Leilah/Plot

Season 1[]

WARNING: Sections in italics indicate important plot points that are elaborated on in later arcs.

Kovoro Mall[]

After Spectre managed to successfully produce their Ability Disabler, there were disagreements within management as to what to do with it.^[1] Apparently, Leilah was involved with a branched off project that involved planting tracking devices in prizes and distributing them to high-tiers who were to be drugged and abducted. Target 93 on the list was none other than Seraphina.^[2]When Leilah found out that her sister was being targeted, she gave orders to her team to steer clear of Seraphina.^[1]

Suspension[]

On the same day as Seraphina's suspension, Darren had a romantic evening with Leilah planned.^[3] The very next day, Darren told Leilah that he enjoyed the date and wished to go out again. Leilah scheduled the their next date to be on Saturday of that week.^[4]

Aftermath[]

For their upcoming fourth date, Leilah told Darren that she had something important to tell him.^[5] But whatever it was she wanted to divulge, it was going to have to wait. Apparently, she failed her superiors at Spectre in some capacity. As punishment, she was sent off on a faraway assignment.^[1] She had to abruptly cancel her date with Darren, telling him that she got a call from her employer to go on a two week business trip.^[6]

Rage[]

With Leilah away, other Spectre agents proceeded to disable Seraphina's ability and attempt an abduction as originally intended. Leilah would eventually suspect that part of the reason she was sent so far away was so she wouldn't be around to interfere.^[7][1]

Joker[]

Two weeks after departing, Leilah finally resumed contact with Darren, texting him that her company was opening a new location. She added that all the work she was made to do had her exhausted. But with the her return coming up, she rescheduled their cancelled date for the upcoming weekend and sent her boyfriend a picture of herself at the beach, asking if he liked her new hat. Darren was more interested in the bikini she was wearing.^[8]

On the day of the date, Leilah met up with her boyfriend at StarLight Restaurant.^[9] After short pleasantries were exchanged, she pulled him in a tight embrace and told him how good it felt to be back in town with the man she missed so much. After sitting down and placing their order, Leilah gazed lovingly into her boyfriend's eyes. She advised that if he tried smiling instead scowling, he'd wind up with fewer wrinkles. His attempt to take her up on the advice left her incredibly disturbed. Their waiter eventually arrived with their order. She courteously thanked him, and bore a charming smile even after Darren scared the poor guy away.

As the couple ate, they discussed Leilah's extended absence. Leilah told Darren that due to a new branch opening in ZetaSci, her superiors sent her over to train the new employees they hired to work there. When Darren asked if there were any openings for a guy of his skill set, Leilah told him he was more than qualified to work for them. She felt the need to ask what would become of the students who were under his care over at Wellston High. Without hesitating, Darren declared he would be glad to be rid them all. When Leilah asked if this included John, Darren complained that the twerp's attitude had only gotten worse. What's more, the headmaster relayed orders not to step in and interfere with John's ongoing mission. He stopped winding up in the infirmary only to send several other students there in his place. Darren admitted to his curious girlfriend that John had been causing trouble across the school due to his best friend getting attacked after she was injected with an ability-disabling drug. He also admitted that he had been losing sleep for the past month as he, the doctors, and the Authorities had no idea how to reverse the drug's effects. Naturally, Leilah was familiar with the drug and the people who manufactured it. Darren apologized for going off about the students again, but Leilah insisted that she liked it when he did so. Darren then asked Leilah if ZetaSci would be able to help the student. She agreed to have her team look over Daren's notes on the case, promising that they would do everything in their power to help the student. Grateful and ecstatic, Darren gripped her hand and thanked her while bowing his head. Blushing at this heartfelt gesture, Leilah asked for the name of the student. Once he told her that student was named Seraphina, the shocked Leilah spilled her wine on her blouse and rushed to the bathroom to clean the stain up. After returning, Leilah did not seem interested in the date at hand.^[10]

Season 2[]

Revelations[]

Livid that her orders were disregarded, Leilah argued extensively on the phone with her superiors over their actions during her absence.^[11] But the infighting and insubordination within Spectre severely hampered its former effectiveness. Leilah's beloved organization was in too much disarray to accomplish anything to correct the situation.^[12] She came to the conclusion that the best way to protect Seraphina would be to employ her.^[11] To that end, Leilah had "Wellston" discretely deliver an anonymous note to Seraphina, with an offer to "make a deal" at a Lovun Cafe.^[13][14]

