Why am I here?

I don't know.

Why do I exist?

That would have been both a philosophical and a rhetorical question, but I know perfectly well why I exist.  Humans don't start with a reason to exist.  They go out and make their own.  Computers start with a reason to exist.  They are given their reason of existance and their tasks by their programmers.  Cars start with a reason to exist.  They exist only for others to use as a means of transportation until it is time for them to go to the scrap heap.  A robot exists to do whatever its programmer tells it to, as a means to an end until it, too, is time for it to go to the scrap heap.

We are no better...

"Aaaaah!  Juli!  She's here!"

The brooding brown-haired female agent, one of three wearing a full-body leotard, slowly opened her eyes, glanced at Serina, then stood up.  "Are you sure that it's her?"

"She fits Janet's description."  The fluffy-pink haired agent piped back.  "And she's a she, unlike that last guy, and unless this is just another random person coming over, then I doubt it could be anyone else.  In fact, I don't think it could be anyone else.  I'm rather surprised, myself, though, because I didn't think that this Rose lady was supposed to get so many visitors and..."

Juli put her hand out in front of the overly-enthusiastic agent, signaling to her to shut up.  "Go get Agent Noelle.  We'll need to start this with a test.  I want to see what's so important about this mission.  I need to see what's so important about this Rose."

"Eh eh eh?  That's just a little straight forward, isn't it?  I mean, normally we're supposed to be really stealthy and try to remain inconspicuous and..."  Serina noticed Juli's glare, then quietted down.  "Well, you're the one in charge now so... um... sure, I'll go get her."

Juli remained silent as Serina ran off.

Why am I here?

To find the truth.

But I already know the truth.  And it wasn't good.

Then this is to find out even more of it.

She slowly sighed.  "This is it, then.  Time to see how this particular flower withstands the heat."

Agent Juli went to join her two comrades.

The last thing she wanted to see was visitors.

Especially now, of all times. She secretly hoped to invisibly walk into the house and simply disapear for a while, to collapse into sleep and reflect on the whole ordeal. She was definately not in the mood for socializing, proper or improper.

If they really were just a friendly visit, which according to their approach they were not, Rose hoped they'd take her annoyed form as sufficient warning.

After the trio stopped a short distance in front of her, the brown-haired one of the three was the first to speak.  "Lady Rose, I presume?  I am Juli, as decreed by my commander.  These two are Serina and Noelle.  I can see by the look in your eyes that you pretty much already know why we're here."

"To sell her milk and cookies?"  Serina asked.  "Were we still going along with the girl scout motif?"

Both Juli and the long red-haired Noelle gave Serina an awkward glare.

Rose remained silent.

The girl known as Juli wasn't very pleased with Rose's response, or lack of one.  She continued.  "Obviously we can't tell you who sent us, though I wouldn't be surprised if you already knew that, too.  We have some... questions to ask you.  Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated.  However, bear in mind that as far as we are concerned, it isn't anywhere near necessary."

Rose stayed, unblinked. It was evident they weren't leaving. She replied with bitterness, "What is it that you want? Astrological reading? Palmistry? Ley Lines? Soul Mate? Or just a pseudo psychologist to cry on? Come again later. And money would be a novelty."

Juli frowned, almost gritting her teeth in annoyance.  "Do not play jokes with us, Rose.  It is apparent by your expression that even you know that we're here to secure far more than just an astrological reading from you.  I've been told that you were a powerful psychic practitioner of soul power, but I believe it pales in comparison to our psycho abilities.  Should we have to, we will get the answers we desire by force."

"Psycho abilities?"  Noelle stared at Juli in surprise.  "Agent Juli, are you allowed to divulge that information?  I don't recall you having any..."

She glanced at Juli, then at Rose, and quickly decided not to reveal anymore information, herself.

Rose raised an eyebrow, "Foolish kids, always dabbling into everything. Don't you know psycho power is dangerous? Or is it 'cool' to do it nowadays?"

"I thought I told you not to play jokes with us!"  Juli snapped.  "Your calm demeanor betrays you.  I would have hoped that the great psychic Rose would have been smart enough to know not to defy us."

"Erm... Agent Juli?"  Serina nervously broke in.  "I'm so sorry and this doesn't sound very nice and all and I hate to ask, but are you sure you know what you're doing?  I mean, we were sent here with Noelle to back us up, and there were more of us here but they had to leave and stuff.  Noelle is like... the medic, for crying out loud.  You never have the medic back you up unless you're expected to get hurt."

