Leona picks me up from the ground into a gentle carry. I tremble in her arms, curling against her chest where I'm safe. The fuming psion marches straight through the building, Jen trailing silently on her heels. Her steely gaze pushes aside any students who dare to exist along our path.

When we reach the administration office, she slams the door open without an instant of hesitation. Everyone inside flinches from the crash, and before they have any chance to respond, her glowing gaze falls upon Bolin Vance. His body flings through the air, crashing against a bookcase with audible cracks, and he remains pinned there, eyes rolling desperately in his head, until they land on Jen, a few steps behind us.

Even if he isn't looking at me, the dark rage in them makes me shake uncontrollably and hold tighter to Leona. Why do people like him even exist...?!

“Vicca-san, what are you doing?!” a woman demands. Leona marches straight up to her desk. The silver haired lady with both hands pressed to the large office desk has haughty rage etched into her aging face. Of course, the placard between them reads 'Janice Monasta, Administration.' Oddly she's looking to the side, not directly at Leona.

“Securing the room,” Leona deadpans at her, gaze sweeping over the remainder of the occupants. Of the five bullies, only four remain. One of the guys from earlier is nowhere to be seen. Besides Vance, the other three are spread through the room, their uniforms shredded in various places and stained with small amounts of blood here and there.

“What is this nonsense?!” the older woman demands. “I called you here because you attacked these students, and now you attack them again in front of me?”

“I am protecting my charge.” Her simple words are dripping with authority.

The woman's eyes narrow, but she still refuses to look directly at Leona. Is she afraid because she's a psion? “Explain yourself.”

“That man,” Leona jerks her head his way, eliciting a strangled cry of pain, “has sexually assaulted Seiko Maka twice. I will not allow him to come near Seiko ever again, so long as Seiko remains in my care.”

Then her voice drops, emotion bottoming out to leave nothing but dead ice. “I have a mind to execute him on the spot for his transgressions.”

She would... kill him...?

I have no idea what to even think about that. Where to start.

Leona, a murderer? It's Vance, but would she really get blood on her hands for this? For me?

She was in the military though. And she's a psion.

Has Leona already killed people?

I have no time or attention to address any of the questions rambling through the back of my head as my gaze remains fixed on the fuming administrator at the desk.

“Don't be stupid, you don't have the authority to one-sidedly execute people without proof of any wrongdoing. And in the first place, Maka-san is a man. Sexual assault? Are you kidding?”

“Of course not, it happened in front of my eyes.” Leona growls.

The woman grins wickedly and fires back. “Legally, sexual assault is defined as touching a person's skin without consent in such a way as to impinge on their modesty or chastity.” All my insides are twisting into knots as she speaks. Why does she she know the legal definition of sexual assault off the top of her head?! “Tell me, was there any skin to skin contact? Hmm? Then there was no sexual assault.”

“That's absurd!” Leona exclaims angrily. The only reason it didn't get there is because she stopped him!

“You don't make the law, girl,” Monasta spits the words at her in contempt. “On the contrary, you three are in a whole heap of trouble. Inciting violence. Assaulting civilians unprovoked. Impersonating government personnel.” She starts rattling off random charges. I don't even know what they mean.

But Leona holds her ground. “How do any of those claims hold water?” she challenges.

Monasta smirks. “Who threw the first punch?”

Her daughter answers immediately. “Maka-san did.”

Leona glowers at the pair of them. “Seiko's back was literally pressed against a wall, taking on a crowd of assailants five to one. One of whom had already caused tremendous harm and trauma to Seiko in the past and made it clear he intended to do the same again. No court in Laros would rule that anything but self-defense.”

“Fine,” the administrator brushes it off. “What about you? Look at these four. And the one you're still attacking in plain sight. Using your psionic powers recklessly, attacking civilians without any provocation, I could have you stripped of your rank.”

“I have been assigned a duty which requires me to maintain Seiko Maka's safety and wellbeing. That includes identifying and neutralizing any threats to Seiko. I have the authority to make judgments on who and what I deem dangerous, and react to them as I see fit.” Leona draws herself up even taller, her arms holding me safe and tight.

“I have determined these individuals pose a serious risk to Seiko Maka and will be responding to them as such.”

“That's ridiculous! You can't just decide those things on you own!” Monasta scoffs.

“I can and I have.”

“Well then, I'm using my administrative authority. Consider those rights revoked. I will not have a psion running wild on my campus.” The woman waves as if to shoo Leona with a smirk on her face.

“You do not have the authority to interfere with my orders,” Leona retorts without even blinking.

“Like hell I don't!” Monasta's whole face is starting to flush red and angry at the denial. “What is your mission?”

“That's classified.”

“I have level ten clearance.”

“Not high enough.”

Monasta balks. “What level do I need?”

“That's classified,” Leona deadpans again.

The older woman is speechless for a few moments. “I don't believe you. You're just lying to cover your ass. I want to speak to your superior.”

Leona pulls out her mobile. “That would be Aalin Mejja-san from the Meridan Psionic Operations Headquarters. I'll call him right now.” She dials his number, then puts the phone on speaker mode and sets it on top of me so she can settle my weight back into both arms.

