I'd like to make a quick clarification. Mando-Sensei isn't Jango. It was pretty vague as I tried to narrate in a way that felt natural. He's someone who looks up to Jango and was raised by Jango's merry band of Mandalorians, but Mando-Sensei is just some unnamed dude Lol.

Chapter 2: Convergent Paths

Kanna Ogata was not having a good day.

First, there was a robbery in the Enkidu District. As if holding a middle schooler for ransom wasn't enough, the jerk had to do it at the crack of dawn. From the moment her phone rang at four in the morning, Kanna knew she was going to have a long, long day.

Second, she had to deal with the ongoing series of unfortunate events that seemed to follow the General Student Council. Valkyrie was already busy suppressing rumors of the President's disappearance. The last thing they needed was another crisis. How could an entire governing body collapse in such a short amount of time? From Trinity and Gehenna to Abydos and Highlander, inter-academic affairs were in total disarray. Public Security still hadn't tracked down Trinity's stolen weapons, and the Prefect Team's daily complaints only added fuel to the fire: "Your ongoing criminal negligence continues to be a thorn in our President Hina's side." Kanna didn't know who was sending these letters, but when she got her hands on them…

Then, as if she didn't already have enough on her plate, she caught Fubuki from Public Safety jaywalking with a child on her way to work. Now she had to issue a demerit, write an incident report, and confiscate her donuts. Speaking of donuts… How Fubuki managed to stay so thin despite her diet was truly a wonder.

Kanna slumped forward with a sigh. "Can this day get any worse?"

Konoka leaned back in her chair. "You should watch it, Kanna. Y'know what they say…"

Kanna rolled her eyes. "It's not a jinx." The Director muttered as she brought her mug to her lips. "I'm not superstitious."

"Still it wouldn't hurt to, like—" A rattling dualtone shattered the office's silence.

It was the phone. Konoka slipped Kanna a smirk.

"Shut up." Setting down her mug, Kanna reached for the phone. Picking up the handset, she read the caller ID: GENERAL STUDENT COUNCIL. Her blood boiled beneath her skin. What now? Why couldn't that stupid, ignorant, helpless, dumpster fire of a Student Council keep their goddamn affairs in line? The poor handset groaned under the strength of Kanna's grip, rattling its plastic cord against her desk. Kanna closed her eyes, fighting the urge to hurl the base and handset across the room. Stay calm, Kanna Ogata. You're the Director. You can do this. She took a deep breath, letting all her frustrations manifest within her chest before forcefully expelling it with another sigh.

"Who is it?" Konoka asked, peering over her friend's shoulder. She smirked, holding up a hand to hold back a snicker. "Pft. See I told you."

Kanna glared at her through the corner of her eyes, before lifting the receiver. "Public Security, this is—"

"The Seven Prisoners escaped." That was it? No preamble or preparatory speech to ease her in the situation: Just a sudden and abrupt statement? How was she supposed to work with that? What, did the Student Council think she was some kind of magician that could magically resolve all their issues with the single wave of a wand? She was an officer of the law, damn it, not a miracle worker!

"...Director? Director Kanna…?"

Director. That's right. She was the Director of Public Security. She had to remain calm. She was a public servant. Kivotos relied on her because they trusted her to handle a situation when no one else could. They trusted her to take charge when everyone else floundered. They relied on her because they had no one else to turn to.

A small, albeit childish, part of her longed for someone she could turn to. All the sleepless nights and early mornings. While other students partied with friends, she had to tackle rising crime and refugees from Abydos. Kivotos needed her attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sometimes she wondered if they forgot that she was still a kid too… Kanna shook her head. That was simply a luxury she couldn't afford. Such were the facts of life. "How bad is it?"

The voice on the other end hesitated. "We… We've lost track of six of the Seven Prisoners."

Okay… it wasn't a total loss. At least they still knew where one of the seven was. "And who's the seventh?"

"It's the Fox of Calamity."

Oh god…

"She rallied the local Helmet Gangs and is currently rampaging throughout the Shamash District. She—"

A sudden explosion cut off the caller. Kanna's head snapped towards her window just as Fubuki hurtled by with a hapless cry. "I can see that." Kanna ground out through clenched teeth. "Anything else?"

A new voice cut in. "Rin-Senpai dispatched a new Sensei to assist or something, I don't really remember… Oh, my popcorn's ready. I'll be right back!" There was a muffled rustle over the line followed by a flurry of movement.

"Wait, Momoka—"

Beep…

Great. Just great. The crisis that she didn't need! Kanna ran a hand through her hair, lifting her bangs and offering a rare glimpse at her face. Those ignorant fools! All they had to do was keep the damn Seven Prisoners behind bars. Was that too much to ask? Couldn't they see she was already swamped with work! "Ugh, I swear they drive me to drink!" Tea, of course.

Kanna felt a subtle brush against her arm. It was Konoka with a fresh mug of coffee and a sympathetic smile. "Sorry for teasing you." She gently placed the mug atop Kanna's desk with a soft clunk. The coffee sloshed about, gently spilling over the mug's rim and trickling down its cool, porcelain surface. "You're gonna need it."

Kanna returned her smile. "Thanks."

"So, like, what's the plan?"

Kanna took a cautious sip before rising to her feet. This was going to take a lot of people. Nevermind handling the Helmet Gang, Wakamo alone would take every unit in District 1. At the very least, every Public Safety patrol. "Gather everyone under our immediate command and contact all dispatched units under Public Safety."

Konoka reached for the phone on her desk. She looked back at Kanna. "Are you sure? Who's gonna run the office?"

"Temporarily transfer control to Public Safety. We need all the help we can get." With the President's disappearance and the breakdown of command, Valkyrie was desperately short on resources. "Call Dispatch. Who's in charge of patrols today?"

