Our time is running out,
Our time is running out,
Can’t push it underground,
Can’t stop it screaming out,
How did it come to this?
Muse, Time Is Running Out.

Dear Colonel Gardner,

I’m writing in response to your recent request for the locations of the HLS Purity, the HLS Columbia, the HLS Challenger, and the HLF settlement known as Bastion.

No.

Yours sincerely,
Colonel Harrison Munro, First Encounter Assault Recon.

Interview Record: H. M.
File Codename: “Limiting Factor”.

Interview subject: Yael Ze’ev (Y.Z).
Interviewer Notes: Yael Ze’ev’s expertise is limited in regards to “Limiting Factor’s” purview. However, she was witness to the presence of the Albino and has some tangential knowledge of the events surrounding Hadley’s Hope, so her perspective is valuable.

Y.Z: Sir.

H.M: Lieutenant. Good to see you.

(There is a pause)

H.M: First off, congratulations.

Y.Z: Uh, for what, sir?

H.M: For punching the bastard out! How'd it feel?!

Y.Z: It felt... You know what? It was the best! I'd been wanting to do that for weeks.

H.M: You realize you'll probably get some kind of punishment for -

Y.Z: I won't.

H.M: You seem awfully sure about that.

Y.Z: I helped end multiple conspiracies and helped save a city. So did Kraber... and they're not punishing him or anything. Wouldn't make sense if anyone went after me.

H.M: Right. Anyway. Congratulations – I know that I've wanted to do that so many times. Unfortunately, I have more important business to discuss.

Y.Z: Like what, sir?

H.M: Hadley’s Hope.

Y.Z: Oh. That.

(There is a pause)

Y.Z: We only arrived long after the battle was over. All we found were bodies. The scrawlings. The blood. Frankly? I’m glad we were so far out of it. I’d hate to be the poor bastard fighting in that shithole.

Bastion.

Samantha Yarrow blinked, her eyes slowly adjusting to the rays of sunlight coming in through the window of the church. She was sat against a wall, still wearing her armour, and her nose wrinkled slightly as she realised that she stank.

Sleeping in heavy armour, bad move, Sam, she thought, pushing herself to her feet. A couple of feet away from her, she saw Luke Scott, snoring away happily, and she couldn’t help but smile. They must have talked for hours about her father, about their work, about…

Dad, Sam thought, full memory catching up. Her smile faded.

“Ah,” a cheerful voice said quietly, “you’re awake.”

Sam looked up from Luke, to see Preacher walking into the church, stripped to his shirtsleeves and mud all over his suit trousers and shirt.

“Preacher,” Sam greeted. She looked at his muddy clothes. “Busy night?”

“I was helping bury our new fallen,” Preacher said, his expression grim. “Eight. One died a few hours ago.”

Sam closed her eyes for a moment. “Dammit all.”

Preacher walked past her, glancing at Luke as he did so.

“I hear,” he said, as he found a cloth and began wiping his hands, “that we have a few prisoners.”

Sam frowned at him. “Yeah. The PHL team that brought the bomb.”

“That brought the supplies that had the bomb,” Preacher corrected gently. “I realise the distinction is subtle, but it is still there.”

“Not much of a distinction,” Sam scowled. “They brought it. It was from their people.”

“Ah, but Sam,” Preacher said, holding up a finger almost as if chiding her, “you and I know very well, being under the same name guarantees nothing about commonality of purpose.”

Sam’s scowl faded. Point.

How often had she, her father, everyone she cared about, been lumped in with Galt or Lovikov? Why had she expected the PHL to have any more internal unity than the HLF?

Maybe because even you hold them to a higher standard, some part of her said in a voice very reminiscent of her father. You shouldn’t.

No, I shouldn’t, Sam replied to that voice, because they’re no better.

No, because we should be, the voice retorted. Your father knows that. You do too. You hate the mutineers as much as he does.

Sam stopped replying, but she figured it made no difference. The argument was all conjectural.

“So,” Preacher said. “What now?”

Sam sighed. “I don’t know, Tom. That’s all on Dad. If he pulls through, he’ll get us through, like he always does.”

“And if he doesn’t?” Preacher asked, speaking as gently as he could.

Sam didn’t answer that. Fortunately for her, a loud groan from the sleeping Luke distracted her from having to, as he sat up with bed-hair and groggy eyes.

“Did we fall asleep in a church?” he asked sleepily.

