Chrysalis To A Butterfly [Kiana Kaslana X Male OC]

Interlude: Salvation?

Back In Present:

"Sophia?" Rita gazed at her subordinate with concern.

"Yes!" Sophia yelped. Rita's words brought her out of her daze as she frantically composed herself and saluted.

"What happened?" Rita questioned, her auburn eyes piercing into her sunset-pink. "You suddenly lost focus while discussing our strategy for Heidelberg."

"I am sorry," She quickly apologized.

"Don't be." Rita sighed. She had worked with Sophia for four years now, six if you counted Academy, and yet this was the first time she saw her zoning out in the middle of work.

"Are you jealous that your little Sal is growing up?" She teased, trying to lighten the mood. "But don't worry, Audrey is a good choice-"

"Do you think we can fight against Herrscher with this?" Sophia nonchalantly asked. Her olive fingers were pointed towards the hologram of the black capsule.

"Dusk?"

Sophia nodded.

"I can't say anything," She replied earnestly. "Like I said earlier, the Overseer and the director have been very secretive about this project. The only reason I know this is an Anti-Hersscher tech is because of my contacts working with Dr. Magi."

Sophia sighed.

"Is it about the second eruption?"

Sophia gave her half-hearted smile.

"We all lost a lot that day," Her eyes were closed as the image of a nine-year-old Sophia walking down a blizzard-prone Siberia while holding the corpse of her brother flashed. Fourteen years had passed since that day, yet it felt like yesterday to her. "I don't want humanity to repeat the mistake of that day."

"We all do." Rita gave her a nod. "The ghost of our predecessor's mistakes shall be purged by the survivors."

"I hope we do."

"Is there even a doubt?"

"I don't doubt you, Commander," Sophia averted her gaze towards the exit. Only moments ago, she saw the boy who she loved as her brother walk away. "But the ghost of my past can never be purged. I am a disgusting and selfish woman who can't help but look at the present with the past in their mind."

"Sal is not Theo," Rita replied. "And-"

"I know," Sophia cut her off. "But it's not as simple as that." Her hand slid into her chest pocket as her fingers wrapped around the teal-ombre locket. "For me, whenever I see him, all I see is salvation. Idiotic, isn't it?"

"That it is," Rita smiled. "Sal can't be your salvation."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because," Rita gazed into Sophia's eyes, showing her conviction. "You have already been saved."

"Saved?"

"Yeah," Rita got up and walked towards the holographic table. "Since the day you took Sal under your wing," She continued while entering data on the table. "You had changed." The table flickered into life, projecting Sal twelve, clad in his Schicksal white academy uniform, pouting. Besides him was Sophia, who held his diploma on her right, and him on the left, smiling like a proud elder sibling. "So, as far as salvation goes, you don't require one."

Sophia's eyes widened as she gazed at the projection. "You really have a way with words, don't you, Rita."

"What can I say?" Rita grinned. "As a member of the Velestflëge, one needs to be quite the performer, you know. After all, we are the greatest actors in this grand epic that humanity has been playing."

"Actors?" Sophia smiled. "I like the sound of it."

"Like you should."

Both the commander and her subordinate chuckled. As their tiny break before getting back to work came to an end. As Rita returned to her seat, she wondered why they had referred to her and the team as actors. Was it because it sounded fancy? Or is it because they were merely pawns following a pre-written script?

However, the answer to her question wouldn't present itself many years later. Only when the time is nigh would she remember this day and the time she had spent with her dear friend Sophia Erdős.

Meanwhile, on the seventh floor, room number 12, sat an annoyed Sal.

"What do you want for breakfast?" An over-enthusiastic Audrey asked the younger boy as she fitted her pink apron. "I can't cook anything fancy, but red beans, chips, fish, and even toast are doable."

"If I said I need some sleep," Sal gave her an annoyed smile. "Would you let me go, Audrey?"

"Fish and chips it is."

"Yeah, thought so."

"Also," Audrey gave him a sly smile. "You might try your best to annoy me with your bratty behaviour, but let me tell you, I love it when you are a brat. Makes me feel superior."

Sal shot her a glare, only to regret it later.

I played into her hand! Audrey Hilith, what a fearsome foe!

"Keep that up," Audrey teased as she entered the kitchen. "And you will never be able to leave my side."

"No, thank you." Sal fell on her bed, which was cosy and soft, unlike his. He could feel the drowsiness from before creep in as his eyes felt heavy.

"If you sleep, I will draw on your face, click pictures, and share them with everyone on the ship!" Audrey announced.

"What have I done to deserve this," Sal whispered in anguish. "All I want is to sleep for a while!"

*****

A/N And it's a wrap for today. We have now reached the first Quarter point of the Flashback arc; we will now enter the second quarter with some familiar faces around. Who knows, you might even see a glimpse of our dear Tuna. Anyways I will stop here for now.

Though before I leave, there was something I would like to announce, so I have been pondering over a story idea for while, an idea which involves our favorite ship KiaSal's life across the multiverse. What if Kiana and Sal were high school students, with Kiana being captain of the basketball club and Sal being the Ace of the football club? Similarly, What if Kiana and Sal were in a Romeo and Juliet era, where both their families were against their relationship and many more. Now, as much as I would love to make these full-fledged stories, I can't, and that is why I want to make them short stories with one or maybe three chapters at max. Of course, it won't be published here. There is no tentative release date as of yet, but the story will be called Multiverse Saga: Scattered Shards and the first story in this new series is called: "Space Pirate: Captain Kiana Kaslana"?

I will post more news about this series in the announcement later, so until then, enjoy this chapter. Happy Reading!