Her long dark hair was held in a tight braid and her t-shirt and jeans made look far less dangerous then she was. Aura took in the city as the driver took her to the studio. Aura had gained a great number of things in the past fourteen months, but the ability to drive was not one of them. They had tried but her driving left much to be desired. A look in the passenger mirror reminded her of the the most obvious of her changes but the Syndicate had invested in her mind as well, having suggested to her counseling, which she had readily agreed to. While she no longer had the flashbacks, even she knew her mental landscape needed a good repaving. She had never dreamed of living this long, it had been drilled into her that she would long be dead by now, onto gods that likely never existed at all. Miracles cult had shaped her, The order had exploited her ignorance and natural deposition for combat and now the Syndicate has helped reshape her into a functional member of society. She was a woman with a lot of demons in her head but she at least understood that now.

The idea of a human touching her still sent shivers through her skin and she still viewed humans as animals but she also understood it was impossible to wipe the heard out. One had to find the leaders and remove them. Their were still gangs in NYC after all despite her old habit of hunting down gang members to keep her skills sharp. Her hands brushed a silver box in her lap containing a mask and a suit. People were not to know Aura and her new identity were the same woman. It would be hard of course, she had never been able to pass a mutant in trouble without jumping into save them and while she still could she had to keep her face covered. The Mixed Martial Art's studio would help with that, giving her a way to fight without resorting to her power.

They pulled up to the studio and she got out and looked around. The neighborhood was awful the kind of places Police took their time getting to hoping the culprits gone before they showed up. It was set in a neighborhood that had been the recipient of the late order's attempt to fill the surrounding area of sanctuary with Mutants. She took a breath it would also take getting use to that people did not know her on site.

Opening the door she took in the large warehouse like building and it contents. The ring and training equipment and a lack of dust told her this place had been recently renovated. She smiled at the idea of using this place to learn actual martial arts. "Hello?" she called as she entered the large open space from the hallway.

Business was good, crime was better, and things with Tses were feeling natural after some tensions in her last office visit. All in all, Chrysanthemum’s fortunes were only getting better. This was the textbook definition of the rich getting richer.

Today, crime was the focus of her agenda with some business thrown in. Tses would stay at the apartment for lessons and to recover from a long night of work and play the night before. This was a meeting Chrysanthemum could handle on her own, particularly with The Boss asking her to handle a Syndicate Captain’s return to the city.

Rena Whilver, known more commonly as Aura to the public, the media, and the authorities was making her return after what most of the soldiers with Syndicate saw as a sabbatical. That was partially true, but the Captains and Counselors knew the intent of her time away. She needed time to recover; facial reconstruction surgeries took time and care and the Syndicate needed one of their ranking members not to be such a recognizable face. An associate or even a soldier could have a reputation like that, but they needed to be able to use Aura without her track record bringing attention to the Syndicate inner workings.

The physical transformation was one thing Chrys was excited to see, but her keenest interests were on the development the eye could not see. Chrysanthemum had… issues growing up. That happened when you had an abusive, manipulative, evil father. She was not the picture of mental health these days, but intensive mental health attention and rehabilitation made her a more functional member of society.

Aura was returning from a similar experience. Despite not having much face-to-face experience with the Captain, she could relate to the journey. She was interested to see a mirror of her younger self, now from the perspective of those who took her in after she was pieced back together.

Chrysanthemum was organizing the back office of a large warehouse building when she heard the call of someone entering the main space. The driver had called to let her know company would be coming shortly, so she smoothed out her navy blue dress, tucked a brown lock of hair behind her ear, and opened the door to spot a stunning woman surveying the martial arts studio.

”My my, they certainly do good work with those reconstructions,” she noted in a melodic tone. ”You look like a lovely young woman I wouldn’t recognize from a Most Wanted List.”

Caution was important, but this was Syndicate territory. A few men were positioned idly around the studio, but they were there to keep anyone from getting too close for this meeting. Chrysanthemum had a public image to maintain after all. She offered the mass-murderer her hand. ”Welcome, Rena. I trust you’re doing well. How does it feel to return to New York a new woman?”

