After the election that was so clearly fixed, Aanya calls Harper Lockwood and Imogen Childs together. Since their public return they have had to make appearances sparingly; the Council are out for their blood for stirring up trouble. The crackdown on protests has been intense but they haven't been able to quell the unrest by a long shot. They meet underground and a radio sits in the centre of the table.

“The time is here,” Aanya says. “The Council have been falsely elected and everyone knows that. The reformists aren't being listened to, and they're going to take more reactionary measures over the next few months.”

Imogen nods shortly, “We need to assassinate the Council.”

Harper's eyes widen. “Finally. Okay so I have been working on this plan for like years; so we get the poison, we get fake IDs right-”

A radio crackles and they hear the familiar voice of Alethea over the waves. “I was thinking something different. The assassination of the Council needs to be absolutely separated from the Reformist Movement, or we'll lose all credibility. The political climate at the moment… Well they'll blame us and they'll be even more reactionary as a result.”

“You're right,” Aanya agrees slowly.

“Right. So… What if instead of sneaking in and doing it all quietly, we push for a meeting between the Reformist group and the Council, and you… Blow it up.”

They sit around looking at each other for a moment. There is nothing but radio silence for a few seconds afterwards.

Harper is first to speak. “So like… we'll be blowing up our allies? I'm not so sure-”

Alethea cuts in, “No, no, this is the thing, I can plant people. I'll use it to fake my own death and a few others in the movement will work with me. An explosion's perfect because no one will expect there to be bodies.”

“Alethea's right. This way we ensure which way the reaction swings,” Aanya says.

“It'll be higher risk.” Imogen glances at Aanya.

The corner of Aanya's lip quirks up. “You're not adverse to danger,” she comments.

“Imogen is right, my way we all slip away before anyone notices anything's wrong.” Harper worries at their lower lip.

“This way's no different!” Alethea argues. “You come in as cleaners, plant the bomb, and leave.”

“Alright. The place will be swept before the meeting.” Imogen starts to roll out plans of the Council building and takes out a pencil. “Between us though,”

“We should be able to make something undetectable,” Aanya finishes.

Harper mutters something about a room under their breath and then leans forward to look over the plans. “Okay so we're doing this.”

-

The plan is set. Imogen works with their contacts to create the fake identification; Harper disguises them to look like the individuals in question; and Aanya sets them up with all the records they need so that as far as anyone could research, they are entirely legitimate cleaners. Infiltration from there is not hard. It turns out Liberty or Death has connections basically everywhere in this planet.

Aanya and Harper help with the design of the bomb, making the trigger signal undetectable, and Imogen puts the thing together. When it's done Harper grins nervously and Aanya smiles at Imogen. “This is perfect. Thank you.”

They get ready to leave and Harper is rambling. “So like I just wanna say if this all goes wrongly terribly wrong and we all end up dead or back on some godforsaken hell-rock again or publicly executed which is the same thing as dead but anyway point is- I just wanna say thank you. It has been. Amazing. Working with you.”

Aanya smiles, calm as ever. “And the same to you, Harper. Let's go.”

Harper heads out.

Imogen pauses a minute, looking over at Aanya. “We're going to do this.”

Aanya turns to look at her. “I know. No goodbyes this time.” She reaches across, looking for once just a little unsure of herself, and takes her hand. She squeezes it once. “I'll see you on the other side.”

-

The plant goes off without a hitch and they place signal scramblers around the room so no information on what's inside will get out and no signals but theirs will get through. The only problem is they've got a set radius on the detonation switch. The trouble with a timer was there's no flexibility and they need confirmation that Alethea is out. So it's got to be within one mile. Which means they've got to be inside the city when the bomb goes off. And they know full well, that within two minutes they'll be blockading the place and within five they'll be looking for them along with anyone else who had access to that room that day.

They take their positions across town. They've arranged a meeting point and they've got their cells. Easier to slip out unnoticed if it's not a group of them. Aanya tells Harper she trusts them to get themself and goes with Imogen. She protests she can take care of herself but Aanya insists she's never been the stealthy type. They part ways and hold their breath as the switch is detonated.

The next part is chaos. Sirens blaring, police and army streaming into the streets, panic and fear and before the riots can even start a marshal order has been given for everyone to return to their homes. They run.

Aanya leads Imogen through alleyways, and they manage to sneak to the corner of the city unnoticed. But Imogen stumble send a couple of bins clattering, and suddenly there are footsteps behind them. Aanya grabs her and stills her.“Go!” she whispers.

“I'm not leaving you!” she hisses back.

“I can lead them on a chase. I'll get away,” she insists.

“You go. I can fight them off.”

“With what?” Imogen takes out her pistol and check the magazine. Thirteen rounds; she's good to go. “What, all of them? The city is crawling with enforcers right now-”

“I'll buy you time-”

“You are not sacrificing yourself for me, Imogen,” she snaps. “I can create a distraction and sneak away-”

“And if either of us get caught, I can fight my way out and you can't-”

“I can fight-”

“Not-”

“We do not have time for this! You told me when I was dying on that rock that you would protect Harper, now you are going to meet them and that is an order!”

“I am not leaving y-”

“No!” She meets Imogen's gaze, just as stubborn and determined as she's ever been. Just as stubborn as Imogen are. Aanya grabs her hand and squeezes.

“Promise me you're coming back.”

“I'm coming back. No goodbyes this time.” Aanya puts a hand around the back of Imogen's neck and presses her forehead against hers for the briefest moment.

She slips out of the alley and out of sight and Imogen runs.

Imogen arrives not long after Harper, but Aanya still isn't there. Harper looks up, at once relieved and flooded with anxiety. “Where's Aanya?”

“We got separated. She should be here soon.”

Soon is a relative term. They wait an hour. And then they wait another. They look between them and at their cells. Five more minutes and they'll call.

And then the door opens. Harper nearly jump out of their skin as Aanya slips inside. They break into a smile. “I told you I'd be back.” She embraces them both and Harper let's out a nervous laugh.

“We did it! We freakin' did it!”

Aanya pulls away and smiles. “We did.” As she moves away, her hand slides down Imogen's arm and her fingers intertwine with hers. She glances over at Imogen and brushes her thumb over hers. It's slow but… It's something.