*As everyone ran away panicking, Dust grabbed the shoulders of Andrade and Zelina to get their attention. At first they were scared but then took a sigh of relief when they saw it was Dust. He pulled them off to the side and down an alleyway to get out of everyone’s sight. Alita saw them head down the alleyway and caught up to them*
(Zelina): Okay, what was that all about?
(Dust): You guys were being followed by an assassin from Blood Moon.
(Andrade): What? I didn’t even notice we were being followed.
(Alita): It must have been quite the assassin for you not to have noticed them.
(Zelina): Why would they send an assassin after us?
(Dust): To keep Jade in check. Speaking of which, where is she? I thought she was behind you.
(Alita): Negative. I did not see her as we were exiting.
(Dust): Something’s wrong. I’m going back. Alita, get these two to safety. Protect them at all costs.
(Alita): Roger.
*Dust heads out the alleyway back to the party while Alita guides Andrade and Zelina to the opposite end of the alleyway. Before exiting the alleyway, Alita looks down the street both ways to make sure the area is clear of any Blood Moon members. Once she sees the coast is clear, she leads Andrade and Zelina down the street which was dimly lit and clear of any demihumans*
(Zelina): So what’s our plan? Head back home and lock the place up?
(Alita): No. I calculate a 94.7 percent chance that returning to your home will only put you in more danger.
(Andrade): She’s right. They know where they live. If Silas had an assassin follow us there’s no telling what lengths he’s willing to go to get us.
(Alita): We must find you a temporary safe house.
(Andrade): Hmm~, the inn would only give us away. I got it! I have an old friend who can hide us until things calm down. They live near the market area. If we can get there we should-
(Blood Moon member): There they are! Get them!
*A hyena demihuman wearing blue pants with a black jacket over a yellow shirt while wearing the mask of a hyena came charging at them followed by two more hyena demihumans. Alita extended her left hand out and fired her plasma cannon at the first hyena demihuman which sent them flying back into one of the other two demihumans. Two of the demihumans fell to the ground while the remaining demihuman reached Alita and attempted to kick her. Alita caught the kick with both of her hands and lifted the demihuman by the leg over her head before slamming them to the ground back first. Andrade and Zelina stood there amazed at the strength Alita just displayed*
(Alita): Let us be on our way to the market before more show up.
*Alita, Andrade, and Zelina began running just as four more hyena demihumans appeared and began chasing after them*
***
*Back out in the desert, Morgan, Ryuuji, and Jin were waiting anxiously by the radio hoping to hear back from Dust*
(Dust): H. . .hello! This is Dust! Is anyone there?
(Ryuuji): Dust, there you are! What’s going on?
(Dust): We ran into a problem. Jade got-
*The radio went silent*
(Ryuuji): Dust! Dust, are you there? Respond! What happened to Jade?
*All of a sudden the ground beneath them began to shake and out popped a sand creature in the form of a giant snake. The emergence of the giant snake sent the knights falling to the ground as well as sent the RV flying through the air and destroying their radio. On top of the sand creature’s head was Muta along with the coyote demihuman and the armadillo demihuman who were looking down at the knights. Muta in particular was looking at Jin. Muta leaped off the head of the sand creature and landed safely followed by the other two demihumans*
(Muta): Dispose of the other two while I take care of the boy.
*The two demihumans nodded and electricity began to surge from Muta’s body as he quickly dashed to Jin. Sensing the attack, Jin quickly transmutes his giant shield to protect himself. He got it up just in time as Muta’s claws punctured the shield and were just inches away from his chest. Muta pulled his claws out and sliced through the shield horizontally to cut it in half. Jin quickly rose to his feet and fired off his wrist cannon at Muta while walking backward. Muta dodged the bullets with ease and as Jin was walking backward the ground gave way and he fell down a pit. Ryuuji and Morgan quickly got up and attempted to go after Muta but five more giant sand snakes appeared to block their way. They turned around to the coyote demihuman holding a flute while the armadillo demihuman had electricity surging from his body. Ryuuji and Morgan knew that if they wanted to go after Jin, they would have to deal with these two first. Meanwhile, Muta approached the pit slowly and looked down only to see darkness. He jumped into the pit to go after Jin*
***
*Back in Carnivale, Alita, Andrade, and Zelina were running through the city all while being chased by hyena demihumans who were all male. Alita was able to fight off any demihumans that got close to them with ease and managed to lose a few of them on the crowded street intersections. Thanks to Andrade’s guidance, they managed to make it to the backstreets to avoid suspecting eyes. As they went down a backstreet they were taken by surprise by three hyena demihumans who were heading their way*
(Alita): Keep moving, don’t stop!