“No, you fell asleep in a pre-fab we’re using as a chapel,” Preacher said patiently. “It’s not got enough stained-glass to really be a church, in my opinion.”

“Oh,” Luke said, nodding. “Yeah. That makes sense. I guess.” He yawned. “Sorry, just… tired. Long night.”

“Indeed,” Preacher said, raising an eyebrow and looking at Sam.

“Don’t make me tell you to fuck off in your own chapel, Preacher,” Sam said with a grimace that turned into a grin. “We talked. About Dad.”

“Ah,” Preacher said. “Helpful, I hope.”

“Yeah,” Sam said quietly. “Helpful.” She let out a sigh. “Hey, Luke, you wanna take a walk through Bastion? I don’t think I got the chance to give you the tour.”

“Will you… will you have time?” Luke asked, hesitating out of both tiredness and worry. “I mean, aren’t you in charge?”

“Ah, it’s been quiet,” Sam said, waving his worry off. “And they’ll know where to find me if they need me.” She motioned to her armour. “I’ve got a radio.”

Luke nodded, smiling easily. “Uh. Alright, then. A tour would be nice.”

“So, that’s the Crane’s house – them and their daughter, now. Richard’s one of Dad’s best guys outside of the Odinsons…”

Sam had taken the opportunity to swap into a simple set of camo fatigues and had let her hair down, and Luke couldn’t help but think that it was a good look on her. Without the armour that made her look twice the size and twice the strength, she seemed… normal wasn’t a word Luke thought really applied to anyone, even before the war, but she seemed as close to it as anyone could be.

“And there,” she added, pointing to another building, a log cabin with an open section complete with deck chair and table, “is where Erin does tattoos.”

“Tattoos?” Luke repeated. “She does tattoos?”

“People like having them,” Sam said, shrugging. “Guess there’s something about feeling a bit more normal, huh?”

“I guess,” Luke said quietly. “I mean, I’ve never wanted a tattoo, so…”

Sam couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “How’d a kid like you become a militiaman?”

Luke’s expression soured a tad. “‘Didn’t meet minimum health requirements’.” He sighed. “When the war started I was eighteen. I thought I could make a difference. But I’ve got a heart condition.” He tapped his chest. “Means I can only take so much stress. Any moment I’m under too much stress, boom. Done.”

Sam nodded slowly. “But you couldn’t just not do anything.”

“How’s a heart condition gonna stop me from being a casualty in a genocidal war?” Luke asked. “I escaped on one of the ships they used for reverse-Dunkirk. Landed on the Falklands. Hooked up with the first militia that would give me the time of day.”

He sighed, finding a bench and sitting down, his mind reeling. Sam sat next to him, a sympathetic smile on her face.

“What were they like?” she asked gently.

It was nice to be asked the question. Luke smiled, a host of thoughts running through his mind.

“They were… they were good people,” he replied. “My friends. And now they’re gone.”

“Yeah,” Sam said quietly. “I wish I could say we’ll make the PHL and the UNAC pay.”

“Yeah,” Luke said quietly. “But you can’t, right?”

“They’re on our side, supposedly,” Sam said with a snort.

“Sure doesn’t feel like they’re on our side,” Luke retorted. “I get that the ‘Fraktion guys we were with were arseholes, but…”

“But?” Sam repeated.

Luke swallowed. “They weren’t just recruiting us. They were asking for any and all HLF militia troops they could get. We were at Nipville, but they were sending others… I dunno, Defiance I think.”

Sam’s face paled, her expression stricken. “Oh no.”

“What?” Luke asked.

“Look,” Sam said, “If there’s any HLF man you should never trust, not for a second… it’s Leonid Lovikov. Whatever he needs that many men for, it cannot be good.”

“I… don’t know anything about him,” Luke said slowly.

“You don’t want to know anything about him,” Sam retorted. She put her head in her hands. “Jesus… between the Empire, the UNAC and PHL, and Lovikov…”

“There’s more, though,” Luke said. “The more I think about it, the more…”

You’ve known all along, Luke? Haven’t you? He thought to himself.

“...The more I’m sure they were just using us as cannon fodder,” Luke said.

“I don’t doubt it for a second,” Sam said quietly.

“No, no,” Luke said. “There’s… there’s more. HLF taking over a town? It just… it just doesn’t make much sense. There’s some places in America that’ll work out, but… near Montreal? I just… I feel like there had to be some ulterior motive to us being dragged in, while the MF-”

“Hmmm?”

