The television hissed to life and a dark haired man with b-over hair appeared on the s, to his right, ses from outside the Pandora ittee building during the attack py out, masked Darksiders running through a hole in the protective outer wall and into the gardens. It cuts to recovery crews w and then a group of civilians tirelessly ing off the statue of Firestorm that was defaced during the attack. “...with more reas from across the globe. Fiernation of the as of the vilin group, Darksiders, has led to calls for more enfort and further expansion of the hero training programs to increase numbers.”

  The maured to the image and it ged to a grizzled looking man with a thick white beard and stony eyes, “Some experts including Criminal History Professor Darvel Cox at Oxford Uy have pointed out that the Darksiders are a new and reckless criminal anization built from a rogue element of a previous era and it is unsurprising that there was infightiween them and a powerful hired element,” The reporter tinued, “With the dawn of a new kind of criminal, some upheaval is expected and the Professor cautions against wideniion and enfort too quickly as it could strehe arguments of individuals like Liberty.”

  The reporter turo face the s more directly, “It has beey-four hours sihe events in The Hague and the Pandora ittee has only issued a few statements, one public statement has caused some troversy worldwide,” The reporter said and the s cut to an image of the Chairman standing grim faced in front of a podium. “While her as were admirable and in lih the calling of a hero, the Vegas Act is an iionally reized w regarding the activities of Mythic-Tier light-touched outside of dungeons. The Hero Bck Lotus has been put on a temporary suspension for the month-”

  The s cut back to the repain, “As a result of the decision, protests have broken out across the Uates, East Asia, in particur a, and Europe,” Images appear in a window o him of people walking dowreet with signs held up saying ‘We need Mythics out of Dungeons!’ and ‘She did nothing wrong!’ among other things. The reporter shifted a bit in his seat, “The Pandora ittee has stated that the suspension is a light punishment and is looking forward to Bck Lotus returning to her work.”

  He grew serious, “In other news, tensions are high in the Southern Uates and several other tries with branches of Liberty’s cult,” The reporter said, “The US National Guard has been moved to various points across the Southern US and armed with post-pandora munitions. unities are split in the region over Liberty’s as with some praising her reprisal against gover ht while others are openly ning her violent approach,” The reporter frowned a little, “Some groups across the p g that the fsh was ‘divine’ are voig their approval of Liberty.”

  “The Pandora ittee and the United Nations has responded swiftly to the growing tensions,” He trailed off and the s ged again to an image of a balding older man standing at a podium in a huge room with the words ‘United Nations responds to Liberty’ at the bottom of the s. The old man leaned forward, “The UN has agreed unanimously to sans against Liberty and her anization. I have firmation that the Pandora ittee has pleted a remote ballot and added her to the top ten most wanted Vilins list, putti the number one spot. Her as will not go untested, but this will be handled properly and in a way befitting of a civilized society.”

  The reporter returo the s, “In addition, the before-unknowrical vilin now known as Kerauna has been updated oop vilin list. You see a dossier on all known vilins on the Pandora ittee website,” The s flickered and another face appeared, a young woman with her brown hair styled up, “With the Darksiders now scattered many of their members have begun surrendering to the authorities. Some have beeed as saying they are seeking asylum from Ishtar for a debt incurred by the failed plot,” The woman said.

  She gestured to one side of the s and the s shifted to a grim faced man with bck hair graying oemples as a reporter approaches him, “Hero Sapporo! What are your ents on the debt incurred by the Darksiders to Ishtar?” The reporter asked hastily. Sapporo scowled and shook his head, “If there was any more need for evidehat the woman is supp vilins indiscriminately, this is it,” He said sourly, “Arming the mad is the peak of madness, now enough questions,” He added gruffly before turning away.

  The womauro the s, “While Hero Sapporo’s ents are resonating, roups have begun to ask who will fill the power vacuum left by the rge and very public Darksiders anization,” The woma on, “In Hero Sapporo’s own try, a certain group has made very public their own thoughts;” She said and the s cut away again to show a group of men and women wearing white masks and white robes. One among them is standing in front of a crowd of people, “The Light of Dawn ged the world and Ishtar is its prophet. Our leader believes that the vilins of Earth should bend the knee before her eye gazes upon the p again and another city is brought to ruin! Our leader has foreseen the gaze of our true savior opening wide once more!”

