17.8.1100 0600 hours
Victoria, Londinium
I was not perfect.
James paid for it.
I thought it was over. We were safe. I was dancing with Sora. She was so beautiful, so light. My head was spinning. My life, it wasn’t a secret anymore. The world saw me dancing with my wife. There were friends there. Ingrid. Lucia. James. Boss. I had honor again. I was not sure what being a Sarkaz Warchief meant. Or what it meant that Boss had sold Penguin Logistics to Sora. That was alright. There were no more secrets. I could protect the people I loved, and have honor again. I had found a new famigila. Even if it was as a Sarkaz. It feels the same, being Sarkaz. But I would be anything for Sora.
So far, I have not had to kill anyone for mocking Sora. I came very close with the little annoying durin that Gavial is sleeping with. Apparently, he does not hate Sora because she is Sarkaz, but because he does not like her music. I am not quite certain. I will be watching him. Not because he is dangerous, but because he is an idiot.
Then, the attack came. I heard them coming, and recognized the sound. It took me a moment to place it, but I knew it was dangerous. Lateran Gun Knights are not the deadliest threat I have faced, but they are still very dangerous. The sort of threat you do not fight unless you have to.
I was not perfect. Because my mind did not first think of protecting James. It thought first of protecting Sora. Perhaps that was selfish of me. Sora is my wife, but she is not the Savior. James did not like this name, but it is true. He has saved the Sarkaz. My wife is Sarkaz. For that, I owe him a debt I could never articulate. Not even if I was good with words, like Sora or Exusiai.
The Gun Knights came in hot, and fast. Their weapons are deadly dangerous, especially at range. They are worse even than fighting Exusiai, who is a near perfect counter to my own arts. I snarled in fury, and tapped into the originium in my blood to fuel even more powerful arts than normal. I slashed into the Gun Knight that came at Sora. Well. Probably James. But Sora was there as well.
Red was with me. I do not like her. She smells…well. Like a Fang. Like death. This time, however, I was grateful she was there. The Gun Knight had many guns, but also beam sabers. I did not have Blueberry and Dark Chocolate, but only my own beam sabers. The Gun Knight had reach, armor, and powerful, powerful combat arts, unlike anything I had seen from a Sankta. They moved faster than a Sankta, and summoned blade echos like my own.
The blade echos took me by surprise. I was stabbed in the chest. Collapsed a lung. I coughed up blood, but still managed to breach the Gun Knight’s armor. Red slammed her dagger into it, and the Gun Knight collapsed. Not dead, but legs not working thanks to a spinal hit.
“TEXAS!” Sora screamed. She picked me up, trying to use her healing arts as I leaned on her. There was fire, screams, and death. Skalter, the Doktah’s new wife, had turned into a monstrous seaborn. She was battling three gun knights, two were already dead at her hands. Doktah was trying to coordinate the defense, but there was too much chaos, even for them.
Sora dragged me off the field to where James had gone.
But I had not been perfect. James was already dead.
My injuries were bad. Sora barely kept me conscious. Then, that unicorn appeared. She used James’s arts to heal me. “Back on your feet. You’re going to be needed, wolf. Much as I hate to admit it, Victoria will need your Rhodes Islanders again.”
I nodded, but did not understand. Rhodes Island was gone. Gavial had said there was another ship, but Amiya was now King of Sarkaz. Did Rhodes Island even exist? I was a Sarkaz War Chief. My friend had just been killed.
That meant that there was a debt of blood. I may have escaped Siracua. But I will never escape my honor.
I found Sora. She was caring for the wounded, and exhausted, using her arts to heal. She can not use the new arts, but she is a competent medic, and there were many wounded. The party had not been the only point the Gun Knights and Lateran troops had attacked.
She finished helping the Victorian wounded, then came over to me and hugged me. No talking. I appreciated that. Sometimes…sometimes no talking is good. I found myself crying. Shaking. My wounds were whole, but I was not. A short time later, she took me to a quiet room, where we could be alone together.
