So! I am not dead and neither is this story. So, for everyone still here, let's start out the New Year with a new chapter!
Here goes!
The Janus Campaign
Chapter 39: Operations, Deceptions, and Maneuvers
"Alright! What do we got?" Hawkeye Pierce asked as corpsmen began unloading the ambulance. What was slightly unnerving were the heavily armed MPs that piled out of the accompanying truck.
"Stab wounds and heavy blood loss, Doc." One of the Corpsmen replied, indicating Delilah and Yanagida. "And one apparently with a concussion," he nodded toward Tyuule. "And this is Noriko Mochizuki. She won't let anyone take her from her side."
"Tyuule is with… is expecting a baby," Noriko told Pierce as she clutched Tyuule's hand.
"Alright. We'll check on the baby. Don't worry." He then started checking first Yanagida, then Delilah. He turned to Nurse Baker. "Get Trapper over here. He'll take this one… " Hawkeye indicated Yanagida. Get Winchester to check the concussion and warn him she's pregnant. Also, get Parna and any other Bunny Girls standing by for blood donation."
"Yes, Doctor."
Pierce then turned back to the corpsman. "Just what the hell happened? And what's with all the MPs?"
"Infiltrator got into the main hospital and tried to murder these folks. They nearly succeeded."
"The main hospital? And you wasted time and blood bringing them here?"
"Sir, the whole place is on lockdown. The infiltrator may still be in the building. General Hazama's not taking any chances. Besides, the 407th is the only outfit that has any real experience in treating Leoprids."
"Alright. Fair enough." He looked at the MPs. "Just try not to go pointing guns around while we're operating. Guns make my fingers nervous."
Lieutenant Thompson, in charge of the MPs, frowned and nodded. "Doc, I can post most of my guys outside but General Hazama will have my ass if I don't have at least two people watching them. Somebody already got in where they shouldn't have."
"Okay. Just make sure the guys you send in with us? They'll follow our rules. They'll scrub up, wear masks…. Keep out of the way while we're trying to operate. Got it?"
"Yes, sir, Captain. Bishop and Montoya know how to keep a low profile."
Pierce nodded, recognizing the position the Lieutenant was in. "I appreciate it."
"No problem, Doc"
Radar and Parna came running up. "You sent for me, Hawkeye?" Parna asked. She looked and recognized the brown-furred Bunny on the litter being carried into the OR. "Delilah!"
"You know her?" Pierce asked with sympathy.
"She was my battle sister." Until I abandoned her, Parna thought in self-recrimination
Hawkeye could see something in Parna's eyes. "Well, whatever happened before, she's really going to need your help now."
Parna looked at him with full attention.
"She's lost a lot of blood. And she's going to need transfusions to make it through surgery."
"But Koirre said you used a 'blood substitute to save her life?"
"It did okay but the real thing would be better."
"If my blood will help Delilah, then please take it, Hawkeye. Leave a little bit if you can but I won't run from my sister again."
"Alright then let's get started." Hawkeye turned to Radar. "Go find any more Bunnies and try to convince them to donate blood. Be quick about it." Hawkeye knew he had already told Baker to start rounding up blood donors but Radar knew more of the local Bunnies socially. It would be easier for him to find and convince any potential donors than for Baker.
"Right Hawkeye!" He paused only long enough to give Parna a quick peck. "I'll be back soon!" He practically leaped into the first available jeep and drove off.
In the meantime, Trapper and Winchester had arrived,
"Trap!" Hawkeye greeted with a gesturing nod at Yanagida. "Stab wound with a lot of blood loss."
"Right."
"Charles, this lady has a probable concussion. She's also got a little one on board so if you wouldn't mind?"
Charles simply nodded and began examining Tyuule. He was quickly satisfied that Tyuule had merely sustained a grade one concussion and would be fine with rest. "I will, however, order an ultrasound to make certain the child is unharmed."
"Thank you, Healer," Tyuule replied.
"Of course."
