Two days passed... and people had finally begun to notice.

Crime had frozen in the Fringe, literally, as many criminals found themselves with their hands frozen to the walls. Pretty soon, 31PD officers were required to bring heaters when on duty, melting away the ice holding them.

And it didn't stop there, as the same cases began to pop up in the Switchyard, and even Old Town. By this point, almost everybody in City 31 knew about the cases... and the media had jumped on it.

"I've been hearing about something like that." A Muton commented, attending an ice cream stand. "What's the Human term for it again? Vigilantism I believe?"

A Human in a jogging outfit shrugged. "I would normally care less. But anyone who makes the streets safer is alright in my book."

"Hmm?" A Viper leaned her hood forward, tilting it. "The vigilante is a Viper? Is that really confirmed?" She then blinked, "... Huh... How odd, you'd think it'd be a Human, like those VR comic stories in the Thoughtbubble. To hear my Kin doing so is quite... strange."

"So let me get this straight. In addition to all the rampant crime going on in City 31, we now have a Viper dressing herself up like one of those Human vigilantes from a Thoughtbubble story, who glides around during the day and night to beat criminals up?! Yeah, sure, this 'Frostbyte' is doing good things for now." A renowned Sectoid, Floyd Tesseract, spoke in a podcast. "But lemme ask you this, are we really comfortable knowing that some crazed Viper is out there using unknown tech to freeze people? Just what else does she have access to? And the fact that she operates outside of the law is always a recipe for disaster. Remember the Human mercs that used to guard this city? There's a reason why we have the 31PD-"

Floyd's podcast was cut off, the Sectoid anchorman turning back to the camera. "Although the existence is confirmed, reports and sightings of this 'Frostbyte' have been limited. Many sources have reached out to the 31PD, yet Commissioner Maloof has refused to comment-"

The holoscreen was shut off, Hubble blinking behind his exosuit. "H-Hey, we were-"

"Get back to work!" A disgruntled Hybride yelled before pacing away, leaving Hubble and Levine alone with the crates. The two Andromedons begrudgingly obeyed, picking up their respective payloads before walking off into the sewers.

Things had gotten worse ever since Mayor Nightingale had gotten elected. Not only was he and Levine worked to the suit, but more Andromedons had been recruited, and Hubble had watched them carrying old acid cannons from the second war. Just what was going on? We're the Chryssalid's that dangerous? Why weren't the nullifiers that he and Levine were planting doing anything?

Hubble had suggested the other day that perhaps they were putting the nullifiers in the wrong places, and to instead put them in more infested areas. However, that had simply gotten him more yelling by the taskmasters, telling him and Levine to 'Do as they're told' and to 'not ask questions'.

And so he did, delivering dozens of nullifiers over the week. That's how Hubble really lived the majority of his life, and so had Levine.

However, there was something that was on Hubble's mind.

"Hey, Levine?"

There was a short pause, the Andromedon hauling his own load before his speaker was heard. "Yeah?"

"What do you think of the recent news? About Frostbyte?" The younger Andromedon asked.

"Well, er-" Levine lowered his crate, "She's obviously a weirdo for sure. Dressing up like some sorta... what's the word?"

"Vigilante?" Hubble asked.

"Yeah, that." The Andromedon shrugged, picking his crate back up. "Besides, we're not allowed to talk about it. Remember?"

"..." They walked a few paces before Hubble spoke again. "Well, I think that's kind of counterproductive."

"What?" Levine asked.

"I mean-" Hubble stopped, "-if Sacred Coil wants to help so much, then they'd work with Frostbyte, or follow Mayor Nightingale. Isn't she advocating for unity, like Sacred Coil keeps preaching?"

Levine paused before finally speaking, "... Yeah... you're right." The older Andromedon then sighed, "Hubble you-" Levine then sighed again, "I suppose I should be honest. I never liked being apart of ADVENT. Now that I look back they really did treat us like tools..."

Hubble was surprised by that statement, "Wha-? But isn't that why you wanted us both to join Sacred Coil? Because you missed working for ADVENT?"

"Because it was the only thing I knew. I felt out of place amongst Human society... but you... you-" Levine's shoulders slumped. "We Andromedons don't have a culture or even a people. We were created for one singular purpose, to serve. But you're different Hubble, you... think a lot, and ask questions, you're... creative." The older Andromedon placed his crate down, facing away. "And that's something a lot of us don't have."

