It's been months since the Professor and the rest of his team lived under Tabitha's care and everything in the outside world is going steadily dangerous for them as days go by. General Galvaki stayed true to his word that the hunt for Anomalies to intensify. The generals from the other nations are surprisingly working with him harmoniously. For some reason, the Coven's presence were known by the military and they concluded that all Anomalies have some kind of connection to them. Though the military doesn't have major details about the Coven, they are adamant to hunt and take them down.
Reports about Anomaly related crimes are also steadily increasing which mostly are random havocs of newly awakened Anomaly and breakouts of the already caught Anomalies or suspected Anomalies. Untamed Anomaly can be very dangerous but the military are continuously outdoing themselves by improving their methods and equipment as well. General Galvaki also approved a ranking system among the platoons wherein they are ranked of how many Anomalies they caught and took under custody. Rafael Inoue and his platoon were awarded being currently on the third rank.
Little did everyone know an unknown force has started to flourish underground months ago. Unlike most people who are against the Anomalies, this group are standing for Anomalies. Most of them may be non-anomalies, but they're not afraid to fight for the rights of the Anomalies who they believe are being hunted by the military like wild animals to be their trophies. They are not afraid to hold rallies and anything with the likes to make themselves be known.
Calcipher happened to do a brief research about the group since he got slightly intrigued by them. In his surprise, the core people who established this unprecedented assembly were Kitty's fans. They most likely got a huge impact from Kitty's capture that they wanted to save her then it eventually that desire grew that they don't just want to save Kitty but to save all Anomalies. The group is called the Equalists. The Professor and Tabitha decided not to interact with them because it's too risky for both parties.
"Guys, everyone got better but everyone still needs to push beyond your limits." Zythandra said as she and Calcipher gather Glass and others including Rocko, Blake, Aira and Amber for numerous trainings for the last couple of months.
"Z's right. Also, we noticed that some of you still needs to improve how they control their Anomaly. I'm talking to you Glass and company." Calcipher said.
"What do you mean? We're so good at using them by now." Glass responded.
"You've improved yes but not at the level of Rocko and the others." Calcipher pointed out.
"Told y'all we're better than you." Amber teased.
"You and the others may be more proficient in using your Anomalies but you lack in hand-to-hand combat unlike them." Zythandra pointed out.
"Ha! You were saying?" Surge commented. "Reaper can singlehandedly make you eat dust if it come to hand-to-hand combat."
"Why don't we give it a try? I dare you." Amber replied as she started to hit up. Literally.
"Amber, calm down. We didn't agree to be part of this training to pick a fight with them." Rocko said.
"I don't know about you but I joined this training courses to have a different kind of fun and lot of it." Aira commented.
"This training is fun and all but it's too tiring for me." Blake said.
Zythandra and Calcipher wrapped their training up so all of them can rest for the rest of the day. The Professor and Tabitha dropped by from the orphanage to come and check on them. They happened to bring some snacks with them for everyone to enjoy. Although the hunt for Anomalies intensifies, it appears that they are very well safe in Tabitha's care. None of the military platoons seems to be paying attention to the newly founded Ophiuchus City.
Beast may be safe living in the Hill House with the rest of them but he couldn't shrug the idea that his hometown is just a few kilometers away. The desire of coming back to their tribe intensifies every second. While the Professor and their mentors are still with them, he didn't waste any more time and built up the courage to ask for permission to come and visit his family despite all the dangers outside.
"Professor, may I ask for a favor?" Beast asked. "I've been thinking about this for so long. Can I come and visit my family?"
The news about the Beast's tribe immediately came into the Professor's thoughts. He knew that if he told Beast that with the exception of his sister, his entire tribe was massacred he will never take it lightly. However, he realized that he should not keep this information from him and it will not be a good idea if Beast will learn about his tribe elsewhere. The Professor eventually decided to tell Beast what to his tribe but he made sure to have Pandora and Reaper around just in case Beast does something.
"You called for us, Professor?" Pandora said as he and Pandora came in.
