Chapter 200: Chapter 169

The trees coating the mountains that surrounded the campsite had begun to turn a myriad of colors. Reds and yellows spread out as far as the eye could see. Sonya took a deep breath of the slightly chilly fall air and tugged her coat up a bit closer around her neck. Behind her, Marta carried the few pieces of luggage that they didn’t just send off with one of her portals. They had to make it look like they were taking something home after all. Ahead of her, the archway had already formed and a small group was waiting for her. The other newly minted heroes had gone a bit earlier. The last group, though it looks like somebody stayed behind.

“Brigid! What on earth are you still doing here?” She called out towards the gathering at the portal.

The red-head was standing with Chunhua and talking to her. Bluestar had taken up a spot a few paces away and was speaking quietly with John. Lillian, Snow, Val, Greg, and Alex made up their own little clump while Otis, Ollie, and Jessica made up the last cluster. She narrowed her eyes briefly at the last group, Where’s Cass? She glanced towards Marta who shrugged and gave her a lopsided smile. That girl, slept in again, didn't she?

Brigid turned and waved frenetically, a big smile on her bubbly face. “Good morning!” She called, “Just enjoying the weather! Black Lotus said she wasn’t ready to go yet!”

Oh. Right. Sonya’s heart skipped a little. I forgot.

She forced a smile onto her face, “Looking forward to the expedition to the Epic dungeon?” She asked as she drew closer, shoving her hands into her pockets. She glanced briefly at Chunhua who met her gaze before they both looked away. And she can tell I forgot. Great. Good job, Sonya. Real smooth.

“Oh it’s going to be so much fun, if you recall, I used to be a Park Ranger for that region. I know that area like the back of my hand and with my ability, dealing with the snow will be a snap!” Brigid snapped her fingers for emphasis. She turned her head towards one of the two clusters of new heroes gathered with them. Sonya followed her gaze towards Jessica. “It’s a bit of a shame you ended up on the East side, Jessica, I would make an excellent mentor for your ability!” She declared and puffed out her chest.

Jessica’s lips twitched into a half smile, “Guess that’s fate for you,” she chuckled, “It’s okay, I learned a lot here.”

There’s no light in her eyes, Sonya thought but kept her poker face going. She turned towards Euclidia who was leaning against the archway and fiddling with a puzzle cube, “Euclidia, you ready?”

Euclidia looked up from her puzzle and grinned, “Always, got three destinations already set. Two passengers to Seattle, two passengers to the Hague, and the rest of y’all to the ASTA Guildhouse in New York. Crowley and Canis already went on ahead to Seattle.”

Off to the side, Greg straightened and looked her way, “The Hague?”

He looks tired. I heard he and Jessica broke up over his decision to study with Euclidia. She shot the girl another glance, Did I read her wrong? She hasn’t done anything besides be a bit of a drama queen in the end. Oh well, I’ll keep an eye on her anyway now that she’s hanging out with Otis.

Euclidia raised an eyebrow at Greg and put her hands on her hips, “Of course, silly!” she huffed, “How am I supposed to get you clearance to do the kind of work we’re going to do if you don’t have one of these?” she asked and reached into her jacket to pull out a metal card with a mana crystal embedded in it.

Greg frowned at it, “What’s that?”

“A pass that Pandora Officials carry,” Sonya answered for her and held her hand out. Marta was already approaching her from behind and placed Sonya’s in her hand. She held it up while Marta did the same. Bluestar, Chunhua, and Brigid did the same. “Officials, Guild Masters, and International Heroes carry them usually. They’re for bypassing an RTE check and other security nonsense,” Sonya explained.

Greg blinked and pointed at himself, “I’m

getting one of those?”

Euclidia raised her eyebrow even higher, if that was possible, “Well, doy,” she snarked, “You can’t even get into my offices without going through like, what, four layers of security? You absolutely need one to come and go. On top of that, you’re gonna be doing some important stuff with me so, yeah, Pandora Official Greg, sounds like a comic-book henchman,” she barked out a laugh before looking back at her puzzle and getting back to it as if she hadn’t just been talking, her interest in the conversation evaporating.

