Clutching her shoulder with one arm, the other one limply dangling to her side, Alice groans in pain as she stumbles back into the gym, sighing as she witnesses the state the main training area was left in after Yui’s fight with the mysterious visitor.

Alice: Fuck. So much for all the hard work.

Alice grimaces, producing the Baton from her sleeve and pointing it at the four corners of the room, as if trying to size up the building.

Alice: Should be fine… Ngh… (another bolt of pain runs through her shattered shoulder, and she raises her voice) Aoi! Aoi, goddamnit, you can stop hiding now!

Aoi: (Aoi comes up the stairs slowly, but runs to Alice upon seeing her condition) Are you okay? Who did this!?

Alice: Subtlety’s officially out of the window. They’re coming for us… Some girl showed up. Foreigner. Don’t know what she wants, but not even Yui could put a dent into her. Someone wants us all dead.

Aoi: (She shakes her head, but otherwise seems to ignore the warning) Is it broken? I can’t put bones back together, but I can do something about the pain.

Alice: (she winces in pain) … B-Broken’s a fucking understatement. Ngh… T-There’s no time. I managed to chase that girl off with the Baton, but I don’t think it’ll last long. If it even worked at all…

Aoi: (She unfolds her wings, the first time she’s allowed Alice to see them battered and broken) They might be after me. Wouldn’t be the first time someone’s wanted the wings and all… I’m sorry. Hold still a second.

Alice: (she complies with Aoi’s request) I dunno, that girl came here to kill… I can think of a few reasons why some English-speaking girl would come all the way down here to kill you, but… not all of us.

Aoi: Because you’re protecting me, maybe… I’ll come out and deal with it myself if I have to. I’m not in any fighting condition, so it’ll probably be the end of me, but… that’s how it goes. (Her wings glow, absorbing the pain from Alice’s arm. Aoi winces and her arm twitches in sympathy) 

Alice: (she winces in relief of the pain) In any case, she didn’t mention you. If anything, she seemed more interested in Yui. Fuck. I should let Yui know as soon as I start enchanting the gym. I’m gonna have to use the Baton to… hide this place from the public eye. At least we’ll have a safe haven.

Aoi: Can you make a phone call like that? I can do it. 

Alice: I’ll need my one good arm to wield the damn stick, so… You’d better tell Yui whatever enchantment I put on that girl, if it even worked in the first place, is gonna wear off real soon. (she mumbles to herself) Seeing as it worked on Hanako, I should be able to make this place invisible to anyone we don’t trust… But it’s gonna keep the Baton confined to the gym, too…

Aoi: Okay. Here. (She reaches for her phone for a second, then thinks better of it) {Yui? It’s Aoi at the gym. Alice says her enchantment isn’t gonna last too long.}

Yui: {Yeah, that’s about right. Hup!} (Yui takes a running jump from the top of an office building, rolling as she lands on the roof opposite where she was.) {Ugh. She’s fast enough to get away, but she’s stayin’ in my line of sight. I got a bad feelin’ about this, Wings.}

Aoi: {… You don’t have to go after her. You could wait for Yuzuki and Shinju’s sister… Alice would be sad if something happened to you.} 

Yui: {There’s logic in that, yeah. But then, she knew where to find us. What’s stoppin’ her from comin’ back later, when we’re not around to defend the Gym? Or if they come after us at the dorm? Or if we’re split up? I gotta find out what this chick’s deal is before I let her lick her wounds, Aoi.}

Aoi: {Have it your way if you want… just don’t do anything stupid.} 

Yui: {Aoi, c’mon. It’s me we’re talking about here. When do I ever not do anything stupid? I can tell you I’m playin’ this one more cautious than anything, though. I’ll be safe, if nothing else.}

Aoi: {Okay. If she comes back, I’ll deal with it myself. I don’t want Alice to get involved again.} 

Yui: {Good. …Good. Hey, she’s okay, right? I mean, besides down an arm ‘til we get this sorted out? I uh… I dunno if you, specifically, can heal physical injuries, but uh…}

Aoi: {Sorry, I can’t. Not for a non-Puella. All I can do is make it feel better.} 

Yui: {That’s all I can hope for, I guess. I appreciate it in any case though. Thanks, Aoi. Stay safe yourself over there. I have no way of knowing if this girl’s workin’ alone.}