Despite how crowded one of the many infirmaries was aboard this vessel, the turnaround was quick. Medics and medical techs were able to hastily close and remove the pain from wounds by shooting some kind of thin, green light at whatever wound they were working on. Tiny machines that worked quickly to close wounds were in those beams, according to Tabitha, but Louise and Siesta couldn't pretend to care or understand.

All they knew was they had new scars. And Louise had suffered her first concussion. She was given stern warning by the medic who worked on her to "rest, but don't just sleep" for the next few days. It was hard to argue with a woman in seven foot tall power armor.

They were reunited with their comrades from below, surprised to find them already standing shoulder to shoulder with UED soldiers, with Illococoo joyfully leaping onto Tabitha, squealing with delight.

Bonded by blood, according to Agnes.

Each of Louise's group were given rooms to adjourn to that were previously for officers that never made it into the vessel during the Zerg attack.

One room for Louise, Siesta, and Eleonore.

One room for Ei'lyx and the Protoss.

One room for Colbert and Mama Cassandra.

One room for Montmorency, Guiche, and Julio.

One room for Tiffa and Agnes.

And the Captain's quarters. For Tabitha, Illococoo, and Kirche. Though… there was now a new one between them.

Saito and Tabitha sat next to each other on an absurdly wide bed in this artificially-lit room that had a perfect view of both the stars and the planet below whilst an Illococoo that swore she "wasn't tired" was already sprawled out and snoring behind them. Their hands were clasped as they each blankly contemplated the floor, their expressions looking somber, yet relieved. There was so much to be said. So much that neither of them knew where to begin.

Behind them, Kirche was staring out in wonder at the sea of stars. It was something she could scarcely believe. Being beyond the bounds of the planet below. As she looked down on it, she could not help but feel so small. Insignificant. Like all those troubles of her life simply did not matter to this unfeeling void. She had to shake her head and redirect her attention, lest she grow melancholy.

She found her new targets, and her face fell into a frown as she walked over to and stepped in front of them.

A now irritated-looking Kirche was eyeing the two entities on the bed. She had only seen this interloping young man once before, when Tabitha saved him. Now he sat next to her partner, their hands seeming stuck together since the chaos from earlier. Feeling she could contain her irritation and curiosity no more, she let out an exasperated sigh that got their attention.

Kirche pointed to their clasped hands, "I'm gonna need a lot of context as to what's going on here," the calm demand was given with an unamused look.

Both Tabitha and Saito looked down to their intertwined hands, causing Tabitha to carefully slide theirs away and wipe the accumulated sweat on their slacks. They cast their gaze down and away from Saito, blushing.

Saito gave them one imploring look before similarly turning away and blushing.

Kirche growled as she furrowed her brow at them.

"Well?" Kirche demanded once more, this time with more aggression, "I'm waiting!"

Tabitha winced.

Saito barely noticed, causing him to take a deep breath in defense of his old best friend.

"I'm Saito Hiraga," Saito announced to Kirche, giving her his best look of conviction, tinged with sheepishness though it was.

"Is that supposed to mean something to me?" Kirche asked, derisive, as she raised an eyebrow.

Saito furrowed his brow at her, his sheepishness now dispelled.

"I was the Director of the Aleksandrian operations," Saito declared with a transparent pride not in himself, but in his shame over his actions.

Kirche gasped and furrowed her own brow at him.

"More importantly," Saito continued as he stood up, still needing to tilt his head up to look at this flame-haired, scowling woman before him, "I've been Tabitha's best friend long before you knew them."

Kirche's scowl turned to a glare as her amber eyes burned into Saito's raven ones.

"Oh? That's funny. They never mentioned you." Kirche derisively declared.

"Given the way we parted," Saito said as he shamefully cast his gaze downward once more, "I'm not surprised."

"And what circumstances would those be?" Kirche pressed.

"That's…" Saito's voice trailed off, feeling the shame clutch at his throat. He shook his head to fight this as he looked up to Kirche with conviction once more, "I was the one who poisoned their mother."

