Chapter Twenty-Three: Dearly Departed

June 30, 1997. BAINE Headquarters.

Why did Mills' office have to be so dang cold?

Daniel pondered this fact as he sat alone in the frigid room, waiting for the Director to arrive. Everything had been so hectic since the battle had ended; and yet, all felt like a blur. Daniel had sat wrapped in the parachute for what felt like hours, but had been told later was only about forty-five minutes, until some other soldiers arrived. Aside from the pain brought on by the bullet wound, this cold was the first sensation he remembered feeling.

People had talked to him, or more accurately, at him, but he had remained unresponsive. He was treated for his wounds, and asked questions about what had transpired, but remained silent throughout.

Soon enough, the door to the office opened, and the sound of footsteps reach Daniel's ears. Morgan Mills himself entered, accompanied by numerous men and women that Daniel didn't recognize. He assumed them to be other captains in BAINE's employ.

Mills was the first to speak. "Good afternoon, Agent Bridge," he said. "After everything you've been through lately, I trust you had a restful night?"

Daniel nodded. "Mmm."

"Good, good." Mills strolled over to his desk and sat down at his chair behind it. "I imagine you must be dying to know how our little raid on Area X went."

Daniel shook his head, not in reply, but to shake off his drowsiness. "I do," he said.

Mills gave a curt nod. "No doubt you know, Kaden has...passed."

"That much I know," said Daniel. "I was there."

"Actually, that's the exact reason I bring it up," said Mills. "You were the only survivor from that little chase. We were hoping you could enlighten us as to how you survived."

Daniel looked up. "Are you trying to imply something?"

"Not at all, not at all," Mills clarified. "Though I can understand how this might be a sore subject for you. I merely wish to know how it came to pass that Kaden's helicopter crashed into that train."

"It didn't," said Daniel. "Carter threw me out once he made sure I had a parachute, and then he rammed the train to derail it."

The other captains murmured amongst themselves. "I...I see," said Mills.

"He saved me, and he died to save everyone else," Daniel said. "Our weapons were down. If he hadn't done what he did, Pierce's Breaking Points would have been spread to all his followers around the country."

"A most noble sacrifice," said Mills. "He will not be forgotten." The captains nodded in agreement.

Daniel got to his feet. He started to stretch, only to wince as another spike of pain shot through his stomach.

"Agent Bridge, are you alright?" asked Mills.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Daniel said, massaging his midsection. "Nothing that time won't heal. Anyways, you asked me if I wanted to know how the raid went. So, how did it go?"

"Yes, Area X," said Pierce, standing up. "Fortunately for everyone involved, it was a rousing success. Isn't that right, Rose?"

Daniel turned around just as another person walked through the door. Rose Quartz quietly stepped into the office.

"Indeed it was, Morgan," she said. She turned to Daniel, giving him a small smile. "Why don't you tell Daniel here the details?"

"Yes. It's all quite exciting, to be honest," said Mills. "Our forces were successfully able to take the base. All Breaking Points were collected, and they and all copies of the plans were destroyed. I've made sure that none will be able to create another."

"Poor Bismuth," said Rose, staring wistfully out the window. "She was always quite hot-blooded, so to speak, but I never realized what she was capable of creating."

"Indeed," said Morgan. "Sometimes we believe we know someone, only for them to turn out to be someone completely different beneath the surface." Rose winced at this comment, though nobody noticed. "I'm sure she had the best of intentions."

"I'm almost certain she did," Rose answered. "Which makes it all the more painful."

"Not to mention, we have received confirmation that Alexander Pierce, the founder and leader of SEEN, is dead."

"Yeah, I'll bet he is," said Daniel.

"It certainly wasn't a pretty sight," Mills continued. "Also, we were able to seize all manner of documents, both physical and digital, regarding all of SEEN's activity. This includes buyers, outposts, and activities. Pierce may be dead, but SEEN is still active. Fortunately, with this information, it should only be a matter of years until they are snuffed out for good. Months, if we're lucky."

"That's good," said Daniel. "So, what about this Mr. Echo guy?"

"E-Echo?" said Rose.

"Yes, I was told about him," said Mills. "Rose, have you heard of him?"

"Er, no," she said. "It just seems like a funny name, is all."

"Well, he seems to have disappeared completely," Mills continued. "Nobody on base saw him after it was taken, and all the other SEEN personnel have been accounted for. The documents did reveal him to be Pierce's financial backer, however. It seems Pierce was discovered by this Mr. Echo character, which explains how SEEN was able to reform. Though, no word on who he is, or where he came from. Rose, you're certain you don't know him?"

"I...I believe I am, yes," she said, though she seemed uncertain. "Unless...no, it couldn't be."

"Uh, Rose? What couldn't be?" asked Daniel.

"The thing is, I did know a human who called himself Mr. Echo," Rose said. "The only thing is, he died over five thousand years ago."

An uneasy silence fell over the room. The humans present looked at each other in confusion, and possibly apprehension.

"Daniel...that's all we needed," said Mills. "We'll release the info retrieved from Area X at a later date. Why don't you head out for now?"

