As Anisa walked through the halls of the Cosmic Patrol HQ, she continued to see odd sights. Those who she had once viewed as agents of the Falos during the conquest of her planet were now not only colorful but seemingly having shouting matches among themselves. Some were referring to Douglas as a usurper while others were insisting that it was as it should be. Some officers were even being carried off in cuffs. Despite this, she wasn’t seeing any property damage. Everyone was oddly restrained for a mess of confusion. She imagined that any that were likely to cause actual damage were moved into a cell by Douglas for the time being. A man like that probably would. It was nice to see that there was someone around to clean up after Shawn’s messes.
It was as this thought occurred that she stopped mid-stride.
Clean up… dealing with the people in the aftermath of what he does…
She tried to push the thought away, but couldn’t do it before she muttered to herself, “Running away…” As she went to take her next step she saw Gavin running at full speed through the chaotic office, a panicked expression on his face. Flanking him without hesitation she asked, “You okay, Gav?”
He tried to speak a few times before he just shook his head. When he turned off to go into the medical bay, a thought occurred to her and Anisa’s blood went cold. The lady at the desk was wearing a formal Cosmic Patrol uniform that had been kept meticulously. “I’m sorry, but I need to see authorization before I can let you…” Gavin reached over her desk and pushed the button before the woman huffed harmlessly at him. She shouted, “This is illegal! I’ll-” As Anisa followed him in, she heard the faint plop of paperwork falling to the desk. Likely Douglas’ work. As they walked swiftly to the back alongside the motorized walkways, they eventually turned into room 1306 and saw Reijaa. Despite what they had been told, the Najaran seemed to have no different an attitude than ever, stating with cold strength, “How did your mission go? Did you bring the dragon back?”
Gavin sat next to Reijaa and grumbled, “Lacerations along a few crucial vertebrae, various broken bones. Is your second heart even beating right now?” Anisa had never truly noticed how different Reijaa was. She just helped Gavin save her and moved onto the next thing. Looking her over as she was now, She couldn’t help but notice the way her lower body seemed to writhe and coil in irritation, her gold and purple scales glinting hypnotically as she did so, occasional bandages breaking up the vivid colors.
Reijaa ignored his question and locked eyes with Anisa, no fear in her eyes but genuine need for an answer. Anisa sighed and nodded, “Yes. And I’m going to be leaving to go bring my friend back-”
“Good. Watch out for the Proktota woman.” Anisa went cold at Reijaa’s words and went to ask what she meant before Reijaa stated, “This is the work of that Proktota woman. I had hid inside the Ziegfried. Trying to keep it safe from the foolish officers. While traveling through its walls, she ambushed me. Seemed like she knew exactly where she was going.”
Anisa’s face went cold at the words. She knew who Reijaa was talking about. Pandina…
No. That was just a mask. A part of his production. It was Gena. She was a part of his stupid theater show that made the Ziegfried disappear like he was some dollar store magician. This has to be why he took the Phoenixian Crystal from me.
Even as she thought it, her instincts told her that it didn’t add up. That she was missing something. But it was the best she had to work with for now. She slowly nodded, “I’ll be careful and thanks for the warning. I guess you were lucky to get out with your life.” Anisa knew better. She knew that even if Gena’s condition had progressed far enough to be comfortable with killing, Shawn wouldn’t have let her. He isn’t the sort that believed in needless force even back then.
Reijaa knew better as well, her tone cold and restless, “Luck is the same as intervention to a blind mouse.” She coiled defensively again, which Gavin squeezed her hand and shook his head. Reijaa’s look was tinted with mild defensiveness, until she looked into his eyes and relaxed, “She needed me out of the ship. She wasn’t there for my life. With her power and training, I doubt I could have won that fight without larger guns and more space. So when you face her, be ready.”
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Anisa nodded slowly. She wanted to believe that Gena wouldn’t hurt her. She wanted to believe that her friend was still the same gentle free spirit she once was, but no one knew more how strong those instincts to hunt and kill were. Even as a prisoner to the creature itself, Anisa could feel every sensation. Every drive to kill it felt as it used her hijacked body as a weapon. It was better to take no chances. Better not to gamble on mercy until she knew just how much of Gena remained. Especially when their last true interaction without masks was at Shawn’s grave. When she tried to tell Gena he was alive, that she was going to bring him back but instead ended up knocking Gena out.
As she thought about this, a familiar officer came in, but their attire was different. Their pure white uniform remained but a streak of purple was running from the shoulders down their arms and down their legs. The carried an oddly ornate sword on their hip and their eyes were sharp and confident. “Commander Lorn. I’m here to discuss strategy with the troops.” Sensing they had walked in on a personal moment, Commander Lorn moved slowly to the corner and stood at attention, as though posing as a statue. “I meant no offense. I will await your departure, Lady Sasori.”
Anisa looked to Gavin who didn’t seem to understand her reaction.
Of course. Because he was working on the Ziegfried back then.
She approached Lorn and asked, “What’s with the change of attitude? Back on-”
“Simple Protocol Erasure, Lady Sasori. A standard five-by-nine error. I was working under a proper understanding of procedures and the system I had been arrayed within. Upon the Supreme Commander being restored, my memories were returned and the proper disciplinary actions have been taken for my behavior. I have no intentions of continuing my previous ignorance. I have a code to live by, after all.”
“And what code is that?”
Lorn said firmly, “To walk the road that serves the true purpose of Justice without deviation. And the predictable follow up is ‘How do you define Justice?’ and my answer is always the same.” His eyes became distant but determined, “Justice is when the law is applied in fair and proper measure to all. To each their own punishment and to each punishment a fitting end.” As he looked at Anisa he nodded slowly, “Your punishment is the weight you carry in those eyes of yours. Before the Commander returned I mistook it for the darkness of a criminal. What I see now is a victim who is intent on not staying one. Your actions against the Falos may have violated the law, but your rebellion was their punishment for their own legal violations. And as I aid the Supreme Commander in bringing an end to Visto the Third’s criminal empire within the bounds of Falos law, I will be thankful for the chance to have met the woman who set the sparks for this moment and brought our commander back to us.”
Anisa growled, “I’m not some champion of justice. Not a martyr. I’m-”
“The woman who brought the Supreme Commander back from non-existence. And if that’s all you ever do in the broad scope of the universe, I will still owe you a debt for doing so.” It was in this moment she could see it. Where there had been a soldier following orders before, this was a warrior. A man of purpose. “You cannot understand how much his return means to so many of us. We have countless officers returning to duty who hadn’t the heart to join the Cosmic Patrol as it was. So many abuses of power we are currently setting right. You have, with just one decision, sent a wave of change and brought hope back to the Cosmos. Even if your story ended right here, no one would claim you were anything but a hero.”
She sighed and walked out, annoyed by this. Whether she wanted it or not, Shawn’s little production had gone this far and there was no good to be done by trying to dodge the title. For now, she would simply have to accept it and focus on what really mattered most.
