"Thank you," Penelope said, one final time to the General-King before she stepped over to Chrysoprase to help steady the girl if she needed it. Almost like a hovering mother, her arm was suspended in the air behind the girl's back, prepared to catch her if she wobbled or looked like she might collapse.

"I need you to concentrate on letting go, letting the power wash away and leave you so that instead of Lieutenant Chrysoprase you're back to being Lovi, okay?" Her instructions were offered gently and she waited until her newest recruit had powered down before she stepped back.

"You're dismissed, Lovi. I'll come check on you tomorrow and we'll go over everything else together alright?" Once assured that Lovi understood and was capable of making it back to her room without assistance, Penelope turned to gather up her belongings and retire for the night too.

strickenized
fin!