A few days after Nova came back from the pristine realm, they gathered everyone that's trustworthy then organized a meeting in Terra mansion to lay out the plan. Nova projects the hologram of the time- reverse machine on the meeting table and clears her throat: "This machine will be the key for the plan. We will reverse time and make sure that the phyrexian was never discovered." She then looks at Trazyn: "Trazyn, Lynine and Sannet will be the ones to construct the machine, commissar Anton's squad will be providing overwatch around the area to make sure that our plan won't be foiled. Noel and Erin support the teams with their needs. Maria, Monika and I will be drawing attention to the Phyrexian. Once the machine is finished. We will operate it immediately. Not everyone will be sent back into time but remember, you are all heroes of this time."
"Who will be going then?" Elaria asks.
"Trazyn, Emilia, Monika and I." Nova replies.
"Why?"
"Trazyn and Monika know the location and the timing of the encounters. Me, because I will correct time on a small scale if needed. Emilia because she did not exist in that time yet, so she can operate freely." Nova explains patiently: "Any other questions?"
Seeing no one raised their hands, Nova shuts down the projector and starts getting to work. Monika lightly holds Trazyn's hand and drags him into a small corner: "Hey, Traz. Thank you for being there when i first came back…" She timidly wiggles her body lightly: "Did you notice any difference?"
"You got a haircut." Trazyn replied blankly, because he had absolutely no idea. Every time Monika asks him similar questions, he always goes with the hair. It's usually the statistically correct answer.
Monika slightly pouted then she suddenly pushed her hand against Trazyn to the wall, the part where Monika connected with the wall made a small crack: "Honey~ Do you have an answer?"
"You got your enhancement back? But how ?"
"Well… This is what I wanted to talk to you about." Monika puts her head on Trazyn's chest: "I got it from Sannet.."
"Sannet? That's very odd, because from what I've known, Sannet would not do this kind of thing intentionally." Trazyn then remembered something.
"Well… that's not really the issue… I'm just glad that I finally made up my mind…" Her face is pinkish, and she slightly wiggles her body left and right: "Traz… I thought about what you said while we were in my pocket dimension… Honesty… if i can… I'd love to spend the rest of my life with you…"
"Monika… honey…" Trazyn hugs Monika tightly: "I honestly have no idea how to respond to that besides doing this…"
When Monika came back from the portal, she was distressed, she went all over the house to find Trazyn and eventually found him in the basement working on something. Without him even greeting her first, Monika rushes up and jumps on Trazyn while her body is trembling like a leaf in the wind.
Trazyn didn't ask anything, he's been with Monika long enough to know how to response to this type of situation, he just calmly pats Monika on the back while she's weeping and couldn't even make up her words.
After about half an hour she finally calmed down and the first thing she did was to give Trazyn a deep kiss. Monika looks at Trazyn in a graceful way, as if there's nothing matters except the man in front of her.
"Hey… Are you feeling better now?" Trazyn gently pats Monika's head.
Monika nods, she manages to rearrange her words again and smiles in content: "Traz… I want to tell you something..."
"Hon.. i am not going anywhere, it is all good. Why don't you tell me about all that has happened in the realm after dinner? You must be exhausted."
Monika wipes clean her face with some tissue and half teasingly talks to Trazyn: "Traz… since when did you know to talk like this?"
Trazyn replied with a straight face: "I had a crash course with Noel about how to talk empathetically. Was i doing a good job expressing my concern to you? Because honestly, I am not really good at this."
Monika shakes her head: "No no, it was perfect. I mean, a message is just one thing but the feeling behind those words means the most." She puts her hand on her chest: "I received every single bit of it." She holds Trazyn's hand: "I for one isn't great with emotions as well, i am always too… full of myself, i always projects my own value on others and expecting them to act as i please..." After the journey in the pristine realm Monika knows better about herself and the potential she holds after meeting Eden.