The younger Andromedon blinked his eyes within the murky acid of his suit. "You... you really think so Levine?"

Levine took a moment to respond, the two reaching an open area of the sewers. "I know so-"

And then Levine tripped, cursing out in his alien tongue as the crate toppled over into the sewage water. Hubble plopped his down, rushing forward, to help up his fellow Andromedon. "Are you okay-!?"

They both froze... mainly because the crate had shattered open, revealing it's true contents...

A strange orange blob, nothing like a high tech repressor.

"Wha-" Hubble was unsure if he was seeing things. "What is that thing?"

"I-" Levine then recognized, "No... It can't be!"

It then expanded before blowing up, spreading orange goop everywhere as a freshly birthed Chryssalid rose. It turned to the stunned Andromedons before hissing, climbing through and disappearing behind a pipe.

A few seconds passed as the truth finally sunk in, Hubble slowly placing both gauntlets on his duraglass dome as Levine slowly stood up. "W-We weren't preventing the Chryssalid infestation, we were causing it... This whole time!" Hubble realized, shocked couldn't even begin to describe what he had felt, as if someone had just pulled a rug from underneath his suit.

"And I trust that will not be an issue?"

The two Andromedon's turned to look above them, three Sacred Coil members standing on a raised platform, looking down at the duo. The one in the middle spoke, a hooded Hybrid wearing an intimidating white mask.

"Forgive our intrusion, the overseer tasked us to keep an eye on the both of you, seeing as one of you was beginning to ask a lot of 'unnecessary' questions."

Hubble tried to say something, but surprisingly, it was Levine that spoke up. "Yes! There is an issue! What you're doing is wrong! I've fought with Chryssalids before, they'll kill indiscriminately once they've been released, not just Humans but aliens as well!"

"And?" The hooded Hybrid asked.

Levine was speechless at that response, Hubble picking up after him.

"A-And that's wrong! A lot of beings are going to get killed!" Hubble balled his giant atmospheric gauntlets. "You've been tricking me and Levine this entire time! Telling us that we were preventing the Chryssalids from spawning when we were just planting more of them!"

The Hybrid simply shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't see what the problem is. Do you both not hate Humans?"

Levine paused before responding.

"I might have..." Levine considered, "But now that I have returned to service, I realize that I hated serving under ADVENT even more!" Levine looked back up, "If your willing to put so many lives in danger just to enforce the will of our long-dead leaders, then the Humans were right about ADVENT, and the Elders. They don't care for anybody's wellbeing, and the Sacred Coil proves it!"

"Yeah!" Hubble agreed, his confidence surging as he pointed an accusing finger. "So you all can just 'fuck off', as a Human would say!" He had learned that from the scrapyard.

However, the hooded hybrid seemed unfazed.

And it was there that Hubble had begun to notice the Hybrid on the right charge up something, a green glow permeating as he realized the Commando was holding a plasma rifle. His eyes widened within the acid of his suit as it fired.

Levine pushed him out of the way, Hubble falling to the side.

A bang was heard.

An Andromedon's enviro suit is a work of technological marvel. They were not only built with combat in mind but survivability as well. The inside is completely separated from the harmful atmosphere of Earth, submerged within a strong acid which helps to regulate their unique biology. However, when an Andromedon inside is exposed...

It was instant death for Levine, the atmosphere pouring into the suit through the large burning hole of his green duraglass exterior. Acid poured out, Levine's true body seen and black eyes lifeless, the gills on his face no longer respirating as his suit stood unsteady, going into reboot mode. Hubble looked on, shock chemicals releasing into the acid within his suit.

Levine... Levine was-

"If you two cannot provide the Sacred Coil with dumb labor." The hooded one spoke, "Then your suits will do just fine..."

Hubble then realized that the plasma gun-wielding Hybrid was now aiming at him, charging a shot. The Andromedon panicked, and without thinking, he reached into his suits storage.

And threw the stick figure he had made all those nights ago...

*Plunk*

There was a pause, the small sculpture having lodged itself at the end of the barrel.

