In the past few days, the sounds of pulsed laser fire from the training room had become commonplace.

Zap. “Oh my God! CJ!!”

Kat and Cel immediately jumped up from their table in the bar and ran to the training room. Fartacus, standing behind the bar, put his glass down and ran down the hall. Ebony calmly put her quilt down and, after a quiet word to Sondra and a still fully-wrapped Lucretia, got up from her chair and followed her comrades.

The scene that met them did not instill much confidence. Bern was in tears and kneeling over her fallen mentor, who lay in an unmoving heap on the floor. A pulse pistol lay discarded nearby. “CJ! CJ! I’m so sorry! CJ!”

As the others ran to offer what help they could, save Ebony who stood in the doorway observing everything, CJ rolled herself over to a kneeling position and painfully drew in a deep breath. Her exercise shirt and newly exposed bosom were scorched. “Damn it, Bern! You’ve got to pay attention to the flow of the battle. The enemy isn’t just going to stand there and let them shoot you. That only happens in kid-vids. And, where’s your pistol? Never ever lose your weapon. No matter what happens. In battle, your weapon is your life!” The others stopped in their tracks at the ferocity of the outburst. However, once the tirade was over, she winced and slowly rose to her feet. Looking down at her wound, she added, “Frell! That’s gonna leave a mark.”

Bern lowered her head and weathered the storm on her knees. Perhaps, she thought for not the first time, this whole thing was a bad idea. Shooting CJ during the simulation was not her first mistake, but it was her worst so far. More tears fell, tears of relief that she hadn’t killed CJ as she first thought, and tears of remorse that the training was proving to be so difficult. As a pacifist, even the thought of zapping an energy sink target had been difficult to overcome. She’d already spent several hours on her knees asking her Creator for forgiveness and now, on her knees yet again, her failure was being made manifest. Was it a sign? Was her sacrifice being made in vain?

CJ looked down at her friend and sighed. Offering her hand, she said soothingly, “Don’t worry about it, Bern. As a cadet, I did far worse at the Academy. I once killed my instructor three different times during shipborne assault sims; we were on ¾ power then. In fact, after I graduated, we used to joke and share a few laughs about it. Before the troubles anyway.”

Bern took the offered hand and apologized. “I’m sorry, CJ. I just don’t think I’m cut out for this.”

CJ pulled her friend to her feet and smiled. “You’re doing fine. If it wasn’t for this situation that Feld’s put us in, I wouldn’t have put you through half the stuff you’ve seen. Frankly, I’m surprised it’s taken you this long to shoot me.”

“But your chest…”

“My boobs are fine, Bern. They’ve taken 1/4 power hits before. They’ll heal. True, there’s been some nerve damage over the years, but not the nerves that matter most.” Bern flushed a bit after CJ winked.

Turning and seeing the others for the first time, CJ announced, “Ok. It’s time we talked tactics. Ebs, I’ll need you over in medical first.” After getting a nod from Ebony, she walked toward the door and said to Fartacus, patting his cheek as she passed, “Put your eyes back in your head, sweetie.”

After a couple of hours, everyone was comfortably assembled in the bar’s sitting area. CJ, Kat and Cel sat together in one area, while Ebony, Sondra and a still-wrapped Lucretia sat together in another. Bern sat with Fartacus, who was nursing an Edelweiss brandy.

CJ, wincing a little with every breath, stood and spoke up first. “We are the forlorn hope,” she announced. After letting that sink in awhile, she continued, “We are the safety net. We are the ones who have been elected to save civilization by killing one of our own. We are the unlucky few who have to take the last shot and kill our beloved SunKrux. No matter what our feelings for her are, we must not fail!

“Still, we hope and pray for the success of Issabella and the others, which is why they’ve had a head start. Their mission is the primary one and we must give them enough time to succeed. However, we can’t wait indefinitely. The window of opportunity is too narrow. Therefore, we will leave in three days.”

“Who’s ‘we’, CJ?” asked Ebony.

CJ looked startled. “Why, all of us, of course. Except for Farty, who will remain behind and monitor our whereabouts. Wasn’t that made clear before Issa and the others left?”

“Not to my satisfaction, no. I, for one, was not consulted as to what my role would be. I am a noncombatant. I cannot fathom what use I’d serve on an assassination team.”

Upon hearing the mission’s purpose spelled out so plainly, Bern became visibly uncomfortable. Kat and Cel exchanged looks, but quickly regained their professional demeanor. CJ’s expression didn’t change at all.

“Well, for one, we might need medical attention. Having someone trained along those lines close to the scene might save a few lives, perhaps one of our own. But, yes, you are correct. You were not consulted directly. We naturally assumed that you’d want to play a part in all of this. Were we mistaken?”

The challenge was obvious and, without hesitation, Ebony answered. “No. I shan’t be going with you.”

All eyes fell upon the raven-haired mystic. On one level, the answer wasn’t much of a surprise as Ebony frequently went her own way. On another, the off-hand manner of the response shocked them. The Barscapers were in dire trouble and Ebony was opting out of it.

CJ did not take the flippant answer well. “You shan’t? Why the frell not? Look, if this has anything to do with what I did to that mummified tralk over there…”

Ebony held up her hand. “No. That is immaterial. My way simply lies elsewhere. There is no more and no less to it than that.”

“Really? That’s it? How convenient for you. I shouldn’t have been surprised. The ways of the mystics frequently lead away from the actual work of salvation and deliverance. They’ll surer than hezmana point to where the action is, but they’re never up there when it hits the fan. Your way lies elsewhere? I agree. It lies to where all cowards hide when bravery is required, like souls in a crypt waiting for their Saviour. Go then. Hide your sorry ass under a rock, but do it elsewhere. You’re no longer welcome here!”

“CJ!!” Bern exclaimed. “You can’t do that!”

“The hell I can’t. You gonna stop me, Bern?”

“Bern, it’s ok.” Ebony calmly said. “CJ, I won’t be here when you get back.”

CJ stood there fuming, with her hands flexing deliberately, and nodded. “Sondra? Are you coming with us? We could use you.”

Sondra did not meet CJ’s eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said demurely. “My way lies elsewhere, too.”

CJ balled her hands into fists and stared at her. Looking back to Ebony, she accused, “And I suppose that Lucretia isn’t coming along either. Nice work there, Ebs. You’ve gutted the team. We could have used Lucretia’s talents, no matter how distasteful some of us might find them.”

Ebony shrugged. “She’s not ready, CJ. She might’ve been if you hadn’t gone off half-cocked and interfered with her healing. As it is, she might not be ready for what’s coming next.”

This time, CJ held up her hand. “Ebony, spare me the mumbo jumbo. Listen, if you wanted to take in a stray, that’s all you needed to tell me. You didn’t have to sell me on some nebulous snake oil prophetic riddle. Do what you want; I don’t care. You three enjoy yourselves wherever you go. Just don’t be here when I get back from the mission.” With that, CJ turned and left the room.

Everyone remained silent for a few moments. Noone dared to make eye contact. Finally, Ebony broke the silence. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be outside.”

As she rose to leave, Sondra and Lucretia rose with her and the trio left the bar.

“Well, that was interesting,” Cel commented drily.

Kat nodded. “Yeah. I hope the other guys are having an easier time than we are.”