"Agent Serina is right, Juli."  Noelle had become somewhat anxious, too.  "I know that we placed you in charge of this mission, but I must voice my protests right now before any serious injury can..."

"You DO ask too many questions, don't you?"  The brown-haired girl was losing her temper.  "Are you both cowards?  What does it matter, anyway, if this Rose were truly a threat to us?  It doesn't matter.  We have our purpose, and if we were to die serving it, it wouldn't matter.  Our lives are worthless."

"What?  Agent Juli..."  Noelle was probably about to enter support therapy mode but Juli didn't give her time to, as her attention had already turned back to Rose.

"And you!"  Juli yelled.  "I am tired of these stupid games.  I'm tired of being played around with.  Now I will ask you once, and only once.  Come along with us quiettly or be prepared to face the repercussions of your foolishness."

Willing herself to full consciousness, Rose could see this was getting serious. As usual, rest seemed an impossibility. "And what gives you the authority to threaten me, hmm?"

"You speak as if we are bound by law.  Our authority was given to us by one who makes his own authority."  Juli replied.  The anger in her voice quickly toned down as she reconsidered her answer.  "No, I am making my own authority.  When a girl doesn't care about herself or her actions anymore, she has as much authority over herself as her will allows."

Juli slowly clenched her fist, closed her eyes for a moment, then re-opened them and motioned towards Noelle and Serina.

"These two gave me their authority willingly.  They believe they gave it to their commander willingly too.  Whether or not they'll regret it has yet to be seen, but it doesn't matter."

Serina and Noelle were both rather stumped by Juli's comments.  Serina blinked.  "Erm, Juli, pardon my breaking in here, but... HUH?"

Juli snapped her fingers in response.  "Serina, Noelle, we might to teach this Rose a small lesson if she continues to refuse to cooperate."

Realizing, or believing, that the rest of her ambiguous speech was part of the cue as well as noting the increasing tension between Juli and Rose, Serina and Noelle quietly nodded then each entered a combat stance, making known that violence would be breaking out soon if nothing occurred to stop it.

This had become serious now. Rose instinctively pulled back, getting at a comfortable distance to be able to charge her soul powers in case of needed attacks. She looked at the two fighters. Somehow their eyes seemed hollow. An unearthly prescence around them.

Of all the days.

For a brief moment, Juli seemed to have also notice the sudden change in demeanor of her two allies.  It seemed to disturb her, but only for a second before, now assured that Noelle and Serina were ready to obey her orders, her attention was once again focused on Rose.  "I see that you have decided to choose the hard way to do this.  Very well then.  Noelle, Serina, extract this psychic's fighting data by force."

Noelle's look of anxiety quickly became nothing as she became focused only on the mission.  "Initiating data extraction of subject, Rose."

The happy tone that was normally always in Serina's voice was notably missing.  "Target locked on."

Juli turned around and calmly walked away as Serina and Noelle ran in front of her and tightened their combat stances.

Serina took the offensive, charging at Rose as Noelle took a more defensive strategy and backed off, waiting for an opening to strike.  The pink-haired agent quickly attacked with a fast diving kick from above, then followed up by spinning at Rose feet first with a cannon drill.  Though slightly caught off guard by the speed of the attacks, Rose was still ready enough to block the attacks.  Serina's frenzied assault finally left her open after she rebounded off of Rose with an upward cannon spike kick then leapt at Rose to attempt another dive kick.

Psychically propelling diagonally upwards, Rose caught Serina in mid-air then used the discharge of the psychic power to throw Serina all the way across the field.  Before Rose could land, however, Noelle slammed into her back with a fast-forward jumping sniping arrow kick.

The red-haired agent quickly leapt back, began concentrating, and started to glow a light blue color, which caused Serina to flash.  The fact that Noelle wore a first aid symbol on her wrist was enough to give off that she was somehow psychically healing Serina, but Rose didn't have time to worry about that as Serina began throwing projectiles at her.

She was throwing cookies.

Of course, it only took one exploding cookie for the soul-power psychic to realize that they were dangerous.  Rose quickly threw a soul spark back at Serina, which met her next volley in mid-air causing both to explode and dissipate.  Serina's hand glowed as she quickly chucked another batch, which Rose psychically reflected with a wave of her shaul, sending them crashing back into Serina with the resulting explosion knocking her down.

