(Side Story) The Head of Protection's Sunday Night and Monday Morning

Chris never thought she would be committing arson that weekend, but Zoe's plan had gone off without a hitch. One lit match to an already stuffed lint trap, along Nebula's habit of having a bubble bath to maximize her washing amount, and all of Nebula's clothes were torched to a crisp. Chris managed to leave Nebula's house unnoticed, and was surprised that her job was complete that fast. She took the long way home, fantasizing about how the Society would react to the news about Nebula being expelled, only for her phone to ring.

Chris pulled her phone out, and saw Karishma's name and ID picture pop up. The caller ID image was one Karishma took of herself on the day of the meeting, showing her reclining on the Head of Protection's chair.

"You little-" *click* "Hello Karishma, the mission done. No need to do anything. Goodbye Karishma." *Click*

Chris took a deep breath to calm her nerves, before putting her phone away and continuing her walk home.

Suddenly, Chris's phone buzzed again.

Chris reluctantly pulled out her phone again.

"What is it, Karishma?" Chris asked, impatiently.

"First of all, ruuuude~. Second of all, you messed up. Check the picture." Karishma responded, her voice mirthful. Chris looked at her phone and checked the text message, seeing the picture Karishma took.

"FUCK." Chris screamed at the picture of Nebula from by her window, wearing a comedically large shirt with a goofy grin on her face. That shirt... Nebula had it as a wall decoration! Chris thought it was a framed poster!

That was their only chance to strip Nebula. Her paranoia was too deep to hope she would sleep naked, and Nebula's sleep schedule was too erratic to attempt to remove it in the middle of the night.

Chris tried to think of anything she could do, but nothing came to mind. What's worse was Karishma making obnoxiously loud "tick... tock..." noises with her mouth over the phone.

"Shut the fuck up, Karishma, I'm trying to think."

"Sorry, I'm chewing gum." Karishma was not chewing gum.

Chris hung up, angrily, and flopped down on the bare grass of a random lawn, staring up at the night sky. The cool air helped her think things through, and she realized she had a chance to salvage this. Even if Nebula had a shirt, she didn't have the courage to come to school wearing just that. Nebula wouldn't come without some plan to get something to wear... Chris hoped so at least.

Chris stared at the stars above, ignoring the slight chilling feeling creeping across her body, thinking about the best way to solve this... Until her phone rang again. This time, it was Zoe calling. Chris sighed before answering the phone.

"Chris! I heard the plan didn't go so well..." Zoe said demurely from over the receiver. Chris groaned.

"Karishma already told you?"

"She... uh... sent out a mass text..."

"That fucking little-"

"B-but! You might need to board Sam's bus this morning! Get into disguise and search his bag when you can!" Zoe interrupted Chris before she could continue swearing over Karishma's antics.

"...Wait... Disguise? Search Sam's bag?" Chris blinked a few times, unsure if she heard that right.

"We need to make sure Nebula doesn't show up with an ace up her sleeve... and Sam might have it. Do you understand?"

"But... stealing from Sam... He's Our Beloved..." Chris hated Nebula with a passion, but the thought of hurting Sam made her want to break down.

"It's for Our Beloved One... He'll understand... that it was for his own... good?" Zoe sounded unsure, but Chris felt reassured that Sam would forgive her, or so she tried to convince herself.

Chris quickly thanked Zoe for her advice before hanging up and running home. Chris owned multiple wigs, often switching between several different styles as part of her Protection duties. She slipped on a pair of glasses and a white sweatshirt to hide her face, before sprinting towards the bus stop Sam normally arrived at.

Chris luckily made it just in time to hop onto the bus and hide amongst the other passengers, searching among them for Sam. After scanning through the faces of the kids around her, she spotted Sam at the back of the bus, slouched against the side of the vehicle. He looked deep in concentration, staring intently at his phone, but Chris knew better. His slumped posture betrayed his deep stress, something Chris rarely ever witnessed before. Chris wondered if Nebula's outburst affected him that badly...

Chris slowly weaved her way through the bus seats, pretending she was visiting someone farther ahead. Glancing at the phone, Chris saw Sam working on a long text message. Chris felt a jolt of panic hit her, worried he had discovered the Society's involvement with Nebula. However, Chris managed to read Sam's draft before he deleted it and started writing again. It was addressed to Chris... Sam felt guilty about Nebula's actions, and Chris was touched Sam was trying to apologize.

Chris gingerly reached Sam's backpack, standing directly behind him. Chris slowly undid the zippers on Sam's bag, careful not to alert him. Chris peered into the opening, praying that Nebula wouldn't appear behind her and snatch whatever Sam had planned to give her. As Chris gently rummaged through the contents of the backpack, she came across... a pair of gym shorts and new underwear? Chris felt her stomach twist. This was for Nebula? Chris lifted them out carefully, hoping Sam wouldn't notice. To Chris's relief, Sam continued rewriting his message, and Chris stuffed the shorts into her hoodie pockets. Chris closed Sam's bag, carefully zipping it up, before casually walking off the bus.

Chris waited for the bus doors to close, before sprinting home. She tossed Nebula's spare set of clothing into the trash before changing out of her disguise. Chris collapsed on a nearby wall, clutching her chest. Chris stared at her phone, waiting for Sam's text... but nothing came...

Chris was jolted out of her trance by a call from Zoe. Chris answered immediately.

"Did you get them? Did you get the pants?" Zoe squeaked, nervously. Chris sighed, relieved that Zoe could take her mind off the crushing guilt.

"Y-yes. Mission success." Chris said, wiping a tear from her eyes. Chris felt weird saying those words, but they were true. It's finally over... Nebula is gone... Chris felt a little better. "But... how did you know Sam would help Nebula? Why would he forgive someone like that?"

"Because... he's nice." Zoe said, almost whispering. Chris paused for a bit before realizing Zoe was serious.

Sam was just nice...

Then what was she?

"Zoe, we're friends, right?"

"W-we are? Yes! We are friends! Best friends!" Zoe suddenly blurted out, obviously excited that Chris considered her a friend.

"Then please don't tell anyone I said this... Are we doing the right thing?"

"..."