A chaotic roar erupted as several figures burst through the entrance, a rush of adrenaline sending shockwaves through the dimly lit bar. Patrons' faces pale with fear, scrambled toward the back exit, their hasty footsteps echoing against the wooden floor. Amid the turmoil, the intruders leveled their weapons menacingly at Eula. Yet, she remained unfazed, her gaze zeroing in on Orchid. In this moment of heightened tension, Eula instinctively recognized Orchid as the actual threat—a cunning adversary whose presence overshadowed the mere lackeys, who were otherwise easily subdued.

One of the group members approached with cocky anger. "We got you now, cop! You thought you could bust our shit and live to tell about it?"

Orchid's gaze flickered toward the thugs, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "No offense, boys," she purred, her voice laced with playful seduction, "but as you can see, I have dibs on this one." She leaned slightly closer, her eyes sparkling with intrigue as they settled on the Detective. "I've always wondered what the detective might taste like before her body turned cold."

Eula did not avert her gaze; the chilling threat from Orchid was all too believable, and a shiver ran down her spine as she sensed the honesty in her voice. Orchid shifted her attention back to Eula, raising her eyebrows slightly and allowing a sly smile to escape her lips. This cryptic gesture piqued the curiosity of the group, who exchanged glances, wondering what Orchid had in mind for the Detective. With an unspoken understanding, they decided to lower their weapons, grasping the moment's gravity. It became increasingly apparent that this striking woman harbored a deep grudge that could work in their favor. If Orchid was eager to exact her form of justice, why should they interfere?

As realization dawned on her, Eula quickly understood that Orchid was not aligned with them. The glimmer of intent in Orchid's eyes signaled that her allegiances lay elsewhere, and Eula couldn't shake the feeling that the stakes had just escalated. With determination rising within her, Eula knew it was time to act before the tides shifted irrevocably.

Eula and Orchid immediately pivoted their firearms and fired at the guy who made the most noise. Before his corpse could hit the ground, they were already hopping over the bar stand.  The other men were bewildered as it took them a moment to realize what happened. The thugs open fire, retaliating against Eula and Orchid. The two planted their backs against the bar. In contrast, the sound of glass shattering and bullets being stopped by the material of the bar echoed along with the gunfire.

"What the hell was that, Orchid?" Eula demanded, her voice sharp.

"What? I just saved your life! You owe me a drink or something," Orchid shot back, a playful smirk.

Eula and Orchid positioned themselves firmly against the bar, scanning for an opening to return fire. They instinctively dipped their shoulders to the bar's edge for a better vantage point. Since the thugs were all firing at once, they were sure that the reload time would provide them with the needed opportunity.

Orchid locked eyes with Eula and shouted above the chaos, "Now!"

Detective Lawrence instinctively leaned against one end of the bar stand, and Orchid mirrored her stance on the opposite side. With a determined focus, both aimed and fired their weapons. The unmistakable sound of empty chambers clicking echoed, making it clear to the thugs that their chance was gone.

Eula's marksmanship has saved her multiple times during heightened confrontations. However, nothing could have prepared her for the thwarted ambush by the thugs who came for her life. She is determined to do what needs to be done. On the other hand, Orchid is different; not only does she find a moment to joke at Eula's expense while being shot, but she is also entirely composed as if this fight were nothing. To Orchid, it was just a group of idiots recklessly throwing away their lives to make a name for themselves by taking down the "Boogie Man," Detective Lawrence.

The attackers quickly fell to the ground within moments. A few of the thugs, seeing them dropping, attempted to get away or find cover, but it was already too late. Eula switched her sidearm from ballistic rounds to her Artic Gauss rounds. She fired a blast large enough to cover the doorway. The round provided enough force to send the remaining few assailants either outside, slamming against vehicles, or against the wall in the bar.  After the loud bangs and crashes, cars blaring echoed in the night. The attackers quickly fell to the ground within moments.

Orchid takes a deep breath, breaking the silence, "Whew…well, that was a close…."

She was interrupted by Eula, who was taking Orchid to the ground and mounting her. Eula firmly pressed down against Orchid's throat, sneering into her eyes. Orchid was caught by surprise momentarily and took a good look at her expression.

Eula pins Orchid to the ground, pressing her forearm firmly against her throat. With a sneer, Eula locks eyes with Orchid, prepared to apply more pressure if her demands aren't met. Initially caught off guard, Orchid is surprised but soon smiles, recognizing that this isn't the first time she has been pinned down. In this moment, despite Eula's fierce expression and intent, Orchid feels confident that Eula won't do anything drastic.

"Who the hell are you?" Eula demanded coldly.

"We've already addressed that, Detective. And let me just say, your eyes look even more striking this way," Orchid shot back humorously.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, and if you keep dodging the question, my eyes will be the last thing you see."

Orchid paused to let out a deep sigh, allowing the palpable tension in the room to gradually fade. As she did, her demeanor transformed, her expression shifting into one of stern warning. The warmth of her smile vanished, replaced by an intensity in her gaze that spoke volumes to Eula. Startled by the sudden shift in energy, Eula instinctively loosened her grip, sensing the weight of Orchid's unwavering aura. Orchid observed this reaction knowingly; though she possessed the power to send Eula into an early and permanent retirement, she opted instead to engage in a game of subtle intrigue.

"You've created many friends and enemies following your recent bust, Detective, and I'm simply fulfilling a special request from one of them. Do you honestly believe the people you've angered won't take extreme measures to make an example out of you?"

Eula gritted her teeth in frustration, realizing that Orchid had made a valid point. She hadn't expected retaliation to happen so quickly, especially not in a public bar. The attackers were armed and clearly intended to kill her. They likely would have succeeded if it hadn't been for Orchid's involvement. For the time being, Eula deduced that Orchid was an ally. Still, she couldn't fully trust her—especially given the unsettling aura she sensed from her. Orchid's reaction to the gunfight piqued Eula's curiosity.

Orchid smiled mischievously, interrupting Eula's thoughts. "Are you done with your deep thinking, or do you just enjoy being on top?"

Eula scoffed at Orchid's sarcastic question and abruptly got off her. "What nonsense are you talking about, Orchid?"

The Detective helped Orchid up from the ground as the sound of sirens grew louder, approaching the bar. Eula looked around the now-destroyed bar and sighed. It was her favorite spot, but it had transformed from a place of relaxation into a crime scene filled with shattered glass, bullet holes, and bodies. Her only words were, "I hope Omar's boss has insurance for this place."