"Honey, i have never felt this way a single day after meeting you." Trazyn seriously said: "I love the way that you are…"
"Traz… stop it..." Her face is bright red, those honey potting words are not normal from Trazyn: "I am really embarrassed…"
"Hey…I know you love to be the heroine in the story. But in the reality is that you already are one. You care about your subordinate and are willing to sacrifice yourself for the greater good. You helped numerous people and you haven't even realized it. And at last… you saved me…. Before meeting you, my entire life is about filling the void in my soul with collection all over the universe. Living among you taught me way too many things that I could not even dream of…"
Monika shakes her head repeatedly: "Please Traz… I have to tell you… The plan to defeat the phyrexian is simply just making sure that we have never encountered them at first place. Which means that we would've never been to Mirrodine and…become a couple. And honestly… I don't want to live in a world where I will not be able to feel your warm embrace and… occasional sassy attitude…"
"And now she's back!" Trazyn slightly pinches Monika's cheek. He finally managed to let Monika have that smile again, that carefree, simple and yet beautiful smile: "Look, i don't really know what will happen, but you know what i believe in? Us ! Even time turns back to the past and leads to another possibility. Our fate will be intertwined for sure."
Monika's happiness is beyond being able to be explained with words. This is the moment when she suddenly heard the portal open on the other side of the house: "Quick!" Monika pulls out some party confetti from her pocket dimension: "Let's surprise Nova!"
Her attention snapped back to reality. While hugging Trazyn she wanted to do more but knowing Trazyn he might not care about something that's ceremonial. Just when she's about to release Trazyn, she felt something solid in Trayzn's hand.
They gaze into each other's eyes, without a single word, Monika already prepared her answer in her head: "Monika… i have been alive for millions of years, i have seen world crumples and reforged, literal miracle happened before my eyes. And yet, nothing shines as bright as you. I am glad that i have the opportunity to even encountered you in my journey… And eventually formed an unbreakable bond that will last for lifetimes. I know, it is a bit sudden-"
"Yes! 100% yes!" Monika almost screamed in happiness, causing everyone in the house to converge on their location.
"What's happening?" Elaria sips her juice box while looking unimpressed. While the entire room has the completely opposite expression.
"Congratulations, Captain." Anton starts clapping his hands then everyone in the room did so as well. Except Nova. She's just standing in the back, doesn't even look towards to this direction.
"Well? What are you waiting for?! Give her the ring!" Noel is too excited. She didn't teach Trazyn how to talk like a human for nothing. Or in another way finally helped him to find his true calling. Then, there's nothing more that can bring as much joy as seeing your childhood friend being engaged to be wedded.
"This is a ring that was forged within the dark steel forgery when we were visiting in phyrexia, I wanted it to be a gift of surprise but i never had the chance to give it to you in a meaningful context-"
"You are killing the suspension Trazyn, just put on the ring already." Nova finally came to her mind and then said loudly at the back.
They then hugged, cheered and celebrated for the rest of the night. But what they did not realize is that after seeing Trazyn being able to express himself towards Monika, Nova finally also found her courage to talk to Maverick.
"Maverick." Nova calls him into her room: "I'd like to discuss something with you."
"Oh boy, am I in trouble?" Maverick looked surprised, the last time Nova said something in this exact tone was about their HR contract while they were dating. Then the whole thing keeps going on and off, he likes Nova a lot, but the unpredictable messages and mood from Nova kept making him feel confused. He's more scared of saying something wrong than actually trying to converse with her.
"Maverick, I think we should continue our relationship." Nova's expression did not change, she's monologuing.
"Ah…Yes, of course. But did we really take a pause?"
"We did not talk for almost a year." Nova clears her throat: "Well. what do you think?"
"I honestly feel like this is more like a business proposition than a relationship… discussion?" Maverick replied with a skeptical tone.
Nova slightly bits her lips: "I am sorry… I am so bad at this…" Nova could use her ability to get a perfect conversation but then what's the point for that? If every word is perfect, then there's no need for another person in this equation.
