Hunter's Rise Ch. 39 - Pupil 39

It had been a rainy week. Zara felt lucky that she could at least reach the park before Mother Nature continued her assault.

The moment she got to the usual spot, the clouds above seemed to have a vendetta against her. They opened up and dumped a torrential downpour that almost soaked her from head to toe. Fortunately, the trees offered some shelter. Zara leaned against one, catching her breath and wiping the rainwater out of her eyes.

Barely a minute later, she noticed a hooded figure running from an alley. At first, she thought maybe one of those hooded weirdos came back to attack her, but no. This one seemed to be different. It looked a bit bigger than the hooded woman but much smaller than the bulky man with the axe.

The figure dashed through the last few meters and skidded to a halt beside Zara, almost running into the tree.

"Wow! I didn't plan a second morning shower...," she panted, "but at least it woke me up," she finished the sentence with a chuckle.

"Hmm, maybe we should run to the HQ's building," Zara offered, pointing at the building.

"Nah, I'll have to go soon. I'm just waiting for my mentor here."

"Oh, so you're waiting for Aritimi as well. I'm also waiting for her."

"Ah! Sorry. I probably didn't see you in the previous weeks," the hooded girl said, pulling back her hood. "Rexine Lurtz," she stuck her thick hand out.

"Zara Cromwell," she shook the girl's hand, trying not to stare at her too obviously.

Rexine looked quite unusual. It wasn't her build. She was tall, but just slightly taller than average. Her frame was muscular. More buffed than Freya, but not as absurdly jacked as Olympia. What made her stand out was her green skin color. She looked somewhat like an Orc. Her red hair was short and messy, slightly boyish. As Zara took another glance at her, she even noticed the tip of a small fang peeking out from her lower lip.

"I see your augmentation is from an Orc," Zara speculated.

"Um... no, it's not," Rexine said awkwardly. "My augmentation is a bone implant from an Xyston Xana."

"Oh, sorry. I just..."

"It's the Dora syndrome," Rexine cut her short.

"Ah! Okay...," Zara nodded, but she wasn't sure. Dora syndrome is known to affect the physical appearance of the augmented humans' children, but she didn't see someone who looked exactly like a monster because of it. Then they both ended up staying silent for a while.

"Good morning, pupils," Aritimi appeared in front of them in the rain. She had a portal opened above her head as a makeshift umbrella.

Neither Zara nor Rexine needed a second invitation, and they took shelter beneath Aritimi's portal.

The rain hadn't let up, but Aritimi's umbrella portal provided perfect coverage as she led the girls. The shimmering circle hovered above their heads, casting a soft purple glow against the grey downpour.

Zara walked beside Rexine, eyeing the swirling light above.

"Why aren't we just jumping through a portal?"

"Because we're waiting for someone. She's nearby."

They walked a bit farther along the path, past empty benches and puddle-filled playgrounds. Aritimi kept scanning the area.

Then, something made her pause.

A faint voice floated up from the curb.

"Timi..." it said, soft but clear over the rain.

"Did someone just call you?" Zara blinked and looked around.

Aritimi didn't answer right away. She stepped toward the edge of the path and crouched near a storm drain. Peering into the grated opening, she stared down until a pale face suddenly popped into view.

A woman with clown makeup and a bright orange afro grinned up at her, eyes wide so does her smile.

"Oh Timi," the woman cooed. "Don't you want a balloon?"

"Coco, get out of there." Aritimi rolled her eyes with practiced annoyance.

With a sharp giggle, the clown-woman slipped out through the narrow opening easily, as if her body had rubber skeleton or no skeleton at all. Somehow, impossibly, she folded and twisted her body with unnatural ease and popped out of the drain like a spring-loaded toy.

Her outfit wasn't traditional clown garb. She wore tactical gear, but every piece of it had been painted in a patchwork of bright colors: green knee pads, bubblegum pink shoulder plates, and a vest dotted in polka dots. Holsters and pouches were strapped all over her gear, some shaped like toy blocks or rubber ducks.

She struck a pose, grinning as the girls stared.

"This is Coco Rivera." Aritimi gestured toward her, "She's the chief of the Underground Surveillance Unit."

Rexine couldn't stop herself.

"Why do you look like a clown?" she asked.

Coco's grin didn't falter. "Because I am one, mija," she said in a thick Mexican accent, voice warm and musical. "Well, not by choice exactly. My augmentation is from a Goofy Gagster. This..." she pointed at her wild orange afro, "... is not a wig. That's my real hair now. And this..." she tapped her pale white cheek, where a pink heart was naturally etched in the skin, "... is the natural color of my face. Can't wash it off, I've tried."

She twirled in place, showing off the rainbow of colors splashed across her armor.

"The clothes are just for style. Gotta match the theme, you know?" she giggled.

Zara exchanged a glance with Rexine, who gave a slow nod, still trying to process what she was seeing.

"Not as creepy as that doll lady from last week," Rexine murmured.

"She's a professional," Aritimi said flatly. "Don't let the look fool you."

"Gracias, Timi." Coco gave a theatrical bow. "Now, shall we go to work before I slip on my own banana peel?"

Aritimi raised a hand, and a new portal shimmered open before them.

As they stepped through, the sound of rain vanished, replaced by the low hum of subterranean life. They were in a local subway platform, old tiles cracked and stained with time, but surprisingly clean. Faint echoes of dripping water echoed through the tunnels.

Coco took the lead, hands tucked behind her back like a tour guide.

"So," she began, voice cheerful, "the Underground Surveillance Unit, my babies, we were originally created to protect human settlements from the things that crawl up from below. Back then, it was simpler. Smash whatever comes out of the ground, keep people alive, repeat."

Zara and Rexine followed close behind, listening.

"But now?" Coco shrugged. "Now, it's trickier. Some monsters, we gotta fight. Some, we just scare off. Sometimes, a brawl would do more harm than good, like collapsing an entire tunnel, or worse. And not all underground monsters are problems. Some are actually helpful. Territorial freaks that don't let other monsters pass through their turf. It's like having a mean, slimy bouncer patrolling your walls."

"You let monsters act as security?" Zara asked.

"Why not?" Coco grinned. "It's free labor. Besides, some sewer creatures help clean the tunnels. Literally eat the gunk and sludge. That's why I was down in the storm drain, checking on the population. It's part monster census, part plumbing."

"Just don't forget about the metro." Aritimi gave her a side glance.

"Ugh, the metro." Zara tensed, visibly uncomfortable.

"What's wrong with it?" Rexine asked, unfazed. "I know it sounds weird at first, but not bad once you get used to the weird feeling."

