoke out some traitors after all."(Gale)

  "I guess even my being a part of the scenery didn't help to keep his eye off me."(Ivan)

  Before I could respond to his self-deprecation, I heard a commotion and crashing sounds from the phone.

  "Ivan, what's going on?!"(Gale)

  "Buzz... Happening... Buzz... Mutants... Buzz... Find... Buzz... Hurry...Buzz"(Ivan)

  Suddenly, the phone disconnected and became static. Without a second thought, I pressed down on the gas pedal.

  [Ivan POV]

  As soon as my call got dropped, I started to run in the direction of the b. Unfortunately, I was stopped by one of the mutants that suddenly appeared inside the base. It was a bear type with blood-red fur, elongated cws, and thin limbs.

  "Dammit."(Ivan)

  I quickly drew my sidearm and moved away from the enemy, but the bear gouged the floor, causing rocks to fly at me. I dove to avoid the improvised projectiles before I aimed my gun at the mutant. Firing at the head of the beast seemed to anger it as it dodged my shots, and a roar emanated from its maw.

  "You're agile for something of your frame."(Ivan)

  The beast swiped at me with its arm, but I dodged under it, giving me a clean shot.

  *Bang

  A single bullet pierced the bear's throat, but I knew better than to think that killed it. I was using a standard sidearm, not one designed to kill mutants. I was sure all that did was buy me some time. Without wasting time, I resumed my run towards the b, hoping everyone was ok.

  "I wonder if the Lily has some anti-mutant weapons I could pilfer temporarily?"(Ivan)

  Turning the corner allowed me to see the b at the end of the hall. I moved to the side of the hall when my gut started to shout danger at me. As I did, there was an explosion, and the door to the b flew past me.

  "Who dares interrupt me as I was snuggling with my wife!"(Jill)

  Jill was standing where the door to the b used to be, wearing an oversized t-shirt and a look that could cause weak-willed men to soil themselves. I turned to see where the door nded, only to find a mutant bear cut in half vertically, and a melting door embedded in the wall.

  Note to self: never get in between Jill and her cuddle time with Kim. (Ivan)

  I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing she was safe and, by extension, Kim.

  "Hey Jill, is everyone else ok?"(Ivan)

  It took a second for her to look my way and answer.

  "Oh, hi Ivan. Yes, everyone is safe in the b, but whatever is happening interrupted my time with Kim."(Jill)

  Before I could say anything else, Kim appeared behind Jill and covered her with a bnket.

  "Jill, you can't let everyone see you dressed like that!"(Kim)

  Jill looked confused for a moment before she seemed to figure something out.

  "I get it, only you get to see me like that."(Jill)

  "Exactly, wait!"(Kim)

  Before Kim could try to dig herself out of the hole she jumped in, Lily appeared.

  "Enough flirting, we need to try and figure out what is happening right now and put a stop to it."(Lily)

  We walked back into the b. Jill and Kim went into their rooms to grab some clothes, Lily went to a cooler for blood, and I grabbed some heavy armaments that Gale stashed in the b.

  darkarconkris