The Hybrid tilted his head before the weapon misfired and exploded, back blasting on its wielder. The Commando was simply gone, much to the surprise of both parties involved, the Hybrid's upper body now seared in half with green lines, and the gun completely destroyed.

"Run!" Hubble's consciousness commanded, taking advantage of the shock as he got back onto his own two feet and lumbered as fast as he could. However, just before clambering behind into the tunnels, he took one last look at Levine's envirosuit. "Keep running!"

And he argued with himself, distressing chemicals pooled within the acid around him.

"What about Levine?! Am I really just going to leave his body behind!?" He closed his eyes within the murky acid, struggling to blink back the alkaline tears. "I can't just-!"

His grief was cut off by gunshots from a mag rifle pulling him back to reality. Levine looked up, realizing that the other Commando was now using his own rifle as the hooded one leaped down, two drill-like blades sprouting from his gloves. Hubble finally took that as his motivation to continue running, quickly stomping his way forward before coming across a giant storm drain, a rushing rapid of freshwater to indicate that it was raining on the surface. A slug pinged off his back, Hubble hearing the hooded Hybrid angrily shout for his head before he garnered the courage.

He leaped, giant frame splashing into the water before floating to the top of the raging rapid, carried off into places unknown.

Hubble wasn't sure how long it was until he was able to grab onto something, and only doing so when he was sure that he had put enough distance between himself and his pursuers.

The machinery of his suit whirred as he pulled himself to the side of the rushing water, stomping out of the storm drain. Droplets fell off the metallic surface of his envirosuit, the advanced blue nylon glistening.

He slumped down, sitting against the wall of the tunnel, arms resting atop his knees as he took a moment to recuperate. However, he did not remain like that for long, still dreading the possibility that the Sacred Coil members were still giving chase. Hubble stood back up and trudged onward, trying to find his bearings. If there was one thing the Andromedon could at least count on, it may as well have been his knowledge of the sewer system. Weeks of him and Levine navigating had finally paid off as he began to recognize some of the mental reminders he had set.

For instance, the shattered pipe on the side of the wall was a marker, already telling him that this was the underpass of an abandoned warehouse that he had heard Sacred Coil would use to store equipment.

Perhaps it was his ticket out of here.

He walked further down the tunnel before it widened exponentially, a small concrete staircase at the side of the tunnel leading upwards. He climbed up, reaching the doorway and noticing that it was locked, but only for a second, as Hubble simply closed his giant fist around the nob and forced it open, a few metallic pieces falling from the hinge as he walked through, traversing the hallway before exiting.

Hubble's surroundings had changed, no longer in the dank sewers but instead surrounded by stacks of military-grade equipment, Sacred Coil symbols on the walls.

This definitely looked to be the warehouse, albeit lacking the so-called 'relief' equipment Sacred Coil had been presumably stocking. He walked forward a few paces, trying to be as quiet as he could be until a whirring was heard around the corner. He quickly walked to the side, hiding behind one of the shelves as a machine passed.

It was a gravity forklift, a Human invention that apparently used the same technology that kept their drones afloat. A singular pointed device on the front of it extended outward, energetic inertia picking up a heavy crate and placing it with accurate precision. Hubble peered past the machine, noticing a set of doors past it, the windows wet with rain.

Slowly and as silently as he could possibly accomplish, he walked toward the door, trying to garner the least attention to himself. Stealth was out of the question thanks to his gigantic enviro suit, but luckily there were barely any workers inside the warehouse except the singular forklift operator. He was about to reach the door before pausing, slowly swiveling his giant frame to peer back.

And for a moment, it had felt wrong to leave. Was he really just going to let Sacred Coil get away with what they had done?

His answer?

No.

Even if it was something that would probably not hurt them in the long run, he felt he needed to at least disrupt their operation before he left.

But how?

Hubble peered at the forklift lifting a crate before getting an idea, clambering up to the machine as the driver took notice.

"Hey, you're not supposed to be here-"

He lightly punched the driver right in the face, powered glove literally knocking him right off the seat and a few meters across the floor, completely unconscious. Hubble then climbed into the vehicle, seat too small to fit inside as he resorted to standing, the forklift just barely supporting his weight as he inspected the machine. It was shaped like a cannon, with two handles on the side to offer control for the driver. He experimentally pressed a few buttons from behind the projector before it sprung to life, pulling a crate right off the shelf and suspending it within the air.

