Gram readied his blade and leveled it at Zwei. She couldn’t help but fidget nervously. “Center yourself, Zwei.”
“It doesn’t seem fair that he gets to use a full blown sword and wear thick armor and I have to battle him in an uncomfortable uniform with squeaky shoes!”
“Exactly. It isn’t. I’m training you both in different skills. Don’t worry, I won’t let him cut off anything vital.”
Gram smiled softly, “Lady Zwei, your safety will take priority over my victory. Shed no more blood than you must, as they say.” She felt her heart race as Gram began his approach, only to have the sound of ship engines catch their attention. She let out a sigh of relief, turning to face the place the craft had landed. A short time later, a member of the Cosmic Patrol stepped into their clearing. Gram replaced his helmet and spoke regally, “State your business, Sargent.”
Master Phoenix chimed in before they could respond, “You are bold to approach the Prince when your rank is so low and you are so far from your home sector. They can’t really have kept you on the case.”
The officer paused a moment before sighing and nodding. “My failure to contain the anomaly as well as the Light of Dawn incident did see me demoted, but a small handful of respected detectives insisted I keep this case. They believed the errors were not my fault.”
“They would be wrong, Sargent. And failure to take ownership of your mistakes will lead to repeat performances.”
Garm motioned Phoenix silent and he obeyed, “My mentor may wield shame as a branding iron, but your role remains the same in my eyes. I take it you approach regarding the movements of Zora?”
The Sargent nodded, “Yes. There has been a recent report of them near Eishtbar, specifically one of their underground fighting rings. The Ziegfried is in orbit and the sources I have say she isn’t even trying to hide that it is her.” They held out the tablet with the case file. “Usually, we take open displays like this as a copycat. We get people trying to be her all the time. But with the ship in orbit and the reliability of this source, we believe it to be genuine.”
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Garm took the pad and looked through the information. “This is unlike her. She always kept herself above the board and morally upright. Why would she be participating in something like this? It doesn’t match her behavior on record at all.”
The Sargent nodded, “That was my thought as well. I was hoping I could gather the Phoenix Emperor for this mission, given that the Prince arriving would only complicate matters.”
Garm handed the pad back and spoke firmly, “Nonsense. I will take care of this matter myself.”
“Sir, I can’t-“
“Stop me. Because if you did that would destroy our current agreement.” He said firmly, “I do not wish your reputation to be harmed further and I wish to finally make contact with this Revolutionary.”
Phoenix asked quickly, “Is Lady Unicorn already deployed?” When the Sargent nodded he growled, “This is a powder keg, young one.”
“She will obey.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
He laughed menacingly, “Then she will be made to.”
Zwei watched in paralyzed uncertainty before finally forcing her voice out, “Actually, I could ask my sisters. We might be able to help.”
Phoenix turned to face her, but for once his expression was unreadable through his helmet. Garm turned as well, his voice growing warmer but somehow still containing an edge of malice. “Do speak. Sisters?”
She nodded, “There aren’t a lot of us, but no one would think twice of a team of us going into underground fighting. Our culture makes it pretty much expected.”
The Sargent nodded, “That could work to our advantage. I could come too. I’ve got cover ids for that planet.”
Garm motioned them silent, “I will not put anyone into the line of fire if I cannot wade into it with them.” He grumbled something under his breath and looked over to his mentor. After what felt like an eternity of the two helmeted figures staring, Garm let out a deep breath no one heard him take, “I will discuss a compromise with the Emperor. He will help me to discover which way is most tactically sound. You two remain here until I am done.”
He walked with power and purpose past his mentor. A few moments after the Prince had passed, the Emperor turned to join him, leaving Zwei and the Sargent alone in the clearing.