"I wasn't lying when I said you were all insane," Cosmo finally spoke once the barriers dissolved.
"You were just told an entire year passed without you, and the first thing you worry about is a holiday? Even officers without families still feel some sense of loss."
"Hold on, that's not a fair assessment," Yon protested. "Just because we're not addressing how it feels to be back doesn't mean–"
"–those feelings aren't there. Sure, I get that," Cosmo cut in. "But if you're going to claim that, at least pretend to hide that relieved air about you. I'd even say it looks like you guys are happy about it."
Cosmo was only half‑joking.
He was genuinely curious how many of them saw the lost year as a severed tie to their past, or what should have been their present.
He had to imagine how little they were tethered to the lives they once lived.
Red and Blue were the most perplexing of the group.
Yon and Tyson he understood.
Abandoning their familial ties had been a desire born from the circumstances of their childhoods.
And Rita's situation needed no explanation.
But the twins were an anomaly.
Veil had barely any record of them for a certain span of time before the academy.
It was confirmed they grew up as orphans, their families victims of the Cold Day, but beyond that, the data thinned, almost as if someone had deliberately erased their past.
Cosmo could dig if he wanted. But if they didn't choose to share, he saw no reason to pry.
"Not that I'm unfamiliar with the feeling," he murmured, "I just find it funny in a way."
As he looked back, he noticed the others had stopped walking, all staring past him.
Of course he sensed the reason. He simply found it less bothersome than flies.
An assembly of agents in pointed masks blocked the path ahead, forming an arched perimeter. One stepped forward and flashed a badge.
"Bernard Luiz, Judicial Task Force. We're bringing you in for your overdue trial." He declared confidently.
"Now's not a good time. I'll come in once my team is settled–"
CLITCH!
Before he finished, the agent snapped an electrical cuff around his wrist, pulling both hands together, and ignoring the fact that Cosmo was holding a child.
Cosmo turned his body slightly, and Red immediately understood.
He lifted the girl from Cosmo's arms, though not without noticing how naturally he had fallen into the role of Argenta's wagon.
"To pull something like this in a place as peaceful as the Crossroad," Cosmo said, eyeing the cuffs. "Aren't you being a bit disrespectful?"
Even if Veil's Judicial Court outranked most individual officers, blatantly disregarding a Captain's authority was nothing but overstepping.
"I see restraining my adolescent self has made you misunderstand our positions," Cosmo continued. "Don't claim I haven't reminded you."
"No limitations disprove our obligation to penalize any delinquent who violates the laws that uphold this organization–be it a Captain or juvenile miscreants who believe themselves above the law."
"Above the law…" Cosmo muttered, mocking lightly. "Did I not clear my name under that same law? What justifies a second trial–one that would only recycle the same charges?"
"That is not my place to state. But if those entrusted with maintaining the status quo deem you a threat significant enough to review your first judgment, then we need no further justification."
"I see. I'm guilty because you believe I must be?"
"I will not have you misstate my position. I simply believe both parties must do their utmost to finalize the lawful proceedings necessary to ensure justice prevails."
Cosmo tilted his head, contemplating. Then he closed his eyes and hummed, indecisive.
A moment later, he stretched his arms.
!!!
Every agent stiffened and stood alert as they realized the cuffs had crumbled to dust.
"I don't fancy your understanding of justice," Cosmo said. "But I'll go along, for now. I'm curious how this plays out."
Bernard narrowed his eyes, clearly disapproving of Cosmo's implication that compliance was voluntary.
Surprisingly, Tyson suddenly stepped beside Cosmo.
"You're actually going with them?" he asked, glaring at the agents.
"What? Are you worried?"
"Of course not. I couldn't care less what happens to you," Tyson snapped. "But something about this feels off."
"I'll be fine." Cosmo shrugged, turning towards nothing in particular.
"I need three Razors."
"""At your command, Sir."""
Three men in dark suits and shades appeared behind the officers.
Only the recruits seemed startled by their synchronized arrival.
They recognized the attire. These were the same men who escorted them into headquarters a year ago.
Clearly, their role differed from the officers.
"Alright. Tyson and Blue, you'll be taken to Qinghua's. Don't say more than necessary, and pay attention to whatever you're told."
'If she wants me to owe her a favor, she'll probably meet them herself. Though it's a big maybe.'
"Hold on," Tyson protested. "I get why Blue has to go, but why me?"
"You get what? I'm lost," Blue said. "Who's Qinghua, and why is it so obvious I have to go?"
"You'll understand when you're there." Cosmo turned to Tyson. "As for you, don't think I'm blind. I can air out your baggage if you want, but I'm sure we'd both rather avoid that right now."
