Dr. Blakk roared in anger as the shadow thief escaped his grasps at the last moment. Turning towards his henchman, he ordered: "Get someone to take care of this quietly. And send Maria to make sure the deed get finished."
"Yes, sir. I'll make sure to get someone who will see this through."
***
"You're what they called the Gentlemen, I presume?" Maria asked as the man took her hand and kissed her knuckle in greeting.
"Yes, and I find it an absolute honor to meet you, Miss Maria Blakk."
"Likewise. Now Father said that you can track the thief's trail, is that right?" she asked as she hopped on her mecha.
"Why yes, please leave everything to me."
And true to his words, he led them to the shadow thief's hideout without a hitch. The thief, which was undoubtedly a girl no older than Maria, became shock at their presence. Just like how Blakk ordered, Maria simply overlooked the fight as she watch the Gentlemen duel, proclaiming his intention of not only planning to take back the blaster, but the girl as well.
Watching as Dana jumped around, Maria noticed the device at her hip. A shadow walker.
"So that's how she's been getting around," she muttered under her breath, going unheard by the other two in the cave with her. The moment the pink haired girl disappeared, she turned towards her companion.
"Can you track her?"
The man only chuckled as he adjusted his right eye. "Why yes, no problem."
***
Maria watched from the highest building, the chase between the Gentlemen and the thief as explosions echoed throughout the city. Ember was next to her on her shoulder, observing the fight between the two, jumping in place, hoping to some action too. But his owner only gave him a small smile before patting it on its head with her index finger.
"Maybe next time," she whispered, calming her slug down. The Gentlemen used an Arachnet and swung to the place next to her.
"You lost her?"
"Not quite. I know exactly where she is. But it's not here."
Just like that, they were riding to the Shane hideout. Maria stared at the new Shane and the cave troll waiting for them at the front. She suppose the thief asked for their help.
"Allow me to introduce myself, I am--"
"Yeah! Dana told me about you... and the blaster. It's inside, you're welcome to it," Eli explained as he pointed towards the hideout.
"Unfortunately, I would have to decline the offer--"
"But I'll take it," Maria cut him off as she walked past him. Both Eli and Kord noticeably tensed when they saw her, but let her in nevertheless. While passing the Shane, Burpy jumped from his owner's shoulder onto Maria's, but neither party noticed. The two continued to interrogate her companion as she scanned the living room of their hideout, noticing her father's blaster on the couch.
Ember peeked out from its canister to notice the other Infernus on her shoulder. He squealed happily, causing Maria to raise a brow before noticing Burpy on her right shoulder.
"Oh, Burpy..." she muttered as she placed him on her palm, helping Ember on there too. The two slugs rubbed their heads against each other, as if saying that they miss them. A small smile played on the slinger's lips as she watched their interaction.
"Hi Burpy, I see you're traveling with the new Shane now," Maria said softly as Burpy looked up at her, squeaking excitedly while jumping on her palm, as if telling her about all the adventures he went on with Eli and his gang.
"I see, I'm glad you're happy." Burpy nodded eagerly. Placing Burpy and Ember down at the coffee table, she strapped her father's blaster onto her left hip. "Well, Ember, it's time to go."
The said slug gave her a sad look, but complied nevertheless. Burpy looked at her with big eyes, as if asking her to stay just a little longer, but was only reciprocated with a gently pat on the head and a sad smile. "Sorry, Burpy. Maybe next time."
***
Once Maria left the hideout, no one was outside, so she assumed they all went after Dana. Hopping on her mecha beast, she jumped around the canyon to find the Gentlemen being surrounded at gunpoint.
They were proposing an idea of faking Dana's death in front of Blakk when Maria jumped down from her elevation. Everyone was surprised as the blasters were now on her, but she showed no sign of caring.
"Your job is to retrieve the blaster and kill the thief," she said to her companion. The Gentlemen nodded. "But how you do so is none of my business," the girl then unstrapped her father's blaster from her hip and tossing it to Eli who caught it by surprise.
"Come on, don't you have to go report to Father?" Maria asked as she hopped onto her mecha, prompting the Gentleman to do the same.
"Wait, you're okay with this?!" Eli exclaimed. Maria stared at him before turning away. "My job is only to follow through with Father's words. The method being used to do so is none of my concern."
Once the two are alone, Maria started a conversation, which surprised the man. "That new Shane... he's a clever one, isn't he?"
"Um... of course," he was at a loss for words for he didn't even expect her to strike up a conversation, especially with him.
"He's just his father... it's so easy to tell."
Little did Maria know, her hope that died along with the news of Will was unconsciously reviving little by little, with the presence of a new Shane.
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