Tyuule looked over at Delilah. "Will she survive?"
Winchester nodded. "Captain Pierce is actually a much more competent surgeon than he appears. I have no doubt as to your compatriot's recovery."
"Well, with such high praise, I'd better not mess this up!" Hawkeye remarked. "Let's get moving people!" He called and motioned for the orderlies to take Delilah into surgery.
Even as Delilah and Yanagida were being taken into surgery and as security teams continued to search for the assassin in their midst, investigators were busily reviewing the main hospital video feeds and questioning Delilah's associates in Alnus, as well as searching Delilah's quarters for any clues as to who and what was behind the attack. Quickly, evidence pointing to the direct involvement of House Formar was recovered.
"Are they sure?" Henry Blake asked, disbelief in his voice.
"I'm afraid so, Henry," Colonel Potter replied. "They've found a written order with the Formar House seal. I've also got a Colonel Flagg coming to question Major Burns."
"Aw! Come on! Frank? I may not like the guy but that's ridiculous!"
"I know but an enemy that can impersonate anyone? No one's taking any chances and whoever it was, apparently stole Frank's uniform to get past the desk."
"May I take it that they'll be sending investigators up here?"
"Probably already on their way. Watch yourself, Henry."
"Will do, Colonel." Henry Blake hung up the phone, a pensive look on his face. While it was true that a military investigations unit was already on the way, Henry wanted answers for himself. This whole thing made no sense!
"Klinger!" He called out, waiting as his clerk hurried in. Blake knew Klinger had undoubtedly been listening in but that wasn't important just now.
"You sent for me, oh, exalted one?"
"Yes, Klinger. Go find Kaine. I want to talk to her right now!"
"I swear, Colonel Blake!" Kaine avowed very shortly thereafter, "We have done no such thing!"
Henry sighed. Kaine's tone seemed genuine enough and the shocked expression of Lady Panache and the utterly horrified look on Countess Myui's face appeared genuine enough but he didn't know just how well any of them could lie and there was hard proof! Still, Henry trusted his feelings on this.
"Just how many people have access to the Formar House seal?" He asked.
"Only a handful," Kaine admitted. "Myself included. But all of them have been in loyal service to this House for years!"
Henry had a suspicion that one of those individuals was maybe a bit less loyal than Kaine wanted to believe and he had an idea who it was: The same person who seemed to avoid Henry, Klinger, or any uniformed soldier like the plague but frequently seemed to be hovering around the members of the Science mission.
"The investigators back at Alnus say they have evidence which may tie in the guilty party but the sooner we catch this person, the better."
"So, you believe that Countess Myui is not responsible for this?" Kaine asked.
"Personally? Yes. But we need proof." He paused a moment in thought. "And I think I know how to get it! Klinger!"
"Here, Colonel!"
"Come with me to my office! I need your help with rooting out a fink!"
"Right away, sir!" Klinger answered.
Blake nodded. While he was certain that the investigators would have fingerprints, fingerprints alone were not incontrovertible proof. They needed a confession and Henry suspected that any explanation of fingerprint evidence would be lost on Bartholomew. But if a poorly understood truth wouldn't shake a confession from the Formar House Butler, just perhaps a well-sold lie would do better. First, he and Klinger needed to set the stage…
An hour later, Bartholomew was urgently summoned by a frantic sounding Mamina to Countess Formar's day room where the Countess and Kaine were waiting, Myui's face was nigh unreadable but Kaine was clearly in a state of near panic.
"Bartholomew!" She exclaimed. "Something dreadful has happened!"
That's when Bartholomew noticed the other person in the room. Bartholomew always felt nervous around any of the 'Men in Green' but Blake made him more uneasy than the others. Perhaps it was the way that Kaine and Countess Myui seemed to trust him. Trusted the man as the late Count had trusted Bartholomew. And he, Bartholomew, knew well how that trust had been misplaced.
