"Wake up, you two." Nova's voice came through into Beatrix's chamber.

Both women groaned and moved a bit, but didn't actually get up yet.

"Come on, you had plenty of energy a few hours ago." She followed up with a small giggle.

Phoebe blushed and buried her face in Beatrix's chest with a groan. She knew as well as anyone else that Nova saw everything they did, but having it outright mentioned never ceased to be embarrassing.

"An object in motion tends to stay in motion while an object at rest tends to stay at rest." Beatrix pointed out.

"Haha, funny. Now get up. Ghalt needs you both."

Beatrix groaned and shifted her position slightly. "Fine. Just give us a bit to get ready."

There was a long pause before Nova spoke again. "Ghalt says you have twenty minutes max."

"Alright, we get it!" Phoebe finally said. "We'll hurry."

"Good. No fooling around now." With another giggle, Nova left them alone.

Both woman reluctantly got up and got dressed again, then did hair and makeup and whatever else they needed to. Phoebe went to get her swords from the storage area while Beatrix made a pit stop at the medical bay to better clean the needle from the night before and test it again to make sure it was still functioning. As expected, it was, so she left to join Phoebe and get to the briefing.

It was the usual fare: Varelsi attacking and they needed to stop them. Once they arrived and began fighting, however, they began to notice they were different. They were evolving to better counter them, and much faster than had been expected. New weapons and fighting styles emerged and made it harder to fight. Nonetheless, they fought on and gave it all they could.

Beatrix, however, ran into some trouble while trying to take down some that had come to wield various blades. They were rushing at her and she took aim with her injector, but despite working thus far, she only got a few shots out before it stopped shooting. She tried to stave off the panic as she attempted to bludgeon and stab them instead, knowing that losing her cool would only make things worse. She strafed around, trying her best to keep them at bay, but failed to notice one with the equivalent of two katanas sneaking up behind her.

Phoebe, however, was fighting off a few smaller ones nearby and did notice. She went wide-eyed and quickly teleported behind her, hoping to kill it before it could get to her, or at least stagger it. "BEATRIX!"

"Wh-" No sooner had she said that than she heard an ear piercing shriek from directly behind her. Her heart immediately sank as she forced herself to turn around and see what had happened.

Phoebe had teleported just in time to stop the Varelsi from getting her, but not early enough to stop it completely. One of its blades was buried deep into her stomach to the point of poking out the other side, then was ripped up, causing an even larger gash and a louder scream. It was then forced out through the side, nearly slicing her in two as she fell to the ground.

"PHOEBE!" Her eye instantly filling with tears as the scene played out far too fast for her to intervene, Beatrix stabbed the Varelsi in the face with her injector repeatedly to make sure it was dead, then dragged Phoebe away behind cover and laid her down in her lap. "Phoebe….Phoebe, are you still there?"

Phoebe was barely conscious and fading fast, but was still alive, at least for the moment. "Trixy…." She smiled, her trembling hand reaching up to lightly touch her cheek, which was the best she could manage. Beatrix held it there with her own, tears falling endlessly on them. "You're safe…." She barely had time to finish that word before her body fell limp, the life leaving her crimson eyes as her last breath was released.

"Phoebe. Phoebe, no. Please, Phoebe!" Beatrix gripped the hand on her cheek tightly as she began sobbing uncontrollably.

Her attention was abruptly stolen by a badly aimed shot at her head that missed and merely grazed her hair. She turned to see a Varelsi ready to fire again and dodged another shot, then walked over and picked up one of Phoebe's dropped swords. "You….you BASTARDS!" She ran at it and swiped with the sword, then stabbed it with the injector until it was dead, leaving one final stab with the sword. She looked around for any others and took on any that came near with reckless abandon, in that moment not much caring what happened to herself in the process. She slaughtered any that came near with both weapons, including her injector that eventually began working again, and finally dropped to her knees and screamed after they were through.

The rest of the team ran over to see more of what had happened and saw Beatrix clutching her head and in tears.

"What's wrong?" Asked Deande. "Where's-" She didn't need to finish her question to realize that it answered the previous one. She asked again, her tone now more somber than inquizitory. "Where is she?"

Beatrix looked up at her. "She's….gone."

"What?!"