Right on cue, the train arrived, or at least, what looked like one. The rail beneath them shuddered, and a long, segmented shape slithered into view. It had the basic form of a subway car, complete with windows and sliding doors, but its body moved with an organic pulse, like it was... breathing.

The surface rippled slightly, glossy and smooth like a mollusk's shell. A low chuffing sound came from within as the train slowed to a halt.

"Oh, good," Coco said casually. "The Metro Mimic's here."

She walked up to the sliding door and turned to the others. "These beauties are monsters that roam the metro system in Crowsend. We struck a deal long ago. They keep the tunnels clear of threats, chase out anything nasty, and in exchange, we let them carry passengers."

"I don't know why you guys are trusting them," Zara said, eyeing the creature suspiciously.

"It's much safer than you think. You just need to bring some food as your ticket. Doesn't even have to be fresh, some of 'em like leftovers," Coco replied. "And weirdly, they're way cleaner than your average metro car. Self-cleaning digestion lining, no gum under the seats, no graffiti. They're surprisingly polite as long as they're fed."

"Only a few big cities use them, though," Aritimi added. "Public discomfort is... understandable."

The "door" slid open with a soft flesh-pop, revealing a glowing interior with cushioned seating and walls that pulsed gently with bioluminescence.

"I hate the squishy seats." Zara sighed.

"I kind of like it. Feels like riding a giant hamster." Rexine chuckled.

"That's not better." Zara groaned as they stepped aboard.

The inside of the Metro Mimic pulsed softly, the bioluminescent lights casting a faint pink glow over the cushioned, moist interior. It was strangely warm and oddly quiet.

Zara shifted in her seat, arms crossed.

"Why is it just us? No other passengers?"

"This one was sent just for us," Coco answered with a grin, her boots resting casually on the edge of her seat. "Special request."

"Right. Special," Zara muttered, tapping her fingers on her knee.

Moments later, the creature let out a low, contented hum, and the squishy doors opened with a wet shhhlick. The group stepped out onto a platform Zara didn't recognize. It wasn't like the usual stations: no garbage on the floor, no flickering ads, no bored commuters. Just raw concrete, some utility lighting, and an old, sealed-off tunnel entrance.

"This isn't on any metro line I know." Zara blinked.

"It's not a station," Coco said, walking ahead with a bounce in her step. "It's an outpost."

"An outpost for what?" Zara looked around.

"Whatever we need it to be," Coco replied vaguely as she checked behind a maintenance door, then peeked under a workbench. "We built a bunch of these in the early days of the underground patrols. Quiet, hidden, off the grid. This one's just a little dusty."

"What are you looking for?" Rexine asked.

"My daughters," Coco answered.

Suddenly, a strange sound came from the tunnel, a tiny honking noise. Then a small clown car, barely the size of a bicycle, bounced into view, its wheels squeaking like a rubber duck as it hopped up onto the platform.

Then it came to a stop near the group. A voice from inside called out, "Sorry for being late!"

The door slammed open, and a woman in bright purple taffy-colored tactical gear wiggled out, unfolding herself like an accordion. Her giant purple afro practically exploded from the car's interior, and her clown makeup shared the same unnatural skin tone as Coco's.

"This is Lulu," Coco said, gesturing proudly. "My eldest daughter, and right-hand."

Lulu saluted with two fingers.

"The tunnels were slimier than usual."

Before anyone could respond, another door on the car popped open and another clown-woman tumbled out. Then another. And another.

One by one, they emerged in a chaotic procession like a pastel-colored parade. Coco introduced each as they stepped beside Lulu.

The first was Bubbles. She had sky-blue pigtails and tiny star stickers under her eyes.

Pippa was the next one. She wore her lime-green hair in a bun, with oversized glasses perched on her nose.

Gigi had a wild mane of flamingo-pink curls, shaped like a cotton candy explosion.

Jinx's hair was short and neon orange, spiked into devil horns.

Lala sported long teal dreadlocks and had a shy, sleepy expression.

Googles had bubblegum-pink hair styled like a side-ponytail, and actual googly eyes on her forehead.

Kiki had a mop of bright yellow curls and a patchwork tactical vest.

Oopsy wore a sideways beret over her white-and-red streaked bob.

Bongo had maroon ringlets tied in twin loops and drum tattoos on her arms.

Fizella had ultraviolet hair, slicked straight down, and a pair of oversized combat boots with wheels on the bottom.

Yoyo's turquoise curls bounced with every step, and she kept a yoyo twirling on her finger.

Zuzu, the last girl, had black-and-white checkered hair, split down the middle like a chessboard.

They all wore brightly colored tactical gear styled to match their hair and clown features; less circus act, more chaotic SWAT team.

"How did all thirteen of you fit into that tiny thing?" Zara stared at them, dumbfounded.

Coco chuckled. "Same augmentation as mine. We have some shared powers. One of our gifts is full-body compression. Helps with tight spaces, infiltration, slapstick escapes... and storm drains."

"Etheldreda and her gothic lolita daughters still seem to be the weirdest people I've seen so far, but you guys are close." Zara rubbed her temples.

Rexine, meanwhile, was wide-eyed.

"Thirteen daughters... all augmented... all clowns? Cool!"

"Hola!" Lulu waved. "We're gonna be working together today!"

"Of course we are." Zara thought.

"Alright... so what exactly are we doing today?" Zara asked, staring at the now mostly empty platform.

"We're going to check in on an underground monster population," Aritimi answered.

"Specifically," Coco added, adjusting the strap of her gear across her chest, "we're headin' to one o' the local Metro Mimics' dens."

"That... sounds extremely dangerous. I love it." Rexine gulped, but Zara just grinned.

"Not if ya know what you're doin', chica." Coco winked, then turned to her daughters. "Alright, mis payasitas, back in the car!"

Lulu gave a dramatic sigh and saluted again. "Sí, mamá."

The sisters began piling into the clown car once more, squishing, contorting, and folding themselves in ways that made Zara's stomach twist. In less than a minute, the car was once again packed tight with thirteen colorful limbs and puffy hairdos, sealed up like a fleshy jack-in-the-box.

Coco turned toward Zara, Rexine, and Aritimi, gesturing for them to follow.

"C'mon, hop in. There's space fer all o' ya."

"In there? With them?" Rexine blinked.

Aritimi wasn't bothered.

Zara took a cautious step forward, peering into the small car's impossibly deep interior.

"How... is this even real?"

"Augmentation power, mija," Coco said with a chuckle. "The inside's affected by me an' my niñas' ability. Ain't no physics down here that we don't twist."

"Is this safe?" Rexine asked.

