Nearly a day later, Jezza woke in the infimary. Her father was at her bedside reading. When she opened her eyes, he squeezed looked up and smiled at her, "Krissy,"

"Dad," she said weakly. Her throat was dry. He grabbed her a glass of water and helped her drink it. Once her thirst was quenched, he slowly helped her to sit up in bed. Her head hurt something fierce as she wondered what had happened.

She tried to recall everything, the event, Keyoko, Burger, flashed through her mind. She just barely recalled meeting with Keyoko, Urel was back she'd been going to lock him down. Krissy's eyes widened as she choked, "Urel," She frantically turned to her father, "HE'S BACK DAD! UREL'S HERE! HIS NAME IS JESEP ZIAN WE NEED TO LOCK HIM DOWN!"

"It's okay, it's okay," said Greegis Rogers raising his hands. He motioned for Krissy to settle down "It's been taken care."

"Taken care of? How?" she asked.

"You don't need to worry about it, I am personally taking over this mission, just relax and focus on recovering."

"I need to know what's been done," said Krissy. She gave her father a look. He more then anyone should know how suborn she could be, especially since she got it from him.

He let out a heavy sigh knowing his daughter wouldn't drop it, "Everyone has been collected and is being moved to the lock down facilities."

"Everyone!" said Krissy, "Even Keyoko,"

"Yes," he said. She could see he was upset, "You should have notified me as soon as you verified the cause,"

"It wasn't that simple. I needed more information. Keyoko did cause the storm but it wasn't her fault, she was attacked. She was defending herself against Urel. I swear she isn't a threat dad, with some training she could be a real asset."

"She's far too dangerous to be an asset, Krissy. Her defense, killed more then eight thousand innocent people."

"I know but...she's a friend, Dad"

"Was," said Greegis Rogers squeezing his daughters hand. "You need to accept this life, this world comes first. Right now is what matters most. Everything else has to take a back seat."

"I know...I know," It wasn't the first time Krissy had gotten this speech. She swallowed and then went over it, "So you're locking down Urel, Eyo and Keyoko" She gasped as she remembered Gigi was also suppose to be back. "What of Gigi, Keyoko told me she is back as well. Remember she can make herself look like anyone she can-"

"I'm fully aware of what she can do," said Greegis Rogers, "You needn't worry about her. We've collected her as well."

"How?" asked Jeza. "How did you find her."

"She was found trying to break Eyo out. Several soldiers followed your protocols and were able to apprehend her."

"Really," said Jeza smiling. Her protocols had worked.

"Can I...can I see Keyoko before she's locked down. I have so many questions,"

"I'm sorry but I've already given the orders," said Greegis Rogers.

"But I-"

"Krissy,"

"Please Dad she's not a bad person"

"You can't know that in this life," said Greegis Rogers

"I know it from countless others," said Krissy, "I have fought along side her for hundred if not thousands of years,"

"What have I told you!" he said.

"This life is what matters most," said Krissy, "But you can't just disregard the others. Like it or not they happened. They count...what if...what if it was me dad. What if they wanted to lock me down"

"That's different,"

"Why because I was reborn as your daughter, and she wasn't. She could have just as easily been."

"But she wasn't...frankly Krissy we will be lucky if I can keep you out of lock down" said Greegis Rogers. "This whole operation was a mess. The higher ups are unsettled. They're question the whole program they're considering shutting down it down. They don't think you're capable of handling any of these people nor there event. After Kurth and now this, I'm inclined to agree with them."

Jeza felt crushed, it was one thing to have others not believe in her but to have her father...Maybe he was right maybe she was just to close to the cursed. Maybe someone else should be in charge of finding them of determining there status.

I don't want you to worry about this Kirssy, I know your a good soldier. I trained you myself. If...if the program does get shut down, you're still a Survayant. Now that Urel is no longer the big threat, you can move on to others things."

"Right," said Krissy. She realized he had been caught. It was over, he wasn't going to destroy this life, this world. If she was reassigned then she'd accept that but she...she couldn't accept putting her friend in lock down. When she'd made the procedure it was never really meant for any of her friends. Only for...for the others that were always trying to destroy the world. She'd met Keyoko she seemed nice. She didn't know her but she'd wanted to.

