Chapter V


"What the hell happened here? Are those... Trees?"

Benitsubasa started seething again. Haihane snickered at her counterpart but said nothing.

There were no trees of that size before. This has to be the work of number One-Oh-Eight, Kusano. What a great opportunity missed to covertly question Yukari. Maybe I should speak to her brother at Izumo about her character? She called him a wimp but his girlfriend is supposed to be really strong. I'm thinking both siblings are more than they let on if that really is the case. He should know enough about her to help me determine her character anyway.

Zeilla shut down her musing as they came up on the inner checkpoint of trigger happy MBI soldiers. Yashima started to get nervous while the Discipline Squad simply ignored the glares that ranged from contained terror to suppressed anger. The Spartan supposed MBI's forces were tired of being subjected to the consequences of Sekirei fights... Or perhaps they had heard of her attack on some of their own? Being a player in the game prevents them from exacting revenge it seems.

Passing through the four kept walking, until they entered an intersection and were thus off the bridge itself.

"Don't make us regret letting you live, Ashikabi." Benitsubasa growled as they halted, turning to face them. "Next time we see each other I'll be crushing your girl before your eyes."

"Beni, we should go. I need to sleep before we go to the resort." Haihane said with a yawn.

Yashima cocked her head. "Resort?"

"Yeah, MBI opened it to all game participants for today." she droned in her typically bored tone. "Besides this task last night, it's the only place we can go after Benitsubasa got us grounded."

"Haihane, we're done here." pinky snapped and leapt over a building towards the MBI tower.

"I take it her short temper is both a blessing and a curse." Zeilla ventured.

The Sekirei chuckled. "Yes. A few days ago, we were all at the health check-up and she got fired up over her small breasts because the Izumo gang were flaunting. She demolished the entire building."

Note to self: beware a pissed off Benitsubasa.

Wait...

"Izumo gang?"

Haihane ducked her head. "Sekirei residents of Izumo, here in the north. They are her pet peeve because one of those huge breasted Sekirei threw us across the border. Beni can't stand them."

"Haihane!"

She snickered into the back of a clawed hand. "What's your name, anyway, Ashikabi?"

"Why do you ask?" Zeilla asked cautiously.

"Because I like knowing things Beni doesn't." came the slightly malicious response.

I think I know why these two are kept together. "Zeilla."

Haihane grinned. "I don't know why but I'm starting to like you. You seem like you will do something interesting. Karasuba thinks so too."

"Haihane!"

The Blue Sekirei stared at her a moment longer before turning to follow her counterpart.

'Do something interesting', eh? "We will have to be on guard at all times from now on, Yashima."

"Sempai?"

Zeilla's lip twitched at the word. "I would prefer you stop calling me things like that, if you don't mind. I have a name and you are free to use it."

Yashima looked down at her feet. "But... You're my senior so it would be rude of me... And... I really want to honour you."

"Shit- erm... Geez, you need to chill out, Yashima. I'm a Human being, not God." the Spartan muttered, exasperated. "What do Matsu and Yukari call me?"

"Z-chan."

"After talking to Shigi I've figured out what that means. It's a nickname implying familiarity or friendship, right? I've never had a friend before but I'd say that's what we are. Although in our case it's a little more binding than that. How about you just call me Z-chan or Zeilla?"

The Sekirei squirmed a little at being put on the spot. "Um... Z-sama... Perhaps?"

Zeilla rolled her eyes. "Pick a tag I haven't figured out yet why don't you. Alright, Z-sama, fine."

Yashima brightened a little.

If this is what it's like to deal with children I am so glad I can't have any.

"Anyway, lets head over to Izumo. I have a theory I want to share with Matsu."

"/ /A theory? Shall we test it together?/ /"

"Matsu?!" both exclaimed in surprise.

"/ /Come on, what's the theory?/ /"

Zeilla composed herself and pulled her Sekirei along towards Izumo Inn. "Matsu, its rude to eavesdrop like that."

"/ /I wasn't doing it for long. I was just curious about why the Blue Sekirei was hanging around you after Red left. So, what's this theory of yours?/ /"

"Something for the security of your lair - no, get your mind out of the gutter."

"/ /Z-tan, you're no fun. Don't you get tired of acting professional all the time? Life is too short to be boring!/ /"

Yashima looked up at her expectantly.