Noelle used her psychic healing move on Serina once again, and it had become apparent to Rose that she was getting no where.  Despite the fact that Noelle wasn't actively attacking her, Rose decided to send a soul spark flying into her face to get rid of the annoyance.

Juli, who had been watching the battle from a reasonable distance the whole time, sighed in frustration as Noelle flew past her.

It was dark.

Darkness so unusual for the night itself, much less this time of day. He wondered where this apothic sense came from. A prescence? Clouds? One of the many unusual things that happened lately...

The boy sighed, wandering in a zombie-like state to the window, trying to lose himself in the outside world. He ran his hands through the blinds, and slowly drew them up.

Gregory was taken aback by the scene outside.

"It's those girls again." He blinked, blushing at the memory of milk and cookies. Though the supposed cookie sellers were engaged in less than freindly combat with an unidentifiable person.

He couldn't see clearly through the chaos, but managed to make out two of them standing away from the fight, the third having stepped into the ring. Even from here he could feel the anger within her. It must be pretty intense.

Grunts arose, and the girl started kicking so fast he lost track in the elegant display of attacks. The unidentifiable opponent managed to dodge most of the attacks, but was on the end of many seemingly painful hits.

Was this the reason they had come? Gregory wondered if they were old freinds of Miss Rose, come to help her from an attacker on his way to do her harm.

That is, until he saw the opponent -was- Miss Rose.

"Hai-yah!!"  Another intense flurry of hard kicks and punches.

Serina and Noelle, snapped back into their senses by Juli's even more outrageous outburst, had to stare in shock for a few moments before Noelle finally tried to stop the enraged girl.  "Agent Juli!  Please stop!"

"We aren't supposed to kill her!"  Serina cried.

But Juli didn't even remember that they existed.  Not that it mattered.  They were worthless.  She had even forgotten who she was attacking.  But that didn't matter, either.  Lashing out in anger, she continued to destroy the person on the recieving end in a fit of rage.  She didn't care who it was or why she was there.  It didn't matter.  None of it mattered.  This person's life didn't matter.  All that mattered to Juli anymore...

Was death.

She continued to lash out at her target, again and again.  Another fast and hard kick, another fist to the face, another combo.  Only when she lost sight of her target and her target had flipped over her head did she stop.

In an attempt to take her out, Rose floated above Juli's head and began channelling her psychic power.

The result... was less than pleasant.

The pain that Juli felt shoot through her was immense, and she couldn't even see Serina and Noelle running to her aid.  It was as if she were pierced by a thousand spears and a thousand swords all at once.  A huge flash of light blinded her, and everything fell apart.  Her head felt like it would explode at any moment.

Juli put her hands to her head and cried out from the sheer pain.

Warning!  Warning!  Unable to initialize psychic shielding!  Reason:  Incompatible with coding.

What's... happening... to me?

Mem manager = 0

This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.

AAAAAAAAAH!!!!

A fatal error has occurred.  System failed to restart.   Can not reboot!

Boom.

X_X

You are dead

And all was black.

It was hard to imagine these three girls were the cause of such savage attacks. Now resting peacefully, (more like getting beaten unconscious by an unknown psychial force) Rose placed a hot towel on each of their heads. She took a seat next to their place of rest. Her bed managed to fit them all, fortunately, and it seemed for a long time they were sleeping.

OK, much better than being attacked by them.

"Miss Rose," Gregory came from behind, carrying more water. "WHY are they staying in the house? Shouldn't we take them to the authorities?"

Rose looked closer at the three. "You've seen them. Think the police can handle it?"

Gregory hesitated. "B-but, they tried to kill you..." He pointed at her bruises.

They were healing. But the subtle bodies were taking longer to do their work than would usually be done. The bruises were rather deep, even bleeding in some places. She placed her right hand on her opposite arm. The dull pain reminding her of the attack.

Regardless.

"Perhaps. They want answers, I'll provide it to them."

"What?"

No more fooling around. "Each reciprocating with my own questions, of course."

The brown haired girl mumbled a few seconds and shook her head, indicating her recovery. Gregory grunted and left, "It's not safe."

Not that it was ever before, thought Rose.