*Using the jets on her feet to gain speed, Alita ran forward and quickly slashed the demihumans with her tail to take them out. Andrade and Zelina ran past the unconscious demihumans to catch up to Alita. As the three continued to run down the backstreet they saw another hyena demihuman who was tall and muscular. Planting his feet into the ground, he gripped the walls with his hands and giant arms made of light magic began to form on the walls. Alita, Andrade, and Zelina stopped in their tracks and looked up to see that they were surrounded by the hands of light. The hands soon formed fists and stretched out from the walls to attack Alita, Andrade, and Zelina. The fist had completely covered up the three blocking the hyena’s view of them, but he gave a confident smirk believing that he had beaten them. However, his smirk soon vanished as the fists slowly started to fade away to reveal that Alita and the others were okay thanks to a pink shield that Alita had created by holding out her right hand*
(Alita): A very interesting. Here’s mind.
Alita turned her attention to the hyena demihuman and stared at him. Her eyes began to glow pink and she fired a laser beam of light magic toward the hyena demihuman. The demihuman tried to run away but it was too later. The beam struck the demihuman in the back of his head and sent him flying through a glass window. Once the demihuman was defeated, Alita dispelled her shield and her eyes returned to normal*
(Andrade): Impressive, Alita. I thought you were a metal magic user.
(Alita): I am.
(Zelina): What? That was clearly light magic. Unless. . .are you a dual magic user?
(Alita): Yes. I can use both metal and light magic. However, my light magic skills aren’t as good as my metal, so I often just use the latter as my primary magic.
(Zelina): Holy shit. I’ve never met anyone who was a dual magic user. And what do you mean they’re not good? You just shot a laser from your eyes.
(Andrade): Maybe we should talk about this later. We’re almost to the market area.
*As the group continued to walk a low fog soon began to fill the area. Alita noticed that Andrade and Zelina were beginning to breathe heavily as they continued to walk until the group reached a gate*
(Andrade): We’re here. All we have to do is just pass through this gate and we’ll be in the market.
*As Andrade spoke a mysterious figure could be seen jumping off the walls and lands on the ground silently sneaking up on Andrade until they’re right behind him about to cut his neck with a butcher’s knife. Alita sees what’s about to happen and quickly uses her tail to trip Andrade and save his life. Alita fires her plasma cannon at the assailant who deflects the blast with the butcher knife. Alita gets a good look at the assailant who is a female hyena demihuman with dark skin, yellow eyes, and long messy black hair. She had black freckles on her cheeks, wore long brown boots, a dark green tank top, and black daisy duke jeans. Her hands were also wrapped in bandages and she had a tattoo of the Blood Moon logo on her right shoulder*
(Female hyena demihuman): You fired a plasma beam at me and hurt all my followers. What a bad girl you are.
(Alita): I don’t want to hear that from someone who just attempted assassination.
(Female hyena demihuman): Don’t take it personally. I was just following orders.
*The demihuman then smiled sadistically and threw six knives embedded with dark magic at Alita who stopped them with her shield. Alita then fired her plasma cannon at the demihuman who dodged the attack and jumped into the fog which had become thick and was covering the whole area. Alita quickly jumped back to Zelina and Andrade who was being helped up by Zelina*
(Alita): Are you okay?
(Andrade): I’m fine. Just a little winded.
(Zelina): Me too. I was fine a couple of minutes ago.
(Alita): It’s the fog. It’s been infused with dark magic that’s making you fatigued.
(Female hyena demihuman): Impressive. You managed to figure out my secret. But there’s something different about you. My fog doesn’t seem to be affecting you.
