One World: Many Souls

Chapter 58: Claiming the Stage

Angel's Point of View:

"I can't believe we're doing this..."

"But we are, it's so exciting!"

"We're going on the road!"

My younger set of twins were eagerly waiting in the driveway of our home for their own personal tour bus to come and fetch them. The young girls had been working hard for the last few years doing small concerns around the Terians territory until recently when it was announced that they would be going on tour. They were excited, they were adults then. It was finally their time to shine after so many years of staying close to home.

But other houses would look out for them, and they had so much to see...

Granted... it was so hard to communicate how stressed I was about the entire thing. There was little I could do to hold my children back, even when I knew there was something out there that wanted them. It wasn't lost to me that someone was after our family since the attack on the girls five years ago. If it wasn't for Grammie... I don't know what would have happened to them. It still felt so close to me, the fear of losing them, when finding out from Enya what happened that night.

But in the same breath... I had to trust my girls. They were going with friends that they trusted and guards that the family had ordered for all of them. We tried to give them as much security as we could to keep them safe as they traveled. Their little bus and their training. They may not have been as combat focused as some of my other children, but they learned enough to keep them safe or get away until they could get help.

"Mom?"

Both my girls looked at me like they did all their lives. Still mimicking each other's movements, they both tilted their heads as they looked at me. I sighed, knowing that I was probably making them nervous about it all while we waited for their friends to get them. It was mid day and Sans, Joker, and Pristi were all gone to school at the time. I was on my own with them.

"I'm fine, girls, sorry." With a sigh, I pulled them both into my arms. "I'm just worried for you, as any mother would be. You're leaving the nest now, and it's getting quieter and quieter around here... I'm not used to a quiet house."

"Mom, you still have Joker and Pristi."

"And it's not like we're never coming back."

"We'll miss our home... and our family too much."

Sighing, I hugged them tighter at their words. "You're being too kind to me again girls... I know... it's still just so strange... this world hasn't been that quiet for me since it was just me and your aunt Frisk almost thirty years ago..."

It was actually almost fascinating to think about that. Has it truly been that long? But thinking back... I was twenty-three when I had my first set of twins... They were already onto their own careers, graduated from school and working... And Frisk and I had been alone since I was fifteen... it honestly had been thirty years since the beginning of this insane adventure we were on...

I still had Sans... so that made my heart still at ease when I thought about it all... and I was nowhere near ready to retire yet. I would still be plenty busy... but I would miss the moments of being a mother everyday... My job wouldn't end... but it wouldn't happen as often as I would wish...

My life had never been quiet... I was honestly worried I'd go stir crazy...

My thoughts were interrupted as the bus came up our long driveway. Decorated in a wild variety of pinks and purples, my girls saw their faces plastered on the side of the bus along with their band. I watched as the two of them cheered, almost jumping for joy until the bus stopped next to us.

"There it is! There it is Mom!"

"I see girls. I'm so happy to see you doing what you love."

In all actuality, the girls stayed home far longer than they needed to on my behalf. They were in their early twenties then, but stuck with local concerts until they hit age twenty. Then they planned for their first tour. I knew they were doing it for me. It was such a sweet gesture, but I couldn't hold them back anymore. They needed to move on with their lives. I knew there would still be problems... but it wouldn't be like it was before.

"Over here, Cali! I'm putting my stuff here!"

"I'm coming, Connie! Leave some space for me!"

The happy greetings and cries came from their friends above when they opened the windows and the girls raced to shove their stuff away. Climbing onto the truck, they shoved their things away before coming out one final time and hugging me.

"We love you Mom! We'll call a lot! Watch us, okay?"
"I love you two as well. Have fun. And I'll be watching any chance I can."

"Thank you!"

My two girls squeezed me tightly before running for the bus. Darting onto it, they dove by their fellow band members and eagerly waved to me outside the window. I waved back in response before I saw the bus turn around and leave. It was only once the girls were well out of sight that my more irritated feeling came out. The smile fell from my face and I was left feeling a heavy wave of empty nest syndrome come about me.