Coco placed a hand over her chest. "I give you my word, no funny business. No honkin' noses or confetti bombs... unless ya want one."

Zara sighed and squeezed inside. It was much more bigger than it had any right to be, like stepping into a cozy, candy-colored bunker. A row of soft seats lined the walls, and the clown girls had already made room, grinning as they scooted aside. One offered her a juice box.

Aritimi and Rexine followed after a moment of hesitation, both surprised by the surreal comfort.

Once the door shut behind them, Coco settled into the front seat and started the engine. The little car hummed like a happy insect.

"Wait," Zara asked, "why can't we just take a portal there like we usually do?"

Coco didn't take her eyes off the tunnel ahead as she drove. "We tried that before. Almost lost someone's legs 'cause the portal opened half in a wall." She gave a shrug. "Ain't no safe landmarks down there. It's all teeth, tunnels, an' belly tunnels. You don't wanna cut through a Mimic on accident, trust me."

"Okay... but then why not ride the Metro Mimic all the way there?" Rexine added.

"Ah, I wish we could, mi amor," Coco said with a laugh. "But the Metro Mimics had been trained not to leave the subway lines as long as they got passengers. Protocol."

"So this is the safest way?" Zara sighed, leaning back into the plush, confetti-patterned seat.

"As safe as it gets," Coco said cheerfully as the tiny clown car zipped into the dark tunnel, headlights flickering. "An' also the most fun!"

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Coco drove the clown car into a narrow, dimly lit tunnel that clearly wasn't part of the regular metro network. No rails lined the ground, just a bumpy path carved into old concrete and roots.

She stopped the car just short of a vast, yawning opening.

"Alright, chicas," she said, turning in her seat. "This is where we hop out. Can't drive this beaut into the den or they'll think we're deliverin' snacks."

From deeper within, strange groaning and clicking echoed; slow, rhythmic, almost like giant lungs filling and deflating.

They climbed out, stretching a bit after the compressed ride. But before they could follow Coco further, Aritimi raised a hand to halt them.

"Wait. These two aren't properly outfitted," she said, eyeing Zara and Rexine's casual clothes. "We're stepping into monster territory. I won't have them going in like that."

"Oh, but I packed no special gear with me," Rexine scratched her head.

"No need for special gear," Aritimi shrugged, peeling off her jumpsuit. Without hesitation, she threw her only article of clothing into a portal as if it were a piece of garbage.

With her fit body, gravity-defying breasts, and brown skin, Aritimi looked more like an African tribe's sex goddess rather than a monster hunter.

"Whoa!" Rexine gasped, but Zara also heard some of the clown girls gasping too.

"Now you two, pupils," Aritimi said, looking at the duo.

"What...? We have to be nude as well?"

"Oh! No worries. I got this." Coco snapped her fingers with a grin. "Let ol' Coco work her magic."

With a pop and a puff of glittery smoke, Zara and Rexine's clothes changed instantly. Zara blinked down at herself. Her pants had been replaced with oversized bloomers in rainbow stripes. Her top had a comically huge ruffled collar and one red suspender. A painted-on smiley face adorned her stomach, and her boots squeaked when she shifted.

Rexine's outfit wasn't much better. She now wore high-waisted polka-dot trousers, a button-up with too-long sleeves, and a little propeller hat that spun lazily despite the lack of wind.

Zara glanced at the clown car's direction and saw their clothes on the seats, neatly folded for them for later.

"Oh no..." Zara muttered. "Is this real?"

"Very real," Coco chuckled. "Mi poder can only conjure goofy gear. Funny bones only, you know? But don't underestimate 'em. These outfits are tough, stretchy, fireproof, Mimic-slime-resistant, and got pockets for days. Plus, you look adorable, mijas."

"I guess if it works..." Rexine inspected her new sleeves with a sigh.

"Trust me, you'll thank me later," Coco said, already heading into the dark with her brightly colored tactical vest glowing faintly. "Now c'mon. Let's go say hola to the Metro Mimics."

"Hmm..." Aritimi examined their new clothes, "Well, since these clothes were made by Coco's powers, I can count them as something natural. Just like those golden shoes in Bambi's case." Then she followed Coco.

Zara and Rexine exchanged a final look, half reluctant, half amused, and followed Coco and Aritimi into the dark.

"Okay, I like Coco more than most of Aritimi's other friends," Zara snickered, but deep down, she felt a little bit disappointed. The new clothes felt weird on her. She wanted to feel the soil beneath her feet, the air around her skin, but then she quickly chased away the thoughts.

The den was massive, far larger than Zara expected. It wasn't a cave but more of an underground building, layered with winding tunnels, steep ridges, and large, echoing chambers. All around them, Metro Mimics rolled across the uneven ground with ease, their strange segmented wheels undeterred by the lack of rails. Some zipped along the high ledges, while others launched themselves effortlessly from one carved-out hole to another like giant mechanical frogs.

"They're... training?" Rexine watched in awe.

Coco nodded, striding confidently across a bridge of concrete ribs as a Metro Mimic zipped under it with a low whrrr. "Sí. They simulate obstacles here. Learn how to deal with derailments, tight curves, unexpected gaps, anything they might run into while carryin' passengers topside."

One of the Mimics zipped past them with a low mechanical chuff.

"But they can shapeshift, right? All of them? Why are they still in train shape?" Zara asked, looking at the vehicle-shaped monsters.

"Because they like it!" Coco replied, laughing as she gestured toward a group of smaller Mimics clustered around a larger one. "Stayin' in character, you could say. Helps teach the babies what they're supposed to grow into. Like dressin' up for a family reunion, no?"

"You're quite smart for a clown," Rexine raised a brow with a smile.

"Exactamente." Coco grinned proudly.

"Why aren't they attacking us?" Zara scanned the moving crowd.

"They won't," Coco said. "These fellas are used to humans. We've raised most of 'em ourselves. Long as we ain't hostile, they see no reason to lash out. And even if we were, we're like gnats to 'em. Like when you see a couple bugs on your porch, you don't bring out a flamethrower."

But before anyone could move further, Zara suddenly stiffened. Her head snapped toward the far edge of the den.

"Wait... something's over there," Zara whispered, ducking quickly behind a jagged outcrop of stone. "Hide!"

The others followed her lead without hesitation, crouching low behind the rock wall.

"What did you see, chica?" Coco asked quietly.

Zara didn't take her eyes off the distant figure.

"It was a man," she said. "I got a good look at him before he moved out of the light. It was Steve."

"Same Steve? From the PRA?" Aritimi glanced at her.

"Yeah." Zara nodded.

