The large containment facility within Sekko’s basement, according to reports, had been a bustle of dangerous activity not hours earlier. Dozens of vats made from metal and glass had been shattered, littering the floor with dangerous debris. A monstrous beast birthed by human hubris and unholy experiments met an infernal end in this room, but not before its bulbous and disgusting body was blown to bits and scattered across the space. The remnants had apparently been only small pieces of charred crisps, which themselves faded into a finer dust once touched.

The fight had happened hours ago, while Jordan watched politicians celebrate a feast, wholly unaware of the issues not only a few miles away.

Now, as Jordan stood in the room’s center, all glass shards were swiped away, all charred crisps brushed into bags for study, and all metal containers which could be removed were. All except the ones literally melted into the floor.

Nothing save warped metal gave proof of the struggle; the floor itself rose and dipped like hills in a valley. Around her, many metallic containers were fused with the floor, the metal of the walls seemed to drip – as if too much paint had recently been applied which dribbled a few feet before finally drying – and the ceiling was cracked and pockmarked as if by a thousand tiny explosions – it was a miracle it hadn’t fallen.

All this done by blazing flames seemingly blessed by the Eternal Fire Titans themselves.

Flames that weren’t hers.

“Report,” Emma said.

Like last week, Jordan hadn’t heard Emma approach. At least this time she didn’t catch Jordan lighting a punching bag on fire.

“It’s all clear,” Jordan said. “Nothing’s left that can be salvaged without destroying the rest of the room.”

“I meant the fire,” Emma said. “How powerful did the flames have to be to cause this?”

“Incredibly. An average Flame Dancer couldn’t morph this much metal by herself. Not without extensive training. This would have been well within my capabilities.”

Emma nodded. “Would you have frozen to death from it?”

Jordan frowned, remembering the tunnels leading to the holding and experimentation rooms which brought her to this containment area. “No. Even after fighting from the tunnels to here, my life wouldn’t be in danger. But I’d have used Lava, so my Land would offset my fire. My skin would have ice on it, but it and my bones would also be brittle. This was only done with Fire, right?”

Emma nodded again, one tiny blonde strand falling from her bun and caressing her cheek. Went to show how lost in thought she was that she didn’t even tuck it behind her ear. “Maverick Ito… we’re going to want to keep our eye on him. He’ll go far through the ranks, and fast.”

“So it was a Peace Keeper who did this.”

“A new one, just starting his Leisure Week before taking the vows.” Emma snapped her head toward Jordan. “Could you have done this three years ago?”

She meant, when Jordan was fresh out of training and less experienced than now.

It was an effort to keep her mouth from twitching. “Maybe. But it would have killed me, Land or no.”

Emma placed a hand on Jordan’s shoulder. “Don’t feel bad about it. He’d have died if it weren’t for the other.”

“Other?”

Why had no one told her anything beforehand? Hours of watching the feast, then suddenly she had to make her to Sekko Research and simply… look around. It mocked her, seeing all the things she could have done. It was even worse, now, knowing that someone younger and less experienced had done it.

“A civilian Wielder,” Emma said. “Trying to make a guild. A traveling one of all things.”

Now Jordan openly scowled. Not only had a Trainee taken her glory, but a delusional Wielder aiming to make a pointless guild had helped?

Emma chuckled. “Sergeant Major Han is going to interrogate her and another Trainee soon. We’re both to go there once you’re finished with this.”

So now a second Trainee had been involved? Three people, none who had any right to be here, had stopped a monster and saved thousands of lives. What Jordan wouldn’t have given to be the one to save the day. And while President Weaver was here, too! She could have gotten promoted on the spot!

“Second Sergeant Moore,” Emma commanded.

Jordan stiffened. Emma never called her by rank unless she was serious. “Ma’am.”

“You did the right thing,” Emma said. “You followed orders and were where you needed to be. Now get your head out of your ass and follow me.”

“Ma’am!”

