This chapter is brought to you by Man in the Box by Xdinary Heroes.

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Part VII

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Nine was giving his report to Lord Eartha in the healing ward when the alarms set off.

Lark and Wren immediately stood in front of them with weapons drawn and readied as they stared at the door warily.

Then the door burst open and Venus' head nearly went flying.

Lark and Wren stopped before their daggers could graze the young Stella's neck.

Venus' pupils were blown wide with adrenaline as he rushed past the two assassins, dragging Pluto along behind him like a rag doll flying in the wind.

"Mantle City has gone rogue!"

There was a moment of stunned silence as everyone took in the information.

Then, slowly, Nine tried to sit up--

"Sit down."

But he was ultimately pushed down by Lord Eartha.

The City Lord pursed his lips with displeasure as he turned to his nephew. "I think we all figured that out, Venus--"

"No! You don't understand, Uncle. They've gone rogue. They've broken their oaths!"

Just as Venus said those words, the city sirens began to ring. Loud, blaring horns shrieked in warning, outdoing the Tower alarms in both volume and pitch.

It was no longer just the Tower of Truth that was at risk of an incursion, now.

"Eartha! Mercury has been kidnapped!"

Lord Eartha's secretary burst into the room, bleeding all over and sporting a head injury that made even Nine cringe at the sight.

It was obvious he had been attacked with no warning. He was gripping a small sword in one hand, the blade stained and dripping red.

Lord Eartha's expression darkened and he rushed out of the room without another word.

Nine caught a glimpse of his face as he left and knew the man was ready to wage war.

"Lune, why don't you sit down?"

Lord Eartha's secretary sat down on one of the empty beds in the healing ward, and no sooner did he do so than the healers swarmed him.

Pluto and Venus shared worried glances as the alarms and sirens continued to ring.

Nine observed them for signs of injury. There was a bruise on Venus' neck and a small cut on Pluto's cheek.

"The prisoner escaped," he stated, rather than guessed.

He had been informed of the situation regarding the Mantle agent infiltrating the Calypto Manor. It was the fault of the guards for letting someone sneak in without notice.

Once this was all over and done with, he planned to take leave for a few weeks from the Tower to retrain the soldiers of the Calypto House...

Pluto looked at him with slightly wet eyes and nodded without a word.

Nine felt he was missing something important. Why would the prisoner take Mercury as a hostage? Was it because he was the City Lord's heir? Or was there something more to it?

"Will he hurt him?"

The question was directed toward Venus. What had they determined of the agent's psyche? Would he harm Mercury? Or was it simply a ruse?

"They... have history," Venus answered as if it was delicate information.

"I see."

So he was one of Mercury's paramours.

"Go evacuate the non-combatants." Nine pushed himself off the bed and made to stand.

Both Venus and Pluto blinked at him in surprise.

"But what about Mercury?"

He blinked back at them and then whistled, the noise low and quiet. A moment later, Dog and Cow popped out from beneath the bed.

"Take them with you." He gestured to the cats, who both obediently climbed into Venus and Pluto's awaiting arms.

"Mercury can handle himself. The two of you are needed elsewhere. Remember, you are also Vesna's agents."

The reminder had both Stella heirs standing straight like soldiers.

Then they pushed him back onto the bed.

"Nice try, but you're not allowed to leave the room," Venus said, eyeing his injury.

Pluto nodded in agreement.

Nine clicked his tongue in irritation, but reluctantly stayed put.

Dog and Cow meowed in unison, satisfied.

"... Be careful."

The door closed with a soft click.

The sirens kept on ringing.

The sirens were not meant to ring. Ever.

Vesna had no conflict with outsiders in the original story. It was... a tragic love story between the heirs of two families and nothing more.

So why?

Nine stared out the window and saw the shattered state of the magic barrier.

If he focused, he could hear the screams of civilians and the taste of iron in the air.

He should have known the world line's trajectory was changed the moment he possessed this body.

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It was never Mercury's intention to be suddenly kidnapped by a stranger-turned-lover-turned-enemy, but fate was an unloving cunt.

The Pavoda agents did shit to prevent him from being abducted--not that they were required to do so, but if they were so desperate for an alliance, rescuing him might have gained them some favors.

Rather, they watched in astonishment as their former teammate--because apparently, they used to be agents under Ines--swept him away with a flurry of smoke bombs and the element of surprise.