The opening door drew her attention. Years of combat had ingrained in her a sense of needing to know her surroundings, the city had reinforced that. The woman who walked through the door was every bit as attractive as the picture had suggested. She took in the other woman and smiled at her compliment. "It is still strange to see myself, honestly. I had been tempted to try it in the past but ........." she paused a second in thought before moving on "Well mother always wanted to me to be famous....most likely" she said figuring that would be normal for parents though perhaps fame on more legal means. Aura had only a vague likely altered image of her mother in her head and knew nothing of her childhood before her powers.

"Strange.....I walked down a street today in this and no one screamed, ambushed me, tried to take me to jail...it's.....uncomfortable" she said recalling the strangeness of just being a woman on the street that no one knew. The fact that people were not running or screaming had a strange sense of vulnerability for the the solider she did not know what to do with. She looked at her hands, her aura flowing over her hands. "It reminds me i have a future and i am still unsure what to do with that." she said letting her aura fade away to nothing.

"But Orders are orders even the suicidal ones and not so violent ones. I am a weapon and the Syndicate the wielder, if this is how i am to be wielded then i will follow that path without pause. " she said setting the box on the table before opening the silver box and slipping out a 3d printed mask. It had cost money of course but the mask was a quite realistic and accurate copy of her old face. "The face strikes fear in many people. It is the face of a monster" she said with a smile.

It was all so much to unpack in her mind, in a way in her world was expanding and becoming more complex. Aura had always let other make choices, defaulted judgement to whoever she was with at the time. The idea of actually making solid choices beyond do i leave survivors was scary but Aura was confident she would conquer this. as she told the rather attractive woman in the room with her, Orders were orders.

The psychology of a facial reconstruction, or really any appearance-altering surgery, was fascinating. Some people adopted the new face and continued their lives normally. Some became a new person in small ways; the person they associated with the new face. Others developed imposter syndrome, struggling to live with an identity they felt no connection with.

The Captain was learning her new face, but at least outwardly, Chrys saw no signs of struggle. It was too early to know for sure, but she was hopeful Rena would not end up tearing into her face late at night.

”Fame and infamy both have their perks, but one makes it difficult to run a reputable business. Considering this is what The Syndicate is asking you to do, I think your new face suits you.” Chrysanthemum strode forward confidently, cautiously reaching to touch the murderer’s cheek with delicate fingertips should she be allowed that close.

Their situations were never the same. Rena was a soldier fighting a never-ending war while Chrysanthemum had been a broken young woman who was taught that abuse and pain and pleasure were all points on a single line. Two women with warped worldviews who were forced to figure out what to do with themselves now that everything looked different. ”It’s noble for a soldier to throw herself into the fight, but you have potential. You have vision. The Syndicate will help you understand this new path.”

It was undeniable Rena had potential as a leader, but she still had talents as a destructive force. She also likely still had a need to be on the frontlines. A thirst for the bloodshed of war. For that purpose, the mask was unsettling and served her needs. ”Rena will still have her time in the world as a Reaver. Fear and blood have their benefits.”

There were two metal folding chairs stationed nearby and Chrysanthemum gestured for Rena to follow her lead in taking a seat. The Counselor sorted through a folder, checking through some freshly printed documents. ”Rena, Aura, can still fight, but you… you’ll have a life now. A new person people can respect, but who will walk the streets free and ready to do great things for The Syndicate. It’s all here,” she assured her, handing over the folder. ”Birth certificate, records, passport. When you’re not donning the mask of who you once were, this folder is who you are now. This is the name you’ll use. It’s the person you’ll be. I am aware you were asked about this during your rehabilitation, so I hope you’ll find your new name and life to your liking.”

Aura let the other woman touch her, enjoying the feeling. She knew This woman was a mutant and in a position above hers. Chrysanthemum being attractive made it even better to Aura, smiling unused to one knowing who she was and still being willing to do such a thing. The confidence in the movements helped as well, it smoke much about how brave or well informed she was. She agreed with the woman's words as well though Aura looked at through the lens that colored life for her, battle and how things could be used for such.

Aura had heard her actions called noble many times and they may have been. However Aura did what she did because she had been reforged and ordered to do it. SHe simply did not know any other way to live and had kept living it following the orders of long dead commanders with the weight of every mutant that had ever died near her on her shoulders. She had few regrets about her actions though she now understood the consequences of her actions far better.

