Loud music, muffled at first, eased into the ears as a horribly tuned voice sang along.

Athena opened her eyes. Her vision was blurred , but all she could see from her first sight was orange sunshine in the room, medical equipment around her and a man with a green bomber jacket sitting down on the chair next to her, singing with a phone in his hand.

As she blinked further, she could finally see her surroundings properly.

“You should’ve just left me. My ears hurt.” Athena spoke softly.

“Holy shit, the kid fought back!” Ajay shouted out, his voice echoing past the door and into the hallways of the medical bay.

“Where are we?”

“Earth.” Ajay replied without hesitation.

“Earth? Where?”

“Wait, hold on. You were comatose for months. What did you remember?” Ajay asked, his voice calmer than Athena’s.

“I remember…fighting Monarch and…nearly dying from my own blade.”

“You sure?” Ajay asked again.

“I’m sure nearly dying is something no one could forget.” 

“Good, because that was how we found you.”

“Care to tell me how we are on Earth?” Athena would then sit upright.

Ajay pulled his chair closer to the bed as he began explaining.

“When you were in a coma, we fled to Outpost Mick to reinforce our forces and what we didn’t expect was for word to get out. Colonies under the GLF began to not trust them anymore. Ava and Ryan led a resistance that overthrew the liberation government and now, it’s an even war.”

Athena squinted her eyes in disbelief before looking out the window. She couldn’t believe her eyes as she laid her sight down on the streets of Stockholm, thriving with people. The flags that towered on buildings were swapped from the GLF fascist flags with the swedish flags. It felt normal. It felt…harmonic. 

“There’s someone here to see you. He said that he trained you before.” Ajay continued, his voice growing softer by every word.

Athena got out of her bed, walking to the glass window as she continued looking out again.

Ajay would slowly leave the room as someone else entered.

“Athena Sho’u.”

She turned, seeing a man draped in yellow clothing and golden armor. He had a bird-like mask with horns protruding out from his top. A double bladed sword hung right behind his yellow cape.

“Haven’t seen you for quite a while.” Athena commented, giving a small smile as she said so.

“The Grandmaster would not have allowed your resurgence to face Monarch.” The monotonous voice grew sharper.

“And yet he was defeated. Why did he worry?”

“Because the existence of the Firekeep must be kept a secret.” The man continued, his last word ending even sharper.

Athena turned back to the window. Her eyes glared into the streets again.

“He wants you back.”

Athena turned back, replying softly.

“I will return, Battlemaster Neka.”

~

Alas, there was hope. Hope of success. Hope of peace. Hope of…a future. All these years of struggle…and pain…and suffering. It paid off. The tyrant of power has fallen. We can fight back. No one will sink their feet onto our necks and force us into submission. It is time to ascend. To be someone stronger. To be something stronger. To carry a purpose, together. My training was left incomplete but now…I will return...stronger.

Athena walked to a ship that docked on a landing platform. She hurriedly walked with a bag slung right at her back. As she arrived at the ramp, Neka was there. He stood, looking down at the tenacious young woman.

“Make it quick.” He spoke, walking into the ship. Athena was confused. She slowly turned around, seeing the Head Operators right behind her.

All five of them stood together as they greeted her.

“Before you go, we have something for you.” Ava spoke out to her. Destoria walked forward, opening a small case with a digital tag. As she pressed a button that was hidden in the sleek underbelly of the tag, a hologram hovered. It was an emblem with a rank.

Head Operator.

“You show virtues worthy of leading the New Allegiance. You can begin your lead when you return. We will be waiting for you.” Ryan stepped forward, officially ranking her as Head Operator.

Athena slowly grabbed the tag. She stared down the rank, as if she was looking at a projection of her struggles and hard work.

“You did good, kid. I’m proud of you.” Kal eased into the conversation.

“See now, Kal being proud of someone is very fucking rare. You should be very proud now.” Ajay stepped in.

“This is a good moment, don’t ruin it.” Kal turned to Ajay.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of these two.” Destoria closed the case.

Athena slid the tag into her pocket as she turned back to Destoria. Her eyes watered as she begins reminiscing about the hard moments all of them have faced together. Destoria then pulled Athena to her, hugging her.

“I wished he was here to see this…” Athena mumbled, to an extent that only Destoria heard it. Destoria comforted her as her shoulders would be wet with Athena’s tears.

“He is. He will always be by our side every step of the way.” 

Athena retracted her arms. It was time to say goodbye.

She stood at the dock of the ship as it slowly hovered. The ramp raised up as the last ounce of daylight entered. She wiped her tears away. Of course, she would see them again. The Supreme Leader is dead, but war rages on ever more viciously. It was on good terms that her final sight of this painful journey was her family. Her ascension to the Guardian is fated.

This was a new step to the future. Then again, every step is.

Fin.