Some time later that day, Killian and the rest of the pack, excluding the four from the incident, are back home, cleaned up from their own missions. Killian stands in the living room as he watches the news report on what they know, with Tadashi and Cole behind him.
"Emergency services, along with ASA disaster recovery services, have already begun cleaning up the remnants of Yupond City. At this point, the exact cause is still unconfirmed, but reports are claiming that the ASA's own Hunter Wolf Anderson might have been involved somehow. Is this all one horrible tragedy, or could Wolf Anderson be another disaster waiting to happen? More on that tonight-"
Killian gets more and more upset as he watches the news before he clicks his tongue and shuts it off.
"Who are they to say those things?" Killian asks openly. Tadashi responds as he sits on the couch.
"They're the news, Kill. It's their job to report what's going on." Tadashi says casually as Killian turns and looks at him upset.
"They don't even know what they're talking about! They're labeling Wolf as some kind of monster who meant for this to happen. Not once mentioning the Torn attack that came first."
"Yes, but Wolf was still at the center of it. I don't like how people are treating her anymore than you do, but you have to understand where they're coming from." Tadashi says back. Killian looks frustrated as he turns away.
"Alston said she's seen this before. Whatever is going on with her, if the teachers had actually taught us about it, she might've been able to control it." Killian says with a frustrated look.
"It isn't exactly easy to explain something they didn't even know. If Alston knew it could be this bad, why didn't she bring it up sooner?" Tadashi asks as Cole speaks.
"Alston could not have known either. From what I gather, it was not anything like this. In reality, nothing could have been done. Wolf just lost control." Cole says plainly. Killian turns and looks at him, offended.
"So it is her fault? Is that what you're saying?" Killian asks aggressively. Cole looks at him surprised and shrugs, shaking his head a bit.
"No? Not at all. I am just saying the fact of the matter is Wolf lost control. We do not know the circumstances they were under, something could have triggered her, I am simply saying what has already happened." Cole says defensively. Killian glares at him for a moment before exhaling and turning away from them.
"sorry… I just…" Killian's look softens as he lifts his head a little. "I shouldn't be attacking you guys. I just don't want her to be hurt anymore than she already is. We're her friends. We need to be there for her." Killian says as Saika walks in and stands behind Tadashi and Cole.
"We will. We are. We know it wasn't her fault, and we'll do whatever we can to help her recover from this." Saika says with a soft smile as Tadashi nods firmly. Even Cole looks at them before nodding subtly.
"Right." Cole says as Killian turns around with a smile at them.
In the academy, Axe is bandaged up and getting medical help from Lady Sharp, stitching his face when Moshiro and Yoko walk in.
"Sir." Moshiro says as they stand before him. Axe looks at them for a moment before wincing dramatically at Sharp's stitching.
"Youch!" Axe says as Sharp ignores him.
"Stop whining, you brat. It doesn't hurt." She says as Axe smirks a bit.
"Right, forgot. If you could give us a minute." Axe says as Sharp exhales.
"I am familiar with protocol. I'm almost done here. …There." She says as she snips the bit of stitching and steps back. "Okay, if you kids need anything at all, just let me know." Sharp says with a smile as she taps Moshiro's chin up gently before walking out of the office. Yoko and Moshiro watch her leave before Axe speaks.
"Alright. Report time." He says, looking at a clipboard in his hands from the desk. "I am sure you're aware why we need this from you but just in case you aren't: "Due to the nature of the event and your relationship with the victim/assailant-" Axe reads as Moshiro and Yoko look surprised and a bit upset at his words. "We require that you give us your perspective on what had occurred." Basically, tell me what you think happened at Yupond." Axe says, looking at them with his fresh stitching across his cheek. They both stand there silently for a moment before Moshiro speaks up.
"Uh.. is it necessary to refer to Wolf as anything more than a victim?" Moshiro asks. Axe stares at her for a moment before answering.