"SHE'S GONE! THEY KILLED HER!" Beatrix snapped at her, then got up and walked to where she had left her before pulling her body out enough for them to see and falling to her knees again, still holding her hand. "Oh Phoebe…." Still holding tight to her hand, she leaned over and kissed her forehead, then pressed hers together with it, sobbing.

Deande gave her a moment before getting in touch with Ghalt and informing him of what had happened. Nova arrived soon after and Deande kneeled down beside the mourning woman. "Come on. Let's get back on the ship. We can take her with us and give her a proper burial soon."

Beatrix looked up at her, the tears still flowing uncontrollably. (How she wished she could remove her tear ducts in that moment.) She couldn't seem to form words anymore and so simply nodded. She was of no use carrying her, so she reluctantly let the others do that and gathered her swords instead, though she kept a close eye on them to make sure they handled her with care.

Once back on the ship, Ghalt had just told Marquis, who had just come running into the entrance bay as it closed. "Young Miss! Phoebe!" Much to his dismay, he did see her, but he saw her being carried on a stretcher, unmoving and pale. For possibly the first time in his life, words left him and he couldn't even speak. However, when Beatrix came in with Deande by her side, trying to comfort her, his words suddenly returned. "You! You little….what happened?! What did you do?!"

Beatrix looked up at him in confusion. "What? I didn't do anything."

"I knew you were bad news! Now look what you've done!"

"The Varelsi killed her, you rusty bucket of bolts! I tried to help her!"

"Stop it, both of you!" Deande intervened. "Blaming each other needlessly won't accomplish anything. Believe me when I say she fought to protect her just as the rest of us did, though she stuck closer by her side. She is likely the reason her body is still in one piece."

"Bah!" Marquis stormed away, unsure of how to express what he was feeling and still convinced Beatrix was somehow to blame.

Beatrix nearly stormed off herself, growling, but stopped just before actually leaving the entrance bay. "We can put her in stasis, right? To keep her fine until we can give her a funeral. That's what those pods in the med bay are for, correct?"

"Yes, we are indeed equipped for such a thing." Kleese replied, with less of his usual crotchety tone. He had installed them for that exact reason, but had hoped, as illogical as it was, that he wouldn't have to use them.

"Good. I'll help you."

"Beatrix," Deande began, "do you really think that's a good idea? You're already so upset."

Beatrix took a few steps back into the bay. "I don't care. I'm not leaving her until she's completely safe."

"She'll be safe with us. Please, go res-"

"No." Beatrix insisted. "I'm not going until she's in that chamber, safe and sound." The tears had finally stopped, though it felt as though it was more because she had run out of them than anything else, even if she knew such a thing was impossible. Still, she was glad, whatever the reason.

Kleese sighed. "Alright. You can help. Let's take her to the med bay." He gestured for those carrying her to follow and Beatrix trailed along after them. Deande followed along after her as well, not wanting her to be alone with the others if she did have another surge of grief. "Say, Beatrix," Kleese began, "would you know if she perhaps has a lighter outfit we could put her in to make this easier?"

Beatrix thought for a moment if she should lie, but decided not to. "Hold on." She left to Phoebe's quarters, but hesitated to actually open the door. She stopped, took a deep breath, and finally opened it. The room instantly seemed to refill her previously empty tear ducts, though she was still overall calmer now. She got into her closet and looked through the clothes, stopping when she got to the robe she had been wearing that night so long ago when they had gotten together. She held out the sleeve and pressed it to her nose, taking in that heavenly scent she may never get again. Each outfit was but a ghost, a leftover shell of the angel that used to fill them.

She finally put it away and continued searching, figuring she'd have plenty of time to come here later. Phoebe would hate to be on full display in pajamas, so she tracked down an ankle-length skirt and a fitted shirt with her usual type of collar and long sleeves. She assumed Phoebe also wouldn't want her scars on full display, on top of herself wanting to cover up the evidence of their last night together. As shameful as it was, she was already beginning to feel the guilt set in that she may have weakened her. The last thing she needed was Marquis seeing them and using them as proof that she had caused this. With that in mind, she took that outfit, as well as some new tights, and returned to the med bay, where Miko was busy mending the wounds, she could only assume to make her more presentable since there was no way of bringing her back by this point.

"Much of her skin is already scarred. We cannot help that."