Konoka tucked the plastic handset between her head and shoulder before flipping through a logbook on her desk. "Well… Since the Public Safety Director took her team to Gehenna, and we're out of more qualified officers… It's either Kirino or Fubuki…"

Kanna sighed. Nakatsukasa Kirino, despite her shaky track record, was a good officer. She was an excellent student with exemplary marks across the board (save for shooting) and was utterly devoted to her responsibilities as an officer, yet somehow managed to fail every mission ever assigned to her. Nemugaki Fubuki on the other hand was probably the least qualified officer in all of Kivotos. With a nasty lazy streak three miles long, Fubuki was infamous for shirking her duties in favor of eating donuts and playing hooky in her office.

The decision was easy.

Kanna quickly dialed Kirinos's number. "Hello Kirino, this Director Kanna."

"Director Kanna!" Her usual chipper voice was slightly muffled through the landline. "What can I do for you?"

How do I word this… "As you may have noticed, there's an ongoing situation, and we need Public Safety's help. Since everyone else is in Gehenna, I'm putting you in charge of Public Safety patrols."

Kirino gasped. Kanna could practically hear her holding in a cheer. "Really?! Wow, I won't let you down, Director Kanna!"

Sure… "I'm sure you won't. Pick Fubuki off the street and meet us in the garage."

"Roger!"

Kanna returned the handset to its reciever before slumping back in her chair. How long can I keep this up? She reached for her mug, downing a mouthful of hot coffee temperature be damned—She had a job to do. Kanna flinched. The boiling water carved a path along her tongue and down her throat. It was a bitter, searing sensation that left no room for thoughts or emotions: just pain. It was at times like these when she felt most at ease.

Konoka placed a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"

Kanna nodded. "I'll be fine. How'd it go?"

"They're gathering the officers as we speak."

"Good." Finally, some good news. Kanna handed her mug to Konoka. "I'm going to get ready." She grabbed her jacket and, throwing it over her shoulders, made a brisk exit.

Konoka blinked before chasing after her. "Wait, you forgot your coffee, y'know!"

"Bring it with you! We don't have all day! And bring a lid!"

Konoka suddenly stopped and turned. The coffee sloshed over the mug's rim, soaking her hand in boiling hot coffee. She bit her lips to muffle a squeal. Holding back a scream, Konoka wiped her tender hand on her shirt. She carefully walked back to Kanna's desk, retrieved a rubber Peroro lid, and laid it over the mug. Making haste, she carefully trotted out of the office and towards the garage.

After several minutes of flight I slowed to a stop. Hovering in place, I looked down at a bivouac of hapless children. The mass of students had somehow turned an arterial road into a makeshift frontline, utilizing broken road barriers and overturned vehicles as cover.

A herd of helmet wearing buffoons lined the far side of an intersection while lightly armored students lined the other. They were equipped with nothing but flimsy riot shields and the uniforms off their backs. Are they supposed to be law enforcement? What kind of irresponsible, half-witted, jagyc'kovid deployed unarmored personnel around slug throwers?

"Computer, resume course." My jetpack howled as I zipped through the air. I had grown accustomed to the Z-6's roaring engine, it was a part of every Mandalorian Commandos' life, but no matter how many times I flew, its keening wail always sent shivers down my spine. Fett said it wasn't a psychological weapon; just a natural phenomenon that occurred during takeoff and landing or some scientific thing like that. I never understood it, and from the sound of it neither did he. Regardless, if that was true, then the devils at Mitrinomon had an uncanny knack for horror and fear.

The students and gangsters continued to shoot as I approached, but it was obvious they were starting to notice my presence. A few looked up. Some elbowed their friends while others pointed.

"Computer, take us in for a landing." I handed flight controls over to the internal computer. The jetpack's flames kicked up a small cloud of dust as I touched down. "What's going on here?"

One of the many students approached, a pistol in her shaking hand. "H-Hey! Hands where I can see them!"

Looks like the Z-6 got to her too. An otherwise unremarkable girl. Nothing like the outlandish caricatures from the FSC. She was just an average rank and file member of what I assumed was the "Valkyrie" school Rin had mentioned.

Before I could respond, a tall girl with a cyan halo cut through the throng of students. She waved the trembling girl away. "Stand down, officer."

The mob student lowered her weapon. "Director Kanna?"

This Director was the closest to what I considered "normal". Canine ears weren't common in the Galaxy, but neither were squid heads, and I had seen plenty of those. Logically, it wouldn't be entirely outrageous for a species to have a second set of ears. Hell, at this point, even a tail wouldn't surprise me. Fortunately, she didn't have one. With a mug held in her hand and a clipboard tucked beneath her arm, she made for a somewhat busy appearance. Unlike the other students, this blonde girl had a brass badge pinned to the front of her jacket. A sure sign of authority.

The Director, Kanna, brought her mug to her lips. "The GSC has informed me of an adult acting on its behalf. I suppose you're our 'rogue tinman', Sensei?" She said, speaking into the cup.

Rogue tinman? Rin was definitely upset about the new door I created in the side of her building. "I suppose I am. Are you the one in charge?"

She took a deep sip from her mug. "I am."

"Shabuir." Even the Kyr'tsad armored their children. I grabbed the collar of her blouse, lifting her off her feet.

Kanna dropped her mug, spilling its contents all over her blouse. "Wha—" The surrounding students immediately drew their weapons.

I brought her closer to my helmet, glaring at her through the visual displays. "What's the matter with you? These students aren't properly equipped. Where's their protective gear? You're going to get them killed." In all honesty, this girl was just another cog in the machine. Just another no-one to prop up the regime. On one hand, I couldn't fully blame her. If the bastards of the Republic were any example, then the order to send in children probably came from higher up the food chain. On the other hand…

I still totally could.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't reduce you to space tar."