"I would really love to take out whatever you just said out of context, but you know? We don't have to forcefully converse with each other." Maverick slowly puts his hand on Nova's shoulder.
Nova thought for a second, she shook her head: "No. We need to do more. This is a problem, and we will solve it." Nova push Maverick against the sofa and starts taking off her jacket.
"Whoa, whoa." Maverick immediately stands up and stopped Nova: "Please… I don't want to do this now… You are great and i have a lot of respect to you… but..." Maverick let out a sigh: "But i don't think we are supposed to be meant for each other."
"Don't you dare say you don't love me." Nova is having the gaze of death.
"You see? This is what i am talking about, I am constantly trying to avoid you acting like this, it is like trying to sleep on a nailed bed." Seeing this, Maverick had enough. He's tired of Nova's constant aggression when in a relationship: "You know what? Fine, i will talk about all of your problems and then we will deal with them. Your way." Maverick sits straight, he's kind of fed up: "You are way too independent in a relationship, like to an extent that you barely even care about the people around you. Second, you are way too straight forward when it comes to dealing with things. Sure, being honest is good but every time you are talking, it's like being hit by a truck. And i cannot fathom how a person like Trazyn can tolerate someone like you around red? You are insufferable!" Maverick finally burst out his negative emotion towards Nova.
Suddenly, on the other side. Nova's head is looking down and some sniffing noise came out of her nose. "Oh no" Maverick thought, is Nova about to cry? He has no idea how to deal with this situation.
"I am so sorry…" Nova suddenly lost all of her intimidation: "It's just you mean so much to me that i don't want to lose you… So, i dealt with it the best way i know…"
"Em….." Maverick approached closer to Nova. He has no idea what to do. This is more stressful when Nova was intimidating him.
Nova suddenly lays her head on Maverick's shoulder; she doesn't say anything. Nova then holds Maverick's hand. Suddenly, she started trembling, then tears came out from her eyes.
"Ah…" Maverick doesn't know what to do, this is like holding a bomb in his hand. Then he remembered something Noel told him a long time ago: Just approach her with love!
In this moment of crisis, Monika suddenly barged in because she felt something was wrong, she immediately saw Nova was in distress while Maverick had a really gullible expression on his face. It is not usual to see Nova in a situation like this, instead of confronting Maverick and being a good sister that would listen to Nova. Monika, as usual dedicated to being an amazing sister, suddenly has a smirk on her face.
"Sis~" Monika sits next to Nova and tries her best to hold a concerning face: "Do you want me to take you somewhere? Like your favorite restaurant." Then Monika slowly puts her hand on Nova's cheek and starts pinching it very lightly.
Maverick is having internal screams now, he thought Monika has always been the more caring one, but this is new. Maverick wanted to move, but Nova suddenly hugged Maverick's arm with her arms.
"Red… Don't you want to help me get out of this?" Maverick is trying his hardest to whisper while making sure that he will not make any sudden movement.
"No, not really." Monika can't even hide her grin now: "Mav, maybe you should be a decent boyfriend. You know? Hug Nova tight or something." Monika said it because this will make sure that she will have plenty of time to escape if Nova suddenly wants to hit her.
"Are you insane? She will kill me!" Maverick tries to keep his voice as calm as possible, but suddenly he realizes that Nova has fell asleep: "My… I guess she must've been too tired from all of this preparation."
Just when Monika was about to play with Nova more, Maverick hit her hands away. Instead, he laid Nova flat on the sofa and brought a blanket. Then they both left the room; Maverick looked at Monika in a disapproving way: "I never thought you were such an unthoughtful person."
"Well, i guess i did what i had to do. It is important for you to take responsibility for my sister." Monika tilts her head sideways: "You know, not a lot of people can make Nova fall asleep next to her. It means that she trusts you."
"It happened a lot of times in our missions..." Maverick never noticed this.
"That's because you are in it, do you think Nova is the kind of person that would fall asleep easily? She once stayed up two nights straight because she was worried that i would steal her homework and copy it."