  The woman reappeared, “The religious group based in-”

  The television cut out and Sonya let out a groan, flopping bato the bed and rubbing her head, “An actual cult?” She whined as she rolled around on her bed. “Gross, gross gross gross!” She pined before stopping on her chest and staring with frustration at her pillow, “I’m so bored,” She sighed a her on her palms, kig her feet in her pajamas and ung some of the sheets off of her bed, “Stupid idiots postponing the ittee, it was just a bombing!” She grumbled and flopped to her side, “Not that big a deal, just patch the walls a on with it. I wanna run around The Hague some more.”

  She rolled onto her back, “And now I’m talking to myself. Better than talking to yht?” She said aloud before pausing, making a deadpan face, and sighing, “And now I have, great.”

  She sat up and peered into her refle in a photograph of herself and Car standing on a beach together, “Hello?” She called out, squinting at the refle that squinted back at her before raising its eyebrow and shaking its head. “Fine, I know it’s not healthy, just could use some friggin versation here.”

  The refle shrugged at her and turned away before it returo being her own refle again. She huffed out a breath and crossed her arms, “Rude,” she muttered. At least let me take advantage of being a little crazy if I’m gonhis way, sheesh.

  She sensed a presence approag her bedroom door and perked up, catg the st of perfume on the air. She scrambled to gather up her sheets she’d kicked off duriantrum and pull them into some sembnce of order. She was about half-way bato a restful looking sitting positiohe door opened and Car cleared her throat from the doorway. She turned slowly before smiling at the woman, “Hey there,” She said as ily as she could.

  Car rolled her eyes, “Just ’t sit still, you?” She asked and walked further into the room, shutting the door behind her. Sonya picked up on some voices a bit further out and gnced up at Car with a raised eyebrow, “You aren’t the only oless, looks like most of the camp wants to che you. Haven’t the foggiest idea why, what with you being a perpetual tease for the entire first month,” She said with her arms crossed.

  Sonya defted a little, “...yeah, I deserve that,” She said with a sigh a her on her palm for a moment, “Bad way to outlet,” She murmured, I really gotta be better about that, they’re my students for heaven’s sake, this isn’t one of Marta’s animes!

  “No kidding, but it seems there’s no harm done, you didn’t go too far,” Car said and sat down on the bed before tilting her head and looking at Sonya’s shirt, “The glitter-soda shirt, again?”

  Sonya brightened, “Of course!” She said, leaning bad posing a bit for Car’s be, “It’s nostalgic, I think of your cute face when I’m wearing it.”

  Car pursed her lips, “Ftterer,” She said and leaned forward a little, “It o be ed, wear something different or else,” She reached up and tapped Sonya’s nose befetting up.

  Sonya blinked, “Where’d that e from?” She asked, grinnio ear.

  “I learned from the best,” Car said and walked to the door, “Are you alright enough to have a few visitors, in all seriousness?” Car asked, turning back to face her.

  Sonya was half way through tearing off her shirt to grab another when she poked her head up and had tle herself the rest of the way out to look at Car. Her heart skipped a beat, “Really?” She narrowed her eyes, “What’s the catch?”

  Car crossed her arms, “One, you’ve got more than just the aspirants wanting to che you,”She said, holding up a finger, “Two, you have to promise to stay in bed for at least the wo days and rex. You may not think much of it, but what happened was a lot for any person,” Car said, “You seem like you’re on the mend, mentally, and I’m not letting you backtrack.”

  Sonya’s lip trembled a little and she let her shoulders rex, she felt heat rise to her fad she scratched at her nose, “Using my weakness against me isn’t fair,” She said and then took a deep breath, she sighed and looked back at Car, “I promise not to get out of bed for more than a few minutes for the wo days and I promise to rex while I’m here, minimum activity. Just me, the tv, and my phone.”

  odded, “Maybe you get a little work dohat doesn’t involve knives and explosions while you’re here,” She chuckled and then turned away. “Are you okay with her ing in too?”

  Sonya slipped on another shirt, this one said ‘Snack Time’. She pulled her knees up to her chest as Car gnced over her shoulder at her. Sonya hugged her knees and pressed her ween them for a moment as she stared at her feet. o redo my nails again, she thought absently as she mulled through the sudden mixture of feelings. She looked up and took another breath, exhaling aing out the unease. “Yeah, I’m good. She e in alooo so we talk a little.”