The lights in the police station’s interrogation room were almost blinding compared to Sekko’s basement. Not necessarily for their brightness – Jordan hadn’t known many rooms like this to have more than one bright light, usually aimed at the one interrogated – but for how white and sterile it made the room. Although her suit was designed to keep her as warm as possible at all times, a coldness settled over her as the two Wielders in question walked into the room.

The first wore a Peace Keeper uniform with its stark blacks and whites, the other’s outfit was a mystery, as she was wrapped in a large red blanket. The first’s face was devoid of emotion, stoic in a way that only Peace-Keeper training could provide, while the other’s looked visibly weary: bagged, bloodshot eyes, dried skin, and unruly frizzy hair which looked like it hadn’t seen a comb in weeks.

It was appropriate that Jordan had also undergone Peace-Keeper face training, so the newcomers wouldn’t see her rising fury.

The two sat at a long table across from Sergeant Major Han, behind whom Jordan stood, at attention, just as he’d ordered.

“It’s been a long day for you both, so we’ll cut to the chase,” Sergeant Major Han said. “I’ve read your police report, but I need to see it for myself. I trust you understand.”

Sergeant Major Han was looking at Trainee, but both Wielders nodded.

“Good,” Sergeant Major Han said. “Begin from when you left the hospital earlier this afternoon.”

“We went our separate ways,” the Trainee said, his voice flat and harsh. “After we went to a local park and I called my CO, Sergeant Johnson about the new orders, I informed the civilian that we were under no circumstances to get involved with the missing persons case. It took some time, but I’d convinced her it was for the best. I also informed my Brother, Trainee Ito, to explore the sights, to help him cool off, and suggested he go to Sacred Skies’ manor. He’d been wanting to see it since he knew we’d be passing through Linick on the way home before we take our oaths next week.”

“So the report says,” Sergeant Major Han said. “You’ll continue shortly, but there is an order of questions you need to answer beforehand. First, do you know what Trainee Ito did at Sacred Skies?”

“The most I’m aware of is that he enjoyed the art and architecture,” Trainee Chaska said. “And made friends.”

Sergeant Major Han pulled out a size-changing tablet, tapped a square on the screen, then slid it across the table. “Is that what this is?”

Even from viewing the screen upside down, Jordan could tell it was a video of Trainee Ito, in full Peace Keeper uniform, hopping into a large hot tub next to… no way. Was that Michael Jones?

Thankfully all eyes were on the screen. Not even Jordan’s face-training could keep her mouth from twitching. She’d recognize that short, puffy afro anywhere, even upside down on a small screen. He’d ruined a week of her life working a job for her, anyway, and now he was being brought up again in her most disappointing hour?

“He’s got a unique way of making friends,” Trainee Chaska said. It was for a moment, but his glare lessened, his dark eyes almost had a twinkle in the interrogation light. “Somehow, it usually works.”

“Audio’s too garbled,” Sergeant Major Han. “They could be talking about anything.”

“Trainee Ito messaged me about what they talked about. That Sacred Skies member merely gave him interesting places to visit.”

“Could those interesting places have anything to do with locations pertaining to the missing person’s case?”

“I wouldn’t know. I didn’t look deeper into the case after we were ordered not to.”

“Were you aware that Michael Jones had initially worked the first missing person’s case brought to the police?”

“First I’m hearing of it.”

That was true for Jordan, as well. Michael had said he’d had an important job to work, one more important than preparing for the Thanksgiving to the Flame-bearers feast. So this was what he…

Hold on. The first reported case took place the day after Jordan and Michael had finished their job. That little liar. He must have fallen into this job by accident and was looking for an excuse to get away from Glen Park!

Not that she’d wanted him there, but how dare he lie to her!

Sergeant Major Han nodded, then tapped another square on his screen. The whole page was filled with text so tiny it was impossible to read.

“Care to decode this,” Sergeant Major Han said.

Trainee Chaska lifted the tablet and scanned the text. “This is what Trainee Ito sent me after he left Sacred Skies.”

“I’m well aware. It’s long and it rambles. I’m no foreigner to individual cohorts creating their own secret codes. The random capitalizations and word spacings are suspect.”

