"Hippolyta, do you copy?"
Ichika, her black hair styled in a bixie cut, lowered her binoculars. Her red lips curled into a frown, her eyebrows furrowed.
"How long do I have to wait?" She questioned.
"Until I say go," Antiope's voice answered sharply. "Got it?"
Ichika nodded, unconvinced. "You're no fun, Harp-"
"It's Antiope," she corrected. "We're on a mission. You see me using your name?"
Ichika muttered something in her native tongue.
"Can we please stop arguing," Clementine spoke, whipping a dyed purple Ombre strand out of her face.
"Shut up, Penthesilea," Antiope snapped. "Are you in position?"
Clementine snorted. "Of course I have. I've been in position for three hours."
"On my signal," Antiope whispered, tiptoeing through the mansion.
Yiannis retrieved the float in the expansive shimmering pool. Nikolaos, smirking as he approached him, dealt a swift kick to his behind. The force send Yiannis into the pool.
Nikolaos laughed as Yiannis broke the surface, frowning.
Valentina reclined on the lounge chair, sipping a glass of champagne. Dressed in a blue floral tankini, she looked up as Basil poured more champagne into her class.
Aleen marched towards her, heels clicking against the ground. Nikolaos whistled, as she stood beside her mother.
Silver hair tied in pigtails, she wore a teal floral skirtini. Her hip cocked to the side, her arms folded.
"Mother, you need protection," Aleen began. "I didn't send the Papadopoulos Brothers to be your servants."
"My dear," Valentina began. "I don't need protection. Jaiden doesn't know where I am. And he never will."
"That bastard killed Grandpa with those wretched Amazons," Aleen snapped.
She dropped to her knees, pleading. "I don't want to lose you to."
Valentina stood to her feet, and approached her daughter. She raised her hand, "Shut up!"
Aleen scrambled to her feet, backed away slowly.
"Man, this is the remaining Esposito family?" Clementina snorted. "This might be easier than I thought."
"Shush," Antiope quelled. She peered at the women then pressed her earpiece. "Now!"
Ichika pulled out a zipline launcher. She aimed at a tree, finding the right branch above the pool.
Clementine took a deep breath before jumping from the branch and landed on the roof with a thud.
Antiope tugged out the pin with her teeth and tossed the smoke grenade.
It rolled to Nikolaos' feet. He looked down, a brow raised.
It exploded, covering the pool area in smoke. Aleen coughed, stumbling back. The smoke swallowed the pool, confusing Yiannis.
Nikolaos covered his nose and mouth, careful not to inhale the smoke.
Valentina simply drank her champagne. Aleen approached her, grabbing her arm. She pried her mother off, ignoring her protests.
Ichika hooked herself to the line before zipping down. Just as she dangled above the pool, she unhooked herself and fell towards it.
She kept her legs and arms close as she hit the water.
Clementine jumped from the roof, flipping into the water. As she sank down, Ichika swarm and emerged.
She waded for the ladder and scrambled up the steps.
Basil turned around, eyes watering from the smoke. He spotted Ichika running towards him, and immediately took a fighting stance.
Ichika threw the first punch which was blocked by Basil. He pulled her in and she dealt a swift knee to the gut.
He doubled over in pain.
Yiannis swam to the edge but his foot was grabbed from underneath. He's pulled under, coming face to face with a smiling Clementine.
She pulled out her knife, and slowly swung for his throat. He blocked and threw a kick she reeled from range.
Yiannis desperately swam for the surface but she caught up to him.
He felt her arm snake around his neck, before locking tight. He struggled, his head thrashing about, trying to free himself.
He managed to headbutt her, making her release her hold. Clementine floated to the bottom, stunned.
Nikolaos spun to be greeted by Antiope's kick. His eyes widened in shock as she hit his jaw, stunning him.
Yiannis dragged Clementine out of the pool, flopping her onto the floor. He crawled up after her and pressed his ear to her mouth.
Nothing.
He pressed on her chest, counting. Then he bent down, plugged her nose, and pressed his lips onto hers.
He gave another breath, eliciting a cough. He leaned back as she coughed, her eyes fluttering open.
Yiannis grabbed the knife from her hand and pressed it to her throat.
"Don't," he warned.
