*Author's note: This story takes place in the universe that has been created throughout the week in the other stories. I recommend you take a small time to read them though their quality may be lacking, I plan to go back and improve them throughout the coming weeks. For a quick reference
Springheel: Emi
Lady Cane: Lilly
Bronze Butterfly: Rin
Steam Aviatrix: Shizune
Dr. Spectacles: An evil man who despises women and has kick started the Industrious revolution turning the world into a copper, bronze and steel world.
Enjoy*
 
 
The sounds of metal on metal reverberate throughout the old abandoned alleys surrounding the old forgotten district.
 
A young woman lands atop a pipe over looking an old park. She scans the horizon before tensing up, her feet prosthetic begin to coil and suddenly she springs of. Deftly and swiftly she lands atop another pipe and jumps once more landing with grace and speeding across open straights faster than seems possible.
 
She comes to a halt a top a building and crouches down. She brings her fingers to her ear and says "Aviatrix, Springheel here, I lost her, I don't know where she's gone, she's quick."
 
Back in the workshop Aviatrix stands monitoring her teammates, viewing the world through their masks she can see what they see and message to them through the goggles. She slices and chops the air relaying a message ["You are the fastest thing on this planet. She can't have escaped you, keep searching. Tell Lady Cane to update me, now!"]
 
Springheel sighs as she reads the words on her goggles and switches her frequency "Lady, Springheel here, the Mistress wants an update."
 
Down below on the streets a blonde woman taps along with her cane her face a mixture of concentration and annoyance. She continues to tap along the streets and says "My my thank you Springheel. I will be sure to respond momentarily, but just a moment I believe I have found her. She's hiding in this building, but it seems blocked off. I can't sense a way in."
 
She continues to tap the side of the building her cane generating sound waves that she can discern with her sensitive hearing.
 
Aviatrix grins triumphantly ["Perfect! Bronze Butterfly get in there, and find her we mustn't let her escape!"]
 
Floating through the air Butterfly seems seemingly unaware of Aviatrix's excitement. Floating down onto the roof of the building located by Lady Cane she wonders to herself if the steam that comes from Aviatrix's gloves taste like anything. Hopefully it tastes like cake she has always loved cake.
 
Gracefully she cuts the roof of the building into a beautiful mosaic using the blades attached to her stumps. She has always been a good painter, and cutting into a building is almost like reverse painting.
 
She takes a quick look around the building, scanning the surroundings all she sees is dust bunnies and discarded wreckage. She begins to push around the dust bunnies with the tips of her blades.
 
"Why are they called dust bunnies? They don't look like bunnies thoughisupposetheyaredustybutdobunniesevenleavedustIdontunderstandwhatthepointof..."
 
Aviatrix slams her hands down and furiously swipes at the air ["This isn't the time! Hisao will answer all of your questions, but for now please focus!"]
 
"Ok" Is the only reply she receives from the distracted woman.
 
Soon Springheel drops into the building from the carved up ceiling and looks around "We really need to find her someone to talk to Lady for her, I can't keep mediating for them it's exhausting" she tells her friend.
 
She kicks a couple of boards over and looks over at Butterfly "Alright, I am gonna go take a look downstairs and let Lady in you look around up here call us if you find her Okay?"
 
Butterfly merely nods her head, her short auburn hair flowing, and begins to look around.
 
Carving and cutting down doors Butterfly sees nothing, but more litter and thrash. She tenses her shoulders a bit and flexes releasing tiny bronze butterflies to scout the area. Soon they begin to ping and Butterfly stumbles across a bathroom. At first seemingly deserted she notices a woman who seems to have just materialized out of thin air. They stare each other down for a couple of seconds before Butterfly yells "I FOUND HER! SHE'S ON THE TOILET!" 
 
The woman is shocked and confused. Thin and gaunt she tries to melt into her surroundings. Her long dark hair cascades down past her shoulders and seems to cloak her right side. She stands tense and low prepared to run from her would be attacker. She attempts to cover her right side as much as possible trying to hide scars that seem to cover her.
 
Timid, almost in a whisper she says "I-I-I-I don't know who you a-a-are, b-b-but I am n-n-not scared. L-l-leave me alone. Please. Just go away!"
 
Butterfly tilts her head and squints "You keep going transparent. Are you a cloud? Do you know what clouds taste like? I always thought they taste like what they are what do you think?
 
The torrent of questions dazes the woman who keeps shimmering in and out of sight.
 
As the poor woman regains her composure the sounds of metal on metal being to grow louder, and a softer tapping fills the air as well.
 
