Half an hour after take‑off, with Maria napping in the cargo hold with the trikes, Danny gingerly approaches the cockpit.
"If you've come to argue some more, I'm busy," Sally greets in a hostile tone, her spines twitching.
"The autopilot's on," Danny observes.
"Still busy."
Danny ignores Sally and sits in the co‑pilot's seat. "You have to understand just how serious this is," he continues. "There is no way you'll be able to return to your research. In fact, there's no real way you'll even be able to return to Shang Tu at all. Me and Maria, we're used to life in the shadows: we can stay hidden for months if required. You, however, had a relatively normal life. You had a career in the military, doing valuable research that would both help defend Shang Tu from aggressors and improve the lives of all citizens. And it was well‑paid too, given you had that apartment just a few minutes' walk from the Palace. An apartment that is probably being searched by the police right now. You had everything going for you, and you've thrown it all away."
"I'm doing the right thing. That's more important."
"Can't argue there. Thanks to you, we'll be able to restore Hanna to fighting fitness, and then the five of us will be able to drive the invaders out of Yamakasai and expose Tsubaki Moto and Kaede Himura as the real conspiracists, thus ending the war and restoring peace, saving countless lives in the process."
"You think I made a mistake."
"I didn't say that."
"But you think it."
Danny pauses a moment. "There is some truth to that, I admit."
Sally turns to Danny and fixes him with a volcanic stare, spines now fully erect. "I didn't do this on a whim, I'll have you know," she snaps. "I thought about it plenty before deciding to betray my home city‑state. Committing treason isn't something you do lightly: the Magister doesn't treat traitors favourably. If we hadn't succeeded in escaping, we'd be scheduled for the executioner's block."
"Then why did you do it?" Danny asks. "Why did you decide to throw everything away to help restore peace to the Gotoshi, a part of the world you hadn't even heard of until half a year ago?"
"Because it's the right thing to do," Sally answers, turning her attention back to the sky outside.
"So you keep saying," Danny replies. "But I can't help but feel there's another reason."
Sally snorts dismissively. "No there isn't," she lies.
"If you say so." Danny checks his watch. "I think I'll take a nap," he decides.
Sally waits for Danny to leave the cockpit, then shuts the door and locks it. "Ungrateful bastard," she growls to herself, returning to the pilot's seat.
Don't say that about the man you love.
Sally looks around in surprise, trying to figure out where the voice came from, but there's no‑one but her in the cockpit. Wait… That wasn't a voice… That was… That was me! Sally slumps in the pilot's seat. So, I've fallen in love with a Red Scarf who once saved my life, and I committed treason to help him. What have I gotten myself into?
A few minutes later, Sally is startled by a knock on the door. Get a hold of yourself. Sally takes a deep breath, then opens the door to find Danny standing there. "I thought you were taking a nap?" she greets flatly.
"I will be, but first, I'm to give you this," Danny replies, handing a red infinity scarf to Sally. "It's one of my spares."
"My neck's warm enough, thanks," Sally dismisses.
"That's not why I'm giving it to you," Danny explains. "I put in a call to Leader Metharom, and she granted me authority to induct someone in need, and this is now your red scarf."
Sally takes the scarf. "I…" she begins, unsure of what to say.
"I'll go for my nap now," Danny informs.
"Wait!"
Danny turns back to Sally. "Look, I just want you to be‑"
Sally throws her arms around Danny and gives him a long, passionate kiss on the lips.
"‑safe," Danny finishes softly when the kiss ends. "I'll assume that was a thank you kiss."
"Spiky."
"Hm?"
"I want that to be my codename."
"Spiky and the Stickman," Danny smiles. "Sounds like a kids' cartoon."
Sally can't help but giggle. "Look, I'm sorry for the way I reacted before," she apologises, her tone soft and serious. "I know you were only worried about me."
"Don't worry about it," Danny assures, hugging Sally intimately.
"I love you," Sally whispers.
"I love you too," Danny whispers back.
Danny and Sally hold each other for several moments.