Kanna didn't even blink. I had to give her credit; she was well trained. The subtle drooping of her ears was her only indication of emotion. "I understand your concern, but—"

A series of gunfire erupted from a nearby building. A spray of lead peppered the students as they frantically dove for cover. One girl didn't quite get the notification and took several shots to the head. She fell to the ground before rolling onto her back. I didn't even have time to process her death before she held up a shaky thumbs up with a moan.

What.

By the gods…

"That's impossible…" I watched the other students converge around their downed comrade, laughing and helping her to her feet as if she had been the victim of a prank rather than a shooting. My gaze slid towards Kanna who looked less concerned about her subordinate and more concerned about the fresh coffee stain on her blouse. They're treating this like it happens all the time…

The bullets… They had to be fake. It only made sense. Why else would they allow students around lethal weapons? There was no other explanation.

I released Kanna, placing her gently on her feet and took several steps back. "Your gun. Shoot me."

She blinked, her visible eye narrowing to a crescent. "What? Are you insane? I can't shoot someone without a halo."

So their halos aren't just for show… "Do it. Don't aim for any unprotected areas. I'll be fine."

Kanna hesitated for a moment before drawing her side arm. Her pale eye wandered up to my visor before she slowly lowered her weapon and pulled the trigger.

The bullet smashed into my beskar shinguards and shattered on impact, sending lead fragments hurtling through the air. A few pieces found their way towards the downed student and nailed her in the gut. She stumbled back, falling onto her rear as a twin-tailed girl ran up to her.

"By the destroyer's name… The bullets are real…" Without another word, I drew a WESTAR-34 and shot the sitting student. A luminous red bolt burst from the chromatic blaster with its signature shuum! and slammed into her forehead. Her head snapped back before she slumped forward. Her blue halo blinked out.

"Oh my god, she's out cold!" The twin-tailed student cried.

Kanna lips peeled back, revealing a savage set of teeth. "What was that for?!"

I should have been angry with her. I really should've been, but after everything I've seen and after the amount of concern she showed for her team, I couldn't help but feel glad—glad that she wasn't a part of a cruel, unfeeling system. "If a student can take several shots to the head, then they can handle a single bolt." I flipped a switch on the blaster with my thumb. "Though in retrospect, I should have set for stun." I shot the twin-tailed girl with a concentric blue ring.

"Ow." Dazed, she slumped over her friend. "I'm gonna… take a nap…" She moaned, her pink halo fading.

"Huh." Interesting… Their halos were somehow tied to their consciousness. "Director. I'll take it from here. Get those two to safety."

Kanna eyed me warily. "On whose authority?"

"The Council's." Rin did say I would be acting on their behalf.

Kanna looked up at me for a moment before

nodding reluctantly. I couldn't blame her. I did just shoot two of her officers. She turned towards her subordinates with a sweep of her arm. "You heard him! Take those two back to Field HQ!" Four students peeled from the crowd and carried the two unconscious girls away.

I glanced up at the gangsters across the intersection. They had been awfully cooperative throughout that whole debacle… Almost as if–

"Bahaha!" A band of rogue students leapt out from a building behind us. "Haha! Fools! You didn't expect us to be here, did you? Well guess what? We are—Gak! What the hell was that?!"

I lowered my blaster. "You talk too much."

"Sensei!" Yuuka shouted, running up to me as she blasted another helmet wearing fool in the head. "You can fly! I presume you're wearing some sort of personal jetpack, but even Millennium's Engineering Department has struggled to produce a design that's so compact." She turned halfway, casually unloading the rest of her magazine into the same gangster as she tried to crawl away.

That's cold.

Hasumi stepped over the downed student. "Sensei, you shouldn't leave—"

Another thug leapt out from around an alley, taking several pot shots at Hasumi. Shoving the angel aside, I unloaded a bolt into the enemy's helmet. She cartwheeled over her comrade before slumping to a stop. I glanced down at Hasumi, holstering my blaster with a spin. "Never let your guard down."

Hasumi flushed looking askance. "I, uh. Er… Yes." She stuttered.

"Don't feel bad. Everyone makes mistakes."

She sighed with relief before smiling. "Thank you for your kind words."

"Nice shot." Suzumi said, walking up to me. She was casually playing with a cylindrical thermal detonator of some kind, tossing it up and down like a ball.

I jerked my chin in her direction. "What's that?"

"A flash bang." A thermal detonator it was not. That was even worse, and from the looks of it, she had more than six on her person.

What's wrong with these kids? "Put that away. It's too crowded here. You'll do more harm than good."

Suzumi groaned, returning the flashbang to her belt with no small degree of reluctance. "Why does every–"

A sudden shockwave tore through the air, throwing students off their feet. For a split second, I watched the street descend into chaos as a raucous explosion rocked the intersection, throwing up a great ball of fire, smoke, and ash.

The reaction was instant.

"Take cover!" The students scrambled as gunfire rained down on them.

A masked woman stepped out onto a pile of rubble, her rifle held across her shoulders in a casual grip. "It seems the General Student Council sent their little errand dogs after me, how cute."

One of the Valkyrie students gasped. "Oh, Fu—!" Her words were lost amongst a second explosion. "...It's Wakamo!"

"Hey!" Kanna barked, turning on a dime. "I heard that! Demerit!"

"Friend of yours?" I asked, sparing Yuuka a glance.

She chuckled weakly. "Friends might be a bit much… Her name is Wakamo Kosaka, one of the Seven Prisoners held by the FSC. Er…formerly held by the FSC. She's an ex-student of Hyakkiyako Alliance Academy and a dangerous criminal renowned for her penchant for—" Another explosion threw Yuuka off her feet.