"How old were you two in that scenario?" Maverick is having a weird look towards Monika.
"Sixteen."
Maverick facepalms, but suddenly Monika opens the door and pushes Maverick into the room then blocks the door: "Mav~ Don't try to break the door~ Because Nova will definitely wake up." Monika is doing this because she also wants Nova to find love. And sometimes, it is important to make Nova react to situations instead of taking on lead.
In the room, Maverick finally gathered his courage to sit next to Nova. facing him is the crystal blue eyes looking at him softly: "I am sorry that i could never gather enough courage to approach you…It's just when you are so perfect and important, i am always afraid that i would say or do something wrong and push you away." Maverick finally decides to be honest with Nova: "And I never will be…"
"Mav…For me… i was scared for the same reasons as well… I was scared that if I said one thing wrong, I would push you away…" Their eyes fixate with each other, there's no more ranking or any politics, Just the two individuals that are too scared to express themselves with the other one that they cherish: "Screw the contracts, it's not like the government exists anymore anyways." Nova holds Maverick's face and gives him a really deep kiss on the lips.
After hearing there's no more noise, Monika finally stopped blocking the door: "What are you hiding?" Sannet's voice suddenly came from behind her neck. She got startled for a few seconds and then managed to keep a straight face.
"Ah...em… I am just making sure nothing goes in or out of Nova's room." Monika avoids Sannet's piercing gaze, also there's the reason that Sannet is using the face that Monika kissed when Trazyn transformed into a girl for an afternoon. There's always that feeling of weirdness in Monika's head every time she sees Sannet.
Sannet is looking at Monika more with a hint of judgment: "Why are you avoiding eye contact? Are you lying?"
"No, no i am not. Traz told me to do so, because he doesn't want Nova to get mad at him."
"Lord Trazyn told you to do this?..." Sannet thinks for a few seconds: "Well, if he said so then I will stay with you."
"There's really no need…"
"I serve lord Trazyn, his order is my duty, regardless of the situation or location." Sannet leans on the wall next to the door.
The first few minutes are just awkward silence, then Monika finally decide to reach out first: "I think we have gone on the wrong foot first…" Monika crosses both of her hands together to ease her mind while talking to Sannet cautiously.
"No, we did not. Because I don't care about you." Sannet just busily checking her nails, even in her necron body the importance of presentation has never faded away from her mind: "You are just a temporary companion that lord Trazyn has been coming across, you will cease to exist within centuries. Therefore, insignificant."
"I understand, but it's never about the grand scheme of things. But care about the moment that we spend with each other." Monika had already thought about this kind of thing a long time ago: "The memory we forged will last for eternity, as long as he remembers it i am fulfilled."
Sannet scoffs, she doesn't say anything back because she is a bit touched by what Monika said. More importantly Sannet is jealous of Monika. How can she just talk out everything that's in her mind? Is she an idiot? Air head? The more Sannet thinks, the more she dislikes Monika.
"Anyways, i always think that we can be good friends. We all love a single person, right? So, we know how to treat him and how to become a better version of us with him." Monika grins warmly.
"You should seriously stop talking about this kind of nonsense. I hate it." Sannet turns her head away: "I do not love lord Trazyn, i…" Sannet pauses: "I respect him. He's also…"
"Also?" Monika's grin is even wider, seeing the slightly flustered Sannet face, she's glad that she's making progress with Sannet.
"You are really annoying you know? Did lord Trazyn submit because of your annoyance?" Sannet turns away, maybe the only thing she might feel in this world is her feeling towards Trazyn. This biological body is making her experience all sorts of things that are new to her. "You are annoying, and i will leave because i have other things to do." Sannet left with a small pouting face.
"Sannet is fun to tease with, right?" Minka suddenly appeared in front of Monika.
Monika nods, she wanted to talk to Minka but just couldn't brough up the courage:"We went to the pristine realm, and it was… interesting."
"I know, I was really different back then, right?" Minka has an ease expression on her face: " I honestly dislike myself when looking back."
