Videl immediately stiffened, her posture straightening, her arms like rods at her sides. She may be relaxed and comfortable around Captain, but General Gray was a different story. He was, after all, the leader and the brains behind the entire special-forces.

"At ease, soldier," he grinned, approaching her. Videl relaxed slightly, but the look on her face remained serious.

"Sir," she said, acknowledging his presence with a nod of her head.

"How are you feeling this evening?" he asked, pausing before her. He wasn't very tall, only a couple inches taller than Videl, but he carried around an air of authority that couldn't be rivaled.

When he walked into a room, everyone turned their attention to him and listened to anything he had to say. His way with words was extremely impressive. But in his line of work, when good morale was difficult to come by, you needed to be good with people.

He was probably around the age her father would have been, if he had still been alive. Laugh lines extremely prominent around his full lips and wrinkles growing out from his blue eyes. His dark hair was kept neat and short, and he always seemed to have light stubble on his face.

Videl thought he may have been considered attractive in his youth; his bone structure was impeccable.

"Not bad. I'm a bit achy in places, but it's nothing that I can't handle."

"That's good to hear," he said, his arms behind his back, looking Videl up and down, assessing her condition with his own eyes. "It's a good thing I ran into you just now. I actually just came back from your quarters looking for you."

"Oh," Videl said stupidly. She had already forgotten that Gray would obviously want to talk to her about her little experience.

For a quick moment she panicked, trying to remember if Captain had instructed her to go to Gray or not, but when she couldn't remember, she decided that it didn't matter anymore, and offered him a polite smile.

"Well I was just heading back there, so you would've found me either way."

"That I would," he nodded. "So Videl, would you mind coming to headquarters with me for a little while? I'm dying to hear more about your little adventure."

Truth be told, Videl did mind. She wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone about anything, and all she really wanted to do was go to sleep. But this was, in reality, her boss. Not only that, but the head of the entire base. It would be impossible to say no.

She smiled and nodded. "After you, sir."

It wasn't a long walk to headquarters. The building was the largest one on the entire base and it was located in the direct center of it as well. Every pathway led to the entrance of the building, one way or another.

A walk to the back of the lobby and a ride in an elevator to the top floor was all if took to reach the main room; the Deliberation Room. A large circular table sat in the center of the spacious room, at least twenty chairs settled around it's circumference.

Currently, most of those chairs were filled with people. All except two.

Gray led Videl toward the two vacant seats and held hers out for her, beckoning her to sit.

Videl was extremely uncomfortable with the set-up of the entire room, as well as the atmosphere it held. She had been expecting something much less… severe. Maybe a chat with the general in his office? Or maybe just a talk with him and a few of his advisors.

Now, it appeared as if all of his advisors were there, as well as the heads of many of the fundamental departments and branches of the small military.

Making a quick survey of all the people, Videl noticed one common trait amongst them; all of their faces were contorted in a frown. Their expressions either grave or disapproving.

This was not going to be fun.

Instead of sitting in the empty chair beside her, General Gray remained standing, his face now also looking serious and grim.

"Now, Videl, we have come to understand that you encountered the two androids early yesterday morning. And not only did you challenge them, but you also escaped with your life."

Videl nodded slowly, trying to follow the direction the general was taking in this conversation.

"And I'm sure you're well aware of this, but you are the only person in the entire history of this army to have done so. The only other people who I, or any of us, have met who have also encountered the androids were either driven insane by the experience, or too injured physically or too frightened to ever talk about the experience in the least bit; even to trusted family members and friends. Are we to assume differently for you?"

Was he asking if she was mentally stable? She looked at him strangely before replying with a hesitant "yes sir."

His expression softened slightly. "Good. Then would you mind telling us what happened yesterday, starting from when you woke up, to when you lost consciousness?"

"Okay." Videl drew in a deep breath and proceeded to tell the entire room of her terrifying adventure. She spoke about the early morning gunshots, the explosions that killed Toniya and Jones, even the stranger who helped Cato.

She described, word-for-word, from the beginning to end, every part of her confrontation with the two monsters, up until she was stuck with the golden light. But much like when she told Captain on the story, she purposefully neglected to include the part where she got to speak to her savior in the cold, dark room.

That was a memory that Videl was completely unwilling to share with anyone.

"That's everything I remember," she whispered, finishing her story. She looked at her hands in her lap and glared at them when she realized how badly she was shaking.