Daniel shrugged. "I suppose so. Good afternoon, Director. Goodbye, Rose." Daniel then stepped out the door, pausing a moment before walking out of sight. The Captains, sensing that this conversation was nearing its end, followed suit.

Mills spoke up. "So, about Echo-"

"I'm sorry to hear about your friends," said Rose. "About Pierce and Carter. You were always close. WIth both of them."

"I...yes, I suppose we were. Pierce is...well, a complicated case. As I said earlier, sometimes you don't know someone as well as you think you do."

"Yes, that would appear to be the case," said Rose.

"Carter, though, you could say he went in the opposite direction. Pierce went from a loyal officer to the head of SEEN, while Carter went from a common crook to a respected Captain."

"You said crook?" said Rose. "Forgive me, I'm not familiar with how you met."

"Oh, yes. Old Kaden was a bit of a thug when I found him." Mills stood up and walked over to the window, gazing out at the sky. "He lived his life on the streets, stealing whatever he could get his hands on, and picking fights for fun. That's how he stumbled across an old Gem weapon that brought him to our attention. Well, everyone else cared mostly about the weapon, but something about that young street urchin spoke to me. I asked my superiors to consider recruiting him, and I eventually became his captain."

"So he was a simple thief before you met him," said Rose. "You really wouldn't have known it just by talking to him."

Mills chuckled. "Yes, he changed quite radically. Though, I always got the sense his past as a criminal always haunted him. He never told me exactly what he had done, but I can't imagine it was anything glamorous. It was a cutthroat business, his. Sometimes literally." The Director turned back to face Rose. "You know, part of me can't shake the feeling he deliberately gave his life to stop Pierce, so as to make up for his sordid history."

Rose closed her eyes, wearing an expression of melancholy. "To be so ashamed of your own past that you feel death is your only fate-you're certain he believed this?"

"Well, there's no way to know for sure," said Mills. "I can only hope he's found peace in death."

"Peace...in death," Rose repeated, barely above a whisper.

"On that note, I don't wish to waste any more of your time, Miss Quartz. Or would you be Mrs. Universe now?"

Rose giggled. "You could never waste my time, Morgan." She gave him a warm smile as she headed for the door.

Morgan returned her smile. "Nevertheless, I wish you and Mr. Universe the best."

February 9, 2000.

The gentle murmur of the party was quieted with a few quiet taps of a spoon on a glass. "Everyone, may I have your ears for a moment?" said Daniel. The other members of BAINE turned their attention towards him.

After many long months of rooting out the last remaining dregs of SEEN's resistance, the movement had finally been crushed. As such, the higher-ups, at the request of almost all the agents involved, decided a celebration was in order.

"Now, I know what we're all celebrating here today: after years of hard work, and suffering, and sacrifice, the Silicon Extraterrestrial Extermination Network has finally, after all this time, been taken down!" The party-goers began cheering before he had finished his sentence. He joined in the cheering as well, waiting for them to finish before he continued. "Now, that's all fine and good, but for a moment, I'd like to take this moment to bring some attention to exactly how we pulled this off: all of you."

Daniel gestured around to everyone in the room. "BAINE would never have gotten as far as it did, either now or ever, without men and women like you doing everything you can to make this world a better place. And I can honestly say that I'm proud to be among them." Daniel turned towards the rest of his squad, who were grouped up together. "Because you're my family. And family sticks together."

For the grand finale, Daniel stepped up onto a table. "If SEEN has proven anything, it isn't just corrupted Gems we have to worry about. We may have taken them down, but Mr. Echo is still out there. And if people like Pierce are out there too, which, unfortunately, there are, then he's going to try again to go after the Gems again. And we all know we can't let that happen! So, if I know any of you, if Echo rears his masked head again...we'll kick his ass!"

Cheering erupted once more. Daniel took a moment to enjoy the applause before he stepped down from the table and joined his fireteam. "Well said, bud," said Gina. "Well said."

Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Daniel turned around to see Luke standing behind him. "Oh, Luke-or should I say, Agent Svartign. How have you enjoyed service so far?"

Luke shrugged. "Eh, you know, a job's a job. I'm still getting used to hunting monsters. Still, helluva lot better than SEEN."

"Well, I'm sure your buddies would agree," said Daniel. After SEEN fell, many of its soldiers were left with nothing to do, so those of them that had gotten wrapped up in Pierce's scheme, without any real malice on their part, had joined BAINE.

"There's just one thing I didn't get, though," said Ichigo. "Why is it more important to protect the Gems now than it was before?"

Hester took him by the shoulder. "Ichigo, let me show you something," she said. She led him over to another part of the room, next to a mantle. "You know, Rose Quartz sent us a gift earlier when she heard we beat SEEN."

Hester pointed out this gift: a rose, sat in an ornate vase of water. "Oh, a rose," Ichigo said. "'Cause, Rose Quartz. But what does it mean?"

"Look closer." Ichigo did so, finding that a small blue ribbon was tied around the stem just below the bud. When Ichigo still didn't understand, Hester said, "She told us it was either this one or a pink ribbon."

"Alright. So, what i-" The realization hit Ichigo like a ton of bricks. He looked up at Hester, who nodded. "You're kidding."