It has been three days since Whitney ascended to power and Alec assumed his new role as man behind the curtain. In those three days, there was a significant change in how the Resistance operated. The first big move she made was appointing Alec as her top advisor. This move was done by Alec to ensure that all information came to him first before reaching Whitney. That way, there'd be no opportunity for her to make a move.
As time went, Whitney (under Alec's instructions) diverted more people to help with the rebuilding work while reducing fleet involvement. He did this so that James could start on finding Omega. Presently, the only thing they knew was she was hiding somewhere in the East. Add to that the fact that she also had her anchor meant he had to be careful. If Omega caught wind of him snooping around, she could easily relocate her forces within five minutes.
While Whitney worked hard to bring stability to the Resistance, she could not shake the dark clouds hanging over her. True to Alec's predictions, Whitney outright declaring her peers as traitors and murdering them without a trial or producing evidence was a bad move. It caused many to doubt her and see this as nothing more than a power play. However, there were bigger fish to fry and greater threats looming over the horizon. Hence, these doubters kept their opinions to themselves.
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About a week later, on a Wednesday morning, James shifted focus from the fleet to Alexis.
The tension in the room was thick. Thick enough that you could cut it with a butter knife. There were only two occupants in the room, but only one of them could feel an invisible weight.
The one that felt uneasy and tense was of course, Alexis. She sat on her bed, looking quietly at James. A few days after she began her rehab work, James asked to have a meeting with her. Alexis knew it was a mere formality on his part and accepted. She knew that even if she disagreed, James could easily barge in at any moment. After all, recent events put him in high standing among the fleet and the Resistance.
So, he arrived at the appointed time when Alec was away and pulled up a chair. Alexis noted that the two maids posted out of her room were replaced by Ibuki and Izumo. They were both members of the vaunted PR class and the second-most powerful group in the fleet.
She knew what the subject was about and felt a lump form in her throat. She wanted to ask something or wanted him to ask something. The more time passed between the, the greater the tension.
Finally,
"James," she declared in a slightly loud voice. The man in question sitting comfortably in the chair only looked at her in silence.
Then, he finally spoke
"Give me one reason why I should trust you."
The tone of his voice was clear and calm, but he did not ask this question as James Harper. She could feel this was the thing he'd been focusing on for a long time, hence the silence.
Alexis hesitated at first, then looked squarely in James' eyes and said "you shouldn't."
"With all that's happened, it'd be difficult for anyone to trust me," she said, "the fact that you saved me during that attack is a pretty big deal."
She looked like she was about to say something when they heard banging on the door. Though Alexis seemed surprised and wondered who it was, James' expression did not change. He already knew who'd come bursting in.
Without fail, Alec pushed the doors open and came inside. It took him all of three seconds to realize what was going on.
"Damn it Alec," shouted Izumo, coming in behind him "we told you to wait outside till the Commander is finished."
She was followed by Ibuki and it was only when they entered that James turned around. The pair proceeded to immediately apologize for their mistake, but he didn't chastise them.
"Continue standing guard outside," he said. Ibuki looked very relieved to hear those words as she and Izumo then left the room and closed the doors behind them.
Rather than sit on the bed, Alec stood next to Alexis near her bed. His eyes shot an accusatory glare at James, but the latter remained firm. He turned to Alexis and nodded every-so slightly. She took this gesture as a sign to continue.
"It's a risk," she said, looking at him "keeping me here is like keeping a time-bomb, only you don't know when its going to go off," she said.
"Now hold on just a second here," stated Alec "you overcame that technology and beat the programming. You clearly are in control of yourself Alexis, so I don't see what's wrong."
"What's wrong is that there's always a chance Omega or Gamma could reassert control over her," said James "the truth is no one understands Siren technology and that makes it a big risk."
"And so what?" asked Alec, the anger rising in his voice "you're going to banish or kill Alexis? If that's the case, why'd you save her in the first place?"
But James did not answer the question. Instead, he turned to Alexis and spoke
"I'm facing a very difficult choice here," he began "on one hand, you betrayed us and attacked the fleet strategist."
"I…" said Alec about to object but James shot him a glare that quelled any opposition.
"On the other hand, you didn't kill anyone and your distraction did reduce the casualties," he continued.
"So, I go back to my original question Alexis, give me one reason why I should trust you."
Alec wanted to answer but knew he shouldn't. Not because James would chew him out, but because this was Alexis' answer. It was something only she could say.
The two looked at her for a long time. There was a silence that fell over the room. Outside, you could hear the sounds of the doctors and nurses shuffling about doing their work. Then finally, Alexis looked at James and had her reply.
