August 27th, 2026. 12:45
It's been some days since the successful rescue of the Navigators, and G.o.D Squad from the Earth Warriors. News of the rescue has since turned up the tide of battle for Humanity's side, but at the same time, the presence of a third force coming in the form of the Agents puts the high command on high alert on the potential of hostile non-Inquisition Humans coming after them.
And ever since then, the combatants were given a few days of rest so they can properly recover from the wounds and scars sustained in battle. It is said that a handful of pills and ice cubes are needed to speed up the recovery, but one's wounds cannot be easily mended just on the flesh, less it takes notice on the mind of the survivors.
In a lounge room located near Sylvester's office, most of the Earth Warriors are present in the room, with their own news to settle to watch on their phones or talking with family members away from home. Sylvester also has several of his subordinates and doctors present with him. Jack turns to Sylvester as he interacts with a sergeant.
"Hey Sly, have any of the old fellows recovered yet?"
"They have, physically, but most are too busy comforting each other or too silent to accept any invitation here."
"Well, guessed as much." Jack shrugs as he swipes the screen of the phone with his thump, checking the news. Headlines such as: "The Navigators delivered safely thanks to UEF Operation" and "Economic downturn may limit PMC services on contested zones" are the most notable ones. Lucy sees the news alongside him while spinning a knife from the handle.
"Limit their services? They're expensive enough already for thes guff," she says slyly.
"What about the weapons that they'll no longer be needed for in combat? That doesn't sound too reasonable to me. Well, at least since these poor boys are way overworked already." Eddie laughs as he observed what they said about it.
"Ed, mercenaries are cold-hearted enough to not even feel their brains aching for being outside for far too long," Jack replies.
"Hey, don't get me wrong, I know these sons of bitches can pull up real hard these times, but it just got me thinking if the nations want an alternative from the Euro approach, ya know, not hire them in the first place. Well, damn Americans and Aussies just want to loosen up some cash, because this may as well be the mother of all contracts that their next line of sight is the almighty unemployment line. You get what I mean?"
"Nah, the naughty dogs think these greatly great tactics can win them over. Just some goodie good magic is what they need for this!" Tany replies as he leans close to Ed. He steps back for a bit for this.
"I...get your point, girl. As long it doesn't involve any chocolate rain of yours." Jack chuckles briefly, he knows from the experience very well.
"C'mon, even a nice Brit with such outlandish intellect is enough to provide company for ya."
"Nice enough?" Seiner interjects.
"Don't deny it, kiddo."
"Y'know that I could mix this gun with freezing canisters to shut that mouth of yours cold."
"Alright, cool it down, everyone! Keep it friendly, less you start blasting for getting on your nerves on something that may be a reality...or maybe not."
Seiner scoffs as he turns away back from them. All of them chuckle for a bit as they continue with their leisure time except with Tany who pouts as she crosses her arms, and turns away from them.
Seiner then sees Amira, staring at the window all on her own. She sees Logan training with his sword outside, pulling the same moves as the other night, but with this time, with direct control in his movement as the grip of the sword remains with him while shirtless. Each move now has a fair and just strike in every one of them, almost like with the mind at ease. And yet, Amira's face remains stiff as her posture, even with the cool breeze by her side.
"So Amira," Seiner calls out to her, "You're still sulking about that?"
Amira turns to Seiner as she tries to put up a smile on her face.
"It is not about sulking. It is about Logan."
Malak and Andrei look back at her for that before Seiner loosens up with his arms and think of something for her.
"What do you mean about that?"
"Have you noticed that he is practicing outside all by himself?" she says as she points where Logan is standing.
Seiner walks near the window and glances over what she's talking about. Sure enough, it is Logan with his sword practice as she said, but now clear to him. Seiner shakes his head and chuckles. Jack, however, only frowns as a result of this.
"Well, I'm pretty sure that he has a reason to do that. Maybe some sort of mechanism to recover from something that scarred him or something. Don't you think so or just a mere coincidence?"
"Well, no," Seiner replies, "I don't think so. No practice by solitary can be chalked up to mere coincidence alone." Jack can only gaze back at his own surroundings as well as the door leading outside, which then leads up to the hospital room. Knowing how this conversation can entail, he sighs.
"Guess we'll have to leave it for another day," Jack replies. Seiner nods back in agreement. It is best to leave something as touchy from him in the background for a while. Eddie, however, grunts as he stands up from the chair.