"You're still a good girl, Minka. Don't worry, we will bring you back. I swear."
"Mom, don't make promises that you can't keep." Minka shakes her head: "But thanks for trying, I am kind of getting used to not having sensations at all."
"Minky…" Monika feels really bad for Minka: "Did you hear about our strike plan?"
"Yea, i did and i think it will work. But there's one problem, how are you going to convince your past self from ever doing what you need them to do? And more over, tampering with time like this will surely bring you trouble."
"We can't know about the outcome if we don't try, right?" Monika insists
"It is good to try, but what about everyone else that isn't coming? They will just cease to exist, this entire timeline, the interaction will not exist." Minka tilted her head sideways: "Can your conscience bear the sacrifice? Because what you are doing is literally sacrificing a world for another possibility."
"I…" Monika is at loss of words.
Minka scoffs: "You are still the same, too naive to bear too much responsibility. At Least what you did is to give the world another chance. This is good enough." Minka finally had a relieved smile on her face:" There's something major didn't tell you. Even if you change the past, you and dad will still be together."
"Wait what? how?" Monika suddenly has a spark in her eyes.
"Because it's destiny, our fate is predestined, and every event will happen for everyone. It's just the way it happens will be different... Similar events will still happen for you. This is the beauty of the time variation, everything essentially still the same but how things happened are different in every world."
"Thanks… Minka… For telling me this." Monika is really glad to hear about this.
Minka then disappears, Monika checks the time, it's been almost half an hour. Maybe they reconciled or something. Monika knocks a few times on the door and then slightly peeked through the gap: "What are you doing?" Suddenly Nova and Maverick appeared behind her.
"I… I…" Monika really got scared by it.
Nova has an evil grin on her face and then approaches Monika in a teasy way: "Well well well. Aren't you a curious little bird? You wanted to peek huh?"
"I am here because… i was worried about you." Monika looks down on the floor, she is embarrassed.
"Red… that's so sweet." Maverick couches down and pats Monika's head.
"Yea, my little sis is so sweet." Nova also joins and pats Monika's head even harder.
"Guys… there's a limit for teasing..." Monika pats away their hands, she decides to find Trazyn. But she's really glad that Maverick and Nova finally got along together again.
Kira, Elaria and Emilia are overwatching the surroundings. The Terra mansion's location is really outstanding thus it requires extra effort to make sure that the plans continue on.
"Shorty." Elaria calls but no one replied: "Hey, shorty!" She shouted.
Kira didn't reply but there's clearly a hint of annoyance on her face. Just Elaria about to shout even louder, Emilia stepped in: "Stop, this is getting annoying."
"You stop it, this is between me and Kira."
" Your action is clearly annoying her; she's not responding because she doesn't want to give you satisfaction." Emilia's tone is blank.
"Oh, all almighty Emilia. Please bestow your knowledge upon me." Elaria spit on the floor: "You better watch where you step."
"Or what?" Emilia did not back down, she's not the kind that would take this lightly.
"Alright, you two. STOP IT!" Kira finally closed her book: "I am the youngest one here and you two are acting worse than the children in kindergarten!"
"Ha, shorty replied." Elaira taunts again.
"Will you ever drop it. Seriously." Kira finally had enough of it: "I am not responding because i thought you are just venting out your boredom. Honestly, we all do. But this is not the time and place to start a quarrel."
Kira then turns to Emilia: "And you, i don't need you to help me. I know how to deal with this kind of stuff. You are escalating the situation by confronting Elaria, which did not help as well."
Emilia wanted to say more but she just looked away and took a deep breath: "I am sorry. It will not happen again."
"And you?" Kira turned to Elaria, her blue eyes piercing.
Elaira narrowed her eyes and said: "Yea, whatever." Elaria then disappeared into the woods.
"Emi." Kira let out a long sigh: "You sound stressed out. Is it because of the incoming missions?"
