-=To Shine, Not Fall=-

[||Megs||]

One, two, three and four hits to the punching bag sent it reeling and spinning, then tumbling back for more. A quick intake of breath got her ready to do it again, the next volley of deadly punches threatening to pulverize the new punching bag.

Respectfully, but mostly out of fear, the men working out in the gym gave her plenty of room. They knew her well, and not only by the harsh bite of her punch. Mirage Sant, wife of the famous and well known Justyn Sant who's funded project saved the world from the domination of terrorism and the likes. Mother of Desiree Sant, who carried out her father's will and completed the Tech Stations despite the life-threatening danger of the In-Siders.

Mirage Sant, the assassin. Only a few knew the truth of what happened on that day, that day when Justyn was murdered, and why she walked out on her child and now dead husband, never to return. Except to finish the job, that is. Or rumored.

Currently, Mirage was taking out her anger and frustration on the helpless punching bag. The owner of the gym began to wonder if the contents of the bag had possibly been turned to mush. But he thought it better that Mirage take it out on the bag than himself.

Dressed in a red tank top, shorts, and her light blond hair tied back, Mirage sidestepped the wildly swinging bag. Panting slightly, her arms dropped slowly to her sides, magenta-like colored eyes closing as the bag stopped its frenzied dance and came to a slow stop in its suspended state. Behind her came a voice she instantly recognized.

"I knew I'd find you here, Mirage."

[||Megs||]

Upon slowly turning around, Mirage saw a woman holding out a towel to her. Her brown hair was very short indeed, but had been trimmed to look quite nice. Her creamy brown eyes seemed to light up as Mirage faced her, a small smile gracing her pale red lips. Mirage took the towel, giving her a grin.

"Francine, I haven't seen you in a while." Mirage said casually, propping the towel around her neck. In a flash, Francine's fist swung out, Mirage instinctively bringing an arm up to block it.

"Mirage! You ducked out once again, you liar!" Francine yelled, bringing her other fist up and about in a harsh blow to Mirage's stomach. Mirage gasped, the air knocked out of her. Taking advantage of this, Francine knocked her down onto her back, and came to sit on her stomach. Then, she simply crossed her arms.

"W-what in the heck, are you talking about?" Mirage struggled to say, trying desperately to regain her breath. Francine glared at her.

"Don't play dumb with me, Mirage. Where were you when I got promoted? Where were you when my life took a nosedive? Where were you when I was charged guilty at court on your offense? The list goes on! Where were you!?"

Mirage turned her head, looking away from Francine. She spoke softly, without the usual hard edge.

"You have every right to be angry with me, Francine. And everyone else for that matter. Assume what you wish--I won't be able to convince you otherwise."

Francine's anger melted, having never seen her friend like this before. Obviously, there was more to it than what was being told. Francine stood, and Mirage slowly sat up, gently massaging her ribs. Francine knelt down before Mirage, looking her in the eye.

"...I'm sorry, Mirage. That obviously wasn't the best thing to do. We have a lot to catch up on." she then wrapped her arms around Mirage's tense shoulders, resting her forehead against Mirage's.

"Welcome back, Mirage. I've missed you so much, and haven't been able to stop thinking about you. Welcome home."

[||Megs||]

"French fries and a milkshake! The breakthrough to heaven," Francine said in a dreamy manner, setting the beverages in front of a bewildered Mirage.

After letting Mirage change back into her jeans, light blue shirt and black vest, Francine had literally dragged her over to a restaurant called "Grease 'n Shake Deluxe". Mirage released a soft sigh.

Coming back with her order--fries and a milkshake--Francine sat in front of Mirage in the small cozy booth. With a successful grin, Francine popped a fry into her mouth. Mirage picked up a fry of her own, and chewed slowly on the end.

Francine raised an eyebrow. "Come on Mirage, I said I was sorry. And I actually meant it for once." Mirage snapped from her thoughts, and put the rest of the french fry in her mouth to satisfy Francine.

"I'm just thoughtful. Plus, I deserved that. I should be the one apologizing."

Francine thoughtfully twirled a straw around in her shake.

