"Fuck...!"

"Language" Beatrice said automatically. "What is wrong this time?" she added as she looked over to see Ava throw herself into a chair that protested loudly.

"I'm immortal"

"I'm sorry...? Beatrice blinked as she put down the book she was translating for the others.

"I am going to live forever"

"Yes, I am familiar with the meaning but I don't understand why you think you will live forever"

"The good old Doctor just told me. When we were in..." Ava paused, swallowed heavily and then continued. "Back in the flat, I saw this documentary about how cells die or something as we get older. Like, I totally get that the Halo heals me but then I wondered if the thing would regenerate the cells and keep me at the age I am"

"And I take it that Dr Salvius has done tests and said it does?" and Ava nodded.

"She said that it will top up the cells and charge me up. Can't keep me awake, thank goodness, but everything else gets regenerated or some science shit" and Beatrice couldn't find it in herself to reprimand Ava again.

"I wish that I could say that it has happened before, but Warrior Nuns... Warrior Nuns do not always last a long time" Beatrice barely had time to brace herself before Ava launched across the library and into Bea's embrace. As she did so, Camila stepped into the room, saw that Ava was having a breakdown and wisely stepped back out into the corridor.

"I don't want to live forever" the girl sobbed. "I live forever and I get to see everyone I know die. I get to see the one I..."

"The one you what, Ava?" Beatrice had an idea.

"The one I love" Ava sniffed hard and held the Nun tightly as a fresh set of sobs started to run up and down her small frame. Beatrice held her gently and hummed in order to calm Ava down - as she had just said, none of the previous Warrior Nuns had been in their positions long enough to notice a halt to the aging process and she could only imagine the horror for Ava in the years to come in watching everybody she knew grow, have lives and then die whilst she stayed the same no matter what.

'Such a thing would drive you mad' she thought to herself.

"And I can't have children"

"What...?"

"Jillian thinks the Halo would see that as an infection and terminate the pregnancy... This is all so fucked up"

#

"Mother, I believe we have to halt Ava's training" Beatrice spoke to Superion that evening after their meal.

"Why?"

"She remembered seeing something on the TV and went to see Dr Salvius for tests. From what can be found in the results, the Halo is constantly repairing and replacing dead cells in Ava's body and Jillian told Ava that it means she would essentially be immortal and that, thanks to the Halo's powers, she could also never have children" Beatrice waited for the older Nun to process the thoughts.

"We have a limited timescale, Sister Beatrice... Adriel, from what we know, is almost ready to carry out his plans" Superion shook her head. "Her training will continue"

"Mother, if we push Ava the way she is now I fear that she will snap. I am not asking for long, but two or three days for Ava to process what she has been told and for her to come to terms with it. Ever since she was implanted with the Halo, she has always been pushed by us and never given much free time - even when we were in the Alps" Beatrice chose her next words carefully. "She is talking of killing herself"

"That is a sin... I thought we had an understanding, but I can not abide sinners in the house of the Lord"

"And yet you abide me" Beatrice snapped. "Give me a few days in order to prevent a sin, Mother, or Ava will be useless to the mission. I was put in charge of her training, and I say that she needs the rest"

"Oh, very well" Superion sighed. Beatrice was normally right about everything and she had to trust her judgement in this as well. "You might take the next t-" she was cut off by a terrific bang quickly followed by screaming that sounded like Camila and Yasmine. The two Nuns looked at each other and then at the door that led to the corridor and the various rooms beyond.

"Ava!" Beatrice cried out.

"Sister Beatrice" Superion had a terrible feeling what had just happened, "Where is your key to the armoury?"