*ACHOO!*

Sebastian sneezed heavily still half asleep because of something that just brushed against his nose. Making him push a painful grunt.

*Dad sneezing!*

He sneezed again feeling once more something hairy brushing against his face once more making him growl again like a troglodyte bear that would have been awakened in his den. Feeling the softness and comfort of his bed under his back and on his chest he could feel his sheets although he also felt a weight against him. Quickly he opened his eyes to discover what was bothering him so much. His eyes swept over his bed as the light from the huge bay window blinded him in the morning, the dawn having just broken over the desert. At least he had gotten up at the same time as usual, around four in the morning. His eyes stopped at his right, against him in his double bed was a figure he recognized immediately. Red was sleeping on his bed. A drop of cold sweat beaded along his forehead as his heart stopped. He lifted the sheets slightly and could see that he was still wearing his underwear, he looked at the peacefully sleeping young woman to see her still dressed except for her red coat which was next to her bed, then he sighed with relief, letting his head fall back against his pillow knowing that he had done nothing last night. Alcohol had a tendency to attack his memory when he abused it. Blackouts after a party were far from being something unknown to him, but this time he had all the memories of what he had done last night. Then he hit himself in the face, his cheeks abundantly red, remembering everything he had said to Nearl during the evening. Fortunately the Kuranta hadn't taken it the wrong way or he would have blamed himself. Enjoying her company as a person and a friend, he would have been hard pressed to see her turn her back on him because of his drunken behavior. He heard the girl's wolf ears twitching and thumping against the sheets, surely stimulated by the sound of the doctor's hand against her face. He took a second to look at the young woman, she was lying on her side facing Sebastian, but her head was facing the end of the bed and was the reason why the lupo's wolf tail was brushing against her face. The appendage wagging by itself even though the young woman was asleep. He looked at the face of Red, to see her asleep in the biggest of the peace her soft and calm breathing, every time she exhaled pushing a light noise quite simply adorable. He first wondered how the lupo had gotten into his room, then remembered that he had not locked the door of his room, then wondered why she had decided to sleep with him in the first place. He asked himself the question for several dozen seconds without finding an answer, deciding to give up he got up from his bed and saw that the young woman was frowning her facial expression much less calm as she tried desperately to grab something, where Sebastian was before, seeing that he took his still warm pillow and put it gently in the arms of the young woman who hugged it tightly, her tail wagging even more in his back.

Sebastian: 'Is it really her Projekt Red?'

Remembering that he had the young woman's file, the doctor walked down the stairs to his library and pulled a file from his archives, the file of the assassin lupo. He began to read the file quickly, the service records which were not top secret for him, the opinions of the other operators etc. And it was terrifying to say the least. Perhaps more so than his own service record.

Sebastian: 'Red is and always has been a formidable assassin, she may have been something else at one point in her life, but the fact is that as her personal psychologist, I can say that there is no hope for her to become anything other than what she is now and it is up to the doctor to accept that reality. -Dr. Kal'tsit' ...You bitch...

The doctor let out a bitter breath. She was young and still had her whole life ahead of her, yet she was expected to never be anything in her life other than a cold-blooded killer? And as if he would let that happen. He carefully examined the photo that came with the file, the lupo emerging from a confrontation covered in blood and flaps of flesh, her facial expression resembling the race whose features she shared. Then he lowered the file he held in his hand to look at Red, who was still hugging his pillow rubbing his head against the fabric hungrily like a pet rubbing its head against its master.

Sebastian: '...Yeah, she doesn't look that evil...'

Looking at the time on his alarm clock he decided to let the young woman sleep judging that it was far too early for a normal person to get up. He decided to go and take a shower, paying attention to the noise he was making so as not to wake up the unexpected occupant of his quarters, who seemed to be unawakable by the noise he was making. Dressing in his sportswear, which was simply his military clothes and a simple T-shirt, he grabbed his sword which was resting in the coat rack and then opened a closet hidden in one of the walls to take out a water sharpening stone and a cloth. He left his room, taking one last look at his bed, and decided to leave the door unlocked, praying that no one would think to enter his quarters. But knowing that he was probably one of the first people awake on the entire ship he decided to test his luck for once and started to make his way to the gym as he did every morning, a few minutes walk and he was there. Deciding to kneel down next to a crate and put his sharpening stone down he ran water over the stone and took his blade, and with strength and grace began to sharpen his weapon, leaving his thoughts drifting. He thought of Nearl and especially of their training. A new daily routine for both of them, but one thing that always surprised him was that the kuranta's blows were getting stronger day after day. And he was sure, she became more powerful with each of their fights. One thing he had learned about the people of this world, and how they progressed. They all had a potential, a limit to how much power they could reach. Power could be acquired in many ways, physical training, watching fights or even receiving promotions. Fang was a good example, after spending a whole night watching battle and training videos she came back the next morning to training hitting twice as hard as the day before. strange for sure. But that's how it worked.

Letting his thoughts drift a little more, his body was on autopilot while his mind was racing, formulas and drug solutions whirling around in his head. After all, the condition of the infected was not going to stop getting worse all of a sudden until he regained his memories to start working on a cure. However, at that moment he was thinking more about the drug that would allow him to pass the Oripathy scans. The solution was rather simple on paper. The magnetic waves emitted by the originium could be blocked by a certain type of polymer whose shape was made so that these waves would reflect on the polymer and not be detected by the scans. He had already thought about how to make the polymer not harmful to the body, and had found the solution by changing the chemical formula. So of course he wasn't going to create a block of plastic and ask someone to swallow it to be able to pass a scanner, first of all it wouldn't work and it might be unpleasant to chew. And once again he had found the solution, the polymer he wanted could be created by a genetically modified algae, then he had to modify the algae so that it too would not be harmful to the body of an ancient, then to make it able to reproduce inside the organism without doing too much, then to modify it so that it can disappear from the organism after a few hours and finally to make the algae easily cultivable and that one can put it in capsules.