She didn't answer until after they had leapt up onto the rooftops "I am a soldier, remember? I have been since I joined the Spartan program as a child so I don't get tired of being my usual self."

"/ /Ah, so you don't know how to be normal./ /" Matsu responded with a touch of mischief in her voice. "/ /Perfect timing. An MBI resort is open to all Ashikabi and their Sekirei today. A beach, baths, food, a fancy bar - all free. You need it, Z-tan./ /"

"I don't want to go to an MBI facility. They'll probably use this to gather information on all the Ashikabi."

"/ /They had you for a few hours after the mutagen, remember?/ /"

"No reason to give them another chance."

"/ /You can gather your own intelligence while you're there./ /"

"A fair point but not enough of a reason."

"Umm... Z-sama? Can we go?"

Zeilla paused on the building across the street from Izumo and looked at the girl. She seemed hopeful under all her shyness at asking.

I forgot, she isn't adjusted to my lifestyle.

The Spartan sighed. "Alright, we'll go."

"Thank you, Z-sama!"

"/ /Yes!/ /"

"I'm only doing this for Yashima, Matsu, so you are going to make it up to me later." Zeilla whispered into the mic as her Sekirei trapped her in a hug.

"/ /We shall negotiate later./ /" the redhead agreed. "/ /Drop by in a minute and I'll get you a map with directions./ /"

The Spartan ruffled Yashima's hair through her cap and managed to dislodge her. "Why not travel together? Safety in numbers until at the neutral grounds of the resort."

"/ /Because I'm going with my Ashikabi and his rather boisterous other three Sekirei. You would bring too much to their awareness they aren't ready for... And you'd also probably scare the crap out of him./ /"

Zeilla frowned. "I'm not scary without my armour."

"/ /You are almost seven-foot-tall and rippling with muscle. My Ashikabi is a wimp who can't even stop a zealot, a simpleton or a child from causing chaos in their competition to offer their affections. Trust me, you'd break him just by the aura of strength you ooze from every pore./ /"

"I ooze?"

"/ /Oh, just come get the map and go already! And try not to wake everyone up./ /"

"Be right there-"

"/ /And make sure you greet Miya before she appears! I don't want to die of terror yet!/ /"


A silver haired effeminate figure was walking slowly ahead of Zeilla and Yashima. It was obvious where he was going, yet he seemed hesitant to actually arrive. It wasn't long before they caught up to him which startled the one Zeilla now recognised as Kagari.

"Oh, hello." he stammered.

Zeilla raised a brow. "You look troubled. Something the matter?"

Kagari shook his head. "Don't worry about it."

"Well, if you walk any slower then it will be evening before you even arrive. Matsu tells me there is plenty there to help you relax."

"Is that why you are going?" he asked curiously.

"Yashima needs the break, not me. I relax my mind through training and my body through sleep."

"I see. What about your spirit?"

Zeilla did a double take.

"Three parts to a person." Kagari elaborated. "Mind, body and spirit."

Zeilla snorted. "I am a Spartan."

"I'm not sure what that means, exactly." he confessed after a moment.

"My spirit is fed by my success and goaded by failure. Nothing will ever deter me from my given or invented objectives. In the face of genocidal annihilation that is what I am to be: unrelenting." she rambled. "This world is... Far too easy."

Kagari shook his head and sighed. "What sane person would call this game easy?"

"I never claimed to be sane, Kagari." Zeilla smirked, keeping her eyes on their surroundings diligently. "I'm a Spartan, after all."

He shook his head again but couldn't hide his smile.

Yashima made an inquisitive noise. "Kagari-san, why is your shirt-"

The man raised a hand and it burst into flame as he leveled a deadly glare at both of them. "Not a word to anyone." he hissed.

Yashima paled and moved to put her Ashikabi between them.

"Somehow I suspect if I knew the whole story I would wish to forget it." Zeilla said quietly.

"Blame Minaka." Kagari spat. "Anyway, why are you two so late?"

"I slept in." Yashima confessed sheepishly.

They walked slowly together in silence for a few minutes, then something occurred to the Spartan.

"So, did your Ashikabi go on ahead of you?"

The Sekirei flinched. "I am unwinged." he said darkly. "I was invited along by Matsu's Ashikabi."

"I see."

"No, you don't really." he countered. "Most Sekirei and Ashikabi can detect the difference between Humans and Ashikabi, and between winged and unwinged Sekirei. For some reason, you are as clueless as any normal Human."