“Trainee Ito rambles when he’s excited. Even when he’s not, spelling and proper grammar rules aren’t necessarily his forte. Show this to any other member of our cohort and they’ll tell you the same thing. This is just Mav when he’s excited.”

Sergeant Major Han leaned forward. “But that would mean nothing if this is how your cohort sends covert messages to one another.”

“You’re more than welcome to view past dialogs from my cohort. You’ll find Trainee Ito is the only one who communicates quite like this. Also, while you are there, I recommend you review again Trainee Ito’s scores in intelligence gathering examinations.”

Sergeant Major Han sat back again. Looked like Trainee Chaska knew well whom he spoke to. Of course Sergeant Major Han would have looked into both he and Trainee Ito. Trainee Chaska was intelligent enough to not insult Sergeant Major Han’s intellect.

“Secondly,” Sergeant Major Han said, “why did you not join Trainee Ito when he was exploring the city?”

“I was letting him have his fun,” Trainee Chaska said. “He tends to take a little long exploring places. I get bored and he knows that, so he tries to rush it. I also figured I could go to Central Arena to see if a Challenger was in town, while also keeping an eye on her.”

Trainee Chaska gestured with his chin toward the redhead, to whom Sergeant Major Han turned.

“And why did you feel the need to do that, after you had already warned her to stay away from the case?” Sergeant Major Han said. “Did you not trust that she wouldn’t stay away?”

“I don’t trust anyone I just met, Sergeant Major,” Trainee Chaska said.

Damn. Jordan kept herself from chewing her lip. That was a good answer.

“However,” Trainee Chaska continued, “my watching over her had several reasons. I had no reason to believe that she wouldn’t listen to orders, but she still could have. Regardless, she had made herself known to the kidnappers and I was uncertain if they may not have targeted her after that to get her off the street before she could try to aid the police.”

“And you didn’t worry about the same retaliation for Trainee Ito and yourself?” Sergeant Major Han said.

“We’re Peace Keepers. Or, almost Peace Keepers. Dealing with a lone Wielder, albeit difficult, is doable. Mess with a Peace Keeper and you have the entire corp after you shortly.”

Sergeant Major Han nodded, then turned to the civilian. “And how did you end up in the sewers? Even for an actual guildmember, one does not find themselves down there often.”

“Well, I took a job as I was exploring the city,” the redhead said. “I was looking for my client’s lost heirloom which flushed down the drain recently. I routed some areas where it could have gone, given the different plants around the city, and went to look for it.”

Sergeant Major Han gave her a flat stare, then tapped the tablet screen a few times. “You were never spotted talking to a client, nor even going into the sewers.”

“I wasn’t?” the redhead’s brow-furrow was so genuine she actually could have been confused. “I mean, I guess that makes sense for going into the sewers. The first manhole I figured the heirloom could be near was on Blecker Street, near Sekko’s building. I didn’t realize at the time that power was out over a wide area.”

“And dropping into pitch black sewers?”

The redhead shrugged. “I guess I had tunnel vision. I was so focused on my task I didn’t think about it.”

“A task you didn’t even get the name for your client from?”

At least she had the decency to look embarrassed. She looked down and away, her cheeks and ears redder than her hair. “I… need to get better at that.”

Damn straight she did. Stupid guildmembers, never following the proper protocol, always doing things the easy way because they can. Even if the Republic didn’t require interim guilds to fill in all the details for their work, those guildmasters, at the very least, should! Jordan could have never gotten away with such a flimsy excuse for not having the details right.

And this girl had done it twice! Once for a mysterious client in the city, and one whom she’d supposedly run into – and whose life she’d saved from the strange beasts Sekko had made – north of Linick. Twice she was allowed to accept a job from people she never got the name of and she wouldn’t get in trouble for it because, since she was in an interim guild, that was allowed!

“And what happened in the sewers?” Sergeant Major Han said.

