[b]Title[/b]: Chasing Shadows

[b]Characters[/b]: Jessica Mireu of the "Freedom of Niðhöggr" timeline, Cain Flueves, and several "Hecate Corps" troops from the Omega Empire.

[b]Context (Situation)[/b]: Taking place shortly before the far later plot "Macha's Vengeance" and before the upcoming thread "Broken Trinity" in [i]The Darkness II[/i], N. Jessica meets with Cain in the relatively depopulate Lior over an alliance in order to expand their reach, work with someone familiar, and develop an alliance, not to mention gain any possible information on herself from this universe before checking for herself.

Cain walked around the streets of Lior. He didn't have much worry about getting attention since the city appeared to be slightly less populated than normal. The relative quiet helped, especially after the huge disappointment back in Bord'Wan. He didn't want to remember that little incident but decided that if he saw his "partner" again, they would have a stern conversation between each other. That one thought calming him down, Cain continued with his walk, keeping his guard up. Anything could still happen, especially with the silence that was currently happening. He kept a grip on his Needler and brought the weapon out, just in case of an ambush.

"Hello there," said a female voice from his right, as something flickered into view on his periphery. "Paranoid, are we? Put the gun away before someone comes down this street, alright?"

"Considering my history, sometimes it pays to be paranoid. Especially when the people who know me want me dead." Cain replied. Still, he placed the Needler away. Turning to the right, he found himself staring at the owner of the voice. A woman with long blonde hair with silver highlights and glowing red-green eyes, a shade of purple as the moonlight shifted a bit, her skin having a reddish tinge. She wore a steel blue, skintight bodysuit with red lining and a red "Ω" symbol on the right half of her chest, with slight heels on the bottoms of the feet. On her left arm was a mechanical armband, her right empty.

"So whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?" Cain bowed to the woman. He had a feeling he may know or have at least heard of the woman since he could see something familiar from her. Still, he didn't like to recall the past very much for many reasons.

She smiled, standing from her leaning position against the wall of the building she had been relaxing against and walking slowly over to him. "Come now, don't tell me you forgot about me." Her hand brushed against the Needler, then his face, before she stopped and lowered it. "Jessica Mireu, Commander of the Hecate Corps, Omega? Or do you not remember me?"

"My apologies." Cain replied. He remembered the woman perfectly, the little sister of Jonathan Mireu whom he had met after Isaac's future self had "influenced" her into the woman standing in front of him right now. "Death has a way of affecting one's memories. It has been some time since we last met. Sadly, I've lost sight of the you I've met since back then. To what do I owe the pleasure for this visit? I seriously doubt it would be a simple social call. I am normally not one to get down to business but me running into you merits as such."

The smile turned to a smirk as she ran her hand around his face, through his hair before letting go finally, wondering if he understood her impression of him from her time. "Truth be told, I didn't come here for you. I came here for them. You from my time, the emperor, the rest of them. Heard we've had...trouble. We had some on our end, but it's dealt with and no longer an issue. But business is business." She put a hand on her hip, running the other behind her before letting it drop. "I'm seeing about finding a way to augment my force I brought with me. You haven't seen them, don't worry. But you weren't wrong about being paranoid. We really [i]are[/i] everywhere. Or at least most places that matter.

"I am trying to find a way to bring over some, but not all, of them. Diana became too...argumentative. Not my problem, but no, she is not dead. Her kids, I understand, were not so lucky." She frowned at that, but it faded again. "I saw your little friend with you, or should I say henchman? I know about many on these worlds in various degrees. And I ask you. What do you have to offer for me, [i]Director[/i]?"