Challenging Quency and unique Nikke.

Once Kratos and Guilty reached the Elevator, he placed his right hand on the scanner. Once his identity was confirmed the Elevator blast doors opened wide for him. Once they entered the elevator, the doors closed behind them with considerable force.

He typed in where he wanted to go which caused the Elevator to begin to move. As the Elevator moved further underground, Guilty glanced at him and asked him a question.

"How do you plan to get Quency out of the Center? It was hard enough with just me, but what about her?"

Kratos glanced over and told her something shocking.

"I am not getting her out of the Center. She already can get herself out?"

Guilty did not understand what he meant.

"I am sorry Commander, but what do you mean?"

Kratos did not mind and explained.

"Quency can and has gotten out of the Rehabilitation Center many times. I told you I learned everything I could about you three before requesting this opportunity. Quency is nonviolent, but she has one severe case of cleptomania. She just cannot stop stealing and she loved the challenge of escaping.

The only reason they think she can't leave the Center is that she comes back after having a quick stroll."

Quilty was curious how he would know that.

"How do you know, but not the guards?"

"Simple. Quency often gets things into her holding cell she should not have access to. It is simple to believe she is getting them by leaving her cell. As for how I plan to get her to leave with me, you will just have to trust me."

Quilty nodded.

"Alright."

At that moment the elevator stopped as the blast doors opened. Inside was the same middle-aged prison guard who Kratos met last time. When he saw who had returned he sighed. A bitter look appeared on his face as he saluted Kratos.

"Commander Kratos, I believe you are here to speak with Quency?"

Kratos nodded.

"Affirmative. Bring me to her holding cell at once."

The guard cleared his voice as he looked at Guilty who came with Kratos. More importantly, the shotgun hanging from the chain dangling from her neck.

"Please turn in all weapons before meeting the prisoner."

Kratos did not even bother with him and walked past. Seeing her Commander not doing as told, Guilty did not even try and followed him. Seeing that made the guard grit his teeth.

"Sir, you must turn in all weapons for your own safety."

Kratos spoke as he walked with Guilty not stopping at all.

"I feel safer with her having it. Besides, Quency is a non-threat."

The guard spat on the ground and looked at one of the Nikkes stationed with him.

"Take him to the damn cell."

"Yes sir."

The black-haired Nikke began to lead Kratos and Guilty deeper into the center to where Quency was held. Once they were out of sight the guard smashed his hand into his table.

"Fucking douchebag."

Deeper in the Center, Kratos, Guilty, and the second Nikke were taking a second elevator to reach the lowest levels. When the elevator finally stopped, the Nikke looked up at Kratos.

"Here we part ways."

Kratos nodded as Quincy's cell was in a different block opposite Quilty. Her cell would be in the same general area where they kept Guilty. The both of them walked into the cell block which happened to be filled with mostly humans.

Nikkes, when they became troublesome, were normally mind-wiped, but Quency, Sin, and Guilty were not because they possessed special skills. As such they were considered too valuable to mind wipe, which meant that you might find a Nikke down here who had the same value.

In this cell block, Guilty was not known so some of the male prisoners began to catcall her. One large outlaw with a cybernetic visor whistled at Guilty.

"Look at those tits, hey, let me give them a touch you cow."

Before anyone else could make a lewd gesture toward her, Kratos reached out and grabbed the man by the neck through the bars. The man was tall, around 6'4, and very muscular so he weighed around 250 pounds, but Kratos lifted him 7 feet off the ground with ease.

The man kicked and grabbed at Kratos' right arm trying to pry it off his throat. However, Kratos kept his grip as he squeezed down on his windpipe. Kratos kept a neutral look on his face as he leaned in to look the man into his visor.

"Don't make us men look back."

Kratos heard a quiet voice call out to him.

"Try to not kill him, killing him will cause the others to try to take his place."

Kratos glanced over to the next cell where he saw a blond girl. A Nikke was laying down on her prison bed. She had dirty blonde hair, dark silver eyes, and looked to be around 15.

"Does he have some status in the Rehabilitation Center?"

The Nikke nodded.

"He controls a bit of this sector. Killing him will cause a power vacuum so it will get noisy without him. I rather not be bothered with all that annoying crap."

Kratos nodded and dropped the man, but the lack of air caused him to pass out. Before he went to talk to Quency, he looked at the blonde Nikke.

"What are you in here for and what is your name?"

The Nikke looked up from her book and answered both questions in order.

"I purposely got my Commander killed as he annoyed me. I shot a grenade that was in his hands while we were fighting raptures. The only reason I did not get mind wiped as they think I am valuable as a sniper. Oh, and my name is Tanya. That about covers your scouting?"

Kratos nodded.

"So, you can shoot a grenade in a man's hand and you can fight against the control of the Nymph. Interested in joining my squad?"