Hubble felt joy at figuring out the device, looking back down.

"Now, which one lets me drop-?" He pressed a button, all of a sudden the crate was shot forward at ridiculous speeds, smashing into one of the gigantic warehouse shelves and tipping it ever so slightly.

And then it fell, knocking into the other shelf with a great big bang, contents discarded everywhere as the next shelf became destabilized, a domino effect in motion. Hubble stared with awe at the absolute destruction that he had unwittingly caused, pieces of equipment now strewn on the floor as shelf after shelf fell to the floor.

"... Uh oh." was all he said, knowing that every single guard on-premise was probably alerted.

As if to confirm his suspicion, the door that he was going to escape through opened, three Sacred Coil Commandos entered check up on the commotion, a singular Android following as they paused at the sight of Hubble with the forklift.

They quickly put two and two together before raising their weapons. "It's the defector!"

And then they open fire upon him.

Hubble immediately swiveled his body, durable armor soaking up a few mag slugs as a few literally bouncing off from hard angles. He took cover behind the forklift, trying to awkwardly hide most of his envirosuit as the Commandos moved forward, knowing that he was without a weapon. Hubble looked around, eyes anxiously scanning past his suits window.

He checked from his position, unfortunately knowing that any gun that had been scattered from the shelves was probably unloaded or uncharged... however, there was a 'potential' weapon.

The gravity projector on the forklift.

Hubble quickly stood up, keeping his upper body slightly slouched as the Commandos open fired again, slugs whizzing by as he tore the projector off the front of the vehicle. And then, from his seated position, he picked up a relatively intact crate, gigantic item floating in front of him as he waited for a moment for them to reload. Once he had heard that audible click, he bought the makeshift weapon to bear, repeating the same process from before.

That had done the trick as the crate shot forward, directly hitting the Android as the machine was smashed by the high-speed metal object, a loud clank heard as pieces of metal were scattered across the floor, sheer force alone separating its upper body lower. He slouched behind cover again, now met with a fresh barrage of fire. They were getting closer, and pretty soon, he would be easily flanked and taken down.

However, another idea came to.

Turning to the forklift, he grabbed the side of it before lifting, using the strength of his suit to tilt it horizontally. And then, pressing the barrel of the improvised gravity gun against it, he fired. The forklift was pushed forward, crushing two of the Commandos underneath it as the last one took pause, staring at the remains of his comrades before turning to see possibly the last terrifying sight of his life.

A charging Andromedon.

Hubble threw a normal right hook directly into the Hybrid's helmet, shards of his mask simply shattering from the blow as he twisted in the air before falling to the floor, neck bent at an impossible angle. Hubble took a moment to regain himself, adrenal enzymes pooling in the acid of his suit as he stood there in disbelief.

"I just did all that... I can't believe I-"

And then something grabbed his leg, Hubble peering down to see the upper half of the Android he had obliterated before, its shattered body ticking.

"Oh."

It self destructed, Hubble's envirosuit managing to absorb the explosion. Yet the destructive force rattled him within, quickly stripping him of consciousness as his suit slammed into a tipped over shelf, legs splayed in a seated position as his body drooped. Two Commandos entered, quickly noticing the unconscious Andromedon as they lowered their weapons.

"It appears that one of our Androids managed to self destruct and knock him out..."

"Good." The other Hybrid responded, "Kill him quickly. We'll have good news to tell the officer."

"With pleasure..." He raised his rifle.

Only to be frozen on the spot. Literally.

Her eyes widened before she felt an arm wrap around her neck, her body constricted as the Hybrid's air supply was cut off, eyes rolling to the back of her head.

The whole ordeal was absolutely bizarre for Gamma.

It had first started with Apollo shedding info about the warehouse's existence, being used by a relatively hidden group called Sacred Coil, possibly responsible for the Chryssalids in the sewers. How Apollo even knew this... well, it raised a lot of questions.

Just who was Apollo? Was he really a food cart vendor?

Yet Gamma saved those questions, simply glad that Apollo was 'hopefully' on the side of justice. As a Human would say, it was not wise to look a gift horse in the mouth.