Talking about it earlier hadn't had the same effect as it was having now. But she hadn't gone through the entire day step-by-step when she had talked about it earlier today.

Yet now, it was as if she had been reliving it as she told it.

She could see the crystal blue eyes of the androids, clear as ever, as she spoke of them, and she could almost hear their voices ringing in her ears as she repeated their phrases. Suddenly, the urge to run overtook her, and she looked up panicked at the occupants of the room.

It's okay, she assured herself, trying to fight the urge to flee.

Calm down, they aren't going to hurt you. You're safe. You're safe. You. Are. Safe.

"Thank you, Videl," Gray said quietly, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I doubt that was very easy for you to do."

Videl found that she could not respond and instead she found herself staring back down at her hands, willing herself to remain calm and stop shaking. She began counting back from 10, repeatedly.

Gray began talking to a few different people across the table, but Videl was not paying attention to their words. She only continued her countdown.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

10, 9, 8-

"Did you head that Videl?"

"Huh?" she looked up at Gray, pulling herself out of her trance.

"I said," another voice spoke from across the table, "Do you have any memory of who brought you here? The man the guards got you from." The question was coming from a woman dressed in a navy blue suit.

Old, graying hair pulled back into a tight bun, lipstick too red for her skin tone, scowl on her face. Videl recognized her as one of Gray's most trusted advisors. She couldn't recall the woman's name, but she knew that she did not like the teenager.

She had been one of the people who had voted against Videl's early entry - and eventual acceptance - into the military. Videl was convinced it was because her father's celebrity status, but she didn't care for the woman enough to find out.

"Well, I don't remember anything about that. I never caught a glimpse of his face for the few moments I was conscious. But I - I think it was the same guy who saved me from the androids. I talked to the guards earlier and they said how the man disappeared in a flash of golden light. It has to be the same guy."

"So what does this mean for us?" One voice chimed in.

"It means there's another android out there." Another one responded, seemingly sure of his statement.

"How can you be so sure? There have only ever been two androids. Not three." A third voice countered. Suddenly, there was active conversation coming from all sides of the table.

"If it's an android, that spells trouble for us - "

"It knows where our base is located, too. We can't have this - "

"The other androids don't glow though - "

"Why would a third one suddenly appear - "

"We have to relocate, it's too much of a risk - "

On and on the voices argued and debated, back and forth and back and forth.

Suddenly Videl clamped her hands down over her ears and began counting again, panicked and shaking once more.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4.. 3... 2...

"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!"

Videl didn't realize the shouts were coming from her until they had already left her mouth.

"He is not dangerous! You are not in danger and neither is this base! I don't know who the fuck saved me, but I know they're not the enemy here. What kind of enemy risks their lives to rescue a random soldier from the androids and delivers them back to their fucking home?"

She didn't know when she had stood up, but suddenly she was looking down on all of their shocked forms as she yelled. "He saved my life and you're all acting as if I were murdered by him! You people don't seem to know who your real enemy is here!"

In any other world, Videl would have then stalked out of the room, her head high, and left them all to collect their thoughts and deliberate more, only quietly and peacefully this time. Then, they would come to a mutual agreement that she was right all along and the plot would take a turn in her, and her savior's, favor.

But this was not some big-budget movie, or a book off of one of the library's shelves. This was the real world, and things never go the way you plan them in your head.

"Videl, you need to lower your voice and sit down." General Gray's voice was stern, but not angry. Videl begrudgingly lowered herself back into the chair, but she did not stop glaring, nor did her hands cease to shake.

And although the general seemed unfazed by her outburst, a few certain members of the table wore livid expressions, shocked that the young soldier would speak out in such a insubordinate way.

"Soldier," the red-lipped woman began, speaking almost condescendingly, "we understand the high-stress levels you are currently under, and that your mental condition is shaky - at best - but it would be wise for you to remain seated and refrain from having such severe outbursts. It's really not helping to convince us that you're fully sane." She directed her attention toward General Gray. "Sir, maybe it would be better for us to continue this discussion with Miss Satan absent? Or at least until she gets some sort of mental evaluation?"

"My mental state is fine," Videl spoke through gritted teeth. Not pleased with being talked down to in front of all the people in the room.

