Queen's Gambit declined

Beth slowly awoke to the sound of the life support machines around her. She gradually turned around to see Dan sound asleep by her bedside. Just as she breathed a sigh of relief upon realizing that she survived her encounter with Kadyn, the door to the ambulance abruptly burst open. 

[KD-554] - "Wake the fuck up, bitch, stop pretending to be asleep! "

Said KD-554 enthusiastically as she barged into the room with a bouquet of flowers. 

[KD-554] - "Oh look at you, awake and silent! Silent just like when you were supposed to report Kadyn's whereabouts to me, huh? "

Said KD-554 as she inserted the bouquet of flowers into the small vase by her nightstand. 

At first, Beth didn't pay much attention to the flowers but after a second look at them, she realized that they were white chrysanthemums, a type of flowers commonly associated with death and mourning. As her wide-open eyes darted between the flowers and KD-554, Dan slowly woke up from his nap. 

[Dan] - "Stop screaming... who the hell? "

Yelled Dan in an annoyed tone. 

[KD-554] - "Who's guarding the border to the city, Dan? "

Dan's expression quickly changed upon noticing KD-554. 

[Dan] - "I'm sorry, I will go now! "

In the blink of an eye, KD-554's katana abruptly appeared in front of Dan's throat. 

[KD-554] - "Disobey me again and I will make sure your head splatters like a watermelon all over the seven continents. And I fucking promise it, Dan! "

Said KD-554 in a grim voice without looking at Dan. 

As soon as KD-554 lowered her blade, Dan immediately ran out of the ambulance. Meanwhile, Beth begged Dan to stay but her breathing tubes made sure she was mute as a puppet. After losing Dan out of her sight, Beth immediately began to beg KD-554 for mercy with a frightened expression on her face. 

[KD-554] - "You know I have to go get her myself now. Do you know how much trouble you could've saved me if you just picked up the radio and called me? Think Beth, think! You are a chess grandmaster for fuck's sake! "

All of a sudden, KD-554 jerked the respirator out of Beth's mouth. Now suddenly having to breathe by her own ability, Beth violently coughed droplets of blood on her sheet while gasping for air. 

[KD-554] - "Speak, tell me everything you know about her! "

Said KD-554 as she approached Beth's face with a vindicating stare. 

[Beth] - "I... *cough* I captured her but she... possessed something that made herself invisible or *cough* ...something. "

Said Beth in laboured breaths. 

[KD-554] - "Yeah I already know that! I want you to tell me something I don't know! "

[Beth] - "How am I supposed to know? "

KD-554 breathed a heavy sigh filled with disappointment. 

[KD-554] - "Let me tell you a story, my dear Beth. Once upon a time, in the great utopia of North Korea, the supreme leader Kim Jong Un was surrounded by a bunch of lovely generals. Together they worked to establish the Great People's Republic of Korea as a world power. One day, when everyone was doing their best, General Hyon Yong Chol decided to fall asleep during an important meeting about legalizing human rights. So, for the benefit of all, he was executed by anti-aircraft cannons and everyone lived happily ever after. The end! "

The room fell silent as Beth stared at KD-554, not knowing how to respond. 

[KD-554] - "Perhaps that was not a good analogy. "

[Beth] - "Yeah, *cough* I don't see how we can relate to that story. "

[KD-554] - "No, because you are more useful to me asleep than awake right now! "

KD-554 swiftly got up and pulled a needle filled with a strange liquid out of the cabin. Before Beth could react, KD-554 jabbed the needle into Beth's IV fluid bag. 

[KD-554] - "Perhaps you require... motivation. "

In a panic, Beth immediately started to think about what she could say to please KD-554. 

[Beth] - "She has wrist blades! She's very acrobatic as well and I think she possesses a Sandevistan or something of that sort. "

Beth was hyperventilating as she desperately searched for a hint of approval on her boss's face but when more of the needle's liquid entered her IV, it was clear KD-554 wasn't satisfied with her answer. 

[Beth] - "I was still conscious when Astroboy attacked her! She was pulverized against the city wall and was badly hurt. She shouldn't be far off the scene. "

[KD-554] - "And you think Astroboy would keep that information hidden from me? He took exactly 5 seconds to transport you here and go back. Somehow by that time, she's already gone without a trace. "

Suddenly a spark popped up inside Beth's mind. 

[Beth] - "The exit! When I first caught her, she crawled out of a secret exit built into the city walls! There was no trace of her because the exit was concealed by a holographic projector! "

The stress caused Beth to cry for a few seconds before calming down. Meanwhile, satisfied with Beth's response, KD-544 smirked as she withdrew the needle from Beth's IV fluid. 

