They sit on the floor in silence. Not because they're trying to process the random wacky shit that just happened but because they're focused on the disgusting cleaning procedure before them. A tiny swarm of mantis-like critters with human-like torsos and faces vigorously feast on the crud left behind by Ren's ... arrival.

"... that is so gross." says Ren in a dazed monotone as she watches the last of the creatures scrape up the remaining yuck, lap it up and fly off.

"Yeah ... it's kinda their job tho- wutdafuk just happened? How are you here?" asks Tegan.

"I was waiting for you to tell me. All I know is I was sitting and about to ... um ... never mind that. I saw you ... I think ... and ... felt really heavy and blacked out." She sits with her knees to her chest and arms around her goat legs. Tegan gestures for her to pause her story, walks into another room and returns to give her one of Wraith's undershirts and a pair of shorts. "Thanks, sugar." she says with an odd grin while throwing on the slightly oversized clothes, reassured by his act of modesty. Any other incubus would prefer she remain naked but not her Tegan. "Where is this?"

"The Deep Continent."

"What!" Her alarm breaks her tired aura. "The place where that psycho queen lives?" She runs to the balcony and stares out into the city with distress whispering "No no no no no no ...."

"Chill. The queen is actually really nice. She's the reason I'm still alive ... sorta."

"Nice? Yeah, I'll bet!" Ren storms over to him, grabs a random weapon from a nearby rack and is instantly pulled down to the floor with it. She struggles for a bit to lift it, leaning it against the rack before searching for a lighter one. "We can't stay here! She's gonna feed us to her kids- These swords are really clean. Whose are they?"

"Well, they belon-"

"Stop." It dawns on her that she's wearing another woman's clothes. "Whose are these!" Her voice hightens with irritation as she pulls on her shirt and shorts.

"If you let me talk-" She doesn't.

"Either this top belongs to a hunchback and I'm wearing it backwards OR it belongs to some big tittied bimbo!"

"Pfft." He stifles a laugh. "She's not-"

"This isn't funny! You gave me some random whore's clothes! Who is she, one of your sex girls! Do you LIVE together!"

"It's not-"

"You replaced me, didn't you! You just GAVE UP and found someone else! I knew it! I messed up ONE time and you just abandon me! Abandon US?"

"I didn't-"

"After everything I've done! After what you did to me! I know I'm not perfect or strong o'o'or super hot but I did my best! And I did it for YOU! I gave you everything, Tegan! You jerk! You, you anus! How could you! Why would you do this to me! Leave me to worry about you while you RUN AROUND being a pervert! Am I worth so little to you! Answer me!"

He waits for a pause in her barrage of accusations, relieved that his eyelids grew back so he can close them.

"I-" And as if to add to this soap opera scene, Wraith enters the room. "Of course."

"Uh, Tegan. Who is THIS bitch?"

"Pardon?" Wraith asks with a squint.

"I said WHO'S THIS BITCH!" screams Ren.

HEAD!! HUN!! TER!!

Ren jumps with a squeak as it rumbles throughout the barracks. "What ... was that?"

"You must be a new civilian. I am Colonel Wraith Stavros, leader of the 8th Sinne-"

"Uh huh, I didn't ASK you. Tegan, answer me."

Both ladies glare fire at him ... but it's Wraith's stare that burns him. Her eyes betray her calmness with a clear murderous intent. It reminds him of when he first met the queen. The only difference being that Wraith's gaze is fueled by rage where as Quinn was enjoying herself.

"Okay, first of all, everyone needs to calm the fuck down. Ren, this is Colonel Wraith. She's technically my boss. Colonel, this is Ren. She's technically my girlfriend."

"Technically? There's no 'technically' about it!" Ren argues.

"How monogamous of you." says Wraith in a flat stern tone. Her eyes remain ablaze. "I am here to inform you that your new living quarters are ready."

"Ok, thank you boss lady or whatever you are. We were kinda in the middle of something so bye bye." Ren says dismissively.

"You can't ... she's not gonna- This is her place. She was generous enough to let me stay here for a while." Tegan explains.

"And why'd she do that, huh? Have you been 'generous' with her?"

"You seem to have some issues to resolve." says Wraith. "I have someone ready to escort you to your room on the other side of the barracks. Dismissed."

"Hold on, blondie! We're not leaving until I know what's been going on with you two!"

Both Wraith and Tegan respond in unison with the same amount of certainty. "Nothing."

"Ok, nope! That right there! Didn't like it! I did not like it!" Ren gasps. "If this is her place ... AM I IN HER CLOTHES!"

"Why is she in my clothes?" asks Wraith.

"She didn't have any." answers Tegan.

"I'm so embarrassed ...." says Ren.

"Nudity is nothing to be ashamed of." says Wraith.

"Maybe not for you, jugs!"

"There is also no shame in lacking the means to acquire clothing. We do our best to accommodate all citizens with their basic needs."

"You think I'm some sort of charity case! I didn't ask for your clothes, you hussy!"

"You may keep them."

"I don't want them!"

"Then dispose of them at your leisure."

"You don't want them back?"

"Correct."

"Why not! You think I'm dirty or something!"

"I have enough underwear."

"Underwea- This isn't happening."

"You are welcome."

"I can't believe you put me in your side chick's underwear!" She starts sobbing. "I am become the side chick!"

"Your insecure partner is clearly having a crisis. Remove her from my quarters, neutralize the situation and get a new uniform. Your escort is still waiting."

"Yeah." Tegan collects Ren who is now blubbering uncontrollably. "Thanks for letting me crash here. I'll ... explain everything later."

