Before

Beth struggled against the hands working to hold her still even as every movement sent waves of agony throughout her body. She still couldn't see more than vague shapes, but she recognized the voices of those around her. People who were barely on her side before and ones she couldn't rely on ever.

She could not be here. She had better chances among the dead than being in here again

Even as the voices claimed to be helping her, some shushing her cries, Beth knew that no one here would be of any help.

Just as the prick of a needle pierced through the skin of her neck, she hoped that if they were trying to kill her again that they'd do it right this time.

Now

The look of bewilderment on their faces was almost comical. It might have been, if they were anyone else. If she were anyone else, and she hadn't had to shut off everything inside her just to be standing here before them.

The only weakness she could have in this reality she'd created was her family. Which is exactly why she'd avoided the whole lot of them for all these years.

And straighten her spine and looked Jadis' way again. "Stokes, load them up. When we reach the capital they need to be placed in separate holding cells until they can be questioned." With that, she spin on her heel and walked steadily back to the personal chopper she'd arrived on.

She briefly heard the prisoners kick up another fight, as the Warrant Officer and a few other soldiers maneuvered the pair up and towards the other bird. It was expected. They were who they were after all.

Once she reached her own helicopter she climbed in to join the newly appointed Command Sergeant Major Thorne. The woman looked upon the Councilor with skepticism but knew better than to speak without permission. She was one of the Councilors who'd been at Thorne's promotion, and though they'd only met that one time, the South African had quickly become aware of Councilor Greene's reputation.

As soon as the younger woman was in her seat the chopper took off. They sat having each other, and while Thorne was known to be a poker player, her face at the time gave away everything.

"Do you have something to ask me Thorne?" It was easier now, to play the role she's crafted and played with perfection, now that she was away from the members of her past. Nonchalant, confident, with a clear touch of arrogance. This was familiar. This was comfortable. This had no bearing on what she kept buried.

The Sergeant Major looked uncomfortable, probably knowing that she should just drop it, but it seemed her curiosity won out, her accent thick and steady despise her unease. "It wasn't Okafur that vouched for Grimes, was it?"

She blinked. She should have known. They wouldn't have promoted someone with half a brain. "No, it wasn't."

They rode the rest of the way back to the CRM in silence.