[Beth] - "You bitch! You could've told me that's what you wanted to hear from the start! Why did you have to do all this? "

Screamed Beth in a fit of rage.

[KD-554] - "Because nothing beats the fresh feel of Guantanamo Bay in the morning. "

Said KD-554 as she took a sniff out of the flowers on the nightstand. 

Suddenly Beth felt dizzy as the world around her quickly started to blur. 

[KD-554] - "By the way, Beth, that analogy with Kim Jong Un, you should know I'm not bluffing. Keep laying on that bed and it's pew pew! "

Said KD-554 as she mimicked a gun with her fingers. 

[KD-554] - "Be there by the next time I call you, alright? "

Said KD-554 with an ominous smile as she deposited a walkie-talkie on the nightstand. As KD-554 left the room, she used her katana to cut off the curtain off the window. To Beth's shock, there was a mount of quad 23mm anti-aircraft cannons pointed at her. Although she desperately wanted to flee, she was too intoxicated to even move her arm. 

Later, inside the secret tunnel, KD-554 smirked devilishly as she saw the trail of blood left behind by Kadyn. There was a predatory look in her eyes as she licked her lips. 

[KD-554] - "Nothing beats a good chase, sis. "

Meanwhile, a sports car came to a stop at the barren land outside of the city. Senju stepped out of the vehicle and used his enhanced optics to scout the area. 

[McCree] - "Whatcha got? "

[Senju] - "Not good. Looks like we'll stir quite some attention if we go through the front doors. "

[McCree] - "I reckon we are equipped to gain a tad bit of celebrity. "

Said McCree as he reloaded his revolver. 

[Senju] - "We are here for a rescue mission, not to be demolish experts. Any other bright ideas? "

[McCree] - "Quite strange of yah to ask the muscle of the gang to put his thinkin' cap on. "

Said McCree as he exited the vehicle from the driver's side. 

[Senju] - "No, I am the muscle of the group! What are you on about? "

[McCree] - "We both are muscles. Kadyn's the true noggin. So instead of thinkin', how bout' we do this the easy way? "

Said McCree as he aimed his gun at the ground. 

With a single shot, his bullet dug a hole big enough for the both of them to walk through. Without hesitation, McCree quickly jumped into the tunnel followed by Senju moments after. 

[McCree] - "I wonder how we gon' locate her. "

[Senju] - "I still receive transmission from her. I'm glad I added a receptor to my cybernetics. "

[McCree] - "Oh good, you are finally useful for once. "

During this time, inside the city, as artillery shells rang across the streets and gunfire filled every alley, Kadyn slowly made her way through ruins and rubbles. Although she was still hurt, her injuries were quickly healing due to her special physiology. As the sound of a tracked vehicle rolled closer toward her position, Kadyn rapidly took refuge inside a battered warehouse. 

After making sure no one was around, Kadyn took a moment to rest against one of the support beams. She could feel the small vibration of the explosions inside the city as her head rested against the beam. After resting her eyes for a while, she opened them to see Mike sitting in front of her. 

[Kadyn] - "If only you could land from the sky and take me and our children away to safety. "

Said Kadyn as she looked at Mike with an air of defeat in her eyes. 

[Mike] - "I wish I could. But who might drop from the sky is Jagger. He will soon know of your location, you know. "

[Kadyn] - "Bloody hell... "

Expired Kadyn from her mouth. 

[Mike] - "You need to kill Jagger, dear, or you'll never be at peace. "

[Kadyn] - "No, Mike, I can't. I promised that if there was a slight chance to bring you back, I would do anything that is necessary. "

[Mike] - "I'm dead, Kadyn! There is no afterlife or miracle, it's all just- "

Kadyn abruptly got up in a fit of anger.

[Kadyn] - "Then how did you manage to defeat Sniper without a working brain? You are nothing but an imagination created by my own mind! The real Mike would never believe in defeat even if there is no chance of victory! Go to hell, you impostor! "

Kadyn breathed a heavy sigh of frustration as she realized that was talking to the void. 

Suddenly, Kadyn felt movement inside the warehouse. As she turned around, she suddenly saw an almost identical copy of herself standing in front of her. After overcoming the initial shock, Kadyn soon realized that it was her big sister KD-554. 

[KD-554] - "Greeting, little sister. "

Said KD-554 with a smug smirk on her face. 

[Kadyn] - "KD-554, what are you doing here? "

[KD-554] - "Looking for you, of course. What else could it be? "

[Kadyn] - "You are behind all this, aren't you?

Said Kadyn as she pointed her finger at KD-554.