"I Agree entirely, my friend. Fame, Fear and blood can be an amazing way to control the battlefield and people. Fear causes mistakes, second guessing, panic and poor aim" she said from personal experience. She knew she would have likely fied long before if not for for the fear her image, her fame brought. She had seen brave men and woman reduced to begging and tears upon sight of her aura.

She took the seat next to the other woman. "We will do great things together, of that i have no doubt my pretty friend. I am grateful for this chance" she said as she took the folder and looked through it herself. SHe knew most of the documents by sight as she had stolen enough of them over the years. She spotted the Name Kimberly Lynn Delkar on each one. It was a new life in a folder, th very thing even a few years ago she thought impossible.

" I Hope i like it to but either way, I will do all i can to serve you and thrue you the Syndicate. I Will follow any order you give without question. That said i do want this change" she said and for a moment Aura slouched just a bit and smiled gently. "When my power first came on i had my memory altered to ensure loyalty and was trained to view myself as little more then a weapon. They succeeded well. I Never actually thought i would have be able to lead again." Her excitement was evident in her voice. As scared as Aura was about the prospect of being a respected citizen she was equally excited to be a captain and lead.

"All the paperwork seems in tact. I think this is the first time since child hood i have had any of this. " she said raising the folder to indicate her new identity "How did you end up in the Syndicate if i may ask? and what do you do? Aura asked curiously, always enjoying the story of fellow Mutants.

Chrys found the way this woman spoke interesting. She saw the world as a combatant. Fame and fear were not just status symbols or social tools; her default view framed them as advantages in battle. This girl did not know how to be a civilian.

She would be a useful warrior, but they would have to work on her personal abilities. All in time, and it all started with separating her personas.

At the very least, she was not as shy as Chrys expected from a woman who spent most of her time separated from society. The compliment did not go unobserved, as Chrys was always aware of when someone gave her ego a gift.

Kimberly was submissive and unquestioningly loyal, but she did seem grateful for this new opportunity. Her past… it was nothing short of abuse. Chrys could empathize. ”My dear, I know how that feels. To be manipulated and warped for someone’s needs. Kimberly Delkar will learn to be her own person. We don’t just make you a Captain to follow orders; your opinion will matter, Kimberly.” She wanted to train the name into her until it was second nature.

Building Kimberly up was important, but the Captain was curious. A cheshire grin settled on Chrys’s lips, because she had no qualms giving a more proper introduction to who she was and why she would matter to Kim. ”I worked out a business arrangement with… the previous Boss. I brought enough to the table to earn my seat at it, even with our new Boss in charge.” She was glad Jayda was a practical woman, regardless of what she may or may not have done to get Poseidon out of the way.

And… well, Chrys was Chrys, and when a subordinate was so ready to fall in line, she could not help herself. ”And do not get confused, my lovely Captain,” she warned in a low voice. Her hand delicately touched Kimberly’s shoulder, trailing her fingertips along the woman’s arm. ”You are a leader. Your opinion matters and I’ll want to hear it, but you’re my Captain. I’m a Counselor, so you’ll report directly to me.”

Taking Kimberly’s hand, she held it up and planted a kiss on its back. It was nothing sentimental; she felt most in control when she established her connection. ”You seem eager to follow orders, and that’s good. Because when I give you an order? My word is final. Understood?”

The moment sent a pleasant shiver down Chrys’s spine, spreading into goosebumps, both sensations Kimberly would feel as well now that they were connected.

Warped and manipulated summed up her experience with Miracle quite well Aura on her part did not blame Miracle though she sometimes lamented the results. Aura had been Miracles then and that gave Miracle the right to do as she pleased, a view that advanced to each leader Aura had. Now, the Syndicate would begin crafting her to what they needed, a leader.

She mentally noted the repeated use of her new name. She had never grown used to Rena and had never really used it herself. This would take her time to ingrain in herself. To her this was a new world, she had always voiced her opinion or tried to improve a plan but felt like it carry more weight here. Their was a difference she knew was there even if she did not grasp how quite yet. "I knew posiden briefly when the worlds crossed, he found me leaderless saving a mutant while searching for a battle to die in. He introduced me to the Syndicate giving me purpose once more" Without the order Aura had been trying to find a battle big enough to kill her yet small enough to enjoy her final blaze of glory. But the Goddess's of Life and death would not send the Lord of souls and thus she lived on. "Jayda i have had a few brief contacts with in my time since while being adapted to this role " she said though she knew perhaps less then she did about the dark water man.