Bartholomew and Count Formar both had a taste for the finer things in life but whereas Formar's position as ruler of Italica left him well able to afford such luxuries, Bartholomew's tastes ran a bit more costly than his pockets could manage and had for many years. It had been surprisingly easy for him to sell his loyalty. Perhaps because on some level, he felt justified in selling out Formar's secrets. The Gods never explained why the Count should live a life of wealth while Bartholomew was made to stand and serve. The most beautiful of human women threw themselves at Formar's feet even as he indulged in admiring beast women. The Gods seemed to reward the Formar family's blatant disregard for the way of things as Formar actually hired the beasts into his service and stood by the previous Count's ban of the slave trade in his lands, an act which had not endeared Clan Formar to Bartholomew's patrons.
In fact, none but his paymasters knew that it was Bartholomew who had nudged the Count into personally leading his men into the Campaign across the Gate. The Count had a perfectly legitimate reason not to go, with only an underaged and unmarried daughter as his heir. As long as Formar provided the levies of troops that the Emperor wanted, it would have been a sufficient show of his loyalty. And initially, that is what the Count had intended. It was not that he opposed the coming Campaign or feared its outcome but he was needed more in Italica than in some distant land. But there were those who very much wanted the Count separated from his lands and they used Bartholomew to convince the Count that the prestige and security of County Formar did, indeed, compel him to head out on a Campaign from which he would never return. Bartholomew had not known the details of his employers' plans nor had he wanted to know.
What he did know was that loyalty was cheap and trust, a fool's game. And a man who had the trust of the Countess of Formar was very dangerous.
Right now that man seemed almost frantic as he gesticulated and talked to Kaine.
"I think I might be able to get General Hazama to call off the occupation! If I can convince him that no one in House Formar sent that letter! But I need your help!"
"How?" Kaine asked in a mix of desperation and disbelief.
"When we lie, the body… sends signals. Our heartbeat changes. Our pulse changes. Our body chemistry changes. Even if we try, we can't stop or even notice all these changes but we have a machine that can detect the slightest trace of a lie!" He turned to Myui beseechingly. "If I can show Hazama that I asked you all about this attack and the verifier shows everyone told the truth then Hazama will HAVE to see you're innocent and call off the occupation!"
"I assume that includes myself as ranking representative of Princess Pina?" Panache asked calmly.
"Well, yes. I have to prove that everyone is clean," Blake said half apologetically.
Batholomew saw as Countess Myui closed her eyes and nodded. "We will do this. These people loyally served my father. None have anything to hide."
"Good!" Blake replied. "Klinger! Hurry up and get the Fact-Scanner setup! I'm going to put in a call to General Hazama! Maybe I can buy us some time to get this sorted out!"
"Right away! Colonel!" Klinger replied, eyeing Bartholomew. Time for a little Toledo hustle! "Mister Bartholomew! 'Scuse me, sir. Do ya mind giving me a hand? I'd sure appreciate it."
Bartholomew was very surprised to hear the 'Man in Green' address him. It made him uneasy but he had no outward reason to refuse the man's request. Perhaps he could gain some insight into this device of theirs?
"Uh... Of course! Officer…?" He began to follow behind Klinger
Klinger chuckled as they walked. "I ain't an officer. I'm Corporal Klinger. An' if I got anything to say about it? I'll be civilian Klinger REAL soon! I've had enough of this army life! I'm gonna go back to being Max Klinger! And I won't have to be worryin' about sticking my neck into other people's business! Know what I mean?"
Bartholomew did not really understand what this 'Klinger' was talking about but he smiled politely as if he did. The man continued to talk.
"All I need is for you to do is help me guide the machine down from the Colonel's office back to the Countess's meetin' room. Then I gotta bring in the portable generator and get it hooked up so Colonel Blake can do his schtick," Klinger continued. "It's not like you gotta lift anything. I coulda asked one of the lady folks for all that matters." Klinger would never say anything like this in the 'real world' but he had a suspicion it would play well with Bartholomew. If Colonel Blake was right, the man resented being ordered around by women and beholding his fealty to a child. Klinger could play on that.