[KD-554] - "Oh my, the accusations! That's how you greet your sibling after years of not meeting her? "

[Kadyn] - "You slayed all the KD models before you and deserted the empire. And you expect me to trust a psychopath? "

[KD-554] - "Oh please, honey, you are I are the exact same thing. We are the exact same model produced with the exact same specifications. If I'm a cruel murderer, I'm sure you are one somewhere deep in your heart too. "

Kadyn extended her wrist blades as she started to put some distance between her and her sister. 

[Kadyn] - "Either way, you probably aren't here to reconcile with me or anything. "

[KD-554] - "In a way, yes. Relationship-wise, no but physically, yes. "

An expression of confusion suddenly appeared on Kadyn's face. With a smug look on her face, KD-554 used her blade to cut her coat open before revealing her bare chest. Kadyn immediately shied away upon seeing KD-554's exposed breasts. 

[KD-554] - "What's wrong, sis? These aren't even real. "

Said KD-554 before slashing her katana against her chest. 

[Kadyn] - "What the hell do you want? "

[KD-554] - "A reason to cover these milkers of course. I'm sure you won't flash anyone like I did since, you know... yours are actually real. "

Kadyn instinctively protected her chest with her arms.

[Kadyn] - "Have you lost your mind? What the hell are you even saying? "

Yelled Kadyn in an embarrassed and angry voice. 

A frightening realization quickly hit Kadyn's mind as she slowly understood KD-554's motives. 

[Kadyn] - "You are bat-shit insane! What kind of freak have you become? "

Screamed Kadyn as she recoiled in disgust.

[KD-554] - "I simply find it unfair you know... "

Said KD-554 as she extracted her other katana from its scabbard. 

[KD-554] - "...How I was made from metal even though we are supposed to be the same. I want to feel pain, pleasure and other sensations too. You should understand my pain, sister, so why don't you offer your big sister a helping hand? "

A droplet of rain fell from the sky but as it approached the ground, it became slower and slower until it was almost frozen mid-air. Everything slowed to a halt except for Kadyn and KD-554 as they stared at each other with the intent to kill. In a flash, the two passed by each other.

As time resumed, bloodied slashes immediately appeared on Kadyn's arms and legs before she collapsed to the ground. However, just as KD-554 turned around with a confident smile, her katanas both shattered into a thousand pieces before she lost balance due to the huge wound in her abdomen. 

[KD-554] - "Describe to me the pain you feel, KD-555. "

Said KD-554 as she effortlessly pushed herself off the floor. 

Kadyn desperately tried to stand up but the pain in her limbs foiled her attempt. As Kadyn tried again, she was suddenly obscured by the ominous shadow of her opponent. 

[KD-554] - "My pain... is not being able to experience any pain. "

Kadyn immediately protected her belly from an incoming kick but was immediately met with another kick in her face. 

[KD-554] - "You're mine now! "

Said KD-554 with a savage expression in her eyes. 

As KD-554 raised her arm and extended her wrist blade, there was suddenly the sound of a gunshot followed by the complete destruction of her right arm. KD-554 rapidly turned around to see Senju and McCree standing by the door.

[McCree] - "Never told us you had a crazy twin, missy. "

In a fit of rage, KD-554 entered acceleration mod but before she could start moving, Senju activated his ability and cut off her other arm. 

[Senju] - "You are surrounded, give up now! "

KD-554's face turned into an ugly expression of rage before she smashed her boot against the ground. In an instant, an explosion followed by a massive cloud of smoke filled the room. McCree covered his mouth and exited the building while Senju blindly made his way to Kadyn and carried her out of the warehouse. 

Once outside, Senju deposited Kadyn against the wall but she immediately jumped up to hug the two of them. 

[Kadyn] - "Thank you, thank you so much! "

Said Kadyn while tears flowed from her eyes. 

[McCree] - "Hey now, we are also glad you are still kickin' n' breathin'. "

Kadyn wiped the tears off her face before managing to stand up with Senju's help. 

[Senju] - "Now how are going to get out of here? "

[McCree] - "Same way we came in, 'course. "

Said McCree as he raised his revolver. 

To be continued...

*EXTRA

- Profile: McCree

- Real name: McCree Flint Westwood

- Ability: [Million Dollar Baby]: "McCree's ability is directly attached to his gun and bullets and cannot be used on other objects. Every bullet, when embued with the ability, gains durability, speed and power. However, the most significant part of the ability it's the massive field of energy around the bullet which basically makes every bullet a giant bullet the diameter of an average human. McCree also gains the ability to change the direction of his bullets while mid-flight. "

ABILITY STATS:

Power - C

Speed granted by the ability - B

Speed of the ability - B

Range - A

Durability granted by the ability - A

Durability of the ability - A

Precision - A

Potential - B