He had quickly figured out upon arrival that the warehouse was being used as a weapons depot by this Sacred Coil... and it was absolutely loaded with illegal equipment. So the plan was simple, take out the workers, and the guards, then call 31PD to claim the evidence.

His first target was the Andromedon walking toward the doorway. He had already slithered into position, clinging onto the ceiling and ready to drop on top of him.

Only to be surprised to see that exact same Andromedon simply turn around and punch the Hybrid off the forklift, hijacking it for himself.

The action had astounded Gamma and Insight, the two simply watching the chaos unfold as the Andromedon proceeded to accidentally wreck the entire warehouse. For what reason? Gamma had barely a clue.

And then came the Commandos arrived, with one of them announcing that the Andromedon in question was 'The Defector'.

Needless to say, that news came as a shock. A defecting Andromedon?

After that, Gamma had resolved himself to assist, only to quickly find out that there was no need, as the Andromedon managed to find a way out of his own peril, using a makeshift gravity gun and his own ingenuity with said weapon to defeat his assailants. It was only after the defector had been knocked out and helpless, that Gamma finally found the opportunity to chip in, quickly dispatching both Commandos before turning to the defector.

Gamma slithered forward, staring down at the unconscious Andromedon. The explosion had slightly damaged the exterior of his suit, molding some of the sturdy metal and scarring the rubber, but other than that, there appeared to be no breakages, a testament to how well engineered the suit was.

"This was an unexpected turn of events." Insight voiced, stating both their thoughts.

"..." Gamma paused to think for a moment. It was ironic to think that he would have taken out an alien who opposed the Sacred Coil, had the Andromedon not turn around to take action against the organization he used to work for. Which begged the question, just why did he do it?

That was something Gamma needed answered.

"Get the Polaris. I'm taking him with us."

"Are you sure?" Insight asked.

Gamma nodded, "I'll interrogate him, see what he knows... and then we'll decide what needs to be done." Gamma then slithered forward, hooking both claws around the suits armpits before tugging, letting out a strained hiss. The suit had to have weighed a ton!

"Should I drive the Polaris over?"

"... Yes please." Gamma simply responded, a hint of embarrassment in his otherwise neutral voice.

31PD pulled up to the scene, having heard the giant firefight apparently go on by the docks. Upon cautiously entering the warehouse, they lowered their weapons at the chaotic scene.

"Welp, looks like we were beaten to it." An older cop surmised, lowering his gun.

A younger one walked up next to him, "Was it Frostbyte?"

He pointed at the frozen Commando, "Yeah, no shit." He then inspected the tipped over shelves. "Though she usually doesn't leave such a messy scene... Least Frostbyte could have done was leave it tidy for us to collect evidence..."

"Well, maybe she had help from a sidekick." The younger officer reasoned.

"Don't be ridiculous."

Meanwhile, a cloaked vehicle silently drove away from the site, leaving the warehouse docks.

Hubble slowly came to, eyes blurry with acid as he blinked. He quickly realized that he was restrained, the foot and arms of his envirosuit held together through magnetic locks as he sat in a chair that was a little too small for him.

The Andromedon looked around, his surrounding a small enclosed metallic space in what appeared to be a vehicle, the scarce lighting only illuminating a circle around him.

"W-Where-?"

"Save your breath." He flinched within his suit, hearing the words as if through a speaker. "I'll be asking the questions."

He panicked for a moment, stirring in his seat as the voice spoke up once more.

"Calm down. I'm not Sacred Coil, I rescued you before they tried to finish you off."

Hubble blinked, "Then why am I tied up?"

"Precautions. And because this is an interrogation. Now stop asking questions before I hand you over to the 31PD."

The Andromedon paused before keeping his mouth shut, deciding to comply with the pretext that at least his interrogator was not Sacred Coil. "Okay..."

"First question. Who are you?"

"Um... my name is Hubble. I am-... was a Sacred Coil member. A-And my ADVENT ID is-"

"Second question. What did you do under Sacred Coil?" The voice cut off, Hubble adjusting.

"I-" He paused for a moment, the explanation bringing noticeable tension. What exactly could he say? "I delivered things."

"What. Sort. Of. Things." The voice demanded.

Hubble blinked before sighing. "Chryssalid cacoons. I-I didn't know it at the time, but-"

He was cut off again. "So that explains the infestation in the sewers..."

