Epilogue II

A nearly frantic Cadet Melissa Gardner flew through the city streets, technically she was AWOL, Absent Without Leave. The only problem, she didn’t seem to care. Instead, she made several calls, plans, and other operations all before she ended up at the unassuming office of a newly established Psychiatrist of all people.

Chime.

There was a chime that sounded as she made her way in.

“Hello, may I help you?” A receptionist said. The receptionist clearly thought something was wrong with the young cadet who looked somewhat frazzled. Her hair was slightly disheveled, her uniform slightly folded in places. It was clear by her face and expression that something drastic had affected her.

“Yes, is Doctor Thurston Charleston in?” Cadet Melissa Gardner asked, in a clear of a voice as her frantic voice would let her.

“I believe he is in, but I think he is about to have an appointment here shortly.” The receptionist said, gesturing to a fellow female cadet soldier who was in the lobby.

Upon seeing the fellow female cadet instant recognition dawned in Melissa’s eyes, though she tried to hide her recognition.

Creak.

Almost as if on cue, Dr. Charleston emerged from his office with a patient.

Seeing the patient leave, he waved goodbye, then his eyes bulged as he caught track of Melissa in the office.

“Oh, my dear, is something the matter?”

“Yes.” Melissa began, she was nearly trembling at this point. “I need to talk to someone, urgently.”

Looking around he saw that his next patient was already here. “Ms. Childers, would it be possible that we delay our meeting by a few minutes?”

Hearing this and seeing the clear urgent look and desperation on the fellow cadet’s face, Cadet Jessica Childers nodded.

“Very good. This should only take a moment.” Dr. Charleston said, as he gestured for Mel to join him into his office. “Please come this way.”

The two entered the office.

During this time Jessica made eye contact with the receptionist, who just shrugged as if to say who knows.

Simultaneously, inside the room of Dr. Charleston, security wards were already being put into place. At the same time Dr. Charleston began the long speech of how information being said here would be protected.

Whoosh.

There was a clear pause as the magical wards activated, thereby cutting off the office from the rest of the world.

Only once the wards were in place and the two were certain that their conversation was protected did Melissa begin.

“So, you remember?”

“You mean about the last six months that didn’t happen, yes I remember.”

“All right, well know that I have been outed. I have already made plans, but I need you to use this.” Melissa said, as she pulled out a glowing round bobble.

“A Clean Escape?” He asked, clearly identifying the item in question.

“Yes. I was offered it, as compensation for…”

***

No one noticed the glow of a supreme object of fate being used within Dr. Charleston’s office that afternoon. Even the minor tremor caused by the displaced energy was minimal. What was observed was the fact that after fifteen minutes, a much calmer Cadet Gardner was seen leaving the office of Doctor Charleston’s office. She then hailed for an auto-cab, one that had their brakes fail. The out-of-control auto-cab then crashed into and pinned the cadet to the wall of a nearby office building as if she was nothing more than a bug. Coroners reported the cadet as being dead on impact.

***

MEANWHILE, in an alternate universe on a planet that mirrored the one where there was never any record of a Melissa Gardner ever being born, General Tigran stared at the scars that now raced along her body. Fortunately, her uniform gave her the ability to cover most of the scars, but she would always know they were there. They were a firm reminder of what had almost happened.

“I reached for the stars and got burnt.” General Tigran said to no one in particular. Then she looked down to her baubles that were aligned on her desk. Three of the more powerful ones no longer glowed with any form of resonance. She had lost a lot, but she had also been so close. Two Kyle Goldmans, better still they were both pair bonded, something that wouldn’t be possible now. Not unless she found a way to recharge her artifact that was little more than a paperweight at this time.

Knock knock.

Hearing the knocking, General Tigran put on her gloves to cover up the final lines of her recently acquired scars.

“Come in.”

It was her secretary, Major Flying Crane, seeing the normally stoic officer in a panic caused the general to raise her eyebrow in confusion.

“The under Secretary of Defense. He has completely changed; they say he is a monster and destroying the...”

Hearing this General Tigran’s eyes grew wide, as she knew why the under Secretary of Defense would have changed. Just because time went back, not everything was fully reset. There was at least some hope yet. Maybe not everything was fully a waste. Still as her secretary droned on, she gave herself one last memory of what if? Then she remembered the brother, and her operative that played the role of the brother. Was he still fixed? If not, she would need to make plans to protect Kyle Goldman, the real Kyle Goldman Wizard, from his brother.

So many things needed to be fixed and changed.

“…The world tree.”

Hearing those words, caused the General’s attention to snap back to the present. “I’m sorry what is this about the World tree?”

Hearing this, the major paused, then restated their previous statement. “That is part of the problem, the undersecretary can summon forth some sort of black monsters. He is currently holed up at the base of the world tree.”

Hearing that, General Tigran felt her heart ache. With the reset they had dodged a proverbial bullet in that the world tree had once again been saved. Only for it to once again be caught in the crosshairs of conflict.

“Send in everyone we have. Especially send in the Iron Butterfly.”

Now that the waste of an agent was no longer controlling her, she might be effective, the General thought to herself.

***

MEANWHILE, in a dimension of infinite power multiple beings all congregated to talk of their current tasks and plans within plans.

The being who had been playing the role of Cadet Melissa Gardner stood before the leaders of this project.

“We have heard and are willing to ratify your petition to rejoin the efforts. There is but one problem. With whom do you wish to re-integrate with.”

Hearing that the being that had created the side character of Melissa Gardner nodded, then spoke as clearly and decisively as possible.

“I would like to take on the role of this universe’s Mave.”

The beings paused. They didn’t need to look at each other, as they were able to exchange information at the quantum level. During this exchange of ideas, they paused for a moment, then finally responded.

“Request has been denied.”