"Join us. Have a seat you two." The Professor responded.
"I wonder what this is for." Reaper commented.
"Are you planning to have them come with me, Professor?" Beast asked. "I can manage, Professor. You I can handle myself."
"I know this isn't easy to digest but I hope you're prepared, Beast." The Professor said.
Before the Professor inform Beast, Pandora and Reaper of what happened to Beast's tribe, he instinctively looked at Pandora to signal her to connect her thoughts to him. He then instructed to have a three-way connection with Reaper. Though still intrigued, Pandora didn't question his instruction and just connected the thoughts of the three of them. The Professor took a deep breath and proceeded with the tragic news.
"Reaper, I highly recommend for you to use your Anomaly to Beast now." The Professor discreetly instructed through Pandora's Anomaly while sharing the demise of Beast's tribe.
"On it, Professor." Reaper responded.
Throughout the interaction, it is evident that Beast's emotions are piling up. He started sweating at some point and he even started clenching his fist. Then, the Professor finally got to the point that Beast's tribespeople were brutally murdered by a suspected Anomaly and it was broadcast that the only surviving members of their tribe is Beast and his younger sister. This immediately made Beast enraged. The atmosphere intensified from Beast's pent-up emotions and the Professor, Pandora and Reaper knew that he would explode anytime soon.
"You're just telling me this now?" Beast asked as he tries to bottle his emotions but he couldn't stop himself from shaking uncontrollably.
"A lot has happened, Beast. I apologize that you only knew this now." The Professor responded.
"Do you even know where my sister is?" Beast asked.
This triggered the idea that Beast called someone his sister the day the mansion was attacked by the Coven. Pandora and Reaper couldn't hide their surprise realizing it. The Professor eventually remembered the fact that for some unfortunate reason, Thana Ojibwe, a.k.a. Sandata, is currently with Eve and there's a high chance that she's an enemy. They may not know what drives her but they're sure that it's not admirable.
Then it suddenly hit Beast. He finally remembered everything that happened back then. He now recalled seeing Eve and her subordinates before he got knocked out. On top of seeing familiar faces which are Jinx and Void, he also saw her beloved sister. He remembered trying to call out to her but he got interrupted and went unconscious. This made him more furious. He somewhat felt betrayed by the people he considered comrades.
"We didn't mean to keep you from your sister, Beast." Pandora explained.
"That's right. We're just considering everyone's wellbeing." Reaper commented.
"Shut up!" Beast exclaimed. His breathing continuously intensifies and his body started to tense up as well.
At this point, Beast decided to use his Anomaly and run havoc inside the room where the four of them are currently in. Lucky for them that Reaper nullified his Anomaly earlier so he shouldn't be able to use it for a while. However, due to intense emotions running through Beast's mind right now, his Anomaly seemed to be more erratic and becoming more out of control. Reaper's Anomaly seemed to just take effect for a few seconds as Beast is starting to transform into a full-blown King Kong as he screams as viciously as he can.
"This can't be. I can't hold his Anomaly much longer!" Reaper shrieked. "Pandora, disrupt his thoughts!"
"On it!" Pandora responded then concentrated her Anomaly to help subdue Beast.
"You fooled me! I can't believe I trusted all of you." Beast voiced out. "I will end you all!"
Even with Reaper's Anomaly Nullification and with Pandora's Mind Disruption, they can only barely subdue Beast's colossal rage. For them, it seemed like they going against countless wild animals going on a stampede. The Professor on the other hand, couldn't do much to try his best in talking Beast out of his rage. The agonizing screams from the room where they're currently at started to be heard everywhere else in the Hill House. Calcipher and Zythandra immediately rushed in to know what's happening.
"What on earth is happening here?" Zythandra asked.
"Is everyone okay?" Calcipher asked.
"Zythandra, help us restrain Beast's movements!" The Professor instructed.