Once again, Kirche gasped before glaring at him. Now with a renewed rage. She instinctively raised her hand to strike him.

Saito was prepared for this. However, given that all the abuse he'd suffered from Joseph? He surmised what he'd been through already would very likely dwarf whatever punishment this woman could deal out.

He did not need to endure it as Tabitha jumped to their feet and grabbed her arm.

Kirche gave her a wide-eyed look.

"Tabitha? Why-?"

Tabitha shook their head, "Didn't have a choice."

Tabitha's words echoed Saito's from all those times he desperately pleaded with them to understand his position. His eyes welled up with tears as he looked to his friend that now defended him.

"Do you…" Kirche began as she looked back at Saito, scowling, but not as intensely as before, "really trust him?"

Tabitha nodded.

After a moment, Kirche let her arm fall limp.

Tabitha released her.

Kirche looked at the two as they, seemingly unknowingly, took each other's hands once more. This action provoked a wry, defeated smile as she sighed with resignation.

"I see how it is," Kirche said as she turned to leave the room.

Before she could, however, she felt a familiar hand upon hers. She turned around and looked at Tabitha, who looked uncharacteristically desperate and bashful.

"What is it?" Kirche softly asked.

The grip on her sleeve tightened. Tabitha fidgeted in fearful anticipation.

"Need you too," Tabitha pleaded.

Kirche was visibly taken aback. She'd always been an individual who enjoyed the company of many… and she had always thought the idea of tying herself to one and only one person seemed impossible as she always felt she had so much more love to give, but… from Tabitha? Of all people?

Kirche was left in a state she almost never found herself: speechless. She took another look at the boy that they held in their other hand, looking over his scarred physique and face. He seemed to recoil at her look and instinctively try to shrink his physical presence. Kirche's signature smirk curled her lips again.

Kirche, visibly brimming with excitement, smiled at her partner before she sighed once more and shrugged.

"If you say he's good," Kirche began as she stepped forward and leaned close to Tabitha, "I trust you, darling."

Kiche planted a kiss upon their lips, which Tabitha needed a moment to recover from the shock of before they returned it. Kirche pulled back, licking her lips as she then turned to look down at Saito, gently guiding his head by his chin to look at her. His immediately noticeable discomfort provoked a prickle of amusement in the redhead.

"Don't let me down, Saito," Kirche purred as she leaned down to kiss him, as well, only for him to jerk back. She opened her eyes to see he was fidgeting anxiously and avoiding her eyes.

"No," Saito faintly protested.

Kirche was struck with a pang of guilt.

She was so used to men being absurdly easy and prided herself on her ability to finesse whatever she wanted from them. But this one? He felt… different.

Saito slowly, carefully moved to position himself behind Tabitha, looking visibly distressed.

Kirche's brows knitted with concern as she gave a lopsided, warm smile. Carefully, she reached out to touch his face, which once again gave her a stroke of guilt as she watched him visibly flinch at her touch.

"That's okay," Kirche said as she pulled both Tabitha and Saito into a gentle embrace, "We can take it slow."

She leaned over Tabitha to gently peck Saito's rune-laden forehead, feeling his body's tension loosen in her arms.

Montmorency and Guiche did not need to suffer the presence of a third wheel for long. As, with only one look exchanged between them, Julio opted to leave, saying he had to take care of something else.

Now alone, Montmorency and Guiche, after utilizing this room's running hot water to clean themselves, laid in the bed of this small room together, closer than they'd ever felt.

Guiche stroked an errant strand of hair from Montmorency's face, looking at her with pure adoration.

"You did so well, Momo," Guiche praised her.

Montmorency giggled, "You didn't do so bad, yourself, Guiche."

Guiche blushed and his heart rate picked up as he felt a strong anticipation of what he wanted to say.

"Montmorency Margarita le Fere de la Montmorency," he announced in a calm, even tone while giving her a blushing look of conviction.