“The Menschabwehrfraktion,” Luke said. “Name was getting long. I just… I feel like there’s more to Nipville.”

“As if I didn’t have enough to deal with,” Sam sighed. She looked a lot younger out of the armour, Luke thought. So much was resting on her shoulders. “I can believe there’s more to it. Probably Lovikov wanting to do something to increase his standing in the HLF. Man always did have delusions of grandeur.” She snorted. “As opposed to a guy like Birch, who just had regular delusions.”

“Who?”

“Some arsehole,” Sam shook her head. “One of the usual conspiracy theorists who had the worst possible thing happen to them and were proven right. Long story, no interest in recounting.” She snorted. “Also once accused my Dad of killing Algernon Spader because he wanted power. Should’ve kicked him in the crotch when I had the chance. Cunt.”

Luke sighed. “Sorry. All this… must be dumping a lot on your plate.”

“Yes,” she said bluntly. “It is.”

“It must be difficult,” Luke said quietly. “Juggling that many balls.”

She looked up at him. “Yeah. It is. With Dad…” She sighed, shaking her head. “Sorry. Must seem pretty stupid. Here I am, talking to a complete stranger about my problems.”

Luke smiled. “It’s not really stupid.”

“It is,” Sam retorted.

“No, it’s like psychology,” Luke countered. “You know everyone here, you’ve built up what you want them to see from you, and what you think they expect. I’m not someone who has any expectations. I’m just…”

“Safe?” Sam suggested, a twinkle in her eye.

“If you like,” Luke said, shrugging. “Truth be told, I don’t really know much about psychology. It’s just something I heard once, y’know?”

“I know what you mean,” Sam said, nodding. She chuckled again. “It’s weird. The stuff you pick up.”

“I’ll bet,” Luke agreed.

Before Sam could say anything else, a soldier in heavy armour jogged up to them both. Like a lot of the troopers around here, he had runic symbols painted onto the armour, along with a stylised Roman numeral I.

“Commander,” the Reaver said to her.

“I’m not the Commander yet, trooper,” Sam chastised gently. “What is it?”

“A squad from Ex Astris Victoria just arrived,” the Reaver said. “They asked to see you. Uh, well, Commander Yarrow, but…”

“Alright,” Sam said. “I’ll see them.”

She smiled apologetically at Luke. “Sorry, duty calls.”

“No worries,” Luke said with a wave. “Go save the world, Sam.”

Sam grinned. “Can do.”

The leader of the Ex Astris Victoria team was, fortunately, somepony that Sam knew very well, and she grinned as she stepped into her father’s cabin.

“Lucky Strike,” she said easily. “Well, this is a surprise.”

Lucky Strike grinned. She was a Pegasus, with white fur and a mane in various shades of blue, one of the lighter shades reminding Sam of the color of the sky. It poked out from under a battered, patched beanie. She was standing with three other people, presumably members of her team. John Idle was there, too, along with Howard Preston, another Odinson named Joseph Rither, and a couple of other senior officers, including Sandra Kane, an American who’d incorporated her own airborne unit – nicknamed the Valkyries – into the Reavers a long time ago.

“Sam,” Strike said. “Long time, no see. I’d ask how thing are, but…”

Sam shook her head. “Lots going on. But you guys are here for business, right?”

Lucky Strike nodded, and then ushered forward a blue-coated Unicorn mare with a darker blue mane, and a cutie mark of a butterfly. The mare swallowed, looking more than a little nervous.

“Uh…” she said meekly, “hi.”

“Hi,” Sam said, trying to smile reassuringly. “I’m Sam. We’re -”

“The HLF,” the mare blurted. “You’re… you’re not going to shoot me, are you?”

“I told you,” Lucky Strike said, “These are good people. They’re here to help.”

Sam tried very hard not to roll her eyes or sigh. How many people are going to ask us that? It’s like banging a head against a brick fucking wall.

She managed to only sound a little exasperated when she spoke. “We want to help in any way we can.”

The mare nodded. “I… okay.” She took a deep breath. “I’m… my name’s Earnest Star. I was… my family was… at Hadley’s Hope.”

Small shantytown, built out of prefabs, meant for refugees, Sam remembered the tactical briefing from three months ago when the town had been set up. Probably only minimal defences.