Zythandra then immediately charges towards Beast. She targeted his legs first to make him outbalanced and easier for her to do a butterfly hold on him. With Beast bent over, she reaches under his shoulders, and then threads their arms up and around his torso, with their hands meeting in the middle of his back or neck and tucking his head in their armpit. The butterfly hold is commonly used in wrestling.
"Calcipher, do you have anything to calm him down?" The Professor asked.
"I left my stuff back in the orphanage but I'll improvise. I'll just get the ingredients in the forest." Calcipher responded. "I'll be right back." He added then ran out of the Hill House.
"Contain yourself, Beast!" Zythandra shrieked. "You don't want to hurt your comrades."
"Shut up! You're no comrades of mine." Beast angrily replied while still struggling to free himself from Zythandra's, Pandora's and Reaper's restraints. "Get off of me!"
"Professor, I can't hold him much longer. I'm almost at my limit." Pandora said.
"We may need the help of the others. I'm losing my grip on his Anomaly as well." Reaper commented in panic.
"You're right I'll call on the others." The Professor responded but he was stopped by Zythandra.
"Professor, you can't. They headed to the mountains to train." Zythandra announced.
"Pandora, can you connect with them?" The Professor asked.
"My apologies Professor but I can't. If I lose concentration even just a bit, I'll surely lose to Beast's rage." Pandora declined.
Beast seemed to stop struggling and was about to calm down but it's just for him to muster up his enough rage and pull off his final attempt to free himself. He slowly closed his eyes, changed his breathing and tensed his muscles. Then, he once again burst out a blood-curdling scream. With this, he was able to gain control on one of his arms. He immediately transformed it into his gorilla arms making him able to release himself from Zythandra's butterfly hold. He then aggressively threw her to the wall making her unconscious right away.
"Zythandra!" The Professor, Pandora and Reaper screamed.
"Beast, lad, you don't want to do this. You're just being driven by grief and anger." The Professor pointed out.
Beast seemed to not recognize them anymore as he didn't respond or even look at the Professor. Pandora and Reaper are in a dangerous situation. If they couldn't completely subdue Beast, there's no telling what he'll do and what might happen. The two of them plus the Professor clearly doesn't have a chance against Beast if it comes with physical strength especially now that Zythandra got knocked down. Calcipher with his makeshift relaxant of some sort for Beast is nowhere to be found still. Then, Pandora suddenly collapsed making Reaper the only one putting Beast at bay.
"Pandora!" The Professor screamed. He then carried her along with Zythandra behind his desk to safety.
"Professor, whatever happens-" Reaper is saying something but was cut off by the Professor.
"Don't say it, lad. No one's going to die on my watch." The Professor said. "Where in the world is Calcipher?" He muttered to himself in panic.
"I just want to say that I respect you and everyone else. Please take care of Eden." Reaper said.
For some reason, Pandora's Mind Disruption seemed to be still in effect even after she became unconscious as Beast appears to still be out of focus but he's still trying to reach Reaper and the Professor. With Reaper's remaining strength, he also mustered his energy in his final attempt to stop Beast and his rampage. As he tries to accomplish Beast's Anomaly's temporary nullification, he also screamed at the top of his lungs. It now appears that he and Beast are trying to out scream each other.
Beast's rage and Reaper's will to stop him lasted for a few minutes when the Professor suddenly noticed something off. Reaper's nose started bleed. Blood also started to pour out from his ears and even in his eyes. The Professor noticed that the irises in Reaper's are nowhere to be found which brought forth a different kind of terror for him. With Reaper's situation and his last words, he's afraid that it will be his final moments.
Beast's nose started to bleed as well with their fight of the wills but ultimately, Reaper's body is the first one to give up. He collapsed and became unconscious like Zythandra and Pandora. Beast's rage is greater than anything else at this moment. Without Pandora and Reaper's Anomalies slowing him down he can easily take out all his anger to the Professor. But before he can even reach the Professor, Calcipher finally showed and immediately rushed towards Beast and injected him with something. Then, Beast finally calmed down and collapsed as well.
"I'm so sorry. I was late, Professor." Calcipher asked after taking down Beast.
