Finale Part 2 (Rangers)

“We can wait.” Fin announced.

“For a looong time.” He looked at Lad who smirked back and offered a loose shrug.

“I’m patient.”

Fin crossed his arms. The two of them settled in. The Barrier moved, as if the Aura itself was sighing, then dissipated. Though, there was still a faint shimmer as if to tell them not to go crazy with it.

“That… Worked?” Fin remarked.

Lad nodded. “You were someone that negotiated with them to begin with and I’m not showing any hostility. They can give us this much, I think.”

“Good point. I know who I want to bring.” Fin looks back at Marrien, then to Djir. The Gnoll stepped forward.

“Thought I forgot about you?”

“Not for a second, love.” The two kissed rather affectionately while Kara stared on in the background with her mind more or less blown.

She shuddered and mumbled under her breath. “This is so weird…” As the two of them looked over at her, since both were beastfolk with advanced hearing she awkwardly smiled and gave a thumbs up.

“H-happy for you!”

“Thanks.” Fin laughed.

Djir cackled a little. “Dunno why that one is looking at us so weird, but I’ll let it slide.”

Marrien stepped forward, gathering her things and adjusting her glasses. “So… If I’m hearing things correctly we’re negotiating with ‘god’ essentially?” She touched her lip in thought.

“I think I’ll do fine.” Fin looked to Lad.

“What about you?”

“If possible, I’d like to bring someone from outside. May take a little while so bear with me. I think it’ll be worth it.” Lad claimed.

“Who are you thinking?” Kara asked.

“Stephan.” Lad remarked.

“Stephan… That makes sense. He’s a shrewd negotiator. Basically the representative of the most powerful conglomerate on the planet which makes him as good as a world leader. Best we have on hand to represent the planet and… Our interests.” Kara looked around.

“Who else?”

“Janna and Joseph, I think…”

Kara nodded slowly. “Janna and Joseph. Yes, that makes sense. They’ve been studying this thing outside. So we have a negotiator and two technical experts to help us with context and information. That’s a good call.” Kara furrowed her brow.

“It’s a very good call…”

“What’s wrong?” Lad asked.

“I think after all this is done, if we make it out, the Rangers need a new commander.” Kara offered, giving Lad a rather pointed look.

Lad lifted his hand in front of him. “Wait wait… I can’t replace you. You’re the Commander because you’re strong! I’m not as strong as you. You’re a Great Master for gods sake.”

Kara crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m the Commander because I came in at the start and protected our two little lovebirds from malicious parties until they were ready to do their thing and create the Corp that was gonna save the world. That’s done. They got a lot more strong people around to protect them and I’m not going anywhere. But… What they don’t have is a Commander that can easily understand the people under them and help them through difficult situations. Someone with an unflappable will and a kind demeanour. Someone like you.” She pointed.

“It’s a cushy job. You get to sit around and handle internal stuff most of the time. I think you’ll like it more than field work, Lad.”

“M-maybe. Let’s talk about this after it’s all over, okay? With everyone. I wanna hear more opinions. I’m sure not everyone thinks I’d be the best fit for Commander.” He reasoned.

“Suuure, Lad.” Kara rolled her eyes.

Kai looked at them. “I got a hold of the outside. Got the green light for all three. Just need an hour, roughly, to get them all suited up.”

“We can wait. Right?” Fin stared at the barrier. It flickered.

“I think that means yes?”

Roughly an hour later Janna, Joseph and Stephan appeared on the ship within the simulation. They appeared in regular clothing, though the twins were matching, and also a little nicer. As soon as they entered, they approached Fin and Jeane. Jeane seemed a bit surprised to see them, since they looked quite similar to her.

Janna and Joseph bowed.

“Greetings Great Grandmother. Great Grandfather.” Janna said.

Joseph added. “Forgive us for not adding the appropriate number of ‘great’s. There are a lot…”

“Uhm… Forgiven?” Jeane offered.

“You both are?”

“Descendents.” Janna responded.

Jeane smiled at Fin. “Well… It is like a window into the future. They look quite charming.”

Fin smiled widely. “They do. Better they look like you than me.” He glanced over at Stephan and noticed his familiar appearance with his ears and tail.

“Are we also related?”

Stephan held his arms out, allowing Kai to change the simulation to allow him to wear a suit. He adjusted his tie, then looked over and nodded.

“I suppose.” He offered a slight nod.

Fin chuckled. “Alright, then.”

“There’s one more coming. We were getting a little close to the wire but… It’s important to her.” Stephan mentioned.

“Huh? Who?” Lad wondered who it could be. After a minute another figure landed in the Odyssey. Silky white hair, long ears and a big bushy tail with red eyes. She opened them and rested them upon Fin, gulping deeply. She strode forward quickly.

“H-hello?” Fin looked at her curiously. Some things were coming back, but it still felt vague. She seemed somewhat important.

