Terra trudged back to her apartment. Stopping, she admired the countless stars spread out over a moonless sky, silently serenading her in a chorus of twinkling lights.

She had hoped to speak to Will, but his apartment was as dark as hers, and his truck was missing. Exhausted from the events of the day, she went straight to her bed.

The next morning, although well after dawn, Terra searched for Will again, but there was no sign of him. He must have spent the night at a worksite, she concluded. Returning inside, she pulled out her viewer to report in.

"Hex?"

"Morning, Terra," a voice responded. "What's up?"

"What can you tell me about a battle north and east of Freehold, near a village called Norhold?"

"Hmm, let me see what I can pull up. What is it anyway with cities around there that have hold in their name? Hmm. There was a recent battle, but not much info yet, other than a few status reports. Why do you ask?"

Heat flared in Terra's mind as fresh memories of the atrocities surfaced. "Civilian casualties from Norhold came into the hospital here, and there were many. I know, because I worked the triage. Something was not right, so I went up to there. Hex, the village was leveled! It was shelled by both the Dynasty and our forces!"

Hex fell silent for a moment. "Terra, I don't know what to say."

"Connect me to Walt and be insistent."

"Okay."

Terra fumed for a few minutes before Walt came on. "Terra, what is so important?"

"Walt, what the hell happened at Norhold?"

"An investigation is underway. It is classified for now. It looks like the Dynasty dropped shells on the village."

Terra gritted her teeth, yelling into her viewer, "Walt, I did triage on the casualties and then I went up to Norhold to see for myself. It was completely destroyed! The Dynasty shelled the village, but so did we! And we used anti-personnel ordinance! Who was responsible for this?"

"Are you sure?"

"I damn well am! And they pushed a cluster slug at me while I was there! This was a war crime!"

"Calm down, Terra," Walt replied, lowering his voice. "We don't want any of this to get out."

"Walt, we are supposed to fight for the oppressed of this world, not take them out! Didn't you read the pamphlet?"

"Okay, Terra. I will see what I can do."

"You do that!" Terra hung up and threw her viewer down such that it bounced on the couch cushions and clattered to the floor.

She leaned back with her eyes closed, drawing deep relaxing breaths to dissipate the anger. Once sufficiently calm, she retrieved her viewer and checked the clock. There was still some time before she would meet with Benjamin, so she strolled to the town market area to get something to eat. Along the way, she passed a series of tents and temporary shelters set up in a park, presumably for those displaced from Norhold.

Coming to a small cafe near the city center, Terra sat down at an outside table under a brightly colored umbrella. A friendly waitress took her order and returned with a sweet roll and a cup of hot spiced cider. As she ate, she took in the bustle and interactions among nearby shops and stalls.

I've only been here a short while, but this town already feels like home.

When Terra met again with Benjamin, he pointed to a poster announcing a school festival that evening. She smiled at the invitation and agreed to go with him.

Late in the afternoon, Will drove up in his mud-caked truck to the apartment block, finding Terra there to meet him. He shook the dust from his clothes and stomped the dried mud from his boots, shrugging as he noticed Terra grinning at him. "Hazards of the job," he explained.

Terra raised an eyebrow and asked, "Join me for dinner? Afterward, a school festival?"

Will nodded, then frowned as his eyes took in the bandage on her arm. Before he could ask, she said, "I'll tell you all about my adventures during dinner. Right now, you really need a shower."

During dinner, Terra replayed her findings at Norhold, and how she came to be injured. Will narrowed his eyes, giving her the expected 'I told you so' lecture, but it did not bother her.

It is so sweet that he is protective of me.

That evening, they picked up an excited Benjamin at the orphanage. He bounded between them, holding hands, as they proceeded to the festival in the school playground. Benjamin wanted to try all the games and activities set up within outside booths. The joy among the crowd was infectious.

Moya, sitting closely beside Jay at a picnic table under a sprawling tree, waved, motioned Terra and Will over. Terra nudged Will as they sat down, pointing at Moya's hand nestled within Jay's. "See? They are a couple." Will smiled and shook his head.

Watching Benjamin played a toss game with a grin on his face, Moya remarked, "He is having so much fun. Terra, you have done a world of good for him."