“What’s happened,” she asked seriously.

“PER,” Earnest Star said at once. “A stallion… Cairn, I think his name was?”

The report from before, Sam thought, remembering the name from the previous night.

“He and his unit moved in,” Star continued. “Killed or ponified the UN guards that were there. Then they started… started herding people…” She closed her eyes, and looked vaguely like she was going to throw up. “Into… into camps.”

Ponification camps, Sam thought with a wince. She had heard stories – the only thing worse than a standard ponification camp was a Shieldwall-run one.

“You escaped,” she said quietly.

“They killed my family,” Earnest Star said, “But I got out. I… I…”

“We found her near Hadley’s Hope on the way here,” Strike put in. “Thought you’d want to know. We were just on our way to deliver an intel report from the Captain, but…”

“But this takes precedence,” Sam said, nodding. “Alright. I want you to -”

“Uh, ma’am?” a voice interrupted. “You’re going to want to see this.”

Sam sighed, looking at the speaker – a nervous looking man in fatigues, holding a tablet, standing in the doorway of the cabin.

“See what?” she asked.

Instead of speaking, the man showed her the tablet: it was tuned into a news channel showing…

Lovikov.

“Shit, what’s that prick doing now,” she muttered. She turned the volume up, just in time to hear Lovikov speaking.

“...the release of Michael Carter, who is being held unlawfully by lackeys of the Equestrian column, who have unjustly taken command of Earth military movements. Secondly, we demand food, ammunition, and medical supplies for those who live in Defiance and other free HLF settlements…” Lovikov said.

The news cut to a very shaken-looking anchorwoman. “This was the scene just 15 minutes ago, where-”

“It’s worse,” said Sandra. “He’s… look. They’ve taken over a PHL rig in the Atlantic. It’s got guns, too, in case the Solar Empire comes by. And they’re threatening to turn it on Portland.”

“And somehow, it gets worse. The ones they have negotiating are Northwoods, and…” Idle swallowed. “Gardner.”

That bastard, Sam thought, scowling.

“Do you think he’d actually do it?” Sandra asked.

“I know Lovikov,” Idle said. “I know how he thinks. He wouldn’t have gone with this if he wasn’t considering it.”

“And he’s volatile enough that any provocation will set him off,” Preston added. “And Gardner…”

“Gardner has a reputation for being nothing but provocation,” Sam said hollowly. “I know him.” At Strike’s confused frown, she sighed. “He was Captain Striker’s commanding officer when Striker liaised with the PHL R&D dept. Neither of them took kindly to me being there.”

“We have to do something,” Idle said harshly.

“We don’t have the transports and men for two operations,” Preston said. “We’d be hard pressed to get to Portland in time as it is.”

“It’d be two days of driving,” said one of Strike’s team. “It’d all be over by then.”

Idle laughed. “Every day I think that prick can’t get worse, he surprises me.”

Sam frowned. “Everyone except Joe and Howard, out now.”

There was a pause, before everyone left the room.

“Come on,” Strike said to Earnest Star. “We’ll find you a drink somewhere, get you some rest…”

Luke looked up as a group of people left Sam’s cabin, including a Pegasus and a Unicorn. The Pegasus caught Luke’s eye and waved him over.

“Hey,” she said, “get your ass over here.”

Luke obliged, standing up and jogging over.

“You know where there’s anything to drink?” the Pegasus asked.

“Uh,” Luke stammered, smiling nervously, “I’m… uh, new. I think Preacher might know?”

“Right, well, can you take this mare to him, please?” the Pegasus asked. “I need to go get some people together.”

“Uh, right,” Luke said, looking down at the terrified-looking mare. “Gotcha.”

The Unicorn mare smiled up at him. “Uh, hi. I’m… I’m Earnest Star. Nice to, uh, nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, er, same,” Luke said, holding out a hand awkwardly. Star took it with her hoof and shook it. They stood there for a moment.

“Uh, come on,” Luke said. “Let’s find Preacher.”

Sam sighed, before looking up at Rither and Preston.

“Speak,” she said finally.

“Your father would want the mutineers dealt with,” Preston said at once. “That would be his first priority.”

“I know what he would want,” Sam retorted. “But you’re telling me he’d rather clean up Lovikov than take out the PER?”

