“General! General!”

Erin jerked forward, sweat drawing down his forehead. His heart rate slowly subsided, though, as he found the trenches nowhere in sight. Only the metal walls of their ship. The chime of the heart monitor. He sighed, fur relaxing as he took everything in.

The Infirmary. Of course.

'He vaguely recalled his battle on Frostum. How he'd collapsed and had to be carried back to the ship. Foolish old weasel. Really had the child worried there. Sweet whickers. He sighed, looking down at his bandaged wounds. The robots had done a nice job, though there was some lingering pain.

“I hate to say I told you so…”

Erin tensed. That voice. He went for his wand only to grimace, blowback ripping through his frame.

“I’d take it easy if I were you. No need for three to die today.”

Erin groaned, watching as the supernova took form next to his bed, white hair flowing down the sides of her yellow dress. The Lady of the Scales wasn’t smiling as she appeared before him. A gloved hand rested on her hip.

“I told you to stay away,” he warned.

“And I said you were making her a target. A better one, in any case. Now look what you've done.”

“What I've done?”

The Goddess flicked a hand, the view portal making the weasel lurch forward, any agitation he had melting away. Sasha! Elisia shook her head.

“Poor No. 4,” she said. “Never stood a chance. Now she's dead. And so is the panda."

The portal split in two, Erin staring in horror at the both of them. On one side, there laid his closest companion in a crater, several frightened citizens surrounding him. And on the other, a panther's was left to rot in the sun. The Goddess's tirade went on, but he barely paid her any mind.

"Congratulations, General. You’re now the sole survivor of this…ship. Oh, trying to join them already?”

He ignored her stumbling forward. He had to use a nearby table to stand again, bones cracking with every step. He fell again, but what did that matter? Sasha. Xan. He crawled forward, finally reaching the hall to scream for assistance. Drones were appearing in droves moments later.

“Take us to the city,” he said. “And hurry.”

The bot buzzed an acknowledgment, carrying Erin on its back. He could feel the Goddess lingering, but she didn’t disappear this time around.

***

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Dropping over such a populous city was a violation of several protocols. As was free-flight in a world without hovercrafts. But Erin had long since disregarded any of that as he descended from their vessel, three drones flying with him.

“Commander Xan spotted,” one said.

He followed its pointed hand, heart sinking further when he saw his friend up close. Sweet whiskers. He sent the three down for first aid, his carrier bot dropping him onto the roof. No one else was around. Only Sasha. And her.

“You are a stubborn weasel,” the Goddess said, kneeling next to the fallen panther. She poked at Sasha's face. “See. Dead as can-“

Water cut through Elisia's frame, the Goddess phasing back in place. Erin lowered his wand.

“Stay away from her,” the weasel growled despite his cracking ribs.

Elise frowned, but she took a step back anyhow.

The robot lowered him, Erin putting a hand to Sasha's neck. No pulse. Sweet whiskers. He rolled her over, wincing as he saw the damage. Sasha. Who- No. No time to worry about that now. He moved to her helmet, switching the setting from oxygenation to life support. It would help. Probably. He moved aside, letting the robot get to work patching her wounds. The Goddess stood by, rolling her eyes.

“You’re wasting your time,” Elisia said.

The weasel bared his teeth, any semblance of formality long gone.

“Shut up,” he growled.

“Don’t lose your head, general. These things happen.”

He didn’t respond, his gaze locked on Sasha for any hint of vitality.

It was true. She did look dead to rights. And her signals felt miles away despite being right next to him. But if the white-haired demon thought Sasha would die so easily, she didn’t know a thing about her graduate. The panther was nowhere near that frail.

“She’s still alive,” he said. “Sasha wouldn’t die here. That’s not her style.”

The Goddess hummed. “Since when are you big on faith, weasel?”

“It’s not. It’s a fact. Sasha's resilient. And besides..."

He pointed to the panther’s side. The weapon that had been lying there the entire time, blue sheen stained with blood.

“If she were really dead,” he said, “why hasn't her weapon disappeared?”

The Goddess narrowed at the staff, her smile faltering. She didn’t say another word on the issue, the robot finally finishing its quick suture. They would need to do a better examination back on the ship. Of her and Xan, who he knew for a fact was still clinging to life below. The man had survived hovercars to the face and Dyre's wrath. A little fall wouldn’t kill him. Not that truck of a panda.

“I know you don’t have much love for her or any of your charges,” the weasel said, “but I do. I don’t care how long it takes, I’ll be right here when they both come back. I suggest you don’t be.”

The Goddess stared at him, any semblance of amusement gone from her face. He knew he couldn’t stop her. No one could. The spirits went where they wanted and did as they pleased. But he’d do everything in his power to keep the ones he could at bay. Elise looked down at Sasha, her expression difficult to read. Though she remained silent, her body began to dissolve once again.

“And don’t worry,” Erin said. “I’ll tell her everything. It’s better she knows the truth.”

The Goddess didn't acknowledge the words. Not openly, at least. He saw her expression flicker for a moment, but she was already gone before he could decipher what it meant. He pushed the thought away, watching as the robot lifted Sasha. The others were returning soon after, Xan carried between them.

“C’mon,” he said. “We should get out of sight while we can. Who knows how long they'll be out for.”

The bots all chimed in response, the ship drifting down to take them all away from the nightmare that was Alfleece.