It's Time For The Opening Act!!

[Lubbock]

Lubbock could feel a sly movement by his leg... as if something was attempting to sneak by. However, his gaze didn't fall from the bionic, alabaster-haired woman before him. The presence beside him... it hosted no ill-intent, at least not towards him. To buy whoever it was time, he decided to make small talk. "So... you're just a figment of my imagination, huh?" He stated the obvious. "I would think that would mean I can erase you... but that doesn't seem to be the case." He mused bitterly, placing a hand to his hip.

The figment chuckled. "That's because I'm not from your imagination... I'm from your memories." She countered the assassin's argument matter-of-factly. "You can't erase memories... you should know that, of all the people here." She taunted the assassin, although nothing but a smile crossed Lubbock's lips.

"But you can fend them off... and that's easier with assistance." He shot back, giving the cue for the large python slithering along the ebony floor to strike. The legless creature sprung upwards, wrapping around the female's neck and cutting off further speech. With a hiss, the snake brought its head around to look at Lubbock, the animal's captive wavering in form, slowly deteriorating into the shapeless body it was originally.

"Well done, Lubbock. Seems that perverted mind of yours is more useful than I originally..." Syura's voice spewed forth from the snake's mouth, and with a grunt he tightened the grip around the figure's throat, "suspected!" The fake Najenda struggled against Syura's iron grip, tearing at the scaly body in desperation. Lubbock's vision began to brighten, and he felt his body begin to become lighter; he was reincarnating.

"Thanks, Syura. Nice to know you're always there for me, both in life and death." He showed his gratitude to the snake with a salute. The world around him became white, as white as the Nexus...

-----

Well, the truth was he was back in the Nexus, falling from the sky as he had upon his arrival. However, this time he was prepared; he slipped the crimson goggles upon his verdant hair down to his eyes and streamlined his body, piercing straight through the air like an arrow... but there was one thing he wasn't prepared for.

A girl with whitish-blond hair stood below him, some object - possibly a weapon - strapped to her back. She was standing right upon his landing point, and all he could do was flail about in a fruitless attempt to changed direction. Soon enough, his body collided with hers, sending the both of them sprawling. To save the girl from injury, Lubbock grasped her and held her close to him, allowing him to take most of the impact. Finally the two slid to a stop, Lubbock's back against the blinding floor, the girl on top of him.

The assassin breathed a sigh of relief, before twitching his hand slightly. He could feel something soft, and gave another light squeeze. W-what the hell is this? He wondered, before lifting one goggle lens, getting a better look. His face flushed red as he realised his dilemma.

Ooooooooh shit...