"If at any time you sense that I am a threat to the fleet and the Resistance," she said "you have every right to kill me."
It was a move that neither of them expected. Alec was shocked as the response, doing everything he can to keep from protesting the decision. James was shocked but it was because how her response reminded him of his.
He recalled the time when he first met Hornet, way long ago. He remembered her asking him about how he intended to win the war and his response. It was one that he said without hesitation and with full conviction.
James saw that same conviction staring him right in the face and he understood why Hornet trusted him on that day.
He nodded and got up from the chair.
"A good answer," he said, "I'll hold you to that."
Alexis said nothing and nodded to him in acknowledgment. James was about to reach the door when he turned around and said
"Alec, one of the reasons why Alexis managed to break her hold is because of you."
The response surprised Alec a little followed by a thin shade of red creeping onto his cheeks.
"Try not to break her heart," he added, as he opened the door "for all our sakes."
With that bomb drop, James left the room and let his words hang in the air. Outside, Ibuki and Izumo stood on either side of him as he made his way to the entrance.
"Can we trust her Commander?" asked Izumo, momentarily glancing back at the room they were standing at.
"For now," he replied, "let's hope that things don't take a turn."
"By the way," he said to the two "you can go back to your original work."
Ibuki and Izumo nodded then turned and walked in another direction. No doubt they were going to see the kids who were now taking classes in the garden rather than the school. As much as James wanted to see his little sisters and properly congratulate Unicorn, Eldridge and Charles for handling such a difficult situation, there was someone else that took precedence over them.
He opened the doors to the hospital and marched to where he imagined she was. It didn't take him long to spot Akagi serving food to the people. In the time that they had spent working to help the Resistance get back on their feet, James and Akagi barely spent much time together. He could almost count on one finger the times they even had a conversation.
As he saw her smiling at the people and doing her part, a selfish part of him wondered if it was fair that this latest issue kept them apart. He wanted to go back to their nights together talking about random things, giving each other foot massages, and all that other stuff they used to do.
But, reason overcame his emotional side and he cooled his head. What happened to the Resistance was bad. Everyone was doing their part to help. The last thing anyone needed was for James to suddenly start acting selfish and keep Aakgi from doing her work.
With that in mind he slowly marched to her, his motivations changed. Rather than trying to monopolize her time, he would aim to have a conversation with her. If he were lucky, he could also help her, Hornet and the others on kitchen duty today.
James had unknowingly made the mistake of becoming so focused on Akagi that he forgot his surroundings. As a result, he noticed that she seemed a little tired. Given that the day only started, it troubled him that she was looking exhausted. And so, he moved with a brisker pace to come and help her, not knowing another was also doing the same.
Akagi wiped a little sweat off her forehead and exhaled.
"Ma'am," asked one of the people who were standing in line "are you okay?"
"Akagi you look a little pale," added Oklahoma "why not sit down for a few minutes?"
"Sure, that sounds like a good idea," she said and tried to move only to wobble a little.
"Here, let me help you," said a pair of familiar voices as they both reached out a hand to her. Akagi looked up and saw Kaga on one side and James on the other.
It seemed that the two also didn't notice each other as they suddenly turned in surprise at how they said the same thing together.
Then, in a strange turn, something else happened.
"James," said Kaga with a plastic smile "you're pretty busy so why not leave this to me?"
"Nonsense Kaga," said James, returning the smile "I'm not so busy that I can't help out my wife now and then."
"Still, as her SISTER it makes sense that I should be there to help."
"And as her HUSBAND, I have greater validity to be by her side."
In that moment, Akagi, the line of people, Hornet and Oklahoma could sense the growing tension between the pair.
"Back off scrub," said Kaga, dispensing any formality.
"Bring it, kyuubi," warned James, not backing down.
Just as it looked like the pair were about to argue over the most trivial of things, Akagi interjected by whacking them both on the head. The move had unknowingly mirrored the Amagi Hammer, her big sister used to settle disputes.
"Honestly you two," she said, shaking her head "if you're going to start a fight, do it where it doesn't disturb anyone."
And then in another strange twist, Akagi saw the pair's animosity shift from each other… to her.
"I can't believe she hit us on the head with that much force," shouted Kaga, as she and James rubbed their heads.
"I know," replied James, echoing the sentiment "I almost feel like my head's about to split."
"Seriously sister," said Kaga, shaking her head "you should at least keep your strength in check with James."
"Wait, what…" said Akagi, taken aback by this sudden course correction.