Clementine raised her hands, grinning.
Nikolaos shook it off and grabbed Antiope's leg. He threw her to the ground, and pounced. She grunted as his hand firmly gripped the back of her neck.
He grabbed both hands, restraining her. "Get off me!" Antiope snapped, gasping.
"Hush," he commanded.
Ichika threw Basil into the lounge chair. She pulled out her pistol but Basil picked up a tray and threw it.
Ichika dodged but failed to notice Valentina behind her, a heavy vase in her hand. She smacked Ichika on the back of her head, knocking her on the chair.
The smoke cleared, all Amazons down.
"Pathetic," Valentina spat.
The Amazons awoke, shaking off their vertigo. They found themselves bound in arm chairs, their mouths gagged with pink handkerchiefs.
Valentina paced in front of them, swishing her drink in her cup.
"Your uniforms are like the Amazons," she noted, snapping her fingers. Yiannis set down a chair behind her. She sat down, crossing her leg.
"But you lost so easily," she smiled smugly. Aleen stood in the corner, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Are you sure you're his Amazons?" Valentina questioned.
"Can we just kill them already?" Aleen cut in.
Valentina rolled her eyes and stood to her feet. "You don't rush these things, Aleen."
She glanced at her daughter. "Have I taught you anything?"
Aleen bowed her head, arms folded.
Antiope narrowed her gaze.
"Now..." Valentina said, drawing out a golden knife. "This is where the fun begins."
She approached Ichika and pressed the blade to her left cheek. She untied the handkerchief, prying it out of her mouth.
Ichika coughed, glaring at her. "Tell me why did Jaiden send you to kill me."
Antiope laughed, shaking her head. "Are you serious? We're here because you killed his family."
"Mother didn't kill his pathetic family," Aleen snapped, striding towards them proudly. "That was grandfather. Whom you murdered!"
"What?" Clementine blinked. "We didn't—"
Ichika stomped on Clementine's foot. Clementine hissed as Antiope nodded. "You're right. And we'd do it again."
Aleen's eyes flittered between them.
"Oh my God..." Valentina sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Okay..." Antiope said carefully. "Clearly, we haven't been told everything..."
"Of course not," Valentina barked. "You are little girls, not soldiers. Fighting in a war you don't understand anything about."
She slid the blade down to Ichika's neck, drawing blood. Ichika hissed as droplets stained her catsuit.
"And like little girls," Valentina snidely purred. "You'll die for a man who builds bridges from the dead."
A canister broke through the glass window.
Gas was expelled into the room. The Amazons held their breaths. Valentina staggered back, the knife clanked to the ground.
An explosion above caused Aleen to shriek, hitting the ground.
Two lines were lowered, and two men repelled down. They wore black bodysuits, their faces obscured with gas masks. One of the men approached the Amazons, freeing them from their bonds.
The other hoisted Antiope to her feet.
She met his gaze, her eyes widening.
"Jaiden," she whispered.
"What?" Laila's exclaimed, interrupting the story. Ciema lowered her notebook, glaring. Jada chuckled, biting in her donut.
The girls lounged in the sunken living room, enjoying donuts and hot coco.
T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. sighed, rolling her cartoon eyes.
"Jaiden rescued them?" Laila scoffed, crossing her arms. "Will he ever save us?"
"You're ruining the story," Ciema hissed.
"I wanna hear what happens," Jada added eagerly.
Laila raised her hands, mouth twisted into a pout. "Fine. Whatever, continue."
T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. smiled. "Thank you. As I was saying..."
Jaiden held her close as the first man wrapped Clementine's and Ichika's arms around him.
The first man gave a thumbs up and they repelled upward.
Valentina pointed at them. "Fire!"
The Papadopoulos Brothers turned to each other, eyebrows raised.
Valentina, fuming, scrambled towards Aleen. She hoisted her to her feet and slapped her.
Aleen cried out as Valentina grasped her face, making her look up.
"They're getting away because of you," she snarled angrily. "This is your fault!"
They were raised into a helicopter, the girls were dragged to a bench. Wind billowed in the helicopter, their hair whipped in their faces.
Jaiden introduced Antiope to an oxygen mask. She inhaled deeply, gripping his wrist.
The first man tugged off his mask, revealing himself to be Mr. Mace.