Emilia nods: "I have no idea what I will face and to be honest, i am not even sure the entire time travel thing is going to work, how do i know if our destination isn't some other timeline. This entire thing is just too much."
"Emi…" Kira holds Emilia's hand: "I believe in you, everyone does."
Emilia slightly chuckles: "Oh, my. This is really embarrassing." She then sees Noel appearing from the back, she brought some drinks and sweets for the recon team.
"Thanks Aunty Noel." Emilia is eating the rose cake that Noel brough.
"Aunty… I will never get used to that." Noel sits beside them: "How are you guys hanging?"
"Not a lot of action is happening, but probably for the best." Kira answered because Emilia is eating: "Lieutenant, i always wanted to ask you something."
"Ask away!" Noel is beaming with energy.
"How do you maintain such a positive image like a human equivalent of a golden retriever personality?"
"Is this a compliment or… an insult?" Noel is very confused: "But i will try my best to answer. I guess i am what i am because i don't want to see others upset."
"That's it? You are giving out pieces of yourself to everyone. What happens if you face anyone that doesn't give back?"
"Do you expect people to give back when you are helping them?" Noel replied with a rather light tone.
"Don't you experience burn out or things like that?"
"Why would i? This is something I enjoy; I am good at utilizing my weapons. But I enjoy helping people in some other ways I can. It is the little things that count, eventually you will change the world because of the little things you do." Noel gives a small lollipop to Kira: "This is strawberry flavor."
"Thanks Lieutenant." Kira immediately puts it in her mouth. It is her favorite flavor.
"Aunty Noel… In my timeline, you are different…" Emilia looks down: "But she still took care of us because of her relationship with my mom."
"Was i nice to you?" Noel's eyes are bright but unchanging.
"Yes."
"Was I capable of protecting others?"
"You were one of the heroes of imperium, the highest honor a mortal human can obtain."
"Well, I don't see myself too different from her." Noel sometimes can be very calm and listen as a human being: " Protecting others is the highest priority when it comes to my duty as a soldier."
Just when everyone is talking to each other, Nova suddenly receives a phone call, which she hasn't received ever since the planet has surrendered: "Dear, sister. Are you sure about your plan? Maybe you will need a bit of help. Bring Monika and Trazyn to location: D1-EXG."
It is Leonard, it seems like the supreme command finally got a hold of their plan. She doesn't believe that anyone here has told anyone else outside of the circle. But Nova is quite confident that Leonard will not purposely destroy their plan, because in the end it is the life and death of the planet on the line.
In less than a few hours they arrived at the location. It is a building that has a really simple design and honestly just looks like a gray rectangle. Monika called this a concrete square. Which Trazyn thinks is very fitting.
Leonard came out from the front door, he's wearing a full imperial officer uniform that's designed for the role of general: "Good evening, I believe you guys will be conducting project pacifiers in order to save the world?"
"Yes, this is the case. I have a question: Why did you call us here?" Nova asks.
"Because I wanted to help, the supreme command has always wanted to come up with solutions to repel the phyrexian. Even the entire surrender order was issued by me. The goal is to make them take root." Leonard led them into the facility: "This planet has always been a test field for the imperium ground. I am telling you this information is because… we are family. And the mission will be a joint effort of the government and the civilians such as yourselves."
"What do you mean?" Monika doesn't like Leonard's tone.
"We will be conducting a full-scale attack on all phyrexian research facilities, and salvaging what we can into this facility." He points to the interior material that is coated everywhere: "We have dozens of facilities like this on the planet and over centuries we have been conducting time reverse experiments. But unfortunately, we did not succeed in any of the terms." He then opens the lab's door: "Instead, we managed to merge other timeline into ours many times." On the wall there's shelves of creatures that even Trazyn has never seen, human hybrids are the better ones, but more are just abominations with human features.
"Why?" Trazyn asks.
"Because the imperium will prevail from all forces that oppose us, and we are the people that will prepare us from everything. Your little home experiment will change this. The whole phyrexian situation is under control. Go home." Leonard said in a blank tone.
