Three Days Later…

“But I don’t want to go to school! I don wanna! I wanna stay home!” Celeste cried, the girl protesting as Leona grabbed the little girl by her legs and attempted to remove her from the black unmarked car.

“Celeste. You need to come out,” Jack said, standing outside the grand academy with the sun to his back while Ho-sook hummed absentmindedly.

Although she was supposed to be going back home, Kenichi had made the surprising decision to send Ho-sook to the academy. Something Selfia didn't mind but encouraged.

Jack glanced over to the teen.

Plus, it didn't hurt that the teenager was trained as a shinobi. A nimble guard to be by Celeste’s side.

“B-b-b-ut! I won't see you and dad anymore!” Celeste cried, making Leona pause.

“What? Of course you'll see us! Now let go! Jeez girl! How do you have such an iron grip?!” Leona exclaimed, unknowingly drawing Jack's fear that Celeste had awakened. “You're going to be late for school!”

“Nuh uh! Nu uh! Kamila told me I have to go away for eighteen years! Eighteen!” Celeste cried. “I'll never see you again!”

““Huh?”” Jack and Leona let out.

Celeste began to cry, drawing the attention of various guards. Fortunately, they were there early, to beat the flood of new kids, parents, and paparazzi that would be arriving within an hour.

Of course there had been a few paparazzi around when Jack had arrived, but they were quickly detained by Jack's guards in the name of national security.

“Honey. School lasts for about eighteen years. But it's only during the day, in the afternoon Auntie Bell and I will pick you up,” Leona assured with a smile. “Then you can come home and play with Auntie Ada and Uncle Jin.”

“R-r-really?”

“Yup!”

“You promise?” Celeste said, rubbing her eyes and holding out her hand.

“Pinky promise. I'll always be there for you,” Leona said, locking her pinky finger with the little girl's. Jack looked away. “Plus, you'll get to see Uncle Mi'shka, Auntie Kamila, and Uncle Belfusa everyday! And you'll make so many new friends!”

Celeste turned to Jack who was staring off into the distance. “What about Daddy?”

Jack turned at the little girl tugging on his army uniform pants.

“Of course honey. You'll see me again. But… Daddy has to go away for a while,” At the end of Jack's sentence, Celeste began to cry again, prompting Jack to kneel to bring himself to his daughter's eye height. “But when I come back, you'll get to meet your aunt Jill.”

“Really?” Celeste looked at Jack with wide golden eyes, a look of excitement on her face.

“Yes. But only as long as you behave,” Jack said, ruffling Jill’s-

Jack blinked, the image of his baby sister fading away to reveal his daughter's smiling face.

I wonder how old she'd be.

Jack's smile faded as footsteps echoed from behind him.

It was time.

“Your Majesty,” The familiar voice of Madam Hightower said.

Jack closed his eyes with a sigh.

“Madam Hightower,” Jack said, rising to his feet, guiding Celeste in front of him. “It's been awhile.”

The middle-aged woman smiled gently, a facade Jack knew all too well from having spent time with her and Selfia. The principal was just as foul-mouthed as the queen she raised.

“Yes it has, milord. I was saddened that we could not speak during the grand announcement of the academy,” The now gray-haired woman wearing a large white brim hat said. “But… I want you to know… I'm happy to see another one of my students survived.”

The woman took on a forelong look.

“Yes,” Jack said, yet the way he said it drew Leona's eyes. “Please take care of my daughter.”

“I promise Celeste will be safe under my care. The academy is enchanted top to bottom. Protected by the royal guards and under my structiny. I swear to you, that no harm will befall your daughter and her friend.”

“Thank you. Madam Hightower. That's all I can really ask of you,” Jack said, eyes taking in the copious amounts guards, hidden Black Hearts, and a stoic Violet herself that was standing at a nearby pillar.

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Despite all the fail-safes, guards, and copious security apparatuses, Jack still didn't feel at ease leaving Celeste. Yet…

It was something he had to do.

If Celeste was going to be safe. If Ada and everyone else was going to be safe… he had to put an end to those threatening their lives.

So, Jack made the most difficult decision he'd ever made.

He let his daughter go.

At least until his own plans bore fruit.

“Go on Celeste, have a good first day of school,” Jack said, Celeste taking a step forward but pivoting and hugging Jack.

“I'll miss you daddy,” Celeste cried, Jack giving off a small smile.

“I'll miss you too. Now go, be a good girl for Madam Hightower.”

“O-okay,” Celeste said, walking up the stairs of the grand academy with Madam Hightower.

“Ho-sook.”

“Hm?” The teen turned.

“You know what your job is. If you get into trouble you will be punished.”

“Yup yup. Don't worry, I'll take good care of her!” Ho-sook said, shaking her head vigorously before following after Celeste and Madam Hightower.

Jack watched them go, standing there well until Celeste was within the walls of the academy.