Sonya huffed out a breath. “The powerful ones are always eccentric,” she muttered and got a snort from Marta who glanced her way. “Hey! You know what I mean!”

Marta nodded politely and took Sonya’s badge back, “Of course, ma’am.”

“You’re making fun of me again,” Sonya grumbled.

“Of course, ma’am,” Marta agreed with the same polite tone but with a small smile teasing at her lips.

Sonya sighed and shook her head before walking over to Lillian’s group, she smiled at Greg, “Good luck over there,” she said and reached out to shake his hand. He returned the gesture with a nod before she turned back to the others. “Well well, look at all these heroes,” She turned towards Bluestar, “What’s your standard fireteam size?” She called.

“Five,” Bluestar called back before turning back to John and murmuring to him.

“Hoho,” she chuckled before meeting Lillian’s gaze. “You ready?”

Lillian looked to her friends, Snow who had come so far and had grown into a proud young woman. Val who was just as fiery as ever but was now tempered with self respect and genuine confidence. Alex who had evened out his aggression. Greg who was off to his own adventures and had risen to become one of the most promising of his generation. And then there’s that one, Sonya thought ruefully as she felt a shift in the air behind her, someone racing towards them.

“Sorry!” Cass called, “I’m coming!”

Sonya turned around and put her hands on her hips, frowning as the blonde raced towards them, “What have I told you about staying up late, young lady?”

Cass slid to a stop. The spitting image of her sister if a bit smaller in frame. Liberty, how could you be so cruel to such a beautiful young lady? The girl dipped her head and shoved her hands into her pockets. “Sorry,” She murmured, “Was up late playing cards with everybody, ma’am.”

Sonya let out a breath, A grown woman and she still acts like a teenager, that’s what happens when you live in a repressive household I guess. She shook her head and eased into a smile. At least it really was just oversleeping and not something else. “You are trouble, you know that? I’ve half a mind to keep a close eye on you.”

“Mom’s mad,” Alex laughed. Greg and Val joined in, snickering behind Sonya.

Sonya and Cass rounded on them at the same time;

“I am not her mother!”

“She’s not my mom!”

That only resulted in Val literally falling to the ground, laughing while Alex and Greg held one another up, wheezing. Even Lillian had to cover her face and turn her head while only Snow was perfectly straight faced- wait. She’s got an illusion over her. I bet she’s laughing her ass off. Brat. Sonya cleared her throat as she felt a little heat rise to her face and turned back to meet Cass’ eyes. Cass’ flushed face turned brighter and she looked down at her feet. Sonya pursed her lips and looked over at Marta who was doing her best to look anywhere but at Sonya. Traitor.

“I’m not mad,” Sonya finally said and rest her hand on her hip.

Cass looked up, relieved, “So… I can still-”

Sonya raised a hand to wave her question off, “Yes, yes, I have a room ready for you at my place, you can stay there for now.”

The boys stopped laughing, “Hey!” Alex protested, “What about the Guild dorms? We’re all staying there until we get enough together to buy our own places, why does she get to stay with you?”

Sonya turned back to him, “Because apparently we’re family,” She quipped at him.

Alex’s frown changed instantaneously into a grin, “Aight, walked into that, didn’t I?” He glanced at Cass and winked at her. Sonya squinted at him. What was that about?

“If y’all are done bantering,” Euclidia called, tossing the completed puzzle up and down in the air, “We should really be going. I’m not a fan of leaving portals open for a long time.”

Sonya brushed her hair back over her ear, “Fair enough,” she nodded to Lillians group and Bluestar, “Go on ahead.”

“New York! Here I come!” Val shouted and bolted for the portal, leaping through it with a whoop.

The others laughed and grabbed their bags, Greg picking up an extra one and tossing it to Alex, “He left it behind.”

Alex shook his head, “That moron,” he paused and then clapped Greg on the shoulder, “You got this, brother. Don’t let… y’know… get you down. You’re a top hero now.”

“Not yet, but someday soon,” Greg shot back with a smirk, “Better keep up with me, BLF.”