It connects.

“Hi Vicca, what is it?” his voice fills the quiet room.

“Mejja, I have Janice Monasta-san here. She is a school administrator with clearance level ten, challenging my right to make self-determinations for the sake of Seiko's safety because I injured a number of students who were attacking Seiko.”

“Wait, Maka-san was attacked? Is he alright?” Mejja asks immediately. I didn't think the mad scientist cared about me. Maybe he's more worried about it affecting his research results...

“Seiko sustained numerous physical injuries and serious emotional trauma,” Leona reports, keeping the emotion out of her tone.

“Shit... If this affects our research...” Mejja groans across the line. In some way, it's comforting knowing he's focused on the results. The aloof scientist suddenly acting like he cares about me would just make me feel weird... “Vicca-san, have you apprehended the assailants?”

“Yes.”

“Have you beaten them within an inch of their lives?”

Leona pauses, staring at the woman who still refuses to look at her, and releases a flare of crimson power, cries of pain echoing around us as flesh is torn and skin is flayed, all of the bullies collapsing, even the woman's own daughter.

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“Yes, I have.” Leona says with a dead straight face, to the gaping administrator.

“Good, send me their information later. If they have any impact on Maka-san's test results, I'm going to throw the book at them so hard they'll never see the light of day again.”

“Thank you, Mejja. Now, here is Janice Monasta-san. She requested to talk to my superior because she does not believe that she does not have high enough clearance to be briefed on the details of my current mission.”

“Alright. Monasta-san,” Mejja comes back. “Are you there?”

“Yes, I'm here.” Her words are short and clipped, her gaze locked on her collapsed, bleeding daughter, while she clutches the edge of her desk with bone white knuckles.

“Alright, I'm only going to say this once.” He clears his throat loudly, then speaks in a plain, straightforward tone, extremely at odds with his words. “Get out of the way and stop obstructing our work before I have you charged with treason, you self-righteous, middle-managing cunt.” There's a moment where her mouth falls open.

Before she can verbalize any kind of response, he goes, “Now, if that's all, I have work to get back to. Vicca, please get me today's data as soon as you reasonably can.”

“I'll do that, Mejja.” Then the phone clicks when he hangs up. Leona leaves the mobile sitting on top of me in her arms, while Monasta looks shell-shocked.

We stand in silence before the woman for a few moments longer, before she rallies, bald faced rage pitching higher. “Even if you get off, she doesn't!” her finger jabbing out at Jen. “As I've been informed, she called Maka-san's parents, posing as a school counselor.”

Wait, what? I look her way, and Jen's staring at the woman in terror.

“As you may know, school employment is a government position. As such, impersonating a staff member is a serious crime. It carries years of prison time and compulsory military service.” Her mouth curls up into a wicked smile again. Is this what Jen was talking about? How Lacey Monasta was blackmailing her?!

Leona cuts right through. “I ordered her to do it.”

“What?”

“You heard me,” Leona is openly scowling when she glances Jen's way. “As a military officer, I ordered Jenna Corro to pose as a school counselor and call Seiko Maka's parents.”

“You can't honestly expect me to believe that!” Monasta slams her desk in rage, glaring holes through Jen.

“It doesn't matter if you believe me, that is my official position on the matter. As such, Jenna Corro operated under my authorization and cannot be held to account for her actions under orders.”

“So you're taking the blame on yourself?” the vicious woman's eyes light up at the thought, but don't move from Jen. She still refuses to even look at Leona.

“Of course.” Leona stands imperious. “If you take issue with my actions, you can direct any questions or concerns to my superior, Aalin Mejja-san, at Meridan Psionic Operations Headquarters.”

Monasta's face goes pale. Leona has her.

Snarling, Monasta slashes at the air with a hand. “Get out of my office!”

As Leona turns around and begins to leave the room, she utters a warning without looking back. “I suggest you transfer these students to different classes.” Then the glow fades from her eyes and there's a crash as Vance falls from the spot where he was pinned against the wall.

We proceed down the hall in silence, heading toward the infirmary. Now that I'm finally calming down, the pains all over my body are really starting to set in.

Then Doctor Belinda comes running from the direction of the infirmary, a bag of medical supplies hooked over one shoulder. She cuts short when she sees us, her eyes landing right on me. I must look like shit. I certainly feel like it...

“Vicca-san, what happened? I just got an emergency call to the administration office, she said there were students with severe injuries!”

“They won't die, unfortunately,” Leona responds to the shocked doctor. “Sorry for giving you more work to do. We'll head to the infirmary first.” We pass by, and soon enough, I hear the doctor's shoes echoing down the corridor again as she continues to run.

When we arrive, Leona settles me down in a bed, sitting beside me, and then turns to address Jen.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” she demands, gaze scathing.

Jen stands with her head down. “Nothing. You already know what I did. I betrayed Seiko. I brought her right where they told me. I helped them. I'm so sorry...” Her voice breaks, a hand coming up to cover her face as she cries.

Lying in bed, I struggle to sit up, staring down at Jen as she sinks to her knees, weeping. Despite her betrayal, I can't help feeling bad. We were friends for so long. But...