"Under control?" Monika steps forward: "They are polluting our ground and water. Some place's sea water is as thick as oil. You call that under control? If we don't do anything now, we will have no more home!"
"Sister, you are still too naive, we already have created pacts with the phyrexians. We will live within harmony with them in the near future. All you need to do is to stop ruining things. They will also change the environment for us."
"And you just believed them? You are naiver than i thought." Trazyn commented.
"Their magic can do things more than your imagination. They also demonstrated their plan for us. So yea, I'd say i am very confident. Nova, take them home." Leonard stands up and pats away the dust.
"No." Nova replied.
"What? I beg your pardon?" Leonard's tone suddenly changed from cold to being triggered by what Nova said.
"I said no." Nova crosses her arms, she is confident that she can beat him since she can always reset the time by a few seconds.
"This is unacceptable, both of my sisters have lost control…." Leonard takes off his jacket: "Trust me, you two require some discipline."
Monika pulls out her sword and Nova pulls ouf her rifle. Trazyn however is still trying to find a way to get out of this without any fighting. Because he is not sure any of them can beat Leonard. In fact, he is certain that they do not stand a chance.
Just when Trazyn was thinking about strategy, Nova suddenly collapsed on the floor. Monika is shocked because nothing has moved, no one in this room even moved for a single inch. In fact, Monika is certain that nothing has changed because she also has superior senses as well due to the super soldier serum.
"Traitor." Leonard has a serious face: "Now, you two. I will give you another chance, drop the plan, otherwise I will be forced to do something that might get dirty... If you don't give up, I will order a kinetic strike over the Terra mansion right now."
"Coward! Do not involve the innocent in this!" Monika wants to cut his face off, but Trazyn managed to hold her back, he is signing her to check up on Nova because this is a bigger problem than the kinetic strike.
"How do we know if you eventually will save the world?" Trazyn asks.
"Now, we are talking." Leonard suddenly looks more eased up: "We will be announcing the statement shortly that the Terren government will be merging with the phyrexian council. The war between us will be officially over. Until that point… I will be able to go home."
"So, the entire thing is about you finally dropping all of your responsibility and retiring?" Trazyn is very surprised by Leonard's answer.
"That is correct, sometimes things can be really personal. I will sacrifice the chance of restarting for my own happiness. Trazyn, don't you think this is a very Terra thing to do?" Leonard tilts his head sideways: "Sis, trust me. After all of this, you will remember nothing."
"Nova… Please wake up…" Monika suddenly starts tearing up, she shakes Nova multiple times, but Nova isn't responding: "She isn't breathing, please, help her!"
Leonard narrowed his eyes; he can't be sure whether Nova is really dead or not. Because what he did was only a psychic shock that would temporarily discharge the electric signal in human brain. But there were cases that said this ability might cause damage to the human body. When he tried to read her mind, he got nothing. He realized he might have killed his little sister. He immediately rushed forward and checked Nova's body signal.
"No, no, no.." Leonard immediately calls for medical backup and starts performing CPR to Nova: "Damn it, Nova. Wake up. I am so sorry…"
Soon the backup arrived, and they sent Nova to the ICU. The good thing is that they managed to stabilize Nova's situation, but she does not wake up. Leonard sitting on the chair while holding his head with his hand: "How did this happen? It wasn't supposed to be like this…"
Monika tries to look through the ICU's door glass, but Nova still hasn't woken up. She turns towards Leonard while having a look of extreme anger on her face. Before Monika can do anything, Trazyn holds her hands; she is too personal to be involved in this situation. Maybe this is for the best that some words should come from Trazyn.
"Leonard." Trazyn sits next to him: "I am sorry, but something needs to be said from an outsider. You are very irresponsible towards your family members."
Leonard stares at Trazyn like the first time Nova did to Trazyn inside that underground facility: "What do you know? I have sacrificed everything in life for the sake of the name of Terra."