“Celenia…it wasn’t your fault,” Sora told me, holding my head in her hands and trying to look into my eyes.
I couldn’t meet them. “I wasn’t perfect. I should have been there.”
She sighed. “You big, dumb, beautiful lupo…no one is perfect.”
I wanted to tell her that she was, but I couldn’t find the words.
“No, not even me,” she said, shaking her head slightly. “Look at me, Texas.”
I managed to meet her eyes. “Don’t blame yourself. You were protecting him. You fought a Gun Knight, Texas. One of the legendary Gun Angels, and you defeated them, kept me safe, and protected James. He was betrayed by an ally. Not even you would have seen that one coming.”
“Plume isn’t a Sankta,” I said. I’d heard about what had happened from Gavial. I don’t understand how they didn’t notice that Plume had wings and a halo. She is obviously a liberi. Liberi do not have wings and a halo.
“And do you blame Gavial and Lucia for not noticing that Plume had them?” Sora demanded of me.
I hesitated. “No,” I admitted. “It was the chaos of battle. Plume is a trusted ally. She had been with Rhodes Island for many years. One of the Doktah’s personal bodyguards through Londinium. There was no reason to think she would be compromised.”
“And it took the literal bitch queen of hell to do it. You heard, you saw. That was Priestess. Not Plume. So we were outsmarted by one of the legendary Precursors. The one who cursed the world with crystal and stone,” Sora told me.
“I…I still…I should have…” I found myself weeping. Sora held me, squeezing tightly.
“I…I just met him,” I gasped, my voice ragged. “He…he was my friend. He never judged me. I’m different. Broken. He…he never tried to fix me. He…he was just my friend. I…I should have protected him. That was…that was my job…”
“You loved him,” Sora said gently.
I gave her a baffled look, and she laughed. “Not like that, Texas! You loved him as a brother. As a friend. And it hurts, because someone you cared about died. I…I understand. What that’s like. I liked him, too.”
I nod. I understand what she means. Many people find James annoying. I have observed this. Personally, I do not understand why. He does not lie. He does not hide what he feels, like so many others do. He is honest, kind, and, admittedly, has the survival instincts of a blind newborn beckbeast.
But when there is danger, when there is someone in need…James is there. He does not hesitate. No matter how foolish it might be, or how deadly to him, he will find a way to help.
Or rather…he did. He will rush to heal the sick no longer. We won’t share a beer and watch anime, and comment about how big the boobs of the characters are.
For some reason, James always liked the girls with smaller breasts. I do not understand this, personally. While flat women are not unattractive, clearly, the superior option is for them to be like Sora. The fact that she will no longer have to bind her chest to disguise her Sarkaz heritage is, to my mind, only a good thing.
Sora holds me for a long time. We don’t speak. We do cry, and kiss, and hold on to one another for dear life. She is my sweet wine. A reminder that even though I am not worthy, not perfect, that I have failed, that my honor is stained…life may yet still be worth living.
The next day, I learn Exusiai has arrived. I expect her to understand. To blame me for not being perfect. I tell her James is dead. I expect her to hate me when we talk later.
Instead, she hugs me and tells me, “It’s going to be OK, Texas. We’ll get him back.”
“He is dead,” I state. I do not understand this. Is Exusiai lying to herself? She, like everyone, lies to herself sometimes. But usually, her lies are not like this. They are what people call “white lies.” Such as telling someone who looks awful they look good, or that Hibiscus’ food is not an abomination, but tastes good.
However, other people are also saying James is not dead. I do not understand. I look to Boss, to the Doktah. They are making plans as well, with the Black Empress, the Unicorn woman, and others. I go over, and listen. Still I do not understand. They speak of a simulated universe. Of data echos. Of spiritual reconstruction.
I do understand one thing.
“I will go,” I tell Doktah. They turn their head to me. I point to the map. “You want to infiltrate Laterano. To kill Priestess, and…and somehow get James back. I will go.”
Doktah does not insult me by telling me it will be dangerous. Obviously, it will be dangerous.