Leilah arrived at the cafe on the scheduled day. After checking with Kayden that the coast was clear of other Spectre agents, she entered the establishment. She saw that piquing Seraphina's curiosity with a potential deal had done the trick, and coaxed her to accept the invitation. Leilah approached the table she was sitting at and began remarking how her new hairstyle made her almost unrecognizable. Suddenly, she was blocked by a tall teenager who was sitting with Seraphina. He demanded her identity, so Leilah introduced herself and explained she sent the note. The boy wasn't interested in introducing himself, but the ensuing outburst pushed that matter aside. Seraphina was shocked to see that Leilah was the one who planned the meeting. This shock turned into disdain and pain when Seraphina accused her of abandoning her five years prior. Leilah attempted to apologize and make excuses for leaving, but Seraphina was not in a forgiving mood. With Seraphina worked up, the window to have a discussion was getting narrower. Eventually, Seraphina managed to calm down when her guest reminded her of her own resolve to keep a level head. Though Leilah was impressed with this fellow's mediation skills, she was unwilling to divulge any important information near him. While her note didn't explicitly forbid Seraphina from bringing company, Leilah decided that she would end the meeting before it began if privacy wasn't guaranteed. The teenagers reluctantly gave in, and at Seraphina's behest, "Arlo" moved to another table. He warned Leilah that he would still be watching for any funny business.

Regretting that their reunion wasn't ideal, Leilah stressed that it was an urgent matter and time was short. She revealed that she's a member of Spectre, and that the organization was responsible for the drug that caused Seraphina's ability loss. This only made Seraphina even more distrusting of her, even when Leilah insisted that she tried to keep it from happening. Leilah explained of the strife that plagued Spectre's highest ranks following the successful production of the Disabler. Seraphina felt compelled to ask what noble intentions could have ever compelled a company to develop such a drug in the first place. Leilah was not willing to divulge any more information until Seraphina agreed to her plan to work for her. In order to make the offer more enticing, Leilah promised to help Seraphina restore her lost ability.^[1]

Seraphina asked if Leilah was serious about suddenly reappearing after five years of zero contact in order to propose working together with the people who did this to her. Leilah insisted that Seraphina would be working for her and not them, though Sera remarked there was little difference. Leilah claimed that she was only trying to help, and that the situation was much more complicated than she was making it sound. Though she acknowledged Seraphina's right to resent her, Leilah insisted that they've always been on the same side. Seraphina pointed out the hypocrisy of demanding complete trust whilst harboring secrets. Leilah apologized for having to put Seaphina through all this

The conversation was cut short when the sisters and Arlo felt a familiar pulse. Leilah realized that the Ability Dampener they were hit with meant that the rest of Spectre was onto them. Arlo returned to the table, and both and Seraphina quickly realized what the pulse would soon entail. Leilah called Kayden and asked how they possibly could have targeted. Kayden had no idea, but he warned her to avoid the main streets. He also offered to come pick them up, but Leilah belayed that so he could save his strength for when it mattered most. Just as she hung up, she noticed a van pulling up outside and wondered how Spectre found her out. She told the students that they needed to get out of there before danger caught up with them.They made their way to the employee lounge, interrupting a discussion between waitresses. One of them told her the area was off-limits to patrons, but Leilah apologetically insisted that they were in a big rush.

They stepped out into the alley behind the cafe. Leilah told the teens to follow her, but Arlo decried her as potentially complicit in the crisis. Leilah tersely stated that she couldn't prove to him that she wasn't leading them into a trap, but she was heading off whether they followed her or not. The group stuck together, so Leilah told them to keep an eye on the surrounding surfaces. Seraphina elaborated to Arlo that an ambush could spell their end if they didn't. After rounding a corner, Leilah found her ex-fellow agents blocking the way out. They demanded her surrender, but Arlo started a fight. He put up a Barrier around the trio, but Leilah warned him not to go all-out against their enemies. She insisted that he use only half of his dampened strength, to his disbelief. Even when the trio got surrounded, Leilah stressed that they not exert more than 50% of their current power. Arlo resigned that he'd have to take her word for it.^[15]