"Don't mind that. I thank you for calming Beast down but let's hurry and have the four of them in the living area." Professor instructed. "Go to the mountains as well and fetch Sprite to heal them. Make it quick."
"I'm on it, Professor." Calcipher said and headed out immediately after they put the four of them in the living area.
That afternoon, Sprite was able to heal the four who went unconscious earlier. Even though Beast and Reaper experienced bleeding especially for Reaper, Sprite confirmed that it's not lethal. They just happened to overuse their Anomalies. With his Anomaly, Rocko helped repairing the Professor's office in the Hill House which was wrecked by Beast and he also added some rooms to tend to the wounded and unconscious more easily.
"I'm at fault for this ruckus. I deeply apologize for all the trouble." The Professor said to Tabitha and to the rest of them.
"Don't apologize. I can only imagine how devastating this is for all of you." Tabitha responded. "Just remember that I and everyone else is willing to support you."
The moon has finally shown and lit the nation. The surroundings were extra mysterious yet majestic at the same time because if the full moon added with the numerous twinkling stars from afar. Zythandra was the first to gain consciousness out of the four who passed out earlier. Luckily for her, she didn't get any major injuries and only got bruises from her encounter with Beast. With Sprites help, she fully recovered in no time.
"Z, are you good?" Calcipher asked.
"I'm fine, Cal. Never been better." Zythandra responded.
"Professor, we have to go back to the orphanage now with Zythandra and Calcipher." Tabitha said. "We have some business to attend to."
"Tabitha, you should really get used to calling me Trevor. It doesn't feel right you calling me Professor." Professor responded.
"Fine, Trevor. I'll try my best to get used to it." Tabitha replied.
The Professor, Tabitha and the mentors finally headed back to the orphanage. They brought with them Rocko, Blake, Aira and Amber to have their transport from the Hill House to the orphanage be much faster and be more exciting of course. Glass and the rest of them called in the night. Rocko and the others came back a few moments later, tidied up a bit and finally went into rooms as wells to take their rests.
Little did everyone knew, Beast got back on his feet with a head cracking migraine. He immediately remembered everything that's happened before he got knocked out. So, he decided that he has to do something but all the rage from earlier seemed to finally went out from his system. He also realized that the Professor and the rest of them really did what they could to keep him from what just happened earlier. He felt really bad of what he did specially the act of him harming his comrades.
Beast couldn't just sit idly knowing that his entire tribe was massacred and the fact that his sister is still out there. The two of them grew up in a very comfortable life so he can't imagine how is she doing now. She cant even cook for herself or even clean her own stuff. He decided to ran away in the middle of the night to check on where their rich and promising tribe used to be erected. He took some supplies and exited the Hill House.
"I'll be heading out. Take care everyone." Beast muttered to himself.
"Going somewhere, Beast?" Pandora asked.
"What are you doing here?" Beast asked in shock. "You should be resting."
"You should be resting too, right?" Reaper asked.
"You too?" Beast responded evidently surprised still. "What's wrong with you two?" He asked.
"I know what you're planning to do, Beast." Pandora responded. "I couldn't just sit here and let you do something very dangerous."
"You read my mind? What happened to you respecting people's privacy?" Beast asked.
"I did it unintentionally. It seems like since we lost the mansion and our friends, I couldn't control my Anomaly like before." Pandora explained.
"I see. And you Reaper, what are you doing here?" Beast asked.
"Don't get me wrong. I'm not here for you. I'm here for Pandora." Reaper pointed out.
"What do you mean?" Pandora asked. Beast then suddenly glance at him as if he wants to say something mean.
"Oh!" Reaper immediately reacted in surprise. "Not like that! What I mean is she needs support just in case you be on your rage mode again."
"That's a great idea, Reaper!" Pandora replied. "Join us."
"Look guys. I'm so sorry for what I did earlier. I didn't realize the damage I've done until I got back to myself." Beast said.
"Let's just forgive and forget shall we?" Reaper responded.