“Race you to the top, Gravitic,” Alex said and walked past him, carrying his and Val’s luggage and went through the portal, Bluestar and John followed suit, John shooting Sonya a grin that she returned. Finally smiling with a bit more ease, it almost doesn’t look forced. Good. The two of them went through as Lillian hustled over and practically crashed into Chunhua, wrapping her arms around her and squeezing her in a tight hug.

“Be safe, Teacher,” Lillian said.

Chunhua looked down at her student and glanced at Sonya with wide eyes. Sonya rolled her eyes, You never were much of a hugger, were you? Just do it, dummy. Chunhua put her hand on Lillians head and gave her a gentle squeeze around the back before pulling away, holding her shoulders. She looked into Lillian’s eyes, “Work hard.”

“I will, thank you, for everything,” Lillian said and took two steps back before bowing at the waist, “I’ll reach my goal and fight at your side. I promise.”

Chunhua smiled, “I’ll hold you to it.”

Lillian beamed up at her and turned around to grab her things, taking Snow’s hand. The two stopped to shake hands with Greg before the three of them ran through the portal. Just behind them, Jessica made her way through in silence, barely glancing back. Otis reached up and flipped his hair out of his face, “Well it’s been fun, certainly,” he chuckled, “It was nice meeting you, Black Lotus, I’m looking forward to hunting Ishtar with you in the future,” he said with a too-white smile and turned on his heel to stalk towards the portal. “Good luck with your mission!”

Sonya’s lips thinned just a fraction but she kept her thoughts to herself, glancing at Chunhua who was doing much of the same though she seemed a bit greener in the face because of it. Her eyes turned back to the last member of Otis’ little trio and it was like… it was like a veil had come off of him. Intellectually she’d known that Ollie was there and that he’d been standing at Otis’ side. Yet it wasn’t until that moment that she internalized his presence. Otis’ ability? Probably. Why was he overshadowing Ollie? She gave a mental shrug, she’d worry about it later. He was more important in more ways than one.

She stepped forward and reached out to grab his shoulders, “How are you feeling?”

“A little tired, excited, nervous, fine otherwise,” Ollie admitted and gasped as she pulled him into a hug. She gave him a squeeze and his entire body seemed to relax a little in her grip.

She pulled back and looked him in the eyes, “Are you sure?” She asked.

His lips twitched and then rose into a more comfortable smile. She held her expression steady as she watched it. “I’m fine, Miss Sonya, really. It’s just taking a bit to sink in.”

“That you’re a free man?” She asked with a tilt of her head.

He blinked at her, “Huh?”

“Our deal is done, Ollie, don’t you remember?” She asked him, a little surprise touching her voice. “You completed the program. You graduated. That was the agreement wasn’t it? You do that and your record is wiped clean.”

He stared at her, stunned, a look of confusion slipping into dawning realization and then mute alarm. “I- I forgot!” He gasped.

She burst into laughter before leaning in and kissing him on the cheek. He jumped a little at the show of affection and touched his face, stammering incoherently. She laughed again, “Ollie, doesn’t that just mean you went through all that for the right reasons? Rather than just to get off the hook?” She pat him on the shoulder, “That’s good. I’m happy you forgot so I could tell you now. As far as the Pandora Committee is concerned, while the outcome was tragic, it was an accident as a result of a power manifestation. Not your fault. You can start your life with the guild with your head held high.”

Tears welled in his eyes and his glasses fogged a little. He swallowed hard, “Thank you, ma’am. I won't forget what you did for me.”

She shrugged, “Water under the bridge,” she paused, “Are you sure about the codename, though?”

He returned her smile with one of his own, “I’m owning it now. It’ll remind me to be more careful in the future.”

Her chest swelled with pride, “Good man,” she nodded and then gestured to the portal, “Go on, I’ll be with you all soon.”

He nodded brightly and turned, a bit of a spring in his step as he darted through the portal, what little belongings he had bouncing in a backpack. Euclidia watched him pass and checked her phone, she turned towards the portal and started to walk through herself, “You guys got five minutes and then I’m closing it!” The portal master called, “Get on it!”