A standard scientist might have torn his hair out in front of such a task, and after many, many tests, starts from scratch, technological advances, and failures, maybe after two thousand years the scientist could have succeeded. He still had a week or two of work to finish it. An almost photographic memory, an overdeveloped intelligence and more medical knowledge than a billion lives could learn. All this to make sure Nearl's sister was okay and therefore the radiant knight was okay. She was his friend and he was willing to go through hell for those who dared to open their hearts to the doctor. A few had, but the rest he could see every time he walked down a hallway, they were scared of him like a monster. He would be lying if he said he hadn't heard the rumors about the horrible things he had done before his amnesia.

He stopped sharpening his weapon on the stone and looked at his reflection in the blade.

And he would be lying even more if he said that it didn't sadden him to be considered the last of the monsters on Rhodes Island, when he owed his life to them and was willing to fight the world for Rhodes and what it stood for because their beliefs were also his own. But still he was feared. If only he could stop inspiring fear in those he considered his comrades... He wasn't asking to be liked, just that the members of Rhodes Island stop being afraid of him or hating him.

A tear fell on the metal of the blade.

Hearing the sound of the drop of water hitting the reinforced iridium brought him out of the trance he was in. His senses returning to full capacity he heard a heartbeat in one of the corridors he instantly recognized, a smile forming on his lips. He wiped his watery eye and took control of his body to stop the production of more tear fluid. The doors of the gym opened with the sound of metal plates clanging together and he stood up, facing the young woman who had just entered, a large, bushy blonde tail wagging gracefully behind her back, her hair tied ironically in a ponytail the same color as the beautiful fur on her animal ears and tail. And eyes. Eyes similar to the sun, not only because of their golden color but also because of the pleasant warmth that her gaze brought.

Nearl: *Yawn* Hello Seb...

Greeted the kuranta who stretched, dark circles almost invisible under her eyes.

Sebastian: Hi Margaret, was it a rough night?

He said with humor in his voice as he saw the tiredness of his friend and she started to laugh slightly, while he rested his forearms on the guard of his sword that he maintained the point towards the ground.

Nearl: Please shut up... I'm not the one who has been serving us drinks until late...

The doctor raises an eyebrow at the young woman.

Sebastian: Come on doctor, it can't hurt us to have a last drink...

He said, imitating the voice of the knight of Kazimierz, reminding her of her words from last night. Then a crazy idea appeared in his mind and he decided to put it into practice.

Sebastian: You know if you wanted to take me to your room last night there were easier ways than making me drink until you could take me there...

The young woman froze completely on the spot, the face of Sebastian not letting escape the least trace of humor. Then he decided to put the last nail in the coffin of the kuranta.

Sebastian: Pervert...

The face of the knight started to slowly redden as she started from the bottom and ended up red as a tomato and her facial expression changed at the same time to embarrassment.

Nearl: N-no I swear that wasn't my intention! I-I-I...

She realized how red she was and hid her face with her hands, the doctor had his hand blocking his mouth from bursting into laughter, a laugh that soon escaped him anyway, the giant laughing to tears at the young woman's reaction.

Sebastian: Sorry Margaret I just wanted to tease you, it was too easy-

He was stopped in his sentence by the war hammer of the knight who struck his skull thrown to full power projecting him of a blow to several meters and making him roll on the ground. Then, with such agility that it seemed impossible, the doctor caught the mace in flight and stood up while throwing the weapon to its owner, the kuranta catching her weapon with one of her arms, and he could see it on her face, she was not about to laugh. And he knew it even more because the blow he had just received could have reduced the skull of a normal person to a nice raspberry jelly.

Nearl: You are going to regret what you did to me this morning... I won't hold back...

The doctor blocks one nostril of his nose with his thumb and turns his head to sneeze a bloody mucus.

Sebastian: Oh oh...? Then I won't hold back either.

He swung his sword towards the ground and removed all the water that was left on it. There was a second of silence where they remained motionless, then they charged at each other at such a speed that gusts of wind were created around them, until their weapons clashed making sparks fly because of the friction of the metals, the heavy sound of the weapons hitting each other resounded in the gymnasium, gusts of air being projected behind each of the combatants because of the phenomenal force of the impact.

Sebastian: Give me a decent fight.

A smile appeared on his lips.

And after nearly an hour of a clash between titans with blades, shields, fists, feints, dodges, counters and use of arts the two opponents reached their limit. Sebastian had a few broken ribs not to change and a small trickle of blood running down the side of his skull. Nearl she had only slight cuts but she had been able to heal them with her arts, an advantage she had over Sebastian, but she felt she had used them too much and risked worsening her Oripathy if she continued. But today, yes today, she had finally come up with a plan to defeat him. Hours of training had taught her enough about her opponent to come up with a way to defeat him, and that plan began now. Sebastian charged at her again ready to attack, beginning his offensive with a horizontal strike using both hands to strike in an arc. Normally she would have dodged the attack but this time she decided to block Sebastian's blade with her shield. Already sensing the doctor's next attack, Nearl moved her shield and blocked a thrust at the last moment, surprising the giant with emerald eyes. And that's when the knight began to put her plan into action. One last time she used her arts, feeling the originium crystals on her skin giving her unbearable pain, even though she was using her mace as an arts catalyst the overuse tended to have a cost. She gritted her teeth as a winged horse appeared in her back made of light the creature dazzled Sebastian making him close his eyes and blind him. The first step had been successfully executed. But she knew that sight was not the only sense that Sebastian possessed and she knew that if he was blinded he could still hear it moving around him. This was confirmed in the second when the doctor with his eyes closed gave a diagonal stroke with his sword, starting from the bottom right in Nearl's direction. The knight of Kazimierz dodged again at the last moment. Emboldened by her training and drawing more and more energy from her reserves she now had the speed to dodge Sebastian's sword strikes from time to time. With phenomenal speed she moved into one of the doctor's blind spots, brought her shield close to the side of his head and slammed her mace with all her might against her shield next to the doctor's ear.

