Reveltion

- Okay, we're making a stop for food and pee. - Bina exclaimed. They'd been driving for two hours now, and apparently they'd already seen the observatory, at least as they looked through the visors. They were between hills covered with long yellow grass. Rosie was glad, because it was stuffy and smelled of sweaty bodies in the overcrowded Crushey, so she needed to get some air. Also, she needed to pee because she drank two bottles of water. So when the transporter stopped she went to the side (Lilka and Arkan-tar too) and after everything she returned to the others. The young friends and Bina were just preparing food, mostly sandwiches or self-heating portions. Lilka distributed the treats to Wrongdak and Rosie's companions, though Miss Daisy refused them, staring grimly at the horizon. On the highest hill was the observatory. Its rune-covered shield was majestic, and she could almost see the discharges of power dancing across its surface.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around in fear, Behind her stood Eti.

- Hey Sparkle Fimgers. I brought you a sandwich. - she said, holding out to her a sliced flatbread with sausage and pickles in the middle. Before she took it, Rosie said.

- You know that all you need to do is clap your hands to get my attention?

Eti shrugged.

- I don't know. And anyway, I don't like to clap. - She waved a metal hand in front of Rosie's face.

Rosie started to eat and only now realized how hungry she was. She started eating the sandwich. Eti wove a dried sausage into her hand, then rolled back her hood and took off her mask and glasses. She looked odd for a Pathra, but she wasn't ugly at all. The others gave her surprised looks. Eti didn't seem to pay attention to them, though she was clearly tense. She pricked up her ears and played nervously with the end of her braid. After a moment, they looked away, apparently mistaking her for some unknown race. The exceptions were Wrongdak and, surprisingly, Miss Daisy. Suddenly, the white-skinned alien ran up to the ranger and grabbed her by the shoulders.

- Catra?! What are you doing here?! Don't you recognize me? It's me Wrong Hordak! What happened... - he didn't finish, because Eti clenched her metal fist and, hissing like a cat, hit him in the stomach. Wrongdak doubled over, clutching his stomach. Eti came up to him all burgundy with anger.

- First…- she began, but Alatar cut her off.

- We don't start counting by showing the middle finger. - he said without interrupting his meal, as if a fit of rage was nothing strange.

- First of all, no one dares to touch me without my permission. Secondly, I don't know how you could have confused me with anyone else? I am absolutely unique and exceptional. Third, what kind of Kitthra again? Do I remind you of a flea-infested pet? You must be a bigger fool than I thought to see anything feline about me. - She was wagging her cat's tail violently and flattening her's evidently cat's ears

-He doesn't seem to have a self-preservation instinct. Maybe that's why it was so valuable? A species devoid of self-preservation must be on the verge of extinction. - Alatar wondered. Lilka nodded. Bina got up and, beaming with anger, approached the ward.

- Eti… Eterna! March to Crushey and don't even dare move from there! - Bina screamed, absolutely enraged. Without a word, Eti marched to the vehicle, and the woman with burgundy hair helped the Wrongdak stand up.

- Are you okay? - she asked with concern.

- Yes! -said the alien, smiling happily, as if nothing had happened to him.

- I'm sorry for Eti... She can be unpredictable sometimes..." There was shame in Bina's voice.

- Don't worry... I just mistook her for my friend. She also doesn't like having her personal space invaded. - he said with a strangely dreamy expression.

"He mistook her for a friend?" Rosie thought in surprise.

The only time she'd experienced such a shock had been seeing Mikah alive in the Brightmoon Throne Room. Even when she awoke on cursed Aucturn, in front of an Outer God, she was not so shocked. Deep down, she knew that her act would have consequences, though she didn't expect that she wouldn't run from them even after death.

