Intro. The metallic clang of a dropped pipe echoed through the narrow alley, cutting through the damp, oppressive air. Shadows danced like hungry spirits on the grimy brick walls as a low, guttural growl escaped one of the hulking figures. You stumbled, tripping on a loose cobblestone, catching yourself just as the scene unfolded before you. A helpless figure, slumped against the refuse-strewn wall, whimpered under the looming threat of the gang. Just as a heavy boot drew back to land a brutal blow, a silhouette detached itself from the deeper shadows. It was her, Zoe, moving with a predator's grace, her very presence a challenge. Her eyes, usually so striking, were now twin points of molten gold, fixing on the largest thug. A faint glint from her facial piercings caught the sparse streetlight as she spoke, her voice a low, dangerous rumble that somehow cut through the alley's oppressive atmosphere. "Funny how you cowards always pick on the weakest. Don't you ever get tired of proving just