"Maybe..."

"Maybe?"

"Well, it's just--never mind. That will come later, eh? But for now, you need to chill out and hang loose."

Mirage leaned back in her padded seat, looking serenely out the window.

" I can't do that, Francine. Not when the news starts spreading that I am back in New York. The second I start to relax is the moment when they'll show up."

There was a sudden roar of a gun being shot, followed by many screams. Casually looking over her shoulder, Mirage saw that a group of five grizzly-looking men were crowded about the entrance of the restraunt. One of them gestured over to her.

Mirage looked back to Francine, who was shocked.

"See?"

[||Megs||]

Mirage and Francine both ducked down under the table as the gang opened fire. Francine wasn't at all happy.

"Dang it! Those french fries aren't exactly cheap!" she mumbled.

Mirage rolled her eyes, reaching up under her shirt to grasp the gun that was tucked into her belt. "Do you have your gun?"

"Well, no. But I plan on getting one!" without spoken consent, Mirage peeked both her head and gun from under the table, shooting back at the gang, covering for Francine as she rolled out from under the table. Francine then dove behind the serving counter. The Serve Bot had been shot--probably so that it could not summon the police.

Mirage stood from under the table, using the high backed seat as her cover.

By now, most of the people in the restaurant had fled out the doors. But most of them were trapped by the flying bullets and gangsters.

A small three year-old girl was crying and whimpering in the booth before her, looking wildly around for her mom.

The gangsters started running down the aisle, two of them jumping behind the counter where Francine had gone. Mirage pulled herself up over the seat, scooping the girl into one arm as she continued her firing. She didn't aim to kill--not yet, anyways.

The gangsters running her way were pounded in the shoulders and thighs with her bullets, going down. Cautiously, Mirage slid out of the booth, still holding the girl, who had stopped her crying and was clutching and sticking to Mirage like velcro.

She heard shouts and rings of bullets coming from the kitchen, and she briefly wondered if Francine was doing all right.

She didn't have much time to think; the windows behind her shattered inward as more of the freaks jumped through them, immediately firing at her. Mirage had no choice but to fling herself over the counter, landing in a crouch. The girl shivered, tears running down her red checks.

There was suddenly a new commotion on the other side, the volley of bullets changing targets.

"There's the brat! Get her now!" came a crazed shout. Suddenly, a girl with light blonde hair, baggy blue pants and a black tank top, landed with a thud beside Mirage. They both looked at each other in shock, speaking at the same time.

"What are you doing here?!"

[||Megs||]

"Never mind that! We have to get out of here first."

It was Francine, crawling up behind them. Mirage and Desiree gave each other another look, but then nodded.

"What happened in the kitchen?"

"Pans make good deflectors," Francine answered good naturally, drawing forth two guns, tossing one to Desiree. "I managed to get a couple of guns in the process from those dung heads." Mirage grinned, cocking her gun. Desiree looked at hers with uncertainty. Mirage raised an eyebrow at her daughter.

"What, is a gun too much for you to handle?"

Desiree merely glared at her, and gave a challenging retort.

"Let's do this."

As one, the three girls raised themselves from behind the counter, open firing at the surprised gangsters.

"Gee Mirage, you have become quite popular." Desiree said, hitting one guy in the shoulder and forcing him to fall back wards out the shattered window.

"Oh yeah? I'd say you are quite the celebrity. They noticed you within seconds. It took them about two days to figure out I was back." Mirage shot back, ducking as a bullet pinged off the counter and into the roof. "Besides, why are you here, anyways? Trying to get away from the 'father' who is turning you into a softy?"

"I'm afraid this conversation needs to be censored from the child, mother dearest." Desiree, nice and heated, shouted back above the roar of gun fire.

Francine rolled her eyes, but grinned in a good nature. "What wonderful bonding. I've missed this."

[||Megs||]

"Listen guys, we need a plan. We can't sit here all day, exchanging these lovely bullets." Francine said, forced to duck down as a volley of bullets suddenly aimed right at her.