"Yes." he says coldly. Moshiro seems bothered by his answer. "As it stands, Wolf did something. That much is clear. We have no evidence to prove what happened wasn't of her own volition, good intentions or otherwise. The likelihood of this being anything more than Maxus's doing is slim, but in the event it becomes something more, I need this to prove you two are innocent." Axe says, lifting the clipboard as if emphasizing it. They both look uncertain but go along anyway.
"What do you want us to say? We joined you on a regular mission that I guess went south. A villain attacked, Torn attacked, so we did what we could to protect the city and its people. Nothing else happened." Moshiro says, crossing her arms. Yoko stands quietly, anxiety building in their chest. Axe looks at them.
"Yoko." he says. Yoko looks up at him. "Your perspective." He requests. Yoko looks nervous for a moment and doesn't answer, so Axe speaks up. "If you're too shaken to give an answer, that's fine. Your partner can attest for you." He says, looking at the clipboard as Yoko nods slightly. But then he continues. "At least she would be able to if I didn't know you left her." Axe says. His words strike Yoko as they look at him shocked. Moshiro is a bit surprised as Axe stares at Yoko. "Tracking your souls during the mission is standard practice. And at one point you abandoned your partner. What happened? Where were you?" Axe asks firmly, not removing his gaze from them. Yoko panics a little as they sweat. Not able to answer, Moshiro quickly speaks up.
"They were helping people, sir." Moshiro says, shifting his attention to her. "By my orders. I told them to leave and help. I knew they could cover more ground without me dragging them down." Moshiro says firmly as Yoko looks at her surprised. Axe stares at her for a moment before speaking.
"Good enough for me. That's all I need from you two. It's the other two I'm more interested in. Send them in, would you?" Axe asks as Moshiro nods. The two then turn and walk out of the office as Axe stares at them leaving. Outside, Moshiro looks at Phoenix and Wolf sitting, waiting for them.
"You can go in now." Moshiro says before walking away without another word. Phoenix nods as they get up and go inside. Yoko walks next to but behind Moshiro with a timid look.
"Thank you…" Yoko says softly as Moshiro doesn't bother looking their way.
"Whatever." She says before noticing Teach come down the hall. "We'll talk later." Moshiro says as Yoko notices too. Teach approaches them with a gentle look.
"Yoko, could I have a moment with my daughter?" He asks as Yoko nods and walks away alone. Teach turns to Moshiro with a gentle look before speaking. "Are you alright?" He asks. Moshiro simply nods softly, keeping her gaze locked down. Teach stares at her for a moment before Moshiro steps forward and places her head against his stomach, something she has done many times before.
"Sensei…" Moshiro says in almost a whisper before she grabs onto his coat with a shaking hand. She holds onto him tightly when tears start to fall down her face. Teach looks sad as he lets her express herself. "I couldn't.. save them…" Moshiro cries quietly as she shakes and whimpers. Teach gently raises his hand and puts one on her head and the other around her shoulders as he gently crouches down in front of her.
"It isn't your fault, sweetie. You're just a child, that burden shouldn't be on your shoulders." He says softly as he looks at her, but she keeps her head down with her bangs covering her eyes as she cries. Teach then pulls her into a gentle hug. "It's okay. It's okay…" he says softly as he holds her.
Inside the medical office, Axe sits with Wolf and Phoenix, working on their report.
"I appreciate your dedication to your partner, but I need to hear it from her." Axe says firmly to Phoenix, who looks upset.
"Why are you making her recite the stuff that just happened? Why isn't my word enough? She's already absolutely destroyed by what happened. You're just making her go through it again for your stupid report." Phoenix argues.
"I honestly don't really care what she's feeling right now. This is the job. This is part of being a hero in the academy. Shit happens, and you move on. We follow orders." Axe says as Phoenix holds back from arguing more despite wanting to. Wolf looks upset but trying to stay focused. "The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can work on keeping Wolf out of a holding cell, because that's where the conversation is going with some of the District Heads." Axe says as Phoenix looks shocked.
"What?? They want her locked up?! For what? Being a victim of-" Phoenix shouts before being interrupted.
