Epilogue – A month (I.G.A.S.S. Standard) later, on Ascend
Maria flopped on to xyr settee, drained from spending all day on a video call giving evidence in the trial of the former human governor of Aurox. For a week xe’d been giving depositions against the regime on Aurox and their crimes, including the harassment Maria and Sahrai had received from Josh Dalton, the senior security officer. It had upset xyr when evidence of the abuse of the bovids had been presented and the testimony of human prisoners forced to labour on Rocky Horror.
It was exhausting to be on camera all day, for days on end, schooling xyr face and controlling xyr emotions. Xe closed xyr eyes and tried not to see images of the things described. It was hard, the memories and descriptions had wormed their way into xyr brain and wouldn’t leave. Xe needed a distraction.
The door buzzed. Maria looked up from the settee, towards the security screen. Completing xyr first mission had come with a considerable technical upgrade. Someone waited outside on xyr balcony.
“Balcony, open.” The new, voice controlled, automatic door opened.
“Hey honey, I’m home.” Sahrai stepped through the door, wings folding as she shrank to human size. A month of treatments had started her regrowth and she was looking increasingly colourful and happy.
Maria grinned, rolled from the settee to hug xyr friend. Just the distraction xe needed.
THE END
Everything Is Better With Dragons 