“Well, the abominations attacked me,” the redhead said. “I’m lucky Koda was looking out for me, since he helped, but when he saw what was beneath Sekko, he went to confront the CEO about it. But more abominations came after me and so did Sekko security, which included a Wind Weaver. I ran to Blecker, tried to escape, failed, and was brought to a small lab where Sekko had been taking their victims.”

“When I noticed that the civilian was not out of harm’s way, I informed Trainee Ito,” Trainee Chaska said. “Unfortunately, he was still sightseeing and was more than a mile away. Again, when I noticed the fighting was done and Trainee Ito hadn’t arrived on time to help the civilian, I sent him the coordinates of where those creatures attacked her.”

“And he saved me,” the redhead said. “After Mav got there, a few security members and probably that Wind Weaver died to one of two abominations. One was the size of a few men, the last stood over two-stories tall. Mav–”

Sergeant Major Han held up his hand. “Saved your and the civilians’ lives. The civilians, who were exhausted, dehydrated, starved, and pumped full of drugs to make them hallucinate, thought that Trainee Ito and you fought and killed that large beast. However, after freeing the Holy Baby Titan and witnessing the horrors below Sekko, Trainee Ito took you and the twenty-three civilians through Sekko’s tunnels. Yes, he fought through dozens of smaller abominations, which regrettably nearly led to Trainee Ito freezing to death as he brought everyone to the hospital. You, blessedly, recovered and aided everyone, including Trainee Ito, at the hospital and made sure everyone survived.”

A pregnant pause oppressed the small room. The redhead blinked several times, processing the information. It was Trainee Chaska, however, who spoke first.

“And the giant monster?”

“We Linick Peace Keepers sounded the alarm and brought one of our best to the fold, Second Sergeant Moore,” Sergeant Major Han said.

Both Wielders looked at her. Thank the Steadfast Land Titans she’d taken her training seriously, or they’d have witnessed a Peace Keeper drop her jaw in shock.

“She’s a little too powerful for her own good, though,” Sergeant Major Han said. “Her volcanic attack not only burnt every bit of that monster to bits, but nearly collapsed a city street. Though we were lucky. In the wreckage and chaos that followed, we were so very thankful to receive your help in moving the kidnapped peoples and innocent Sekko employees to safer places.”

The redhead’s face was calculating. It was entirely different from the calm, loose features she’d held when recounting her story. Surely she understood what Sergeant Major Han was saying? Surely she wasn’t so dumb she would try to correct this?

“I’m happy to have helped,” the redhead said, a little slowly, but she perked herself up. “And I’m happy to put this behind me.”

“Good,” Sergeant Major Han said. “Because for you, it is. If any lies about what took place within Sekko’s basement were to be released, then that would bring an unfortunate end to your guild, be it now or… eventually when you become official.”

The redhead’s mouth thinned. “I understand.”

“Good,” Sergeant Major Han said. “Second Sergeant Moore, please bring this young woman back to the hospital. I would have a few more words with Trainee Chaska.”

Great. Looked like she was stuck on baby-sitter duty for a guildmember again.

“Sir,” Jordan said, then stepped around the table and hovered over the redhead. “Move.”

The young woman left with her in silence.

It had been a long hour, watching the redheaded Water Weaver sit outside of Trainee Ito’s room. Jordan was charged with overseeing the civilian in case someone else wanted to interrogate her about the afternoon’s events. Events which Jordan herself had nothing to do with. Events for which she would now take full credit.

Her stomach squirmed that entire hour. Maybe it was because, although she’d been tasked with keeping an eye on the civilian, Jordan planted herself at the far end of the hallway nearly out of eyeshot to the civilian. But no, that couldn’t be it. Jordan could still see the civilian, so she wasn’t shirking her duties.

No matter how many times the civilian looked up, drank her water, and gazed at the room where Trainee Ito lay, Jordan witnessed it.

And the squirming intensified.

And who is this newcomer?

Jordan delved into Maverick Ito’s files. Like Dakoda Chaska, he was twenty, fresh out of his two years of training, and was officially on his week holiday before taking oaths. He had been childhood friends with Dakoda Chaska and another Trainee Thomas McCoy, who had died in action only a few weeks ago.

