This chapter takes place roughly around Chapter 43 in SFTD.

Strange times made for strange bedfellows, and Marlene would be ashamed to admit that this friendship escaped even her watchful eye.

She sat where she tended to be in the Studio, closer to the back than anything else. This early in the morning, it was only mildly populated by its usual occupants—just a few Mystics and some of Jax's other soldiers milling about, discussing one of the paintings made recently. Of course, it being this early didn't matter much to her current partner of conversation—Edgar.

Edgar himself was seated with her on the floor, merrily talking away with her, seemingly unaffected by the whispers that surrounded her. His omen of ravens flanked her, and his companion was currently seated in her lap for once. She appreciated the company—Nevermore was relaxing to pet, even if she never got to feel his feathers.

"You sure you don't want to get a feel for him, Kara? I guarantee he wouldn't mind."

His interjection made her consider her gauntlets. Custom-made for her to contain her powers and lessen their effect on those around her. Considering how much she had spooked the Hunter with them on... "I will abstain, Edgar."

"You should not fear your powers," Nevermore responded. "If they are part of you, chaining them can only harm you."

One of her fingers twitched. Oracle—her Revenant, as Mordenna had deemed them—gently leaned down next to her ear. "He does not know," they whispered. "He does not know how those words echo to you. Unfortunate repetition. Unwanted advice, yes. Be firm."

Marlene looked away, lidding her eye. "There is merit in calculated control. I do not suppress my powers, as you may fear. I guide them and I calm them. It is not only to protect others—it is to protect myself. Psionics are most powerful when active, but they leave their users vulnerable."

Edgar nodded. "And considering you've told me yours are always active..."

"Yes. My gauntlets keep a measure of my power within myself, so I am not... exploited." She started petting Nevermore again to calm herself. "I understand your care behind your advice, Nevermore, but I cannot follow it, for the safety of myself and those around me."

Nevermore leaned gently against her hand as she scratched his cheek. "My apologies for my presumptions, Seer."

"It is no fault of your own. I think it is wonderful that the Commander has fostered an environment where other psions can practice their powers freely. It... reminds me of the ambiance of the Temple, in a way. Perhaps not as many psionic signatures congregated within such a space, but comparable." When it was peak time in the Studio and even the psions that were humans joined, that was when it closely reminded her of home. She did dearly miss the Temple and the presence of the Prophet, but...

Her hand halted on Nevermore. She could not go back with the High Inquisitor there. Her safety was here, where she would be protected from his own motivations. Geist sent her here for a reason. Convincing the Council to let go of their Seer was a herculean task, but the Holy Father had managed. Even harder, considering the Inquisitor's influence.

Marlene was homesick, she knew this much. She sighed, taking her hand off of Nevermore. "I must apologize for my departure," she began, "but I wish to talk with Kalight regarding matters of the Temple. Would you excuse me?"

"Of course, Kara." Edgar looked a little downcast, but he maintained a calm smile. "Nevermore, get over here." When he did, Edgar rested a hand on him. "You can always come back here if you want to hang out again—I'm usually around this area. Failing that, just ask one of the stray members of my court if you see them about and I'll be there in no time at all."

She stood up and bowed to him. "I will remember as such, Edgar. In case we do not meet again today, I wish your day will be well."

"As to you as well, Seer."

With her goodbyes exchanged, Marlene made her way out, watching as Oracle waved goodbye. Of course, without Edgar looking through his seeing-eye raven, the gesture was lost. When the Mystics waved to her, she nodded back.

Once she was out in the hall, she allowed herself a sigh when she confirmed nobody was around. "Good grief..."

"The Temple surely longs for you as much as you long for it. This does not mean you are beholden to returning."

"Of course, of course." With no audience, Marlene dropped her "Seer" gig, lapsing into speech that was more comfortable with her. "I just... miss Geist. And the large sermons. But you're right." She crossed her arms. "So long as he's there, I... really shouldn't go back." Marlene shuddered. "I thank Her for the nights when my nightmares are interrupted by visions."

"You are Her favored child," Oracle responded, gently patting her shoulder with one of their tentacles. "And we are Her gift to you. She cannot intervene every night, but there is a reason why your visions primarily come in the darkest hours of the morning."

"The discretion helps..." Marlene let her arms drop as she kept walking. "Just wish I didn't have what are essentially seizures every time it happens." The intensity varied each time. Sometimes she'd just stop in whatever she was doing, beholden to the events of the future. Sometimes it was what she'd heard Sherry classify as "generalized" seizures.

"The powers of the Earth are extreme..." Sadness radiated from Oracle. "But She means you no harm, child."

"I know. She can't really control it, as I can't either." Marlene turned a corner, quieting down for a second as she passed some engineers. When she was confident that they were far enough behind her, she went on. "Better me than someone unprepared for them, I suppose. Or someone who doesn't have a guide as discerning as you." She patted their tentacle. "It's ok. Honestly, as long as I'm away from him, I can manage."

Oracle's sadness faded, and their tentacle curled around her hand. "Of course. We will continue to guide and protect you as we always have, Child of Earth."

Marlene smiled gently. Having a constant companion in Oracle made things easier to bear. The stares, the whispers that did not belong to them, the ostracization... with herself alone, it would've been too much. But Oracle was a blessing.

Eventually she made it to the Barracks, and she let her hand fall, returning to her silence. A lot of the soldiers were still milling about here, and some of them waved to her as she entered. Nodding back, she set her sights on Kalight's bunk. Sure enough, there he was, cleaning out his gauntlets. As she approached, he looked up. "Ah, my Seer. Is there something you require of me?"