But...

I'm conflicted.

We had such good times together, but then she helped them hurt me.

If Leona hadn't come and saved me, I would have been molested again, probably... probably raped... After everything we've been through, Jen did that to me, when she knew I couldn't fight back.

No, she didn't know about my history with Vance. She probably only expected them to beat me up. That's not as egregious, but still. She knows about my body right now. What did she expect to happen if the bullies found out while beating me up? How could I possibly forgive her for something like that...?

At the same time, I know they forced her to do it. Under threat of imprisonment or being shipped off with the military, what else should I expect? I wouldn't want her to choose me over herself in a situation like that.

But it still hurts that she did...

I don't know what to do. Forgive her? Never talk to her again?

I like Jen. We're best friends. Could I cut her out of my entire life for this?

...Yes. Yes, I could.

Her actions would have ruined my life if someone else hadn't stepped in.

So why do I want to forgive her? I shouldn't. I know I shouldn't. Am I just too attached to her after relying on her for so many years? I can't get it through my thick head that she's done something unforgivable to me now? Am I still just in shock? Or denial?

Jen herself knows it's over, she isn't even begging for forgiveness!

Leona's voice tears through my panicked thoughts. “Corro-san, do you know why I brought you here instead of leaving you in a bleeding heap with the others?” Jen shakes her head mutely. “Because you warned me. Why did you do that?”

Jen warned Leona? How? When? I sputter out a question about that, so Leona explains. “When she left the classroom with you, she gave me a look. If she'd just said something, I would have found you sooner and you wouldn't have had to go through all of that. But, she did let me know something was wrong. I want to know why.”

“It's not like I wanted to...” Jen cries. “I was scared. I didn't know what to do. I thought... you know, you're a psion. Maybe you could help...”

When she says it like that, I remember. What she said when she brought me out, before the bullies attacked. She said it was a gamble.

Jen didn't just bring me out there to betray me, she had an actual plan. And Leona didn't just happen to save me, Jen called her there. It was intentional. Even if she knew she was putting me in danger, that wasn't the point. It makes me think...

“Jen.” I finally speak, feeling a strange calm come over me as I know what I need to ask. Her head snaps up at my voice. Awaiting my judgment. “What did Lacey Monasta tell you to do?”

“She told me to find an opportunity bring you to that spot alone,” she explains, eyes trailing back down to the floor.

“What else?”

“Huh? Nothing. That was all, I swear! I-I mean, except not to tell anyone!” She shakes, like she's panicking at the question, and Leona leans in, whole body radiating threat.

“How long was Lacey Monasta blackmailing you?” I ask.

“That... about a month?” She says it like she doesn't understand.

I thought so. “She told you to get me alone a month ago? And you only did it now?”

“It was the first opportunity...” She sounds guilty, but I get it now. So this is why...

“Jen, I get it. That's why you've been distant at school. Even if they were blackmailing you, you were still avoiding actually going through with it.” She doesn't respond, but she doesn't have to. This explains all her weird behavior lately. The stress, her talking to people she's never talked to before.

Even though they were holding a prison sentence over her head, she avoided going anywhere alone with me at school for over a month, to avoid having to follow through on their demands. And even when she did, she signaled Leona to save me.

She's still the same Jen I always knew. Even if she was trapped and didn't see any way out, she didn't just throw me to the wolves to save herself. It doesn't make up for what she did, but it's a start.

I look down at my hands, holding onto the calm inside me for now. “Just one more thing. Why did you call my parents? Why did you pretend to be a counselor in the first place?” I'm not an idiot, if Leona actually told her to do that, Lacey Monasta couldn't have used it to blackmail her.

Still staring at the floor, she answers, “I was trying to figure out why you were so resistant to the idea of being a girl. It's how I found out about your father. I didn't know it was so serious...”

...Shit. Now that she mentions it, it's too obvious. When she told me that Dad was the one that filled my head with all that misogynistic crap, it never occurred to me that Jen doesn't actually know my father.

Groaning a little, I hold my head in a hand. So she got herself into all this shit by doing something stupid while trying to help me. It figures...

“Alright, I get it. Jen.” She looks up again when I call her name. “I don't hate you. I get why you did what you did. But you still did it. You know what Vance-san was going to do to me.” Her whole frame shudders. I have to swallow bile and fear that spikes through my forced calm, before I can continue. “I don't hate you, but I can't forgive you for that.”

She gives a defeated nod. “I know.”

“Just... go. I think I need more time.” Without another word, she leaves the infirmary. I flop down on my back, my whole body protesting. I cover my face with an arm to block out the light through my eyelids. Alone with Leona, I can finally stop forcing myself to stay composed enough to function. I end up crying and shaking.

I don't know what to think anymore. I'm tired and hurt and Jen is... I don't know, Jen's gone. I can't trust her like I used to, and that hurts more than all the bruises combined.

But even as my consciousness slips away, all I can imagine is Vance's face, forcing me down. What nearly happened. What I'm still powerless to stop. My life and my body is completely out of my control, and it's terrifying.