Chapter 23

No More Sorrow

Here's the last of the 4 chapters of this two part saga. Notice how the last chapter was named Laid to Rest? That's actually the name of a song by Linkin Park of the same name. No More Sorrow, the name of this chapter is also the name of a Linkin Park song! Check out both of these songs when you get the chance! Anyway, here's the chapter! Enjoy!

Niko looked around at the scene that had been created by the deactivation of the Allison clones. He never realized that Allison's power was powering all of the clones. He turned to Sapphire who was tearing up, walked over to her and hugged her.

"Sapph?" Niko began. "It must've hurt to see what you saw and never be able to see it again. I for one know the feeling. Allison lives on in you…use her powers the way she would've wanted you to use them. For the right reasons. You have to be strong for her, for your teammates, for me…don't let this be where it ends for your strength. Use this sadness as a power to stop the Director!"

Sapphire blinked back the tears in her eyes and slowly nodded. "You're... You're right. She was so tired Niko, so far gone. She didn't even know us..." She swallowed and hugged her friend back before quickly letting go and pulling away.

"What's next is something Niko and I have to do alone," she announced to the Insurgents, who nodded in sure understanding. "Come on," Sapphire told Niko as she walked to the door, once again hardened. She kicked a fallen android out of her way as she made her way.

Niko smiled at her and sighed.
"There's the Sapphire I know!" He said and ran after her. "Let's end the Director!"

Sapphire didn't reply, but stopped walked outside of an open doorway, listening inside, catching Niko's wrist to stop him, too. "Play it again, F.I.L.S.S.," she heard the Director say, his southern accent peaking through more than ever.

"Playing playback."

She closed her eyes as she listened to the video that was being played.

"Come on, put that thing down," she heard Allison say in the video. "I'm going to be late."

Sapphire sighed and looked to Niko, as if asking if he was ready to take on the Director himself. Though, she wasn't quite sure of herself anymore. Was she really going to kill him?

Niko noticed her hesitation.

"Sapphire." Niko said. "We've gotta end this…he's gone too far and abused Allison's memory! We have to rid the world of his presence…as much as it hurts you and how much you don't want to, you know I'm right."

Niko took his partner's shoulder and kissed her on the lips. When he pulled back, he looked at her and nodded.

"That's my promise to you." Niko said. "My promise that I'll be with you through this and anything else you go through. We are a team, Sapph you never have to do anything alone. You're my power…lemme be yours."

She said nothing, but Sapphire nodded and pushed her helmet back on. She quietly stepped in to the room, and the Director quickly noticed her presence.

"Hello, Agent Sapphire. Care to watch this video with me?"

Sapphire cleared her throat and made her steps regular. What was the point? He knew she was there. "No, sir."

"As you wish. Now, play it again, FILSS."

"Director, are you sure-"

He slammed his fist on his desk. "I said, play it again."

"Repeating playback."

Niko walked in calmly.

"It's over Director." Niko said. "Your time of fucking with people and the things they hold dear is over. Allison's memory is better served with someone who'll actually use it right! That's Sapphire! So now it's time for you to pay for what you've done! Are you gonna go down quietly? Or is this gonna get loud?

"Glad of you to join us, Niko," the Director replied just as calmly as Niko entered, refusing to answer the question. "I'm assuming you're both here to kill me."

"You'd be right," Sapphire nodded without hesitance, but that was all she said.

"I... I just need more time. More time to get her right."

"You had your time!" Niko shouted with fury. She'd seen Niko furious, but never furious and passionate about what he was furious about.

"He's right," Sapphire told the Director. "... So this is what you've become."

"I just need to watch this. I think I have a way to bring her back right this time."

"The authorities will be looking for you soon, you know," Sapphire continued. "If I can find you, so can they."

"I... I just need more... More time," the Director sighed as he looked down.

Niko stared at the Director angrily. He was trying too hard to gain soomething he'll never get back and he hurt people along the way. Niko began to glow a bright red but he looked at sapphire and his fur went back to the soft blonde it was before. Niko knew he had to keep a cool head for a while...didn't need to have the authorities arresting him too. Niko sighed and looked at the Director.

"no matter how many times you look at that video," Niko began. "you won't be able to bring her back! You're messing with forces beyond control and you're hurting people with your actions! You've not only broken several laws, but you've broken several laws pertaining to the bounds of light and dark magic! You're delving into forbidden dark magic by using science as an entry point and the gods are getting pissed! You gotta stop before they bring the wrath down!"

Sapphire had no idea what Niko was saying but the severity in his voice told her that she needed to agreed with him, regardless of whether or not she understood.

Sapphire looked down and sighed silently as she walked up next to the Director. She knew what Niko was basically saying; he was saying that the Director needed to pay. In the end, that's what they had come there to do, anyways, wasn't it.

"They're waiting for me. Come on, don't make me hurt you." Sapphire winced at the words from the video. She looked to the Director and took her helmet off, moving it carefully to her side. She looked down at the Director, first with anger, then sadness.

The Director took off his glasses slowly and looked up at the sapphire-furred cat. And for the longest time, pure sapphire blue mirrored sapphire blue.

"And don't worry, you'll see me again."

The Director blinked, and for once, the pain he had gone through could be seen in his face and eyes. He was wrinkled and old, and it finally showed to Sapphire.

At first, she didn't know how to feel. She decided to do something first:

Remember.

The pain he had put her through, the Insurgents through, Allison through, Niko through.

Hate.

Her eyes grew hard and angry, and she frowned furiously. This man was cruel, and she hated him. He had done so many bad deeds in his lifetime, ones that caused pain beyond repair.

Resent.

Her lips loosened only slightly as she looked toward the ground, now slightly conflicted. The hatred had come in the heat of the moment, but her resent was what she really felt. She was angry, but did she really hate the man?

Pity.

The corners of Sapphire's mouth tightened up as she pointed her nose up at the Director, finding the nerve to look back up at him. He was a poor man, one below her that she felt deserved her pity, but nothing more. She felt sorry for him, but she was still all the better. He was still a bad man.

Acceptance.

Her hard eyes finally grew soft, and she let her features look genuinely sad before correcting them to look neutral. He was a bad man, but we all had lost something near and dear to our hearts. He just wanted it back more than any of us ever have. He loved her, and he tried, but he failed. He was so blinded and in so much pain, she felt she had to accept it. It was understandable, and it made sense.

Forgiveness.

Everyone made mistakes, and so did the Director. He had broken laws and done unspeakable things, but everyone deserved forgiveness, even him. He was in so much pain, too, so sad and lost. She would be cruel to not forgive him, raise her gun, and finish him. Sapphire leaned down and gently kissed the Director on the forehead as she tried to drone out whatever Allison was talking about then.

"Just a bit more time," the Director pleaded, though Sapphire knew that he knew he was out of time. He was gone, just like Allison was.

"Come on, Niko, we're leaving," she told him, turning slightly to face him.

Niko nodded and left. He saw the sadness in her eyes as they walked out the building itself and around them news crews who came, apparently drawn to the noise of the battle. Not entirely sure how they got there, Niko shrugged off all question with the time honored answer, "no comment and helped Sapphire and the others back to the base by giving them a ride on his back after transforming into his demon fox form and helping lifting them on his back. Once back at the base, he looked at Sapphire and planted a kiss on her quivering lips and hugged her.

"You did the right thing, Sapphire." Niko said after pulling back. "You were brave in there and if he lived he would've hurt more people. Please don't feel sad."