“I’m saying that Lovikov represents a clear and present threat to stability, in a way that this town doesn’t,” Preston said, his tone steady and even. “One town being converted is a tragedy, but it is not a threat to our ability to operate as an organisation in the same way the split is.”

Sam scowled. “You really think this threatens our ability to operate?”

“Yes,” Preston replied at once.

Sam sighed, before looking at Rither. “Your thoughts?”

“PER taking a town is a closer and more immediate threat,” Rither replied at once. “Leaving aside the most obvious fact that we can get to Hadley’s Hope in more force and less time, Portland is going to have a lot of jumpy UNAC forces. Are more HLF really going to be a good mix?”

“We’re on their side,” Preston said.

“Howard,” Rither countered in a sad tone. “They don’t think any of us are on their side. You know that. I know that.” He sighed. “Arthur and Wolfgang, Howard.”

Preston shook his head. “Lovikov can’t be allowed to keep doing what he’s doing.”

“No,” Sam said, nodding. “He can’t.” She sighed. “Alright, Howard. I want a list of people. Twenty tops. I want you and your team ready to go down to the area around Defiance. Properly investigate it.”

“I’ll get the list to you ASAP,” Preston nodded. He sighed. “Do you want me at Hadley’s Hope?”

“No,” Sam replied. “I’m leaving you in charge of Bastion. You keep everybody safe.” She turned to Rither. “I want you to get a strike force together. We’re taking down Cairn.”

Rither nodded. “I’ll need to break out little Bertie.”

“Break out his cousin, too,” Sam said with a nod. “I know Dad’s been…”

She trailed off, and both men sighed.

“He’ll pull through, ma’am,” Preston said quietly.

“Yeah,” Sam said with a nod. “I know, Howard.”

“I’ll get to those preparations,” Rither said, throwing a salute and then walking out of the room. Preston gave Sam a salute of his own, and followed, leaving Sam on her own.

I hope I’m making the right call, she thought to herself. Because if I’m not…

She shook her head. Whatever Lovikov was doing, they couldn’t allow the PER to take a town and convert its population. That was the thing the HLF had been founded to prevent, the thing that every HLF unit was obligated by their standing orders to combat.

Lovikov, she thought, can wait a few days.

Later, when asked, she would never say she regretted that. Only that she regretted underestimating Lovikov.

Of course, later still, when she finally understood what has been happening in Hadley’s Hope, she decided she regretted nothing after all.

Hadley’s Hope.

Yes, this is perfect, this is just perfect.

There were humans who, just a few days ago, had been his enemies. Now they were cheerfully moving a few barricades into place. So much nicer now that they were all on the same side. Over to the other side, he could see Dr Horse speaking with a few of his nursing staff and the guards. Oh, and there was Sun Dere, waiting for him by his tent.

“Commander Cairn-san,” she said, inclining her head. “I’m afraid Commissar Straight Arrow-san is waiting inside.”

“Of course,” Cairn said with a smile. “Why would he not be? Has he…?”

“I’m afraid he is not pleased, sir,” Dere said. She inclined her head further and gave him a meaningful stare. “I don’t think he sees things the way you do, sir.”

“Ah, well,” Cairn said easily, “That’s to be expected. Do me a favour, and get Dr Horse, a few Guardsponies and… ooh, a couple of those nice, burly chaps we had with us, there’s a good girl.”

Sun Dere bowed, before trotting off, leaving Cairn outside his tent.

Ah, well, he thought, time to see if I can convince him.

Straight Arrow had his peaked cap off, and he looked dishevelled.

“Commander,” he snapped at once when Cairn stepped into the tent. “I was hoping you could explain the meaning of this… this travesty.”

“Travesty, Commissar?” Cairn asked, tilting his head. “Why, I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.

“Don’t you dare bullplop me, boy,” Straight Arrow hissed. “Working with humans?! Stopping ponifications?! This goes against everything we fight for!”

“Some would say that what we do goes against all that made Equestria what it was,” Cairn said. “It’s all relative, you see.”

“That is treasonous talk!” Arrow yelled. “I am this close to ordering your summary execution!”

“Oh, please do,” Cairn said, running a hoof through his mane. “Really, I’ve been on my hooves all day. It would, quite frankly, be a mercy to let me off them for a while. I even sent Sun Dere off to get the Guards, just in case.”

Arrow gaped at him, his eyes widening in surprise.

“You’ve lost your mind,” he finally said. “That’s the only logical explanation for this madness.”