"But then I'd have to worry about the broad poking her finger in the wrong place and gettin' fried and then everybody blames me!" He watched, hiding a smirk, as Bartholomew paled at the term 'fried'. "Don't worry about it! Sure! That kind of thing may have happened a lot in the old days, especially when we actually had to wire a guy into the thing! But these new machines are a lot better! So that almost never happens. But like I say! 'Why take chances?".
This sort of talk did not reassure Bartholomew very much as he followed Klinger to Colonel Blake's office The large guest suite had been subdivided into both quarters and workspaces for Blake, Klinger, and Captain Newsome. Bartholomew did not relish the idea that he was, in effect, being so politely asked to help tie the noose for his own hanging. For certainly, if this off-worlder device was able to prove his treachery, then it would be his death and a death unworthy of being put to the sword. He would be buried facing down towards Hardy's realm where it was said the souls of all traitors and oathbreakers dwelled. Well… It was a bit late to be worrying about the afterlife. His concern was putting the unfortunate date of his demise off as long as possible.
Unfortunately, there did not seem to be an option for escape for Bartholomew. Actually attempting to run would be futile. He was well past his physical prime and hardly a horseman. No, his only possible hope was to stay calm, and just maybe the off-worlder device was not as infallible as they claimed.
Corporal Klinger suppressed a smile as he set the portable generator atop the copier. It wouldn't do to let his mask slip in front of the mark. Max also had to remember to take it slow to give Colonel Blake time to set up the next part of the act. Still, he could not tarry too long. So after twenty minutes or so, he and Bartholomew wheeled the machine into the meeting room.
"Alright, Klinger. Set it up!"
"Right away sir!"
"Now we'll get to the bottom of this!" Blake declared. "Lady Panache has volunteered to go first."
"Naturally, Colonel Blake," Panache replied. "A knight of the Order has nothing to fear from the truth."
"Good. Klinger? Are we ready?"
"Yes, Colonel. We're all set to go!"
"Then let's get started." He set a chair beside the Hewlett Packard. "Please take a seat, Lady Panache."
As Panache sat down, Klinger stepped over to the control panel as Blake explained how the machine worked.
"All right," he said, lifting the cover of the scanner bed. "Place your hand here, if you would?"
Panache complied, setting her right hand on the glass.
"Thank you. Now…" He said addressing Panache and the rest of his audience, drawing everyone's attention. "I'm going to ask some questions to establish the machine's effectiveness. When I ask a question, You'll answer and Klinger will cue the scanner." Blake pointed to the output tray. The machine will print its assessment of whether you are telling the truth or a lie, and that answer will come out here." He looked at Panache directly.
"Please state your name."
"I am Panache Fure Kalgi, Daughter of Baron Kalgi."
"Klinger?" Blake turned to the Corporal. Klinger pressed a button and Blake extracted a piece of paper with Panache's handprint and the word 'TRUE' on it. Blake held it up and showed everyone.
"Why is there an image of Her Lady's hand?" Kaine asked.
"The machine is picking up her life aura," Henry told them. "Next question: What is your age?"
"Twenty." Panache replied without hesitation.
"And our second answer…" Had anyone been bothering to pay the enlisted man any attention, they would have seen that, at the word 'second', Klinger pressed the button for the number two paper tray before hitting print.
Blake picked up the printed sheet and showed it to everyone with the look of a father who had just been fibbed to by a child. On the paper, the word 'LIE' was plain to see.
Panache shrank. "I'm nineteen."
Henry nodded and Klinger ran the machine again, this time the word 'TRUE' was printed on it.
"See? This baby even picks up the small lies. So let's not waste time, shall we? Lady Panache? Do you know of any plan to harm or kill Allied personnel, military OR civilian or that could result in harm to Allied personnel or persons under our care or protection?"
"No!"