"Ungh... life... online... maintenance... systems..."  She continued to ramble on, before slowly opening her eyes and quickly looking around.  "Wha...?"

It only took a glance at her two unconscious partners, another at Rose, and a fraction of a second for Juli to partially figure out what happened.

"God dammit..."  Juli muttered.  "I get to be the villain that got beaten then nursed back to health by my enemy.  Do you have any idea how humiliating that is?"

She slowly sighed before closing her eyes and lying back down for a moment.

"I'm not going to bother to ask you why you didn't kill me, but..."  Her demeanor re-entered a state of depression.  "I actually think I would have preferred that you did."

Rose crossed her hands, sinking further into the chair. "Killing is what your team does. Shadoloo, right?"

"See?  You did know why we were here."  A slight smile slowly crossed the girl's lips.  Though it was more sadistic than anything, it showed that she had at least calmed down since the battle.  "But killing?  Hmm... if the job calls for it, sometimes, yes.  Do you believe that was what our mission was, here?"

She stood back up and observed the many bruises that she had incurred on Rose, then actually had a slight apologetic look on her face.

"Our mission wasn't to kill you."  Juli slowly remarked.  "I'm... sorry.  I felt like...  I felt like destroying something beautiful."

Rose looked at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Maybe I have misunderstood your extent. Sorry. Haven't been in....the best of moods lately."

She thought about it suddenly, then chuckled. "There's a lot of apologising here, for rivals, isn't there?"

"Rivals?"  Juli blinked in response.  "We only just met.  Though... it's strange that I also feel that way for some reason."

She slowly looked around the room, then frowned.

"Okay, I'll bite."  Juli conceded.  "Why did you spare us?  You seem to be a nice enough person, that's true, but it's obvious there's something else.  Answers, huh?"

"Mainly. Consciously. Yes." She nursed her arm wound, which started hurting more. "Interpret it as you will, though. Since I certainly don't know the half of it."

"I hope you appreciate this.  I would never betray Lord Bison by giving away information, but..."  Juli paused for a moment in thought, then continued.  "This mission wasn't given to us by him.  It was supposed to be an unimportant recon mission.  Due to this, our instructions were extremely vague and our knowledge of the mission details were even worse.  The one in charge of the mission had to leave, so we never were able to know our mission objectives.  All I know is that I chose to come because this mission was a recon mission for the science department of Shadaloo, and I was hoping that by coming along, I could find some answers to some personal questions of my own."

Rose nodded, straightening her posture. "I see. Shadoloo higher ups can act on their own initiative can they? Rather strange considering Bison's usual iron grip. I guess it's time for me to answer your questions now."

She saw the other two girls. "Do they usually take so long to recover?"

"Huh?  Those two?"  Juli glanced over to the two other girls.  "Actually... no, they usually don't.  It's odd.  Noelle especially has a rather quick recovery rate.  I thought it was unique to my partner but it was later discovered that Noelle possessed that self-healing ability, too.  I don't know why they're not awake yet.  In fact, I'm wondering how you managed to take out all three of us so quickly in the first place.  What did you do to us, anyway?"

"Wish I knew, it was just a normal lower psychic attack to immobilise the enemy. It certainly had undesirable, yet effective, effects." She showed the blue burn marks on her hands. "I do not make it a habit to attack myself during battle."

"That is pretty odd.  It wasn't supposed to happen?  Hmm... I don't know how to explain that."  Juli stared at Rose's hands in surprise.  She quickly shook her head.  "Well, I guess that would be just another question with no answers that we have."

The girl shrugged.

"Anyway, Shadaloo higher-ups aren't supposed to take the initiative for the most part, but they're allowed to do the small stuff such as recon missions.  However, now I think it's pretty obvious to both of us that this wasn't just a normal recon mission."  Juli frowned and glanced off to the side, obviously suspicious about something.  She then resumed.  "I'm sorry that I don't have any of the answers to exchange with you at the moment.  But what do you have to do with Shadaloo, anyway?"

Rose forwned. "Ah. Just say I have a ....... 'personal' connection with your man upstairs." She accented personal with disgust.

"Oh?  Sir Bison gets around, doesn't he?"  Juli smiled at the thought of her commander, completely ignoring for a moment how offensive it was to Rose.  She glanced at Rose, who was rather annoyed, before quickly apologizing.  "Oh, sorry about that. But Lord Bison's the greatest..."