“On the contrary,” Cairn said. “I do believe I’ve found it. For the first time in quite awhile.”

Before Arrow could say anything else, a pair of Guardsponies entered the tent. Arrow grinned triumphantly, not really looking at them.

“Take Commander Cairn away,” he said, “and get me in contact with Shieldwall, he’ll want to look in on this.”

The Guardsponies didn’t move.

“Did you hear me?” Arrow said, looking at the Guards… only to falter.

The two wore the golden armour of the Solar Guard, but they had daubed it in red markings, in a language nopony there could read. Arrow winced slightly as he looked at them, and Cairn felt the irrational urge to giggle.

“Guards!” Arrow tried again, mustering his full authority, “in the name of Celestia’s holy light, I order you to take Commander Cairn into custody.”

The Guards looked at Cairn, who simply chuckled.

“You don’t get it yet, do you, Commissar?” he asked, looking Arrow straight (ha) in the eye. “You serve a little lantern, corrupt at its core, but we few, we happy few, we band of brothers in bondage, have seen the face of the abyss itself. And it has seen us.”

Arrow faltered, stepping back. “What… what have you done, Cairn?”

“Why, we have learned the truth, Commissar,” Cairn said. “There is no light… that can defeat darkness.”

And the two Guardsponies advanced on Straight Arrow…

Ignoring everything the Commissariat had ever taught about holding one’s ground and fighting all enemies of the Queen, Straight Arrow bolted, right then and there, rushing out of the tent as fast as he could.

As he galloped down the main street, he saw the buildings curiously clear.

He dashed to the left, seeing a pony in a green vest – an administrator, Even Sum – who was trotting absentmindedly to what had once been a general store. A secretary mare was walking behind him, and there looked to be a group of ponies standing at the storefront, talking leisurely.

“Sum!” Arrow screamed. “Sum, you, you’ve got to help me!”

“Hmmm?” Sum asked. “Why, Arrow, you look a fright!”

“Sum,” Arrow said. “Raise all the guards you can! We gotta, we gotta do something, they’re… we have to tell someone?!”

“About what?” Sum asked.

“Cairn’s gone mad!” Arrow yelled. “Leading some sort of… of rebellion! A mutiny!”

Sum blinked. “Ah, yes, I see.”

Arrow breathed a sigh of relief.

“You’ve not been seen to, yet,” Sum continued.

“... seen to,” Arrow whispered.

“Yes,” Sum said, smiling. He pulled his vest off, revealing… Arrow swallowed the urge to gag. Markings had been cut into his body, identical to the ones daubed on the Guardsponies armour.

“By the Queen,” Arrow said, looking at Sum… then the ponies at the general store, who realized had been staring at him the whole time, not saying a word. “You’re in on it. YOU’RE ALL IN ON IT!”

“Well… yes,” Sum said, chuckling. “Weren’t you paying attention, Commissar?”

“Ah, there you are,” came the voice of Dr Horse. Arrow turned, only to find the good doctor also had those markings painted on him, covering his lab coat… and his face. Behind him, the ponies from the general store’s porch advanced, followed by a human with those same markings, tapping a bludgeon of some kind against the ground.

“You’re all mad,” Arrow whimpered.

“Why, yes,” Sum said. “I suppose it must seem that way from your limited perspective.

“We certainly could be mad,” Horse added. “But I prefer to see it as a higher sort of understanding.”

“Now,” Commander Cairn’s voice said, and the Commander stepped into the general store. “Shall we have a chat, Commissar? Stallion to stallion? There are a few things I would like you to understand…”

The shadows seemed to deepen all around, and though the moon was full, though they were far from any settlement that could have blocked out the stars, everything grew darker.

Much darker.

And then, yet darker.

Something dark and sudden rushed for Straight Arrow. And oh, how he screamed…

Outside of Commander Cairn’s tent, Sun Dere smiled to herself. She could hear the screaming in the distance, as Commissar Arrow was finally dealt with, and she let out a happy sigh.

Soon, sister, soon, we will rebirth you into this world, she thought. Soon, sister, soon, you will walk in flesh once more, birthed from the essence into which you were taken.

Oh, this will be glorious. I only hope it shall be more… satisfying… than last time.

This time, sisters my sisters, we shall finish our work.

Are you scared? Because I’m scared.

My thanks to Doctor Fluffy, for helping make the scary things even scarier.