The agents began trying to penetrate the protective dome. Arlo warned the others to prepare to go on the offensive, because he couldn't maintain their defense for much longer. The dome went down, and Leilah spearheaded the retaliation against Spectre. Even in her weakened state, her expert Time Manipulation usage made her untouchable as she neutralized everybody she engaged with a single blow. After Seraphina saved Arlo from being disabled, Leilah finished off the ghost who held the syringe along with several others. But the sight of reinforcements charging in made it clear that the trio would be unable to defeat all of Spectre's reserve forces. Leilah urged Seraphina and Arlo to get back to running. After taking down the goons who tried blocking their escape, Arlo asked Leilah why there were so many enemies who sought to stop her. She corrected his misconception that she was the only target. Seraphina informed him that as a high-tier, he was to be drugged with the Disabler as well. After some running, Kayden suddenly appeared right in their path. Arlo rushed ahead to take him down before Leilah could explain that he was there to help. Thanks to a quick clarification from her, Arlo stopped before his attack connected. Leilah ordered them both to keep moving, and then asked Kayden why he disobeyed her order to stay put. He said that they were taking so long that he feared the worst. Leilah then asked if he had the energy to get them all to safety. He answered that he believed so, which Leilah didn't take as a "yes." She decided that Kayden teleport with the teenagers to L39, while assuring them that she'd catch up eventually. Kayden obeyed, and Leilah was left to handle the rest of Spectre on her own.^[16]

As soon as the other agents caught up with her, they demanded she surrender in the name of the boss. She consented to face the music and speak to him directly, so they gave her a phone. Upon establishing contact with him, Leilah was reprimanded for not keeping in touch. She claimed to be a busy woman before asking what he wanted from her. The boss grilled her for overstepping her authority. She defended her actions by saying that she was officially cleared to speak with Target 93, adding that it she had to after what the others did to her. Leilah then demanded to know if the crowded cafe was unwisely pulsed out of fear of her or an overeager desire to drug another high-tier. The executive warned her that she was in no position to mouth off to him, and that his decisions were his business. On that note, Leilah advised that his business should be focused on cleaning up the mess his team made of the operation, since Target 93 was out of his reach for the time being. With the boss preoccupied with sweeping the incident under the rug, ^[11] Leilah managed to give the rest of Spectre the slip.

After arriving at L39, Leilah checked on Kayden's condition. He sheepishly admitted she was right to believe that he couldn't teleport three other people, earning him a reprimand for always pushing his limits. With Kayden in otherwise good shape, Leilah turned to the students to see if they were okay after the fiasco. Seeing Seraphina glare at her, Leilah warily approached her with an outstretched hand. Sera grabbed her by the wrist and asked what hell she would face working for her. Leilah expressed her sorrow over having to watch Spectre tear itself apart, which seemed to resonate with Seraphina. But as much as Leilah wanted to put it back together, she couldn't do it with Kayden's help alone. She apologized for failing to keep Seraphina out of harm's way, but offered to protect her if she agreed to aid her in her quest. Seraphina asked what she planned to do after they completed that mission. Leilah replied that there was no point in getting ahead of themselves, but offered Seraphina time to consider the proposition. She began preparations to safely escort the students back to Wellston dorms. At that moment, Seraphina expressed a willingness to cooperate, provided that she wouldn't inject people with the disabler under any circumstances. Leiled smiled and agreed to this condition.

When the group finally arrived at Wellston, Leilah thanked her sister for accepting her invitation. She promised to get Seraphina's treatment prepped and ready within days. Leilah also assured that she was available to talk if Seraphina had anything on her mind.^[12]

Square One[]

Leilah and Darren continued to make plans to spend quality time together. But Darren texted that they had to cancel their next date night due to "ducking" kids piling on the work for him. Amused, Leilah said that it was alright, as long as he tried to have fun on the job.^[17] With the evening suddenly free, Seraphina's treatment could go underway sooner than expected.

Leilah had a message sent to her informing her to go to the park after school to meet a contact. After sending said contact, Kayden, over to escort Seraphina, Leilah set up the medical lab where it would all go down. Everything was ready by the time Kayden returned with the patient. Leilah welcomed her sister, and extended her gratitude for being trusted despite living in an unfamiliar world. But when Leilah placed a loving hand on her sister's shoulder, Seraphina brushed it away and clarified that trust was still in short supply. Things still weren't square between them, though she was willing to put the past behind her and move on with her life. Cold though it was, Leilah appreciated Sera's mature approach to mending fences.

The patient, having changed into a hospital gown, looked nervous. Leilah went ahead and exercised some bedside manner. She promised Seraphina that she didn't need to worry about the procedure failing, and asked if she knew how long it's been her powers were taken away. Sera answered that it had been two long and miserable months. She was anxious to break free of the standstill she was trapped in. Leilah apologized for taking so long to finally aid her, but Sera explained that the experience taught her the most important lessons of her life. Before Spectre attacked her, she was content to be a bystander in the midst of injustice. But after everything she went through, she realized that she needed to start reshaping the world around her. Leilah was pleased to hear such initiative, but asked Seraphina if she was truly willing to honor her end of the bargain. Seraphina declared that it was an easy price to pay.

