Standing on the bridge of Fuck You Roland, Jack stood in the room surrounded by what remained of the command staff.

Director York was down, so too was Lieutenant Harper and Captain Helena, anyone with red eyes either locked away in the brig or a corpse down in the ship's cold storage.

“It's worldwide, not completely widespread but at least every major city has been hit, from the Alliance to our lands,” The hologram of Selfia said, her words seeming to drop the temperature in the room by several degrees. “Mass reports are still coming in, but from the data it seems only those with red eyes are affected.”

“What does this mean? Is this some new biological weapon?” Admiral Skirita asked.

“It means you were all played,” Sahaqiel said, suddenly manifesting to the crowd of officers in regale armor of white and gold.

Immediately Admiral Skirita spun, handgun raised as a number of officers began moving to detain the sudden intruder.

“It's okay, stand down, she's friendly,” Jack ordered, sighing as he looked down at the holotable displaying various cities in states of panic and despair. “Sahaqiel, explain please.”

“Thank you,” Sahaqiel said, flapping her wings gently with several guards gawking at her majestic appearance. “What you all have come to know as the purity of the imperial blood, was actually a curse.”

“A what?” Skirita asked, furrowing his brow.

“A curse. A spell similar in scope to how the system works but much more subtle and more sinister,” Sahaqiel said as she phased through a black rose agent to stand beside Jack. “Every person with red eyes bears a mark on their soul, one commanded by the one you call the Black King.”

“Windows to the soul…” Selfia scoffed, “And you're just now telling us this? Knowing that an entire population is cursed would be something PRETTY important to know.”

Sahaqiel closed her eyes for a moment, her figure flickering in and out of existence briefly.

“I suspected something was off about the people with red eyes, but it's not like I had an opportunity to examine them and even if I did I probably wouldn't have detected it until it was too late. Even with Jack's system, it took me days, weeks to fully understand the complexity of the system curse that willingly makes itself known. This? The red mark, it was never meant to be discovered until it needed to be activated,” Sahaqiel explained. “I've-”

“I'm sorry, who are you?” Skirita asked.

“That’s not important Admiral,” Jack cut in, beckoning Sahaqiel to continue.

“My apologies, Lord Consort, but I disagree,” Skirita said before turning to the hologram of Selfia, “Respectfully, your highness, if my crew and I are to take the opinion of this… woman, I would like to know who we are dealing with.”

“I am Sahaqiel Riah Ereshikal Vel Lunet Ter Hess Tia Estelle. An awakened from the dawn of mankind's civilization,” Sahaqiel said, her form shifting to glow softly as her wings flapped and her eyes glowed with iridescent power, “The first to fly and touch the sky.”

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Skirita merely furrowed his brow.

“She’s a goddess with my King Consort as her vessel, do not besmirch the living angel, consider her words akin to my own,” Selfia interjected with Skirita doing a double take, “Sahaqiel, what are our options? How do we treat this?”

Sahaqiel turned to Jack who clenched his jaw, every iota in his body screaming to smash something.

“We attack the source of the problem,” Jack hissed, pulling up the display of the Roland capital on the holotable. “The Black King.”

“Are you asking me to launch a full assault on a heavily fortified city? Do you realize the state that our forces are in?” Skirita asked, staring at Jack with an angry scowl. “That's suicide!”

“I’m aware of the reports Admiral, but these are my orders, I'm sure my wife would agree,”

“We don't even know if the HVT is even with Prince Roland.”

“No, he's there, I'm sure of it. I can feel him…” Jack said, turning his eyes on Selfia.

“Sahaqiel?” Selfia said, her attention on the angel.

“Jack is right, we don't know fully what the Black King is up to but it's clear his plans are already underway. A mass exodus of souls like this, its a prelude to gathering power, If we don't stop him, the number dead won't matter as there'll be no one left to care,” Sahaqiel said, the harsh reality settling down on everyone.

The air went still, those present running various scenarios as they tried to assess what was being asked of them while Jack's thought turned to the fallen angels who had yet to show.

“Do whatever needs to be done Jack,” Selfia said, breaking the silence, “Admiral Skirita,-”

“Yes your Majesty?”

“Prepare your fleet, I'll send for reinforcements and meet you en route to Roland's home.”

“My Queen? You wish to take to the field yourself?”

“Of course, I can't let you boys have all the fun, besides…” Selfia said, her blue eyes shimmering with a predatory glare, “It's been so long since I've last seen my dear brother.”

****

“How are they?” Admiral Skirita said, standing beside Jack who stood in the hallway of the brig with his gaze on the unconscious Colette.

“Stable, for now. So long as they remain inside Sahaqiel’s protection spell,” Jack replied, his eyes turning to Helena. Although he didn't like the woman much, he couldn't allow her to die like he'd done Eleanor.

“Do you smoke?” Skirita asked, offering Jack a cigar from a metallic black case encrusted with gold hearts.

“No, but I'll try one,” Jack said, taking one of the cigars.

“I want you to know, I don't dislike you,” Skirita said with Jack's mind elsewhere.

More specifically Hoshido, the new city, was fortunately unaffected by the Black King’s curse. Just outside the range. But what if it were? The question prodded at Jack. Unlike Celeste whom he knew was safe, his home wasn't.

“That's comforting I guess,” Jack said, lighting the cigar with fira before putting it to his mouth.

“You really shouldn't smoke,” Lilith hissed, “This isn't just your body.”

Jack frowned, snuffing out the cigar.

“You have a lot on your plate, I and everyone can see it clearly,” Skirita continued, “But, if I'm ordering my men to their death I have to know if you have the mental clarity to handle this crisis.”

Jack slowly turned to the man, “Are you doubting me?”

“No, not at all. But I remember you as the kid who stepped up on my landship and saw the sky for the first time.”

“Well I'm not that kid anymore.”

“I can see that. A word of advice, from an old man among monsters, two things I've learned is that a little patience goes a long way and having friends to rely on is a must. Colonel Potter seemed to think so at the least.”

“Thanks, but I don't need advice Admiral,” Jack replied, brushing the man off. “Give the order, we have a war to end.”

Skirita frowned, watching the man go, “Aye, Lord Consort.”