Damn, and on the last assignment before holiday, of all times.

Jordan had lost a Brother in training, as well. It was heart-rending, but it was part of the job. Part of the life.

Jordan couldn’t help herself. Instead of an honest skim of Ito’s file like she’d given Chaska’s and even a cursory glance like she’d given the redheaded civilian’s, Jordan found herself reading every word of Ito’s. From his early days as a Recruit until nearly two months back, Jordan read every report: Maverick Ito had explosive aptitude and took to ground-learning very well; his fighter’s instincts were on point and his heart was pure, maybe a little too much for the Peace Keepers; he was, however, an academic idiot and could seriously be detrimental to intelligence gathering missions. Need a warrior who’d cause havoc and mayhem, send in Mav; need a sleuth capable of juggling many pressing covert operations at once, dear Titans find anyone else.

Jordan found her eyes rapidly moving across the screen as Mav’s final mission in the most northern province Yaros, which lasted several months, was ramping up. He’d been sent with his friend Thomas McCoy, who was himself a Flame Dancer, and Dakoda Chaska. They’d found evidence of a Wall Titan, or at least a very powerful Child of a Wall Titan, freezing Yaros municipalities whole.

However, as she was reading, soft footsteps drew her ear.

Jordan stood at attention automatically. Which was a blessing, as two Peace Keepers turned the corner. One was Trainee Chaska, whose eyes didn’t even flicker to Jordan as he passed, and the other was one from Jordan’s cohort: Kevin Lee, Flame Dancer, Jordan’s senior by more than a dozen years, who’d spent at least seven of those years serving the governors of Neirea. He was a powerful Flame Dancer, but didn’t have the same explosive strength as Jordan’s volcanic power.

Or, it seemed, as Maverick Ito’s.

“I’ll leave you here,” Kevin said, voice light and eyes almost kind. “Just try to stay out of trouble before you head home tomorrow.”

“Sir,” Trainee Chaska said.

His voice was polite, if still a little gruff, yet he never turned around or even nodded. Trainee Chaska simply walked to the redheaded civilian, who was sipping from her water yet again.

“Congratulations, Jordan,” Kevin said. “They might even make you a Master Sergeant after this.”

Jordan gulped and was glad it wasn’t audible. The kindness never left Kevin’s dark eyes. Her gut squirmed yet again.

“It could have been you they chose,” Jordan breathed, practically only mouthed.

“Sergeant Major Han has a reason for everything,” Kevin said, voice also low, but not conspiratorial like Jordan’s. “He also informed me you were struggling to keep yourself away from the missing person’s case.”

Jordan had. She’d wanted to prove herself, needed to, in order to impress President Weaver.

“But you followed orders and listened to those who know better,” Kevin said.

And did nothing, all while two Trainees and an unofficial, interim guildmember saved all those people.

“So take it as a gift, for doing what you needed to do,” Kevin finished.

A gift, reaping the rewards from other’s work. Jordan had only wanted recognition of her higher-ups and the President. Now, she’d technically get that. She should be happy. This should be a joyous occasion.

“I’ll accept it,” Jordan said. “But he still could have chosen you.”

“Truth can only be stretched so far before it breaks,” Kevin said. “Any look into my files will show my flames can’t cause that much damage. Like I said, Jordan, you did what was required of you and now you’re enjoying the reward. Don’t feel bad for me.”

Jordan nodded. She did have orders from people who knew more than she did. She didn’t have the free time those other three did to galavant through the city and “happen” upon Sekko’s basement, so she couldn’t have done anything, anyway. Now, she would get the recognition she deserved by her loyalty.

“Yes, sir.”

The next day, Jordan found herself in Sergeant Major Han’s utilitarian office, standing at attention while he sat behind his desk.

“I’ve put your name in for a promotion to Master Sergeant, Second Sergeant Moore,” Sergeant Major Han said. “HQ will promptly review it and make their decision after seeing how you handle your next assignment.”

“Sir,” Jordan said.