"The details of your personal life are none of my concern."

"I know but I wanna clear things up."

"I do not care."

"... ok."

He leads Ren out the door to find a boyish looking soldier with a winged head, a scar that runs from above her right eye to her left cheek and a heavily armored right arm waiting for him.

"PC Tegan, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Lt. Gen Durma."

"Hi. Uh ... look, you can just point me where I need to go. Sorta have a situation on my hands and I don't wanna hold you up." he says holding Ren's arm as she sinks to the floor crying.

"Oh, it's no trouble. Besides, I'm not about to turn down a personal request from General Starve's daughter."

"... right. After you."

The trek takes longer than Tegan expected. Eventually he gives up on trying to keep Ren on her feet and they arrive at the new room with him toting her slumped over his shoulder.

"This is it. Before I go, might I have a quick word with you?" asks Durma.

"Heh, you're the superior officer so sure. Lemme just ...." Tegan points at Ren before carrying her inside. The room's layout resembles Wraith's except it's not as well lit and there are no weapon racks. He plops her depressing ass into a chair and chuckles to himself as something catches his eye. Folded neatly on a small table next to the chair is an orange prison jumper. He shakes his head and returns to Durma who's just outside the doorway.

"Thanks for your time. Admittedly, I agreed to this task because I have some questions to ask you." she explains.

"Cool. Shoot."

"On your last mission with the queen, you were all attacked by angels while traveling with a group of new civilians, right?"

"Right. I stayed behind with princess Henna and a few others to give everyone else a chance to get away."

"A bold move. What I'd like to know is ... what exactly instigated the attack?"

"What do you mean? An angel showed up. That instigated the attack."

"Yes but who attacked first?"

"Um, someone spotted it and shouted ... so I guess we did."

"Do you know who shouted? One of our soldiers or a civilian?"

"Not sure. What's this about?"

"Well it's classified but ..." she gets closer to him to whisper. "... something doesn't make sense with what happened out there. Our soldiers would never engage an angel if it wasn't a last resort. Especially if the royal family or civilians were at risk. Whoever gave away your position either wasn't one of ours or we have a coward in our ranks."

"Is it a crime to be afraid?" he asks matching her volume.

"The queen's army has no room for fear. That's why we give it to the enemy. I have direct orders to find out who's responsible."

"What if it was one of the guys who stayed and died?"

"Then we have one less weak link to worry about ... but I believe it was a civilian." She lowers her voice even more. "There have been some strange things happening since the queen returned. Minor security breaches mostly. It's possible not all of the newcomers were processed. It was a big group and getting the princess back was top priority."

"You think some shady shit's going on?"

"I can't rule out the possibility. If you notice anything out of place, let me know."

"No problem."

"Thanks again for your cooperation. I'll leave you to your princess."

"Princess? Uh, Ren? She's no princess." he laughs.

"Oh? You carried her here so naturally I just assumed she was." she says with a playful smile before giving a quick salute and walking away.

Tegan heads inside. Ren is still in the chair where he left her. "Ok, neither of us know how you got here but whatever. You're here now." he sighs. "At least you'll be safe here."

"What do you care if I'm safe?" asks Ren with a congested groan.

"Fuckin stop. I tried to get back to you guys. You understand how hard it is to leave Earth. You think I been having non-stop parties this whole time or some shit?" He waits but she says nothing. "I'm not doing this with you. If you got a problem, leave. Go back to the sisters."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you? If I just disappeared. Then you can go back to doing wha-"

Tegan walks away from her toward the balcony, stopping to stand in the archway. With his back to her, he closes his eyes and tilts his head up.

"... I'm sorry." Ren says sheepishly. She looks to Tegan for a response but he doesn't budge. "Of course you tried to find us ... of course you did." Her voice cuts in and out as she holds back more tears. "You just ... if you were there ... you would've stopped them."

"Stopped who?" he asks without moving.

"... we got raided a while ago ... real bad. The queen used to send soldiers to check up on us ... after Tempy left. They must've been followed that time ... cause after the soldiers left ... we were attacked."

"..."

"They started with the kids. Ivv tried to save them ... she fought ... but they ..." Ren starts to tremble. "... those of us who got away ... we ... we hid nearby. We could hear her. We heard what they ... did to her."

"... dammit, Ivv." he whispers.

"We stayed hidden in the canyon long after those ... bastards moved on. Some of us didn't want to leave. They wanted to wait for the queen's soldiers ... or for you to come back."

"It's a good thing you didn't. Angels were in the village when I got there."

Ren's eyes widen as a mix of excitement and disappointment beams through her wet face. "It's my fault. I wasn't there to bring you back. None of it would've happened if-" Tegan walks back to her, gently places his hands on her shoulders and kneels to her sitting level. They say nothing. Their expressions do the talking. He embraces her and she breaks down again, wrapping her arms around him and tightly gripping the back of his soiled uniform. She bawls in his arms until she passes out.

The floating lights of the city are dim. There's no day or night here but the orbs are a close substitute. Tegan stares at the cityscape from the balcony, admiring the artificial evening and wondering what to do about his unexpected roommate who's still out cold. They could risk taking her back but it might be better that no one knows where the new village is. He decides she should stay.

Just as he's about to go inside, he spots some movement on the other side of the barracks. Wraith walks out onto her balcony. It's too far to tell what she's looking at but Tegan chances a wave anyway. Unfortunately, she must not be paying attention. He wrestles with the idea of calling out to her but surrenders to his silence, content with sharing the view with her from a distance.