"We understand. Just know that we still see you as one of us, Beast. Don't mind it." Pandora said.
"I'm still doing this you know. You should go back and keep this from the Professor and the others." Beast said. "You mustn't stop me."
"Aren't you listening to what we just said? We're coming with you." Reaper pointed out.
"Yes, we will. We already left a note in the living area so the Professor and the others won't look for us." Pandora said.
"Really? Then fine. We should get going. The military isn't that active at nighttime." Beast replied.
"We're really going to do it, huh?" Reaper responded.
"Yes! Let's go already. I packed up some supplies as well. Did you pack some, Reaper?" Pandora asked.
"I did, I guess. Let's get a move on now." Reaper said.
The three of them finally went off towards City of Leo where renowned tribes in Gallant Africa are mostly reside. Leo City is three cities away from Ophiuchus City so they have to be extremely careful not be discovered by the Sentries and specially by the Guardians which are the military's special units to capture Anomalies. Though there are no additional details revealed about the Guardians, it's evident that the military is making it seem that they are a force to be reckoned with.
"Are we there yet?" Reaper asked.
"No, we're not. We're not even in the neighboring city yet." Beast responded.
"The next city is Scorpio City, isn't it?" Pandora asked.
"Yes. Can you still keep up? You can still turn around and go back to the Hill House you know." Beast responded.
"You're kidding, right? We've been walking for hours and you want us to go back. There's no way I'll go back." Reaper responded.
"We're here to stay and help you so that's what we'll do." Pandora said.
They finally reached Scorpio City. It appears that the city is beaming with colorful decorations, joyful tunes and energetic townsfolks. The city seemed to be in some kind of a festival. Beast recalled that this is Scorpio City's festival season. They celebrate the abundance of seafood and their ever-growing resort related businesses throughout the city. The Keepers are also visible throughout the city which looks very dependable indeed.
"Wow! This is awesome." Reaper exclaimed.
"Everything's so lively." Pandora commented.
"It's fun and all but we have to keep going." Beast said.
"Can't we just take a breather first before we head to the next city? I'm exhausted." Reaper complained.
"I'm with Reaper here. All that walking makes my legs numb." Pandora commented.
"Fine. I know a place." Beast responded. "Let's go."
Just before they enter the city square, a commotion is being heard nearby. A number of passersby locals and tourists alike who first checked the situation were also heard screaming in fear. Beast, Pandora and Reaper couldn't help themselves but to investigate but the Keepers got to the area first. The Keepers instructed the on lookers to clear the area then it was revealed that a suspected Anomaly is being captured.
"I'm not an Anomaly. Please, let go of me!" The stranger around Beast, Pandora and Reaper's age who is wearing a red scarf around her neck shrieked as she's being pinned down by the Keepers. "Mom! Tell them I'm not an Anomaly. Mother!"
"She's not my daughter! She's a monster." An older woman from the crowd said. "Take her away!"
"No. Let me go! Please." The girl begged. "I said let me go!"
The girl's tone changed and coincidentally the scarf she's been wearing came off revealing something that looks like gills from either side of her neck. This confirmed that the girl is an Anomaly Beast was about to do something that can put them into jeopardy but Pandora and Reaper stopped him. The Keepers appeared to be preparing their firearms for the girl but it's not the typical gun the force use. It appears that it's a customized tranquilizer shot that's solely made to subdue Anomalies.
"You can't hide It anymore, Anomaly!" One of the Keepers said which is most likely their platoon leader due to the slight difference in uniform. "Men, sedate her."
Even before the Keepers shoot the girl, she suddenly transformed into a mermaid like creature. Her hair become longer and glossier, fins and scales showed up throughout her body and her feet were replaced by a tail of a fish. After her transformation, she got strong enough to break herself out off the Keepers' grasps. She jumped off into the river just next to the city square and swam away from danger. The old woman was then escorted by some of the Keepers for some questioning but the treatment is enormously different as soon as the old lady was confirmed to be a non-anomaly.