"...Destruction." Kanna finished.

Great. "Director, how many students do you think we need to hold the line?"

Kanna hesitated. "Ten, maybe twelve?"

"Choose."

She turned to look back at the students currently holding off Wakamo's gang. "Twelve."

It'll have to do. "Then, Hasumi, Chinatsu, and I will distract Wakamo. In the meantime, I need you, Yuuka, and Suzumi to find a way around the blockade and encircle her gang. Take the remaining Valkyrie students with you."

Kanna nodded. "Understood."

"Remember, your goal is to encircle, not subjugate. Do not over engage while enroute."

"Got it."

Yuuka smirked. "She'll be fine. More importantly…" She looked up at Kanna with a smile. "Director?"

Kanna nodded. "Teams five and six, follow me!" A decently sized contingent of students peeled off from the frontline and reserves. They formed up behind Kanna before disappearing into a building along with Yuuka and Suzumi.

Satisfied, I ran up to the line of contact, sliding to a stop behind a broken road barrier. "Don't let up!" I drew my twin blasters, shooting across the intersection.

A sudden combination of crunching gravel and tearing fabric proved too difficult to ignore. I glanced to my side just as Chinatsu slid beside me. "Chinatsu, right?" I looked down at her legs. "You tore your stockings."

She leveled her firearm, shooting several times. "It's hardly the time to be worried about such a thing, Sensei." She ejected a spent cartridge from her pistol before shoving in another. "I can always buy a new one."

I nodded. "Keep that mindset. It'll serve you well." I grabbed her head, shoving her down just as a bullet sailed overhead. The offending sniper was immediately suppressed.

Chinatsu glanced up at me through her long lashes. "T-thank you Sensei, but I would have been fine."

Oh, that's right. Halos. I pressed a button on my wrist. Several glowing figures flashed brightly through the helmet's HUD. Most of the signatures were crouched at the line of contact, but a select few were hiding in buildings—tucked behind windows and walls. The students wouldn't last another minute if those snipers weren't neutralized.

"Hasumi!" If the Student Council wanted their students alive, then they'd get them alive, but if they received them unharmed, well, that would just be an extra charge, wouldn't it? Extra money was always nice. I should have demanded payment upfront.

A single, black feather floated across my gaze. "Sensei."

I spared Hasumi a glance. "Enemy snipers. I'll direct. You fire. Clear?"

She nodded. "Yes, Sensei."

This one is quick on the uptake. I leaned toward her, aligning our lines of sight. "You'll have at most a minute to take them out. The others will be alerted the moment you drop the first. Time your shots to minimize their reaction time. With me so far?"

Hasumi nodded. "Yes."

"Shoot the moment they fire. They'll instinctively rack their bolt after firing, giving you a two second window to catch them before they move. Understand?"

"Yes."

"Repeat what I said."

"I've a minute to neutralize the targets." She glanced up at me. I nodded. "Time my shots to minimize their reaction. Only shoot after they fire."

"Good. Red brick building, second floor."

"On it."

"Range—"

"30 meters."

"You're good."

She smiled. "Thank you, Sensei."

I continued describing each sniper's location to Hasumi. She spotted and memorized each location with frightening efficiency, a sure sign of a well trained and experienced markswoman.

"That's all of them. Have you ranged them?"

"I'm all set."

"Fire when ready."

It was a tense second as we waited for the sniper to fire. The moment came faster than expected. Her hands were a blur as she shot and racked her bolt with ruthless efficiency, unloading a new round into a different enemy every few seconds. The blitz finally ended after half a minute of sustained fire. With a deep sigh, Hasumi sat down, resting her back against the cement roadblock.

I gave her a thumbs up. The students in Kivotos were something else. She would have been the fastest sniper in all of Manda'yaim had she been born a Mando'ad. "Take a breather… Chinatsu!"

"Yes, Sensei!"

"I want you and Hasumi to stay behind when Kanna and Yuuka's group attacks. Keep Wakamo distracted. Pin her down. I'll take the rest of the students forward."

A few of the gangsters stopped shooting. They looked around in confusion. "Hey! Where's our covering fire?" One of them asked.

I peered over the barrier just in time to see Yuuka, Suzumi, and Kanna burst out of a building behind them. They were followed by a herd of Valkyrie students. The contingent dove for cover, taking pot shots at the Helmet Gang's exposed rear.

Panic began to spread.

"They're behind us!" One cried.

"No, it's our reinforcements!"Another said.

Now! Encouraging the students with an arcing wave of my arm, I stood. "Over the barrier! Let's go!" With a cry, we vaulted over our makeshift cover. I blasted two gangsters, clearing a path for our assault. Valkyrie students stormed the enemy's positions while Hasumi and Chinatsu kept them pinned down.

An orange bolt sailed overhead, crashing near Wakamo's feet. She leapt back, firing her rifle and taking down multiple students with a single shot. She landed atop an overturned car. "Why must you get in my way?"

A similar, distant cry echoed our own as Yuuka, Suzumi, and Kanna lead a second charge into their exposed rear. I heard a faint cry of "flashbang!" before a thermal detonator exploded behind enemy lines. The Helmet Gang was too busy covering their eyes to react in time.

"Perfect! Just as planned!" Yuuka cheered.

The enemies' shots began to fall short. With so many of us around them, they couldn't spare the time to aim properly. Their window of opportunity shrank as we tightened the encirclement. "Keep pushing!"

A helmeted redhead grimaced. "We're surrounded!"

"What?!" Wakamo shouted, looking over her shoulder.

Fool. "Now, Hasumi!"