"Phoenix." Wolf says. They both look at her as she breathes in, her eyes gaining some focus back. "It's fine. Let's just.. go along with this for now." Wolf says. Axe looks at her before he speaks.
"Then tell me… what happened?" he asks. Wolf hesitates for a moment but answers clearly.
"When Maxus attacked, he kept hitting me with some weird attack. It looked like red electricity, but it definitely wasn't that. I think it was some kind of Frequency attack." Wolf says as Axe writes something down. "After that, things begin getting fuzzy, but he kept pushing me, trying to get me to do something? Or give him something." Wolf explains.
"Do you remember what he wanted? Was it the drive we collected? Did you maybe take it from him?" Axe asks. Wolf's eyes suddenly widen as she remembers Maxus giving her the drive. She pauses with a conflicted look before giving her answer.
"No… I don't know what happened to the drive." Wolf says, looking to the side a bit obvious. Axe stares at her, noting her behavior as Phoenix sweats, recognizing this reaction. Wolf thinks for a moment before she remembers something. "My power." She says suddenly, shifting the attention. Phoenix looks at her confused as Axe looks a bit surprised.
"What do you mean?" Axe asks.
"He wanted my power." Wolf says.
"Like he wanted your help?" Phoenix asks. Wolf shakes her head.
"No, he meant it literally. He wanted to take it from me. …I think he called it the… Dark Arm or something?" Wolf says as Axe's eyes widen. He clenches his fist hard enough to snap the pen he had. Wolf and Phoenix notice as he calmly puts the broken pen down and grabs another one off the desk.
"Go on. What happened after?" Axe asks. Wolf looks nervous as she answers.
"It's mostly blurry after that. I don't remember much…" Wolf admits.
"Then the explosion. You didn't do that voluntarily?" Axe asks. Wolf shakes her head.
"I don't.. think so? I-I don't remember.. I'm sorry." Wolf says. Axe looks at her before writing down again.
"That's all I needed to hear." Axe says as he writes before putting the board down on the counter and standing. "For now, you'll be on probation. Missions will be assigned to you instead of self chosen and you will be monitored regularly for health checkups and soul balance. Be nice and play ball for a while. Teach and I will handle any other repercussions going forward." Axe explains. Wolf nods anxiously as Phoenix takes her hand in hers.
"So, we're okay for now?" Phoenix asks, looking at Axe. He looks at them for a moment before answering.
"Okay is a stretch, but yes. Go back to your dorms or whatever, rest and return to classes like normal tomorrow." Axe says as Phoenix smiles a little and nods. She turns around to leave.
"Come on, Wolfy.-" she says as she pulls Wolf along, but she stops when Wolf doesn't budge. She stands there as she looks at Axe timidly.
"Axe… In the report, I saw you wrote down "mugging turned Torn attack." But that isn't really what happened. Did you… do that for me?" Wolf asks softly. Axe looks a little surprised.
"I guess. It was a favor to Teach, make it seem less dramatic than it was or something like that." Axe says as he puts a new shirt on, not looking her way. Wolf sweats anxiously.
"But why'd you do that?.. If people see the report, they'll just think you killed the bad guy for a small crime. Won't that make people hate you more?" Wolf asks directly. Axe looks at her and chuckles a bit, looking down. He takes a breath in before speaking.
"I am a Director." He says. Wolf stares at him for a moment before looking down with a soft look and even a slight smile.
"A Director with purple eyes.. just like me.." she whispers. She then looks up at him with her big eyes. "If you could be a hero… maybe I could to-" Wolf begins to say as Axe stares at her. His eyes widen just a bit for only a moment before he interrupts her.
"We're nothing alike." Axe says coldly. Wolf is taken off guard by his words as she sweats, staring at him. "Sorry kid, but we're not even close to being the same." Axe says as Wolf steps back. She looks hurt by his words as she looks down.
"O-oh. Right…" she says as she turns around. She goes to leave with Phoenix as Axe watches when he speaks up one last time.
"You're way more human than I am." Axe says. Wolf looks up over her shoulder at him, surprised for a moment before her look softens just a bit and she nods, a subtle smile on her face as they both leave.