"Z-sama isn't clueless!" Yashima snapped, still half hiding behind the Spartan. "She is smart and strong and very good at fighting!"

Zeilla pushed the girl's cap down over her eyes. "He has a point, Yashima. I couldn't tell that Yukari and Shiina were anything special and the only reason I know Matsu and Kagari are Sekirei is because they told me themselves."

"The man who attacked Yashima the night that you found her was a potential Ashikabi too." Kagari added. "Fortunately, at that stage unwinged Sekirei were getting harder to find so he didn't do any damage. You have a bit of luck on your side, Zeilla, but you need to work on your Ashikabi instincts. It will help you grow a stronger bond with your Sekirei."

The Spartan narrowed her eyes. "Why are you giving me advice?"

"Because you need it." he said, looking away at the scenery.

Nobody ever does anything for free. She thought. What's his angle?

Suddenly he stopped walking and waved them on ahead. "Well, if you want to find me later, I'll be at the bar charming the ladies."

Zeilla raised a brow. "Later."

Did he say what I think he said? Bah, Zeilla, you're getting confused by all this civilian crap.

Seeing the resort gates were close enough to read the signage on she picked up the pace and shook Yashima by the shoulder. "Come on, help me pick out a quiet place to train before you run off and play, okay?"

"Sure!"


Zeilla wished she had tried to learn Japanese during the two weeks on the outside with Kuno and Shigi. The headset Matsu made her couldn't translate written words - or in this case, symbols. Maybe a general crash course on the culture was in order too. Yashima had said something to the effect of modesty was less important among men and women when the other sex was not around when she had insisted on washing Zeilla's back for her.

Besides being unfamiliar with a water shower the Spartan didn't need any help, to Yashima's disappointment. This led her to believe that sharing such tasks was a bonding thing between female friends.

Currently Zeilla was attempting to memorise the symbols on the sign so that she didn't get lost... Again. Easier said than done.

While she was tracing over the lines with a finger someone came up beside her.

"Wow! They even have open air baths here!"

Zeilla looked at the young woman. "Going?"

"Yes!" She bounced on her toes, resulting in the same of her ample bust, then hurried off in the direction the sign indicated.

Zeilla followed.

This is practically the fiftieth woman I've seen today alone with large breasts. Do civilians all go and get surgery or something? Or is this a feature of some Sekirei? How are they supposed to fight if their tits keep getting in the way? Bah, this world is insane.

The young brunette ran ahead and passed through a curtain. As Zeilla was following at a walk she spotted a familiar looking girl go in after the busty Sekirei.

Yukari?

Then another person she had met before parted the curtain.

Zeilla herself entered and passed through the intermediate room to find Yukari fondling the busty brunette from behind. Unaware they were being observed both started laughing nervously and uncontrollably.

"I'm in culture-shock city." she thought aloud.

Karasuba appraised her out of the corner of one eye. "Soldiers of your culture do not behave like this, I take it."

"Nope. The military is a male dominated sector so those women who manage to make it through training are usually the toughest and put even some men to shame. They have to be in order to succeed. The Spartan program had more women but the culture was the same."

The Black Sekirei raised a brow. "I have only ever seen one nations soldiers and tasted nothing but fear in the air."

Zeilla snorted. "Human nature, Karasuba. Against the unknown we feel fear. Some people can push past it, some ignore it, some are defeated by it."

The Sekirei was quiet for a moment while they watched Yukari and the brunette fooling around in the bath.

"Which are you, Human?"

"Fear is an important feeling." the Spartan began. "The subconscious is more perceptive and its sometimes your only warning that something isn't right. Heeding such warnings as one moves forward can help one survive when others do not."

Looking at Karasuba she smirked as a thought occurred to her. "Fear is not something you are familiar with, is it? Someone as powerful as you surrounded by weak creatures has little to fear."

Karasuba snorted and left the open-air partition but Zeilla matched her pace easily with her longer strides.

"In the world I come from, I stand superior to Humans. Like you. There were rebel groups and terrorists attempting to forcibly restructure Humanity's government and military. I was one of those sent against them and easily destroyed them where ever they hid. In those days, fear was limited to a target escaping or accidently killing an innocent hostage."

The Sekirei did not respond so she continued.