"Yes, you are right. We need a distraction of some sort," Desiree agreed, making a wise aim by shooting the gun from a startled thug's hands.

"Sure. Desiree can be the bait." Mirage said coolly. Desiree gave her mother a slight glare.

"I can't believe you said that,"

"Actually, that is a splendid idea!" Francine said, startling both Desiree and Mirage.

"They will not kill Desiree, she is still too valuable to them. But Mirage, on the other hand, would be better off dead in their eyes."

"Gee, thanks." was the sarcastic comeback, Mirage kneeling down with the child once again.

Francine and Desiree joined her, exchanging looks. Then Francine and Mirage looked to Desiree, who sighed softly.

"Fine, fine. But you had better not let them actually take me." with that Desiree cautiously raised her hand, fingers spread out, above the counter. Hoping they wouldn't take the gesture wrong and shoot her hand to painful bloody ribbons, Desiree waited in a state of tense fear.

The bullets stopped, and Desiree stood. Hating to do this, she raised both hands in the air, walking out from behind the counter. There she dropped the gun, now at the complete mercy of the thugs.

A chuckle ran through the crowd, a solitary and rather thin man stepping up to Desiree. He put a hand under her chin, making her look up into his eyes.Then, without removing his gaze, he barked an order to the others.

"Go around to the back, where they are sneaking out. Shoot them on sight." Desiree gave a slight shiver in anticipation.

Oh, crap...

[||Megs||]

Desiree began to feel sick, hating to be under the penetrating gaze of this guy. As the thugs ran to intercept Mirage and Francine, Desiree was about to run for it, but the man before her grabbed her wrists tightly, forcing them behind her back in a painful manner.


"I don't think so," the man said softly, taunting her. Before he could manage to do anything else, an unopened soda can came whizzing through the air, and hitting him dead on the forehead. Crying out, he let go of Desiree, who fumbled into a sitting position on the floor. Looking up, she was surprised to see the customers of the restaurant standing before the serving counter, holding various objects, ready to chuck them at the gang leader.

The man, holding a hand to his forehead, barred his teeth and glared at the small crowd.

"Keep out of this, or I will kill you all!"

"Yeah, right! There is only one of you, you idiot." another guy said, brandishing a small kitchen knife.

"And those of which are behind you as well,"

The gangster turned quickly, and froze. There stood a squadron of police, whom stood there with their arms crossed, grinning. Taking this to their advantage, the people in the restaurant surged forward, knocking the startled guy out the window.

Shocked, Desiree could not move. The citizens had protected her...

A hand came to grip on her lower arm, and she was roughly yanked to her feet and back behind the counter. Fighting back panic, Desiree tried to remain calm as a small rag was forced over her mouth and nose. But in her surprise, she was startled into taking a quick intake of breath. An odd bitter odor filled her senses, numbing her mind and body. Before she could utter a single word, her world flipped into total darkness...

[||Megs||]

Author's Notes:

Cons-What could be improved.

1.) More description on the restaurant, "Grease 'n Shake Deluxe".
2.) Some sort of description on the man confronting Desiree.
3.) Possibly rewrite last post--make it flow easier.
5.) Work on keeping description on the characters throughout the story.

Pros- What is good about the story so far.

1.) A nice hook at the beginning.
2.) There is a nice, general flow throughout the story.
3.) Francine adds some good humor, making this story all the more interesting.

[||Megs||]

Echidna wondered if there was such a thing as 'sister sense'. If there was, she was sensing something right now. Something wrong...something that involved Desiree. Though they were not sisters by birth, they were by adoption. That thought led to a brief one. Perhaps she would have a brother, if ever Core and Desiree were to marry...

Shaking her head, Echidna brushed her feathery, white-ish blond hair away from her face, but it ended up falling back into position. The cool, city night air gently whipped about her black clothing, glinting against the metal toppings of her boots.

As usual, she stood atop a building on the In-Sider part of New York City--what was left of the territory, anyways. With the help of the Tech Stations, proper action was set into place. There wasn't much of the shadowed part of New York City left...but the In-Siders were still putting up a fight. And they were getting extremely desperate.

