After laying out everything he knew about the drug situation in New York, Shadow finally moved on to what they were actually setting out to do.

"Your main objectives are simple on paper," he said. "First, find the source of the drugs. Follow the trail: anything that leads us back to Nyx or the Association. Second, locate the production sites and-"

"Blow the labs to pieces," Nadya cut in with a grin.

Shadow exhaled through his nose. "Yes… that," he muttered, not even bothering to argue. "It would slow down the supply."

He carried on, voice level but firm. "Third, collect samples of all three drugs - TEMP Z, the Enhancers, and the Suppressors. As much as you can safely carry. We don't have the resources or brainpower to fully analyse them yet, but even basic insight might help us develop resistance to the Suppressors. Or figure out a way to safely use the Enhancers."

Straightforward goals.

But nothing ever went according to plan.

The last time they tried to infiltrate one of Nyx's facilities, it ended in chaos and corpses. Then again, they did all make it out alive, and they got their hands on Kai. But maybe that was all a part of Nyx's plan to begin with, as well as what followed...

It hurt their heads to think about it.

Either way, lying low and being subtle wasn't exactly their speciality - especially not when Nadya was around.

And this time, the stakes were even higher.

New York was one of the Association's biggest strongholds. But it was also a hotspot for rogue mutants, unstable TEMP Z users, and monster outbreaks. The city had barely survived the Z Virus outbreak. Now, rebuilt and crawling with life again, it had become a twisted hub of mutant culture, entertainment, black market dealings, and Association control.

For members of the Mutant Outlaws, it was a hornet's nest.

Even so, they were ready.

Just before they left, Nadya stepped forward, jaw set.

"Amina's coming with us."

Shadow raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Yes," she replied flatly, daring him to push the issue.

She had already lost too much. She wasn't about to let go of the closest thing she had to a little sister. Not again.

Shadow sighed but didn't argue further. "Fine."

They found Amina waiting nearby. She gave Shadow a brief nod- still quiet, still shy, but noticeably more comfortable around the others. There was a subtle shift in her presence. She had grown.

Shadow checked the time, a dark glow forming in his hands.

"Alright. Are you all ready?"

Kai blinked. 'We're leaving now?' Then again, with Shadow's Spatial Rifts, they could be on the other side of the world in seconds.

"Wait," Kai said suddenly.

Shadow looked over. "What is it?"

"Do you need to pack your bags?" Nadya smirked.

Kai was wearing one of Takeshi's robes, torn at the shoulders and hem to fit him better. He didn't own a single personal item.

"No. I just have something I need to do first," he replied, already turning away. "I'll be back in a couple minutes."

The others exchanged confused glances.

"Does he need to take a dump?" Sven asked, deadpan.

But when Kai returned, they got their answer.

He was drenched in blood, dragging behind him the massive, mutilated corpse of the giant wolf-beast he'd fought a month ago. The thing's fur was still matted, fangs bared in death.

The group stared.

Kai grinned.

'I never forget my grudges,' he thought to himself, then snorted at the irony. He had forgotten everything before Nyx's facility. Probably a hundred grudges lost to time.

'But I'll remember them and repay those grudges eventually,' he assured himself before casually asking, "Is this alright to bring? I want to make a coat out of it."

"No way," they all said in unison.

After a long back-and-forth and some threats from Nadya, he agreed to stash the beast's carcass at Takeshi's cabin. He'd come back for it later.

Still, even the short scuffle had left a clear impression.

He'd taken the monster down without a scratch.

Easily.

It was a tangible display of how much he'd progressed, and even Kai was surprised at how far he'd come.

And while no one said it aloud, both Sven and Nadya were thinking the same thing.

'If Kai went all out against us… would we still be able to win?'

He was evolving fast.

Too fast.

But with what they had in store for them, it was reassuring to have him on their side...

-

Since Kai was still dripping with blood and the others weren't much better after the morning's brutal training and mutant free-for-all, they agreed to wash up before Shadow opened the Rift to New York.

Takeshi, unsurprisingly, hadn't even broken a sweat. He stayed perched on the roof of his cabin, arms crossed and silent as always. His eyes drifted over the surrounding forest - calm, distant, and for once, maybe even a little nostalgic.

He didn't say anything, but Kai got the feeling the man was quietly saying goodbye.

Not that Takeshi thought he was going to die. But with the way things were heading, no one could say where they'd end up next. Or if they'd ever come back here again.

One by one, the others took turns cleaning up. They had a strict system - an unspoken rule that when someone was using the lake, no one else would approach.

Simple. Basic respect.

Kai waited patiently, crouched near the carcass of the giant wolf beast. Its fur was coarse, but the thick hide was perfect. He ran a hand along it thoughtfully, already imagining the coat he'd eventually craft from it.

A month ago, he'd been a mess. No memories. No idea who he was. Just raw instinct and rage. And now? He wasn't whole, not even close, but he was changing. Every fight, every decision... they were shaping the monster inside him.

'I'll find the truth. I'll carve it out with my own hands. And when the time comes… I'll crush Nyx. I'll crush anyone else in my way.'

That was the plan, anyway.

Reality didn't always care about plans.

He was pulled from his thoughts by a quiet voice.

"Your turn," Sven whispered, suddenly appearing beside him.

Kai blinked. "Why are you whispering?"

Sven just grinned, already towel-drying his hair, and cleaned up from the lake.

'Weird. But whatever.'

Kai got up and started walking toward the water, muscles aching pleasantly from the morning's exertion, as he replayed parts of it in his mind.

Then he froze.

There, standing waist-deep in the lake, was Nadya.

Water shimmered against her pale skin as she flicked her long hair back, completely oblivious to his presence. Her bare shoulders and collarbones glistened in the sun. And worse, much worse, her large breasts were bobbing dangerously close to the water's surface.

She turned casually and locked eyes with him.

'Shit.'

They stared at each other for a second.

A single, horrifying second.

'Sven, that bastard!' he cursed in his mind, realising far too late why he'd whispered.

He froze in place and awaited Nadya's reaction, as he saw the water surrounding her begin to bubble.

'Yeah, I'm fucked...'

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