Marlene gently leaned against the side of the bunks. "Nothing that should interrupt the upkeep of your equipment," she replied, slipping back into her persona. Normally she'd talk comfortably around Kalight, but this was a public space.

"Please, Marlene." Kalight set one of his gauntlets to the side. "What do you need?"

She laced her fingers together, looking down at her gauntlets. "... it concerns matters of the Temple. Nothing has happened, I merely... wish for a companion to talk to that will truly understand my plight."

Kalight nodded seriously, slipping his gauntlet on and getting up. "To a more private avenue?" When Marlene nodded, he walked past her.

She followed after him naturally, and as they passed the group of soldiers all batnering, she watched as Oracle's tentacles extended out towards them. It as habit for Oracle—they were just keeping her in the know. Once they did a surface skim of the soldiers' thoughts, they retracted. "Not much recent news," they spoke. "The Hunter appears to have left from the Commander's bedroom."

"Scandalous," she replied under her breath as they left the Barracks. "The Warlock leaving the Studio have anything to do with that?"

"He was last seen heading towards the Bridge... so perhaps there is some merit to any budding rumors."

"Are they a thing and they haven't announced it, or?"

"Hard to say. There is a burgeoning betting pool transpiring. Crudely titled the Bone Pool."

Marlene shook her head. "Nosy fools," she muttered, with a trace of irony.

"Something the matter, Seer?" Kalight turned back to look at her.

She shook her head again. "Simply talking to Oracle." Outside of the Templars—and whoever else could see them—knowledge of the Oracle was purposefully minimal. Being her bodyguard, Kalight knew of them.

As such, he nodded. "Anything in particular I could ask about?"

"Just this burgeoning betting pool regarding who will confess to the Commander first."

He chuckled at that, looking back ahead. "I've heard of that. I refuse to participate... but you know I am rooting for our Holy Father."

"As am I, of course."

Their conversation stopped momentarily as they came upon the entrance to one of the storage rooms. Kalight opened the door and they ducked inside. They often used this room when they wanted to talk with each other about Templar matters and not be eavesdropped upon. Kalight took his usual spot on one of the crates and Marlene followed. "What's troubling you, Marlene?"

"To put it bluntly?" She gently kicked her feet. "... I'm homesick. But you and I know exactly why I can't set foot in the Temple until he's been dealt with."

Kalight bobbed his head, leaning on one of his legs. "I completely empathize. I, too, have resolved to stop visiting the Temple so long as he walks there." The High Inquisitor's name was never spoken between the two of them if they could help it. It was a small, petty act of vengeance. "I would not leave you alone to deal with your problems if you cannot walk the halls of our home as I can."

"I appreciate the solidarity." She rested her head on one of her hands, the fabric inside her helmet pushing against her chin. "I simply miss the Holy Father. I understand why he can't do anything about the High Inquisitor, but... I miss the sermons. I get angry and frustrated about how I can't be in my own house, essentially, because he'll..."

She withdrew into herself. The High Inquisitor's crimes were many, and he had taken up his position for a reason. He delighted in the suffering of others, as did his psionics. With her own being so prone to conveying her emotions and their vulnerability... she was his favored target. Geist knew, but until recently, there was little he could do about it.

Kalight scooted closer to her and laid a hand on her shoulder. "There will come a time where he receives his proper justice," he assured her, "and the Earth will judge his crimes rightfully. For now, you are safe at XCOM..." He tilted his head, and his psionic signature conveyed a smile. "... and I can always ask the Commander about bringing the Holy Father closer to the ship. Without him, of course."

She looked back up at Kalight, smiling at him. "Thank you, my Vanguard. I would very much appreciate the ability to talk to the Holy Father again."

"And I'm sure he would return the same sentiment. The Earth's Prophet misses Her Child." He let his hand slide off. "Anything else you wish to speak of?"

"I think that was about it." Marlene sat up a bit straighter. "I just wished to talk to a fellow Templar for a moment. Not to say Oracle is bad conversation, of course."

He chuckled, moving to stand. "Then I shall get back to cleaning out my gauntlets. You remember to do the same as well, yes? I know you have your aversion to taking them off, but maintenance is important."

She sighed. "Yes, dad, I'll remember."

Kalight shook his head, then pointed above her. She knew he couldn't see Oracle, but he'd been told before where they usually hung out. "You make sure she does it."

They extended a tentacle to him, allowing him to hear them. "Of course, Protector of Earth and her Children. It has always been my charge to remind her."

She crossed her arms. "I'm not that bad about it..."

"You are."

"Ugh." She waved them both off. "I'll do it after the Barracks clears out a little more. Just so I'm not creeping everyone else out through presence alone."

"I understand, my Seer." Kalight made towards the door. "Be about the rest of your day, and I shall see you at breakfast."

He opened the door and made sure it closed behind him, leaving her to her thoughts and optionally a conversation with Oracle. She rested her head on her hands again, sighing. "I hope we won't be bothering Geist by asking him to enter the ship."

"The Prophet will hardly be bothered by tending to his Seer."

"I know, but like. Still."

"Your worries are understandable, but unfounded regardless."

Marlene rolled her eye. "I suppose I'll trust you for now." She pushed off the crate. "Do you remember what today's breakfast was going to be?"

"According to a snippet of last week's vision... eggs, oatmeal, and toast."

"Ooh, eggs." Marlene started to walk out. "Think that's thanks to the Black Market?"

"Undoubtedly. To the Mess Hall?"

Walking out of the storage room, Marlene smiled to herself. "To the Mess Hall."