From around the corner Lady Cane and Springheel come into view. The woman yelps and tries to shrink into herself even more.
 
"Springheel" Lady says "Take Butterfly and report back to Aviatrix, I'll handle it from here"
 
Springheel nods and drags Butterfly away leaving Lady alone.
 
Lady kneels down, puts her cane away and speaks softly "My name is Lilly, don't be afraid we mean you no harm, who are you?"
 
The woman becomes fully materialized and regaining her confidence whispers "M-my name is, H-Hanako."
 
                                                       ***
Back in the workshop Hisao sits at the head of the table with the rest of the Bronze Beauties.
 
"She's scared, and while I'll admit talented, we can't honestly ask her to join us. She is afraid and frail, who knows how long she's been alone we can't make her join the Bronze Beauties." Hisao looks around. He's been up late and now he has to deal with an argument within the group when all he wants is to finish his work and get some sleep. He thinks to himself "I desperately need some coffee."
               
"I agree with Hisao" Lilly replies "When we found her she was terrified even I could tell just by the sound of her voice. It is not within our power to ask her to join let alone force. We could shelter her, protect her, maybe have her help Shizune as interpreter for her and me, but to ask her to join? I must decline the idea. It is foolish!"
 
Shizune slams her hands on the table and snaps her fingers demanding all attention ["No I refuse! She mutters and stumbles her words, she is frightened easily, but I see great potential in her as an operative. Hisao has been inspecting her light reflector, and He said that with a little tweaking he could make it so that it won't fail. Think about it she is sneaky and capable of being extremely quite, she won't rely on clumsy prosthetics that make noise or a cane that tap tap taps. She can make a perfect secret ops!"]
 
Emi repeats Shizune's opinion for Lilly to hear then adds "I agree with Shizune guys. Maybe she is scared and frail, but give her to me for a week or two and I can whip her up into shape. She was able to elude the three of us searching for her and as far as we know has been evading Dr. Spectacles' gaze for weeks or maybe even months. She has raw talent and like Shizune said we can find a place for her in the team. What do you think Rin?"
 
Rin, who has been painting on a canvas turns her attention to the rest of the team. Her eyes at half mast she says "Who? Toilet girl? Yeah she seems fun. I wonder if she ever figured out what clouds taste like?"
 
Lilly visibly annoyed replies "Her name is Hanako, Rin, and I would suggest you take this seriously she is not to be forced onto this team!"
 
Hisao brings attention back to him before saying "While I will admit she has natural talent we can't ask her to become a part of this group. Look ladies the way she uses her light reflector is impressive. The worksmanship is superb I have never seen a light reflector be that consistent, at least not one that I have not made, and user interface is extremely difficult yet she uses it like she was born with it. Even so I will not force her onto this team!"
 
A silence descends upon the room.
 
Then from the corner of the room a voice says "W-who said anything about being f-forced?"
 
Immediately everyone springs to their feet except for Rin who continues to paint and as if a switch was thrown everyone begins to yell "WOW WHERE'D SHE COME FROM!" ["I told you she had talent."] "The door I was sure I locked the door, but how?" "Hanako? Is that you? How did you?"
 
As soon as the commotion starts Hanako immediately goes invisible and says "Please. Stop yelling please."
 
Everyone calms down and she reappears. Timidly she says "I got in through the vent. I am sorry I heard you all talking about me so I got curious. I-I-I was able to find my light reflector on your work bench Hisao, so I put it on and came in. I am not some frail wallflower. I've heard about what you do, and I want to join your group. I can fight I promise!"
 
Shizune's signature snaps echo through the room bringing all attention to her.
 
Shizune begins to sign ["Look see! Confidence, she is a fighter, she is strong, I vote she joins."]
 
After Emi is done repeating Lilly replies "I don't know. We don't know her full abilities what if she gets hurt?"
 
Shizune chops at the air ["Very well Ms Satou, then take her out for field exercise."] 
 
                                          ****
 
The soft sounds of Lilly's cane are drowned out by the voices of the crowd.
 
It's a busy day in the market. Traders try and attract attention to their wares. Children beg and plead for toys and candy. Beggars ask for any spare coin. Adults haggle and battle for the best deal.
 
Even amidst the cold, lifeless, metal the fire of life warms all the souls and lives happily.
 
Lilly is walking arm in arm with Hanako who looks a bit worried about being out in public where everyone can see her,but Lilly tries to dispel her tension with some talk "Don't worry I am sure you'll do fine and I apologize for treating you like a child, but you must understand that I was worried. We had just found you afraid in the corner of a room I didn't want you to feel afraid of us."
 