*BONG*

Feeling a ringing in his ears the doctor was now temporarily deaf and blind. Surprised, he smiled and closed his eyes as he was left without evidence of what was happening around him.

Sebastian: 'It seems I underestimated you Margaret Nearl...'

The young woman's mace slammed into the doctor's liver. The shockwave of the blow resonated in the organ and hit all the nerves, too late to take control of his body and cut the nervous system, he fell forward, his abdominal muscles failing. Then he hit the ground with no energy left in his body. Seeing him fall to the ground Nearl's eyes widened.

Nearl: Seb! Seb!

But it was too late, he could not hear or see her. A normal person would have irreversible damage to his retina and eardrums, he would have his senses cut off for a few minutes before the internal wounds healed themselves, but now he ran out of energy. And he fainted, his mind falling into darkness.

He didn't know what was happening, but it felt like an eternity had passed. He regained consciousness, feeling his head rest on something incredibly soft, while something brushed against the side of his body and his hair. He opened his eyes and was blinded by the light of the ceiling spotlights, but he recognized a blonde figure. And he understood the position he was in.

Nearl: You are finally awake...

Sebastian: How long was I out?

Nearl: I don't know myself, I collapsed, and woke up a few seconds ago... 'His hairs are so soft...'

She continued to run her hand through her hair as the doctor's head rested on the kuranta's thighs like a pillow. Her broad blonde tail rested along the doctor's body as he lay on the floor. The latter looked at his bracelet, which was normally used to take his vital signs that also had the function of watch, he must have been asleep for about ten minutes, and the time for their morning training to end was almost here. He lowered his wrist and looked Nearl in the eye.

Sebastian: Am I dead?

Nearl: No. Why?

Sebastian: Because I see an angel...

The kuranta's cheeks flushed as she turned her head to avoid looking at him.

Nearl: S-silly...

The young woman's tail moved a little closer to his arm involuntarily, brushing against his skin as if the kuranta's tail wanted to wrap around his arm.

Sebastian: So you won today... What do you want as a favor...

Another routine they had established with their training. The winner of the fight could ask the other for whatever he wanted for the day, fights that often resulted in Sebastian's victory.

Nearl: I-I... I'd like the same thing as usual please...

The knight's cheeks became slightly redder.

Sebastian: Oh... Do you like it that much...?

Nearl: I just... I find it extremely pleasant...

Sebastian: Same time as usual?

Nearl: Y-yes please...

She could feel her animal parts and the hair on them tickling in anticipation. Then the doctor got up from his comfy pillow and held out his hand to the kuranta to help her up, which the knight accepted, grabbing the doctor's hand and being pulled onto her legs, then she took advantage of being on her feet to remove the dust that she had all over her.

Sebastian: It was wonderful for today. Nothing to complain about. Next time I'll add a little more difficulty.

He ran his hand through his hair by reflex and soon realized that there was no blood on the side of his head and even less wound when normally it should not have regenerated yet, intrigued he raised an eyebrow at the young woman and to confirm his suspicions asked:

Sebastian: Margaret you used your arts to heal me...?

Nearl: Yes, why-

She was cut off when Sebastian hit the top of her head with the side of his hand.

Nearl: Ouch...

She rubbed the spot where the doctor had hit her and then looked into his eyes to see that he wasn't very happy.

Sebastian: You are seriously unconscious... You're lucky that your Oripathy is in stasis and yet you still decide to try your luck just a bit more...

The kuranta felt as if she was being lectured by Shining or Nightingale, and it made her head drop. While Sebastian went to get some bottled water from the vending machine a few meters away, he continued talking.

Sebastian: You could have left me there while my wounds healed. I'll add an Oripathy check for you on your schedule.

Nearl: It's just that you looked pretty bad and I wanted to do you a favor.

Sebastian: Well then you could have gone and got Gavial or even Sussuro who must be awake already. But please don't take that kind of risk for something so simple, you can't imagine how upset I would be if you turned into a crystal statue because I got hurt.

Nearl: Doc, I appreciate it. But this is my job, to heal people, to help. So even if it has to hurt me... Even if I have to-

As her voice tended toward a fatal determination she received another blow on the top of her head, cutting her off from her words, and then she rubbed her head again with an annoyed but adorable expression forming on her face.

Sebastian: I know and I probably would do the same... But please. There are some risks worth taking but I'm not one of them. So take care of yourself a little. If you won't do it for me, do it for Shining, Liz, your sister or your aunt.

He handed her a bottle of water with a smile, the kuranta feeling her cheeks redden slightly. The man had a way with words. Nearl took the water bottle and nodded.

Nearl: I-I'll think about it thanks Sebastian...

Sebastian: You're welcome.

The two took their water bottles and sat down on one of the benches in the gym, both exhausted.

Sebastian: So to change the subject, you told me that you made peace with your sister but you didn't tell me what happened.

Near: So I told her that I was afraid for her, because of the difficulty of the tournament. And how horrible everything around it was. I... I even told her how it affected me.

Sebastian: So what?

Then the pained expression on her face changed to amusement and she let out a thin laugh.

Nearl: It shocked her to see that I wasn't the all-powerful, unflappable goddess she thought I was. But still, she refused to give up. *Laughs* I swear she has a more relentless spirit than I do.

Sebastian: A completely stubborn blonde kuranta doesn't ring a bell...

He said with a smile, Nearl turned to him and gave him a friendly punch in the arm.

Nearl: She's not going to give up anytime soon.

Sebastian: So what do we do?

Nearl: She's my sister. I'm not going to force her to do something she doesn't want to do so the most I can do is help her.

Sebastian: So we stick to the plan.

Nearl: Right. Where are you on the meds?

Sebastian: I'll be done early, I'm supposed to get the access to the labs early next week.