"You aren't getting away." Hasumi vaulted over the barrier and threw herself into a crouch. She slid to a stop as students ran past her. Aiming her rifle, she sent a well placed shot hurtling into Wakamo's forehead. The convict tumbled backwards, falling behind a pile of rubble and out of sight.

"The Fox of Calamity's down, we're done for!"

"It's not over yet! Call in the cavalry!"

I felt a slight tremor beneath my feet. A decently sized armored vehicle turned onto the intersection. Its metal tracks tore up the asphalt as it skidded to a stop.

Hasumi frowned. "A crusader tank."

"Familiar with this thing?"

"Yes, unfortunately so. It's a tank designed and produced by Trinity General Academy."

By who? "United Trinity Academies?"

"No, Trinity General Academy." Yuuka corrected with a thin smile. "Sensei, you have a strange accent. And I've been meaning to correct you: It's General Student Council, not Federal Student Council."

Pish-Posh. "From my point of view, you're the one with a strange accent."

"Are you done yapping?" A helmeted teen stuck her head out of the tank's cupola. "You may be strong, but let's see how you deal with Big Bertha!"

Shab. It would've been easy to fry its systems with an ion cannon. Unfortunately, whatever magical force brought me here didn't include one in its care package. At the moment, only the Z-6's rocket could penetrate an armored vehicle. It wasn't an easy decision to make. Replacements were hard to come by even on Manda'yaim, but at the moment getting off-world took precedence over everything else. However, it'd be impossible to leave Kivotos without the GSC's permission. I had to stay in their good graces if I wanted to return home, and there was no way I could do that with damaged goods—with injured students.

"Give 'em hell."

The rocket parted with my Z-6 with a burst of smoke and flame. The projectile slammed into the base of the tank's turret. A shockwave tore through the air as a magnificent explosion hurled the tank crew from their vehicle along with its turret. The remaining gangsters watched the spectacle with awe.

"He's a monster!" One of them shouted. A crimson bolt crashed into her face.

I lowered my blaster. "It's pronounced 'Mandalorian'."

The redhead leapt out from behind cover. "Retreat!" She cried. "Pull back! I'll hold them—ack!" A shot rang out as the rogue student crumpled to the floor. "I give! I give! Please don't break my helmet!"

I peered over my shoulder just as Hasumi racked the bolt of her rifle. The spent shell bounced off the road with a dull clink! "Good job, Hasumi."

"Nice one, Hasumi!" Chinatsu cheered. "After them!"

I held an arm out, holding her back. "No, let them go."

"Sensei?"

"We already won." I watched a pair of Valkyrie medics lift an injured officer onto a stretcher and carry her away. Now wasn't the time to chase after a few broken thugs. "We've got enough on our hands already."

"Sensei, I'd like to thank you for your cooperation. We couldn't have done it without you." While Kanna's expression remained visibly neutral, I felt a sense of deep gratitude and… relief? I wasn't sure how I knew. I couldn't explain it if I even tried.

"Just doing my job."

She shook her head with a sigh. "Still, I owe you my thanks."

"Noted."

Yuuka looked up at me. "Now what?"

My eyes fell upon the SCHALE building. With the route to the building secure, there was only one thing left to do. "Contact Rin and update her on the situation."

I looked around the ruined intersection. Numerous injured students lined the streets, yet I couldn't find a single sign of Wakamo. "Director, can you handle things from here?"

Kanna nodded. "Yes."

"Sensei, where are you going?" Yuuka asked.

"To secure the SCHALE building. Computer, take us up." Kicking off the ground, I soared into the air.

Wakamo couldn't believe her luck.

Well, perhaps it was more of an accomplishment of skill than sheer dumb luck. After all, one doesn't stumble into success without a modicum of skill. Especially when it came to out maneuvering the GSC. Still, she was glad that adult had been too distracted to notice her slipping away.

With a giggle, Wakamo waltzed into the building's basement. Just what were they hiding in this building…? Surely it was important enough for them to launch an assault to take back the building, and—Oh, the door wasn't even locked! After going through all that trouble on the streets above, the GSC should have at least locked the doors.

Whatever.

It didn't bother her. Their carelessness was to her advantage. She quickly descended a flight of stairs, coming face to face with a floating rock.

"And what are you doing?"

Wakamo's heart leapt into her throat, the hairs on her arms bristling on end. The voice was harsh, but not unpleasant: Low, gravelly, but surprisingly youthful. It rang with a strange power that resonated within her—Authority. She spun around, her hair fanning around her with the sudden movement. There he was, sitting on the sofa without a care in the world, clad head to toe in a strange set of armor plating atop a tyrian purple jumpsuit. Her eyes narrowed in recognition. This was the man responsible for her defeat. "You. You were with the GSC's little gofers."

The stranger dipped his chin in a languid, lethal nod. Wakamo's fists shook. He was so nonchalant, casual even! His poise was as unshakable as it was utterly infuriating! And his body language!: Slouched against a sofa, legs outstretched like a sloth, his arms draped over the back of the upholstery, leaving himself wide open. Wakamo knew he wasn't a fool. She had seen his prowess in battle. If he was letting his guard down, it was because he wanted her to know it was down. He truly didn't see her as any sort of threat.

Wakamo scoffed before tossing her hair over her with a flick of her wrist. "Fine, if you must know: I am planning to destroy this building."

She had expected a shout, a yell, any sort of outburst really, but this person—no, this man—chuckled. Wakamo's first instinct was to feel offended: How dare he make light of her! However, a growing part of her felt intrigued by his nonchalance. Most people, especially those working for the GSC, despised her rampant waves of destructive behavior and wanted nothing more than to see her locked in jail, but his odd reaction was… interesting to say the least.