“You’re one of our best scouts, and you’re an excellent assassin. Those are skills we’ll need,” Doktah says. They nod. “I’d want you positioned as my executor. Someone to deploy quickly to problem situations, get in, eliminate or soften a target, and get out.”
“My specialty,” I agreed. We’ve worked together before. Sometimes, he uses me as a Vanguard: First to fight, first to gather precious information. Not here. Here, we go to kill. They want someone to spill blood. That, I can do. Honor demands it.
“We’ll need to be small, fast, and quick,” Amiya agrees. “Four teams.”
Doktah nods. “Six-man squads. You’ll take leadership of one, Amiya. Myself, the second. The third will go to Ch’en, the last to Blaze.”
“You will attack Laterano with only twenty-four?” Hildegarde demands. “That’s suicide.”
“No. The main force will be under your command,” Doktah says, and pulls up a hologram. They begin to move units like pieces on the field. This is beyond my understanding. I struggle to lead even a squad. I’m not good at that. I can follow orders. I’m not so good at giving them.
I go back to my spot by Exusiai and wait and listen. They create four squads. Four missions.
Squad Ember will be lead by Blaze. Rhodes Islands Elite Operators. Blaze. Rosmontis. Logos, Radian. Matra. Red. She has been promoted, it seems. Their job will be simple: Take out infrastructure and targets of opportunity. Open Laterano to a full-scale invasion, which will be led by Hildegard, Reed, and Siege. Boss will be with them as well.
Squad Dragon will be led by Ch’en. Her, Surtr, Mudrock, Specter, Hibiscus, Blemishine. Their job will be to attempt to draw out and engage the elite forces of Laterano at key points inside the city, leaving our main targets vulnerable to attack. Their main trust is something called a “space elevator.” I do not know exactly what that is, but it seems to be a tall structure that extends to the false sky, to the very hole Columbia created. Interesting. But irrelevant to my interests.
Squad Handbasket will be led by Amiya. The King, Wiš'adel, Lucia, Gavial, Arturia, and Federico. Their objective will be to go into this “simulated universe” and retrieve James, as well as stop this Priestess from attaining his permissions. I do not know why she needs his permission. This has something to do with why he is not dead, however, so I am glad this has kept him alive. Somehow. I do not quite believe this, but I do hope.
Last, Squad Covenant. This is my squad. Doktah will lead us themselves. It shall be them, me, Skalter, Exusiai, Odda, and Mon3tr. A good mix.
Though honestly, I am not sure anyone is needed but Mon3tr and Skalter. I have seen what they can do. I know what I can do. I know which of us is better. It is not me.
Still, I am ready. There are plans made. Stratagems discussed. I memorize the routes and maps. I do my best to understand our objectives, but I only need to know one thing: Who to kill.
I am to kill Priestess. They do not say this. But I understand. To rescue James, she must die.
The rest is so much talking. Amiya does not wish to kill Sankta. To preserve their lives if possible. Doktah sends me a quiet message on my phone. I glance at it.
Sankta lives secondary. Focus on primary.
Understood.
I do understand. Exusiai does not want to kill her people. Amiya does not want to kill her people. I quietly go over to Wiš'adel on break.
“What? You come to tell me to be gentle with the little angels too?” she demands when I corner her in a hallway.
“No,” I say bluntly. “How much experience do you have fighting Sankta?”
Wiš'adel looks me up and down. She is evaluating me. “Not as much as I’d like.”
“I have much experience fighting besides Sankta. Exusiai is very good. But she has flaws. I will explain them,” I tell Wiš'adel.
She cackles. “A cold bitch, aren’t you? Well. Now I know what Lappland sees in you. Still can’t believe you left a woman with real balls for a sweet and simple thing. Even if Sora is pretty,” Wiš'adel sniggered.
I frowned at her, cocking my head to the side slightly. “I am a lesbian. I do not find having balls attractive.”
She sputtered for a moment, and I allowed myself a small smile. “You fucking autist! You did that on purpose!” she finally laughs.