Nearl: So we're good for step one. What about the others?

Sebastian: Stage three won't be a problem, it's just that it will take me a while. But it's stage two that might be a bit more complicated. Stage four I can handle as well.

Nearl: And stage five?

Sebastian: Five will be okay too, I can handle whatever happens.

The young woman nodded and stretched, earning a crack of her joints, and looked up at the ceiling with a smile on her lips.

Nearl: This plan is completely insane.

Sebastian: Crazy is my middle name.

Nearl: Really?

Sebastian: I don't even remember how old I am. Do you think I remember that kind of detail?

He got up and went to get his sharpening tools that he had left on a crate, while the kuranta took her vibrating phone out of one of her pockets and picked it up.

Nearl: Aunt Zofia...

Whislash: Hi Margaret, I hope you don't mind that i call you if you are with your boyfriend this morning...

Nearl: He's not my boyfriend!

she yelled red-faced again, as Sebastian turned to her with a smile on his face and she knew that if she wasn't on the phone he would have taken the opportunity to tease her.

Whislash: He's not your boyfriend, yet!

Sebastian: I like your aunt she has a sense of humor.

Whislash: Oh~ Is that his voice I hear? I can already imagine what he looks like, don't give up on a man like that Margaret...

Nearl: Please stop Zofia...

Sebastian waved at her, which she returned, and then headed to his quarters to begin his workday.

- Later-

Amiya: *Jiiiiiiiiiiiiii*

Sebastian A donkey, don-key, D-O-N-K-E-Y

Amiya: A bunny, bu-nny, B-U-N-N-Y

The two looked into each other's eyes, their faces an inch apart, their eyebrows furrowed and their gazes so intense that it was as if they were trying to hypnotize each other into believing they were right.

Sebastian: There's only one way to decide the question, but you won't let me see it.

Amiya: And I won't accept it! And I like carrots, that's proof good enough...

Sebastian: Bunnies prefer green vegetables and eat the green of carrots, the carrot itself is not good for their health. Donkeys on the other hand like to eat carrots.

A drop of cold sweat fell on the girl's forehead and she lost an argument.

Amiya: It's no use anyway, I won't let you look at it.

The doctor sighed and pulled his head back to search through the files in his library, while the cautus took a sip of her coffee the hot drink giving her a slight boost, as she sat on one of the sofas, a pen in her hand and a mountain of paperwork on the coffee table in front of her that she was filling out with the doctor. The major disadvantage to being among the leaders of Rhodes Island was felt in their wrists as they wrote.

Sebastian: I don't understand why it bothers you, I mean you're the only one hiding it, and it's not like it's something taboo after all Margaret lets me do it.

Amiya: Margaret? Oh yes Miss Nearl, but why do you use her name?

Sebastian: Because she is my friend.

He said nonchalantly flipping through the file of one of their next recruits, then he felt a chill down his spine and turned his head towards Amiya to see that she had a vein appear on her forehead as all smiles had disappeared from her face as well as all human warmth, her face taking on the same icy coldness as her eyes.

Amiya: What are you doing with Miss Nearl exactly...?

Sebastian: We train in the morning, and then it depends on who wins... And why are you asking me? You're from the L.G.D. ? And don't get so worked up about that vein on your forehead that looks like the grumpy cat.

The cautus came out of the trance she was in and shook her head left and right.

Amiya: When you say the grumpy cat you mean the doktah Kal'tsit?

Sebastian: Who else?

he asked, looking at her and raising an eyebrow.

Sebastian: Here, can you pass me the Blue Poison file?

He asked, holding out his hand, the young woman with the blue eyes giving him the file that the doctor read quickly, not needing more than a simple scan of the eyes to read the content.

Sebastian: Poor girl... Too afraid to touch anyone or they'll be poisoned... She must be lonely...

He closed the file and put it back in his bookcase.

Sebastian: Amiya, I have a question.

Amiya: mh?

Sebastian: What was our relationship? Before I disappeared?

he asked, now facing Amiya, leaning his back against the bookcase.

Amiya: Oh uh... To be honest you're taking me by surprise doctor. To me... You were and are the most important person in the world. Sometimes you treated people with coldness or contempt, but I was a special case, you were always gentle and kind to me, and you took care of me like nobody else, until the end...

Sebastian: And do you prefer the old version of me?

Amiya: No!

The doctor flinched slightly at the sudden outburst of the brunette in front of him.

Amiya: Excuse me... I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss the memories we had together, all the good times, the pains, the joys, the laughter, the sadness. But I wouldn't trade the you of now for the you of then even for everything in the world...

As she had spent the last few seconds looking at her palms she looked up at the giant to see him with a smile on his face and almost teary eyes.

Sebastian: Thank you that makes me happy to hear that. I've had brain scans, and other than the memory I got at Chernobog which shows a glimmer of hope I don't have much chance of regaining my memories, so I'm sorry Amiya, but I'm going to have to assume I'll never be able to regain those memories.

The cautus felt her heart clench at a reality that was hard to swallow. As the doctor, who until now had kept his arms crossed, raised his fist and clenched it with all his might, staring at it.

Sebastian: But I looked at Chernobog's pre-operation reports and if it wasn't for you pounding your fist on the table I would still be in the freezer. So it's because of you that I'm here today Amiya I literally owe my life to you and you were the only one willing to believe in me in the beginning. So if I can't get my memories back I promise I'll give you twice as much as I've given you so far to pay you back.

At first the young Cautus was surprised by the giant's words but after a second or two gave her best smile.

Amiya: Thank you so much dokutah!

The doctor nodded with a smile and both of them went back to their work.

...

Sebastian: Amiya I was thinking about it with all that we said. Reassure me you are not my daughter?

He asked paralyzed by the apprehension of the answer he was going to receive.

...

Amiya: Of course not! Damn it doktah I am only five years younger than you!

The giant breathed a big sigh of relief.