He lazily lolled his head to one side. "Really? What's so special about this building?"

"It just so happens to belong to the Student Council."

"I see."

Yes… this man was strange, but the reason was why: Why was he so relaxed? What was his game? Who did he answer to? What did he think about her? Wh-What made him tick? Her chest heaved: her shoulders quivering with every breath.

"Why? Are you going to scold me? To tell me that I'm wrong?" Wakamo leaned back with a dramatic sigh, resting the back of her hand atop her forehead. "Oh, you poor student. How misguided you are! You've let your horrid nature consume you, and—"

"There's nothing wrong with that."

What?

"Eh?" Wakamo's thoughts came screeching to a halt. Just what was this man? What was he getting at?! Tricks. Tricks! Wakamo took a step back. This man was dangerous! He was a deceiver!

…but what if he wasn't? What if he sincerely meant what he said? For a moment Wakamo allowed herself to wonder.

"But have you considered how this would affect your peers?"

There! Wakamo wanted to laugh for being so naive—for thinking anyone would see her way. Oh well, some people just couldn't understand true art. But still… his question intrigued her. She supposed she could play along for now.

"Why should I care?" It was a genuine question. It was her life. She could do whatever she wanted, and no one could tell her otherwise. Besides, she was an adult now. It's not like she was telling others how to have fun.

"You don't think this would impact anyone?"

Wakamo blinked. Another surprising question. She bit her lip. She supposed there was some truth to what he was saying. "Well, I suppose it would… but how would it affect me?" Her actions could cause some traffic on the street and maybe a few people their jobs, but, in the end, that wasn't really her problem, right? Just as how she was responsible for her life, they were responsible for theirs.

The stranger paused. He held her gaze—unflinching.

Unwavering.

Unmoving.

Then he slowly—languidly—leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees. "There's nothing wrong with doing what you enjoy, but are you sure you want to waste your time on this building?"

Wakamo's breath hitched. He was completely still like a sculpture carved from ice. Sculptures didn't care about how they looked or who was watching. They held their poses with utmost sincerity regardless of how risque or how absurd they were. The world could only watch as they held their sculptors' dreams up high—aloft—and away from all the prying eyes—from all the spectators, and in turn, the sculptures carried out their creator's vision. They were two parts of a beautiful, divine cycle!

"Think about it. It's not a particularly tall building. I imagine the resulting explosion and chaos would be… disappointing to say the least."

Yes… Yes, yes! This man was an artist and she: his sculpture…! Wakamo's face flushed, her mask becoming sultry and humid. "Wha-what do you mean?" She stuttered, wrangling with the newfound sensation coursing through her body. Struggling to hold back a fit of giggles, she smiled broadly. "D-Don't try to deceive me! Hah… hah… you're just… you're just an agent for the Student Council!" She snapped, but even she knew her words lacked venom.

"What if I offered you a way out…"

Wakamo's eyes widened. "Y-You mean to say…"

"I heard you're a wanted criminal on the run. I might be able to… blind the council to your activities along with frequent opportunities for action, plenty of time for chaos, and as many explosions as your heart desires."

Wakamo gasped, reaching out with a shaking hand. It suddenly napped back to her side, as if merely touching him would burn her. "And in return…?"

Slouching back on the sofa, he chuckled. "You're a smart one. I'll be frank: I'm not from around here and there's a lot I don't know. In my line of work, information on the underworld is everything, and I'm feeling a little short on it. In other words: I have need for your skills."

Yes! The words she had been waiting for! She had finally found someone who understood the beauty of her art! Someone who understood her! A twisted giggle slipped past her lips. "You… hehe… you need me?"

He paused. "Yes, I suppose that's one way of putting in. If you help me with keeping tabs on the unsavory side of Kivotos, then I'll find a way for you to express your art. Do we have a deal?"

A shiver ran down her spine. What eloquent rhetoric! Every word from this man—no, from her artist—was another treasure meant to be cherished! Wakamo clung to every syllable like a lifeline as she bobbed helplessly in a sea of foreign emotions. "Yes, I will follow you, my darling!"

"Don't call me that."

"Then how should I address you?"

"How everyone else does—Sensei."

"Sensei…" Wakamo slowly muttered, tasting the word on her lips. "Yes, it is a most fitting name. What shall I do?"

"For now?" Sensei sighed. "Leave. The acting President will be here soon. Come find me tomorrow evening. I trust you can do that."

Leaping from the table, Wakamo landed by the basement door. "Yes! So long for now, my darling! Ahaha!"

I watched Wakamo dash from the room with a jubilant laugh. She was an intense yet simple person who followed a simple philosophy. People like her were easy to work with. Unlike the calm Rin or the calculating Yuuka, Wakamo only wanted one thing and she was very vocal about it—fun.

In truth, Rin had seemed genuine in her grief and frustration. A part of me understood where she was coming from. Wakamo was definitely in the wrong, but there was also no reforming her. Jail time wouldn't teach her anything. Only experience and harsh reality could do that.

The basement door slid open with gentle whir. Rin stepped into the room quickly followed by Yuuka.

"Cozy place you got here."

Rin gazed down at me over the railing. Her eyes narrowed. "Did I miss anything?" She asked demurely, her serene tone betraying none of her thoughts or emotions.

"No." She didn't need to know about my deal with Wakamo. The fewer people who knew, the better.

Rin nodded as she descended into the basement, her heels clacking sharply against the metal stairs. Her expression was complex. On one hand, she looked visibly relieved the whole ordeal was over. On the other, she didn't appear quite satisfied. She was probably still pissed about the hole in her office. "Thank you for your…" Rin hesitated. She coughed into her hand before pushing up her glasses. "...help, Sensei."