Blake nodded and waited for the printout and showed it to everyone. Again, it read 'TRUE'.
"Thank you, Lady Panache. I think that's all we need." Henry turned to Countess Myui. "Are you ready?" He asked gently. Myui nodded in reply
"I am." She said, sounding every bit the noble ruler and much calmer than she felt. She trusted Henry Blake but then she trusted the people in her House and if Henry was right, one of them had betrayed her in the worst way, threatening not only the name but the safety of House Formar. With this in mind, she sat in the chair and nodded for Colonel Blake to begin.
Henry smiled gently. "Now, Countess, tell me. A letter was found with your seal, instructing Delilah to kill Noriko Mochizuki and Queen Tyuule. Did you fix your seal to such a letter?"
"No," Myui said calmly.
At a nod, Klinger pushed the button. A bar of light rolled across the glass. Henry took the printout and showed it to everyone to show the word 'TRUE'.
"Did you tell or allow anyone else to fix your seal to such a letter?"
"No."
"So, if someone did put your seal to such a letter, it was against your permission?"
"Yes."
Each time, the machine issued its verdict: 'TRUE'.
"Thank you, Countess," Henry said. He turned to Kaine. "I think we'll only need to question two or three more people and we'll have this all wrapped up."
"Then I shall give testimony now."
"Alright then." Henry watched as Kaine took the seat. The play was almost at its last act. Blake almost hoped that he was wrong about all this but he knew in his gut that he was right. There was nothing left but to see this through.
Kaine placed her hand on the scanner. "I am ready. Ask your questions."
"Very well, Miss Kaine, Did you order or have orders sent to Delilah to assassinate Noriko Mochizuki and Queen Tyuule?"
"Absolutely not!"
Bartholomew watched with growing concern as again, the machine- accurately as Bartholomew well knew- reported the truthfulness of Kaine's statement.
"Do you know who did?" Blake continued.
"No," Kaine answered.
"Do you know how many people normally have access to the Formar Seal?"
"Yes."
Again, both statements were read as 'TRUE'. Bartholomew waited for the next question.
"Thank you," Blake said, to Bartholomew's surprise. The Formar butler knew that if Blake continued on this line of questioning that the next logical question would be to ask how many people had access to the Formar seal and then to ask who those people were. Once he did that, then there would only be one suspect left. Yet Blake stopped questioning.
"Mister Bartholomew, the chair is all yours."
Bartholomew suppressed a swallow. He walked unwillingly to the seat. He felt the sweat on his palms and on his brow.
"Place your hand on the scanner, please."
Bartholomew started to comply when his hand stopped.
"Why do you pause, Bartholomew?" Kaine asked.
"This is ridiculous! We only have the word of these outsiders that this thing even works! I will not submit to be judged by them!"
Countess Myui looked at him. Shock and surprise at his outburst quickly gave way to something else as her young eyes hardened.
"You are sworn to my House," Myui told him quietly but firmly. "You will answer Colonel Blake's questions because I command it."
She's naught but a child! Bartholomew cried in his mind. But her word was law in Italica and her eyes were unyielding. Slowly he put his hand on the scanner.
"I'll get right to the point," Blake said much harsher and sternly than before. "Were you the one who supplied Countess Myui's seal that was used on the orders instructing Delilah to kill Noriko Mochizuki and Queen Tyuule?"
"No!"
"Didn't hesitate a second, I see." Blake nodded to Klinger, who worked his controls, now switching back to the second paper tray. Klinger pressed the button and Blake took the sheet printed. He turned it to Bartholomew. "It says you 'Lie'," Henry noted, holding the paper up for everyone to see.
LIE
The single word filled the page. Blake dropped it and turned the machine off. "Why?"
Bartholomew stared at the man in disbelief. His emotions warring within him. Anger mixed with fear. Hatred for Blake and the other off worlders covering over shame. "Why?" He laughed, not meeting Countess Myui's eyes, which were filled with disgust and loathing where once there had been warmth and admiration. "For the money!"