"Who's this Steve fella?" Coco tilted her head.

Zara took a breath and explained, just like she did to Odina and Pixie weeks ago. "Steve's a PRA member. He is not a bad guy, but we had to keep our incognito intact in front of him, so we pretended to be monster girls."

"Should we avoid him, then?" Rexine asked.

Before Zara could answer, a voice echoed across the den.

"Hey! Someone there?" It was unmistakably Steve's voice, "I can see ya! You ain't a train!"

Zara's eyes darted to Aritimi, who immediately said, "We're not getting out of this one. We pretend. Monster girls, same as last time. Maybe it will be fun."

"Alright, back to Bug Queen mode," Zara clenched her fists and let the change wash over her. Her limbs elongated slightly, her skin taking on its faint exoskeletal shimmer, and her eyes turned gleaming red and insectile. Her colorful clothes disappeared with a poof as if they were just an illusion.

"I think I don't have to do anything with my appearance," Rexine said. Indeed, she didn't need to change. Her pale green skin already gave her an unnatural, otherworldly look. She just rolled her shoulders like she was getting into character.

"Well, good news is, me 'n the girls already look the part. Goofy Gagsters always had a strong circus chic, no?" Coco chuckled.

Behind her, the clown daughters adjusted their outfits, patted down colorful skirts, and straightened their oversized ties. A few nervously smiled.

Aritimi inhaled and focused. Her eyes started to glow with a deep, unnatural violet light, intense and steady, casting eerie reflections on the rock.

Zara nodded to the others. "Let me go first."

"Wait," Aritimi stopped her, "We are monster girls right now, and monster girls don't wear clothes in a natural place like that."

"What?" Rexie asked.

"You all have to get naked to be a believable monster girl."

"Oh, come on," Rexine groaned.

"Hey, nobody said that this is an easy job," Aritimi smirked.

Coco snapped her fingers and with a colorful spoof, Rexine's clothes disappeared, leaving her naked.

Rexine's body was as muscular as Zara expected. Her green skin stretched taut over her lean muscles. Her breasts were big, firm, and high, the nipples and areolae a darker shade of green, standing proudly in the cool cavern air. Her stomach was a perfectly shaped six-pack. Her glutes, sculpted like a Greek statue, curved smoothly into long, powerful legs. Her pubic mound was shaved clean.

"Ugh... this one's going to be a long day," Rexine sighed.

Then, Coco snapped her fingers again, this time both her and her daughters' clown costumes disappeared.

Coco, despite her age, had the figure of a woman who knew how to take care of herself. Her breasts were huge and heavy with a motherly grace. They were a rich brown, like the trunk of a mahogany tree, with large dark areolas. Her stomach showed the evidence of both childbirth and hard work, a soft, pillowy landscape of stretch marks and resilience. Her pubic hair was just as orange as the hair on her head.

Lulu looked even better, her big brown breasts were still firm, her erect nipples pointing forward. Her pubic hair was a small triangle of purple. The rest of the clown girls looked mostly similar to her. The white color of their facial skin made their skin tone look even darker in contrast.

Although the clown girls had slight differences, all 14 of them had one certain thing in common, their ass. They all had a beautiful, round, bouncy ass that a normal human could only get with a BBL surgery.

"Okay, girls, stay in character. Be kind to Steve and play along," Aritimi instructed.

"Who's there?" they heard Steve approaching.

Zara stepped out into the open and raised a hand in greeting, calling out, "Hey! Long time no see, Steve!"

The middle-aged black man squinted, walking a little closer, his hand resting casually on the grip of something that looked like a weapon at his hip. "Zaza, huh? Didn't think I'd find you here."

"I didn't expect you either." Zara nodded.

He looked past her as the others emerged one by one.

"Hey, I remember you too," he said to Aritimi, his eyes glued to her naked breasts. "You were with her last time. You're Timi the Riftwalker."

Aritimi gave a slow, regal nod.

"Whoa! I see you got even more friends this time," he looked at the green girl and the clown women.

"These are... some of my people. This is Rex."

"Nice to meet ya," he shook Rexine's strong hand, watching her breasts bob with the move, "Hmm, I can't decide... are you a small Orc or a big Goblin?"

"Um... yeah, I'm a small Orc," she said, she didn't seem like somebody who tells a lie.

Then the clown girls shuffled forward in a colorful, awkward clump. Coco gave a small wave, followed by Lulu. A few murmured greetings, Bongo tripped a little and Yoyo helped her back up. The names came in a shy little chorus from Lulu to Zuzu.

"Oh my... that's a lot of clowns." Steve blinked.

Coco stepped up with a wide grin. "Whole dang circus, honey."

"You the mom?" He looked at her, brow furrowed.

"Thirteen strong," Coco beamed. "My little miracles."

"Damn, you're a professional breeding machine," Steve laughed.

"Gracias," Coco said, but as she gestured, one of her hands accidentally bumped into her left breast. A honking noise could be heard.

"What the...? This sound came form your tits?" Steve gasped.

"Side effect of my powers," Coco chuckled awkwardly. Steve reached out and gave it an experimental squeeze. The honk grew louder. Coco and her daughters giggled awkwardly. Unfortunately, Steve took this as an encouragement and honked again, a nd then he moved on to Lulu's breasts, causing a similar bit slightly different sound. He honked the breasts of each clown girl and each had a bit different tone.

"Incredible," he murmured as he squeezed Zuzu's breasts. The clown girl just giggled awkwardly.

"So. What brings you all down here?" Steve asked.

Zara stepped forward, hands on her hips, her bug-like antennae twitching slightly as she spoke. "We're just here looking for rare minerals. Never know what you might find. What about you? What's a human doing all the way down here, surrounded by Metro Mimics?"

Steve scratched the back of his neck, then reached around to unclip his backpack. "Actually, that's what I came to fix. Found somethin' that belongs here. Figured I oughta return it before I could get in trouble."

"Whatchu talkin' about, chico?" Coco stepped closer, her breasts jiggling.

Steve crouched and pulled something out of his bag. It was large, the size of an ostrich egg, but rougher, slightly lumpy. Its shell was a pale gray, veined with fine markings, resembling tiny etched rail lines.

Coco's expression shifted in an instant. "Ay.... That's a Metro Mimic egg."

Aritimi's glowing eyes narrowed. "Where did you get that?"

Steve stood back up, holding the egg delicately in both hands. "Some guy owed me money. Real shady type. Didn't have cash, so he gave me this thing instead. Said it's worth all the money he owes me, but I should sell it quickly."

"And you just... took it?" Zara folded her arms.