Sebastian: You reassure me. But five years? My God, I'm really that young...

Amiya: You sure look older than you are.

Sebastian: Thank you for telling me that I look old.

He says with a depressed face and a cold tone of voice.

Amiya: N-no, that's not what I meant, forgive me! It's just that your beard, your height and your hard look don't make you look like someone so young, I don't think you look old and I'm sure that anyone else thinks like me.

...

Sebastian: And you weren't my wife either?

...

Amiya: N-no ! But why do you ask?!

She exclaimed, her face completely red.

Sebastian: But can you imagine yourself in my place?! Leaving your wife and child behind for four years and not remembering it when you come back?! Seriously, I don't know if I could sleep at night knowing that, so I might as well ask.

- Two weeks earlier -

Kal'tsit: Amiya, if Dr. Sebastian ever asks you who I am, you tell him I was just a colleague. And ask the others to do the same, and not to tell anyone else.

Amiya: What? But why wouldn't doktah remember you? You were almost mar-

Kal'tsit: Do as I say, Amiya. Anyway, it was only "almost".

She said as she caressed the top of the cautus' head, a sad smile forming on her lips as a tear fell down her cheek.

Amiya: 'I'm sorry doktah Kal'tsit.'

Kal'tsit: No, you didn't have any family or known relationship.

Sebastian: Well, I can sleep well now.

Then the two colleagues went back to work, an hour and a half ticking away on the clock, both managing to be much more productive working together than on their own.

Sebastian: The LS-3 operation? But I thought we obtained the contract for LS-4.

Amiya: Yes, but we have to finish it one last time. It should be after lunch to finish the contract and get to LS-4.

Sebastian: *Sigh* I swear they are ripping us off with their stupid conditions.

Amiya: Hehe...

Sebastian: But you're the only unit above three stars for deployment, are you sure you'll be okay without my help?

Amiya: Yes, PRTS has recorded the latest deployments and your orders we should be able to manage.

Sebastian: Then good luck with the operation.

Amiya: Thank you dokutah.

A second after she finished her sentence, the cautus' stomach rumbled loud enough to be heard throughout the room, slightly embarrassing the young woman.

Sebastian: Well, it's time for dinner.

Amiya: Indeed... Do you want to come with me to the cafeteria?

Sebastian: No thanks, I was going to eat here.

He walked up the stairs to the living area of his quarters and headed for the kitchen area.

Sebastian: Do you want a plate of what I'm going to make?

Amiya: Are you sure you'll be able to cook doktah?

The cautus asked uncertainly remembering that time the doctor had devoured one of Vanilla's originium slugs and called it delicious after they had spent a long day on the battlefield as if the doctor's sanity had hit rock bottom at that point.

Sebastian: Don't worry, I've already tasted it, it's very good.

Amiya: Then I'll have some...

She accepted the doubt in her voice, so as not to offend the doctor. But soon after a handful of minutes of hearing the various noises of the kitchen and smelling the sweet fragrance of the spices, the smell itself had opened her appetite and had chased away all her prejudices. Then quickly the noises stopped and the doctor arrived with two plates still steaming in his hands, the even more tempting smell already started to make the cautus salivate, then the giant put the plate in front of Amiya on the low table along with some cutlery. The contents of the plate were divided in two, on the right side a white rice with a coriander leaf for decoration, and on the left side of the plate a kind of stew of minced meat and beans with a red color and a spicy but sweet smell.

Sebastian: Enjoy your meal...

Amiya: Thanks to you too.

Without further ado Amiya threw herself on her meal taking on her fork a mouthful of stew and rice and putting it in her mouth receiving immediately an explosion of flavor in the palate making a noise of happiness then the cautus came out her tongue slightly sore because of the spices and her face slightly red because of the same thing, the giant laughing slightly.

Amiya: ah! ah! hot hot hot!

Sebastian: Here, have some water.

A/N: Don't bother bringing me your science saying that water doesn't work to soothe the spices because I know it.

Amiya grabbed the glass Sebastian had just handed her and rinsed her mouth before breathing a sigh of relief and turning to the giant with emerald eyes, the azure eyes of the cautus being filled with sparks.

Amiya: Wow doktah it's delicious what is it?

Sebastian: Chili con carne. I read about it in an Iberia recipe book. 'Actually I've been making it for billions of years.'

Amiya: Do you have cookbooks here?

The doctor with his mouth full just nodded and finished his mouthful before pointing to his bookcase.

Sebastian: Yes, on the fourth row.

Amiya: You have so many books here.

Sebastian: And on everything. The first and second rows are all scientific books, the third row is all fiction, historical books and so on. And the fourth row has a little bit of everything, cooking, languages, even school books.

Amiya: And the last two rows?

Sebastian: I don't know I didn't even look at the books in those rows there-

*Sheesh*

The door of his office suddenly opened to reveal a young liberi with brown feathers and breathless, sensing that something was wrong the doctor spoke immediately.

Sebastian: Plume, what's going on?

The young woman, though out of breath, stood to attention.

Plume: Doctor, you are urgently needed in briefing room number one.

Knowing that it was necessarily for an operation that he was summoned to the briefing room, the doctor got up and went to get his sidearm and holster from his office and when he came back to the door to leave, his bodyguard gave him his sword that she had just taken from the coat rack, earning a nod of gratitude from the giant.

Sebastian: Thanks Plume, Amiya see you later.

And without another word the doctor ran off leaving the two young women behind.

Amiya: Wow he's in a hurry.

Plume: Sorry miss Amiya but i must go now.

Then the cautus alone in the office stood up from the couch and approached the bookshelf, she crouched at the last two rows and picked a random book from the last row, strangely enough it didn't had a name on the cover but a six digit number. The curious Amiya opened the book in the middle of it, her eyes on the book. And her cheeks reddened.

- Elsewhere on Rhodes Island-

Three women were walking next to each other, the The followers, a group of fighters helping the infected through their travels and currently on Rhodes Island. Nearl led the other two, Nightingale and Shining.

