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No one felt especially happy about their visit to China. After all, they knew exactly why they were there. They knew the danger that awaited. They had been debriefed like true agents, yet not even one of them felt ready. They were dressed for the moderate weather, unsure whether they should don uniforms, or casual clothes, or formal options. It left them looking disjointed at best-- Ford and Compton had chosen formal; Otto had opted for a uniform; Bob, Lucy, and Helmut had worn exactly what they would wear for any other day. Not even one of them felt ready or properly outfitted.
Lucy flipped through the files again and again, rereading it for even the slightest detail, the slightest weakness she had missed.
"Known to be dangerous. Approach with caution. All ground traffic around Caimifeng is typically halted by thick sludge akin to honey. Though she will not harm children, it is unknown what she classifies as a child."
None of them, that was for sure. Compton was the youngest at face value (it was actually Bob, but his depression had won the war against his youth) and even he had a full mustache.
"Armed with two hairpins used to direct bees and ink towards all assailants. Has a firm hatred of the organization known as Sifēng. All members of this group have been either relocated or reported dead, though there have been sightings."
Archetypes, most likely. Cassie had always been brilliant with those, and her talents with origami didn't leave much other thought.
"Caimifeng is reported to be sweeping through Hangzhou, and can be found on the streets, causing chaos. The longer this goes on, the more lives that are claimed."
Cassie. Caimifeng. Whichever name, it still felt wrong to see her in such a way. The government only excused the people who pushed her this far. They protected the people who harmed her, yet decried her as a monster.
Lucy shut the file once again, scanning the small crew in their government-given jet. Otto still messed with his device to make sure everything was in order-- Likely a nervous tic, but he would never admit it. Ford wrung his hands, unwilling to keep still with so much on the line. Helmut and Bob, in the back section, leaned on each other, deep in mental conversation based on the figments that sprouted around them like colorful warning signs. Neither dared to say anything aloud, though-- Be it because of worry or because of shame, she didn't know. Compton, however... He curled up into a ball, shaking with every moment. He didn't dare admit his anxieties. They already knew all of them anyways-- Everyone shared the same worries. Occasionally, he would unravel his tight knot of a seating position, just long enough to jot down a few more words on the letter he wrote. Everyone knew it wouldn't be sent. No one had the callousness to tell him.
As the jet slowed its approach, most of the group stirred. The door slid open, giving them a perfect view of the city-- And of Caimifeng.
"I, um-- I don't think I can get closer," the voice over the intercom said. "I'm trying to get a bit closer to the land, but there are parachutes if you need them--"
"It's alright, ma'am. Don't worry." Ford got up, and he headed to the door before faltering. Otto picked up his machine before walking over, nearly pushing Ford out, and stepping outside like nothing was wrong. Lucy helped Compton unroll, and she looked to his letter.
"Can I sign it before we go?"
"...Of course."
Bob and Helmut hopped out together, Bob holding Helmut close as if his life depended on it. Knowing his struggles with levitation, it likely did.
That left Lucy and Compton.
The last finishing touches were put on the letter, and Compton folded it up before patting his pants and sighing.
"...I don't have pockets."
"I do. Do you want me to carry it?"
Compton handed it over and walked to the opening. Lucy tucked the letter away before following him there.
They jumped together.
Levitating down to the ground was easy, as long as they forced the thought of HER out of their heads. It hurt to see her like this. Her dark mask like a hornet, her black dress laced with golden thread, her once-beautiful visage twisted with her anger and the betrayal she had been through. The ink flowed around her like sap and honey, seeping through the cracks of the world as she flapped her fan back and forth, as if warmed by the destruction around her. At the sight of them, she laughed.
Laughed.
Lucy’s skin prickled with the cocktail of emotions, but Cassie-- Caimifeng, use the right name, Cassie is not here!-- leaned towards them, the air filling with a heavy buzz as she grew near.
“Hello, you six. We should have anticipated that we’d have to fight you. It’s truly quite the shame, and yet.”
“Cassie,” Compton quietly started. Caimifeng whirled on him, facing him, glaring.
“Be quiet.”
He stumbled away, shaking, and Otto held him close, keeping him distracted by talking him through the machinery and how he was preparing it. That left the rest of them.