"Money?" Kaine spat in contempt. "You soiled the name of this House!"
"Bartholomew probably has some expensive hobbies," Blake noted. "He's been spending a lot of his spare time in taverns," he turned back to Bartholomew. "But what gets me is that you had people who trusted you, believed in you! I think if you had given them that same trust, they would have helped with your debts. They might not have been happy about it but it would have been better than this!"
Bartholomew looked at Blake like he had a second head. In the meantime, Countess Myui closed her eyes. "Lady Panache, I want this man removed from my sight."
Panache nodded, placing a hand on the hilt of her sword. "As you will." At her own nod, one of her knights stepped forward to lead the stunned Bartholomew away.
"Command will probably want to take him into custody," Henry noted wearily.
"We understand," Kaine said softly "But if anyone dies due to his actions, his life is forfeit."
Henry nodded. He was a man who believed in the sanctity of life but Bartholomew had chosen his lot.
Countess Myui looked up at him. "Henry? Thank you."
"You're welcome." He turned to Klinger. "Come on, Klinger. Let's get this stuff put away."
"Right sir."
Back at the 407th, Major Burns was facing an interrogation of his own.
"Colonel Potter, I'm Colonel Flagg, Central Intelligence Agency. Step outside while I interrogate Major Burns." He turned toward Burns with a smug look of suspicion. "If that IS who you are, mister!"
"Negative!" Potter replied. "Major Burns is hard to work with and even harder to like but until proven otherwise, he is still one of my people and that means I'm staying right here."
Flagg grunted in disappointment. He preferred to work in private as some of his favorite techniques were not exactly 'approved by higher authority'. Some of those superiors would be willing to turn a blind eye if it got results but there were always some like Potter who was morally opposed to such tactics, Flagg felt morals were all well and good, especially if he could use them to outmaneuver his opponents but in this case, those morals were going to be troublesome. No matter, even with such restrictions, Flagg was quite sure he could break his suspect in short order.
"If that's the way you want to play I won't tell you to get comfortable. When I work, nobody is comfortable." He turned to Major Burns. "Now, 'Major' Why don't you save yourself a world of trouble and confess while you can."
"What?" Burns's face turned red with indignation. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Don't play dumb with me. You're not as good at it as I am!"
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," BJ Hunnicutt commented, walking in. He turned to Potter. "Colonel, Trapper is about finished with the JSDF Lieutenant. Prognosis looks good."
"And Hawkeye's patient?"
"Still too soon to tell. She lost a whole lot of blood. Radar's got donors lined up and Parna's already given two units."
"Keep me posted."
BJ nodded. "Right," he replied and headed back out.
Flagg looked at Burns with a smile. "If she dies, I'll have carte blanche to drag you out into the middle of nowhere and even the buzzards won't find you."
"Are you accusing ME of being a spy?" Frank Burns glared at Flagg indignantly. "How dare you slander one of the greatest Americans since my father!"
"Ease off Burns," Potter warned. "This is serious trouble!"
"You want to try me… 'Major'? I could break you like a twig!"
Frank shrank back in his seat. He then turned to Colonel Potter. "But Colonel! I don't know what's going on here except that somebody stole my clothes!"
"Is that your story?" Flagg demanded.
"Colonel Potter?" A quiet voice spoke entering the room.
"Parna! You should be resting!" Colonel Potter admonished. "You're low on blood!"
"Yes, Colonel. But I heard that Major Burns was being questioned That he may be the assassin?"
"Yes. And we'll get it all sorted out. I promise."
"That's not necessary Colonel. I can tell that Major Burns isn't the assassin"
Flagg looked at her with suspicion. "How do you know that?"
"I can hear his heartbeat."
"So?"
"So a Dar has two hearts."
"You can hear his heartbeat?" Potter asked.
Parna smiled just a tiny bit. "It is very small and faint but yes."
Flagg let out a frustrated sigh. "We'll just have to see about that."
