Chapter One: On The Wrong Side

A/N: Takes place nine years after the collapse of the orphanage

"Rebirthed Agent Animan has been spotted near the premises. Repeat. Rebirthed Agent Animan near the premises. Over."

The Akumas automatically ran to their stations, grabbing a few weapons. The main screen of the headquarters changed to a security camera view. It zoomed into the animal themed shape-shifter. He turned into a lion, and swiped. The video shut off, leaving static.

"Quick, security locate his next position!" someone ordered.

Last week, Animan had captured one of their bases, which was by the Louvre River. Single-handedly. Thanks to him, they had lost a strategic location, since it was where their cargo for building the machines were shipped to.

The Rebirthed had the upper hand. Not only did they now have their goods and base, but they had advanced with their technology. Animan was living proof. He had snuck into the river base by transforming into a bug, and turned into an agile jaguar, avoiding all the bullets. The Akumas suffered many casualties. Some were even killed. Luckily, none of them were the special operatives. The rest were located here, at the Desjardins base.

Animan had proved one thing. He was a threat.

"Not anymore when I take him out," a man thought.

When the others saw him approaching, they respectfully stepped aside. He ignored them, and continued running. It was only protocol.

"Where is it, damn it!" he cursed, pulling off the neat sheets from his mattress. This was a bad time to be misplacing things. Especially that powerful trinket.

The intercom blared to life. "Rebirthed Agent Animan has broken into the headquarters. Repeat. Animan has broken into headquarters. Over."

Unlike the others in the assassination squad, his technology was of ancient times. However, it was highly destructive, and more powerful than even the most recent inventions. It could not be replicated.

"A Miraculous," his father had called it. He had entrusted his son enough for him to wield it.

He rechecked the sheets. The blond hoped the maids hadn't vacuumed it up, again. He already received a lecture of how dust could have jammed into the small device.

He checked the drawers. It wasn't there either.

The commotion outside increased, voices yelling. He could also hear things breaking. A lot of things were breaking.

"Rebirthed Animan is retreating. Repeat. Animan is retreating. Over."

Like hell he was going to let the man escape. He would know where Rebirthed's headquarters was located. Where Andre Bourgeois resided. Animan had to be stopped.

Rebirthed couldn't have another victory.

They were the root of all evil.

Evil must be wiped away from this world.

They took everything away from him.

The black ops agent finally found the small ring underneath the bed. He slid the ring onto his finger.

"Claws out!" he yelled.

Green magic circled him, giving him black combat boots, a trench coat, gloves, and a mask that hid his identity. Other accessories adorning the costume were the sonar cat ears, the bell on his collar, which when activated, was an explosive bomb. Cuffed on his left sleeve was the insignia of the Akumas; an outline of a Hawk Moth. He held the silver baton in his right hand, prepared to fight.

The operative rushed past the other Akuma. Even after nine years, his preference was going solo.

So why did he join the Akuma?

Adrien Agreste knew it was for someone. As for who it was, he refused to remember. He did not want to remember the pain. He kept the incident of nine years ago sealed away by a door. Perhaps, when the war was over, he would look for the key and unlock his past.

But that wasn't important right now.

Animan was Chat Noir's prey, and his only.

"We lost contact with Animan."

The young seamstress flinched at the sudden words. Calming herself, she continued doing her work, sewing the flowery designs of the costume.

She was interrupted again when their leader screeched.

"What? Impossible, he cannot be gone! We wasted all of that technology on him! He cannot just die! I knew he was a no good…well don't just stand there! Do something!"

"Yes mademoiselle." The engineer quickly went on her task. She opened a few windows on the screen, and clicked away. As the statistics popped through, sweat rolled down her face. The scientist beside her cursed as she read the data.

"I'm sorry mademoiselle," the reddish brunette apologized. "There's no signal from the claw bracelet, and the chip we inserted inside of him indicates no vital signs-"

"Césaire, I know how to read!" Chloe Bourgeois growled.