"I'll never do that again," he muttered, cocking his neck to the left. A satisfying crack was followed by another on the right.
Jaiden removed the mask, rubbing Antiope's back.
"Sorry, Boss," she began. He shushed her.
"Later," he replied grimly.
"Uh oh," Laila and Jada smirked simultaneously.
"Shush!" Ciema hissed.
"What?" Laila snapped. "We can't comment?"
"So anyway..." T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. snapped. "The helicopter took the Amazons to safety..."
The Amazons stood before Jaiden. He glared at them, his hands clasped together.
"Ichika Fukuda, Clementine Smith," he glanced at Antiope. "Harper Jones."
"It's Antiope," Harper cut in.
Ichika muttered, "くそ / クソ "
Jaiden's eyes narrowed. He reached for a bottle, pouring Whiskey into his glass.
"Respectfully, sir," Harper added.
"In the field, you're Antiope," Jaiden began. "Here, you're not."
Harper huffed, mouth twisted into an annoyed pout.
"Why were you three at the Leon Mansion?" Jaiden inquired.
"To capture Valentina Esposito," Clementine replied.
"By who's orders?" He pushed.
"Mine," Harper replied, glaring.
Jaiden sighed. "And today's proven you were unprepared and careless. Thank goodness T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. tracked you."
"Yes, yes," the Ai popped in, grinning. "Once again, I am the unsung hero."
Harper gritted her teeth angrily. Clementine waved at the Ai. Ichika tapped her foot, impatiently.
"You are the best Amazons I've ever had," Jaiden stated. "Yet you're childish and immature. That will get you killed."
"Is this meeting adjourned?" Harper snapped.
"Oh hell no!" Laila jumped to her feet, tossing her bowl of ice-cream aside. Jada lunged for the ice-cream, crashing to the floor with a grunt.
"She got me f-ed up," Laila censored the word. "I wasn't taking that."
"Neither was Jaiden," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. answered.
Jaiden strode towards her, his face inches from hers. Harper met his gaze, narrowing at him.
"Yes it is," he began. "But not for you. Clementine, Ichika. Go. 出る"
The two women immediately filed out of the room. The door shut closed behind them.
"Watch your tone around me, Harper," he gritted. "Never speak or dismiss me like that again."
"I did this for you," Harper shoved him. Jaiden stumbled back.
She hugged herself, shaking her blonde locks. "I thought if I captured Valentina, you'd be happy."
"This isn't about making me happy," Jaiden narrowed at her. "This is about justice."
"Keep telling yourself that," Harper scoffed. She spun around. "We crossed that line years ago. You have. This is just revenge."
Jaiden didn't respond, his gaze unreadable.
"Jaiden..." she slowly approached him, taking hold of his hand. "Everything I do is for you. I...I love you."
Jaiden tugged his hand free of her grasp. "Never do this again. Or you'll be killed."
Her eyes widened. She clenched her fist tightly before storming out.
Jaiden pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. He headed for his desk.
"Sir, I'd hate to be that Ai, but I think you were too harsh," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. whispered.
"If she loved me, she would've obeyed me and stayed away," Jaiden grumbled, and collapsed into his chair.
-
"Damn..." Laila leaned back.
"That's the story," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. said.
Ciema tapped her pencil against her chin, deep in thought. Laila, noticing, leaned back on the couch.
"What's up?" Laila asked.
"I can't help but think...." Ciema looked up, glancing at Laila.
"Here it comes," Jada chuckled.
"Where's Valentina?" Ciema asked.
"Probably dead," Laila snorted. "I mean, the FBI has been looking for her, right?"
"Correct-o," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. chirped, her screen switching to footage of Special Agent Bowman and her select team of agents. "They've been looking for Valentina for the past seven months. Only recently, they've made some progress."
"Good for them," Laila smirked, hand propping her head.
"They've managed to get a location on her whereabouts."
"Really?" Jada asked giddily. "Where?"
"Somewhere in Italy," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. clarified. "Wanna see it live?"
"Do we?" Jada grinned, clapping her hands. "I've never been there."
Laila turned. "I thought you've been everywhere?"
She laughed, "In the Eastern hemisphere of course!"
"Do it," Ciema nodded.