"Tch–"
"There we go," Cosmo smirked as Tyson looked away. Then he continued, "Clarisse, go with Red and Rita to the Central Barracks. You'll probably find Mama Maria there. If you do, return straight to base with her. She'll understand once she sees you."
"And if we don't?" Clarisse asked, uncharacteristically uncertain.
She usually grasped Cosmo's subtle intentions, but prioritizing his caregiver was something she couldn't quite decipher.
"Find me," he said, tone shifting. "Do not go anywhere else."
Clarisse couldn't interpret the warning. She only nodded, hoping he'd explain later.
She suspected it had more to do with Rita than anything else, but no clear reason surfaced.
"Oliver–"
"Yeah, yeah…" Oliver cut in. "I'll take this one and submit the full report."
He said as he poked Yon's head.
"Great. And just so you know, 'that' promise lasts until we're officially back," Cosmo said with an innocent smile, and Oliver returned it.
"Is that so? I should've expected you to be a petty bastard about that," Oliver laughed.
"Then I guess you should've kept your damn mouth shut, eh?!" Cosmo shot back while echoing his laughter, causing their voices to overlap and leaving everyone mildly uncomfortable.
"I'll see you all later," Cosmo said once their banter died down. "Get some rest. And keep in mind, I have a present for each of you. Something I should've given as a welcoming gift after your initiation. Look forward to it."
"Sheesh, you tell us now?" Red complained.
"It's not the first time you've forgotten something important."
"Damn it, this would've made those horrible months feel worth it," Blue and Yon added.
"Well, at least I know you'll have no choice but to miss me," Cosmo grinned wickedly as he waved and turned away. "I'll be right back."
He left the Crossroads without hurry, though his attempt to lighten the mood wasn't as effective as he had hoped.
The image of him being escorted, and the unease of his absence settled over them like dust.
"Will he be alright?" Blue asked, staring at the exit where the agents had escorted Cosmo away.
"I don't know," Clarisse answered first. "The last time I saw him years ago was right after he'd been dragged to that same court. It was the worst I've ever seen him."
Tyson, who had been pointedly avoiding the conversation, turned back at that.
"What do you mean?" Red asked before he could.
"I can't fully explain it," Clarisse said quietly. "But it was as if someone had hammered the same irrefutable truth into him over and over, until he couldn't imagine or believe anything else."
"Who would do that to a child?" Blue whispered, her heart sinking.
"Young as he was, he'd supposedly lost the right to be considered innocent." Clarisse looked toward Oliver. "Do you still refuse to say what happened?"
Oliver shrugged and walked off, one of the suited men following. "I have nothing to tell anyone."
He didn't offer a single word more.
Yon glanced at the others, then inevitably followed after the engineer.
Blue watched them leave, and a reckless thought crossed her mind.
"Why do you care?"
Tyson spoke before she could act on it.
"Tyson?"
"Why do any of you care this much about something he's clearly trying to make us ignore?" Tyson asked, voice firm.
He knew exactly what she was about to suggest–charging after Cosmo without a second thought.
Blue was the type to leap first and consider consequences later in the name of being reliable.
Once she decided someone needed help, logic rarely survived the impact.
"If you have time to pity someone that hopeless," Tyson continued, "you might as well tell him you don't think he deserves any respect."
"What? That doesn't make any–"
Blue stopped mid‑protest as the understanding settled.
Cosmo hadn't asked for help. He didn't need it. He could free himself whenever he wished. Going along with the agents was simply what he believed was best, for reasons he hadn't shared.
If she claimed to respect him, then she had to respect that choice too.
More importantly, he had given them clear instructions.
She hadn't even considered them before nearly jeopardizing the Nebula's hard‑earned standing.
"I really don't like the way you put it," Blue sighed. "But you're right, Tyson. The only way I can help him is by trusting him."
Tyson turned away, signaling the Razor assigned to them to lead on.
"That's not really what I meant," he muttered.
Blue flashed a teasing smile and drifted closer.
"Okay, I believe you."
"You wouldn't say that all of a sudden if you actually–hey!"
Ignoring his protest, Blue walked ahead.
Soon after returning from its first mission, the Nebula had split into three groups, and Clarisse couldn't be more uneasy about it.
She had always opposed the mark of danger hanging over each of them, but her prayers could only soothe so much without any action she could take.
What unsettled her so much were the answers she herself had sought from Cosmo.
"Are you alright?"
She startled as Red's voice pulled her from her thoughts. Rita and Red were both watching her with concern.
"I'm quite well," she said, smoothing her expression. "Thank you for asking."
She set her worries aside. Tyson was right, in his own way.
Whatever awaited them, trusting their leader now would serve them best.
"The Central Barracks are a ways from here," she said. "Let's be off."