Nearly a day later, Jezza woke in the infirmary. Her father was at her bedside reading. When she opened her eyes, he got to his feet and smiled down at her, "Krissy,"
"Father," 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 and Burger, flashed through her mind. She just barely recalled meeting with Keyoko, Urel was back and 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! 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 stern look. He more then anyone knew how suborn she could be, especially since she got it from him.
He let out a heavy sigh, knowing his daughter wouldn't drop this. "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, 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!"
"Was," said Greegis Rogers. "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 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 Jezza. "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 Jezza smiling. Her protocols had worked.
"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 father, 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 hundreds, 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. What if it was me? What if they wanted to lock me down? Would you let them?"
"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 questioning the whole program and considering shutting it down. They don't think you're capable of handling any of these people. After Kurth and now this, I'm inclined to agree with them."
Krissy felt crushed, it was one thing to have others not believe in her, but to have her own father doubt her. Maybe he was right. Maybe she was just too close to the cursed. Maybe someone else should be in charge of finding them, and determining there status.
"I don't want you to worry about this Krissy. I know you're a good soldier. I trained you myself. 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'd been caught. It was over, he wasn't going to destroy this world, this life,. 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 meant for any of her friends. Only for the others that were always trying to destroy everything. She'd met Keyoko and she seemed nice. Krissy didn't know her, but she'd wanted to.
Maybe in a few weeks or months, she could convince her father to reconsider talking with the highers up. Maybe he could make them see this as a win, instead of a lost. No matter how long it took, she'd find a way to get her out. Her father started to leave the room. She sat back in bed, then thought of Burger. She was surprised he wasn't here. She wondered how he was fairing.
"Wait? Uh where is Burg- Argent Burger? 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,"
Krissy swayed slightly but held herself together, "How?"
"His throat was slit,"
"Where is he, now?"
"Krissy,"
"WHERE!"
"The morgue," her father said, "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.
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 and opened 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 body bags until she found Burger's. She stood over his bag for several minutes then unzipped it. There was a lot of blood around his neck and abdomen, but otherwise he almost looked like he was resting... like he might open his eyes at any moment. She ran her hands over his shaved head. He still felt so warm.
She leaned in close and apologized, for everything. "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- You 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, I hoped some distance would protect you, but I guess in the end, it didn't matter. Things still happened, I couldn't control them. I thought I could, but I now know, I can't. No matter how much I prepare." She sniffled "I'm going to miss you, rest in peace, my love.' She ran her hand over his cheeks, then leaned in even more and softly kissed his lips one last time.
When she pulled away, he opened his eyes and smiled at her, "It is you."
"WHAT!" said Krissy stumbling back. "YOU'RE ALIVE!"
"Yeah," he said yawning as he sat up. "I must have passed out or something. Sorry, I didn't say anything just now, I 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 and it was weird. But whatever, it's good to finally get the truth. Which might I add is bullshit!".
He yawned again as 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. He didn't understand what was he doing in a bag? Krissy just kept shaking her head, "But I don't understand."
"Relax it's gonna take a lot more then-then-" he paused as everything hit him again.
He thought he'd just been dreaming, but now he didn't know. It had all felt so...real. He could still recall how it felt to be gutted, and have his throat slashed. He ran his hands across his throat and stomach, but they felt fine. However when he looked down, he saw his uniform was cut open and covered in blood. It had happened, but then how was he alive? He looked at Krissy confused.
"I don't understand? What happened Kriz?"
Krissy reached out to him. She ran her hand over his chest, feeling something under his uniform. She ripped it open.
Dave looked around a bit surprised, "Uh this really isn't the place to be- Uh 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, tightly around him.
"Paten! Oh you are Paten! I knew it! I KNEW IT! ONLY YOU ARE THIS MUCH OF A PAIN IN MY ASS!"
"What! Who you callin' a pain? Who's this Paten?" He mumbled confused, and then it somehow felt oddly familiar, to him, "Who? What? Why does that name sounds familiar? How?"
"I'll explain everything." said Krissy. She pulled back taking another look at him. "I'm so glad you're bad."
"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.
END
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