She whirled to the blue armored man. "You! Robocop! Go fetch what's left of that no good zookeeper. And make sure you retrieve the bracelet!"

Another scientist rushed beside her. "But Chloe, it's too risky, what if we…"

"I don't want any of my technology in their bloody hands! Sabrina, you out of all them know how powerful the Akuma already are, and how more they will be if they get my shapeshifting tech!"

As Rogercop moved towards the exit, the blond called out. "While you're at it, locate Princess Fragrance. She should be done intoxicating the ships by now."

"As you wish, mademoiselle," complied the suited man. And he left.

Chloe angrily stormed across the room. She threw her lab coat onto the hook. "Imbeciles," she muttered. Putting on a beige coat, she nudged at her assistant to do the same.

"Sabrina, we're leaving back for headquarters." The head of the base turned to the engineer, who trembled.

"Césaire, you better make sure Rogercop and Princess Fragrance come back. Alive. Otherwise…"

She motioned her index finger slicing across her throat.

Alya gritted her teeth. "Understood."

After the two left, everyone let out a sigh of relief. Chloe Bourgeois was a carbon copy of her father. Highly studious of the sciences, and very eager to test her inventions. Plus, her bark and bite were both deadly.

The engineer smiled gently, and sat beside her friend. "Hey Marinette, how's the sewing going?"

Still concentrating, the designer grinned. "I've finally got the pattern for Ro-Princess Fragrance's dress right."

"See? I told you that you'd figure it out."

The computer beeped, and Alya scowled. "I can't talk for too long, sorry."

Marinette sulked. "It wasn't fair. Chloe shouldn't have threatened to kill them. It's her own fault that she let Animan have a second go with the Akumas. She got overconfident."

Alya shook her head. "It's not that Marinette. I'm afraid," she hushed her voice, "that I'm the next on the list."

Marinette knew what she was talking about.

Their group, the Rebirthed, mainly consisted of either people who resented the Akumas or were forced to by the Bourgeois. Either way, all of the members full-heartedly helped out, so that the hellish war could actually end.

It was called "Rebirthed" because of their main technology to turn regular humans into super weapons, forming a private unit.

Sometimes against their own will.

Well, at first, the Rebirthed Projects would still have their memories and free will after transforming. Even Marinette and Alya were undergoing the first process. Currently, they were taking serums that enhanced their talents.

As long as you showed no resistance, you got to keep your identity. Otherwise, you become a doll.

Just look at Rose. Sweet, angelic. The botanist Rose and her kindness.

All of that was gone now. She was replaced with a cold, sadistic, poison-loving, bomb dispatcher. They even made her voice, which once sung for the birds, into a haunting melody that lead victims to their deaths.

Alya and Marinette swore they wouldn't let themselves turn into such monsters. No matter what.

They would word hard, and keep her loved ones safe, and stop the Akumas.

Alya only came a few months ago, after Chloe took her mother and younger siblings hostage. The scientist took interest in Alya's strong techno skills, nicknaming her "Lady Wifi". To make the deal more secure, the blond used the means of blackmail to recruit her into Rebirthed.

As for Marinette…it hurt to remember.

The memories, nine years ago and before, were lost. She had a scar on her head to prove it. She forgot who she was protecting.

It made her angry that only Chloe knew who it was.

Did Marinette even have any loved one left to protect? What if it was only bluff? What if Chloe already finished them off herself? Maybe it was really the Rebirthed who hurt them, not the Akumas.

Despite the questions, every cruel smirk, taunt, and threat terrified her. She couldn't risk it.

The Akumas. They are the ones to blame for this. If only they surrendered before, instead of continuing the war, that none of this would exist.

Gabriel Agreste. Ignoring the pain, she remembered a great loathing for the man, but why? She hit her head back then, so there were some blank spaces in her head. That voice…that friendly voice…her birthday…

It was all for whoever gave her the bracelet resting around her wrist. But who gave it to her?

Marinette was going to find out. Even if it meant torturing every akuma, even the leader himself, she would do it to get her answer.