Terra replied, "To be honest, Benjamin has been good for me too. But he is still mute. Do you think he will speak again?"

"In time," Moya replied. "All in good time."

The evening continued with games, treats, laughter, and pleasant conversation. When the festival ended, Terra and Will took a weary Benjamin back to the orphanage, his hands clutching prizes he won and crafts he created.

In the fading light of a golden sunset, Will and Terra walked together along a well-beaten trail that wandered through trees along a small stream.

Terra turned to Will with a sly smile, saying, "Does this count as our first date?"

"Hmm. I thought I was your prisoner," Will replied. "Isn't it unethical for the jailer to date the prisoner?"

"Who says I'm ethical?"

"You know, since you captured me at the tavern, I never got a chance to use my pickup lines on you."

"Pickup lines?" Terra giggled. "Oh, I have to hear these. Give me your best shot."

"Okay, here goes." Will stopped Terra and gazed into her eyes. "You must be a broom, 'cause you just swept me off my feet."

Terra groaned, rolling her eyes. "Really, Will?"

"That was just a warm-up." He paused for effect. "Can I follow you home? I've been told I should follow my dreams."

"That one's a little creepy. Do these ever work?"

Will shrugged. "Well, there is always a first time. Let's try this one: I'm lost. Can you give me directions to your heart?"

Terra grinned and grasped Will's arm. "Okay, I felt something with that one."

"Obviously, you have some resistance to my charm. Prepare for devastation of the heart. Just remember, you asked for it." He took hold of her shoulders and peered into her eyes, deep enough that Terra shivered. "Your lips look so lonely. Would they like to meet mine?"

Terra bent backward, putting her hand against her forehead in an exaggerated melodramatic motion. "Oh, yes! Take me now!" Then giggles overtook her.

Will stifled a laugh. "My sarcasm detector is flashing red."

Terra put a mock shocked expression on her face. "Who, from me?"

"And there it goes again."

They chuckled during the remaining trek. Pausing at her apartment door, she said, "I really enjoyed the evening. Thank you."

"As did I."

Leaning up with a hand on Will's arm, Terra placed a kiss on his cheek. Stilled, they locked eyes for an extended moment. Conflicting emotions swirled. The primal part of her wanted to invite Will inside, then surrender to deep physical desires within his strong arms. But the realities of the situation came back to her.

I can't inflict a good man with someone like me.

"Good night," she muttered instead with a weak voice. Closing the door, Terra leaned her head against it, listening as Will closed his own door behind him.

*****

Within the Blue Uprising command center, Walt Buck entered a Governance Council meeting already in progress. His was a last-minute addition to the agenda, something rarely granted, but all he had to do to gain entry was to say "agent Terra Lorr". Such had become her reputation for upheaval, especially after losing her partner, Anna. They would have purged her from the agent ranks long ago, or worse, he believed, if not for her stellar efficiency.

The eleven members of the Council sat around a large round table in dim light, wearing the ceremonial masks and robes signifying high-ranking Talent, something beyond Walt's moderate ability. He stood in the speaker's cage, the so-called podium for those addressing the council surrounded by a shiny metal railing, resembling a half-cage. It stood a half-meter lower than the dais containing the council table — no doubt, Walt thought, to intimidate the speaker.

President Senn, wearing a gold mesh mask reserved for only the most powerful, addressed Walt, growling, "What has she done this time?"

Walt cleared his throat and replied, "Sir, Agent Lorr is on assignment in the Highland Province. While there, she investigated the aftermath of a battle between our forces and those of the Dynasty. A village called Norhold was destroyed in the battle with many civilian casualties."

The man to the right of the president interjected, "We know that. The Dynasty forces shelled it."

"Not exactly, sir. Our army also shelled the village, and with anti-personnel ordinance. That is a serious breach of our overall mission and a war crime."

Palatable tension rose in the room like the humidity before a rain storm. The council murmured among themselves until the president raised his hand to silence them. "Director Buck, things like this sometimes happen in war, but we cannot let it hamper our cause. This information must not get out, make sure agent Lorr understands that. Am I clear?"

Walt bowed his head in resignation. "Yes, sir."

"And Director, if you cannot keep her under control, then we will find someone who will. You are dismissed."