"Rejecting the offer of a shady guy like that one is not a safe thing. That's the reason why I gave him money to begin with."

Coco slowly approached, hands held out, eyes on the egg. "You did the right thing bringin' it back, cariño."

"You wanna take a look? Fine, but be careful, it looks fragile," Steve handed her the Mimic egg.

Coco held the egg delicately, stroking one of the etched lines with her thumb as if it might hum back at her. "I'm gon' try an' find which nest this li'l baby came from. Safer wit' me for now." She gave Steve a grateful nod. "Gracias, mijo."

"Be my guest." Steve stepped back with a small grunt.

But just as Coco turned around, she slipped on the muddy ground.

"Ay... ¡Dios mío!" she shouted, arms flailing comically.

She toppled forward with a honk of her own clown nose, but in the last second before hitting the ground, she launched the egg upward in a perfect arc. Her breasts also honked as her front hit the ground.

"¡Mis hijas! Catch it!"

"On it, Mama!" Lulu called, and immediately took a huge gulp of air.

With a fwump, her body inflated into a giant brown balloon with arms and legs sticking out at odd angles. Her breasts expanded as well, resembling two brown watermelons with dark brown dinner plates on them. The egg landed with a soft plop on her puffed-up belly, but bounced off instantly, like a rubber ball on a trampoline.

"Oops!" Lulu squeaked.

"¡Vamos!" Gigi shouted, and one by one, the clown girls followed suit, all inflating their bodies into round, springy spheres. The egg ricocheted between them, bouncing harmlessly from belly to belly, ass to ass, boobs to boobs, like it was caught in an erotic pinball machine.

"Oh, c'mon..." Zara said, facepalming.

Zara spread her wings and jumped into the air with a sharp buzz. Timing it just right, she caught the egg in midair, clutching it tightly to her chest as she hovered.

"Got it!"

The clown girls all deflated at once with a series of comedic pfffffts, wobbling like overfilled balloons losing air. They collapsed in a giggling pile.

Zara landed lightly beside them and handed the egg over to Aritimi.

"Let's maybe not do that again," she muttered.

Aritimi took the egg with a small smirk. "I guess it would be safer with me."

Coco lay on her back in the dirt, blinking up at the tunnel ceiling. "Gracias," she wheezed, holding up a thumbs-up.

Aritimi adjusted her hold on the egg, "Let's try deeper in. The temperature and density down here might help us find a nesting zone."

The group began to move again, the soft whirrs of distant Metro Mimics echoing through the sprawling den. Zara and Rexine hung back near the rear of the group, keeping a quiet pace.

Rexine glanced sideways at Zara.

"Y'know... not every hunter would've caught that egg."

"Nah, it wasn't that hard to catch," Zara snorted.

"I mean... not every hunter would've bothered to save a monster's life like you did."

Zara looked over. "It was gonna hit the ground. Didn't have much time to think about it."

"That's it," Rexine smiled. "Most wouldn't have thought about it at all. They would've let it break and not lost sleep. You saved it like it mattered. That's rare."

Zara blinked, caught off guard.

"Thanks. I mean... we're not just here to kill monsters. We're supposed to understand them too, right?" she replied, although in the beginning of her monster hunter career, she wouldn't just let that egg break, but likely she would have been the one to throw it.

"You remind me of my mom." Rexine nodded. "She's not a hunter, but she's always been like that. Saw value in everything. Even the stuff no one else cared about."

Zara scratched her head, a little embarrassed.

"Sounds like someone worth meeting."

"She is." Rexine smiled again, a bit brighter this time. "She works in the HQ's office. Maybe we can take a little detour there once we finish here. Her office's vending machines have some of the best snacks in the building."

"Okay, we definitely pay a visit to her today 'cause I'm already hungry."

"Alright, hold up." Aritimi's voice broke through the moment.

The group paused. Aritimi turned to face them. "This place is too big, and we shouldn't stay here too long. We'll move faster if we split up. I know usually this is the part in the horror movies when the characters start dropping like flies, but we have more brain cells than those characters."

"I go wit' you, cariño." Coco bobbed her head.

Steve looked happy. "Alright. I'll go with you girls to be sure you gonna be safe," he winked.

Aritimi turned to the rest. "Zaza, Rex, go with Lulu. She knows the tunnels."

Lulu beamed and gave a little hop, her big purple afro bouncing. "Follow me, chicas! I know all the bouncy shortcuts."

"Well," Zara said with a half-smile, "at least we won't get bored."

Lulu skipped ahead, humming a little circus tune. The two hunters followed deeper into the Mimic den.

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

The tunnels sloped slightly downward, Lulu led them forward. Her springy steps echoed faintly against the curved walls, while Zara and Rexine trailed a few meters behind, lost in conversation.

"So," Rexine began casually, "what made you wanna join the HSA anyway? You don't strike me as the monster-hating type."

Zara's expression shifted. "Um... personal reasons," she said quietly. "I lost someone. I needed a goal in my life, and I don't want anyone else to go through that, so that was the logical decision. If I can stop even one monster from hurting someone's family, it's worth it."

"That's heavy. Sorry if I was too indiscreet," Rexine nodded.

Zara just shrugged. "What about you?"

Rexine gave a small, dry laugh. "Didn't really have a choice. Not a lotta people wanna hire someone with green skin and tusks. The HSA's one of the few places where looking like me doesn't automatically get you labeled a threat because some of their augmented hunters look even less human than me." She paused. "Plus... my mom's already in the HSA as I mentioned. She pulled some strings. Got me in. The research team was really eager to try the augmentation on me."

Before Zara could ask about her augmentation, the wall in front of them cracked apart with a sudden, sharp rumble.

CRACK-KROOM!

A metallic screech rang out as a Metro Mimic burst from the dirt, a little bit smaller than the ones they'd seen before, but fast and erratic. Its headlights flared like angry eyes, and its wheels tore through the ground with purpose.

It locked eyes on Lulu, who'd wandered a bit farther ahead. The clown girl blinked, frozen for a second as the mimic let out a mechanical roar and accelerated.

Zara lunged forward, wings out with an instinctive snap, but Rexine was already in motion.

With a growl, Rexine gripped her chest with one hand. She grimaced and yanked out a long spear of bone and muscle from between her tits. Without hesitation, she hurled it across the tunnel.

CLANG!

The spear embedded itself between the Mimic's front wheels, jamming the undercarriage and sending it lurching to one side. It derailed and skidded violently, crashing into the wall.

Zara grabbed Lulu's arm and pulled her back as debris rained down around them. All three of them ducked behind a curve in the tunnel until the danger passed.