Definitely pissed. I don't blame her, I would be upset too.

"I brought along Seminar as she insisted I include her in this conversation."

Yuuka's twintails bounced haphazardly as she stomped down the stairs. "Hey! Don't call me that. I have a name!"

Rin didn't so much as spare her a glance. "It's about the President."

"Oh?" I studied Rin's face, searching for an explanation. Surely whatever this was, it must be important. She reached into her coat and pulled out an astonishingly sleek datapad. It was thinner and more compact than any of the models back on Manda'yaim. Perhaps this planet wasn't as primitive as I had initially thought.

"She left behind this tablet, and yet I…" Rin pursed her lips, running a finger along the device's edge. "I… have been unable to recover it. Without access to this device, we'll be unable to operate Sanctum Tower and, by extension, to govern Kivotos."

That was a massive oversight on the former President's part. No wonder the academic city was in total disarray. However, while seemingly insignificant, Rin's inability to utilize the device meant she wielded no influence over its contents. It was safe to assume that this tablet was not under her supervision.

"However, I believe you might have some insight on this matter."

What makes you think that? "Give it here." I accepted the tablet from Rin. Words flashed before my eyes the moment my hands touched the device. We thirst for the seven wailings. We bear the koan of Jericho. I looked up at her. "Did you see that?"

She slowly shook her head. I knew that look in her eyes—had she any doubts about my authenticity as this so-called "sensei", then she held them no longer.

The room was suddenly bathed in a blinding light. I held up my arms, shielding my eyes from the sudden onslaught. Haar'chak! What the hell was that? I blinked rapidly as the light began to fade, leaving behind phantom splotches in its wake.

My vision slowly returned, but with its arrival came more questions than answers. I had expected to see SCHALE's basement, but instead of the cozy room, I found myself standing in what could only be described as a pre-modern classroom. A gentle breeze meandered along a thin layer of water, lapping up gentle ripples on its surface. I caught a glimpse of the vast and mysterious landscape through a corner of the classroom where a massive portion of the surrounding walls had been blown away or otherwise destroyed. One word came to mind.

Blue.

I looked around this newfound environment with a sense of serene awe. For once, I felt at peace. What in Kad Ha'rangir's name is going on here?

"Guhehe… between strawberry milk and castella… It'd have to be strawberry milk…" A carefree voice muttered. "Ah, but the castella…! Is also good…"

I glanced over my shoulder. There, a young girl was sitting on a chair, hunched over a desk with her head in her arms. Her bright hair was fashioned in a bob and was reminiscent of the clear blue sky. Something about it sparked happiness within me. It reminded me of simpler times—of days spent playing under the skies over Manda'yaim.

Before the war.

Before the Republic.

I shook my head. Those times were gone, and there was no changing that. I had a new job, and a new goal: Get off-world and return to the Galaxy as soon as possible. I looked over at the girl once more. Judging by her halo, she was probably a student, by what was a student doing here? My boots kicked up tiny waves as I cautiously approached, dragging them through the water. Was she…tangible? I reached out and gently poked her cheek.

Soft.

"Hue?" The girl groggily raised her head, revealing a strand of hair clinging to her cheek and a puddle of drool. Her eyes, still hazy and distant, slowly panned towards me. "Uhh… Huh? Wha…?!" She snapped up, almost tipping her chair back in the process.

"Su cuy'gar."

Her eyes doubled in size, as if she had been struck across the face. "Sensei…? If you're here then you must be Sensei!"

"Apparently I am." For now, that is.

She gasped. "Wha…T-then… How—how much did you hear?! Wait! Calm down… remember your prime numbers…" She closed her eyes, muttering to herself. "2, 3, 5, 7, 9…"

One of those was wrong…

Her chest rose with an audible breath before slowly falling after a brief moment. "Phew. Where was I? Ah, I haven't introduced myself!"

The girl pushed her chair away from the desk with a push of her feet. Flailing her feet wildly, she hopped off her chair with a broad smile. "My name is Arona!" She said, greeting me with a bow. "I'm the system manager that lives in the Shittim chest! I also serve as its main OS! You can think of me as your secretary."

"I see." Arona wasn't like the other students. Which should have been obvious given that she lived in a data tablet, but lack of physical body aside, unlike other students', Arona's halo could change color and shape. It seemed to reflect her mood.

Arona's halo formed a heart. "I'm so glad to finally meet you! I've been waiting a long, looooong time!" She exclaimed, throwing out her arms.

I raised a brow. "By sleeping?"

Her face flushed as her halo melted into a drooping, red ring. "W-well, of course there were times when I dozed off a little…" she trailed off into a mutter before wildly waving her hands. "B-but let's not get into specifics!"

What a strange and energetic girl. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Arona."

"Hehe… I've been waiting to hear that for a long time… Um… b-by the way, Sensei, I've noticed you have a lot of high-tech equipment!" Arona's smile faded as she looked down, pushing her index fingers together with a mumble. "C-Could I play with them some time…?"

I couldn't help but smile. Had this been another time on another planet, I would have mistaken her for a foundling asking for her first blaster. "Do you promise not to break anything?"

Her head snapped up with a gasp. "O-of course! Don't underestimate Arona, the super OS!" She tottered back to her desk and hopped on top of it, sitting on its wooden surface and swinging her feet. "It looks like someone's calling you from outside, so I'll let you go for now! I'm looking forward to working with you, Sensei!"

"Wait, how did I get here?"

Arona pulled a piece of paper from her desk and began crumpling it up, filling the classroom with the prickly sound of a muffled rustle. "Uh… sorry, can't hear you. I think we're breaking up. Bye!"

Mir'sheb! Aronas's classroom faded to white. I awoke to the sound of Rin's voice. "Sensei…?"