"All that gloom in spite that we won big last time. What's the big deal y'all? Not even the thank you from the Navigators themselves?" Eddie says.
"They're still recovering from the shock response, mister Ed," a soldier says.
"Aren't they supposed to be that tough?!"
"Well, to be fair, we did notice some nervousness about the circumstances surrounding the injuries incurred by the Zlocu, but it can be pretty refreshing to see them do the things that they have always done to survive. And of course, high-command ramped up security for all designated VIPs in case of future attacks," Sylvester replies.
"Right, I get it now. By the way kiddos, you know it's curious that despite having spent some days together, and we haven't told even a tiny bit of ourselves, don't ya think?" he asks while smirking.
"Well, I don't think we're the type to open up our personal-" Seiner tries to explain only to get pushed aside by Tany.
"Oh surely sure! Me first, me first!" she says as she bounces around the room with her stick.
"OK, I get it, ye gal, but cool that off, will ya?" Tany stops bouncing around, but not before she stumbles to one of the soldiers near Sylvester. Tany glances at him and uses her staff to lift him up and back into standing. She still smiles at this, the soldier at least is unharmed. Not that she mind his grumble towards her.
But before he can do something, Sylvester waves his hand in the air, as if to indicate a command to the soldier. With that, he backs down as he stands in place once more.
"Alright, what do you want to tell me about yourself?" Sylvester asks.
Tany taps her staff on her forehead for a moment, thinking about what to say to them about herself. Finally, she looks up at Sylvester and nods with a cheeky smile.
"Alrighty then, let's start with the basic basics, shall we? I am Tania Maestas, and my family is from...many places! A Mexican daddy and an Ecuadorian mommy!" she exclaims as she continues, "But yeah, these two had a lovey-dovey honeymoon near El Paso, and after that, little me was born, which makes me a proudly proud citizen of two nations! I had many nannies and any sight that meant fun meant I would be gladly glad to take part in it!"
She then looks at Eddie, who is listening intently to her. He grins and gives a thumbs up at her.
"Well whaddya know? That's all very fine to hear, gal, and you should be proud of having some fine parents too. Aside from that, how was school life? Did ya enjoy all the homework and lectures?" Eddie asks.
"Well, I guess you could say so, but not really not. I don't remember much of the classy classes, but because of my time outside, I was known as the one who brought the fun to the classroom every day!"
One of the soldiers drops one of the soda cans in his right hand, as his wide eyes gaze towards her.
"I've heard tales of the 'Fool of El Paso' who was more of a clown than even most class clowns there is. Was it true that you once pranked a school meeting with that lovely dance video?" the soldier asks.
"Oh, maybe it was, or not...gee, my memory must be pranking with me, should I show-"
"No, no, no! Please, not that again, I couldn't see my family with a straight face for three days."
"Ah, well, alright then. But wait, why do you look so suprisedly surprised?" Tany says as she looks at him.
"I'm not surprised, I'm shocked! How can you gather such a reputation in the state of Texas and you don't even look the part?"
"So what, you expected me to dress like a really real clown?!" Tany then uses her staff to deliver a spell towards the soldier.
"Clownsius!" With that, the soldier gets a clown nose with a full-white make-up and the helmet turned into a long fedora style hat. The rest either try to contain their laughs or explode into laughter at such sight. The soldier at the very least can only sight from this.
"Ooh, that's pretty neatly neat, I gotta say! You sure you don't want to wear it?"
"Nah, I'd rather keep my normal look on. I don't wanna look like a clown in a war zone."
"Alrighty then! Reverse-Clownsius!" With that one spell, the soldier's make up is removed, returning to his normal self.
"Now, back to the topic before I shoot the ice," Seiner grimly says while tightening his control of the gun.
"What are we gonna talk about next? Oh, I know! The subject of my childhood friends!" Tany says as she brings her staff forward, and swings it over her head, causing the tips to glow brightly. Three images flash by showing the ones who were with her before the tragedy, Amelia, Ted and Freddie.
"Here are my bestie three ever since we were three years olds, enjoying the best of times, laughing at the best times, and even sticking in the best times even as a huge clown in class. We even moved to Dallas together very happily."
The image freezes for a moment.
"But, of course, this happy life was short lived. In the end, the day came when I had to leave them behind..."
Tany stares at the image for a moment, before the three are shown with greyscape colors, giving the others an indication of what happened to them.
"My condolences, Tany. I know it must be hard for you to lose dear friends close to you. I'm sure you-"
"But enough of that, let's get to the next bestie part! Before their tragically tragic deaths this year, they stood up to me in the best year of my life, in 2021, the year before my graduation with no issue whatsoever!"