• Scorpio City Stranger = Anomalous Perk: Mermaid
"This world is surely cruel." Beast commented.
"I agree. Even your own family is willing to give you up." Reaper responded.
"It will be best if we get out of here." Pandora said.
Beast led the way to the inn he's been referring to earlier. The inn is decent and pretty much hidden from the Keepers. They decided to rent a studio type room so it will be easier to back each other up just in case something happened. As soon as they get comfortable, they started watching the television and the first thing they saw is the news about what happened back in the city square. The mother of the Anomaly is being interviewed.
"Please. Do not refer to me as the mother of that monster." The old woman said.
"Noted on that. I just have some few questions." The interviewer said.
"Ask away. But I want to greet my husband" The old woman responded. "Jerry, I love you! I'm on the news. Watch me."
"Right, right. So, my question is when did you start noticing that the girl you're just with is an Anomaly?" The interviewer asked.
"You know at first I thought she's pregnant and she's trying to hide it from us especially from me so I convinced her to come here in the festival and it's weird that she wore that scarf but I let it slip." The old woman explained. "Then, I got so intrigued that I intentionally removed the scarf from her neck."
"Are you saying that this is the first time you've seen her gills?"
"That monstrous gills. Yes. That's very scary."
"Your screams was the first ones to be heard and then the commotion starts."
"Yes. Who wouldn't, right?"
"I would definitely do the same thing."
Then a breaking news just came in stating that the Keepers were successful in capturing the mermaid at the end of Scorpio City as she tried to escape to the next city by following sewerage system. This excites everyone that it seemed it has become a part of the celebration. Even the mother doesn't seem to have any remorse towards her daughter as soon as she knew that she's an Anomaly. This obviously made Beast, Pandora and Reaper furious but they knew they shouldn't and couldn't do anything.
"We could've saved her." Beast whispered under his breathe.
"We could've but we mustn't interfere." Pandora replied gloomily.
"Reaper." Beast said.
"What?" Reaper responded.
"Why didn't you just nullified her Anomaly? If you did, you could've saved her." Beast said.
"Are you saying that it's my fault that she was captured by those Keepers?" Reaper asked and he took offense from what he just heard.
"Guys, this is not the right time for your squabble." Pandora commented.
"What if I tell you I sort of do?" Beast asked.
"What did you say?" Reaper replied angrily. "You're telling me that I don't care? How dare you?"
"Guys! Stop it." Pandora shrieked then she immediate did her Mind Disruption to both of them making them squirm in pain.
"Fine, fine. Pandora stop. Please." Beast exclaimed.
"Stop, please. We're sorry." Reaper shrieked.
"Now calm yourselves down. We don't need this infighting." Pandora firmly replied.
The three of them finally decided to rest for a while before they head to the next city which is Libra City wherein their main point are their law schools, police academies and their topnotch military academy. Pandora will be the one sleeping in the only bed in the room, Beast will be on one of the sofas and Reaper will be on the other sofa. Reaper couldn't rest well knowing the fact his Anomaly couldn't help someone who was in need and the fact that she's one of them put a lot more burden on him.
"Beast." Reaper called.
"What?" Beast asked.
"I just want you to know that I tried."
"You tried what?"
"I tried to nullify her Anomaly."
"Really? Well, I apologize for what I tried to imply earlier but why do you think it didn't work?"
"I'm not so sure myself. I just knew that I tried to focus on her gills because I thought that's just her Anomaly and when I realized it's not working I stopped trying."
"Well, it's a good thing you did because she was able to have an option to escape."
"I know but she eventually got captured still so I still feel really bad."
"Believe me. I understand how you feel but as Pandora said, we mustn't interfere."
Though their exchange is brief, they trust with each other improved exponentially. Beast felt that he can trust Reaper more even with his life and same goes with Reaper. The common tension between them seemed to lessen. This is the first they this kind of heart-to-heart talk which started awkwardly but ended wholesomely. Pandora unintentionally heard the entire conversation and she's so happy for them to connect like this.