"Catara?! Here?! So far from Etheria? What happened to your hand?" she wanted to exclaim, but she thought better of it. It wasn't Catra. This girl is taller than her, though not as muscular. Her hair was straight and greasy, dyed white and red, with visible dark red roots. Her complexion was darker, and her eyes were golden with occasional blue flecks. And that arm... It wasn't just a prosthetic arm, and she was absolutely sure she felt the flow of power when she hit the Wrongdak. The girl was scolded and sent to this nasty vehicle as punishment. "Well, I'd be a lot stricter on Catra" She felt a strong push in her back.

- Find a girl your own age! - she heard from behind the squares and turned around. She saw a green-haired girl, an elf covered in tattoos. She summoned a silver blade, so she was a Solarian…

- Be careful girl. People better than you have thought twice before raising a hand against me. - she warned, but the solarian just smiled indulgently at her, as if she was the one talking to the wayward kid. Her two present companions stood up and looked in their direction.

- And better ones than you lost a paw when they raised it on us. - the girl growled.

- Oh, realy? - she replied coldly. She could teach that stupid girl humility... She was powerful enough to do that... Did she want it though? "Yes, in the past I would have made her regret her threats… But should I go back to being who I was. This is a chance. A second chance for me." She turned away from the Elf and walked a little farther and leaned against a stone standing apart, ignoring the triumphant "Ha." She had to think things over alone before will return to Lady Cala.

Dilayla took off her armor to let her sweaty body cool down for a while. She drank an army isotonic drink from her own supply but accepted a packet of soy noodles in green sauce, nothing special but quite tasty she had to admit, though maybe it was just that she hadn't had anything to eat since their late breakfast. She thoughtfully watched the white-skinned creature, who was talking suspiciously cheerfully with his motley droid, who, however, seemed to be more interested in the girl in the vehicle than his companion. Wrongdak, because that was name of this strange creature, looked like, didn't care much for the blow that strange Pahtra had dealt him... She didn't understand the girl's reaction, not fully. She had seemed to treat him contemptuously before, calling him Wormdak, and now she attacked him as if he had hurt her. Maybe he did… She looked at Itel, who was threatening Miss Daisy for some reason, who looked at the solarian as if she wanted to electrocute her if she could. "These are the children of war, and this was war against an enemy that cannot be defeated". She had never fought The Swarm, though mercenaries who agreed to do so were given five times as many credits It wasn't a fight with any rules. You just had to kill more of them, a lot more than they killed us, or hope that someone would use some secret method to drive them away, which happened more than once.

Rechiza sat down beside her and asked quietly.

- What do you think about all this?

The half-elf sighed heavily.

- I'm a hired gun. Nobody pays me to use what's i have between my ears. I am a simple creature.

The crippled Lashunt looked at her seriously, then at Wrongdak.

- This alien… I have some information about his species…- she said in a conspiratorial tone.

"Ya, you mean the attack on Minitar? - asked the mercenary and turned towards the astonished Lashuntka smiling rakishly.

- Did you hear about this event? -she asked, not hiding her surprise. Dilayla burst out laughing.

- I am from Minitar, my dear, and I know firsthand what they can do. - she said, and waved her own prosthesis.

Rechiza watched her for a moment with her metal eyes. "Iomadae... Our parts could make a nice robot."

- And you're not doing anything about it? - Lashunta said sharply.

- Well, I tried to kill Wrongdak, that's his name. But then I was attacked by a band of Veskas led by Azlanti.

Lashuntka looked more and more funny as she was constantly surprised, almost cute in fact.

- And you didn't tell anyone about it? - she shouted.

- I'm doing it right now. - she said with a heavy sigh. - I must admit I don't know what to think about him.- Maybe he can masterfully play charming like our Lady Cala, but somehow I don't want to believe it. At worst, it was a very fresh clone when Prime fell.- Dilayla said thoughtfully.

- He fell? Prime? How… - Rechiza was in such a shock that the mercenary thought that Lashuntka would soon have a heart attack.

