As Anisa made her way down the halls, she began to see various pencil pushers being lead out by security and new more bright eyed members of the staff being let into the cubicles. It felt like a living metaphor for-

  “It’s not as bad as it looks.” Anisa jolted at the sudden intrusion to her concentration and looked over into familiar eyes that held an unfamiliar glimmer in unfamiliar attire. A golden silk vest, ornate and adorned was across her upper body embroidered with images of roses and flames. The loose fitting canvas pants beneath was unusual especially with her well polished military boots. Tomas saw Anisa taking in the sight and shook her head, “Don’t worry about it too much. I just wanted to be the one to see you out.”

  As they walked down the halls, Anisa’s eyes kept drifting back to her current companion. It was almost as if-

  “You think a lot, don’t you?” Anisa grumbled, hating that she couldn’t even have her own thoughts without- “And there it is again. I bet you are a big softie underneath. All gloom and walls and-”

  “I would appreciate you restraining yourself, Officer.” Anisa cut in, returning the favor. “I don’t appreciate people who pry into my life.”

  Tomas laughed quietly with a smile and said softly, “Yeah, I know. But its fine. And it’s Special Detective Tomas. I’m realizing for the first time that I even had that status. Supreme Commander Visagi elevated me on SD Paddock’s recommendation. Turns out, I have a knack for reading people and the sort of personality who ‘just can’t leave well enough alone’.” Anisa agreed with that last one. “Anyway, Let me lead you to your craft for the mission.”

  Tomas lead her into a smaller more private hanger, but the ship she saw was by all outward appearances, the same one she had just come back in. Difference was it was painted with black and orange with a golden scorpion symbol marking it. She shuddered at the imagery of the creature, but something in her also was thankful for it. Something distinctly and intentionally hers. As she ran her hand along it, she asked, “How long was I gone? This paint has already dried?”

  Tomas laughed playfully, “That’s silly. Of course we have fast turn around on these things. Every ship has to be unique and distinct. If we didn’t have this down to a science it would be a problem. The Marvelous Dragonfly effect is one we encourage embracing. And since we can’t make a million made to order craft, we start with simply a unique paint job and allow customization from there. Normally, this is an honor we reserve for Aces and SDs but my orders were clear. This one is a gift from the force. Thalheed already modified it before your last mission, your sister and her nanites built a few tools on the craft we still can’t identify, your doctor made sure the medical supplies were properly stocked, your quiet friend made some meals that are in the fridge. Might as well be a mobile operations center. You should be golden.” Tomas laughed softly, “And gold is the best word for it. Your team has been through a lot.”

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  Anisa nodded, running her hand along the hull, “Yeah, that’s fair. But before I leave…” She turned to Tomas, her eyes intense, “What IS going on in there?”

  Tomas eyes lost their glimmer for a moment, and the hesitation filled the air with silence before she eventually spoke again, “The answer is complicated, but the short version is that whether the current members are those who weren’t alive before this all happened or if they simply weren’t members of the Cosmic Patrol, they need to be assessed. If they have been doing illegal activity then they will be punished to the most reasonable degree we can, but if they are simply in the dark, we are getting them up to speed. As for the previous Supreme Commander, she and the Council are currently in talks but it looks like she has some previous behavior they want to address with her. I’m hoping that she is simply allowed to operate as Vice SC. She wasn’t bad this time around and last time around she was just trying to keep the CPD accountable. We were under distinct orders to leave her be while she sorted herself out. I don’t know what drove her up a wall before, but I do know that she and SC Visagi and her have always gotten along. I’m hoping that they can sort it out.”

  Anisa paused and slowly began to realize. She sighed and started up the boarding ramp for her craft. “Thank you for clarifying, Tomas. And-"

  “Keep your family safe. I know. Everyone from the Ziegfried is going to survive this war. You have my personal promise.” Anisa didn’t need to look back to see those glimmering and self-assured eyes. That smile that seemed to shine like the sun. Tomas now was an entirely different person than before, but Anisa knew it wasn’t that simple. Tomas had always been this person, or had always had what it took to be this person. Was it-

  “I just don’t overthink it, Ani.” Anisa’s blood ran cold at that nickname, only two other people calling her that in her entire life. “You think too hard. But that moment you took down Batta? That was all instinct. Your instincts are good. Trust them and keep yourself focused on your goal and I think you will be fine.”

  “I told you to knock that off.” Anisa tried to glare at Tomas but it faded as quickly as it was formed. Tomas seemed to expect it and didn’t seem to mind. Her eyes spoke to Anisa, as if Tomas knew things she didn’t. So Anisa relented, “I’ll… take it into advisement. And thank you.” Tomas simply nodded and waved enthusiastically as the boarding ramp enclosed Anisa in the dark of the ship. Anisa walked around it as though it was second nature and found comfort in the darkness of the ship. As she got to the pilot’s seat, she began to key in the coordinates and watched as the hanger doors opened into deep space, her mind welcoming the quiet and comforting oblivion of space as she prepared to travel into a shadow even darker than the void itself.