Montmorency's eyes went wide at this building proclamation.

"If you do not think it too forward, I-."

"Yes," Montmorency interrupted his declaration, reaching a hand out to his face as she did.

"But you don't even know what I was going-."

"Of course I'll marry you, idiot," Montmorency said with a small, contented smile.

Guiche mirrored her countenance before leaning in to lightly kiss her, feeling butterflies in his stomach as he did.

"You simultaneously make me the strongest and weakest I have ever been," he whispered into her ear. "And I would not have it any other way."

Montmorency kissed him again, "And after everything? I finally feel… sane. And comfortable," she pressed her forehead to his, closing her eyes, "I love you, Guiche."

"I love you, too, Montmorency."

At that, in each others' arms, they fell into restful slumber.

Tiffa was savoring having Agnes in her arms. To be told the worst had happened… only for it to be proven false? It was a miracle, and she did not want to let her miracle made manifest go. Agnes, strong as she was, was able to match and endure her affections with no complaints.

Tiffa felt content. Secure. Safe. Loved. For the first time since-

"Are you alright?" Agnes asked as she felt Tiffa twitch with discomfort.

Tiffa needed a moment as she pulled back from Agnes, not meeting her gaze.

"I-," Tiffa cut herself off, feeling stupid for even caring about her when she had this wonderful woman right before her.

A reassuring touch on her arm was Agnes' response.

"Take your time, Tiffa, we now have it," Agnes' tone was as reassuring as the touch, and it gave Tiffa a pleasant warmth within her.

"I'm scared," Tiffa admitted, "I'm scared things will turn out how they did before. Beatrice was sweet, kind, loving, caring when I first met her, but then-." Her voice hitched with sorrowful remembrance as she felt a sting of tears in her eyes.

Agnes reached up and soothingly stroked her hair, "I cannot promise I will be perfect," Agnes began, "I cannot even promise that I will not hurt you. Nor upset you. All I can promise you is that I will try. And I will never give up. Any battle or conflict we may face is well worth fighting. And I will never stop being your warrior."

Tiffa could feel it. There was no deception in her.

A tingling sprung within her she had not felt in so long. She wanted to. And she hoped that Agnes wanted to as well. As she watched Agnes close her eyes and lean forward, Tiffa went red and felt herself become giddy.

Then there was a knock upon the metal door.

Tiffa and Agnes both glared. Not at each other.

"Amicas, there is something I must discuss with you."

Their expressions soured further upon hearing Julio's voice. Tiffa palpably felt the desire for violence from Agnes, and she was tempted to let her carry it out. Until she shook her head.

"There is something I need to discuss with him. Regarding something from earlier," Tiffa said as she hesitantly left the bed that was at least a half foot too small for her and walked over to the door, pressing a button on the console to the right of it to unlock and open the door with a hiss. Upon seeing Julio's face, she scowled and grasped him by his robe top, jerking him into the room before closing the door behind him and throwing him to the floor.

"Alright, I know I still deserve that," Julio admitted.

"Earlier," Tiffa said, getting straight to business, "you stopped me from utilizing the power that Agnes could give me. Why?"

Julio sighed before rising to his feet, "I told you when you first used it. And… did you not see the result for yourself?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Something about using her life as fuel. So her willpower, yes? Her stamina? Why would that be a big deal?"

Agnes raised an eyebrow at this callous response from one she would wish to call more than a friend.

Julio shook his head, "It is more than that, amica," his expression became grave as he looked at her, "you drew from her soul."

Tiffa and Agnes both gasped.

The elf gave Agnes a panicked, concerned look, "I'm sorry! I had no idea!"

"It's not much," Julio interrupted her stuttering, "you probably only burned mere hours of her life away."

"No!" Tiffa cried out as she grasped Julio by the throat and marched to the other end of the room, pinning him against the wall as he struggled, "Every hour, every minute, every second with her is irreplaceable. Invaluable. To say it so flippantly like that-?" she cut herself off as she squeezed harder on his throat, knowing she was just a moment away from crushing it.