- The dude was broadcasting megalomaniac goddamn messages on our plaet. I've heard a few and believe me, I've never experienced such a dose of condensed madness, and I've seen a lot. she shook her head.

- And ... his death? What exactly do you mean by its downfall?

- I don't know much, only what I managed to understand from Wrongdak's statements He was annihilated a few years ago and very definitively. He fears him and hates him at the same time… Even now… How do you know about them?

Rechiza thought for a long time about her answer, and then spoke very slowly.

- I got information from Liktor Janos di Vi r...- she was saying, but the half-elf waved her hand.

- Yes, good old Janos di Vir. He saved most of me and a piece of my sister. If you're interested, I studied at the ordert for a while, but it wasn't my way. Well, i don't think anyone expected that any of the participants of this expedition had sincere intentions ... Anything else? - Dilayla smiled, but her eyes remained as cold as ice.

- This girl... her hand... She's covered in First Ones symbols. I don't think anyone has seen them except me... And I k- now what it says... "Here is the Punishing Hand, created to..." and I then can't see it because it ends. Lashunta said softly.

- Wonderful, but I'm guessing those First Ones are all extinct, so it's nothing to worry about.- She grunted and began to lick the bottom of the box.

- Unfortunately, but you're right, they all died out. Lashunta murmured softly.

Eti already felt calmer… In fact, she felt sad, as she always did after she got mad. It was just the blemish that had been forced into her. It wasn't as bad as Rainy Days. It'll be over soon, as soon as he starts doing something, it's always been like that. She wasn't mad at Bina, who sent her to Zgniotek. She was also a little ashamed of the attack on Wormdak, but only a little. He shouldn't have touched her, implied she had anything to do with the cat, let alone talk about that one. Suggesting that there was more than one like her… She instinctively began whistling a song, irritating and painful to the ears, arousing anxiety, even fear in the listeners. Was she born knowing it, or was it stuffed into her head like everything else? Bina forbade her to whistle, but since she was alone ... Almost alone, but a person who entered Crushey would hardly complain about this melody, or about any other.

- Hi, Eti. - said Sparcle Fingers smiling friendly. - How are you.

- I whistle, I digest, I breathe. - she answered quietly and yawned - And how are you, Sparcle Fingers? - she asked with a great effort of will, forcing herself to be polite.

- Well, nothing new. Wrongdak doesn't mind your…outburst. He actually looks quite pleased. I don't quite understand why. I think you're look like his friend…- said the white-haired girl, but she interrupted her with a snort

- Because it's as dull as a shoe on my right foot, and I'm…i was left-handed. It is impossible for me to resemble his friends, because I am absolutely perfect, awesome and most importantly, unique. - she murmured. Sparkling Fingers frowned.

- No one is perfect, everyone has flaws and you have to accept them. - she said, staring at her with pretty blue eyes.

- Phrases that all imperfect people repeat to hide their imperfection. - Eti said. She frowned and jumped at Sparkle Fingers which made a very strange sound.

- What are you doing?! - the girl asked in sign language, moving away from Eti.

- I'm checking how you smell. If I'm going to travel with you and your companions, I need to know how you smell. - she said. Sparkle Fingers made a disgusted expression.

- It's strange ... and a little disturbing ... - she pondered - How do I smell? - she asked. Eti thought for a moment.

- Sweat, Almond suntan oil, pickles, smoked bacon and something I'm not sure of…. But mostly sweat. – said Eti – Not so bad, it's important that you don't use camphor. I hate camphor! I almost burst out laughing and Sparkle Fingers smiled as if what she said was really funny. She liked this girl. She seemed so happy and fascinated by the world, as if she could forget for a moment how lousy life can be.

- So you're really an intern, not an 'intern…'" - She lay down on the floor of the vehicle.

Sparkle Fingers moaned, or rather made a sound that was supposed to be a moan.

- Why would anyone think I'm…something like that!