“I do understand common idioms,” I say with a nod.
“Yeah, well, fucking Fred doesn’t,” Wiš'adel grumbles.
“I do not understand idioms. I do, however, know the best tactics for dispatching members of the Pontifica Cohores Lateran, as well as the agents of Notorial Hall,” Federico says. It is most satisfying to see Wiš'adel jump, a bomb appearing in her hand.
“Fucking hell! How does someone so dense be so quiet!?” Wiš'adel snarls at him, even as Federico softly closes the door to the small room we’re in behind him.
“A great deal of training. Also, these floors are carpeted, which makes silent movement much easier,” Federioc states. “I would have them removed. It is a security hazard.”
“OK, well, if this is supposed to be a meeting of autists anonymous, fucking count me out. I sure as fuck have social skills. I just choose not to use them,” Wiš'adel says in a tone that makes me question if she understands what social skills actually are.
“I was told we were to discuss optimum methods for assassinating Lateran forces we will be fighting on the upcoming operation,” Federico states, glancing at me.
I nod at him. “That’s why I contacted you. I will not be in your squad, but it is important we discuss tactics. We are both to infiltrate the Basilica, and attempt to locate the innermost sanctum.”
“The Cubicularius Sanctae Legis,” Federico agrees.
“Yeah? So why me and Fred here?” Wiš'adel asks. Then frowns at Federico, who has smiled at her. He is…bad at smiling. All teeth. No joy. “Why are you doing that? Stop it. Fucking creeper ass smile.”
“I apologize. I was attempting to indicate that I understood your calling me ‘Fred’ was a term of fraternization and bonding, and not merely a mishearing of my actual name, Federico.”
“Ok, so, Red calls people nicknames because she likes them. I do it because I fucking hate you.”
“I see,” Federico says with a nod. I do not think he does. I also do not think Wiš'adel is being honest. She reminds me of Lappland. But less…well. Gay. She is sour grapes. But it is because of pain. And a propensity towards violence.
I half wonder what it would be like to sleep with her. I am certain there would be little sleeping involved. However, I am married to Sora, and I do not think she is gay. So it is only an idle supposition. An interesting one, however. She does have the Sarkaz figure.
“So are we going to discuss how to plunk an angel's wings, or not?” Wiš'adel demands, and takes out two more grenades, and starts juggling. Federico frowns at her. I start to wonder if she is half sankta. Exusiai does things like this all the time. It is not proper treatment of munitions. But Exusiai has all her fingers, and so does Wiš'adel. So I do not protest.
I also do not note the similarities between Wiš'adel and the Sankta aloud.
I have trouble reading interpersonal relationships. Even I can tell Wiš'adel would respond poorly to such a comparison.
“I have diagrams,” Federico says, and pulls out several pieces of paper, laying them out over a small table. It shows armor on Gun Knights and Lateran troops.
“It is weak here, here, and here. The armor is good against blasts, but if you focus on shrapnel…”
It is a grim business. I go over weaknesses in Sankta tactical doctrine, which focuses on ranged overwatch and their technological advantages. Wiš'adel goes over simple ambushes and traps that work best on Sankta, relying on their Empathy to lure them into untenable situations.
At the end, Wiš'adel frowns at Fred as we roll up the diagrams we have made. “Ok, so, what. Do you hate your people? Just a fucking traitor? You’re handing the Speaker of Kazdel the perfect way to take down your own damn city.”
“I love Laterano. It is my home,” Federico says, turning to her. “When I was given the new arts by CEO Amiya, I heard the voice of the Law. It is…in pain. It has been given a directive. It must follow it. It does not wish to, but it must. I will free the Law, and the Sankta. Priestess is an existential threat to Terra.”
“Yeah, OK, sure,” Wiš'adel says, nodding.
“Then, if you become a threat, I will kill you, and all others who have this knowledge,” Federico says, a gun appearing in his hand so fast that not even Wiš'adel has time to react, and I barely do. She freezes, looking down the bore of his shotgun. “I suggest you remain on cordial terms with Laterano after this operation. Otherwise, you will learn why I am designated Executor.”