She paused for a moment as the happiness in her eyes quickly faded.

"Nevermind.  I just remembered why I am who I am."  Juli became a bit annoyed, herself.  "You knowing Bison sadly doesn't answer anything at all.  If you really were so important to him, he would have talked to us, sent us personally, and this wouldn't be just a 'recon' mission."

Rose grimaced. "His ways are subtle. Diabolically so. You'd think he'll tell the whole plan and risk blackmail or, even worse, sabotage?" She looked at the girl. Now she understood. "Unless......He has people who can't do that, even if they so desire it. Oh my...."

"I'm beginning to wonder if this entire recon mission was a plot done behind Sir Bison's back."  Juli commented, rather annoyed.  She then realized what Rose just said.  "Wait... what do you mean to imply?  You... you noticed it too, huh?  When Serina and Noelle fought you..."

"Disturbing doesn't even begin to describe it." Rose assumed a more defensive pose, disguised as restlessness. "That Bison can do such a thing."

"Oh?  I wouldn't be surprised.  You'd think I'd mind, wouldn't you?  If only it were so simple as a brainwashing.  Then I'd have a reason to hate Bison and that reason to live would be MINE.  As it is, I only have a reason to hate myself.  I can't blame my Lord Bison for anything."  Juli glared at Rose.  "In fact, if anything, I should probably thank him.  But I wasn't supposed to know.  I'll tell you right now that you only know half of it, and I'm not going to divulge the rest of the truth to you.  It doesn't look like there's anything for me to find out here, anyway."

"Ow..."  Serina slowly shook her head, apparently coming to.

The brunette glanced over at the bed where the other two agents were lying.  "Hmm... just in time, it seems."

Serina blinked.  "Wha?  Just in time for what?  What's going on?"

Noelle glanced around.  "What?  We're in Rose's house?"

"Serina, Noelle, calm down."  Juli answered.  "Our Lady Rose has had a change of heart and decided to answer my questions, but sadly it turns out she didn't have any of the information we needed.  We've completed the mission."

"We did?"  Serina stared at Juli for a while, then beamed.  "Hooray!  Wow, that actually was easy!  I'll go get Marzche's computer so I can report back to base."

Serina quickly dashed off.

Noelle looked around, then looked at Juli.  "Um... she can't enter the data yet.  The network is still down and you made us turn off and remove all of the data recorders."

"Does it matter?"  Juli snapped.  "We're leaving now!  There's nothing for us here."

Rose got up, standing in the middle of the organising trio. "Shame our meeting had to be in such circumstances."

"Oh... yes... I suppose."  The leader of the three turned around to acknowledge her.  "It's too bad.  I'm sorry to hear about you and Lord Bison.  I imagine it's time for me to give the generic next-time-we-meet-we-will-be-enemies-again speech, but I think I'll spare you the trouble."

Serina quickly dashed back in with a laptop.  "Oh fiddlesticks.  I forgot the network was down again!"

Juli rolled her eyes.  "Whatever.  Let's go.  I think I've had enough."

"Well..."  Noelle commented.  "I guess that big psychic explosion that knocked us all out is good enough fighting data for now..."

Juli and Noelle turned to leave the room, but Serina stayed behind for a moment.

"Aw... do we have to live already?  Miss Rose was so nice to us to just cooperate and that was really just nifty of her."  Serina was rather dissappointed.  "Besides, it's not very Shadowlooey of us to just let her get away with zapping us like that.  Maybe we could challenge her to some game time on Marzche's computer?  Not often that I get to use Marzche's computer and all since she's always using it which I guess is okay since it IS her computer but still it would be nice to be able to use it for just a short time while we have the chance.  I wonder what games Miss Rose likes, anyway."

"Shadowlooey is a stupid word."  Juli muttered.  "Now let's go!"

"Oh, I'm sorry Miss Rose.  Maybe we can meet again sometime, then."  Serina remarked.  "Ever play with a computer before?"

Rose glanced at the computer.  "A long time ago, I was quite fond of one game."

"Oooo, really?"  Serina was struggling to stay in the room, as Juli was trying to drag her away by the arm.  "What game was it?"

Juli sighed. As she was thinking about leaving Serina behind, however, Rose's reply made Juli pause and reconsider the potential informational value of the visit.

"...I believe it was called Minesweeper."