Milo slipped into the government building's parking lot by tailing a car past the security gate. When the driver left, he stepped out quietly, letting out a sigh.
"Now to find that impersonator," he muttered.
A few moments later, another car pulled in. Milo ducked behind a pillar and watched. The driver parked, stepped out in a hurry, and disappeared into the building.
From underneath the car, she crawled out — the woman he'd been tracking. Orange jumpsuit. Clown-like mask.
Milo stepped out of hiding, his shadow stretching under the dim garage lights. Her gaze ran from his head to his boots, analyzing the witness before her.
He wore black cargo pants, a short-sleeved compression shirt, and a long jacket with the sleeves rolled up. A full black mask covered his face, its only features two oversized cartoon eyes printed across the front.
"Who the hell are you?" she demanded.
"If I wanted you to know that," he replied coolly, "I wouldn't be wearing a mask. Speaking of masks… yours really compliments the clown you are."
She scoffed.
"So I'm guessing you already know who I am, huh?"
"Of course I do. You're Jennifer Quinns, aren't you?"
She flinched slightly behind her mask but hid it fast.
"Excuse me? No, I'm Galliard."
"Oh right, my bad. I meant Jennifer Grace. That ring a bell?"
"To be honest, it doesn't matter if you're right or not," she said, voice cold. "But I can promise — your name's going on a stone by the time I'm done here."
"Your puns sicken me."
"Oh, please — just shut up! I heard a quiet death's the most honorable one."
She yanked a knife from the sheath strapped to her leg. Milo took off his coat and tossed it onto a nearby car. From his back holsters, he drew two short metal rods and twirled them into position.
They charged.
She launched the first attack — a backward kick, meant to drag his guard down. She spun and aimed a slash for his neck, but he swayed back, letting her momentum carry her off balance. She caught herself with a handstand and flipped back gracefully.
As her boots hit the floor, she pulled out a pistol and opened fire.
"Should've just started with this," she sneered.
He sidestepped, raising both hands mockingly.
"Come on, now this is just cheating. Weren't we going with close combat only?"
"Sorry, but I'm kinda in a hurry."
She pulled the trigger — the bullet flew straight for his head. He tilted aside, and it whizzed past.
She froze.
"What the—? No way. There's no way your slow ass just dodged a bullet."
"Really?" he said. "Wanna see me do it again?"
"Shut the f*** up!"
She fired again — rapid bursts this time. But every shot missed until her gun clicked empty.
He pulled out one rod. She drew her blade. They clashed in a whirl of metal — her furious slashes against his calm, precise counters. She swung down; he caught the blade with one rod, twisted, and slammed the other into her ribs.
"Aagh!"
The hit numbed her arms. The blade clattered to the ground — but before he could follow up, she vanished.
Silence.
Her voice echoed around the parking lot, mocking:
"Alright, let's see how you counter when you can't even see it coming."
She flashed in and out of sight, landing quick, brutal hits from every side. Milo stumbled, rolled, dodged. When she appeared again, he caught her wrist mid-swing, yanked her forward, and drove his knee into her stomach.
She gasped — he seized her other arm and flung her across the lot. She crashed into a concrete pillar, hard.
"Aaagh!"
Blood seeped down her chin, dripping beneath her mask.
Milo walked toward her, loading a pistol with a click. He grabbed her by the collar and hauled her up. Her mask slipped off, revealing her bruised, bloodied face — eyes wet with pain.
"Please… don't kill me," she whispered.
He tilted his head, a smirk curling beneath his mask.
"I thought you promised me a quick death. Funny, really. You've got a nice gift — you're just not good enough to use it."
He leaned closer, voice low and even.
"I could read your flaws in seconds. You came here in a vehicle, so I knew you couldn't teleport long distances. Your little flash attacks? Classic, but predictable — you used the pillars as focus points. And you know how I'm sure you can't teleport again?"
He paused.
"Because pain kills concentration."
Her breath shook.
"Please…"
"Don't worry. I'm just the agent. The heroes will decide what to do with you."
He dropped her to the ground and walked off, dragging her body across the ground.
Milo returned to the small apartment, cleaned up, and unmasked. His tone was casual, as if he'd only stepped out for groceries.
"She's outside," he said simply.
He swiped his access card across Commander Jaces' card. The commander's panel lit red, while Milo's flashed green.