Federico pauses, then says. “I do not wish for this. I appreciate your bluntness, Speaker Wiš'adel. And yours, Celenia Texas.”
Then he flips the gun back under his coat and nods to us. “This was a productive meeting.”
And he leaves.
Wiš'adel watches him go, her jaw clenched.
“I’m going to fuck that little angel up,” she snarls once he is out of earshot.
I pause, consider, and then decide that in honor of James, I will say it. “Just make sure to use protection when you do.”
Then I jump out the window before Wiš'adel can arm her grenades.
I think the joke was very funny, if crude.
We depart less than 48 hours after the attack. The squads will not travel together. We will move separately, to minimize chance of detection, and, if we are detected, that we will not all be caught. I spend the final hours before the mission with Sora. This may be our last time together. I explore every inch of her body. Worship it. It is my reason. My everything. She clings to me, desperate to have as much of me as I am to have all of her.
In the end, it is not enough. We must still part. She will march with the Sarkaz warbands, acting as a medic. The armies of Victoria, Leithanien, Tara, Kazdel, and Rhodes Island make for Laterano.
And, one other. I find Lappland, along with the Signor dei Lupi.
“Ah, Celenia, I hear you’re going on an extra fun mission! Room for one more?” she asks, batting her eyes at me.
I walk up to her, grab her, and kiss her. She goes stiff at first, then tries to bite at me. I push her away before it can grow intense. “If I die. Take care of Sora.”
“Me? You’d trust me with your delicate little flower?” Lappland cackles.
I look at her. “Yes. You see. She is special. You would guard her. Protect her. She needs that.”
“And you wouldn’t be jealous that I’d fuck her brains out too?” Lappland demands, leaning in close.
I hesitate, then nod. “A little. But she would be lonely. You would make sure she is not alone. So. If I fall, as my sister…I ask you to act in the Old Way. To marry the wife of your fallen sorella, to have children with her, the oldest to carry first my family’s name, then your own.”
“Fuck that. I’m not ever having a Salluzo,” Lappland snarls.
“Good. I don’t want any Texases either. But Sora’s family name must survive. She is the leader of a famiglia now. She must have an enforcer. You understand what must be done.”
Lappland eyes me. Then, she takes out a knife, cuts her hand, and flips the knife to me. I do the same. We clasp hands our blood mingling. Then, she leans in to kiss me, and I kiss her back.
“Mmm. Incest. My favorite,” Lappland purrs, squeezing me in all the right places. She still remembers.
“You will act with honor,” I tell her, then we break apart.
“So. You really think you will die this time, eh?” Lappland asks, and for a moment, she sounds frightened.
“Yes. There are more important things than me coming back alive. I failed James once. I will not fail him, or Terra, again,” I say.
“Hmm. Good. Well, assuming I survive this somehow when you don’t…Sora will be well taken care of. Though I’m not exactly sure how you expect us to have children. I’m not getting a sex change, and she wouldn’t appreciate it anyway,” Lappland sniggers.
I gave her a flat look. “There are always orphans in Siracusa. And Kazdel. Adopt some.”
“Well, that’s a boring answer. Practical! But very boring. You should try fucking a man at least once, Celina.”
“I did. Didn’t like it,” I say, and turn my back on her. “Ciao, Lappland.”
“Ha! Do not be so dour! A presto! We will meet again! Even if that means I don’t get to fuck your wife. Haha! Though I am always up for a threesome!”
I ignore her. No. That will not happen. But Sora will be looked after. Lappland is many things. But I do trust her to take care of Sora.
I find Lucia, and nod to her. She has been crying. Her cheeks are red, and puffy. But her eyes are steel.
“You’ll find him.” I tell her.
She nods. “I’ll drag that big idiot back kicking and screaming if I have to. You take care of yourself, Texas. And Exusiai.”
“I will.” I hesitate, then bow my head. “I am sorry. I should have protected him.”