When the dust settled, Lulu coughed once, but she was okay. "Whew... close one!" she said brightly. "Thanks, green girl! I mean... I woulda have been okay. My body can balloon up and bounce like a jellybean, but that was real cool!"

"Glad I didn't miss."

"Yeah, that was epic. How did you do that?" Zara looked at her, eyes wide.

Rexine grinned, showing her sharp teeth. "Yup. That's my augmentation. Xyston Xana. I can grow spears from my body. Big ones, small ones, even double-ended if I really focus."

"Xyston... like the Greek spear? I knew this sounded familiar."

"Yes. Although the spears I can create can look different than a xyston. I guess they just wanted the name to alliterate," she smiled.

Lulu, brushing dirt off her butt, added, "That musta been a young Mimic bull. They're real nasty before they get socialized. If he's hanging around here, he probably just claimed this tunnel. No wonder we didn't see him earlier."

"You should put up signs next time." Rexine snorted.

"I'd love to, but the Mimics keep eating 'em." Lulu shrugged with a giggle.

The trio pressed on with their journey. The earlier attack had them on edge.

"Just a bit more," Lulu said cheerily, bouncing ahead with her usual carefree energy. "The tunnels start splitting soon, and that's usually where the nesting happens!"

But before they could reach the junction, the wall beside them trembled.

KRKKKK-KRANG!

The same Metro Mimic exploded from the side with a furious screech. The wound from the derailment hadn't slowed it much; Rexine's spear was still jammed in the wheels, rattling like a loose gear, but the creature powered forward with renewed rage.

Lulu turned quickly, but this time she "attacked" first.

She took a deep breath, very deep breath, and her entire head began to expand like a balloon, growing to twice, then three times its normal size. Her usual bubbly expression twisted into a massive, grotesque grimace: huge teeth, bulging eyes, and a tongue flopping out comically.

The monster vehicle screeched to a halt mid-charge, stunned by the bizarre sight. With a panicked metallic whine, it reversed course and skidded back into the tunnel it came from, disappearing with a hiss of displaced earth.

"Whew!" Lulu deflated her head with a loud pfloof, cheeks puffing as she exhaled. "That always gets 'em."

But the celebration didn't last long.

As the hotheaded Mimic bull retreated, its wheels finally ejected the spear, and with a sudden CLANG, the weapon shot backward, spinning through the air and striking Rexine in the shoulder before embedding itself deep in the stone wall behind her.

"Rexine!" Zara ran up to her, eyes wide with concern.

Rexine winced but waved her off. "It's fine. Just a scratch."

"Let me see," Zara insisted.

Lulu frowned. "Yeah, that thing was moving fast. Even a scratch could be..."

But as they took a glance at Rexine's shoulder, expecting a wound, they found only a faint scar; smooth and barely visible. The injury had already closed.

"What the...?" Zara blinked. "That should've torn into you. Your augmentation doesn't do regeneration, right?"

Rexine shifted uncomfortably, rubbing her shoulder.

"No. That's not from the augmentation. It's just... a me thing."

"What do you mean?"

Rexine sighed and avoided their gazes. "I'm not fully human. My mom's human. She works for the HSA. But I was born from... an experiment. She agreed to be part of a program that used monster DNA. Orc DNA."

Zara and Lulu stayed quiet, listening.

"That's why I look the way I do," Rexine went on, her voice low. "I've got strength and healing from the Orc half. It's not something I like talking about."

Zara just chuckled. "You think I wouldn't understand? Look at me." She lifted one of her arms, the chitinous plates from her Bug Queen form still partially showing. "We're all a little weird here."

Rexine finally looked at her, surprised.

Zara smiled. "Honestly? I figured it was something like that. And I think it's pretty cool."

Lulu nodded in agreement. "Super rare genes, rapid healing, monster strength? You're like a limited-edition comic book character!"

Rexine cracked a small grin, the tension easing. "Thanks. You're both kinda weird too, you know."

"During this course, I learned that weird is good," Zara said, and the three girls continued onward.

The deeper they walked, the more the walls of the tunnel began to smooth out and widen. Strange, rust-colored fungi bloomed in patches, and rail-like markings etched along the rock hinted at the presence of Metro Mimics.

Finally, they stepped into a wide chamber.

It was lit by bioluminescent moss clinging to the ceiling and walls. Nesting mounds made of dirt, gravel, scrap metal, and old train parts dotted the room, half-buried shells resting inside many of them.

"This must be it," Lulu whispered.

The trio spread out, inspecting the nests for signs of disturbance. Rexine circled one in the corner and crouched low.

"Over here," she called out. "This one has two eggs... but there's clearly space for a third."

Zara and Lulu hurried over. Lulu squinted at the two large eggs, each the size of what Steve got and etched with similar rail-like markings.

"The one Steve had," she muttered, leaning in. "These markings, they're near-identical. Same tone, same curvature. That egg is from this nest."

"Are you sure?" Zara asked.

Lulu nodded. "Mimic eggs from the same clutch share patterning like family traits."

Zara stood up and glanced around the room. "Hmmm... I wonder how anyone would even get an egg out of here. It's deep underground, and there's an angry young bull running around."

"The best poachers don't work alone, chica," Lulu explained. "Some of them make deals with monsters that are smart; human smart. Goblins, dwarves, and monsters like that, creatures that can navigate places like this better than people."

She stood up straight, her eyes narrowing.

"Maybe that's why the young bull attacked us earlier," she added. "He's not just territorial. He's guarding the nests."

Suddenly, Lulu's expression shifted.

She stopped talking and turned her head sharply toward the tunnel they came from. Her smile faded completely.

"Agh! Somethin' is wrong," Lulu said, hands resting on her temple.

"What do you mean?" Zara blinked.

"I can feel some of my sisters," Lulu said, a note of urgency creeping into her tone. "They're in danger."

Without another word, she took off running, bouncing through the tunnel entrance.

Without a word, Zara and Rexine bolted after her.

Their footsteps echoed through the winding tunnel as the trio dashed through the gloom.

Zara ran beside Lulu, her bug wings twitching with urgency. "You said you felt something. How exactly do you know your sisters are in danger?"

Lulu kept her eyes forward, her usual playfulness was still present but it was mixed with fierce focus. "Our augmentations allows us this. We can send each other a type of emergency alert."

"Like psychic Morse code?" Rexine asked, catching up behind them.

"Kind of," Lulu said. "It's not words, just feelings. One of them sent out a fear-spike, strong enough for me to feel even from this far away. But we have to hurry."

"Why? If Coco felt it, she could have gotten there easier with Aritimi."

"The tunnels. The walls here are thick with Mimic residue and ore; they mess with the signal. I think I only got it because I'm the closest."