(Andrade): This tactic. I’ve heard of it. In the past years, there’s been a few anti-Blood Moon politicians who don’t condone the violence of the group up and dying under mysterious circumstances. No signs of a struggle. No forced entry. Not even a speck of blood could be found at the death scene. The common thread they all have was that a mysterious fog crept in before their death. Can I assume this was all your doing?
(Female hyena demihuman): That’s right. I am Lupe Dolroso: The Heckling Cleaner of Blood Moon. Whenever Blood Moon needs someone to disappear and make it look like an accident, they call me and my crew to get the job done. Who’d a thunk the boss bear would ask me to take out the previous leader of Blood Moon and his wife? I guess times really are changing if he’s targeting you.
*All of a sudden Lupe appeared above Zelina prepared to cut her with the butcher’s knife. However, Alita used her tail once again to block Lupe’s attack and save Zelina’s life. Once Lupe landed she disappeared back into the fog to avoid getting attacked. Except this time Alita followed after her and managed to land a kick to her stomach which made her fall to one knee*
(Lupe): No way. How’d you find me?
(Alita): I adjusted my eyes to the fog. You won’t be able to hide from me anymore.
*Lupe was confused by what she just said but started chuckling*
(Lupe): Yeah right. Like you can see me. You just got lucky.
*Lupe disappears into the fog and tries to make her way to Andrade and Zelina only to get stopped by Alita again who slashed Lupe’s left arm with her tail. Blood started to drip from Lupe’s arm as Alita stood in her way*
(Alita): It appears you didn’t hear me the first time, so allow me to repeat. I adjusted my eyes to the fog. You won’t be able to hide from me anymore.
(Lupe): Fine. If I can’t hide from you I’ll just have to cut you down.
*Lupe charges at Alita who fires her plasma hand cannon at Lupe who deflects the shots. Once Lupe was within striking distance, she slashed at Alita who dodged the attack by ducking. However, Lupe countered with a knife hidden in her boot. Alita stopped the kick with her hand which got stabbed in the process. Lupe tried to pull her boot out, but Alita grabbed it and lifted Lupe off the ground. Alita began spinning around and around with Lupe at a fast pace before launching her up into the air. Alita flew up after her and using her uninjured hand fired a charged plasma cannon at Lupe. It was a direct hit and Lupe came crashing down to the ground back first and landed hard in a nearby water fountain. Water started shooting up as Lupe landed and rained down on the area once Alita landed. Lupe was unconscious and floating in what little water remained in the fountain. The fog began to disperse as Alita made her way over to Andrade and Zelina*
(Alita): Are you both okay?
(Andrade): Yes. In fact, I feel as good as new.
(Zelina): Me too. My energy is returning.
(Alita): With Lupe unconscious, the effects of the fog are fading away. You should start to feel better shortly.
(Andrade): What about you? Are you okay?
*Alita looked at her injured hand*
(Alita): Only a slight cut, but it can be easily fixed.
*Zelina took out a white handkerchief from her purse and wrapped it around Alita’s injured hand*
(Andrade): Uh sweety, you do know that’s not necessary.
(Zelina): Don’t care. When a mother sees an injured child her instincts are to tend to the wound. I don’t care if she’s an android, an injury is still an injury.
*Alita stares down at her handkerchief*
(Alita): Thank you. I feel warmth and security from this. As well as a pleasant feeling from inside. I have felt this before, happiness.
*Zelina smiles and pats Alita on the head. Watching from the side, Andrade couldn’t help but remember a similar scene Zelina did with their children when they were younger*
(Zelina): You know, you may be made of mechanical parts, but your just as much a demihuman as anyone here.
*Alita’s face was starting to heat up from the compliment and steam was starting to seep from her ears.
(Alita): Um. . .I. . .believe we should continue to our destination before more show up.
*Andrade and Zelina nodded in approval. After unlocking the gate, the three were now in the marketing district and Andrade led the way to his friend’s place*
Author’s Note: Alita’s first fight and she can use two types of magic. Bet you didn’t see that coming. Thank you for your patience, the fighting is about to begin. This was a pretty one-sided fight but the others will be a bit more challenging. Look forward to next week’s fight. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time.