  Car’s smile grew even wider, “Good, I’ll send her in, you won’t have long, the hounds are g at the gates. Poor Marta only hold them at bay for so long.”

  Sonya ughed, “Better keep it short then!” She said and eased bato her pillow, I have a lot I want to say, but I think it wait. I have something in mind, ter though.

  Car left and Sonya could hear the distant versation clearly as the door shut to the suite she was staying in at the camp. A momehere was the sound of heavy aant footsteps followed by a knock at the door, “e in, hua,” Sonya said and sat up a little. The door opened and hua stepped inside. She wasn’t in her usual gi, just a white polo shirt and thick dark denim jeans tucked into boots. Sonya felt a little nostalgic at the look. Very nostalgic. She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes, “You dress like that for my be?” She asked with a smirk.

  hua scratched her neck, “Maybe, thank you for letting me in.”

  Sonya chuckled, “You punch like a truck.”

  The hero crossed her arms and tilted her head, her dark eyes glittering a little, “You take it. That was a oime thing, though. Don’t make me have to do that again.”

  Sonya crossed her arms iurn, “You aren’t gonna keep holding bae during spars are you? The hounds out there are gonna want to see a rematch after I id you ft before I left.”

  “Laid me ft?” hua blurted before pressing her lips together. She crossed her arms, “Fine. Point taken.”

  Sonya barked with a ugh before rexing, “No more holding back, hua, and you e visit whenever you want.”

  hua sighed, “What I said stands,” She said firmly, “And I’m still mad about it but-”

  Sonya pursed her lips and smiled, “Let’s get to the heavy stuff ter, we just start with being able to breathe around one another?” She asked.

  “It’s a deal,” hua said with a smile, “Now I should stop hogging you, you have ravenous aspirants who want to make sure their favorite bat instructor is okay.”

  Sonya chuckled, “Yeah, send those mists in,” She paused and looked up at hua as she started to turn away, “Hey,” She said and the aused to look back at her, she tapped her hanks again, I deserved that one, really.”

  “Just keep your promise,” hua said with a small smile and walked out the door.

  “I will,” Sonya said after her and straightened herself up a bit more, fussing with her hair and straightening out her sheets just a bit more as she heard the door open and a fey voices ring out. She smirked and shook her head as the sound of many pairs of feet rumbled into the small suite and down the hall towards her room. She rest her on her palm and put on her most iic smug smile as the first couple of faces poked their way in. A pair e eyes met hers and a tuft of green on a sea of bched across the room before she ulled into a tight hug. “Oof! Hi there Miss Landrey!” She ughed aurhe hug.

  She pulled bad looked her over, “You’re looking stronger every day!” She said as Lillian stepped bad beamed at her.

  “We’re so gd you’re okay,” She said as more faces flooded in, a good number of the girls, Cass, the entire Nashville team, and then one figure pushed their way through the crooked his flustered head out under Lillian’s arm.

  Ollie frow her with red eyes, “You scared the hell out of me, Ma’am,” The young man said angrily and she reached out to take his hand and pull him into a hug. “I’m sorry, Ollie,” She said and stroked the back of his head before looking up at the others, all those smiling faces. “And I’m sorry to you all, for a lot of things, I was a little um… much st month,” She said a him go, “I had a lot on my mind and I went overboard.”

  “We could tell,” One of the girls ughed, “You’re fine!”

  Sonya cleared her throat, “Anyway! I’ll be fine, see? No terrorist bombing is going to get the better of me!” She decred and flexed her petite arm, “See?” She drew a few ughs and grinned before resting her hands in her p, “I’ll be back with you guys week, so no ge in schedule,” She said, “When I do, you better be ready. Because if you thought I was tough before, you haven’t seen anythi!”

  The aspirants let out groans and she ughed, “Oh don’t pin now! You asked for it, being so dam. How I not do my best for you?” She asked with a tilt of her head.

  The aspirants ughed and started talking amongst themselves, visibly relieved. She looked up at their faces, briefly meeting Cassiopeia’s gaze before taking it all in. All these people that came to see her, that she’d helped, guided, taught, even if it had been for just a month so far. She had touched their lives. hua’s words hit her a bit harder in that moment; “How could you do that to me and everyone else you’ve helped and saved? Of all the things you’ve dohat has to be the most cruel, Sonya ovna.”

  Sonya smiled, I think you might be right.