She kicks me. “Sora isn’t here, so I’ll do it for her. You are a big stupid lupo sometimes, Celina. James…well. He protected me. Now, it’s my turn. You just find Priestess, and kill her.”
I nod. We hug. I turn, and go to find the Doktah and Exusiai. “Ready.”
“Eh, we got a little bit,” Doktah says, looking at their watch. “Time enough for a quick bowl of ramen.”
“Or an inspection of the closet,” Skalter says innocently.
Doktah coughs. “Again?”
“It will be our last chance! Besides, one can never be too careful when it comes to a closet's cleanliness,” Skaltur purrs, rubbing herself against the Doktah.
“Alright,” they agree. “But then the ramen.”
“Hmm, I don’t like it very much when you just eat the noodles and drink boiling water,” Skalter comments as she hustles her lover to the closet.
“It adds flavor!” Doktah protests, then the closet closes, and I ignore the tentacles that sprouted at the last moment.
I sit beside Exusiai. She is cleaning Victor, headphones on. She glances over at me. “Hey. Guess we’re together again, huh? Apple Pie and Texas! The best combo for delivery done right!”
I nod. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Yeah. Me neither,” Exusiai agrees, grinning at me. Her grin slowly fades, and she looks worried. “It’s just…my sister. Lemuen…you’ve never met her, have you?”
I shake my head silently.
Tears splatter onto Victor, and Exusiai wipes them away quickly. “I…well. Going home will be…hard. Not how I thought it would go. Or…how. Um…don’t tell Odda, but…”
She pulls out a small object. I think it’s a thermometer at first. Then I see the two lines. I glance at her. “You’ll be fine. Lucia is too.”
“Uh, you’re supposed to say like, congratulations?! Or something!?” Exusiai huffs, throwing her hands up in the air and looking at me with the “Texas you’re being an idiot again” look.
I give her a hug. “Congratulations.”
“Hehe. Thanks. What about you and Sora? You’d be a great mom!” Exusiai says excitedly.
I shrug. “We’re gay. We’d adopt.”
“Well, I mean, obviously. I guess you could do a surrogacy, but, yeah. Lots of kids who could use a good home,” Exusiai nods. She grins at me. “Wow, can you even imagine? We’re all gonna turn into those gossipy old moms, sitting in the back of the church, talking about our kids football matches, and when they’re getting their patrons, and…”
She trails off. Looks at Victor. Frowns. “My kids…won’t get patrons.”
I nod quietly. “Unlikely mine would either. Probably Sarkaz or Lupos.”
“Yeah. I just…hmm. I never really thought about kids before, you know?” Exusiai says quietly. She sighs. “And now…now I’m going home, with a cute guy I think I’m in love with, probably gonna get married and stuff, and…and I’m going to fight my sister. Not like, argue. Fight. To kill. She…she’s probably mind-controlled too, you know?”
She looks sick. I put my hand on her back. “Maybe Amiya can help her too.”
She did something to all of us. Small shard of originium. Says it will guard against Priestess. I trust her. But I don’t know how she’d help an expert Sankta sniper out for our blood. One of the contingency plans Federico, Wiš'adel, and I came up with was how to neutralize them.
It did not involve saving their lives. Just ours.
“Yeah,” Exusiai says, and she looks down at Victor. Then back up at me. “Texas…”
I nod quietly. “I’ll try.”
“No, I mean,” she swallows, then closes her eyes. What she says next…it’s so full of pain. “If…if it comes to it…save the mission. Save James. Save the world. Then…then we save the Sankta. Even…even my sister, if she…if she…you…you know what to do. I…I’ll try…you know.”
I just give her a hug.
A few moments later, Odda jogs up, geared up and ready to go. “Right, not sure why I’m on the super squad, but I’m ready to rock if you ladies are.”
“We need someone to carry the gear! And I wanted the handsomest guy around to carry my bags!” Exusiai looks around, then whispers, “Leader and Skalter are making sure that closet over there is clean. Wanna check the other one with me?”