Before it left me in too foul of a mood... I walked to the garden to watch the flowers. Seeing their bright colors and smells kept me at bay... but it would only work for so long...

Arial's Point of View:

"Are you ready?"

"Shouldn't we... mention something to your Mom and Dad about... us... while we're here?"

Lexi asked a rather crucial question as we sat out in the car in the driveway of my parents home. While the thrill of it had been fun at the time with getting away with our relationship and them not knowing about it as teens... it had been almost six years from that point. I sighed while sitting there in uniform. I wish we could have, I would have loved to have mentioned that to my mother to get Lexi properly included in the Terians' house in case anything happened... but in the same breath... the important mission we had was much more important rather than telling my mother about us...

Even though I should have done so... it just didn't feel right.

"Let me make you a promise then." I turned to face Lexi who sat in the passenger seat of the vehicle with a curious gaze. "After this mission, we'll tell them. This is too important for us to think otherwise about other things, even though I really want to. And you know I keep my promises. After this, we'll have a proper wedding with our family and friends... but that probably means we won't be able to work together any more in the same division once we come out. Even if we proved that we can keep love life and work life separate..."

"Okay..." Lexi nodded at that comment. I could see she wasn't as happy about it as she would have been otherwise if I'd agreed to tell our parents... especially since our souls were bound together and we'd had an unofficial wedding ceremony... But it was only my twin and our close friends who knew...

"I promise it won't be long... and if Mom asks us about our souls, I'll tell her tonight. But... I don't think so with how serious this is. We're here on official business, remember?"

"I know, Ari... I know..."

"Let's get it over with."

Stepping out of the car, I could see light moving about in the kitchen as I'm sure our mother was preparing dinner for those who remained at the house. It was only herself, Dad, Joker and Pristi left. Such a small amount of people while things were changing and happening. And it didn't help that I knew Cali and Connie just left earlier that day to start their tour.

I could only imagine how things were feeling in the house, and I could already feel my mother's strong magic. I made sure to wrap Lexi's in mine so my mother wouldn't suspect us as I walked up to the front door. Knocking loudly against it, I could feel all activity stop as my father's magic bounced him in and out of my sensory field.

"Arial?! Lexi!?" My father ripped the door open to see both myself and Lexi there in our uniforms with our newest pins gathered from the magic division. I was a commander after only being six years involved... But I knew that was due to my prior training, affinity with magic, and the family name. And Lexi was right behind me as my right hand woman.

"Good evening, Mr. Terians." I spoke formally to my father as I stood at attention. "I apologize for the late disturbance to your home, but we request an audience with Mrs. Terians, the Head of House Terians. She should have been notified of our arrival."

"So they sent you then." My mother slowly approached as she wiped her hands clean of whatever she was working on with a towel. "Very well. We'll go up to my office. I hope this won't be a lengthy meeting. I'm not in the best of moods, so keep that in mind, Commander Terians."

Yikes... Mom really wasn't pleased. I was going to need to be careful with my words...

Following my mother up to the office up on the third floor, passing by those of my younger siblings who watched on in worried awe of seeing me in the full uniform, my mother sat down at her desk littered with papers. She sighed deeply once she was there and glared at me. I look I didn't get often as a child, but I wasn't there as her daughter at the moment, I was there as a representative of her army. Even if I was her daughter... I still had to act the way I was taught. And perform my duty to the utmost degree.

"Our apologies Ma'am, but we will get straight to the point." Turning to Lexi who had the documents in hand, she presented them to my mother. "In the latest stake out in concerns to missing people, we had a civilian working together with us to uncover an underground operation. From the army's findings, there has been discovery of a plot to use half human and half monster bred children as war machines against those of the common public. The women captured were being used to breed with multiple monster varieties as they escaped the underground. While we don't know any exact number of how many, we do have a speculated location of where this operation is taking place."

My mother quickly glanced over the paperwork, looking at the information in a new form of irritation. Her magic was already brimming with internal rage she kept at bay, though it was hard to miss. "And this speculated place?"

