Star waited to hear about her assignment while Komui moped on the desk waiting for Lenalee to bring him coffee. He had lines of fatigue under his eyes and looking he didn't really want to talk about it.

"Sir, if Bridgette Fey was here…" She certainly wouldn't allow him to waste time like this.

Finally, Komui said-

"Oh fine." Sitting up in his chair, he said, "I don't know if you saw it or not, but the night you arrived from Central, a stellar phenomenon occurred in our planet's atmosphere. People commonly refer to it as a shooting star, which is in fact not a star at all but a meteor that becomes a blazing meteoroid as it enters the planet's atmosphere and falls to earth."

So they did see it. Sighing long and deeply to herself, Star forced herself to ask curiously—

"Chief, what does a shooting star have to do with my mission?"

"The meteoroid impacted in an accessible region not too far from here," Komui said. "Mahoja and Jump left that morning to investigate. From their reports, we now already know that what we will find at the impact site is not a meteorite at all: It is Innocence."

Shock! Suspense! Star tried to express those reactions on her face and put them into her voice and body language.

"What…how is that possible?" she said.

"Innocence falling out of the sky. It is indeed astonishing, I know, but there's little to no doubt, considering the bizarre reports we received from Finders who talked to the locals. Travelers and village people are going missing there, too." Komui handed her a file across his cluttered desk. "That's why Central has ordered me to send you, Star. Your assignment is to join Jump, Mahoja, and the other Finders at the site and further investigate the effects of the goes without saying that you are to retrieve the Innocence."

"Yes, sir," Star said.

Komui continued, "Because Akuma or Noah might be lurking in the area already, you will be deployed at a moment's notice so please prepare as soon as we're done here. The Finders will keep us updated on the situation there in the meantime via golem and telephone. But…erring on the side of caution, several Exorcists are on standby and shall accompany you until you meet up with the Finders stationed at the site. Once the situation there is assessed, the other Exorcists will then depart on their own assignments so it will be up to you to discover the fate of the missing travelers and secure the Innocence."

"Yes, Chief. But how will I know I've found it?" Asking for the sake of asking. Asking questions anyone in her position might ask though she didn't need the answers.

"The Innocence created a visible phenomenon where it impacted the ground. I'm told that you can't miss it. Be careful, Star."

"Yes, sir." Star turned around to leave but stopped. "You know, Chief, I can brew the coffee for you. It's not a big deal."

Komui wailed loudly and rolled back and forth in his chair. "Lenalee's is the best! I can't operate unless my dear Lenalee makes it!"

Star left the Chief's office, his distraught crying and babbling fading in the background, shaking her head. Fu fu fu fu-such an easy target…

That evening, Star suited up in her skirt uniform from her first day at the Order. Because of her teasing, Johnny had blushed the whole time while measuring her for it. An endearing and pleasurable memory for Star.

She and Gaia assembled with the team in the underground waterway to depart for the mission. Krory, Miranda, Lavi, Allen, and Kanda soon joined them in the torchlit dimness of the passage near the boat. A few extra Finders joined them.

"Our first assignment together," Miranda said, standing beside Star. "I didn't expect so many Exorcists to be sent along."

"Yeah," Star smiled brightly, briefly touching Miranda's shoulder. "Too bad you all can't come the whole way with me. I hope there won't be any trouble once I'm by myself!"

"We'll be accompanying you into the area where the Innocence is and once we confirm that the area is secure, we'll go our separate ways," Kanda said. Arms folded over his chest around Mugen, his anti-Akuma weapon, he was cool and composed, posted up on a nearby stretch of wall. But still managing to look somewhat haughty and irritated. "Besides, you're an Exorcist from Central. You don't need us to hold your hand."

"Kanda…are you trying to be…nice to Star?" Allen gaped at him.

"Shut it, moyashi!" Kanda snapped and turned away.

Allen's gaze flattened irately.

"It's Allen, bakanda!"

"The boats are ready," one of the Finders told them.

Our first…and last assignment together, Star thought. They boarded the boats and when everyone else started chatting to pass the time, she turned away from them and, for a few moments to herself, stared into the water's gleaming dark surface.

Another not-so-pleasant sitting in his office with Director Malcolm C. Lvellie from Central. Glad that Lenalee didn't have to see the man, Komui immediately slipped in his questions about Star at the conclusion of their scheduled business.

"Not even I have any complete records on the nature of Star Johannes' Innocence, Director Lvellie. As Chief of the European Branch, should I really have to learn about the extent of the abilities of one my Exorcists from field reports? She even has unrestricted access to Hevlaska's chamber that I did not authorize."

Levellie took a sip of tea from his cup.

"Let her do as she pleases. Its not like it matters. Star Johannes is the least of our concerns."

Komui froze, trying to keep the anger and horror at Lvellie's words. The Exorcist, risking their lives against endless dangers, deserved better than that.

"Director?"

Lvellie gave him a look.

"Central has told me far more about that woman than you know, Chief Komui."

"What exactly are you saying? I don't understand, Director! Does Central have plans to eliminate Star Johannes after they're done using her to achieve their ends?"

"She will do what is necessary, then she will disappear. So what good is she to us the Order or the Church?"

Is this what Lvellie and their superiors believed was the worth of an Exorcist's life? Is this how they saw Lenalee? Allen? The others? Disposable toy soldiers to be used at will until they broke? Komui tried to control his emotions and voice but started failing in degrees.

"Star is an Exorcist. At the least, she is an invaluable and irreplaceable asset to the cause. Central can't be planning—!"

"Central isn't planning anything, Chief Komui." Lvellie finished his tea and rose from his seat. "I do believe I have said quite enough. I will be seeing you at our next meeting and taking my leave for now."