"Just. A. Mess. En. Ger," Julio struggled to say.

Tiffa narrowed her eyes at him, but ultimately felt nothing could be gained if he did not tell her more. She suddenly released him, causing him to crumple to the floor in a coughing mess.

Tiffa sat at the edge of the bed, crossing her legs as she scowled at him, waiting for him to recover. "Go on, then, I'm sure you have more to say about it."

After Julio's coughing quieted down and his breath stabilized, he looked up at her, fear in his heterochromatic eyes, "I'm sorry. I thought it would be reassuring."

"Clearly not," Tiffa growled.

Julio looked away from her and nodded before struggling to stand up.

"I just… felt you should know. So you can both be careful," Julio gave a concerned look to a scowling Agnes. "You should also know," Julio continued, giving them both a look of conviction, "Louise can use you as well."

Agnes drew in a sharp breath. Tiffa glared at him as she felt her hand twitch for his throat again.

"That better stay between us," Tiffa hissed, with a palpable threat of violence in her tone.

Julio nodded, looking mostly unfazed, "I'm very sorry for what I did to you. I am glad to see you well." At that, he gave them both a respectful bow and left the room, the door hissing both upon its opening and closing as he did.

Tiffa gave Agnes a look of deep concern, which Agnes returned as they contemplated what they had been told.

"So," Agnes finally spoke up, "What now?"

Tiffa took a moment to think, "Now nothing," she said almost dismissively, "I simply won't use that power. Or if I do, I won't touch you."

"And what about Louise?" Agnes asked.

"We won't tell her," Tiffa said, taking Agnes into a firm embrace, "And if he does?" Tiffa looked down at her hand that was upon Agnes' back, lifting it up so she could see the palm and manifesting that same crimson energy that she used to drain others, "He won't live to regret it."

Kirche had long-since fallen asleep, her instinctive cuddling being used upon an Illococoo who gladly reciprocated. Tabitha was between their new and old loves, turned to face Saito, their hands clasped while what looked like a thin string connected their right ear to Saito's left.

They'd only done this once before. Just after he was summoned.

Tabitha, then Charlotte, opened the door to Joseph's room with trepidation, pocketing the key they'd been given by their father when they expressed interest in meeting the strange new familiar. Once the door opened, they beheld the boy, a collar and chain around his neck, and some small, glossy tablet in his hands that Charlotte could not discern the use of. From it sprung what looked like strings that went into his ears.

When he regarded Charlotte's presence, he quickly jerked the strings. Two black things fell out of his ears that, the action making Charlotte give a faint gasp. They looked down at the boy, whose entire being was wracked with visible fear and trepidation. And he was trembling, refusing to make eye contact.

"Don't be scared," Charlotte cooed in as comforting a tone as they could muster as they approached, slowly.

They could see his trembling lessen as he met their gaze. Even as there was still fear in his eyes and upon his countenance.

Charlotte gave him a warm smile, "I'm Charlotte."

The boy hesitated, briefly looking away from them while they trembled once more.

"Saito," he struggled to say.

"It's nice to meet you, Saito," Charlotte said as they kneeled before him, still maintaining her warm smile. Still sensing his trepidation, they looked at his hand-sized tablet, figuring it was as good a place as any to try and take his mind off his fears.

"What's that?" Charlotte innocently asked.

Just as they suspected, the tension the boy was holding loosened ever so slightly as he glanced at the object in his hand.

"This?" Saito asked, holding it up to them.

Charlotte nodded.

"It's my phone," Saito explained.

Charlotte gave him a confused look.

"I guess it makes sense you wouldn't know what that is," Saito said as, though it was wry, he cracked his first smile since being summoned to this world. It sparked warmth in Charlotte's heart.

"It's a… device that lets me talk to people and send them messages and connect to a whole world of information," he explained, getting more and more excited as he did.

Charlotte's eyes widened in wonder, prompting his smile to change from wry to genuine.