"The mansion of the branch family of House Terians. Silke Terians' home on the northern coast."

And that made my mother's eyes narrow at me rather than the papers.

"I hope that this information is concrete and not some farfetched play." Her words were slow and dangerous as she spoke to me. "It's one thing to mess with the family itself, but to accuse part of it by its own army is rather ill fitting. You need some damning evidence to provide me with a reason to grant you authorization to investigate the home of another member of any house, let alone our own."
"We wouldn't be here if we didn't have the proof for you Ma'am." Not letting her anger phase me, Lexi passed over some additional documentation to my mother. "Perhaps you will recall that of a personal doctor you've used in the past? An Olivia Havarti?"

"Of course I know that name, as do you." My mother snipped as she took the papers. "Get to the point."

"Her niece, Angelica Havarti, agreed to be a part of an undercover plot to uncover the missing women. She allowed herself to be of the same pattern of the missing women, alone, abandoned, homeless, and... pregnant with a half monster child. It was almost three months in before she was captured and we followed her signal to the mansion. She ditched her communicator in the truck she was in and the truck used at the mansion has gone in and out multiple times. There is a current team watching off property to see her coming in or off property. They are keeping their distance to be respectful of Mrs. Silke Terians, however, we believe that to be avid proof to at least allow a warrant to investigate her property."

My mother watched on with narrowed eyes at the two of us before looking down to the fully written report in her hands. We waited silently as she read the report with more care than before during her frustration. I could feel the nervousness of Lexi behind me, but the click of my boot heels made her take a deep breath. She wasn't alone facing my mother, it was the two of us together, and I would take the brunt.

"It appears you and your squad have done their research." My mother let out a slow and steady breath while she set down the documents. "And you're certain that Silke's home is being used to hold her?"

"We just received confirmation that she's still in the estate before we knocked on your door, Ma'am." Nodding to her, I stood strong while answering her questions and overpowering will. "The next step we have, if you allow us permission onto the estate, is essentially to find her and rescue her and any others we find. We also will be finding out the reason for their kidnapping."

Watching my mother carefully as she sat there, her eyes glazed over slightly as she thought about what was presented and proposed to her. I could see her mind reeling while debating over what would be the proper course of action. If things weren't as bad as they say, or if the girl wasn't there, it could cause legal issues and rifts in the family. Mom would have to face the brunt of it for authorizing the investigation. While she didn't have any issues with fighting a battle that needed to be battled, there were still a lot of legal issues that came if we didn't do enough research, if things weren't as what we've seen. If we were tricked.

It was messy all the way around.

"Fine... I see the point that you have made. And you have enough evidence to prove that Silke's home needs to be investigated." With a sigh, my mother gathered the documents and began to sign them. Granted, as she was signing the paperwork, her eyes darted up to narrow at us. "Even so, I still wish for you and your units to use the utmost caution and respect until otherwise. While I may not speak with Silke on many occasions, she's never given a reason to assume she's a part of anything. Treat this as a welfare check due to the evidence you found if you should come across her."

Basically, mother was telling us to be stealthy. And don't be caught unless you find something rather damning. That was easy enough if we got the schedule of the woman. I already was looking back to Lexi for her to research that later.

"Understood Mrs. Terians. We thank you for your advice and support."

"Don't thank me yet, Commander Terians." Handing over the documents back to my hands, my mother held them in place and I wasn't able to pull on them. She held me there with a serious look to her eyes, her pupils glowing. "I want frequent updates. That is non-negotiable. And when the army plans to invade I am to be informed so I can be called on if needed."

"Understood." I didn't dare move as she still held me in place. "Is there anything else you need to inform me of or confirm, Mrs. Terians?"

"Only two questions." She released the paperwork, allowing me to stand back up and pull the documents into my chest. I waited for her to say it. "Are there any further questions that you have for me, Commander Terians? And are you required to report anywhere else this evening or will this be your last assignment?"

