It was an awful late afternoon for both Vega and Screwtape. Their best friend was gone.
Vega drew her son in for a big hug. At least he was certain to be by her side forever. Still, losing Harwood was painful. He was the first of many to pass away, and for Vega, he was second only to Wei as the most important mortal in her life. His ice sculptures would live on, but Vega needed to sob before accepting that Harwood was gone.
And they both needed to cheer in an instant. Mere hours after Vega’s best friend passed away, Sheila celebrated her birthday.
After a trip to Vega’s alchemy lab where the dresser was, Sheila was as beautiful as ever.
The first thing she did was take a taxi down to the diner for some encouraging words from her father about the importance of chasing dreams, even when bad job transfers make you clean bedpans again.
Eva, however, was quite wary of Twinbrook from outside the confines of the Ironstar house. “I don’t care if it was dad. There are still Rackets out there!”
“Please mum,” Sheila said, “I just wanted to see dad again. Don’t ground me.”
“Fine, but aunt Vega better not tell you to skip school.”
Even though Sheila wanted to be a mature teen who hung out with the popular Knack and Jones-Brown girls (who were numerous enough to be their own posse), she still found time to speak with her old childhood friend.
“Sheila, may you join me in a chasing game? It’s a great form of exercise, and it sharpens the reflexes.”
Being reeled into games of tag felt too immature for her, or perhaps she was confused to see that Screwtape knew how to have fun.
Vega finally got her last op; surprisingly enough, it was her old friend Renee who wanted some excellent produce from Vega’s small garden. A handful of flame fruits and plasma fruits later, and Vega completed her last required op.
“Sorry about this, officer,” said Vega over the phone to Scout, “I never wanted this to be a permanent job.”
They left on good terms. But something far more dire rang in Vega’s mind. She had an odd contact from an old PI case, and the means to find him.