The roar of the fire still burning the church and a small number of houses nearby felt almost deafening as Father Tres and I moved past towards the barracks. He still wore his torn city police uniform, but his crucifix was now visible for all to see.

I still found it odd to think of him as a priest. My eyes kept locking on the cross that hung from his neck.

We walked on, nothing but our mission present in our minds. Towards that place that haunted my nightmares still. I froze.

"There is no time to hesitate." The Father said.

"Won't he escape?"

Father Tres turned and looked at me blankly.

"No, I instructed for him to be sent to the Iron Maiden's brig." He said

"The Iron Maiden?"

Father Tres looked up and I did the same. There in the sky was a Vatican airship with the name 'Iron Maiden' printed on the side.

I looked down at the gun in my hand. Who was I kidding? I was just a little girl running after some far-fetched ideal instilled in me. The idea of home. I ran a hand through my hair and looked up at Father Tres who was still looking at me pointedly.

There was still so many questions I had that needed to be answered, so many things I couldn't make sense of. I tightened my grip on the gun and hardened my resolve.

"Alright, I'm ready."

The barracks was a bustle of activity. Unlike when I usually came here, it was unorganised with men running everywhere, completely unsure what to do. I felt like I should be doing something similar.

On the other hand, Father Tres, without a moment's hesitation, walking to stand in the centre of the entrance, both handguns raised. He fired a warning shot into the air, making me jump along with all the men present.

"…Major Iqus…"

"…what do we…"

"…the Vatican…."

"… can't be true…"

"…a priest…"

The mutterings were vague but from the general gist of what I heard I guessed that the men were pretty shocked by this outcome. I don't think I ever heard a rumour about the Major being from the Vatican. They were probably all putting the pieces together.

"In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, you are all under arrest for various crimes including assault, extortion, blackmail, bribery, petty theft and murder. Any resistance to arrest will be ended quickly." Father Tres said, as he clicked two new cartridges into place.

The men looked at one another in confusion. One man stepped forward, looking angry.

"Iqus you traitor, like we'd ever do what you say!"

A single shot rang out and the man fell to the ground clutching his knee. Father Tres had moved so fast I hadn't even seen him.

"It is impossible to be a traitor if I was never on your side."

"You can't kill us all!" Another guard yelled, and then, as if by some unspoken command every man raised his weapons and aimed at Father Tres.

Slowly, as if everyone were forced to move through treacle, I ran towards Father Tres. My heart beat dominated my hearing and for an instant everything was crystal clear.

"Tres!"

Hundreds of gun shots rang out and I covered my face, realising only now that I had stepped into their line of fire. I waited to be shot, for a bullet to impact. By nothing touched me. The shots stopped and I slowly looked up.

"Tres!" I yelled again, looking up at the man standing over me, shielding me with his body. I could see the small streams of red liquid covering his body. He had a faintly shocked look on his face, and he frowned slightly.

My mind blanked. He couldn't die. Not like this. Not protecting me!

Then, like a knife cutting through the air, Tres spoke.

"Switching from defence mode to genocide mode. Engage."

He spun, both guns raised and began firing. The men dropped like flies, clutching knees and arms as they gushed blood. I was transfixed by Tres' back. I could see all the bullet wounds and the blood soaking into his clothes. I couldn't believe he could still stand, let alone fight back.

Those men still standing threw up their hands and dropped their weapons with the sound of metal on concrete.

"Sit down." Tres said. To the remaining men not currently nursing wounds. They obliged.

"No human could have survived that. How are you still alive?" one of them said, looking incredulously at Tres.

The point had freaked me out as well. No human could possible survive that. Still, if there was one thing I had learnt about Tres, it was that he was never an open book.

Tres glanced at me, dare I say, thoughtfully for a moment. Then he turned to the one who had spoken to him.

"Non-human status - confirmed."

I gasped. That rumour couldn't possibly be true.

"I am not human, I am a machine."

The Iron Maiden echoed with the sounds of discontent from the various occupants currently in her brig. There were slight rumbles as some of the stronger men tried to break their way out of the cells.

I sat down heavily outside the last cell of the Iron Maiden, my knees pulled up to my chest. I took deep breaths and tried to calm my rapidly beating heart.