“Are you ok?” Leona asked, hand on Jack's shoulder. “I promise she'll be safe. She has an entire army protecting her.”

“I'll be fine,” Jack replied, turning dispassionately and entering into the black sedan where Jessica awaited him as his driver.

“Are we done here?” Jessica asked, Leona sitting up front.

“Yes,” Jack replied, adjusting his feather holsters. “But first, bring me to Yun's and Tyrah’s apartment.”

Jessica blinked at Jack's request, staring at him from the rearview mirror but ultimately complied with an “ok.” and radio instructions to Jack's security team.

Driving through the city, Jack eyed the grand structures, thinking back on his life when he was forced to take public transit and walk everywhere. Now he had his own security, a child, chauffeur, and a stack of scattered last wills and testaments from Yun, Tyrah, and even… Leslie. Traitor as she were.

Yet.. despite all that, he felt… hollow.

An effect of Lilith's tampering? Maybe. But the sense of dread that always accompanied his every movement was gone and so too was the guilt and remorse.

Overall, Jack couldn't complain. In fact, he felt... eager?

“We're here,” Jessica said, parking the car outside of a two story beign colored house on the edge of the city.

Jack stepped out the car, walking past a group of Black Rose guards who had locked the area down to pick apart every bit of Leslie's life.

“Entspannt,” Jack said in Imperial, approaching two Black Roses outside of the apartment entrance that snapped to attention. “Woanders hin gehen… verstanden?”

The two blonde women shared a glance, hesitating before both clicked the heels of their boots.

“”“Jawohl!””

The two walked off, allowing Jack entry into Yun's home.

Entering, Jack's ears picked up the sound of a TV, voices of some talk show host speaking about the last few days of which were being labeled the Day of Decimation.

“Reports of the actions undertaken by Roland's High Table continue to flood in. From the Attack on Frelia, to the experimental facilities where kidnapped -”

Jack turned the TV off.

Sweeping his eyes over the apartment floor, Jack eyed the sparse furnishings. Mostly pink couches and dozens of throw pillows and blankets. A place more akin to a storage unit than a home.

“There isn't much here,” Jessica said, standing behind Jack as he stared at a game system. “We seldom got to stay here between missions. But when we did we usually just napped. Tyrah liked to play video games and watch movies though.”

Jack walked around, no goal in mind but to observe the place his allies once lived. At least until he came to a hallway filled with picture frames.

“Yun liked to paint and draw, so… there's a lot of drawings hung up,” Jessica explained as Jack eyed a fierce drawing of a bonebat with wings outstretched that hung on a wall beside a drawing of a Slicer breaking into a bunker. “Ah, that one was to remember -”

“Gamma Station,” Jack said, his fingers tracing the image as he remembered the monster that had taken Yun’s leg.

If I had the power then that I have now. Maybe no one would have suffered.

“Take me to Yun's and Tyrah's room,” Jack ordered, Jessica complying and leading Jack upstairs.

“Leslie's room is across. I have the master room down the hall,” Jessica said as Jack entered Yun’s and Tyrah's room that was filled with posters, art supplies, and plastic model toys.

On a nearby wall however, was a series of photos of the room, a documentation from the investigation team to keep everything tidy. Even the TV downstairs has been left on as part of the investigation.

Then, Jack spotted it, what he was searching for.

A plastic container filled with hay and two rodents running on wheels.

Hamburger and Hamtaro. Just as Yun’s will had reported. Two robo-dwarf hamsters.

Jack picked up the container, the two furry golden-haired creatures burrowing into the hay to hide.

“Are you… sure?” Jessica asked.

“A parting gift for Celeste. Yun wanted them to be taken care of. So it's the least I can do,” Jack said, walking into the hallway and pausing in front of Leslie's room.

He didn't dislike the woman. But he didn't… hate her either. He could still recall the terrified look in her eyes when she handed him a grenade back at Gamma station. Still remember her words telling him that she had been saving it for herself so she wouldn't be ripped apart by monsters.

An act of mercy on her behalf. To spare Jack who was riding out on a suicide mission to distract the monsters.

Had that all been lie?

No.

Even as little as he knew of the women, one thing has been for certain. The fear had been real. She hadn't wanted to die so then… why?

Why did she sabotage gamma station?

Why did she spend all this time being a mole?

What compelled her to betray those she had fought alongside for so long?

Jack entered Leslie's room in hope of understanding.

Neat. Tidy.

Two words that came to Jack's mind.

Although there were signs of items being shifted, ultimately the place was as spotless as the photo that hung on the wall.

Then, Jack spotted the primary reason for his visit. A leather bound journal that sat upon a nightstand beside Leslie's tiny bed draped with a weighted blanket.

“The Queen has the full copy digitized. You're free to take it,” Captain Helena Belfusa said, entering the room to keep an eye on Jack.

“I'm aware Captain,” Jack replied, holding the journal in his hands, his brow furrowed as he reviewed the contents.