"However, Humans were but one species among several in the galaxy, alone for only so long before first contact. We found a united force so vast and so advanced we were humbled." Zeilla chuckled. "We should have paid more attention to our fear. Violence broke out and we found ourselves on the losing side of an extermination campaign. Can you imagine how we Spartans felt going from the towering symbols of Human strength to an undersized barbeque plater before aliens more powerful in every way?"

Karasuba remained silent and they kept walking.

"The elites stood head and shoulders above me while hunched over in a combat stance. The brutes were even taller and far stronger. If an elite could pick us up with one hand, then a brute could hurl a Spartan as an afterthought. Normal Humans became mere bugs to be crushed in their eyes. We Spartans were an abomination of nature and for striking down so many of their number we lost a great many Spartans who were still in training. Like infants slaughtered in their sleep."

That comment got a reaction. The Sekirei clenched her fists.

Curious.

"Now I don't know how it is I escaped certain death - though I was willing to die for my people - and landed here, but I'm sure there is an answer." Zeilla told her cautiously. "If I knew how to I would return and fight in the largest battles anyone could imagine against a foe I can barely hope to defeat."

Karasuba halted and turned to face her lazily. She could see the fire in her eyes however.

"Putting Matsu's work to good use, I see." she drawled, nodding to the headset. "Why are you telling me this?"

Zeilla shrugged. "I just felt like sharing, warrior to warrior, about a grand fight across the stars. It's not like anyone has the means to reverse engineer the means by which I arrived so that the phenomena could be recreated or even reversed." she uttered with measured distain.

The women stared each other down for what felt like an eternity before breaking eye contact at the same time, Zeilla turning back to the open-air bath and Karasuba resuming her previous journey.

Neither saw the others excited grin.

The Spartan found her way back to the open-air bath easily enough, hoping its current quiet would give her the mental space to formulate some plans for the future, regardless of the results of the little seed she had just planted.

She parted the curtain to find the brunette had gone, thus the quiet.

"Woah, Z-chan! Long time no see!"

"Hello, Yukari." Zeilla greeting with a nod as she got into the bath. "I spent two weeks training Yashima how to fight properly. How are you and Shiina doing? Found Kusano yet?"

Yukari pouted. "No. Its pissing me off."

"...SLAUGHTERED!"

Both jumped at the furious roar.

"Was that... Benitsubasa?"

"Who?"

"EXTREME QUAKE!"

The earth rumbled.

Zeilla grabbed Yukari by her waist and tossed her over one shoulder and jumped out of the bath just as the ground shook and cracked, spilling dust into the air and liquefaction into the water. She then put the girl down in the doorway, pushed her to a crouch and covered her with her own body as the building collapsed in on itself.

After a minute of quiet and stillness they stood to find the bath house reduced to rubble. Small dust clouds erupted where Sekirei began busting through to freedom.

Aside from a sore shoulder when the doorway collapsed and being covered in dust Zeilla was unharmed.

"Are you alright, Yukari?"

"What the hell was that?" Yukari coughed.

Zeilla played back the seconds before the event in her mind. "That, I suspect, was the short temper of One-Oh-Five, Benitsubasa."

"Holy... Wait, where's Shiina? Shiina! Are you okay?"

Zeilla zeroed in on a hesitant cough and found the male Sekirei covering his eyes with one hand and his modesty with a cloth.

"Umm... What are we going to do now?" he asked nervously.

"Relax, the shower block by the beach is far enough away it should have survived." Zeilla told him. "I'm betting that the staff will usher everyone there to wash up before resorting to other parts of the facility to entertain the population."

"Resorting, in a resort." Yukari snickered.

"I'm glad you can find this funny, Yukari, considering your Sekirei is stark naked and males are in short supply in this place." Zeilla chuckled.

Yukari turned red. "We're naked too." she spluttered.

"So are the female Sekirei. Lucky Shiina."

The girl reddened further.

Zeilla ruffled her hair with a smirk at the small dust cloud. "Relax. Let's just grab our bath robes and dust them off as best we can so Shiina can open his eyes and do the same. Then we can search the rubble for our stuff, okay?"

Yukari nodded. "Why did this have to happen? The day was so nice too."

Zeilla kept her theories to herself.


Clean and dressed in a new robe Zeilla entered the resort bar near the beach. A few males were around the tables and one or two females. Kagari was sitting in a corner at the back by himself, dressed in his own clothes. Evidently, he hadn't made it to the baths before the induced quake.