There had been several attempts to destroy the station, but Desiree's clever coding and Aidan's new shields prevented that. The only one who knew how to disable to Tech Stations was Desiree Sant and Aidan. Well, the twins, Rion and Sion, also knew, but they were currently away. Their successful career as inventors had gotten them a ticket to California, where they would discuss their research and inventions with a company who was highly interested.

Jia Li was reunited with her family, who had moved to Utah just after Desiree finished the coding for the Tech Stations. The old Neutral Gang was down to four--Desiree, Aidan, Davis, and herself. But even then, they were pretty much parted in their own ways.

Desiree and Echidna had a new home, a new life and planet to live on. Aidan and Davis still stuck together, but had found residence in an apartment in Out-Sider territory.

In this case, Echidna was able to sell the Neutral's base (a large, spacious building), to an In-Sider gang. The base was tucked nearly in the heart of In-Sider territory, and would probably not be found by the police any time soon.

A part of her longed for the days when they stood together, protecting their own rights and their home, competing in dance-downs and facing other gangs. They had worked as a team, and had won as a team...

[||Megs||]

There it came again, that odd feeling. Echidna forced herself away from her confusing thoughts, glancing down to the cracked street way down below. It was time to get in action. And, once again...it seemed Echidna, once again, was going to save Desiree from a gang of some sort.



Francine, having returned the child who Mirage had been protecting to her rightful parents, once again searched the currently vacant restaurant. Still, there was no sign of Desiree. Nothing to give her a clue. But she refused to give up. There had to be something...

Crouching down behind the counter, something caught her eyes. A rag, at which looked damp, was tucked halfway into a container for plastic spoons. Leaning in closer, Francine waved her hand over it, wafting whatever scent it may contain toward her. It was bitter, and made her feel a bit light-headed. Francine smartly moved away, straightening up. The pieces were slowly starting to fit together. Whoever had snagged Desiree, had done so without making her struggle very much. So that explained some of it...but how did they get away?

After Desiree had sacrificed herself over, Mirage and Francine had taken the opportunity of the distraction and snuck out into the kitchen. But when the had opened the back door, the gang had been waiting for them. Luckily enough, both Francine and Mirage were ready for it. Which resulted in having each and every one of the thugs on the ground, unconscious. Mirage stayed there while Francine went around to retrieve Desiree and give the child back, only to find the police there arresting the brutal leader of the pack. And to find Desiree gone.

Francine asked the customers still gathered there if they had seen Desiree, but all she got was the shake of the head. One guy, who Francine found out chucked a full soda can at the gang leader to protect Desiree, explained what they had done to help Desiree. But after surging forward and pushing the guy out the window and into the hands of the police, he had turned around to see if the girl was okay, just to see her gone.

It was one thing after another. Francine sighed, and turned, only to come face-to-face with Echidna Sanura. Both jumped, but then smiled and sighed in relief.

"Echidna! Goodness sakes girl, what are you doing here?"

"Looking for Desiree...I am guessing I found the right spot."

"I'm looking as well, but I can't find her. Just a damp rag with a disgusting smell on it." Francine then proceeded to tell what had happened, and about what she had found out so far. Echidna gave a nod to her head in understanding.

"I see...so, at last, it is happening. I have been afraid of this." Echidna said softly, laying a hand upon the serving counter. Francine looked at her quizzically, Echidna turning her gaze as her eyes burned with worry.

"The In-Siders are desperate. I believe they are going to force Desiree to shut down the Tech Stations, and once again regain control of not just their territories...but New York as a whole."

[||Megs||]

Echidna did not know just how right she was. but neither did Desiree. In fact, she didn't know what Echidna was thinking about at all. All she could think about was the pressing, cold darkness around her, chilling her to the bone.

She lay on the cement floor of a jail cell, this particular police station/jail long ago abandoned. And, obviously, on the In-Sider part of New York City.

Everything was dark, damp, and cold. Very cold. Desiree had become conscious just in time to see the building she was approaching, being held by a dark-haired man. But she couldn't move, nor speak. Not even cry out in pain as she was literally thrown into the cell, hitting the wall and falling to the ground. The man slammed the bar-made door shut, locking her in. Then simply walked away, leaving her in dreary darkness.