Raithe stopped in front of him. “Hello.” She glanced away awkwardly.

“Do… You know me?”

Fin smiled gently. “I feel like I do.” He opened his arms.

Raithe moved in and hugged him tightly, stroking her hair. “H-how do you remember me?”

“It feels like I remember you as a… Child. Or, at the very least someone that was as close to me as that.” Fin admitted.

Raithe smiled and teared up. “Thank you. We’re not related. Not directly. But you were like a Father to me the whole time.”

“I- I honestly don’t even know what I did.” Fin admitted.

Raithe hugged him tightly. “You did not throw me away.”

“Why would I throw away a sweet girl like you?” Fin said warmly.

Raithe released him, took a deep breath and stepped back. “Good luck, Master.”

It finally clicked for him with that and the past mostly came back into perspective. He nodded.

“Raithe, you’re free to live your own life, now. I’m not your Master. Don’t call anyone Master that doesn’t treat you well. You aren’t a doll, you are a full, living and breathing person now. Live life to the fullest. Okay?”

“O-okay.” She utters shakily. She turns around to see Kara staring at her. Raithe gulped, taking a step back.

“I was always uncomfortable around you, and I know you were around me, as well. I don’t feel like I did anything wrong in trying to survive but-”

Raithe held up a hand to stop her. “Please. Kara. I am a different person from the Raithe that you knew. But…” She smiled.

“Thank you. I hope we can work together more easily.”

“We will. I promise.”

Lad nodded, hugging Kai and Yeong. “Are we good to go?”

“I think so.” Fin turned towards the barrier.

They both stepped through and turned, satisfied the moment their chosen companions were allowed to follow. Djir, Marrien, Stephan, Janna and Joseph.

“Twins, huh…” Djir commented.

“Is his seed as good as I think?”

“Better.” Janna smirked.

“It produced us, eventually. So I’d say it gets better over time.” Joseph commented.

Djir cackled. “I like these two. What happens to ‘my’ descendents in the future?”

Janna lifted a brow. “Do you really want to know?”

“Is it bad?” Djir blinked.

“How?”

Joseph exhaled through his nose. “So far as we can tell, your lineage ended up being rather normal. I think your closest relation is currently being taken advantage of in an open threesome between an Aniyub and one of our most watched targets. A female human.”

“Seriously…” Djir planted his face in his palm.

“You asked.” Janna shrugged.

“Please stop teasing the denizens.” Stephan groaned.

Both the twins chimed in at the same time. “Sorry.”

Lad walked ahead, approaching the door to the cabin. “Everyone ready?” As soon as all present nodded he opened the door. He was prepared to see any manner of things; a condensed space, a hidden realm, maybe some grand hall. Instead it was just a humble cabin. A single room with a table in the middle and some snacks prepared off to the side. Sitting on the far side comfortably was a young-looking man with messy blonde hair and olive skin.

“Welcome, everyone. More guests than I expected, but it’s not a problem. Really.” He offered somewhat facetiously.

“Georgius.” Fin remarked.

“So you’re the one who runs this?” Lad asked.

“I’m one of the ones. I’m more of a representative.”

“Who do you-” Stephan and Marrien asked at the same time. The two exchanged a look, then a nod.

Marrien was allowed to speak. “Who do you represent?”

“I represent the interests of my own people back home.” Geogius claimed.

“The other partners all represent their own interests, but none of them are against a bit of compromise. In fact, all these strange parties working together on this one thing is already quite a monumental compromise, if you ask me. Artist, Painter… And me.”

“Who are you?” Lad wondered out loud.

“I am Saint Georgius. Saint George. The Dragon Slayer. The Cappadocian. The Traveler. The Human. The Ascended. That answers your question but what you really want to know is… What does who I am have to do with any of this here?”

“Spit it out.” Fin sighed.

“I’ll say this. Believe it or not we have the same interest. It will make sense when I tell you.”

“You slayed a Dragon?” Djir interjected.

“Yes. Now, back to-”

“Where? That’s quite an accomplishment.” He grinned insistently.

Georgius looked up in thought. “It won't even mean anything if I say where. It was on Earth. Somewhere you don’t know about, at a location you have no interest in. The answer is yes, my civilised friend.”

Djir blinked. “Civilised?”

“Next question. Go.” Georgius looked around the room.

Stephan finally spoke. “Let’s talk about aligning goals. Say in your words what you think our goals are so we can know what we are all talking about here.”

Georgius nodded. “Your goal is to protect the planet. My goal is to protect my planet.”

“You… are from a different planet?” Lad asked.

“I am.” He turned his attention back to Stephan.

“From what?” Stephan continued.

“The question I’ve been waiting for… What do you all know about Angels?” He smiled widely, folding his hands in front of him as he waited for an answer.