Nightingale: Any idea why they called us into the briefing room in the middle of our break?

Nearl: Not a clue.

Shining: I can't see anything other than an emergency operation.

Nearl: I hope I didn't get too tired this morning... My legs and hips are still sore...

The kuranta muttered to herself.

Nightingale: You mean one of your famous training sessions with the doctor?

Nearl: Yes, why?

Asked the knight of Kazimierz, not realizing what was wrong with her words.

Nightingale: Because some would think otherwise...

Shining: You often speak of Mr. Sebastian Margaret...

Nightingale: Wait a minute, you can see her under her usual mask of an unflappable woman, but she changes completely when she's with him.

Shining: Really?

The two sarkaz smirked as they looked at each other with the same idea blossoming in their minds.

Nearl: Don't even try to tease me about it.

Right away the idea in the sarkaz's head died.

Nightingale: Tell me Shining, why do you call the doctor Mr. Sebastain and not doctor or Sebastian like everyone else.

The tall sarkaz tightened her grip on her scepter.

Shining: When I knew him in Kazdel, he was far from being or behaving like a doctor, so it's just a habit.

Elusive about her past as always. Shining was her own person. There was a second of silence and then the white-haired sarkaz's eyes fixed on the appendage on Nearl's back.

Shining: Is it just me, Margaret, or have you started taking care of your tail in secret lately?

The kuranta gasped slightly, a sound of surprise escaping her mouth as her hair stiffened.

Nearl: What? No...

Shining: Really? She used to be all messy and you used to wash her along with the rest of your body. But now it's beautiful and well-brushed.

Nightingale: And it smells like soap. Can I touch it? It looks so soft.

Shining: I'd like that too.

The two sarkaz were already putting their hands together without waiting for the kuranta's answer.

Nearl: N-no! Wait!

The two sarkaz put their hands down and started brushing. The kuranta did not move. Contrary to what she expected, she didn't feel anything extraordinary. Just the skin, against one of her animal parts. Not an explosion of happiness and pleasure like the doctor's touch, but something simple and forgettable, intrigued the young woman touched the fur of her tail herself to confirm.

Shining: wow how soft...

Nearl: Yes...

Shining: Well, let's go before we're late. Frankly I don't understand why you're so bothered about taking care of your tail. Or your ears for that matter, they look well cared for too.

The blonde ears of the young woman wagged slightly as if by reflex without control of the kuranta. Taking care of their animal parts, a hobby for most, a passion for some, but it was something that almost everyone enjoyed. Almost everyone, because some people like Nearl thought it was a waste of time for an ordinary body part, well it was until a while ago.

Shining: I don't hear Liz being embarrassed when we talk about the wax she puts on her horns.

Nightingale: Well I didn't expect you to notice so soon. I bought a whole jar of it from Closure and she charged me a lot for it, but I like the way it makes them look shiny. What about you Shining?

Shining: I just tithe them.

Nightingale: Wow really? The result is perfect.

Shining: It takes precision and strength, like a sword stroke.

The three members of the followers entered the briefing room through a large automatic door, the room was large with bleachers, enough to accommodate several dozen people, and extremely dark, lit only by the bluish light of the holographic table in the middle of the room. Around this table was Dr. Kal'tsit, arms crossed looking at the holographic map, next to her the head of the Rhodes Island engineering department Ada "Closure" Church.

A vampire sarkaz, more characterized by her thirst for money than her thirst for blood unlike Warfarin. She too was looking at the holographic map but was the first to notice the arrival of the three young women, waving and smiling at them, which the feline next to her noticed and was finally able to see that the fighters had arrived.

Kal'tsit: Mrs. Nearl, Shining, Nightingale. You know I didn't call you here just to deprive you of your meal. I'm sorry, but you're leaving on an emergency operation right after the briefing.

Near!: What's this all about?

Kal'tsit: I'd like to wait for the doctor to arrive before we start the briefing, he should be here any second.

Shining: Is the doctor coming?

Asked the sarkaz with surprise in her voice.

?: ah... I wondered what the famous doctor look like.

The three young women turned in surprise to the bleachers, surprised by the voice of an occupant of the room they had not seen, a pink-haired anaty, a former assassin of Kazimierz whom the Followers and Nearl in particular knew well, her presence erased by her talents as an assassin.

Then, as if to echo from the other side of one of the doors, the occupants of the room could hear the heavy footsteps of the giant who was running. Then the doctor passed through the door, bending to enter, his green eyes shining in the dim light of the room.

Sebastian: You'll excuse me, I thought it best to take my weapons in a hurry.

Kal'tsit: You did the right thing.

The giant's gaze swept across the room, to see those he knew and those he didn't, to stop on the white-haired sarkaz approaching the middle of the room where everyone was gathered.

Sebastian: Hello everyone. Mrs. Shining is it, I think this is the first time we've met since I arrived.

He held out his hand to her with a smile on his lips so that they could shake hands but the young woman remained paralyzed because of the man in front of her, no doubt it was him. He was just as she remembered him but he treated her as if they had never met but after the two seconds of paralysis Shining received a gentle nudge from Nearl to bring her back down to earth which worked, the hesitant sarkaz shook hands with the doctor.

Shining: Indeed, I don't know what took so long for us to meet.

She had turned down every opportunity to meet him.

Then the giant turned to the anaty who had just come down the bleachers and was approaching the Gravel licking her lips.

Sebastian: Nice to meet you too, Ms. Gravel.

He held out his hand to her as well, but she ignored it and moved too close for a handshake, then in a gesture with a speed and agility befitting an assassin she jumped towards the doctor, wrapped her arms behind the giant's neck like a snake and pressed her lips to the doctor's, quickly separating and falling back to the ground.

...

Everyone was in shock, no one spoke, no one moved, not even the doctor who remained completely frozen like a statue as his face gradually turned red.