Zeilla sat down across from him. "I'll admit I never thought of you as the bar-type, Kagari."

He shrugged. "I work as a host so bars are familiar places for me, even if I'm not in character."

"I won't bother asking what that is-"

"Basically, I offer companionship."

Zeilla paused. "That's why I didn't bother asking."

"Wait, don't misunderstand." Kagari hurriedly added. "I spend time with women for a fee but nothing untoward happens - that's not what my agency is for."

"Again, I don't know what goes and what doesn't in your culture."

The man sagged into his chair and sipped his beer. "I'm not a whore, I'm a companion."

"And that makes the conversation cleaner?" she asked jokingly.

"You're teasing me, aren't you?"

"Maybe. I'm still learning how to act around civilians... Teasing insinuation seems to come easily to me... And I was working my way up to forcing you to read me the menu." she admitted after feeling sorry for putting him on the spot before.

He glared at her accusingly, then took out a cigarette and lit it with a small flame from one finger.

"I bet that trick is a hit with the ladies." Zeilla deadpanned.

"Shut up or I'll fry you." he mumbled halfheartedly around his cigarette, picking up the menu. "You drink often?"

Zeilla sighed. "I went out with a bunch of other Spartan trainees a few times but found the whole atmosphere repulsive, to be honest. I hope they have something non-alcoholic."

"Soda or fake beer?"

"Beer tastes like shit."

Kagari raised a brow and smirked. "Soda it is." he agreed and headed to the bar.

While she waited Zeilla wondered what Yashima was doing.

She had told the girl to do whatever she wanted for the whole day, thinking that she might want to catch up with any friends in attendance. At first Yashima was reluctant to leave her side - in that slightly endearing, shy way of hers - but the monotony of the Spartan's usual routine shooed her off eventually. After not seeing her Sekirei since Zeilla had to admit she was starting to notice how used to having the teen around she had become. That's part of why she took up Kagari's veiled offer of a drink.

Well, mostly it was curiosity mixed with new found loneliness. B-312 would be disappointed, but Zeilla recognised she had changed - no small part due to a certain clingy alien.

Kagari was a male Sekirei without an Ashikabi and had told her where she could find him if she wished. Zeilla considered that to mean he wanted her to find him. The thought that he might be considering her did cross her mind but she almost ruled out that possibility. He was a guardian of his people so he must be making sure Yashima found herself a decent Ashikabi.

The Sekirei returned rather promptly with their beverages, breaking the Spartan from her musings.

"Your soda, milady." he said with a slight bow as he presented her a large pitcher of dark bubbly liquid. "An American drink called Coca-Cola, I believe."

Zeilla blinked twice before accepting it. "Sekirei sized, huh?"

"Very astute." Kagari smiled and reclaimed his seat with a fluid grace she found unnerving. "A woman of your appetite would not be satisfied with less."

The Spartan narrowed her eyes. "What's with the act?"

He chuckled and relaxed, taking a short drag before snuffing out the butt. "I was curious to see what you would do. Most women I encounter like to be made to feel special so I cater to that. Usually they are rich and foolish, but occasionally I get a lower-class lady who loves the uncommon attention."

"Never dealt with a soldier before?" Zeilla asked, sipping her soda experimentally.

Kagari wrinkled his nose. "Once. She was convinced the agency was using the host business as a front and wanted a different kind of attention."

Zeilla gasped indignantly. "With that being your only experience of a soldier you still wanted to try your crap on me? I don't know if I should be offended or simply set Matsu on your sorry arse."

"Matsu knows better." he smirked for a moment, then concern washed over his face. "Are you offended?"

"I'm a Spartan, I don't get offended." she replied stonily and tried the soda again.

Kagari seemed to relax at that.

"I did a little research, by the way." he began slowly, idly swirling his own beverage. "Thousands of years ago, there was a people group who invaded a rich agricultural region surrounded by mountains and treacherous terrain. These people enslaved the inhabitants and established a formidable warrior culture, calling their city state Sparta."

Zeilla raised a brow. "Our worlds share some history. The Spartans were arguably the best warriors and soldiers of their time. In one battle a mere three hundred of them held off an entire invading army, to the death, to enable the rest of Sparta time to gather."

"The name of your special forces division... Is that what you were to be for your people?"

