Timmy (with Cosmo, Wanda, and Poof as pins on his shirt still) was listening in with Trixie, Talbot, Ming, and the VIGILANCE agent who brought in the transmission device. All were listening in on the call between the Commander and Dr. Alexander...the former of whom had just sentenced Trixie's father to death at what was once the Dimmsdale Mall.

"Executing Mr. Tang at the mall, eh?" Dr. Alexander pondered, "Sounds intriguing. But what about you? Will you be in attendance?"

"I will be watching from the safety of my quarters here in Tang Manor," the Commander replied, "In the meantime, have the Bagmen guard the portal to the prison. We do not need this event interrupted, nor will I risk them stopping me from finding the Heart."

"The Heart?" Ming asked.

"What's the Heart?" asked Talbot, looking to Ming.

"Your guess is as good as mine," replied Ming, "But whatever it is, it's definitely the reason the Commander is doing all this."

Dr. Alexander continued the transmission by asking, "And what of the other prisoners?"

"As long as Jeffrey Tang is securely brought to the execution site, the other prisoners are of no concern to me," the Commander replied wickedly, "You and your son may do with them as you wish."

The transmission ended, leaving the eavesdroppers to look on in horror. They had a pretty good idea of what kind of things Dr. Alexander and Gabriel would do to their friends, but they still knew it would probably be worse than anything they imagined.

"Well what are we waiting for?" Trixie asked, "We have to save my dad!"

"But we can't just rush in!" Ming exclaimed, "We need a plan! Didn't you hear the part about the Bagmen guarding the manor? Our numbers alone cannot stand against those things!"

"But we do have a slight advantage," Talbot replied, "Timmy here was spared of Gemini's fury by certain...supernatural means. Care to show us?"

Timmy didn't have to. Cosmo, Wanda, and Poof all appeared as their normal forms in the middle of the circle that had been formed. While Trixie and the other nameless agents were shocked, Ming was only mildly surprised.

"Wait, fairies are actually real?" asked Trixie, "Crocker really isn't that crazy?"

"I see," Ming observed, "If we have them, the Bagmen have less leverage over us average humans."

"Well, we'd like to take credit," Wanda said, ignoring Cosmo's less-than-subtle 'I saved the day' dance, "but all we did was transport Timmy out of town. It was the firing squad that caused the Bagmen to go berserk."

"In any case, it may protect us from long term damage," Ming noted.

"Which also mans the best course of action is to divide and conquer," Talbot said."

"What do you mean?" Trixie asked.

"Based on the transmission we intercepted, there are two main areas of interest for tomorrow's execution; the actual execution site at Dimmsdale Mall, and Tang Manor...where the Commander himself is hiding out."

"You think we can take him down by going to the Manor?" asked Ming.

"We can if we split up into teams," replied Talbot, "One team, consisting of myself, my cousin, and Timmy, goes to Tang Manor to find this 'portal' to wherever Uncle Jeffrey is being held. The other team, consisting of Ming and the other VIGILANCE agents, goes directly to the execution site in case the first team fails. That way, even if the first team doesn't find the portal, we can find, at the very least, where the Commander is hiding."

"...I dunno," Trixie said, unsure of herself, "What if our team fails the mission? I don't know if I could handle being responsible for losing my dad."

Not even Talbot had an idea for this one. As smart as he was, he was not used to failure. Temporary setbacks, maybe, but not actual failure. Timmy, who had been deep in thought for a moment, had actually come up with a solution.

"I have an idea!" Timmy exclaimed, "Cosmo, Wanda, I wish if Trixie can't find her dad at the mansion, she's automatically teleported to the mall with the other team!"

Cosmo and Wanda waved their wands, and with a bling, the wish was granted.

"Oh thank you, Timmy!" Trixie cried, wrapping him in a hug and twirling the smaller boy around, "I like your fairies already!"

"Strange, though," Wanda said, "Last time you made a wish, our wands did the thing..."

"Yeah, you know," Cosmo interjected, "That whoopee cushion noise when there's no magic!"

"...but this wish went just fine!"

"Whatever the case," Talbot replied, "At least not we have a plan. All we need to do now is wait until morning to strike. For now, we'd better reset up while we can."

As the meeting was adjourned and everyone left to do their own thing, Wanda still pondered over the selective success of Timmy's wishes.