"Did you not hear what I said? I killed my commander only because he annoyed me. I could do the same to you in a heartbeat."

Kratos' answer was totally unexpected for her.

"I was going to do the same to the other guy. Killing or destroying what annoys you is human instinct is it not? Well, I got a meeting to get to."

He and Guilty left Tanya and went on to Quency's cell. Kratos unsealed the cell door and opened it. He and Guilty walked inside to a seemingly empty cell. Once they were inside, he closed the door behind them.

Guilty looked around the room and saw no one.

"You were right, she must be on her stroll."

Kratos however, sat down at the chair and spoke up.

"Quency, mind sitting down? Also, return my phone and my remote for Guilty's restraints."

Guilty heard a pout and glanced next to Kratos and saw Nikke smiling. Her arms were restrained in front of her instead of behind her like in her case. In her arms, she held the remote that controlled her restraints and Kratos' phone.

'How?'

She did not even notice her presence, but Kratos in fact did.

"You are a meanie. Here."

She placed down his phone and his remote which Kratos flipped. He released Quilty's arms which she had no idea why. Kratos looked up at Quency from his chair.

"Hellow Quency. I am Commander Kratos, your new counselor. Impressive skills, you manage to erase your presence and got into my blind spot in an instant. Most incredible."

Quency grinned as she liked the praise.

"You noticed all that?"

Kratos nodded as she sat across from him. She had black hair with a lot of pink and pretty eyes of the same color. However, when he looked at what she was wearing her face flushed a little.

"Don't tell me you came to perv on little old me right?"

He shook his head.

"No. I just noticed that you were in need of something new to wear. I mean no offense, but your shorts and shirt barely hide anything."

She flushed a bit brighter.

"You really are a mean guy. So Commander Kratos, what brings you here to pick my brain?"

Kratos pointed at Guilty.

"I am sure you know who my friend here is. Guilty, the other super 'dangerous' criminal kept here."

He used air quotes as he said that while Guilty did crush a human to death, the guy had it coming. She had trust issues and hated when people were scared of her strength. This is why Kratos did not flinch from her strength and praised it. And he actually meant everything he told her.

"Now, I am here to get you out of here. Well, officially."

Quency just smiled.

"Whatever do you mean?"

Kratos leaned forward and smiled.

"I find your skill set super impressive. How good are you at stealing?"

Quency whistled as she looked to the sky.

"Really, really, really good."

"Could you do this to Raptures as well? Hide from their sensors and stuff."

Quency gave a cute grin.

"Absolutely."

"Well then, if you join my squad I would want you to use that skill as an assassin and a scout. Of course, just on Raptures. But before that, I want to give you a little challenge. A game if you will."

Hearing the word game, she smiled waiting for whatever it was.

"I have three targets for you. One is Nikke Helm's prop sword. Yan's favorite fan, and Rupee's favorite handbag. By tomorrow at midnight. If you succeed, that means you are just as amazing as you say. But if you fail, it means you are not as good as you think"

Kratos pushed a small note toward her which she read.

'Meet me at my house today at midnight. Your challenge begins then.'

She already in her head accepted the challenge as she was proud of her skills of escape and stealing. She wanted to win the bet just for the fun of it. Also, once Kratos put the idea into her head, her Kleptomania made it hard to say no. She looked into his green eyes which carried a teasing look.

"Not possible, I can't even escape. How would I do so without a single tool?"

Kratos stood up and looked over at Guilty.

"Come on, we're leaving."

She nodded and stood up following behind him. Before they left Kratos gave Quency the peace sign. She also returned the gesture and smiled as Kratos closed the door behind her. Once the door was closed Quency stood up and just as Kratos said, she was not trapped.

She could leave any time and has been doing so since they put her here. She only returned when she learned she had a new counselor. All the others had not noticed her in the room as she stayed in their blind spots.

She had been in the room with all the previous counselors, but none of them knew that. She sat down on the table and smiled.

'Commander Kratos, challenge accepted.'

Outside the cell, Kratos and Quency walked back to the elevator to leave. They did not stop to talk with Tanya as she would rather be alone. Once both of them were in the elevator Quency looked up at him.

"How sure are you that she will arrive?"

Kratos looked down at her and smiled.

"I am positive. She is just that skilled, now, I have a challenge for you as well. I want to see just how much weight you can lift. We know you are learning to control your strength, but I want you to be able to also use it well. Care to try?"

She has never tried to restrain her strength before meeting Kratos. Much less going over her threshold which had her interested.

"Alright. I want to see just how strong I really am."

At that moment the elevator stopped and opened to the top layers. Both of them walked toward the main elevator toward the prison guard. They did not stick around long and they returned back to the Ark.

First Kratos stoped them at a gym where Nikkes trained. He wanted to test his own strength as well as he had still not found all that his prosthetic limbs did.