In Yuriko's line of work, one could never be sure when your next mission would be your last. And now, it seemed like this might just be her swansong. An infiltration job had gone south. A stroke of ill luck exposing Yuriko, and forcing her to fight for her life against, outnumbered and outgunned. But not out trained. Yuriko had a choice to make. Abort the mission and retreat to safety. Or pursue the target at the risk of her own safety. In the calm, collected and obedient mindset that always overtook the agent when on a mission, there was never really a choice.<br/><br/>Two hours later, bloodied and battered, Yuriko stood over the corpse of one of the galaxy's most notorious crime lords. For years, a combination of ruthless leadership and a few well placed bribes had kept Ramon Vierez one step ahead of the Federation's military police. None of that could save him however, after one of his attacks inadvertently took the life of a Councilman's daughter. Now, he was just one corpse among the debris, among a couple dozen bodyguards and pirates on a remote world.<br/><br/>Panting for breath, Yuriko stumbled out into a dark alleyway. All around her, tall concrete buildings rose as far as the eye could see. The planet was a cold, desolate rock of a world, a haven for criminals and outlaws of all sorts, not because of any sense of luxury, but because of the perception it was beyond the Federation's reach. Icy rain dampened her hair, making her violet locks cling to her face, but it did little to wash away the blood and grime. Her suit was in tatters, blood flowing from several sounds, including a deep gash on her left side. A piece of metal shrapnel was embedded in the agent's right arm, and while victorious, she lacked the strength to pull it out. "Well...this is probably it. Hell of a way to go I guess...  no way I can...make it to the evac point like this."  Stumbling, Yuriko fell to her knees, resting on her hands and staring down at a puddle beneath her. As her vision blurred, struggling to hold on to consciousness again, she saw it. A face much like her own, yet so different. The hair was all different. A dirty blonde, rather than the vibrant violet she sported. Her features a touch more delicate. But what always drew her attention most, were the eyes. Violet eyes, identical to her own, yet framed by that unfamiliar face.<br/><br/>Finally, the soldier collapsed, face first into the puddle. She had no time to question it, no energy to ponder it. She could only stare into those eyes, like a deer into the light, until she finally fell, face first into the puddle as the darkness took her, never expecting to wake again.<br/><br/>If only she were so lucky.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>