The squad returned the following evening. Bower's wounds were nearly healed. Ryoko never left his side. The rest of the squad stayed distant, some out of fear, others out of respect. Barge had managed to convince most of the squad that Ryoko was still safe, and he was believed much easier than he anticipated. She had proven herself to warrant that type of trust. Bower, on the other hand, was another issue. He even wondered himself if Ryoko would be able to make good on her promise.

Four days before the full moon, Ryoko began setting up Bower's containment mechanism. She had not slept the two nights before. Bower would stand at the window and stare at the waxing moon, completely transfixed. Nothing she did warranted a reaction from him. The night after they returned, his body burned with fever, debilitating him. It lasted for two days, but his body was still warmer than normal. She finally allowed herself to cry once his fever calmed down, accepting that he would turn.

She had Clyde, Barge, or Shiv watch Bower at night while she set up the restraints. It was a relatively large room, with only one window. The walls had been replaced with steel and equipped with reinforced hooks for chaining up prisoners. It was their own personal discipline/interrogation room, depending on the situation. She took thick, heavy chains with shackles at the ends and attached them to the hooks. A chair remained in the middle among the 500 pounds of chains. The most time-consuming part of her design was the pulley system to keep the chains tight as Bower went through the change, but not so rigid that they could be broken. She had to make sure they reacted to his physical change fast enough. It was finished the night before the full moon.

The last day was both the longest and the shortest. Ryoko and Bower spent most of the morning in each other's arms. There was nothing they could say. They merely just lay there, taking in the last physical moments they would have together. Eventually they became hungry, and decided to have a last meal together in the mess hall. They walked down hand-in-hand, no words between them.

No one bothered them. Onlookers saw the dark circles around their bloodshot eyes and their haggard, lifeless posture. They were disheveled. Bower's jaw was rough with stubble, his hair not even combed. Ryoko, even with her hair pulled back, looked just as unkempt. The air of defeat and sorrow hung heavily around them. Their mercenary brothers and sisters wanted to say something, but there was nothing to say. Such was life on the frontier.

They returned to their room and just sat on the bed, holding hands and looking out the window. There were no tears, only silence. What was there to say? What was there to feel?

An hour before sunset, they finally stood and made their way to the holding cell. Bower waited at the door, watching Ryoko grab the pistol he gave her. She checked the magazine. The bullets were filled with silver nitrate and made to break inside the body, ensuring that the poison would enter his blood stream, ensuring his death no matter where she hit him. His eyes, even though seemingly lifeless, still held the love he had for her. He wished he had more time. They joined hands again and walked through the halls, ignoring the looks and everyone else.

Ryoko closed the steel door behind them and looked at the chair. Bower shook his head. He would stand and face his death like a man. He was not a beast yet. She merely moved the chair in front of the door, a few feet away so that if her restraint system failed and he attacked, she would have enough room to maneuver. Bower knelt in the middle, patiently letting Ryoko bind him.

She shackled his wrists and ankles, keeping them out so that she would have a better shot at his heart. She wrapped a chain around his neck, then down his back and around his torso. She made sure his chest remained exposed. She tested the system, merely for show and for something to do, gave him a last kiss, then turned and sat in the chair, facing Bower. Her golden eyes blank, merely staring into space. The only thing left now was to wait.

"You know," Bower began his voice quiet. A few minutes had passed. "I never thought I'd regret dying."

Ryoko inhaled to comment, but Bower interrupted her.

"Don't say anything, Ry. My final thoughts are for you. I didn't give a shit before you came along. I was a merc. I figured I'd die young, so I lived however I wanted to. When you came, I found there was something I wanted. Whatever it was you showed me, I can't explain. You had hope, yet you were hard. You have dreams, beautiful dreams, and you had no issues going after them. I cleaned up my act, hoping to be a part of those dreams."

Ryoko lowered her head, not wanting to cry. It was not fair.

"Ry, I love you. I'm sorry it took so long for me to say it. When it's time, please kill me as a monster. I really wish it could be different."

The moon was rising, the light falling on Bower before Ryoko could answer. His eyes were glued to its bright light. His mouth opened into a snarl and his canines elongated. He stood up and his arms and legs lengthened and changed, taking on a more wolf-like form. His fingers elongated and his nails became claws. His body widened and his neck thickened. His face began elongating, a snout forming. His blue eyes became more and more bestial. The restraint system held.

Ryoko watched, patient. This time it was not as painful to wait. It was only after his body was covered in golden hair and he had fully transformed that she stood and took aim. Bower turned his gaze to her, his blue eyes beautiful. He gave a howl to the moon. As he returned his eyes to her, he snarled and tried to attack. The restraints held, and he roared in frustration. Bower was gone.

Ryoko fired, an easy shot with his exposed chest and restrained body. Her face was devoid of any emotion. He died instantly, transforming back into his human form. The only sound accompanying the ringing of the shot was the rattle of chains as they loosened to his physical form. She lowered her weapon, merely staring.

The door opened and the medic came in, followed by Barge. Ryoko gave no indication she noticed them come in. The medic went straight to Bower, confirming his death. He let the corpse out of the restraints and covered the body. Barge remained by Ryoko, trying to lend support.

"He was a good man," Barge commented, trying to ease the pain.

Ryoko needed to run. She felt she was suffocating. She ignored his words and walked out of the room, away from all of them. It hurt. It hurt so much.

Barge ran after her. He could not lose her too. "Ry! Where are you going?"

She walked faster, needing to get away. She needed to be alone. She had to think. She had to release the rage inside her somewhere safe. She knew Barge had only the best intentions in mind, but they were not helping. She would deal with him later. Right now, she had to run.

"Damn it, Ry! You can't go out into the night! You could get killed! Don't let me lose you too!"

She opened the door to the outside, to freedom, and turned to Barge, her eyes glowing. Barge stopped, terrified she would unleash herself on him again.

"I'll. Come. Back."

Barge made no move to stop her as she stepped outside and ran. He understood. He closed the door and began preparing the necessary materials for the funeral.