“…Sonna…”
Blank.
Blank her face may be, but her mutter betrayed her barely visible shock. Her crimson eyes glared at her offender, the blonde-haired uniformed Enforcer sitting behind her ornate office desk.
“I am afraid it is true. Examinee Mai Enna, I, Fate Testarossa Harlaown, based on my assessment of your abilities, and evaluation of your aptitude by Private First Class Remington Smith and Private First Class Colt Wesson…”
She could not believe what she was hearing from this woman's words. It can’t be.
“Your performance in the Enforcer Exam has been deemed inadequate. You are hereby required to undergo six additional months of advanced combat training. Only after completion will you be able to retake the exam to assess your improvement.”
These were not the words she had wanted to hear. Not these unfavorable words. No, this was not happening.
“Any questions?”
Mai had but one. This one question, a query most important to her. Right now, within the swirling mass of questions bristling in her abject confusion, only one issue rose above them all. There was nothing else more relevant.
“…Doushite?”
With her soft, restrained voice she hoped for an answer. An explanation. A reason to this madness.
She begged for it. And she watched the three other people in the room with her steely, yet pleading eyes, waiting for a response.
“Why?”
She glowered. Remington Smith. He can give her the answer she sought, to tell her what she needed to hear. It had to be him. This is all a mistake right?
Isn’t that right?
So why? Why was she set back from her advancement? Why, after a year’s worth of intensive training in the span of the last eighteen months? Why, after all the sweat that was shed, the blood that was bled, the effort that was spent?
Why was it not enough?
“Because… "
Nothing prepared her for his words.
"I said so.”
Impenetrable Silence.
Such an impenetrable silence.
That was all that proceeded his cold words, and his calm unwavering voice. His sharp voice that pierced her then fragile heart, mercilessly shattering it into the abyss of uncertainty and despair.
For the first time since so many years ago…
She felt the sting of unbearable pain.
And from the wound in her heart, bled only her venom-laced misery.
"… sou ka.
Remi no baka."
And as the ominous glowing circle of Chaos formed on her feet, from the cracks in her inflexible steel mask of indifference, broke through her indomitable sorrow.
And her rage.
“REMI NO BAKA!!!!!”
…
And leaving the wake of these words behind, she was gone.
-----
“What now Private Smith, Private Wesson?”
Fate T. Harlaown hung this sober question in the air, burying her head in her hands.
“We’ll look for her Sir. Finding Mai will be easy enough.” Wesson replied with restrained certainty.
“But…”
“Dealing with her…” Smith continued, his voice laced with overt concern.
“… is a completely different matter.” He finished, as both of them headed for the door.
Their superior officer could only watch as she sighed heavily.
“I trust the both of you to resolve this matter with her.”
The two Linebackers turned to face her, determination in their faces, their two resolute voices as one.
“Of course we will.
Who the hell do you think we are?"