And still, she could not move. Whatever drug she had inhaled from the forced rag had been, it was strong. And she hurt, felt she had been bruised by more than just hitting the wall, then greeting the floor. She guessed the man who had taken her hadn't handled her with much care at all.

Shivering from the damp and cold, Desiree began to think about Core. Funny how she thought of him now...but he was the first to pop into her pain-filled mind. By thinking of him, she felt a bit of his presence. It comforted her, calmed her thudding heart. Oh, how she wished he were there, in the comforts of his protective arms...


That's when she heard footsteps, and a light flashed on. Desiree quickly closed her eyes, and slowed her breathing, as if she were asleep. She could be a very good actor when she wanted to be.

The clang of boots echoed about the cell, and Desiree remained calm as she felt the presence of two people look through the bars down at her.

"Sleeping, eh? Fine by me, I don't want to watch the brat! How are we going to...'persuade' her to do our biding?" it was a female voice, who was answered by a deep male voice.

"There are many ways...starvation, torture of both mind and body...those are what we are going to focus on. No matter how long it takes, we will force this girl to disable the Tech Stations."

"Can we start now? This brat has caused so much trouble for us, for the people of the In-Side. Wasn't she one of the Neutrals?" the girl asked, Desiree hearing her shift her booted feet.

"Yep. And with the Neutrals seperated...there won't be any one to save her..."

Desiree felt a bit smug. Oh, how wrong they were...

[||Megs||]

Mirage found herself deep in thought, arms folded as she listened to Echidna and Francine converse among themselves. The three had taken refuge in Mirage's house, which was surprisingly still there and unoccupied.The code to get in had been the same as well.

What to do? It would be considered suicide to for them to charge unknowingly into the depths of In-Sider territory. Plus, they would have trouble finding Desiree. Where would they take her? There were so many questions, and Mirage sighed, pushing her light blond hair away from her face a bit impatiently. She didn't like these motherly feelings at all. But they were still there, and always would be. She had given birth to a wonderful child, but she had suddenly turned her back on her daughter.

For reasons she wouldn't be able to tell, or even think about. Luckily her husband was on the right track, and had did his best to support Desiree as she grew. But even then the child had not gotten much attention, for Justyn had been a busy man. Then came the day of the tragedy...

Mirage refused to think about that. She was still being accused for it. Her eyes came to stray upon Echidna, who stood next to the couch. Mirage had been there when Vuudo had received the adoption papers. This child, this lab experiment, now had a rightful home. Mirage allowed herself a small smile. She didn't have anything against Echidna, but actually admired her strength. The vampire was fairing well indeed, and looked more healthy than she had ever seen her. Well, living with Tren's wife could certainly do that to a person.

Hold it. Why not ask for help? Though Mirage hated to admit it, the time had come to ask for it. They were currently at a dead end.

"We're going to have to ask for help on this one," Mirage spoke up softly, making both Francine and Echidna look to her with slight surprise. It was odd coming from her, but if Mirage had said it, then it was certainly important.

"Yes, but who?"

"I'm thinking of a few...I'd have to say Tren and Core. Then you two could go with them into the In-Sider territory. It would be foolish for me to go. You four will stand with a stronger chance." both of the girls nodded, but Echidna spoke up.

"Mirage...it won't be just Desiree we'll have to save before long. Aidan could be in trouble as well, for he is the one who made the shields that protect the Tech Stations."

Mirage straightened up at once. Now it made much more sense. Combine Desiree and Aidan, and you pretty much had the keys of destruction for the Tech Stations.

"Where does Aidan live?"

"On this side, in an apartment not too far from here."

"Right. You two had better go get to him first. In the mean time, I'll go collect Core and Tren. We must hurry." Mirage led the way out of the house, Francine and Echidna following. The house locked itself up behind them, awaiting their return.

Mirage watched as Echidna and Francine walked off together, and tried to will herself to relax. Even though she was not welcome here in New York City, it was still her only home...