"Are you alright?" A kind female voice said. I looked up to see a nun dressed in white smiling softly down at me. This was Sister Kate, then.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just a little shaken." I said, trying to keep my voice steady. I felt like I might break down at any given moment.

"Alright then dear, I'll make you a cup of tea, ok?"

"Thank you."

Sister Kate smiled kindly, then turned and disappeared. I blinked a couple of times at the spot where she had been, then sighed and returned to staring at the wall opposite to where I was sitting.

Nothing seemed that shocking right now.

I kept thinking about Father Tres, wondering if he was going to be ok, if he was too… damaged.

Most of all I was struggling to get my head around his new… identity? The revelation had shocked me enough that everything from then til now had happened in a blur of movement.

Now Tres had disappeared to get changed and I was left with little to no real explanation.

I couldn't sit still. I stood and headed up the stairs that led away from the brig. As I approached the next floor I made out voices.

"Tres, it's not like you at all to get so badly damaged." Sister Kate was saying. "First you took all those shots from Radcon, then a whole bombardment from the City Police."

"Positive."

"Why are you being so reckless?"

There was a short pause, which was in itself unusual from Tres. "Unforeseen circumstances dictated it to be the only course of action."

"Hmmm…" Kate said, sounding a tad perplexed, but commented no further. I took the pause in conversation as a good time to enter.

I pushed the door open and entered. Tres was dressed now in his priest uniform including coat. I wondered a moment if he had been… Repaired.

"Oh hello." Kate said chirpily. "I was about to find you so you could have tea."

I smiled weakly, "Thank you."

I lifted the tea from the table nearby and drank quickly. It was just the right temperature and smelled sweet. Kate disappeared from the room, and I sat on a seat.

Tres said nothing, but I knew he was watching me. He probably expected me to say something. I had nothing I could put into words. The entire situation was so above my head.

Kate reappeared suddenly, looking worried.

"Colonel Radcon has escaped somehow, Father Tres, can you please find him."

"Positive." Father Tres said, he had already turned on his heel and made for the door. I watched. I felt like he was leaving forever. I wanted to say something, anything, but words caught in my throat. The door shut behind him.

Radcon was free, and Tres had left me here. I felt sick.

"Gunslinger is tough. You wouldn't even know he'd had a hundred bullets shot through him today." Kate said offhandedly.

I knew. And it was my fault it had happened.

The sun was shining. Despite everything, it really felt like a new day. Like things could only get better.

I let out a deep sigh.

I was trying to stay positive but I couldn't help feeling a little sad.

"Miss Szendrey."

"Please don't call me that."

Father Tres tilts his head and frowns slightly again. The same expression which had first convinced me of his humanity now felt like a lie. A well fabricated lie, a believable lie, but a lie none the less.

"What should I call you then?"

"My name is Persephone."

He seemed to consider this for moment then nodded.

"Persephone."

Even though I'd asked for it I still got butterflies. I shook off the feeling and nodded.

"Yes?"

"I have to leave and meet Father Abel now."

"Right..." I look around the front of my building. "Ah... You just got here."

"Affirmative."

Tres looks to one side and the barest hint of colour dusts his cheeks. So slight I'm sure I'm imagining it. Despite myself, I feel my own cheeks heat up.

"I... Ah..."

I try to find words, but I don't really know where to start.

"Thank you, for all of your assistance."

"I should be thanking you. You saved me. You saved the town. Compared to that anything I did was minute."

"I was only doing my duty."

I smile at him. This really feels like goodbye forever. I can't even bring myself to say the words.

"You... Need to go, right?"

He nods.

"Affirmative."

I reflect that it's fine he's leaving. Things are going to be difficult enough as it is, rebuilding the city in the wake of Gyula. I don't need the aggravation of overcoming my now obvious infatuation with a man-made object.

As I mentally agree with my own assertation I suddenly realise Father Tres has advanced on me. Before I have time to really register what is happening he bends and presses his lips to mine.

My mind goes blank. It's brief and chaste but it definitely happens.

"I must go." He says briskly, turning on his heel and quickly walking away.

I find my voice for a brief moment, and, summoning my courage, I yell after him.

"We will meet again, Tres."

He pauses and nods.

"Affirmative."