"She didn't want any of you to see those." Beatrix said, announcing her return. "Before you ask, no I wasn't involved, not with most of them anyway. I don't think anything I've done has scarred, but I suppose I could be wrong." She sat down the bundle of clothes next to her, now lying on an exam table. "They were from her experiments creating her swords. Now, if you all wouldn't mind, could I have a moment to change them? I somehow don't think she'd want to expose herself to all of you. Though Deande, I might need you."

They all nodded and walked out, leaving the two alone. Beatrix's attention was immediately pulled to the bloodstained hole in her dress where the wound had been and was thankful it was gone. "If Miko helped her, her body should be completely restored, right?"

"Yes indeed. She'd be good as new if we could have caught it earlier."

Beatrix ran her fingers over the spot where the wound had been, then moved her hand up to stroke her cheek. "She died saving me."

"She did?"

Beatrix nodded, beginning to tear up again. "One was coming at me from behind and I didn't notice because my injector was malfunctioning. I heard her call my name, then the next thing I knew," her hand clenched to a fist, "there was this horrible shriek and I turned to see it ripping its blades out of her."

Deande placed a comforting hand on hers. "Relax….did you get any time with her before she completely faded?"

"She only said my name, then sh-she smiled and said, 'y-you're safe'." She was trying to keep herself calm, but couldn't help getting choked up at least a bit.

"At least she was happy." After a few moments of silence, besides the light, occasional sobbing from the other woman, Deande cleared her throat. "Well, shall we get these clothes changed?"

"Yes. Thank you." Beatrix tried to help as well as she could to get the dress off. Once it was off, they got off her shoes and tights as well. Beatrix looked around for a sink and tracked down a rag, then got it wet and cleaned off the remaining splotches of blood still remaining on her skin. Getting the dress off also revealed the wrapping around her neck, which she also removed, though it apparently hadn't healed.

"Did you do that?"

Beatrix smiled and giggled. "Yes, that one was me. She so loved it when I did that. We had just had a little sleepover before the mission." She ran her fingers along her neck, over the wounds, and shivered. "God, she was so perfect."

"She must have been for you. I've never seen you this upset over anything." Deande started pulling the tights up her legs.

"I don't think I've ever cared for someone quite that much before." She caressed her cheek once more. "I think she was the first person I can say I truly loved."

Deande followed up the tights with the skirt. "Yes, I can see that. The pain I can see lingering in your eye….there's no other quite like it."

"I just hope Marquis can get over himself. I don't want him to make this worse." She tried to help with getting the shirt on.

"Try seeing it from his perspective. He seems to see her almost like a daughter."

"I suppose."

Deande got her shoes back on, then went to the sink herself to wash her hands. "Should I bring the others back in?"

"Yes. We need to get her in there as soon as possible."

"Alright, though, before I do….if you ever need to talk to someone, I am here for you. I can't bring her back, but I can at least try and help ease the blow for you." She flashed a friendly smile before letting the others back in.

Beatrix observed the whole process as they got Phoebe's body into the chamber and prepared it to make sure, again, that she was treated with the utmost care. She also helped where she could to make sure it was done properly, so as not to have any accidents. Once it finally came time, she took a deep breath to calm herself as they closed the lid and activated it. The chamber had a clear front, so Phoebe could still be seen lying in it, looking as though she were asleep. Beatrix pressed her hand to the glass and let it fall slightly. "Sleep well, my darling. Rest in peace and perhaps I'll meet you again someday." She pulled her hand away and left to her quarters.

Once there, she had the unexpected surprise of blood stains from before still being on the sheets and pillow case. She yanked off the sheet and held it close for a moment, then tossed it in her closet. She picked up the pillow and held it close as well, taking in her scent and noticing a few stray hairs from her lying on it, then threw the whole thing in the closet with the blanket. Discarded bodily fluids helped nothing and only reminded her of the life she had drained from her, not knowing it could have saved her mere hours later.

Suddenly, all she could feel was anger and frustration. It was her fault. She could have saved her. Why didn't she insist they see Miko or Alani first? She let out a loud growl as she stabbed the wall as hard as she could with her injector.

"Hey, don't take it out on me." Came Nova's voice. "I didn't do anything."

"Shut UP! Shut up shut up shut up SHUT UP!" Her breathing became heavy and fast. She held her hand to her head as she began to get dizzy, but tried to ignore it. Soon, however, everything began to go blurry, then quickly faded to black.