"I have no other questions for you ma'am." Standing back up at attention, I briefly passed the paperwork to Lexi before facing my mother once more. "I will need to report your decision to the executives, but after that, I will be free. Lieutenant Sapphire shall be as well."

"Good. It seems my daughter and her best friend have come home for the evening and I'd be delighted to spend some time with them." My mother rose from her desk and began to walk to the stairs. "We will be having dinner shortly, thank you for the report."

Once my mother had gone down the stairs, Lexi almost jumped around me and struggled not to scream in my shoulder when she hugged me. "My god she is scary..."

"Trust me, I know." Rolling my eyes, I tried to soothe her fears by petting her hair. "I'll go report this. Get changed and join the others while Mom's still in a reasonable mood. I'll join you shortly."

"You promise you won't be long, right?"

"Of course. I'll just be reporting what Mom said. The paperwork can wait until tomorrow." Holding a finger to my lips before the woman, I slowly placed it against hers for an indirect kiss. It was as close as we could do for the time being. "I'll be right there."

Lexi hesitantly left me alone in the office while I made the call to my executive heading this operation. Trying to make quick work of what was happening, I was off the phone before I knew it and racing to see the others.

It was actually really wonderful to see my family again...

Witch's Note:

(Halloween couldn't help but feel antsy as she walked about her base for the umpteenth time that morning. It had been a rough week while many of the others had taken time to recover from what had taken place prior and prepare for what was to come.)

(Mystic Boy's room had been closed off to all personal for the time being, locked and Mystic Girl was the only ones with the key. It wasn't a factor that they didn't trust Sunset, who completed the orders of her dear friend faithfully, nor that of Chaos who fought and protected her with all he had, defended her when perhaps others had not from the betrayal, but rather… to keep people from lingering too long. And with the body of Mystic Boy dead… they couldn't offer a proper service to the poor soul. So, the room was kept locked and cold, to keep the body from perishing, from rotting, protected from the elements until they could make it back to their own base and give a true sendoff.)
(Some people didn't like this idea, but personal feelings came into the mix which made it hard to think logically. Another reason Halloween had the room locked away.)

(The focus had been entirely shifted to those of the active players in Halloween's court. With Shadow in the field and Dasansi's men working in her base, her focus had to shift to them to keep herself from thinking dark thoughts. The men were trapped there now for some reason. Unable to return to their own world. Halloween wouldn't lie and say she understood all the ramblings of the report that was made to her, but she tried. All she knew was that they had no place to go, and they had limited resources since their friends were cut off, and something more serious could be following them…)

(Returning to the command center and reading over the report sent her way, Halloween quickly responded to Shadow. Many thoughts going through her head as she tried to message him rather rapidly.)

Halloween Witch: Message received Shadow. Gather what you can, and if at all possible, destroy these supply lines. We need to remove all possibilities of them being able to prepare for a counter attack when we move in. We have only one week left. There is little time for us to move. Whatever you can take down, do it. If anyone else is able to assist you, I'll see if they can. Chaos might be able to help, and I will at least ask him. It may help with destroying and gathering what we desired. Keep up with your work, and I will send word if Chaos is able to help. Please send a map with coordinates if he or any others can jump out immediately.

(Cutting the connection to Shadow, Halloween darted away from her computer to go find Chaos. He was hidden in the deepest corners of the base, closes to the bottom level where the submarine had brought him up. Hidden in the darkest corners, away from people, she found him meditating as he had been since a week prior when he was last seen.)

Halloween: (She kneels next to him and keeps a small distance, speaking softly to him as to not startle him.) Chaos, I apologize for bothering you, but Shadow has found a weapon outpost that's feeding supplies to our old base. He's managed to get at least a few coordinates… but would you be willing to help him demolish those? With only a week left to go before we mobilize… taking them out will prevent our enemies from preparing for our counter attack. We could really use your help…

(She waited patiently for his answer, staying quiet. Knowing that perhaps this may be something he needed after all that happened…)

Time is out… this is the last week…

Crunch time is upon us… are you determined enough to handle it?

Be prepared to march… Our time has come…

No matter the scars we carry…