Four hours later, and with all but Hanna's medicals and debriefs over, the exhausted Scarves gather in their allocated barracks room to await the vixen. However, Maria is so tired, she wastes no time taking off her shoes and dress and climbing into a top bunk, where she falls asleep the instant her head hits the pillow, purring softly. The others gather on a bottom bunk as far from Maria as possible to minimise the chances of waking her.
"Not a lot of privacy," Sally whispers, noting there are no dividers in the room.
"We'll look the other way while you undress," Rob assures.
"Not the sort of‑ I mean, thanks," Sally replies.
"We could ask for a separate room," Danny suggests.
Sally thinks a moment. "Nah, I'll manage," she decides. "Besides, I'd probably fall asleep halfway through anyway."
Rob raises an eyebrow.
"Sorry," Sally blushes.
"Don't worry about it," Rob assures.
"How do you guys look so fresh anyway?" Sally asks, changing the subject. "I'm dead on my feet, yet you all look like you could go another six rounds."
"Years of training," Danny explains. "But don't let our appearances fool you. I don't know about Rob and Xander, but if I laid down right now, I wouldn't move for at least eight hours."
"Sounds about right for me too," Rob agrees.
"And me," Xander adds.
Sally yawns deeply. "I think… I'm gonna…" she begins, falling asleep before she can finish her sentence.
Danny catches Sally as she lists to one side, holding her to him as she starts chirping quietly. "She makes the cutest noises," he sighs contentedly.
Rob and Xander can't help but smirk at Danny's comment.
"Like you two don't get cutesy with your partners," Danny retorts playfully.
"Guilty as charged," Xander admits.
"We'll take the bunk under Maria," Danny decides, gently lifting Sally and carrying her over to the chosen bunk.
Rob and Xander wait until both Danny and Sally are in bed and asleep. "I'm glad he's found someone," Rob admits to Xander. "There's nothing else like it in the world."
"Absolutely," Xander agrees. "Speaking of, and given this is the first chance I've had to ask, how was the honeymoon?"
"Beautiful," Rob smiles contentedly. "Hanna wore dresses the entire time."
"Seriously‽" Xander asks, surprised.
"Yep," Rob confirms. "Heels too."
"Makes a change for her to be the girly one," Xander teases.
Rob can't help but chuckle. "For someone who never normally wears them, she knows a surprising amount about them. I wonder what's taking her so long…"
In stark contrast to her friends, Hanna is very awake, very alert, and very angry. "You can't keep me locked up in here!" she yells, gripping the bars of her prison cell tightly.
"Actually, I can," Hideyoshi corrects. "Understand that I'm only doing it for everyone's protection."
"But the Crystals aren't even here anymore!" Hanna protests. "Gong and Neera have them!"
"And they're halfway to Shang Tu by now, I know," Hideyoshi accepts. "However, I cannot be sure you are totally free from their influence yet."
"How the fuck would you know‽" Hanna demands.
"Today isn't the first time you've lost control when in possession of the Fire Crystal, is it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me. I know because Rob told me."
"Fuck." Hanna lets go of the bars, her anger visibly bleeding away. "He's right: today isn't the first time. I can still see their faces…" Hanna tails off as memories of that awful day return.
"Rob didn't go into details," Hideyoshi assures. "And it's clear from your mood change that you're not willing to go into details either."
"It's bad enough I keep reliving it in my nightmares," Hanna admits quietly.
"I advise that you get a good night's rest," Hideyoshi replies. "We'll talk more in the morning."
"Yeah," Hanna relents. "Can you send for Rob?"
"I'm afraid not," Hideyoshi refuses. "But you'll see both him and me in the morning. Until then, goodnight."
Hanna nods sadly, watches Hideyoshi leave, then shuffles to the bed, and strips to her underwear before curling up under the duvet, hugging her tail.
The next morning, Hanna wakes naturally to find Rob lying awake next to her, watching her sleep. With a yelp of surprise, she rolls off the bed, hitting the floor hard, entangled in the duvet.
"Morning," Rob smiles.
Hanna fights with duvet briefly, managing to escape it enough to sit up straight. "You fucking liar," she snarls.
"Sorry," Rob apologises, sitting up on the bed. "We all tried our best to ensure this wouldn't happen."
"You didn't exactly do a good job, did you?" Hanna snaps.
"Keep that up, and I'll tell Yoshi to cancel your mission of redemption," Rob informs.
"That's extortion," Hanna growls. "Fine, I'll calm down," she relents with a sigh of defeat.
"Glad to hear it," Rob smiles as Hanna extracts herself from the duvet and joins Rob on the bed. "She'll do it," he calls down the corridor.
"Excellent," Hideyoshi acknowledges, appearing in front of the cell. "Now‑ Excuse me, I thought you were dressed," he adds, turning away.
"Get over yourself," Hanna instructs.
"I'd be more comfortable if you got dressed first," Hideyoshi informs.
"Tough," Hanna replies.
"It's fine, Yoshi," Rob assures. "She's just being deliberately difficult."
With some reluctance, Hideyoshi turns back to face the cell, trying a little too obviously to keep his eyes from Hanna's beautifully toned figure. "As you both know, Maria and Danny assisted Kaede in raiding the Absolution, a shuttlecraft owned and operated by Lord Arktivus Brevon, who‑"
"Cut the crap and get to the juicy bit," Hanna interrupts, deliberately stretching to show off her figure and make Hideyoshi more uncomfortable, earning a disapproving look from Rob in the process.
Hideyoshi clears his throat, blushing slightly. "We need to know his operational strength," he informs Hanna. "You will find that out for us."
Hanna stops stretching, and her expression darkens considerably. "You want me to spy on Brevon."
"Yes," Hideyoshi confirms.
"As in the bastard who drove the Origin Kingdoms into their own civil war, all to steal the Kingdom Stone, the power source for our entire civilisation," Hanna restates.
"Yes," Hideyoshi reaffirms.
"That's a suicide mission," Hanna concludes.
"Danny doesn't think so," Rob informs. "He'll be joining you."
"I don't even get to choose my partner on this?" Hanna asks.
"No, and for a very good reason: Danny knows where the Absolution is," Hideyoshi informs.
"Hang on: doesn't Maria also know where it is?" Hanna inquires.
"Yes, but she doesn't want to go," Hideyoshi confirms.
"I'm wasting my breath, aren't I?" Hanna realises.
"Nothing new there then," Rob teases.
"What if I refuse?" Hanna growls, scowling viciously at Rob.
"We hold you here until we can be absolutely sure you're free from the influence of the Fire Crystal," Hideyoshi informs.
"And before you argue, that was my idea," Rob reveals. "You're my wife: I want nothing more than to be sure you're safe and well."
"By sending me on a suicide mission," Hanna reminds. "That's real fucked up, you know that."
"This mission is to prove you're in full control of your faculties," Rob explains. "That's why I'm not going with you: as your husband, I have an influence over you that no‑one else does, and that will cloud the ability to see whether you're fit to be free or not."
"Why isn't this a solo mission then?" Hanna asks.
"Someone needs to keep an eye on you," Rob teases. "In all seriousness, you're in command of the mission: Danny is simply your guide."
"That's… something, I guess," Hanna replies.
"You'll be fine," Rob assures.
"If I die, I'm coming back to haunt you both," Hanna vows. "Now fuck off and let me get ready."