A nod from Ford. Helmut began his music, singing loudly, speaking of their friendship and of who Cassie O’Pia was. The others took their positions. Lucy kept track of everyone, unsure what she should do. She could try to use water to wash away the honey, or try to fight with her words, or anything. Words.
Words were Cassie’s favorite thing.
She began to speak, loving words, hoping that Caimifeng would listen to her. She knew she would not, but it was the best she had. Memories, harmonizing with Helmut’s music, as Bob coaxed the plants to choke through the ink and sludge, breaking free of their constraints and holding tight to Caimifeng.
It wasn’t enough.
Paper soldiers broke through the vines and roots, their origami edges swords from the sharpest creases. Bob stumbled with the impact of every hit, as if they hit him instead.
Ford tried his best to keep up with the soldiers with his illusions, creating false versions of them to keep the danger away from the real ones. He was like magic as he weaved falsehoods into truths.
Otto worked with his machine, easing smoke into the air to soothe the anger that flooded the air like a broken dam. It was close, close to ready, ever close but not quite.
It was Compton who couldn’t do anything but hope, shaking.
“Cassie-- Cassie, please, listen to me!” He begged, stepping closer, levitating to be about at her height. His hands shook, and his levitation was weak as he grew close to tears, but he still tried his best.
“Why would we listen to you. You abandoned us, Boole. We cannot trust you.”
“I-- I wanted-- The letters-- I think someone gave you the wrong letters, just listen to me--” he desperately tried, patting his body.
The letter!
Lucy pulled it out of her pocket, trying to use telekinesis to get it to him in time, but just as it grew close, a paper soldier jumped into the air, slamming his sword into Compton.
At the same time, Otto’s machine fired.
Of course it was at the same time. Why wouldn’t it be at the same time. They never had the right things happen. They were a comedy of errors and it could never be correct.
Compton plummeted to the honey, just in time to be blasted with too much water from Lucy’s worries and Otto’s machine’s ice. The honey crystallized immediately, and a belch of smoke from the machine cut that just as short, leaving them all in a cloud of nothingness.
Lucy didn’t have time to think. She leaped into action immediately, grabbing Caimifeng in a tight telekinetic hand, and she held on with everything she had as the smoke choked out the anger in the air. She could hear something else moving, but everything else was nothing.
“Everyone, get to the jet-- We’ll try again when the smoke clears--” Ford was speaking, and the others left, but Lucy didn’t dare do that. Instead, she held on tight, listening to the sound of the jet returning, taking off with everyone else inside.
It was only her and Caimifeng now.
Them, and--
Twap.
Something landed beside her, and she quickly collected it in the nearest pot she had, taking it with her as she made her way to the shore of the city. It wasn’t far, at least. The others didn’t see her leaving. They wouldn’t see what she was doing.
Cassie… I can’t let her die… I can’t leave her like this… I could remove her memories of everything that hurt her, though.
Cassie, I’m sorry.
She carried the pot and the unconscious Caimifeng with her on her trek across the ocean, letting the waves carry her along, pushing her progress to unimaginable speeds as she pressed past her limits, finally reaching the point where she could do something she hadn’t done before.
Teleportation.
Lucy stumbled as she landed in the Heptadome without meaning to, and she set the jar down before taking Caimifeng in her arms. She didn’t know how to do it.
If I remove what hurt her, then how will I know what to keep? Do I remove it all? I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I don’t know… Cassie, I hope you’ll forgive me. I love you.
She put her into the center of the Astrolathe, and spun the valve with her mind, keeping Caimifeng locked in place. Before long, it was over.
Everything was over.
She took Cassie’s hand, guiding her away, and left her with as much money as she had on her, begging her to stay safe and well as she abandoned her girlfriend at a homeless shelter. She didn’t know what to do. All she could do was hope that the others would understand.
Lucy returned to the astrolathe, looking at it, looking at the jar, and she sat down where Cassie had just been.
Ford, I hope you’ll forgive me. You’d do the same, wouldn’t you?
Another spin.
And then, just like that, all memories of Cassie O’Pia were gone, taking with them her thoughts about the battle and the loss.
Just as the noise of a jet returned to the gulch, Lucy stumbled out, retreating to the water.
Before the remaining four could reach her, she fell to her knees.
Just like that, it was gone.
Everything was over.
Compton and Cassie were gone. Forever.