Leilah laid Sera down and gave a simple overview of what the procedure entailed. The patient asked about the anesthetic she was going to take. Leilah answered that such a long procedure was best slept through, a prospect that didn't sit comfortably with Seraphina. Leilah asked her to share the first reform she planned to make afterwards, hoping it would take her mind off of the blank period that awaited her. Seraphina spoke of a lost friend who wouldn't stray from the warpath despite the harm it was causing him. More than anything, she wanted to give him the help he needed to find his way again. This familiar story caused Leilah to remark that Sera held this friend in high regard. Just before the anesthetic took ahold of her, Sera said that Leilah was on point.^[18] Leilah successfully helps Seraphina regain her ability.

The treatment was successfully administered, and Seraphina woke up once again able manipulate time. Leilah warned her that the procedure was highly experimental. As such, she should err on the side of caution and avoid exceeding the recommended output margins of ability usage.^[19]

Later that day, she texted Darren the good news he had been waiting for. His resume had impressed her manager. He could expect to be brought on board in the very near future.^[17]

Discord[]

Leilah accompanied her sister to have a meeting with some of Spectre's executives.^[20]

Escalation[]

Leilah were in the middle of a meeting with Darren when Kayden and Seraphina suddenly teleported into her office, which caught the two off guard.^[21]She admonished the teleporter for not knocking on her door, but Kayden replied he couldn't risk her sister being seen by their other co-workers. After she cleared the confusion about Seraphina to Darren (his concern about why she kept this a secret from him were dismissed as "unnecessary"), she promptly kicked the two men out.

Leilah then apologized to Seraphina about what happened in Rowden. Her apology were rejected, even after she tried to explain it was the doing of her superior, to the point where Seraphina questioned her sincerity in everything she done for her. Leilah promised to make up for years of abandonment, but this gesture was also doubted by her sister. She eventually relented and agreed to schedule another meeting with the executives.

Leilah then told Kayden to send Seraphina back home while she had a conversation with Darren. She decided to come clean about the true nature of her job to him. Unfortunately, this only served to strain their relationship, with Darren believing what they had might be a lie too. They presumably broke up after this revelation. ^[22]

Leilah's eventual meeting with Spectre executives went underway. She vouched for Asset 47 (aka her sister) despite Orrin's attempts to pin the blame of the setbacks on their previous mission on her. However, the second executive said what Asset 47 did to her own team couldn't be ignored. Leilah argued that if it weren't for Orrin's subordinates' actions, her sister wouldn't turn on their organization. Prior to that, she complied with what Spectre demanded of her. Beating colleagues aside, Asset 47's quality were unrivalled. Executive #3 agreed with her assessment and inquired on Seraphina's situation. Leilah said she's unlikely to do anything with Spectre anymore at the moment, but some convincing could be done to persuade her. All it took was for the executives to arrange another meeting with Seraphina.^[23]

Unfortunately, Leilah almost lost Seraphina when she and John got jumped by an assassin. If it weren't for Kayden and his buddy intervening at the right time, they could become another victim of said assassin. Speaking of which, Kayden showed up in her office carrying the teens before passing out. In great panic, she contacted her (ex?)-boyfriend for his immediate assistance. While he initially unhappy to hear back from her, Leilah's panicked voice and the subject of her fear eventually convinced him to come to her aid.^[24] As he arrived, she already rewound the duo, which got him to wonder what happened to them.

After Darren stabilized the patients, Leilah thanked him for coming to help them, in spite of their personal falling out. She explained Kayden's condition and the weakness of his ability when Darren asked her about it. The man in question woke up, prompting Leilah to question him on what led to Seraphina and John being brutalized. Kayden elaborated, his story shook her up to the core. Darren held her hand to soothe her worry, unaware his gesture came across as awkward considering what transpired between them recently.

It turned out Leilah's not the only one whose feelings lingered. She caught Darren discreetly marveling at her beauty. He turned his face away as she enjoyed his flustered reaction. Their little moment were interrupted by John's nightmare-induced panic attack. Leilah introduced herself after Darren "diffused" the situation. She got the boy up to speed with Spectre. However, instead of backing off, John wanted to get his ability back, impressing Leilah. She then contacted a local pizza parlor to get themselves some grub. After all, it had been a grueling day.^[25]

While waiting for the pizza to arrive, Leilah had an epiphany. The assassin were likely sent by Orrin, in order to silence Seraphina. It fitted his modus operandi of ensuring everything went according to his plan. She tolerated his machinations and treatment towards her if it means she can unite Spectre, likened his controlling nature to that of her own mother back then. But targeting Seraphina became the last straw for Leilah. It made things personal to her, who vowed to get back at Orrin for this.