Gravel: A problem doctor~? Oh don't be surprised, that's just how I say hello~...

She was lying shamefully, except for the tone of her voice which seemed constantly cheerful every part of her was cold to those she met and she too had red on her cheeks and the look of a predator on her prey.

There was another second of silence. Then the frozen doctor toppled backwards and fell to the floor like an inanimate object, his 150 kilograms hitting the floor creating a heavy thud in the hall and a tremor on the floor, his brain had simply stopped working.

Nearl: Holy god Seb!

The young woman was the first to change from a statue state to an active state and she went to help Sebastian who was on the ground unconscious. Closure Nightingale and Shining were too embarrassed to know what to do, Kal'tsit had a vein on her forehead that was about to burst and Gravel didn't care.

Kal'tsit: 'I will kill her, I will kill her, I will kill her, I will kill her, I will kill her, I will kill her, I swear I will kill her!'

-5 strange minutes later-

The doctor was now on his feet his embarrassment showing as he leaned on the holographic table. He coughed into his hand to regain attention and placed it back on the table.

Sebastian: My apologies, Doctor Kal'tsit, what is the reason for this brifieng?

Kal'tsit: Ada.

Closure: Last night we received an encrypted distress signal. I spent all night and this morning decrypting it. This is what was in it.

With a wave of the hand over the holographic table the message was displayed in front of all the operators. Sos, gps coordinates, sos. Then the doctor frowned at the sight of the coordinates.

Sebastian: Wait for these coordinates...

Closure: Exactly.

Kal'tsit: They lead to Chernobog.

The feline displayed a map of the city on the hologram and began to zoom in on a particular area of Chernobog.

Kal'tsit: Specifically, they lead to the Chernobog Academy of Excellence. We have good reason to believe that the message is coming from students still there.

Sebastian: The poor ones. Rhodes Island must help them.

Kal'tsit: And that's what we'll do. Express deployment by helicopter, extraction five miles east of the northeast exit gate by truck.

Sebastian: Wait, where is the aircraft going to land in this whole mess?

Kal'tsit: It drops you off on the roof of the mall, you make your way to the academy from there.

Nearl: There are relatively few of us on this deployment, won't that be a problem?

Kal'tsit: I'm sorry, but today all the other units are on operations or about to go, but you're strong enough to handle it in my opinion, and Doctor, I know it's not what I'm used to, but I'm counting on you as a fighter as much as a commander this time.

He nodded his head in affirmation.

Nearl: So me, Nightingale, Shining, Gravel and the doctor... that might do it indeed.

Sebastian: You're forgetting someone. Unless you stayed here just to spy on us W?

Then from the dark corner of the room behind the doctor came the famous, explosive-loving sarkaz, her crazy smile on her lips as usual.

W: Oh my... I've been found out... *laugh*

Then the doctor started to interact with the holographic map creating red dots on some roofs.

Sebastian: I think there should be snipers on those places.

Kal'tsit: How do you know that?

Sebastian: Because that's where I would have placed them.

W: Our dear doctor is right, Faust has placed his snipers all over the eastern part of the city...

Kal'tsit: They might shoot down the aircraft and we are running out of ranged units.

W: Don't look at me like that, long range precision shooting is not my specialty.

Sebastian: I have an idea how to get rid of the snipers.

Kal'tsit: So if we ignore the snipers that's all I have to say you are free to leave for helipad number four, the helicopter is already ready to take off. Good luck.

Sebastian: I'll meet you there, I have to go get something on my side.

The young women nodded in confirmation and the fighters separated, Sebastian heading for the trading station.

After a few minutes of running Sebastian arrived at the exchange station, having made a detour to the cafeteria to look for an exchange currency, the blue stripes on the walls outside confirming the arrival at his destination even if what interested him was more the occupants of the station rather than the room itself. He pressed a button next to the door and entered the room, a conveyor belt with boxes on it, each filled by the operators with bars of precious metals.

Sebastian entered the room and approached the red-haired operator discreetly, before raising his finger and touching the sanktah's halo of light with his fingertip. The latter immediately turned to the doctor and imitated guns with her fingers, as well as the sounds of gunfire with her mouth. The giant pretended to be hit by the imaginary shots of the angel. Making both of them laugh like children after one or two seconds. Fang the other operator of the room turned to the two big kids.

Exusiai: Yoo Leader~! What are you doing here? And what are you hiding behind your back.

The doctor moved his arm from behind his back and revealed what he had in his hand, a pretty plastic box for transport and a pretty golden object in the box, recognized instinctively by the sanktah.

Exusiai: Appuru pai!

Sebastian: Sorry Exia, I'm not going to beat around the bush, I'm going on an operation and I need you to lend me one of your SVDs. You can have the pie in exchange.

Suddenly the young woman snapped out of her baking trance because of the surprise.

Exusiai: Sorry doctor, but my weapons are too important to lend even to you...

The young woman turned around and closed her eyes and shrugged her shoulders.

Exusiai: Maybe if you give me a kiss as well as the pie I will accept but-

The young woman was cut off in her joke.

*chu*

She felt the doctor's incredibly soft lips on her cheek, making the angel's eyes widen in surprise. She turned back to the doctor, her face red as a tomato, while he seemed to be calm.

Sebastian: Please Exia, I really need it.

He says the tone of his voice soft while holding the apple pie to the young woman.

Exusiai: I-I-!

Her weapons appeared to replace her wings, she grabbed the sniper rifle in a panic and handed it to the doctor refusing to look him in the eye because of the embarrassment.

Exusiai: Here, give me the pie and go!

He gave him the pastry, grabbed the gun and opened the gun chamber to examine it before closing it and using the strap to put the gun behind his back. Then the occupants of the room felt a chill down their spine causing them to look toward the door of the distribution center to see another operator. She too was a Sniper, but Aegir instead of Sanktah, known for her advanced passion for firearms.

Andreanna: And I can have one if I do the same...?