"I am a Leader" Aura said her mind trailing off a bit at the touch. Aura hit on most other girls givin the time and chance but was unused to the act being done to her. I disobeyed an order Once. I was Leading a patrol with a close friend back in the forest. Our patrol fell pray to an ambush, only one person in the squad died but my best Friend Sayre's leg was broke. Miracle could heal but could not make camp without being overwhelmed. Miracle had a standing order to kill any who might be captured. she said the shame in her voice was evident. "Miracle was pissed when she found out, took away my leadership and mere days later, mortar shells began to rain from the sky and bullets ripped apart those who mounted a defense. I Buried nearly two hundred of my friends that day without my aura, the Human meat was going bad by then. That Mistake will not be repeated" she said trying to explain her need to follow orders. Aura had always been afraid failing to follow her orders would result in the death of those she served again.

At the kiss on her hand Aura's cheeks quickly turned a light pink that had nothing to do with her aura. "I Understand and will obey your orders even over that of another Counselor. Any order from jayda that contradicts however will be accessed and completed first if the choice is to be made. she decided to leave out that she would kill the beautiful woman in front of her if Jayda ordered her to. She felt her skin tingle and the shiver move down her back. Not knowing the other woman's power Aura assumed the feeling was her own. Aura reached out to the other womans shoulder to gently stroke her arm.

The transition from Poseidon to Jayda was not the cleanest one, but things were settling down and even the loyalists like Duke fell in line for the good of the organization. It helped that Jayda was terrifying. Chrys wanted to remain on her good side, and prioritized any decisions that would keep her there. She was the rare type of person Chrys would still give total control, submitting her power when asked.

Despite her hesitance, Kimberly had a history with leadership. She also had experiences with failure. "It sounds like you've learned. I have faith in you, Kimberly."

Despite the blush from her little kiss of the hand, Kimberly left no illusions to where her loyalties lied. "Oh, of course. Jayda is the Boss; if she told me to torch this gym with you in it, I'd do it. That's just how the chain of command works," she stated obviously, letting Kimberly stroke her arm so she could feel the sensation on her own arm and realize what was happening. To make the point even clearer, Chrys drew one of her pointed nails from her shoulder to her breast, pressing hard enough to leave a raised red mark across herself and her subordinate but not enough to draw her own blood. "But left to me, it's my commands you'll live and die on, correct Kimberly? I can trust you to be a good girl when I give the order-- whatever the order? Befriend who I tell you to befriend, train who I tell you to train... kill who I tell you to kill?"

Aura was caught off guard when the sensation started. Her eyes after a second tracked the finger the last inch or so. Aura found the ability interesting and a bit scary, both made her want to know more. Her had been taught to see her own power like one might an arm or a leg and extended that view to others. She almost called her aura to her at the start but she had learned to suppress the automatic response to danger to bring her aura up.

"If you did set this place a light and commanded i stay here, i would. You do have the measure of it, my friend. My own opinion on the matter is secondary, for example i do like killing young children as their powers have likely not had the chance to emerge yet, but i would slaughter an entire orphanage and craft their remains into furniture if you so commanded, i am actually pretty good at it" she said simply. The lady caught on quickly and Aura was happy for that.

"I did not enjoy when the Order made me go door to door and collect insurance money, but i did so. I was commanded to put the drug M in a schools food supply and monitor the results in the children. I was commanded not to eat human meat, i was glad for that one, tastes awful, And I am here and not in the fiercest war zone the syndicate could throw me at. " She said honestly. SHe would do everything she could to make running this place a success.

"Your power if i may ask? DO i feel what you feel, if you desire it?" she asked curiously. Aura wondered just how deep the power went and failed to hide her curiousnes son it. Could she kill her with it? Aura's mental wandering was more serious if she could kill others with it. If she wanted Aura dead after all, she need only command it.