I looked up at her. Something told me that Arona was meant to be kept a secret. Otherwise the former President would have granted Rin, her best friend, access to the Shittim Chest. If Arona was important enough to keep from close friends, then I would be remiss to reveal her secret.

I shook my head, feigning a headache. "My apologies. The Shittim Chest was… more advanced than I anticipated. "How long was I out?"

Yuuka shrugged. "A couple of seconds, maybe three?"

I nodded. That was useful information: Time moved differently within the Shittim Chest. "What's the plan?"

Rin pocketed a small device. "I will return to my office to confirm the functionality of Sanctum Tower. After that, I will make arrangements for your payment." She replied. "In the meantime, you may settle down here."

"In the SCHALE building?"

"Yes."

She wanted me to live here? Under her constant surveillance? A snowball's chance on Mustafar. Only a naive fool would accept such an offer. Rin was apathetic and hard to read. Her goals and ambitions, and thus the GSC's, eluded my understanding. This place was far too close to them, and if the recent assault was any indication, far too lax. No, I needed a place away from Rin's prying eyes. "I'll pass."

Yuuka snorted.

The basement fell silent, amplifying the distant whirring of machinery. It was relatively peaceful despite the suffocating tension in the room. Had this been any other occasion, I would be hard pressed to believe that Yuuka had essentially offered her neck on a silver platter. From what I've seen, Rin was the type to retaliate with a backhanded snub and a biting glare like water simmering at the edge of a boil. Instead she stood beside me in utter silence.

When she finally spoke, she spoke with a soft, airy tone as if acknowledging my answer had sapped her of all her energy. "What?"

I pointed up at the basement's ceiling. "I'm not living in a GSC managed building. Besides, I need access to a workshop to maintain my equipment."

Yuuka suddenly pushed past Rin with a grin. "Sensei, what about Millennium? Our Engineering Department would be more than happy to help. Seminar has an empty warehouse you could use. Our upperclassmen used it as storage, but it's been sitting abandoned since President Rio took over."

I could practically see the gears turning in Rin's head as she slowly processed the sudden turn of events. She pushed up her glasses with a fierce glare. "Excuse me, Miss Hayase, but that is not your decision to make." She snapped. "SCHALE, and by extension Sensei, is a neutral third party meant to settle inter-academic disputes. He cannot be partial to any of the academies."

Yuuka rolled her eyes. "It's not like we're adopting him! We're simply providing him a place to stay!"

Rin merely regarded her with a raised brow. "I will not allow Seminar to monopolize–"

"Enough." This was going to get us nowhere. "I will take Yuuka up on her offer. However, I want nothing to do with Seminar. If your students have a request, then they can take it to SCHALE." I nodded to Rin. "I trust that would be adequate."

Rin turned away from the Millennium students. She hummed, biting her lips. "Yes… I suppose that could work…"

Yuuka cupped her chin with a barely hidden smirk.

Raising her voice, Rin cut in. "But on one condition: Sensei must remain unaffiliated with Millennium, and any formal request must be routed through SCHALE."

It was a reasonable condition. From the sounds of it, Millennium was far from the GSC's jurisdiction. Besides, if Millennium was half as advanced as Yuuka made it out to be, then it was probably more secure than SCHALE was. "I can agree to that."

Rin clicked her tongue with a shake of her head. "Then I'll see you two at a later date." She turned towards me. "One last thing, Sensei. This is for you." She handed me a small, rectangular device.

I eyed the new item, turning it over in my hand. "What is this?"

"It's a smartphone."

"A what?" How could an object be smart?

Rin sighed. "It's a communication device. You can use this to contact the GSC and your students. It also tracks your location in the event of an emergency."

That was concerning. The last thing I needed was another ear listening in on my conversations. I slipped the phone into one of my belt's many pouches. "I see. Thank you."

She nodded. "Then I'll see you tomorrow, Sensei."

I watched Rin swiftly ascend the basement stairs, her long coat fluttering behind her as she left the room just as Yuuka snatched my new "phone" from my hand. She fiddled with the tiny device, tapping the screen.

"I look forward to your contributions to Millennium, Sensei."

"Yeah. Sure." Thinking about the day's events, my mind began to wander. It was safe to say that a lot had happened in the past few hours—a painful reminder of how everything could change in a matter of hours: waking up on a foreign planet, becoming "Sensei", putting down a riot, and now living amongst girls only a handful of years younger than myself. Still, a job was a job. The only thing that mattered was the payout at the end. Yet, as I laid back on the sofa, the absurdity of my new life surged into mind like a wild Bantha: What have I gotten myself into?

When writing, I tend to write dialog first and then form the scene around it. I often [tag] dialog with simple notes that describe who's speaking and the general mood of the situation. Other times my brain just dies and I slap whatever comes to mind. It's just a way for me to remember exactly what I was thinking about when I come back to fully write the scene. I've decided to start saving a few interesting ones down here, and this will continue in future chapters, so I hope you enjoy them.

[street explodes, valkyrie mobs Go flying] and i said heyyeyaaeyaaaeyeeyaa "what's going on?!"

"It seems the Federal Student Council sent their little errand dogs after me, how cute."

"HOLY FUCK, IT'S WAKAMO!" [will not be included in the story]

"Now, Hasumi!"

"HASUMI SKILL LINE" *dabs* [Hasumi snipes Wakamo in the head while she's distracted]

Jagyc'kovid—Dick head

Kad Ha'rangir—Ancient Mandalorian god of growth, change, and destruction

Kyr'tsad—Death Watch

Mir'sheb—Smartass

Shab—Fuck

Shabuir—Mother Fucker

Su cuy'gar—Hello. (Lit. "You're still alive".)