“Ope!” Brigid gasped, “See you on the other side, Black Lotus!” She said and hustled through as well.

Sonya watched her go and then turned to Marta, “You and Cass go on ahead,” she said.

Marta met her gaze and then nodded, “Right, come along young miss,” she said gently and picked up the small mass of bags as if they weighed nothing.

“Young miss?” Cass asked, moving to catch up with her.

“Well, if you’re my Lady’s daughter, would that not make you the young miss?” She asked with a smirk on her face as they neared the portal.

“Not her mother!” Sonya shouted back at them but they’d already gone through the portal. She groaned, “Oh that’s going to stick isn’t it? Damn that boy.” She rubbed the side of her head before looking up at Chunhua. Dark eyes met hers and she cleared her throat, shifting a bit on her feet. She let out a breath and smiled at her, “So… this is it for a while, isn’t it?”

Chunhua glanced at the portal and then back at her, “So it seems,” she said and opened her mouth to say more before closing it, she rubbed her neck and blushed, “Sonya, I-”

Sonya reached out and took her free hand, squeezing her fingers, “Don’t, okay? Just. It was a fun night, you don’t need to say whatever you were going to say,” she said quickly holding on to that hand as if it were a lifeline. She didn’t want to hear an apology or an excuse for her leaving in the middle of the night and she didn’t want to hear well… she didn’t even want to think about it. “Look,” Sonya felt her chest tighten a little, “You said it yourself, you don’t know what this is, neither of us do. That’s… okay,” she smiled, “I want to figure it out. I want to enjoy my life as much as I can while I have the chance to.”

“When I go through that portal, the deal will take effect,” Chunhua said, her strong hands wrapping around Sonya’s. She gave Sonya’s hand a squeeze. “I don’t know how my mind and the deal will reconcile it all, but it won’t change how-”

Sonya reached up and touched her lips with her fingers, “Shh. That’s bad luck and you know it,” she said gently, “Just, be safe in Seattle. Be the hero the world needs you to be, without all that baggage holding you back, okay?”

“You’re not baggage,” Chunhua grunted.

Sonya snorted, “Chunhua!” she started to grin but Chunhua’s glare shut it down. “What?”

“You aren’t still thinking that you need to die to make things right, are you?” Chunhua asked.

Sonya pulled her hand away and crossed her arms, squeezing herself a little, “Chunhua, I’m going to have to pay one way or the other. There’s no avoiding justice, you know that, you of all people know that,” She said, “I can still enjoy my life until then! Can’t I? What’s wrong with that?”

Chunhua frowned, “Sonya, god damn it,” She reached up and squeezed the bridge of her nose, “I can’t- seriously-” she stammered before shaking her head, “You need to stop thinking like that. Okay? Please, for me.”

Sonya frowned, “I can’t just turn it off!” she barked before letting out a sigh, “Can we- can we not- I want to be smiling when I see you go, okay? I’ve accepted that I deserve to be in this timeline, that I belong here. Isn’t that enough?”

Chunhua searched Sonya’s face her worry only deepening, “Sonya…” she sighed, “I’m sorry Sonya. I just- I care.”

“I know,” Sonya said and reached up to touch her cheek, “I love you, and I know you’re not ready to say it back, but I just want you to know and not ever forget it. Be safe, be strong, and make me proud. Do that, and I’ll have no regrets.”

Chunhua reached up to take the hand on her cheek and her worried face eased into a comfortable smile that made Sonya’s heart ache. “It’s a deal,” she said.

One chaste kiss, one gentle reminder, one moment between them, and she was gone. Off to her next adventure without painful memories of fire and anguish burdening her mind. Free. Sonya watched that ponytail wave left and right as it passed through the portal behind her. Just like that day in Vegas, Sonya thought, she reached up and gripped at her chest. I’m sorry Chunhua, I’m not ready to let that kind of hope in, not yet.

There, alone, standing in front of the waning portal. Sonya took one last breath of mountain air and promised herself that if she could just find that hope, just find that proof it was possible, she would try with all her might to take that path.

If not, then at least I tried to find it. She thought and stepped through as well.