The Andromedon should have felt fearful that a wrong image of him was being painted, but instead he had actually begun to grow angry. How were he and Levine supposed to know?! He was about to bite back before the voice spoke up.

"Third question. Why did you not run?"

"E-Excuse me?" Hubble asked.

"You had the opportunity to leave it all behind, yet you turned around to fight Sacred Coil. Why?"

Hubble paused for a moment.

Where to even begin?

"W-Well... because..." He resolved himself. "Because what they were doing wasn't right. They told me and Levine, another Andromedon, that we were helping by placing nullifiers against the Chryssalids, and that we were purging the sewers of them..." He then balled his fists, "But it was all a lie! A-And when Levine and I found out the truth... when we called them out on it... they tried to kill us." Slowly, his synthesized voice grew shaky with emotion. "L-Levine he... he pushed me out of the way of a plasma gun and sacrificed himself for me... I was only able to escape thanks to him."

Hubble let out a breath, sorrowful compounds bleeding into the acid around him.

"My plan was to just run from Sacred Coil... but after seeing that warehouse, filled to the brim with so-called 'relief equipment' that they claimed to be using to help others and not wage war... I-I just-"

The Andromedon looked up from within his suit.

"I couldn't let them get away with it. Not without doing something I guess..." He then sighed, "Maybe it was foolish, but I don't regret it one bit. Sacred Coil deserves any form of inconvenience coming to them."

There was a long pause before the voice spoke. "Fourth question... what will you do now?"

Gamma slowly leaned against the front seat of the Polaris, waiting for Hubble's answer as the Andromedon was consigned to the back of the vehicle.

"... I don't know..." The Andromedon admitted, "Levine used to decide everything for me, back when I couldn't think very well for myself... but now..." The Andromedon paused, "I'm lost... I don't have anywhere to go, and I don't know what to do either. Maybe I should just hand myself over to the 31PD... but it's not like I even have any meaningful information to give... so they'd probably just throw me in jail."

He heard Hubble sigh again.

"But maybe I deserve it. City 31 is a lot less safe because of what Levine and I did..."

Gamma looked up, silently thinking.

"I just wish things didn't end up as they did."

And then he slithered upright, Insight speaking up. "Gamma? What are you-?"

"Insight." He ensured his voice was on a separate channel. "Do you trust me?"

"Yes." Her answer was instant, Gamma smirking behind his visor.

"Thank you. I'll introduce you in a bit." He then activated the shutters, space opening between the front and the back as the lights turned on. Hubble was startled at the sight of him, yet instantly seemed to recognize the black and blue plated Viper.

"Y-You're Frostbyte! The Viper vigilante!"

"So you know about me?" Gamma asked.

"I mean, I-I watched a bit about you on the news... before it was turned off by a Sacred Coil member." Hubble then continued, "B-But I heard all about you! How you glide around and fight crime! And nobody knows who you even are, I-I mean, they know is that you're female because you're a Viper but that's really it."

"Actually, I hate to break it to them but-"

Gamma then took off his visor, pale scales and horned features on display as his voice was now unmodified, a noticeably masculine flair to it.

"I'm actually a male."

"..." Hubble seemed to only just register this info, a few bubbles rising within the acid of his suit. "Whaaaa-? B-But I thought that all Vipers were females! How is this possible?!"

"It's a long story, but my real name is Gamma... I woke up in a lab." Gamma answered, "And before that, or what I was even meant for, well, I'm not entirely sure." Gamma then pressed a button, the mag restraints on Hubble disengaging as the Andromedon tested his newfound freedom with surprise. Gamma then turned around, slithering to the front seat. "Come sit with me."

Hubble paused before obeying, sitting on the broad right seat as he faced the Viper. "So um..." The Andromedon then asked, "W-Why tell me this? I mean, you've kept your identity a secret for some reason, so why reveal it to me?"

"He's smart." Gamma blinked in surprise before answering. "Well... I guess I should come out and say that... I think it'd be a waste to hand you to the 31PD."

"A waste?" Hubble asked, the Viper nodding.

"Many others in your situation... they would have continued running. But you didn't, you weren't content with watching an injustice go, and what they did to your friend. So you turned around, and you caused as much havoc as you could to the miscreants. Is that correct?"