What was wrong with her? She should be overjoyed. Kevin was right, she was about to get a promotion! That put her one step closer to the president’s side. So why did she still feel hollow?

“From now on, until HQ says otherwise, you are to be the personal bodyguard of Natasha Davis, CFO and interim CEO of Sekko Research,” Sergeant Major Han said.

“Sir, permission to ask a question?” Jordan said.

“No need. Natasha Davis seemingly had nothing to do with the experiments Sekko was doing. That was all David Fujita and several members of the board’s doing. She is aiding into the investigation of how all this happened and has already provided us with valuable insight. She is an incredibly important asset and we cannot afford anything unfortunate to happen to her.”

Made sense. Overnight Sekko Research became Talam’s least popular business and the source of the internet’s collective wrath.

“I understand, sir,” Jordan said.

“Good,” Sergeant Major Han said. “Now go immediately. Keep detailed notes of Natasha Davis’ activities and send in hourly updates.”

“Sir!”

It appeared, as Jordan approached Sekko Research’s headquarters, that last night’s news hadn’t only gathered the internet’s fury. The street was filled with protestors screaming at Sekko security guards and waving fists in the air.

What Jordan had heard about the Baby Land Titan twisted her to the core, yet if one of those fists connected with a security guard’s body, then unfortunately Jordan would have to act against the protestors.

As it stood, she’d likely need to do so anyway. The crowd was so dense and their movements so erratic, it would be impossible for her to get to the building, and thus to her charge, without weaving around and getting bumped by hundreds of bodies.

Jordan was a Wielder and a Peace Keeper no less. She would never debase herself to such as that.

Jordan stepped away from the crowd, held a hand in the air, and felt her body chill.

Bam!

A small, yet concussive, explosion blasted from her palm. The crowd shrieked and shirked away. As they calmed, however, and looked at her, silence settled.

“Move out of my way,” Jordan said.

Without receiving any confirmation, she stepped forward. Rightfully so, the crowd parted and let her to the building. Before she entered, however, she turned around.

“The Linick Peace Keepers will have plenty of business in this building,” Jordan said. “Do not get in our way.”

Then she entered the skyscraper, feeling accomplished. Although small, she’d finally done something to show her authority as a Peace–

Jordan literally bumped into someone, her head bonking on a shoulder. She stepped back and entered a Flame Dancer martial art’s stance, affronted, when a bemused face morphed into an amused one.

“Funny running into you here,” Michael Jones said with an unbearable grin. “Literally.”

The cool from Jordan’s eruption vanished in a moment. “What are you doing here?”

“Police called me here,” Michael said. “Looks like they finally wanted the intel I gathered when I was working the case.”

“And they didn’t call you to the station because…?”

Michael shrugged. “The meeting was with Natasha Davis. Looked like she was too afraid to leave her office without her personal guard dog.” Michael blinked. “Oh that’s you, isn’t it?”

“You will address me with respect,” Jordan growled.

“With the respect you deserve, oh so wondrous savior of the city.” Michael’s voice was oozing with sarcasm.

“You already know about… what I did here yesterday?”

There was something in Michael’s stare that bothered Jordan more than any word Michael spoke. Jordan was a little too heated at the moment to figure out what it was, which only made things worse.

“Everyone at Sacred Skies knows what you did yesterday,” Michael said. “Especially those who saw you at the feast, behind the stage, at the same time that a particular portion of the road nearly caved in.”

Jordan’s stomach sunk as goosebumps prickled her arms. “And those individuals would very well understand what the ‘truth’ of yesterday was, if they wished to keep their current status.”

“Oh, they’re very well aware, given the visit we received last night. It’s a pity, but it’s not surprising, that this is the kind of ‘truth’ you were so proud of holding last week.”

Jordan opened her mouth but found no rebuttal. She’d made it a point to explain how she was a bastion of truth, how she didn’t lie, and even implied that she was far above that.

The Peace Keepers had made her do many things, made her be many things, but up until yesterday, they had never made her a liar.

