CHAPTER 2

"Ughh...." Masane woke up in a hi-tech hospital. She noticed the NSWF logo on the hospital equipment and immediately tried to jump up and defend herself. She was restrained by the tubes and fell on the bed.

"Where the hell am I? Huh, Do you freaks wanna mess with me again? Huh? Do ya? Got anymore Neogenes who need to get their ass kicked? Huh?" Masane fell silent as a young woman with long blonde hair walked into the room. She was Japanese and had relatively normal breasts with an hourglass shape, that made Masane think : She's almost as hot as me.

"Hello Masane. My name is Mara Otohime. I am the new director, in the wake of the... untimely death of Miss Maria"

"Was the bitch that tried to attack me? And speaking of that why am I even alive? Didn't the Witchblade consume me?"

"So many wonderful questions," Mara said as she handed Masane some clothes. "Let's walk and I'll explain everything.

"Will do. Once I figure out how to get out of these things, that is."

______________________________________________________________________________

INTERLUDE

Takayama stood over his daughter, Rihoko. She was taking the death of her mother so well. He wondered just when she would break. Suddenly she awoke from her sleep.

"Dad."

"Yes Riko?"

"She's back. I feel her presence. Mom is back."

END INTERLUDE

______________________________________________________________________________

"So you're the host of the Angelus, who's the mother of the Witchblade?" Masane asked Mara for the second time.

"Yes. I am even more powerful than you are, with the state of your Witchblade."

"What do you mean, my Witchblade?"

"It seems the Darkness and I made a mistake when bringing you and the Witchblade back. Part of it has reformed and has a new bearer who is taking down Neogenes who are popping up from all over."

"Is it... Riko?"

"Yes." Mara nodded

"But she's only-"

"16."

"WHAT? I missed 10 YEARS of my daughter's life? HOW?"

"We were not able to bring you back, because the Witchblade wasn't truly destroyed. We didn't, couldn't feel the shockwaves until last week."

"Dammit, She's here..." Masane could feel the burn of the Witchblade. It wanted to fight. And obviously Riko was looking for a fight she was gonna get one.

"Damn you Blade. I told you not to take her. This breaks my heart, but-" Masane changed her form.

"LET"S BLOW SOME SHIT UP!" Masane leapt into the air, using her acute senses to locate her daughter. And there she was with long blue hair spilling down her back, with pink armor that covered only parts of her body. Her blade was extended, Neogene blood dripping from her blade.

"Hello, Mom."

"Look at Riko, all grown up. I think you're ready to play. So shall we?" Masane extended her own blade, giving in to the urging of the Witchblade.

"MASANE! DON'T FIGHT HER!" two voices rang out in unison. The Angelus and Takayama.

"HI Takayama. What a fine job you've done raising Rihoko. Look at her, is she just another Witchblade test subject? I can't believe you let this happen- OOF!" Rihoko tackled her mother to the ground.

"Don't say that!" She screamed at Masane. Masane gave her a lazy smile and licked her lips.

"Bad move. You lose."

CHINK!

Masane's blade was buried in Rihoko's body. Rihoko looked down in surprise.

"How could you--" She fell to the ground as the blade left her body.

"Stop being so damn melodramatic. You'll live." Suddenly Masane felt a blast of heat come from the Angelus.

"Really Mara?"

"You hurt my stepdaughter. The darkness must be destroyed." She flew at Masane who easily dodged her.

"Mara you are a fake bitch. She's my daughter and I do as I please And I do what I please with you. I will take you out." She leapt at Mara and landed on her back. She stuck her blade into the Angelus and licked her burning blood off the sword.

"Exotic. I want more." She jumped out of the away and gave Angelus a swift kick to the stomach. Mara flew back into the wall.

"Masane. Enough." Masane turned at the sound of Takayama's voice.

"Fuck off." She grabbed Riko's body and prepared to leave as a tranquilizer was shot into her back.

"Ooh. Rihoko, baby, I love you." Masane passed out.

"Get her to the medical labs. Now!" Takayama had called his medical staff to the scene.

"What about Rihoko sir?" one of the medical assistants asked.

"She'll be fine, I'll take care of her. But handle Masane for now, got it?"

"Yes, sir." The assistants put Masane in a truck and drove off.

______________________________________________________________________________

Somewhere else, someone was watching.

"Interesting."

****************************************************************************** NEXT ISSUE: WE LEARN THE HISTORY OF THE WITCHBLADE, AND MEET PLENTY OF NEW CHARACTERS, INCLUDING NEW NEOGENES AND THE NEW MAGDALENA. ALSO, WE LEARN WHAT RIHOKO, MARIKO, AND THE OTHERS HAVE BEEN UP TO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!