Hubble tried to speak up. "Yes but-"

"But what?" Gamma asked.

"B-But that barely makes up for the fact that I did before. I planted dozens of Chryssalids in the sewers! I've contributed to the infestation!" Hubble seemed to deflate, his outline within the acid slumping.

"... Hey." The Andromedon seemed to look back up, "You're right. What you did... even if you didn't know or not, it was unjust." Gamma then paused. "But that was before, this is now. And what you do now...-"

Gamma's hood then flared beneath its nanoscale covering, Hubble at slight awe at how regal he looked.

"That is what truly matters."

The Viper then stared at the Andromedon.

"So that's why... I wanted to offer you a choice. I can pull the Polaris around the corner and drop you off... and you'd be free to do whatever you want. My identity is already safe, seeing as it would be highly unlikely for anyone to believe you..."

Hubble blinked at that.

"Or you could do what I've seen you do and stand against crime in City 31."

The Andromedon quickly connected the dots, "Wait, y-you want me to become a-"

"Vigilante. Not just that...-" The Viper paused for dramatic effect, "-but my sidekick."

"Side kick?" Hubble asked, "What's that? Does it involve... kicking from the side while you fight?"

Gamma chuckled, "I suppose you are unfamiliar with the term. A sidekick is an assistant, someone who will help me fight crime."

Hubble seemed to comprehend that quickly. "Okay... But what makes you think I'm even capable? I mean, I guess I was technically created by ADVENT to be a weapon, but I never saw any action-"

"Excuse me? I saw that entire fight. You were ingenuitive, and quick to act. And you have a strong sense of doing the right thing. You are the perfect candidate to help me." Gamma then gestured to the back of the vehicle, "I even bought that gravity generator you utilized. I don't think any other Andromedon in your situation would have even dreamed that... you're a rare case."

Gamma then put a clawed thumb to his chest.

"Just like me."

The Viper then turned his hood once more.

"But I'll have to warn you... the life of a sidekick is hard. You're going to be aiding me in a lot of dangerous situations. So what'll it be? Leave, or-"

Gamma's slitted gaze seemed to pierce Hubble's soul.

"-join me to fight the good fight?"

Hubble paused at his words, taking it all in. For once in his life, he was having to make a choice on his own... no person of higher authority telling him what to do or feel.

It was almost scary.

But at the same time, there was a relief in that freedom, almost as if he had a new change of acid in his suit. On one hand, the fearful part of him considered declining, knowing the consequences should he choose to accept. Levine's death was a testament to that, standing up for what was right had cost him his life. But... at the same time, Hubble knew that Levine hadn't given up his life so Hubble could live his own in fear. As the older Andromedon said, Hubble was different, special... it would be wasteful to give that all up, never utilizing what he had.

Hubble was sure he was making the best, and the right choice when he gave his answer.

"Okay. I'll do it. I'll become a vigilante."

Gamma slowly nodded his hood. "Alright then..." He then nodded his hood to the side, "Allow me to introduce our other member-"

Hubble flinched as a feminine figure suddenly appeared from nowhere, leaning forward between the two seats. Her skin gold skin shifted and her form appeared to be in a state of constant flux. "Welcome, Hubble."

A Codex, just when things couldn't get more surprising for the Andromedon.

"This is Insight. She helps manage things from the back, and maintains my gadgets." Gamma explained.

Hubble paused, "A Codex. Levine told me about them before." The Andromedon then seemed to remember something, "Wait, aren't they banned?"

"By law, yes. Most are hardcoded to fight Humans... However, Insight is different." Gamma then turned his hood to Insight. "She resisted the directives imposed by ADVENT long ago... and can think for herself because of it."

"Oh." Hubble simply said.

He could relate to that in some way, having defected from an organization that may as well have stemmed from ADVENT.

"Then it's uh... nice to meet you, Insight."

"Likewise." She responded, "You may wish to get ready, we're almost here."

"Huh?" Hubble then noticed outside the window was actually shifting, indicating that the vehicle was already in motion. "When did we start moving?"

"Since you agreed." Insight answered, "In case you haven't noticed, I drive the Polaris as well."

"Wow, you really know how to multitask." Hubble both complimented and commented.

"Thank you."