"So it's possible no one else knows?" Rexine asked grimly.

Lulu nodded.

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

A little bit earlier.

Pippa, Fizella, and Zuzu were on their way to the nesting zone on this side of the tunnel. Pippa was bouncing on her shapely ass as if it was a ball.

Suddenly, before they could reach the zone, a big Metro Mimic appeared in the tunnel, but this one had passengers on board. Their mother and sisters, Aritimi, Steve, Zara, and Rexine, were all aboard, waving at them.

"What are you doing up there?" Zuzu waved back playfully.

"We found the best nest in the den with the best eggs. Come here, girls, this Mimic can bring us to the surface because its shift is about to start," Aritimi said as the Mimic's doors opened.

Pippa and Fizella approached the vehicle monster, but Zuzu felt something was wrong.

"What eggs are you talkin' about?" Zuzu asked.

She could hear Aritimi's voice talking from the vehicle, but she couldn't pay attention to her words because she noticed that Aritimi's words came from Coco's mouth. They weren't real. All of them were just the Mimic pretending to be them aboard.

The Mimic noticed this, and all of the fake passengers let out a "Shit!"

Pippa and Fizella stopped immediately, but they were too close to the open door of the creature, and they were pulled inside by the lookalikes of their sisters.

Zuzu turned around to run for help, but she felt the massive being gaining speed behind her; she knew she would get caught. As a final hope, she tapped on her nose to send out an emergency signal. Although she knew it rarely worked this deep underground and this far from her sisters, hope dies last.

She couldn't remember the moment of her capture. All she could recall was running, then everything went dark. Zuzu awoke with a headache, caused by a bump on her head. She was surprised that the monster managed to catch her without causing more severe damage to her. She was also mad that she couldn't create a strong helmet with her powers; unfortunately, helmets are not funny.

Zuzu opened her eyes; she was inside the Metro Mimic. Fizella and Pippa were a few meters away. They were violated by the fake passengers. The passengers were naked now, and they all had a big, thick dick. Both clown girls were double penetrated by the futanari lookalike of their sisters.

Pippa's cries were muffled by the big black dick of Aritimi's futanari replica, while Fizella's mouth was stuffed with the dick of Steve's copy.

Zuzu screamed, trying to get up, but two people appeared in front of her. They were both naked. One of them was the futanari duplicate of her mother, while the second was her own futanari version.

"I finally caught you, little thieves," hissed the fake Zuzu.

"We... don't..." Zuzu stammered, but she was hushed by the shemale replica.

"You poachers just keep stealing from us, but now the tides turn. You and your friends will spend the rest of your lives here, giving birth to our babies to compensate for what you took from us."

Then futanari Zuzu pressed her dick against Zuzu's lips. "Suck it! Now!" she barked, "Or your friends will pay the price." She grinned, and the other futanari clones began pounding into Pippa and Fizella with inhuman speed, making the sisters scream around the cocks in their mouths.

Zuzu opened her mouth quickly and began to suck as much as she could.

"Good girl," said her mother's futanari copy, also presenting her dick to Zuzu, who had no choice but to take her as well.

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

The trio skidded to a stop at the entrance of the next nesting zone.

"There," Lulu pointed, her voice barely a whisper.

A large Metro Mimic rested near the far wall, its segmented train-like body groaning with mechanical creaks. Through the transparent windows along its side, they saw them: Pippa, Fizella, and Zuzu. The three clown girls were gangraped by oddly familiar-looking people.

"Is that... us?" Rexine asked, watching her futanari replica fuck Pippa's asshole with vigor. Fizella was pressed against the window, her tits flattening against the unyeilding fake glass.

Lulu squinted. "Sí. It made copies of us to trick them. It probably lured them in with fake versions of me, mamá, and the rest of you."

"It probably watched us since we arrived here. Clever bastard." Zara murmured. "We have no time to alert the others. We have to rescue them."

Lulu nodded, her afro bouncing comically.

"It hasn't noticed us yet," Rexine said. "What's the plan?"

They did a quick brainstorming and the idea came almost immediately.

It was time to attack.

Zara shot into the air, her buzzing wings carrying her high above the monster.

"Hey, fake train! Come and get me!"

The Mimic turned its twisted, headlight-like gaze upward at the noise.

At the same moment, Rexine growled, producing two sleek spears from her arms and hurling them forward. They slid perfectly between the monster's wheels, jamming the suspension system and locking it in place.

Lulu darted forward and dove beneath the immobilized beast. With a deep breath, her body ballooned out like a massive beach ball. She popped up with force, flipping the Mimic clean over like a derailed subway car. The impact sent the girls inside bouncing harmlessly around like ping pong balls.

But before they could celebrate, the mimic let out a low mechanical growl. Its body pulsed and twisted, and with an unnatural crunch, the creature remorphed, folding and reshaping its body from flipped-over chaos back into an upright, functional form.

"Oh, come on!" Zara groaned.

Lulu's inflated body shrank as she examined the scene. "That's not normal..."

"No, it isn't," she said with a grim look. "¡Dios mío! This one's an alpha. That's why it can reshape its whole form like that."

With a metallic screech, the monster began speeding away, taking the captured girls with it.

"We won't let it escape," Zara said, eyes locking on the escaping monster.

The girls broke into a sprint, but it shifted quickly as Lulu began bouncing, and Zara grabbed Rexine to fly with her. Meanwhile, the Metro Mimic as it tore through the tunnel like a bullet train.

Lulu used the full extent of her elasticity, bouncing from wall to wall with practiced ease, her rubbery limbs propelling her forward like a pinball of doom. Zara, wings buzzing, carried Rexine in her arms.

"Throw me!" Rexine yelled over the rushing wind.

"You sure?" Zara shouted back.

"Just do it!"

With a grunt of effort, Zara flung her forward. Rexine twisted in the air and slammed onto the mimic's slick metallic back. She nearly lost her grip, but at the last second, she growled and forced a cluster of small spears to grow out from her fingers like claws. They pierced the carapace and anchored her in place.

Zara caught up fast without the extra weight and landed beside Rexine with a heavy thud. A moment later, Lulu bounced onto the mimic's back and stuck the landing with surprising grace.

"Okay, now what?" Zara asked.

Lulu closed her eyes for a second. "I sent out a signal earlier, just in case. I can feel mamá and the rest of my sisters getting close, but this thing's headin' straight toward them."

"Isn't that good?" Rexine asked.

"It would be," Lulu said, "if it wasn't going this fast. If it crashes into the core tunnel at this speed, it could collapse part of the den. We have to stop it before then."

