Villain Retirement

"We were the ones that had to literally evolve and crawl our way through planet eaters. We were Tempered—smarter, stronger, more powerful, and just…

…better."

Diana's words seemed egotistical and filled with arrogance—but no one in the room denied it. A species' specific origin was hard to track, and most of what Diana said could be considered a dramatization of the events as no one could truly know of things without official accounts…

…but no one denied it.

They just stared at the hologram of Theran in silence, all of them imagining that what Diana told them was what really happened. Their silence, however, was short-lived as a series of claps started echoing in the air.

"That was very good, mother," Riley clapped his hands as he nodded several times, "I think that was better than the story I told last time with the super nailed on a cross. You should tell that to sister and father once we have dinner again together."

"..." The others could really only look at Riley before letting their breaths and sighs just fill the air.

"Pft," as for Diana, she just covered her mouth and chuckled, "I apologize, I lost track while telling my story. What was I explaining before all of that?"

"Why themarians do not deserve to die with their planet, mother."

"Right, well…" Diana placed her hand on her chin, "Most of the planets I have experimented on, their deaths were caused by the creatures and people that live on it—and if I were to migrate them to another planet, they would just do it again. Not even a thousand years later, and they will destroy it again. I know this because this is not the first time I am migrating an entire people. But Themarians? Themarians did not have anything to do with the impending and inevitable destruction of Theran. I believe Theran was always meant to just snap because…

…it is something that should not exist in the universe in the first place."

"..." Riley could not help but slightly squint his eyes as he heard Diana's words.

"But it is here now and it does exist," Diana continued as she placed her palm below Theran's image, "And sadly the themarians just happen to exist with it."

"..." The others watched as Diana suddenly became quiet. But after a few more seconds, she turned to look at Aerith.

"Our people do not deserve to die out," she said as she pointed at Aerith, "You, your son, my daughter, and all the people you brought here. They are the future of our species, and as for the people that made it hard for us to survive…

…Let them end with Theran."

"..." Aerith could really only look at Theran as she heard Diana's words; her eyes, even more clearer and resolute than before, "You said, father and all the older generations knew that Theran would snap?"

"Yes," Diana nodded, "I believe your mother didn't, she was born a couple of thousand years after we discussed it—but I told her, and she knows now."

"...Then she will have to make a choice," Aerith's eyebrows began to furrow, "The others have already made theirs…

…Let's just get our people."

"Then we will proceed as planned, Your Highness," Osk then stood straight as she placed her hands behind her waist, "For what it's worth, Princess—whichever side we may be on, it was always an honor to be fighting alongside you, the Rebel Princess."

"..." Aerith only nodded in response as Osk saluted before just suddenly leaving the war room in the blink of an eye.

"Let's just get this done," Xra rolled her eyes as she walked toward Diana, "Remember, Akkamesh's revival after."

"T—" And before Diana could tell her that Akkamesh was already dead and there was nothing they could do for the hundredth time, Xra turned into a mist of blood and disappeared into her ship.

And so, with no one to direct her tiny frustration, Diana just looked at Aerith and sighed,

"Speaking of your son… where is he?"

"In the castle," Aerith also let out a long and deep sigh as she closed her eyes, "I couldn't bring him since mother decided to put guards on him."

"Huh…typical Megawoman, I should say?" Diana clicked her tongue several times as she shook her head, "Always the people first before her own son. You think I am going to let Riley be involved with a single mother like that?"

"You—I am not going to be roped in with your blatant mocking and teasing, Diana," Aerith pointed at Diana for a few seconds, before just breathing out her frustration and stepping out of the war room.

"I shall take my leave too. Caitlain'Ur, Sir Riley," Elder Olseyir bowed at Riley and Diana as she followed Aerith out.

[...Right. We still have some common sense to teach the themarians, literally. Let us see each other outside,] Tedi also bowed as her hologram flickered away, leaving Riley and Diana alone in the war room.

"Mother."

Surprisingly, no silence was allowed to fill the room. And even more surprising, was that Riley was the one to first open his mouth.

"Dear?" Diana could not help but blink as Riley approached her.

"When you said that your people do not deserve to die out. You mentioned Aerith, Gary, Hannah, and the rest of the themarians on New Theran…" Riley looked Diana in the eyes,

"But you did not mention yourself. Could it be that you plan to die with Theran?"

"Oh…?" Diana's quiet and breathy hum echoed throughout the entire room, "Why? Are you going to miss Mommy when she's gone?"

"No."

"..."

"But Hannah will be devastated, mother," Riley sighed as he shook his head, "You can't do that to her."

"...Pft," Diana stared at Riley for a few seconds, before letting out a small chuckle as she covered her mouth, "I promised Alice I would take care of you, Riley. So, no…

…I do not have any plans to die before my children."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"That… sounds kind of wrong now that I'm repeating it in my mind. Oh…" Diana then wiped the tears that were trailing from her eyes, "Oh no… I don't think I can handle any of you two dying."

"Hm…" Riley only squinted his eyes as he started walking away; leaving her mother's obviously exaggerated cries to whisper in the air, "...Since I will potentially live forever…

…that might mean you will live forever too, mother."

"...What?" Diana's cries instantly stopped as she disappeared from her spot, quickly appearing beside Riley and staring at his face, "What was that? You said something?"

"Yes."

"What? What is it? I think it was—"

[Alert!]

But alas, before Diana could continue bonding with her son, the lights in the war room started flashing red.

"..." Diana and Riley just looked at each other, before quickly rushing toward the bridge—and there, Xra and her entire crew were gathered. Little Riley, now seemingly the number 2 as he floated next to the Pirate Queen.

Aerith was also there; all of them, looking at the silhouette that was floating right in front of their ship. It was Queen Adel… carrying Osk and another themarian by the neck.

"They are alive, my daughter. But not for long," Queen Adel said calmly, "Surrender…

…or we won't play your games anymore."