"Training though, could be fun. Not many able to keep up with me one on one. Though i met my counterpart whose aura was blue and while she lacked training the fight was fun and made me wonder if i could learn to do that to but i can certainly teach the dance of combat. How to read an enemy, how to probe for information in combat, how to watch ones surroundings. Where the vital organs and artery's are. How to seal a wound to keep a target alive and how to hit a target and not kill them." she went on adding in the other two almost as an after thought.

Using her sensation mimicry on someone helped Chrysanthemum understand them. Her father loathed her power because it allowed her body to equalize the power disparity between them. It was harder to abuse someone when the abuse was returned to you. Some people feared the lack of control they had when Chrys could affect them without their say-so.

This woman lived pain and violence. She was surprised, but not fearful. Chrys believed she would torch an orphanage if asked. Her enthusiasm would have made Chrys worry about her ability to control her violent urges if she could not see the obedience in Kimberly’s eyes. If Chrys and Jayda kept her in check, she would be in control. She was like a well-trained panther; submissive to her masters, but when she was allowed off her leash, she was an apex predator.

Kimberly was curious about Chrysanthemum’s power, but did not presume she was owed an explanation. Good. ”I can create a bond with someone, and when I do sensations become shared. Heat, pressure, pain, pleasure. If I cut off someone’s arm, I’ll lose feeling in my arm until enough time passes; tested that one. Not quite willing to test what happens when someone bonded to me dies.” Her smile was unnerving when she added, ”I always break the bond before killing them.”

A training gym and dojo was an appropriate fit for this woman. She was combat ready, and mutants needed to know how to defend one another. ”I’ll entrust that training to you; I’m not much of a fighter. The business will include employees; trainers, maintenance. Willow will handle administrative work, but they are all Syndicate-approved and loyal.” No sense risking questionable hires when like-minded mutants needed work.

”As for humans, they may be part of the clientele. As the owner, you do not have to deign give them them your time or attention; there are people for that,” she assured her, not wanting to force Kimberly to deal with people she saw as the enemy. ”But this is part of letting the business fly under the radar. That said, if a human is causing trouble… well, we will let you deal with problems brought to your doorstep. Just be mindful of our cleaners who will have to come in and manage the fallout.”

Chrys played with her dangling earring, if only to keep reminding Kimberly of their bond with the tugging sensation at her earlobe. ”I have faith in you, Kimberly. I have no concerns that when we let out Aura into the world with her mask, she’ll cut a red swath where we ask. And Kimberly will be my dutiful subordinate and a mutant the rest of Syndicate can look up to.”

Aura considered the explanation on the other woman's power, the implementations were fascinating. "Well based on the arm i would not think it would kill you, but i would not be comfortable with testing that out either, in case you actually would die." she smiled back considering the woman prudent. She was a bit surprised she had tested the arm though, that could of been dangerous had it gone wrong. Aura was unsure if one could reattach an arm one removed a sshe was normelly on the removing end of the equation.

Aura appreciated willow's service as Aura had never actually paid a bill in her life. What she did pay for had been set by Lisa and auto debited to her account. "No, To fill this role i'll have to interact with the Humans. Won't do if i gut one out of reflex for touching me. The Syndicate had helped me to address that but it still gives me the creeps." she said honestly. Aura had traditionally let no known humans touch her flesh, as much to prevent harm to herself as well as just finding Humans touching her disgusting. The idea of a clean up crew made Aura feel important. No one else had ever cleaned her messes to make sure they were not discovered. "Really is a shame they don't taste better or i could make their job real easy." she laughed. She had never quite grown to enjoy the favor the way her former teacher had.

She loved the way this woman worded things and behaved. "Your faith is well placed. A red swath? you sure know how to talk to a woman " she said flirtatiously enjoying the sensation of the tugging at her ear. Aura liked this woman already, even if the dance floor was not her realm like it was Aura's. She found power use beautiful and quite enjoyed the other woman's power tugging at her ear and responded by letting her aura cover her right finger tips and running the aura claws softly across her left palm slowly in part curious to see if Chrys reacted.

" Their is one more question, My father Abyss and my sister Amber, both former order members that would join us if found, should i keep efforts to locate them?" she asked entirely willing to accept the need to do so. She did care for both of them but Orders always came first and she would sever even these contacts if asked. She had no idea if either even wanted to be found. Still Abyss, Amber and even meld could be considerable assets to the Syndicate, all had a record the length of her own and all had been prominent order members.