"What if we get the girls out now?" Zara looked over the monster's body.

"Let's do it." Rexine nodded and extended her arm, a spear forming along her forearm.

With quick jabs, they shattered the Mimic's windows, the flesh-like material that reknitted seconds after they dove through.

Zara found Pippa first, spitraosted by her sisters' futanari clones. She knocked them out with her hard, chitin-clad hands and pulled the clown girl free.

Rexine rescued Zuzu, carefully cutting her captors down with her spear claws.

Lulu reached Fizella and knocked out the rest of the copies by inflating her body and pushing them against the walls with a force that could kill a normal human.

Once beaten, the replicas writhed, melted, and oozed back into the Mimic's main body, absorbed like jelly into metal.

"We got them!" Zara shouted.

But Lulu didn't smile. "Look!"

Ahead, the tunnel widened into a massive chamber, the very center of the den, where multiple tunnels intersected. In the distance, they saw familiar figures approaching fast: Aritimi, Coco, Steve, and the rest of the clown sisters.

Rexine's face paled. "If that thing reaches them..."

"It won't," Zara said, narrowing her eyes. "It's ending now."

The girls clung tightly to the Mimic's back as it barreled toward the den's center chamber. The tunnels vibrated with the weight and speed of the creature. They didn't have long.

Zara still had one more idea. "Rexine. I need a spear."

"What? What for?"

"I'm going to stab it in the head, where the driver would be. It might stop it."

"No," Rexine said instantly, her voice hard with worry. "We don't even know if that'll work... what if it kills it?"

Zara looked her dead in the eyes. "Trust me."

Rexine hesitated. Her fingers twitched like they didn't want to obey.

Zara put a hand on Rexine's shoulder. "It won't die. This one's an alpha. As long as we don't drop a nuke on it, practically immortal."

Lulu confirmed it as well.

There was a pause. Then, with a reluctant growl, Rexine formed a sharp, dense spear in her palm and handed it to Zara. "Fine. But if it explodes, it's on you."

Zara grinned. "Deal."

She leapt forward, bracing herself on the Mimic's undulating form. With both hands, she plunged the spear straight into the front of the monster, right where a conductor's window would be on a real train. It drove in with a wet shunk, and the Mimic let out a grinding metallic screech.

The whole tunnel vibrated, and the monster began to slow. Not a lot, but enough.

"It's working!" Zara shouted. "But not fast enough!"

That's when a brilliant blue ring of light shimmered ahead, Aritimi's portal.

The Mimic passed through it in an instant, vanishing from the center chamber--only to reappear a few meters away, redirected toward open tunnel space.

Then another portal opened, and another. Aritimi kept constantly repositioning the Mimic so it didn't crash into any load-bearing walls.

The monster was slowing, but still going fast enough to cause damage if it hit the wrong spot.

And then came the final blow.

Coco barked orders, and the rest of the clown sisters rallied. In perfect coordination, they stood shoulder to shoulder, then inflated themselves massively, ten rubbery, bouncing bodies forming a thick, soft barrier across the tunnel.

FWUMP! The mimic slammed into them with a deafening squish.

Instead of crashing or collapsing the den, the monster was absorbed like a high-speed ball into a foam pit. The clown girls groaned, compressed, bounced--but held strong.

When the mimic finally stopped moving, the entire den fell silent except for heavy breathing and the squeaky deflation of some exhausted clowns.

They'd done it.

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A few minutes later, the den had quieted. The tunnels still echoed faintly with the creaks of settling stone and the occasional giggle or honk from the clown girls deflating or re-inflating bits of themselves. The Alpha Mimic sat still now, its many wheels pressed into the ground like coiled limbs waiting to strike.

Zara and Rexine stood beside Aritimi, catching their breath.

"I don't think it was attacking out of nowhere," Rexine said, rubbing the faint scratch on her shoulder. "It was defending its territory, and had a good reason for it. It thought we were also thieves."

Zara nodded. "Yeah, we just put the egg back and we're done."

"Yeah..." Aritimi muttered. "About that..." she pointed at Steve.

Steve was standing off to the side, cradling something in his arms.

It was small. Round. Rust-colored. Covered in wheels and tiny metal vents. It squeaked like a rusty toy and squirmed against his chest.

It was the baby Metro Mimic.

"Oh no," Zara breathed.

"I kept it close to myself, but it looks like the warmth of my body helped it hatch," Aritimi explained.

The baby gave a mechanical chirp, a high-pitched chee-chee-chee, and across the chamber, the Alpha Mimic's body shuddered. Its head reared slightly. Then it screeched, a sound like screeching rails and burning brakes.

Zara took a step forward.

The alpha's wheels spun up with a hiss.

Acting quickly, Zara darted over to Steve and gently pulled the baby Mimic out of his arms.

"Trust me, I won't hurt you," she whispered and walked straight up to the Alpha.

The monster's form trembled. Its body shifted, muscles under metal contracting. It lowered its head. Its wheels buzzed against the stone.

Zara stood tall, holding the baby up with both arms.

There was a long moment of silence.

Then the Alpha Mimic's front door groaned open. It didn't roar. It didn't attack.

A long, segmented, almost human-like arm extended from the doorway. Slowly, it reached toward the baby.

Zara didn't flinch. She placed the baby Mimic into the hand.

With surprising gentleness, the hand pulled the baby inside.

The door closed.

Another moment passed. Then the Alpha Mimic turned slowly, its wheels squeaking softly, and it rolled backward into the tunnel from where it came.

Gone.

The chamber let out a collective breath. Not just the girls and Steve, but even the other Mimics that were hiding around, trying not to get caught in the crosshairs of the raging alpha.

Aritimi raised an eyebrow. "Maybe it figured out we weren't the thieves after all."

"Yeah," Zara nodded, "We should leave, though. I don't want to tempt our luck."

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Somewhere in Crowsend.

David had no idea why he and Rina were called there. He has never seen this room in their hideout. It looked creepy.

Ethan was busy welding something that looked like a medieval torture device.

"Um... why did you call us?" David asked.

"The boss called," he said without looking at them, busy with his work. "We're going to need a test subject."

"You mean... one of us?" Rina gave him a look.

"No, one of our targets. We have to choose one for testing."

"What do you mean? We are ready for the big plan?"

"No, but we have to try to see if it can work or not. It's better if it turns out now that we need some adjustments."

"Mmm... the problem is that we need to be stealthy. Very stealthy. Plus, we have to avoid people who will search for our target," Rina replied.

"Don't worry about this part. I've got a friend in the HSA who can help us cover our tracks as long as we choose our test subject wisely."