Odda gives her a dopey grin. “Well, as long as I can put my packages down.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m very good at handling your packages,” Exusiai purrs at him, and she leads him over to the closet.
I take out Blueberry and Dark Chocolate, and began to tend to them. They are already oiled and sharp, but I feel better, running my hands over the steel. It’s soothing.
Though I am somewhat disappointed we are out of closets, and Sora is not here.
Mon3tr arrives. She is wearing Director Kal’tsit’s coat. Her sleeves are still too long. She doesn’t seem to care. She glances around, head cocked to one side. “Huh. Why is everyone else in closets?”
“Making sure they’re clean,” I tell her.
“Really? Because it sounds like they’re having sex,” Mon3tr says, and makes a face.
I nod. “Yes. They are.”
“Oh.” She eyes me sideways. “Uh, no offense, but…um…”
“Mon3tr. I am married. Happily,” I say, feeling somewhat offended.
“Oh, phew! That’s good. I’m not even sure what I’m interested in yet! Besides, I’m so worried about mom, and grandpa, and…everything.” She sits morosely for a moment. Then looks over at me. “It’s hard being a person, you know? It was a lot easier when I was just…a monster. Now…now I actually care about stuff.”
“Yes. I used to be a Mon3tr, too,” I tell her. I nod. “You should find a girlfriend. Or boyfriend. They help you learn how to be a person. That’s what Sora did for me.” I think about it a moment longer, then add, “So did Boss, and Exusiai. Friends. They help. Turn us monsters into people.”
“Hmm. Yeah. I guess you’re right.” Mon3tr grins at me. It is…very innocent. She does not seem like one of the most dangerous beings I have ever met.
Of course, the most dangerous pair are currently cleaning a closet together. A tentacle wiggles its way under the closet door, then is hastily retracted. Yes. Very dangerous.
“Is it supposed to be like, super gross that you know your grandpa is…you know,” Mon3tr says, making a face.
“Mmm,” I say, and nod.
“Oh yay. Well, I guess I have that to look forward to when I get mom back,” Mon3tr says, and shudders. “I was there when she…never mind. Wow. So many things I really wish weren’t in my data banks.”
“We’ll get her back,” I say, and put a hand on Mon3tr’s shoulder. She sniffs, and leans into me.
“Yeah. Of course.”
I can tell she doesn’t think we will either. White lies. Sometimes, you need them.
After a few more minutes, the closets are apparently clean enough, and the rest of our team exits, adjusting their clothes.
“Well. Shall we?” Doktah says, pulling their hood back on.
I nod. “I’ll drive.”
“SHOTGUN!” Exusiai whoops, and we head down to the staging area, where our transport is waiting.
It feels…right. We say goodbye to Croissant, and Bison, and Sora. Boss is trying to act tough, but he’s crying. Lappland is there, but up on a catwalk, watching. She nods to me. I nod back.
Ingrid is there as well. She hands me a dagger.
“For the back of the bitch who took James,” she says gravely. I nod.
“The girls…I am taking them to Lungmen. I am too old for this war,” Ingrid says tiredly. “Murmura…she is a good girl. It is not so hard, to look after one more. I will keep her safe. For when Lucia and James come back.”
I nod. “They will. You’ll see.”
“Hmm. You’re a bad liar, Texas,” Ingrid tells me, and we share a sisterly kiss on the cheeks. “Make them pay. Blood for blood. Life for life.”
“Honor and family,” I agree. Then I kiss Sora one last time, and get into the vehicle. I put my hands on the wheel, and the ramp from the hanger drops onto the Victorian plane.
“Our next delivery is in Laterno!” Exusiai says brightly. “One special package for Priestess, the other for the Law! You know the drill, Texas! Step on it!”
I hit the gas, and we leave Londinium behind.
I look in the review mirror, and see Sora waving with Croissant and Boss. I smile, then adjust the mirror, and turn my eyes forward.
I am not perfect.
But then again, neither is Priestess. After all, she made the worst mistake of all.
She left a Texas with a Vendetta against her alive.