"Hey!" A branch hit Mercury in the face as Ines carried him like a sack of potatoes toward who-knows-where.

His hands and legs were bound with rope. The bindings were tight, depriving him of the dignity to at least struggle against his kidnapper. Ines patted him on the arse like he was some prized farm animal when he wiggled against his hold.

"Don't worry, love! We're almost there!"

Mercury shot him a glare. "Darling, you're playing with fire," he spat with gritted teeth.

Ines chuckled and purposely allowed another branch to hit him in the face.

"A burn or two wouldn't hurt, dear!"

The confident smirk was charming.

Mercury was utterly charmed.

Ugh.

This was awful.

They were supposed to be enemies!

Alas, Mercury would make sure to cry lots of tears at Ines' funeral.

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The door of the healing ward opened.

By now, several people were coming in with wounds needing more than just first aid. Most healers have already left to assist the fighting outside, leaving only a few left to help the most critically injured.

Nine offered up his bed to a Vesna agent who took a deep cut to the chest. He opted to rest near the door, standing guard in case of intruders who managed to sneak in among their healers and soldiers.

When the door opened again, Nine saw who it was and a small noise rumbled in his chest.

"Kittens."

Otto and Quin both stared at him, their eyes red and filled with tears.

A cold dread washed over him. "What happened?"

Neither answered him as they approached.

Quin wrapped his arms around him and Nine immediately did the same.

He met Otto's gaze in confusion.

"Is everyone--"

He took a sharp blow to his neck.

Nine's body went numb.

He heard a shout as he felt himself collapse against Quin.

It was Lark, who burst into the room while supporting a bleeding shoulder. Behind him, Wren had his daggers drawn and was glaring at his kittens.

Then everything went black.

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Soldier 6P2311M6-ZX9 had never thought the day he would see a world so green and vast until he found himself in the body of a boy named Peit.

Peit was a foolish boy with dreams and aspirations. He was a child who knew little of war, battle, and death.

Soldier 6P2311M6-ZX9 felt... regret.

But there was nothing to be done. He had a mission, and this mission was more important than a child.

Every once in a while, he could feel the sharp guilt pricking at his heart...

"Tamer," Soldier 6K3418M3-ZX9 called to him.

Soldier 6P2311M6-ZX9 turned to his partner, giving her his full attention.

Why she insisted on keeping the ruse was beyond him.

While the code names were fun at first, they did little to ease them of their previous identities.

Piet and Katrin were characters barely mentioned in the original storyline. Meanwhile, Tamer and Shrew didn't exist at all.

"What's the status of the trajectory?" 6K3418M3-ZX9 asked.

"Fucked up beyond all recognition, my lady," 6P2311M6-ZX9 answered with a wink.

He was met with an exasperated sigh.

"The admiral will not be happy."

6P2311M6-ZX9 smiled. It wasn't a very nice smile. "He killed Nine."

"It was for the mission--"

"Don't defend his actions, Kat! Nine sacrificed everything for the cause, and he couldn't even bother to credit him for all that he did."

"You're still grieving."

"And you're not?" 6P2311M6-ZX9 eyed the red paint lining her eyes.

6K3418M3-ZX9 looked away.

6P2311M6-ZX9 huffed out a humorless laugh. "You haven't stopped painting your face ever since he said you looked fierce."

She shot him a glare, but he insisted on digging the proverbial hole. 6P2311M6-ZX9 was tired. He was so very tired.

"We left him."

"Stop," 6K3418M3-ZX9 whispered, her voice wet with emotions.

"Why are you still denying it?! We left him there to die--"

"Because the mission mattered more!"

6P2311M6-ZX9 stumbled back as he was pushed against a tree.

6K3418M3-ZX9 held him there, staring at him with tears streaming down her cheeks.

And then--

And then a sob tore out of her and she was looking at him with a gaze filled to the brim with her self-hatred.

"Kat--"

"Piet."

He paused.

"The mission first. That's what they taught us... and Nine knew it too," she whispered, face crumpling with remorse.

6P2311M6-ZX9 took a shuddering breath and closed his eyes.

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[....... In the seventy-sixth of the Interstellar Calendar of ZEFRE-2B9, Day 52, Soldier 6P2311M6-ZX9 and 6K3418M3-ZX9 have been sent to apprehend Soldier 9A1420H5 -ZT4 from World 90150N-L4C3D-D4GG3R .......]

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Obligatory reminder that this story takes place in both the future and the past.