"I've never said that to anyone before and meant it," Sally admits.
"Same here," Danny admits.
"How long before we get to Yamakasai?"
"A couple of hours."
"Plenty of time."
"For what?"
"To make up for before." Sally breaks the hug and removes her tank top. Smiling seductively, she leads Danny to the cockpit, locking the door behind them.
In the interrogation room in the command bunker under Kasai‑dojo, Ryoichi finishes reading Kaede's notebook. This certainly answers some questions… I know Kaede has always been one to use drugs to control people, but this is a whole new level. I cannot ignore the possibility the two who attacked my dojo were under mind control. It would explain the zealotry shown by the badger, which was in such stark contrast to his actions on Tenshijima.
Ryoichi turns to the two guards with assault rifles aimed at his head. "That was an interesting read indeed. If it's not too much trouble, can you tell your boss he can have it back now?"
A couple of minutes later, Hideyoshi joins Ryoichi in the interrogation room.
"Did you find what you're looking for?" Hideyoshi asks, taking the seat opposite Ryoichi.
"Not really," Ryoichi answers. "But it confirmed I was right to be suspicious of Kaede's motives, and to doubt the proof it was Chika behind the attacks."
"But you're not yet convinced about the alternative explanation," Hideyoshi ventures.
"To be honest, I don't know what to think anymore," Ryoichi admits.
"Hmm… Maybe you should speak to Chika directly," Hideyoshi suggests.
A few minutes later, it's Chika's turn to take the seat opposite Ryoichi. "I understand you still have doubts," she begins.
"I'm no longer sure that you were behind the attacks on my dojo," Ryoichi explains. "But neither can I be sure Kaede is responsible."
"I can assure you, I have no reason to ever attack your dojo," Chika assures. "To tell the truth, before this whole stupid war, I never had a reason to attack anybody. Like Hideyoshi, I prefer to work things out through diplomacy and compromise."
"Given that notebook was about a virus that allows for mind control, how do you think Kaede was using it?" Ryoichi asks.
"We don't have to guess," Chika reveals. "We have recorded evidence that Kaede used the virus to put both Maria and Danny under mind control."
"Who's testimony?"
"From Maria and Danny themselves."
"I did interrogate Danny," Ryoichi revealed. "He had red eyes at the time. He claimed that it was a sign of his rank, given when I met him twice before, his eyes were silver. But now I've read Kaede's notebook, the explanation of him being under the influence of the Kage Byōgenkin does sound pretty plausible."
"Yet you don't believe it."
"It's just so… outlandish. Mind control is the sort of non‑science you see in kids' shows and fantasy movies."
"Yet it's real," Chika reminds.
"Can you prove it?" Ryoichi asks.
"Did Kaede refuse to explain what was in the notebook?" Chika asks in return.
"She did refuse," Ryoichi confirms.
"If mind control was fake, would she have been so secretive?" Chika presses.
Ryoichi makes to answer, but stops himself. "I have to admit, when you put it that way, it suddenly makes a lot more sense."
"So, do you believe us now?" Chika asks.
Ryoichi pauses and thinks for several moments. "I'm not sure if I can trust you fully, but between you and Kaede, I'd rather trust you."
"Will you ally with us?"
"On one condition."
"Which is?"
"Are you withholding any secrets?"
Chika sighs in resignation. "I'm in a relationship with Xander Lykos."
"That doesn't help me trust you."
"I know. But you did ask if I was withholding anything."
Ryoichi thinks a moment. "OK, I'll join your side."
"If I may ask, why?"
Ryoichi shrugs. "At least I'll get to do something."
"That's… a reason," Chika replies. "I need to confer with Hideyoshi."
"I'll be right here."
Chika returns to the command room and approaches Hideyoshi. "Ryoichi wants to join our side," she informs. "What do you think?"
"We need all the fighters he can get," Hideyoshi replies. "If he can turn his fire‑teams as well, then he's welcome to join us. However, I will ensure he's under constant watch, just in case."
"Good idea," Chika agrees.