Zeilla shrugged. "At first it was just because the Spartans were elite fighters among their fellow Greeks. Ironically, we often end up reenacting the sacrifice of those three hundred men against the Covenant. Personally, I don't care if I die after I've accomplished my mission or the next best thing. Surviving is a useful talent of mine but it's getting old."

Kagari looked thoughtful as he swirled his glass, for a few moments of silence between them. Then he knocked it back and cursed under his breath.

"Nothing at all." he spat angrily. "Every time... Damn you, Minaka."

Zeilla observed his display with suspicious thoughts forming in her head. "Problem?"

Kagari sighed. "I was looking for even the faintest sign that I was reacting to you, Zeilla. Just like everyone else though I got absolutely nothing!" he snapped, thumping his free hand down on the table for emphasis. "You are an Ashikabi and you already have one Sekirei who has reacted to you, but you're still not strong enough."

So, that's what this was about.

Running a hand through his hair the Sekirei slouched in his chair. "I admire many things about you and still nothing. I don't even feel warmth from the alcohol."

"Finding your Ashikabi must be a big deal." she said, well aware of how inadequate her words were but unable to come up with something comforting.

He nodded anyway. "Sekirei are more powerful once winged and with a reason to fight beyond themselves they become utterly determined to win. Yes, it is a big deal for some." he paused to refill his glass from the bottle between them and took a sip before speaking again. "For me there are a few extra catches. I am as strong as I would be with my wings but my power is... Unstable. It could abandon me if I push for too much or end up overwhelming me all together." He took a sip and sighed. "The only corrective method I haven't tried yet is being winged to my Ashikabi." he muttered into his glass and drained it a little more.

Zeilla's brow furrowed in thought. "Have you considered you may have been looking in the wrong place? Those who pay for your time are a minority of the population. Your Ashikabi could be someone ordinary."

"Or someone weird. Or someone terrible." Kagari countered bitterly, refilling his glass again. "I have seen enough examples of bad Ashikabi to know I want nothing to do with them at all. I'd rather do without than become some possession."

Zeilla made an affirmative sound through her soda. "This might be incorrect, but... Male Sekirei are few, while females are abundant... So perhaps the inverse is so of the Ashikabi?"

"It shouldn't be. The source of Ashikabi DNA is far broader than the hundred and eight Sekirei Minaka is toying with. Their strength and power aren't enough to make me react if I have encountered any."

"And I'm assuming a male Ashikabi is out of the question."

Kagari glared daggers at her.

Zeilla rested her chin on a fist propped up on the table. "Guess you have to go without in the interim. Try not to push your power too far and hope for the best. Fight smarter than your opponents to ensure you never need to dig so deep, keep a low profile... Get Matsu to hack medical records for civilians to find Ashikabi markers in any DNA samples? It's definitely not going to be easy if other Sekirei can tell what you are."

The silver haired man sighed and knocked back yet another glass. "I know all this... But thanks for trying to help."

"We can't have the Sekirei guardian unable to do his duty, now can we?" she shrugged. Then she noticed the watch he was wearing and the position of the hands. "I think I'm going to look for Yashima. You better watch how much you are drinking because I don't think you want to be carried back by someone like Matsu."

Kagari snorted and held the bottle up to the light. "I can't get that drunk on one bottle. Go on, leave me to drown my sorrows."

Zeilla scowled. "Instead of drink you should use other things to unwind or work through demons. Take a jog around the place or walk along the beach."

"I don't know what you saw earlier on the road here but there is something wrong with me. Go on." he insisted. "Let a defective alien have some peace to sulk."

"Sulk or soak?"

Kagari let out a hollow chuckle. "I'll be fine. Go find your understudy."

She watched him knock back yet another glass, then chugged down the remaining half of her soda and stood.

"Hey, Zeilla... About what you said earlier... I don't know what objective you have set for yourself but... Don't die, alright?"

She snorted. "I have to be a role model now, thanks to Minaka. As long as I have to take care of Yashima then I won't be giving in to death."

Kagari looked hopeful for a moment, then muttered into his glass and found it empty.

Zeilla chuckled. " You should do a bit more research into the Battle of Themopoly, by the way – it's not what people seem to think it was. Also, Spartans never die."

He raised his gaze to her in confusion. Then as she turned away and headed for the door, she threw him a hard look.

"Spartans just go MIA."