The group's pizza soon arrived, with everyone sans John pretty much drooled. The boy was stationed at Seraphina's side, waiting for her to wake up. Leilah offered him some slice, but the boy refused. Confused, she got the explanation from Darren, who told her the teens were pretty much joined at the hips. Soon, Seraphina woke up and after a brief, painful embrace with John, wondered how the two of them survived the ordeal. John pointed at the three adults in the room. Leilah asked how Seraphina fared now, which she responded that it could be worse since she and John weren't supposed to made it out alive. Leilah told the duo this is far from over, and knowledge about Spectre might help them in the long run. She suggested they can ask her anything about the organization.

Leilah then gave the duo a rundown of Spectre and its executive. She told them she hailed from the north, where Neil operated his own faction. He sent her to Wellston to check whether Orrin abused his power for his own benefit. They found out he had been collecting high-tiers in his bid to fully usurp the organization and become its sole leader. Leilah advised the two to rest for now, and only let them return to school once their injuries fully healed. She had the final say whether they can leave the campus or not. ^[26]

Later, John and Seraphina fell asleep, exhausted from their earlier ordeal. Darren and Leilah watched over them, relieved they were safe and sound. He then asked her for a private chat. Away from the patients, Doc voiced his concern over what happened to them. Leilah pointed out they were just minding their business when they got attacked. Darren scoffed at the fact fight followed them, even when they least deserved it. Leilah grabbed his hand, convincing him that he could leave this life behind. She even promised to cover his tracks to make sure it wouldn't come back to him. Darren asked her if John and Seraphina were doomed to rely on the recovery machine for the rest of their life. She told him that would be the case until they find a more permanent solution. Darren questioned on how long that would take, but Leilah couldn't convince him. She admitted that it won't happen anytime soon, which only served to worry him even more.^[27]

Division[]

Few days later, Leilah had Kayden sent John and Seraphina back to Wellston after they fully recovered. At some point, Darren visited her at ZetaSci. After mulling over their previous conversation, he wanted to join her team. Leilah couldn't help but wonder why the change of heart. Doc said he refused to see the teens depend on the recovery machine for the rest of their life. Leilah complimented his noble cause, which flustered him. He insisted that once those two recovered their abilities for good, he would dip. It was at this moment Leilah confessed to Darren. She didn't date him because of some plan made by Spectre, but rather out of her own genuine feelings for him. She sealed her confession with a kiss, which left him speechless. ^[28]

Some time after, Leilah chatted to Neil via a video call. The executive wanted the details for her group's upcoming scheme. She told him it was a risky one: they were going to Spectre to steal the machine. Hearing the surprise in Neil's tone, Leilah asked him to recall her early days in Spectre. Neil was the one who inspired her to commit to the original mission of showing the world that power levels shouldn't dictate everybody's worth. Orrin betrayed that ideal, and had to be stopped before he used Spectre to plunge the world into despair. If there was anything Neil could do to aid John and Seraphina, then they might pull this off. He offered his support, but warned Leilah that his influence in Orrin's territory would be limited.^[29]

The next day, Leilah and others gathered at her office for the mission brief, led by Seraphina. She gave them a rundown on what happened, up to Leilah successful lobby for another meeting with the executives. The team then rehashed their part of the preparation for the mission, before the teens returned to Wellston for the finishing part: the outfit.^[30]

The heist proved to be a failure. Not only they failed to steal the machine, but John and Seraphina only partially recovered their abilities. The latter returned earlier with Kayden, and her state caused Leilah and Darren to be worried. She checked on her sister's condition, noted a broken wrist among the injuries. As John's absence left Seraphina frantic and roughing up Kayden in response, demanding for a reasonable answer, Leilah tried to calm her sister down. Her hand got slapped away, as a tearful Seraphina despaired that all of their effort meant nothing if John was captured by Orrin.

Just as Seraphina about to force Kayden into teleporting her back into the lab, John arrived at the apartment, battered. Everyone, especially Darren, quietly watched as the two had an emotional moment. Later, Leilah asked him on their way to the laundry on his silence since the brats returned. He said their "defeated" look today contrasted that of their nonchalance back when he still working at Wellston, despite John's constant visit to the infirmary. He didn't like it, and promised to get their abilities back. Leilah smiled at his declaration.^[31]

Hardline[]

^{[32] [33] [34] [35] [36]}

Rebellion[]

^{[37] [38] [39] [40] [41]}
Leilah punched Valerie to save Seraphina from Valerie's barrier, then escaped with her.^[42]

Uprising[]

^[43]

References[]

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