Hanako seems to lighten a bit "T-t-thats okay. I just don't like being thought of as weak. I've survived on my own for a while. I am not as frail as I look...EEEP I-I-I-I-I-I Mean I-I-I-I..."
 
Lilly smiles and pats her arms "Don't worry Hanako I am more than used to sayings like those."
 
Hanako calms down a little and smiles "O-o-ok thank you."
 
The girls continue to enjoy the day, but from a dark alleyway a man sits and waits looking out over to the girls "I recognize yer blonde hair anywhere girly Ye'll pay fer wat ye dun." A sharp knife slides into his gauntlet as he lets out a low chuckle.
 
 
                                                           ****
"Alright Hanako let's test your flexibility"
 
Lilly stands on the other side of a maze and jumble of pipes watching as Hanako prepares herself to squeeze through.
 
"Now remember" She says "If you are to become Secret Ops like Shizune wants you to you'll need to be able to silently and effectively maneuver through mazes without having your light bender shimmer. While I won't be able to see the shimmer I can hear it fizzle, as I will be able to hear any sound you make. Please don't get discouraged if it take you a couple times as I am trained to hear all sorts of subtleties.
 
Hanako activated her cloak and says "O-o-o-okay here I g-g-go!" and soon she is gone from sight.
 
Lilly stands perfectly still hearing the occasional clink from Hanako touching a pipe or two, but is generally surprised at her stealth. She hears a thump thump to her left and turns "My my Hanako that was quicker than expected."
 
Suddenly a wall of muscle and flesh tackles Lilly of her feet "I dun nu whu this Hanako is gurly, but I sur remember whu yu are!"
 
Lilly is taken by surprise and yells "You! I thought I told you to leave me alone!"
 
She reaches for her cane, but it is swiftly kicked away by the man "Ah Ah Ah princess haha yu'll pay fur what yu've dun to me. Mu butiful face. Dustrued by yu. Yu are nuthing with out your EGH!!!"
 
A sharp pain in the back of the man's head catches him by surprise and he turns to see...nothing?
 
"Wut hu there!" He yells into the air
 
Suddenly a low crack is herd and his cheek begins to swell
 
"Wut du hell!!!" He yells into the darkness
 
Another blow the back of his head
 
"Come out yu cuward!"
 
Another sickening blow, but this time he is ready! Instead of reeling away from the blow he brings his head back and slams into the air. Hanako shimmers into existence and the man turns to look at her. Hanako is low to the ground like a panther ready to strike most of her scars covered by a thin sheet of tin that creates the cloaking effect.
 
She yells "S-s-stay away from my Friend!"
 
The man licks his lips "Well I wus wundering where yu were girly hehe." He takes a step towards Hanako "Come here sweethurt."
 
He suddenly lunges at Hanako, but she twists out of his reach. The game of cat and mouse continue Hanako twisting and turning while being followed by the big brute.
 
Hanako shimmers in and out of existence. Delivering swift and calculated blows to the man, yet he shrugs them off and keeps barreling towards Hanako.
 
Whenever he thinks he has her in reach she slips into the shadows and reappears some ways away from him, yet it is clear that the stress of battle is getting to her and the man seems as healthy as ever.
 
Suddenly, he stumbles his leg having been caught by Lilly's cane "Hanako quickly before he recovers!"
 
With one swift kick Hanako breaks the man's jaw, and he seizes to move.
 
Hanako crumples to the floor in tears. Lilly softly embraces her and says "Don't worry, he can't hurt us now. You did good, you did good."
 
                                                   *****
 
 
"Well Hanako" Hisao says "After today's events you've proven you have what it takes to be a strong operative. I am proud to welcome you to the Bronze Beauties, if you would join us of course!"
 
"Of course" Hanako asserts towards the group.
 
A cheer goes up in the workshop
 
"All that is left" Hisao continues "Is your name. The choice is up to you."
 
Hanako thinks for a second then looks up her eyes full of determination she says "Well how about Shimmer?"
 
Emi jumps up and yells her agreement.
 
Lilly Embraces her and says "Sounds fitting."
 
Shizune stands back grinning to herself and content at being correct, yet again.
 
Rin continues to paint a picture of a girl surrounded by people
 
Hisao leans against the doorway looking over his team, his family.
 
Hanako is smiling content to have finally found a home.
 
                                                                                        ~Gear