Maybe in a few weeks or months she could convince her dad...to reconsider talking with the highers up. Make them see this as a win instead of a lost. No matter how long it took she'd try and find a way to get her out. Her father started to leave the room. She sat back in bed and then thought of Burger. She was surprised he wasn't here. She wondered how he was fairing, "Wait Dad my second? How is he doing,"

Her father paused in the doorway. He kept his back to her before saying, "I'm sorry, he didn't make it,"

Jeza swayed slightly but held herself together, "How,"

"His throat was slit,"

"Where is he, now?"

"Krissy,"

"WHERE!"

"The morgue," said her father, "We'll be transferring him out along with all the other casualties, in a few hours. Just rest up, I'll be back in an hour or so to check on you," He left the room, shutting the door behind him.

For several minutes, Krissy just sat there thinking about Burger. Thinking about the last conversation they'd had and now he was, she couldn't even think it. She got to her feet knowing she had to see it for herself. She knew it was too late to bring him back that she was took weak in her current state to reverse that much time but still, she had to say a proper goodbye before he was buried or incinerated.

She walked about gingerly, still getting full use of her body back, she knew it might take a few days or so before she felt right again. She got dressed and headed down to the morgue, when she got to the door, she stood outside for the longest time. Part of her needed to see him and part of her wasn't sure if she could bare it, knowing he was really gone and she couldn't bring him back.

She took a deep breath opening the door. She saw dozens of others that had been lost because she had failed to act in time. She looked at the names on each of the bags until she found Burger's. She stood over his bag for several minutes and then unzipped it.

There was a lot of blood around his neck and his abdomen but otherwise he almost looked like he was just resting, like he might open his eyes at any moment. She ran her hands over his shaved head and leaned in close. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I put everything before us. I lied to you" She closed her eyes, "I lied to you when I said what we had meant nothing. It...it meant so much to me but I couldn't afford to put you, to put anyone else before my duties. You have...had no idea what was going on but I guess in the end...it didn't matter. Things still happened, I couldn't control them. I thought I could but I know I can't now. No matter how much I prepared," She sniffled "I'm going to miss you," She ran her hand over his cheek and then leaned in kissing him softly one last time before she pulled back and said, "Rest in peace."

When she pulled all the way back, he opened his eyes and smiled at her, "It is you."

"WHAT!" said Krissy stumbling back. "YOU'RE ALIVE!"

"Yeah," he said yawning. He sat up. "I must have passed out or something. Sorry I didn't say anything just now I just had to be sure it was you. There was this chick or maybe it was a dream but she looked like you or was you, she stabbed me, it was weird. But whatever, it's good to finally get the truth. Which might I add is bullshit" He yawned again.

Krissy shook her head confused. She thought he might be Paten but he hadn't passed her tests, "But no...you didn't pass-"

He looked at her confused? Then tried to move his feet out of the bag. Krissy just kept shaking her head, "But I don't understand,"

"Relax it's gonna take a lot more then...then…" he paused confused. Burger thought he'd just been asleep that he'd dreamt it all but now he didn't know. He could still feel the pain of being gutted of his throat being slashed. He ran his hand across his throat but it was fine. He looked down though and saw his uniform was covered in blood. He could see where it had been cut open he moved it around but his abs were still intact Had it been a dream or something. Now he didn't understand "I don't understand what happened Krissy?"

Krissy reached out to him. She ran her hand over his chest feeling something under his shirt. She ripped it open.

Burger looked around a bit surprised, "Uh this really isn't the place to be- but I guess if you-"

He moved to take her in his arms but she pulled back, looking at something on his chest. He looked down seeing a small gray stone. He couldn't recall how he'd gotten it. A moment later Krissy was crushing him as she wrapped his arms around him tightly, "Paten...Paten you are...I knew it. I KNEW IT! ONLY YOU ARE THAT MUCH OF PAIN IN MY ASS!"

"WHAT! Who you callin a pain. Who's this Paten..."he mumbled confused and then it felt oddly familiar "Who...wait...that...wait that sounds familiar, how."

"I'll explain everything," said Krissy. She pulled back taking another look at him. "I'm so glad your back!"

"I never went anywhere," he protested, "You're the one that-"

She pressed her lips against him giving him a kiss. He quickly stopped protesting and wrapped his arms around the woman he loved.