"We'll do an ultrasound," Potter promised. "In the meantime…"
"In the meantime, I'm not done yet." He leaned in close to Burns. "Even if you AREN'T the infiltrator, how can we be sure you're really on our side?"
"Flagg! That's enough! Burns isn't your infiltrator and unless you have proof of anything else then you can just settle your spurs while we run that ultrasound to confirm what Parna already told us. I'm not putting up with a witch hunt in my command." Potter declared firmly. "If you don't like it, you can call General Hazama if you like or I'LL call him."
"My authority goes higher than Janus Theater Command."
"Fine! You take this as far as you want and I'll meet you every step of the way."
Flagg mulled this over. It had not been a total waste. He now knew important information about the infiltrator and its kind. That they could be distinguished from other beings and that Warrior Bunnies had the ability to do so passively and at a distance. It was clear that this girl, Parna, was unsuited for it but Flagg speculated there were others of her kind that could be recruited to work for him. Compared to that, Burns was small potatoes. "Alright then. Have it your way. Burns is off the hook." He eyed the major coldly. "But so help me… If you step one toe over the line, I'll be there to catch it and then I'll pull your brain through your nostrils." He turned on his heel and left.
Frank visibly cringed.
Potter shook his head. "Good riddance." He looked at Parna. "As for you, young lady… Though I appreciate you speeding up the departure of Colonel Loon, you need to be resting."
"Yes, sir. I promise I will. I just need to take care of a few things.
Several hours later, Parna was gently woken by Radar. Her eyes came to focus on her dearest and then noticing Hawkeye standing behind him.
"Hey!" Hawkeye grinned. "Come on. You're needed over in Post-Op!"
"Yes sir," she replied and followed the two men across the compound and into Post-Op, where Hawkeye gestured to where two Warrior Bunnies and a human female were resting. Major Houlihan looked up from conversing with them and smiled approvingly at Parna.
"Ah! Just the Specialist I was looking for!" Houlihan sounded like a proud mother. "I believe you are familiar with two of our patients."
Delilah looked over, her mind not believing what her eyes were telling her. That in all the places in the world, her sister was here. Somehow, changed from the broken person she had been three years ago.
"Parna?" Delilah noted as Parna looked her head down, the smaller human touching her back and whispering words of encouragement and support. Parna's head rose with a shy smile as the taller man spoke to Delilah.
"You lost a lot of blood. Luckily we knew a few people who could help with that. Of course, without Parna here, you would have bled out before the rest could matter so I guess you could say that she's a real lifesaver. Parna, why don't you have a seat?"
"Thank you, Hawkeye. Radar? Can you sit with us for a while?"
The smaller human nodded. "I just got off shift so yeah." He pulled up a chair next to Parna's.
Major Houlihan stood up. "I need to get back to my rounds," she said, turning to leave.
"Come along Captain."
"Yes, mother!" Hawkeye smirked as they left Post-Op.
"Parna… I've finally found you," Delilah said. "Of course, I find you on the day I nearly kill an innocent person and shame myself before the gods…"
"Um… About that," Radar spoke up. "Turns out that the letter you got from Italica was a phony. Colonel Blake got a confession out of Mister Bartholomew. So seeing as you didn't hurt anyone, no charges are being filed."
Delilah blinked. Bartholomew? I… If fate allows I should meet him again, I must remember to pull his beating heart out! She looked at a pleased Parna, then quirked her head as she stared at her battle sister. "Parna? Your ear…"
Parna touched the tip lightly. "It was Radar's idea!" She beamed, looking at her dearest. "Hawkeye… I mean, Doctor Pierce says that my ear will be completely regrown in another month."
Tyuule leaned forward as she took note of the ear. "And can they do this for any of our kind?"
"Yes!" Parna replied, taking Delilah's hand. "You were right, Delilah. Our gods still watch out for us!"
Delilah smiled and turned to Tyuule. "Maybe the gods have granted mercy to us all?"