The images change to show the quartet in a classroom, with Tany in the middle of them. She is wearing a blue shirt and a white skirt. Her hair is in a ponytail, with a purple bowtie. All of them exchanging photos of their recent activities and hobbies and the like.
"Oh, those surely very nice, Tany. What else did you do that day?" Amira asks, still near the window on the far corner of the room.
"We went to the mall after school, had some ice cream, and played around in the arcade. That was when we met that guy with the funny mustache, he was very cool and-"
"Hold up. Did you just say...2021?" Jack asks as he springs on his feet, almost like the year is something meaningful to him, his eyes wide enough and trying to not grab Tany. "What was the date of that supposed great day?"
"Oh, yeah, it was May 20th, 2021."
"May 20th? Is that not the date of the great American tragedy?" Jack asks once more, his tone getting sterner while the others look on. A soldier tries to speak but Sylvester raises his hand, once again giving the command of stopping. Sylvester seems to know what Jack is up to. As for Tany, she thinks through that question.
"Well, you must be mistaken. I was not during that time of meanie things you know. I was all fine and goodie!"
"Are you sure about that? I once heard of some violent incidents on that 'great' day of yours. Enough people were traumatized that it was suspended for a day."
"You're saying that I did some bad things? You meanie?!"
"Hey now, I didn't say that you did anything wrong. I'm just asking if you are sure you were fine and dandy on that day."
"Yes, I was! Does my staff ever lie about me and others? Or you're just looking for a poorly poor excuse to be a meanie?! Now, if you have something else to say, then go ahead and say it!"
"Tany, calm down, please. I know you trust your memory more than anyone, but maybe so, I can-" Amira says as she approaches before she points her staff at her.
"Don't think about trying to play with my mind, Am-chan!" But before she can do anything else to her, Jack steps in front of her, shielding her with one arm as he stares at her without breaking his own thoughts. Tany holds her staff in a position to fight, with the other soldiers about to raise their weapons.
"Look, Tany, I know that you have some memory issues, but don't you think it's better to leave it for another day?"
With that, Tany's frown turns into a smile in mere nanoseconds, almost like an automatic control of the expressions from her.
"Well, I don't see why not! So what's next?" Tany asks.
"I think you must be very hungry, don't you think?" Malak asks as well. Tany holds her belly as she feels some grumbling inside. She smiles sheepishly as a result of this, trying to think of something while chuckling nervously.
"Well, I guess I can summon some unforgettable-"
"Nah, head to the cafeteria, we have the juiciest steaks you can ever imagine in your whole damn life and you're gonna love it!" a soldier interrupts.
"Yeah, I'll take you up on that offerly offer! I'll be right back!"
Tany rushes out of the room, with the soldiers and the other Warriors following her. As soon as the door closes behind her, Sylvester turns towards Jack.
"You sure remember many things on that fateful time. Guess I found a great intelligent partner. But aside from that, I think there's something else going on with her." Sylvester chuckles for a bit. Jack, however, remains stern-faced as usual.
"I can smell something, not sure why, but my gut and brain are both telling me there's more than she's showing us. You know, I'll give it for some time until we can get the gist of it. So, wanna join the lunchtime?"
"First, I'll have to visit the Squad again, they need the attention they need. Except for yours for...obvious reasons."
"I understand. Ed, Luce, you with me?"
"Righto!" Luce says.
"Eh, gimme a sec, I'm checking some stuff on here, then I'll grab the grub if you will," Eddie says.
"Alright then. Well, up to the mess room!"
Sylvester then walks away from the group and heads towards the medical room. Jack and Luce exit the room as Eddie remains inside as he checks some things on his phone. He's actually looking at an article with the headline of "Tragedy at Dallas University, 50 reported dead." As Eddie swipes the screen to check more information and its relation to Tany, he stops on the second page of the article, as he reads silently with his lips, eyes widen, and a gasp as he reads the whole paragraph.
Tany...my gal, did you really had to...?
"Hey, you comin'?" Jack says, glancing at him near the door still open. Eddie then regains his composure as he shakes his hand after what he read.
"Ye-yeah, coming up." He goes out of the room and follows them, as he sees Tany walking ahead of them, talking to herself and waving her hands. Eddie's shielding smile turns to a frown, still remembering what he read about the incident back then.
One day, Tany, you'll have to tell us all.