Gamma was the first to exit the Polaris, Hubble slowly following as he swiveled his body to check out the high tech vehicle. He then turned to inspect the rest of his surroundings, gaping within his suit as he looked at the assembly.

The Viper turned, holding his arms out.

"Welcome to the Batcave!" Hubble seemed confused, Insight simply crossing her arms as she stood next to the Andromedon, already having understood the reference. "Sorry... I just always wanted to say that-"

Suddenly, a loud bark was heard, the trio turning to see Ace approach them, the Akita's eyes trained upon Hubble.

"Ace, Heel!" Gamma called, Ace obeying as Hubble turned to the Viper, pointing at Ace.

"I don't think I've seen this alien before..."

"That's because it is a dog. A loyal Earth creature." Gamma explained. Ace slowly walked off, returning to the inner rooms of the facility. "He's friendly, but give him some time to get used to you." He then turned to slither, "By the way, I need you to do something."

"O-Of course, anyth-"

Gamma then tossed something, Hubble fumbling as he caught the object. It was a yellow sponge, filled with soapy water. He then looked back up, realizing that the Viper was now holding what appeared to be a hose.

The Andromedon was blasted with clean water, Hubble holding his arm out to preserve himself from the liquid onslaught before it stopped, droplets of water dripping off his envirosuit. "Clean yourself." Gamma ordered, "I taste instead of smell, and that whole time, I could literally taste the reek off your suit while we were in the Polaris! Just how long were you working in those sewers?"

Hubble sighed, slowly running the sponge up and down his arm. "Too long..." He then picked up with enthusiasm, "But I'm really happy that I finally get to clean my suit! Thank you!"

"Don't mention it." Gamma responded, Insight walking up next to him.

"Gamma, we need to talk."

"Sure thing." The Viper turned to her, "What is it?"

She briefly peered at the cleaning Andromedon. "... Are you sure this was a wise choice? I'll support it but..." The Codex paused, "It just seems... rushed without too much consideration."

Gamma sighed. "I know. And I also know you're thinking that I'm doing this to fulfill some comic-book fantasy... I'm not." Insight was surprised at that statement, the Viper continuing. "These past few days have been successful, but for how long? You saw that warehouse... despite our efforts, criminals are still growing stronger while we remain the same. You, me, and a human running a food stand are, pretty soon, not going to be enough. That's why I've been training Ace, and pretty soon, Hubble." He then turned his hood to Hubble, the Andromedon happily humming to himself as he cleaned the glass section of his suit. "Besides, we're never going to find another like Hubble here. He's kind... but he also knows when to get serious. We're going to need beings like him to help us..."

"... I understand." She then paused again, "I'm sorry for doubting you. You've... grown, Gamma."

"Thanks." The Viper responded with a nod, Hubble returning with his now cleaner envirosuit.

"I'm finished!" He then held his arm in front of himself, "Might need to scrub a bit more later, but I think I'm mostly clean."

"That's good. I'll give you a short tour in a bit, but before we even do that,-" Gamma looked to the Codex, "Insight, could you help repair Hubble's suit?"

"On it." She then turned around, "Follow me."

The Andromedon began to follow, but not before stopping for a moment. "Um, wait... before we begin-" Gamma and Insight perked up, "-I wanted to thank you both... for giving me a new chance... it hasn't even been 10 minutes and, well,-" He then seemed to hold himself higher, "I already know I made the right choice."

Gamma paused before his maw contorted into a smile. "And so did I."

Torque silently watched through the window of her room as Godmother, Terminal, Cherub, and Verge filed into an APC, with Whisper already waiting inside.

They were leaving for City 31, putting the rest of Chimera Squad on standby until further notice. She expected herself to feel angry at how things turned out... but in all honesty, the Viper felt melancholic instead... perhaps knowing deep down that she was being held back because of her own faults.

And while she watched the APC leave the courtyard, she couldn't help but hope that perhaps soon, she too would soon be on that APC...

Unfortunately, the Human saying of 'be careful what you wish for' was unknown to her.

Just a lil' bit of foreshadowing. Next chapter, we'll be brushing a bit on the training for Hubble, and a few heroic adventures for Frostbyte and his new Sidekick, and I also think we should be getting into the events of the game, and in turn, finally put Torque on the stage.

No extra this time, sorry. I just wanna get this chapter out and begin working on the next one.