The sound of running water fills the tunnel, echoing into the darkness beyond the sphere of light. I take a stuttered breath, it was over. The bright flood lights make a small dome of light around the clean up crew as they work. Piece by piece they pick up what is left of the massacre; the water that pooled was a dim red. I shake my head, “May they burn in hell.” I mutter as I make my way out of the tunnel and into the station. There, another crew was cleaning up what is left of the subway train. Two died there; that much I know. I jump up onto the platform, my right arm sways momentarily. The bleeding still has not stopped, and it still hurt. That bitch dug deep into my shoulder, almost took it off; took her head for that I did. I survey the station, I was the only member of the main team left in there. The rest are probably top side.
I make my way up the stairs to the street; the silent sirens blare in my ears as the flashing lights catch my eyes. What a mess, what a fucking mess. In the light of the street lamp above I feel the need to look myself over. My shirt is torn and blood stained, so are my pants, my left arm has superficial scratches (they had clotted and will be fine), and my beautifully mauled right arm hung almost dead at my side. Like I said, what a fucking mess. Someone puts a hand on my shoulder. I turn around with a start, “Oh, it's you.” I breathe a sigh of relief, it was Alice (one of the other members of the main team). And being who she is, she appeared basically unharmed; just a bit of torn clothing. “So what’s the damage?” I ask as she leads me away from the station entrance.
“All together there were,” She hesitates a moment, “nine deaths. This is going to be hard to cover up, you know.”
“Yeah I know. But,” A half smile comes across my face, “that’s what you’re good at, Goddess.”
“Yeah, fan-fucking-tastic.” She sighs and shakes her head, “But it’s got to get done.”
We duck under the caution tape and follow the line of body bags that lay on the grass of the park. I can see Lilith not to far off doing her best to heal the wounded. God only knows how many total for that. “Salvo!” Someone from a group of cops calls over to us. I watch as she squeezes out of the bunch and runs over to us. “What’s up, Doll?” I ask Soya as she comes along side us. Her face was still spotted with blood and she still had a few scratches showing through the tears of her amp-suit. Lilith must have taken care of any of the fatal wounds.
“Wonder Girl wants to see you.” I notice that she is walking with a slight limp, “And she doesn’t want to hear that you can hold out till she’s finished with the other injured.”
“I really am fine.”
“Yeah right.” She points at my arm, “I could follow the trail of blood to anywhere you’ve been. And as far as I can tell, it is still making a path.”
I lift up my arm with the help of the other one, “Now it isn’t.”
“Whatever.” Soya shakes her head again and runs off back to the cops.
Alice pokes my arm, “Ow, don’t.” I slap at her hand.
“Then go see Wonder Girl.” She pushes me forward by my right arm. I cringe with pain.
“Fine.” I say through my teeth as I leave Alice where she stood. The injured spot the park grounds, I make a quick count. Fifteen in all. There were more, but they probably left. What a fucking mess. One was missing, Shinji. I don’t see him in the crowd. "Spike went to find any other injured we might have missed." Lilith informs as I stop near the front of the line. I watch as she picks up one of the many severed limbs of our enemy and take it into herself. She then used it to replace the arm, good as new, on the patient. As long as she has something to replenish herself, she can heal anything. And from what I can see, getting the material is as simple as looking down at the ground next to you. "Come on." She motions me forward, I comply, "Well, you won." She says in the same flat, slightly sarcastic tone as always. I roll my eyes as she sticks her hand in my chest and moves it up to my shoulder. No matter how many times in the past she has done this, it still feels funny. It is like she is placing elastic plaster in my arm and stretching it to fill and cover the wound. The severed enemy hand she held disappeared into her to replace what she gave to me. "There," She took her hand out, "all better. Now go help Goddess." I give a half nod and leave back the way I came.
We all have our roles: Soya is working with the police on damage and crowd control, Lilith is the medic, Alice is the surveyor getting ready to put the cover up into affect tonight, Shinji is out looking for more survivors, and me-I'm just here. Headquarters is going to have a field day when the final report is submitted. I look around, Alice is no where to be seen. Might as well check on the crews in the station. I go back across the street and down the stairs. The crew from inside the tunnel is moving out the equipment and the crew working on the train is washing down the walls to clear the marks. "A subway accident." I look over at the speaker, it is Alice. She had changed her appearance to her more adult one, she is wearing a suit. "What's with the change?" I ask.
"While I'm in the Wired, someone needs to do the foot work. So I am using this back up while I ready everything for tonight."
"Ah, so you are Persona."
"Yep," She smiled, "So don't get cocky. I will kick your ass."
"You almost broke out not too long ago. Goddess rarely says fuck."
"I had to move quick, the clean up will take me all night most likely."
"Forgiven." I sigh, "Been a while since I last talked to you."
"Yes it has." Persona makes a few hand signals to one of the workers, he enters a portal carrying one of the flood lights.
"What should I do?"
"Well, I've got to start planting markers. So I guess, just make sure everything gets cleaned and everyone is dispersed and sent home."
"Yes Ma'am." I salute as she disappears into the same portal the worker went into.