The curiosity of her power was clearly one of interest rather than exploitation. Kimberly bore no ill will toward Chrys, and all reports suggested she was loyal like a golden lab, which Chrys could work with. ”I also don’t fancy the idea of getting dead any time soon,” she agreed, ”And a heart or brain is a much different beast than an arm. My power ties into the nervous system, so I do not wish to find out what brain death might mean for me.” Some risks were not worth her curiosity; she could have lived with one arm, but her brain was an asset.

The progress Kim made was impressive. From cannibal to a woman who could hopefully interact with humans without spitting on or stabbing them. They had to be careful, but that was undeniable progress.

A show of power was met and reciprocated, with an example of Aura’s pink energy on display, forming a claw. The mistress bit her lip as the sensation of a claw raking her palm transferred over. ”Certainly quite the toy to play with,” she mused ambiguously. The mutation? The woman? That was a question to answer another time, of course.

As a final followup, Kimberly had a question about her former associates. Family, likely found family based on the records. Chrys smiled warmly. ”You’re welcome to keep searching, and I would recommend providing Willow with what details you can. She is working with our messenger to gather information on former members of notable mutant crime organizations.” There had been a few over the years, leaving dozens of hundreds of threads to track down. ”The Syndicate wants to be a network for whatever mutants need us and understand the cause.”

"I will do my best to ensure their is never a time you need to test such things." Aura mentally saw Chrys as her leader below the Syndicates over all leader and a such viewed Chrys's life as more valuable then her own. She only hoped fate would be less cruel this time and that it would not turn out like the order had.

Aura saw the reaction and smiled. "I could be considered that. Aura said assuming Chrys meant her. She had viewed herself for most of her life as a weapon to be wielded so being seen as a toy was not to far past that. "Until the day the Lord of souls claims my soul either to be reborn to the fight or to consume my soul" she replied referencing gods she knew almost no one alive knew existed much less followed. But that was irelivent, one did not need to believe to serve and everyone had their own paths.

The relief on her face was clear, at having permission to keep looking. "I will do so, Amber likely won't be found until she wants to be, she has a habit of running off to the amazon and letting her powers rule her mind and the amazon is a big place to search through, i have tried and got lucky once in the distant past but it would be hard to know if the Zombie Dinosaur is there or elsewhere. Abyss took us both in, flattened a prison to break me out once. " she said unsure how either would be found if they did not want to but their was always a chance and the Syndicate had resources.

"fate crafts a strange river for us all full of beauty and the unexpected. We can never know what it will bring us and only hope we take the right turns as it branches. I even played secret parent once" she said thinking of her lack of hope and purpose between the order and the Syndicate. She had told people she was trying to prevent a cure which was true but she had also been looking for a good death. Now though she had purpose. "I can't help but wonder if i had done better in the fight against humanity, if Humanity would have been to crippled to ever form somthing like SUPER" she said, it had been a thought playing at her mind for some time now.

This girl really did have loyalty ingrained in her. Chrys could work with that; maybe she should make the dojo a normal trip. She could use the exercise, right? This new face was a very pretty one, and while Kimberly had some unique takes on diet and religion, Chrysanthemum was never the type to let quirks dissuade her.

Working for The Syndicate came with rules, but it also came with freedom. It was easy to offer Kim the freedom to track down her family. ”It sounds like you had quite the family connection. Best of luck, Kimberly, and know The Syndicate is here to give you the resources to succeed. Or break you out of the next jail cell, if it comes to that again,” she teased.

This woman had drive and she stayed focus on her mission. ”A one-woman army can only make so much of a difference, but every dent is a dent,” she assured the killer. ”Now, though, you’re part of something larger. With a wider reach, each chip and dent will add up. Stay hopeful, brightness.”

Brushing her hand across Kimberly’s cheek, Chrysanthemum looked to the door out. ”I do have more appointments to deal with today and a very needy pet who will want me home soon. I’ll leave you to get adjusted here, but I’ve had them program me into your phone if you need me. It’ll be under Mistress Ivy.”

As a parting farewell that she would justify as being “very European, and this, high-brow New York,” she kissed Kimberly’s cheek. ”Excited to see you grow, Kimberly. Until next time.”