“It’s not like you did anything, anyway,” Jordan said, looking for anything to throw back at him.

Now she recognized that bothersome look in his eyes: Pity.

“Oh, you’re right,” Michael said. “Yesterday, when you and yours were doing your important work, I was resting in a hot tub, having an interesting conversation with a casual tourist.” Michael glanced at the side of the building, beyond which lay the crumbling, blocked-off street. He smirked. “Sure, I only told him a few cool places to visit in the city. But, you know? It’s funny how those who have the freedom to put in the work and try to do good find themselves where they actually need to be, when the time calls.”

Jordan’s breathing hastened steadily. No. He couldn’t be implying what Jordan thought he was, right? If he was, then Jordan could have brought those suspicions to Sergeant Major Han. It could completely reopen the investigation into Michael’s and Maverick Ito’s involvement with blatantly disobeying orders.

But was there enough evidence to reopen the case? Was there any evidence at all?

Oddly, Michael’s smile lost its cocky edge, instead adopting a more somber, muted curl.

“With that, I guess I’ll leave you to your next oh so important mission,” Michael said.

Then, he walked around her and exited the building. Yet her guts squirmed and her body heated as though he was still next to her, mocking her with that unbearable, undeserved demeanor.

Jordan drowned herself in work the next few days, spending every waking moment with Natasha Davis. Even when Jordan needed sleep and Emma took over guard-duty, Jordan was never out of the same building as Natasha.

Jordan hadn’t needed to handle a crowd like she’d done that first day, given the fact that Natasha Davis normally stayed indoors and used secret tunnels to ferry her away when she needed to move.

However, Jordan did have to deal with frisking every visitor who came her way, then look threatening as Natasha Davis promised everyone – politicians ranging from the local Representatives and Senator all the way to President Weaver herself; church priests and the local bishop; even other businesspeople from small business to the largest, which included Trulson Tech which was unhappy with how Sekko Research tried to use them as a scapegoat – that Sekko Research would make reparations for the wrongs it had done. Natasha had promised recompense for every kidnapped victim’s traumatic experience, as well as formal and monetary apologies for what they’d done to the Baby Titan and the damage that had been caused in the city.

However, all of that had been talk. Jordan stood around for a week seeing only dialog, no action. A fact that weighed heavily on her mind throughout the week, forcing Michael’s nagging voice again and again to prance through her ears.

People with the freedom to do good find themselves where they actually need to be.

Guilds are practically pointless, Jordan had told herself, over and over, as the days went by. They don’t deserve to be put on the same pedestal as Peace Keepers.

Michael was delusional. Guilds couldn’t do nearly the same amount of good the Peace Keepers could. When orders allowed, Jordan did incredible things.

Whenever she reached that point, however, that was when the squirming began anew.

Then, one very early morning a week after the thanksgiving feast, while the sky was black as pitch, Jordan finally got new orders. She burst into Natasha Davis’ large bedroom in her mansion and woke the interim CEO.

“What is it?” Natasha Davis said, eyes squinting as Jordan turned on the lights.

“Get up,” Jordan said. “We need to go. There’s a mining operation down at Mount Ergil to the southwest. Lots of destruction and plenty of people are dead.”

“What’s that have to do with me?” Natasha Davis said.

“Apparently, none of that would have happened if Sekko hadn’t killed that Baby Titan,” Jordan said. “So, you’ve promised to make good on what the company’s done? Now, actually get up and do it.”

Natasha Davis’ mouth twitched. In the quieter moments of the last week, when it was just the two of them, Natasha Davis had let her features slip every now and again. Instead of looking guilty and earnest, like she did in meetings, Jordan often caught the interim CEO appearing rather bored with the whole ordeal.

Were those her true colors? Was she actually a greedy businesswoman who only wanted to appear righteous and good? Or did she actually care and would work to make right the wrongs Sekko had done?

“Alright,” Natasha Davis said, face adopting determined features. “When do we need to be there?”

Jordan nodded. Finally, she could be a part of something good and actually act on something.

“An hour ago,” Jordan said. “So get up and move.”