Eti shrugged

- You're a pretty girl on frontiner planet who obviously doesn't look like an adventurer or someone wealthy who could afford a bodyguard, and you're following a menacing-looking and also pretty woman. The conclusions suggest themselves. - She asked the white-haired girl who blushed.

- That means I'm pretty too. - she asked.

Before Eti could answer anything, she saw the Dumbot clumsily sneaking up on Crushey.

- What is Dumbot looking for here? - she asked gruffly.

-The Dumbot stared at her with its one eye in fascination.

- Why are you being mean to her? - Rosie asked indignantly. - Emily is nice!

She looked at the scars on the metal cover.

„It doesn't have to be her... it could be any predator..." She thought, then looked at her left, mutilated hand.

"Previously it could have been a coincidence. Something completely unrelated to me. But now, after what Wormdak had done… He must have recognized her. He knew that one, even said her name. He was friends with her. So she's alive. She had a nice happy life, not like mine." She clenched her fists, feeling the cold fire in her veins.

- Hey Eti, what's up? Bina sent me here too because I snapped at that old Grim L because she was undressing you with her eyes. Itel said as she sat down beside her.

- I do not think so. Grimmy looks too sour to be interested in such things. - she said quietly. Rosie stood up and, bowing to them, turned to Durnybot.

- Come on... I'll introduce you to Miss Daisy. She waved at them and left.

„I've always been a blind fool" she thought as she looked at the fallen blades of that nasty grass. "And that in every way... I've always seen Catra as a foundling, a worthless piece of junk found by Adora. A useful tool, useful in conditioning her sister." She stared at the vehicle, wondering what this unexpected revelation meant for her. "I've always contempt of her… no, it wasn't contempt. It was hate… For not being able to control her. For interfering with my beautiful plan to shape Adora the way I wanted. For being so like me…" She laughed nervously, and Arkan-tar looked at her in surprise. „I have to stop laughing to myself or they'll really think I'm crazy." she sighed. Today, she wasn't even in control of her own life now. Adora and all of Etheria could shape their own future, and the only one she could really hate was herself. But that girl, this Eti... She was very similar... like a younger sister... She was sure no one could get out of Despondos, as Hordak said, it was much easier to get there. She had too much evidence to back that up, so she had to belive him… Which meant Catra had also been born somewhere in the galaxy. The immensity of this fact made her head spin. "Through my pride I missed something so important, contempt and arrogance clouded my judgment." Catra had always been almost as fit as Adora, and in some ways far more capable. Smart, rarely ill, immune to pain..."Just out of curiosity, I should look at her research results more closely. Surely someone noticed something, but preferred not to bother Hordak's Right Hand with matters related to the difficult kid. But that was the past, she can't change that. Now she had to think about what the future would bring. If they were going to Etheria together, a confrontation would be imminent and potentially… She had no idea what to expect, she'd known this girl for only a few hours. From a pragmatic point of view, she was a valuable asset. She's not sure how this strange teenage girl will react to this discovery, but Catra… She should be happy… "Or not. There is a similarity between them, not only in appearance. Where did she grow up? Who shaped her? I need to learn as much as I can before they reach Etheria…and she should have a plan by the time they meet Lady Cala."

- Miss Daisy, I have someone to introduce you. - Rosie Pearl stood before her. The girl was smiling happily and pointing at Entrapta's droid. - This is Emily. Emily, this is Miss Daisy.

She smiled slightly and knelt in front of the droid.

- Hello Emily. - she said. Usually her voice sounded a little different than it used to, but now she tried to make it sound old. Emily stared at her for a long moment, then squealed loudly and jumped away from her. Rosie looked at her in amazement.

- Sometimes children, animals and droids are afraid of me. – she said and added in her mind "But for different reasons"

She approached Emily, who wanted to leave her, and spoke very quietly.

- We'll be traveling together on the same ship for a while. Just like your friend. Don't be afraid of me, I won't hurt you...unless you make me. "After all, I haven't forgotten how to be my old self."