"I mean, I mostly only use it to talk to my parents and friends-," he cut himself off, his face immediately falling as he remembered what had happened. He went back to looking at his phone, tapping on its glowing face a few times and flicking his thumb through something Charlotte couldn't discern.

Charlotte knew they had to salvage this and pointed to the strings that came from the phone.

"What are those?" Charlotte asked.

Once again, the boy perked up, much to their relief.

"They're headphones. I was listening to music," Saito answered.

"Really?" Charlotte asked in amazed disbelief.

He looked excited again, which warmed Charlotte once more.

"Yeah! You wanna listen? I don't have a lotta music because most people do streaming but I always thought 'what if I'm somewhere with no wifi?' and that made me wanna start saving it," Saito exuberantly explained, his face once more falling into wry contemplation as he reminded himself of his situation. "I guess it was a good thing I did, huh?"

"Can I hear?" Charlotte asked, breaking him of his solemn stupor once more.

Saito, successfully snapped from his solemn contemplation, smiled and offered them one of the headphones. Charlotte gingerly took it and put it to their ear, hearing a very faint sound of something that might be considered music.

Saito giggled.

"You're holding it backwards, here," Saito offered as he leaned forward and turned the earbud around.

That was when they could hear it. A cacophonous, buzzing din that seemed to slash their ear and immediately make them drop the earbud in a wince.

Saito laughed, "Sorry, my parents did always tell me I listened to it too loud. But I just… wanna hear everything, you know? Here," he clicked something on the side of his phone a few times before picking up the earbud and offering it to Charlotte once more. "Try it now."

Charlotte hesitated before acquiescing, bracing themself for the same din upon their ear. It never came. Though it was still strange and off-putting to them, whatever it was, their head seemed to immediately begin moving in time with it.

"Ha, everyone likes pop punk, even in other worlds, I guess," Saito said, chuckling.

While Charlotte didn't fully understand or appreciate the music, they did like seeing this boy smile. And it brought a smile to their face as well.

"What else is there?" Charlotte asked, sincerely curious. Saito's eyes lit up as, with his chain clinking, he sidled up next to them and began going through all the songs he had. Hundreds of them. With names they couldn't recognize, but in letters they could read, which they found very odd.

After excitedly gushing about this and that band to them, Charlotte became aware of a grumbling in their stomach and interrupted Saito.

"Sorry, I don't want to interrupt you but I have to get going," Charlotte said, giving Saito a half-smile.

He gave them a disappointed pout that made them giggle before they stood up, stretching, and walked to the door.

"Hey," Saito said just as they were about to leave, causing them to turn their head to look at him. "Thank you. For coming to see me. I feel… a little better now. That I met you," he said with a sheepish smile, a blush on his cheeks.

Charlotte broke into a lopsided smile as they turned to hide their own blush, "No problem." Once they calmed down and opened the door, they turned to give him one last look, "I'll see you later, Saito."

It was nice to share that moment. They had so very few of them. And Saito was punished for every one.

Tabitha had held onto the phone since then. Keeping it on their person as much as possible. Hoping for the day they could do that again.

A muffled melody came from the earbuds they shared. Something hopeful, that Tabitha had chosen. It certainly felt hopeful now, with him finally before them. And no more Joseph to worry about separating them again.

Saito gave Tabitha a look of purest admiration. And gratitude.

"Thank you," Saito whispered to them, with Tabitha just barely catching the glint of the tears in his eyes. "For coming back for me. Thank you. So much."

Tabitha felt a sting of sympathetic tears of relief as they placed their other hand on his face, drawing closer to him as they did. They pressed their forehead to his, and moved their hand back to stroke his hair.

"No problem," Tabitha said.

Saito could hear it was far more than nonchalant.

The chorus had come around again. And with its words resonating in their ears, Tabitha and Saito held each other tighter, each one softly crying into the other. And both feeling that for the first time in years that they could breathe.

END OF ARC 2