The only way one wish could be granted and another could not, aside from breaking Da Rules, Wanda thought, is if there was another, stronger magic working against us. Just what is the Commander after?


It had been a couple weeks before Timmy's betrayal and subsequent escape from Gemini Labs. Trixie had paid a visit to Z, the VIGILANCE agent who she had sought out when she first escaped Dimmsdale, the one who had given her a place to stay while she laid low. Where she first met Ming, who had been interrogating a grouchy blonde girl for information on one of Gemini Lab's most prominent individuals. To the best of her memory, his name was Errol, but that was not her primary concern. Her concern was Ming, who had approached her shortly after her interrogation session, instantly recognizing her as her niece, filling her in on her relation to Beatrix Tang. This alone was the push Trixie needed to go back to Dimmsdale and face the Commander. After bidding Z goodbye with a grateful kiss, Trixie exited the hospital in the late hours of night. The only lights were those coming from the hospital and from the old but well-furnished Nismo waiting for her outside. The owner of the car, Ming, was waiting outside, leaning on her newly painted vehicle.

"You ready?" Ming asked.

"Yes, I'm ready," Trixie replied.

Trixie got in the passenger seat as Ming began the drive back to Dimmsdale. It was a half hour before they went from the city lights, to the suburban half of town, to the wide, empty road with trees and forests accompanying each side. Once they were the only ones on the road, Ming finally broke the silence.

"We drive until we reach the city limit of Shelbyville," she said, "After that, we'll have to walk on foot to the rendezvous point. Hope you can handle that."

"I've ween wondering on my own for weeks," Trixie morbidly replied, "I've had time to adjust to inadequate living standards."

Another awkward silence followed before Trixie decided to prod Ming for what was really on her mind.

"So...you and my mom..."

"Yes, we've been over this," Ming said, "We were sisters. That makes you my niece, which means it's the only reason I'm letting a child work with me."

"...so I'm just unwanted baggage to you?"

"That's not how I meant it. I mean this scenario is not fit for a child. They shouldn't be put in these kinds of positions."

"...oh."

Yet more awkward silence until Trixie decided to break it.

"So...my mom never mentioned you a lot."

"Fitting. I doubt she would after we had our falling out."

"Over what?"

"Your father."

"Wait...what?"

Ming took a deep breath before responding.

"I was with your father before Beatrix was. But in the end, he chose her over me. I didn't exactly bite my tongue about it once they returned from their honeymoon."

"Well...that pretty much sums that up. But...now I'm guess I'm wondering why you're working with VIGILANCE?"

"...I suppose it's to atone for the days I worked for Gemini Labs instead."

Yet another curveball had been thrown at Trixie that moment. How much more was she going to learn about the people around her that changes everything?

"You...worked for GEMINI?"

"I was their Chief of Security," Ming replied, "With my military training, getting the job was simple. But the more I learned about the people I was protecting, the more I began to realize I was on the wrong side. I don't suppose you know much about Gemini's history?"

"A little," Trixie answered, "A.J said their founder had been under investigation for crimes against humanity, and was killed at a convention. They said it was VIGILANCE who did it."

"I will admit we attacked the center. I had long abandoned Gemini Labs since. But since i didn't actually see Kaspar, I can't verify what you've heard in regards to his death."

"And the Commander?"

"...that is an entirely different problem. His goals are not the same as Gemini Labs."

"My cousin said he just needed Gemini to weed out anyone that's against him."

"So you have been in contact with Talbot."

"Yeah. But how do you two know each other?"

"Shortly after I stopped speaking with Beatrix, I met your uncle to start over. He was the one who eventually led me to Gemini, but before that, I mostly took part-time jobs. Your cousin was 5 when we first met. It was before you were even born. Even then, I could see Ramsey holding resentment towards my sister and his brother...and it grew worse once you were born."

"...I hate him. I hate him so much."

"Don't say that too much. You'll turn into him."

The rest of the car ride was spent in silence.


Trixie had been lying awake by herself in her own tent. Everyone else was asleep at this point. Not a sound could be heard, save for her own thoughts. She had been reflecting on how she wound up in this fight, and what tomorrow would bring.

Enjoy your power while you can, Commander, Trixie thought, Because we're going to stop you. You'll pay for everything you've done.

Trixie rolled to her side and drifted off to sleep.