"Did they ask you to? Your parents left when you were just a young adult. While you have two sisters that desperately need someone to protect them."
"I became what i am right now, just because of that idea. I am protecting them; they are free to do whatever they want."
"What about you? Monika didn't even know she had a brother until some time ago. Is that being a responsible individual?"
"Shut up." Leonard stood up, but Monika's gaze made him realize everything Trazyn said was right.
"Brother." Monika crosses her arms: "I don't know what to say. You play so little roles in my life, that i think you are just another stranger. And every time i meet you, the only feeling i have is that you are a jackass."
Trazyn suddenly realized something, he went into the ICU room without permission and then stood next to Nova.
While all the staff were trying to kick Trazyn out, Leonard told them to stand down. He felt like Trazyn might have noticed something strange.
"Honey, can you pass me a magic detector?"
"The blue crystal stone that would react to magic?" Monika passes the stone to Trazyn, then he puts the stone inside his scanner. When the scanner reached Nova's neck. It suddenly made a noise: "Well, this settles it. It was not Leonard that caused it."
Trazyn puts his hand on Nova's chest and takes out a notebook: "By the order of the thousand realms, I command thee. Repel thy sin and restore purity." White and green light starts appearing where Trazyn is. And after the chanting, Nova's eyelid seems to start moving: "It works! Hon-" A wide swung slap hit directly at Trazyn's cheek, almost making him faint on the ground.
Nova woke up with a look of rage: "Pervert." She jumps down from the bed and pushes Leonard against the wall: "Care to explain why you almost killed me?"
"Traz…?" Monika helps Trazyn to stand still, that slap is so hard that the red handprint can be seen from the other side of the room. She giggled a bit; this is probably the first time that Trazyn was accused of being a pervert: "How do you feel?"
"My vision is still impaired, and my knees are weak… Honey… are you proud of me?"
"Of course ! What you did was amazing, but it was a fun sight to see though." Monika burst out another series of giggles again.
"Thanks hon."
On the other side, Leonard is looking at Nova full of regret: "I am sorry, do what you desire. It is all my fault."
Nova clenches her fist; this is not even remotely satisfying. For a bastard like Lenoard, Nova was thinking about beating him until he chokes on his own blood: "Brother, there is no hiding it. I hate you. Really. If there's another person who I wish would die with heart shattering pain, it would be you."
"Who's the first person?" Monika asks Trazyn quietly.
"Probably me, because she has hated me since day one." Trazyn said that while trying not to look at where Nova is facing: "Hon, maybe you can do something here. No ?"
"I think Nova can handle this. She has completely given up being a soldier. Honestly, a plus if you ask me." Monika comments.
"But…" Nova continues: "I still love you. I remembered all the help you have given us from the shadow. We have never faced a really extraordinary obstacle in life thanks to you. But you are still a piece of shit."
Leonard doesn't seem to be very happy about the word usage in this situation: But then who is the blame but himself. He then asks Trazyn: "So, who tried to kill Nova?"
Trazyn projects a small silver line projectile: "This is called argentium silver, a specific type of metal that can infuse with the aether energy. But it only works in this world. Whoever did this is quite brilliant…" Nova's gaze is getting very fierce: "Anyways, I should be picking a person who might have done this…. I will say… Glissa."
"But how? She has an alliance with us." Leonard said: "We can't risk it because our planet is still on the line."
"Getting rid of one of the most powerful fighters in this world?" Trazyn analyzes: "Seems like a pretty good motive." Suddenly he received a message from Sannet: "The machine is ready."
"So, what is this going to be?" Monika crosses her arm: "Are you going to stop us?"
Leonard opened his jacket and picked off a pin from his inner pocket: "This is the central command insignia. Take it, and may your quest be fulfilled."
Monika takes it but she decides to give it to Trazyn: "Maybe this will look good on you."
"Thanks hon, good luck to you too. Leonard." While on the way leaving, Trazyn kept thinking about what Leonard said when they met today: "Merging other timeline... huh. Interesting."