"Come on, let's put some ice on that," said Kaga, turning him and her away from Akagi.
"This reminds me of when Akagi and I got into a fight over not wanting to eat capsicum," said Kaga to James, and Akagi's eyes widened in shock.
"You know she still doesn't eat them," said James, adding more fuel to the fire.
"She doesn't?"
"Nope. Puts it all in my plate."
As if this sudden turn wasn't crazy enough, Akagi and her group watched in utter silence as two more familiar faces joined Kaga and James.
"Oooooh are we talking about Akagi?" asked Shokaku, coming in on James' left "let me in on this fun."
"Please don't stop on my account," said Taihou, coming in on Kagai's right.
"Alright," said James "the only reason her hair's so smooth was because I suggested she use coconut oil instead of those hair conditioners."
"No way," said Shokaku and seemingly noted this down.
"I knew something was up but she never said anything," said Kaga.
"Oh I am definitely telling Roon and Friedrich about this," said Taihou who produced a phone and started typing out a message.
"I can hear you," shouted Akagi and the newly formed group immediately stopped and turned to her in surprise.
"Scatter," declared James and they vanished like cartoon characters caught in the act.
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The group of Taihou, Shokaku, James and Kaga reconvened in Neptune's bar. Rather than simply exchanging funny stories about Akagi, the four engage in idle chatter. It first began with what they were doing, then progressed to how they were sleeping, to how James gave great massages, and back to Akagi.
"James," said Shokaku, "what is your relationship with Kaga?"
"Huh?" he asked as both he and Kaga looked at Shokaku in confusion.
"Well, since you are married to Akagi, wouldn't that make you and Kaga siblings?"
"And since Kaga is older," said Taihou "that would make you her little brother."
"Awww, that reminds me of when James got turned into a kid and everyone wanted him," said Shokaku, while James grew pale at the memory "I wonder if Akashi still has that gun."
"To clarify," said James, trying to steer the conversation away, "Kaga is my step sister."
"Step?" repeated Taihou and Shokaku, tilting their heads in confusion.
"It's a way to refer to a member of the family you're not blood related to," replied James.
"Well that only applies to humans James and you aren't one," said Taihou with a shrug.
"Come again?" asked James as it was now his turn to be confused.
"Considering everything that you do and the crazy things that you survive," elaborated Shokaku "you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who'd think that you're a human."
"I second the claim," said Kaga suddenly "from now on, you are my little brother, none of that 'step' stuff."
"But…" said James.
"If Friedrich can claim you as her son, then I can do the same," countered Kaga, while Shokaku and Taihou chuckled at the exchange.
"Alright then," said James, who was warming over to the idea "how should I call you: Kaga or big sis?"
At once, Kaga became flushed. Her gaze shifted between him and the others. Shokaku and Taihou gave her coy expressions, practically egging her to make a move.
"You can call me," she said, and turned away from him to hide her red face "both. Both is fine."
"Alright then," said James, resting his head on the right hand and giving her a gentle smile "I thought I was lucky to get married and now here I am with a new sister. I'm looking forward to being part of the family, big sis."
At once, Shokaku and Taihou crooned while Kaga looked away. The embarrassment was almost too much for her to bear.
"Hey James," suggested Shokaku "why not call me big sis too?"
"EH?" shouted Kaga and turned to the crane sister.
"Well why not?" asked Shokaku with a fake pout "I've always wanted another sibling and James is such a sweetheart."
"Oh no you don't," said Kaga, putting her arms around her new sibling while her tails started puffing up "he has only one sister and that's me."
This statement was followed by the sound of a few plates crashing in the back. The four turned around and out of the group, James' face grew pale.
There, much to his mounting horror were Unicorn, Eldridge, and Kisaragi. The look on their faces indicated they heard the exchange which undoubtedly caused the plates to fall.
"Is it true big bro?" asked Unicorn, her voice shaking, her eyes vacant "I thought we were the only siblings you wanted."
James opened and closed his mouth but no words came out.
"But if Kaga is your sister then what about us?" asked Kisaragi.
"Big bro," said Eldridge, pointing her modified dowsing rods at him "choose."
"I… I… ," said James, his eyes darting left to right. Then, he found the opening he was looking for and bolted to it while screaming "I love you all equally."
Unfortunately, his words and actions did not have the intended effect.
"Get him," said Eldridge and Unicorn turned her plushie into the real thing, hopped onto it and chased after him. She was followed by a floating Eldridge and Kisaragi.
While Shokaku and Taihou were watching them chase after him, Kaga realized she had unwittingly entered a tug of war match between her and several highly-motivated children.