"I'm sure any doctor may disagree." She looked back to Gray. "Has she been examined at all? It would be in her best interest to have one of the psychologists - "

"I'm fine!" She yelled. Immediately after the words left her mouth, she regretted them. She was definitely not helping her own case…

"Videl," General Gray spoke loudly. The order was clear in his tone before he even had to word it. She was out of line now, and they both knew it. "We are made to understand that your commanding officer has issued you a two week suspension? For the disregard of his direct orders, that is."

Videl shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "He didn't really specify how long," she said uneasily. She didn't like the direction the conversation was suddenly taking.

Gray nodded before looking around the room at the occupants. Looking back at her he spoke again. "I'm going to go ahead and extend the proposed suspension to a month." As Videl opened her mouth to protest he held up his hand. "I want you to visit the medical center every day for the first two weeks to receive counseling and to talk with the psychologist."

"That's really unnecessary, I assure you - "

"It's not a request, Videl, it is an order." He cut her off, his deep voice reverberating throughout the room. "And it would be wise, in your case, to avoid going against orders."

The implications of his statement were clear. If Videl didn't abide by the conditions set just now, she would be discharged from the military without a second thought.

So she bowed her head, speaking a quiet "yes sir", and did not protest or say another word when she was dismissed from the meeting.

The last thing she heard from the Deliberation Room was the voice of the red-lipped woman, speaking low and disapprovingly.

"I knew from the start that it was a bad idea to have a teenager so young be a part of the special-forces. They're too… moody."

As the elevator doors closed in front of her, she realized that it was the second time that day she had been referred to as "moody".

First, by Erasa. Then by Gray's very own right-hand witch.

Making the trek back to her quarters, she quickly decided that she didn't care. She hadn't been having the greatest couple of days; and that was putting it lightly. She had every right to be just as moody as she wanted to. Being a teenager had nothing to do with it.

She'd like to see the way any of them would act after seeing the things she had seen… hearing the things the androids had spoken. They wouldn't be talking the way they did if they were the ones who had encountered the murderous villains, and not Videl. Put them in the path of terror and destruction with no possible way out except death, and let's see how they handle it.

With a sudden shiver that shook her entire frame, a little voice inside Videl whispered, 'No. I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone.'

Stomping back to her living quarters, she slammed the door shut behind her and looked around at the empty apartment. The blank white walls, the neat bed and the orderly arrangement of her clothes and possessions.

This was not her home. She would find no comfort here.

Without warning, she began crying. Not just silent tears, but full blown, body-shaking sobs. Sinking down against the door, she pulled her knees up to her chest, ignoring the sharp pains that shot throughout her abdomen at the motion, and cried.

She wanted to scream. To yell and kick and thrash and just break something.

Yes. She was alive and back at the base and her team was all well and safe because of her actions. But she felt more trapped then ever. As if she wasn't free, and she wasn't safe.

The androids could have been on the other side of her door, and Videl would have no energy, no motivation, to do anything at all.

Like a small child, she wished for her mother, her father. For the comfort of their arms and the sound of their voices whispering reassuring words to her, wiping away her tears and telling her everything would be okay.

"Dad…" she sobbed, wanting her father's presence now more than ever before.

It had been almost a year since his death. Hercule Satan had not been a member of the military, but he did help supply them with vehicles and airships and the necessary funding for their missions. He had tagged along on a few occasions, scouting for supplies in abandoned cities and towns.

He and a small group of volunteers had flown to a town just north of West City. There had been speculation that there was an abandoned hospital full of medical supplies in good condition.

While in-flight, command lost track of the plane. They were never heard from again.

Reports of explosions east of West City led them to believe that they had come under attack at some point. Whether it was an attack from gangs, shooting the low-flying jet out of the sky, or if they were brought down by the androids themselves, they would never know.

Shortly after the incident, all air travel was halted by the military for good, being deemed too dangerous. It had been the 7th, and final, failed mission by air that year.

They held a small memorial service for the 8 victims the following Saturday. It had been the day before Videl's 16th birthday.

"Daddy," she cried, tears flowing down her face in a steady stream, "why did you have to go? Why did you leave me here?" Her sobs caught her words and she found herself in a small coughing fit.

Curling up on the ground where she sat, she wrapped her arms around her midsection as she whimpered.

"I miss you, daddy," she whispered into the stale air of her apartment, wishing she weren't so alone. "I wish you were still here."

She didn't know how long she laid there, tears falling to the carpeted ground below her. Yet eventually she fell into a deep, dreamless, sleep.