She asked, her eyes shining with interest.

Exusiai: Don't even think about it!

Sebastian: Oh my... I'll let you handle it...

He said before moving to the window of the exchange station.

Fang: Doctor, what are you doing?

She asked when she saw him open the window and stick a leg through the opening.

Sebastian: I'll take the fast lane. Andreanna, Leave her alone and I'll try to get you one.

Andreanna: Is that true?!

Sebastian: Yes. See you later, I have to go.

So soon he grabbed onto the steel wall outside Rhodes Island and disappeared, climbing to the upper levels.

Then the blue haired kuranta turned to the sanktah who was still red as a tomato, trying to hide her face with her hands, steam coming out of her ears.

Fang: If you're this embarrassed about a kiss on the cheek, I don't think you'll be able to take another step with him...

Exusiai: Shut up...

Nearl was in the armory along with everyone else, preparing weapons, ammunition, equipment and art scepters, then suddenly she heard something tapping on glass as if knocking on a door. She turned her head towards the source of the noise to see Sebastian behind the window, standing at who knows what several dozen feet off the ground, she nearly dropped her weapon mace in surprise and heard the reactions of the other operators behind her, then she moved towards the window and opened it, the doctor entering the room and tapping the sand he had received outside and he spoke up before Nearl had time to ask anything.

Sebastian: It was faster than the elevator.

Nearl: Oh well... Where have you been?

Sebastian: I went to get something to help us against his snipers.

He pulled the gun out from behind his back and presented it to the others, W already salivating at the thought of acquiring it.

Nightingale: Wow I didn't know you could use Laterano weapons, your potential in the arts must be immense.

Hearing the end of the sarkaz's sentence, W burst out laughing while Sebastian had a drop of sweat along his forehead.

Sebastian: Not really...

He said as he walked to his equipment locker and grabbed his holster extensions and extra accessories for the battle. While his friend the kuranta next to him loaded her orginium mace.

Nearl: It's true I heard you trained in the arts the day before yesterday, knowing you you must have blown up the training room because of your power. And I'm curious to know what your arts are.

The sarkaz mercenary's laughter increased, rolling on the floor and crying with laughter.

W: because of your power! Ah ah ah ah ah! Tell them what really happened.

Nearl: What do you mean what really happened? And how does she know?

Sebastian: She knows because she was there. And for my arts it's light manipulation I think. And yes I trained in the arts. Within an hour I had learned to use my firearm without the originium ammunition.

Nearl: Wow that's impressive. Knowing your talent I don't give long for your arts to surpass mine if we both did light.

Indeed, using Laterano weapons was already a feat achievable by those who had the best affinity to the arts. And even more so for those who could do without ammunition. Shining looked at Nightingale and frowned as she noticed a change in Nearl's demeanor as she tried to speak for once and her face became more emotional.

Nightingale: See I told you so...

Sebastian: From there it was pretty easy for me to figure out how to cast an art. So I was given a wand...

Nearl: And?

Sebastian: And after thirty minutes of intense effort I managed to cast a ball of light about 5 centimeters in diameter before I passed out from exhaustion.

Everyone in the room fell silent. The arts were usable by everyone on Terra, as long as one trained enough to find out how, all children across Terra being trained to use the arts by the time they were eight years old and discovered what their powers were. But it was the power of the arts that differentiated the individuals. And Sebastian's level, was legendary... Of suckiness... Even eight-year-olds who were casting for the first time and had an affinity for the arts that was classified as defective were doing better.

Nearl: Oh...

Sebastian: What do you want me to say. I can't be more perfect than I already am.

He says, running a hand through his hair with his smug face.

*stomp*

Sebastian: Ouch! What the hell is wrong with you?

Said the doctor holding his foot in his hands because of the pain caused by Nearl crushing his foot with the heel of her boot.

Nearl: Perfect, but I'm the one who beat you this morning.

Sebastian: Killjoy...

The two of them continued to get ready on their own and after a few seconds while everyone was waiting for the doctor he finished putting on his combat gloves and took a closer look at his complete equipment hanging in his holster at his sides. Grenades, healing vials, medikit, throwing knives, trap setting kit, combat knife, handgun, sniper rifle, two-handed sword, reinforced knee and elbow pads, his trusty beret on his head, his shirt sleeves rolled up, his gloves proudly in place. He was finally ready for an expedition into the war zone. Or a world war itself. He closed his locker and turned back to the operators who stared at him without speaking.

Nearl: The style there suits you surprisingly well...

The kuranta formulated the thoughts of the others.

Gravel: That's kind words to say that you're lookng hot.

Sebastian: Thanks, you're going to make me blush. Let's go. The chopper is waiting for us.

And after a few minutes, the fighters found themselves on board the helicopter, this time without the Oprey, to climb into what Sebastian recognized as a black hawk, which had already taken off for a few dozen seconds towards their destination. But the doubt was felt on board, the doubt of diving back into the same operation as to save the doctor, having been solved by everyone getting out of the city alive by a chain of miracles.

W: I hope you're ready for hell... it might be fun...

Sebastian: Those students were stuck there for two weeks, they went through hell. We haven't, and now it's our duty to help them.

And suddenly, with the simple words of the doctor, whose face could not be more serious, all doubts and apprehensions were banished from the operators, to be replaced by determination. A leadership ability that Sebastian had shown himself capable of using. But these words were not just smoke and mirrors, he meant what he said, and in his strictest moral convictions going far beyond Rhodes Island, if a child was stuck in the middle of a conflict then he had to help him at all costs, and Sebastian intended to honor his convictions.

- in Chernobog -

Underground in a makeshift hospital, doctors and nurses were running around trying to treat all their patients. Then one of the doctors approached a man who was watching the whole scene.

Doctor: Sir, we are running out of equipment and medicine!

The giant seemed to think for a second or two and nodded.

?: Give the order to evacuate, we're getting out of here!