Ashes

We put a new module at the back of Helene Memorial. Most orgs put in a ship yard but we opted for our own little self-contained forest. Trees as far as the eye can see, creeks, butterflies, birds.

Birds...

"Callie, honey snap out of it. They're giving the eulogy." Ivy nudges me.

"Sorry, I promise I'm here..." I whisper to her.

I didn't listen, I was too focused on what I lost recently. The regen crisis really put things into perspective and when I lost those dearest to me forever I couldn't fully grasp reality for a while.

Ivy sat to my right, Ravja, Brianna, Katherine, even Marshall and Fareeah were here and none of us wanted to be.

Not to say we didn't care, we just hoped to never see it happen.

Closed event to just the founders, some cryptids managed to sneak in and looked none too pleased either.

Lost far off in a corner, surrounded by trees and the sounds of wildlife.

A nudge to my side again.

"Callie, go up there."

"I...I can't."

"You have to, they were your family!"

Fuck.

I step up to the graves and stare down at them. Freshly buried and the dirt hadn't even settled.

"Jorg Tala, the man who gave his life to free me and my conscripted siblings, the only father I ever had. He was proud of me, Moira, everybody in this organization with what we did for others and taking no profit from it."

I'm not gonna be able to do this.

"Ophelia was new to us, but she looked after my sister closely and may have even fallen for her and her charms, as obscure and unconventional they were. She was a more than welcome addition to our family and could have done great things with our help."

I take a step away from where I was and the crew stands up, fists clenched. They looked ready to run over.

"Fuck...I can't, everybody. I really can't do this!"

"You have to, Calliope. For your sister, please." Fareeah said softly.

I kneeled next to the grave and put my hand on the headstone.

"M-Moira, I'm so sorry...I'm so fucking sorry..."

The crypids bowed their heads, all looking guilty as sin.

"I wish I knew, I tried as hard as I could to help you but I fully understand how you felt a little too late. I should have fought for you harder than I already was. I get that losing somebody you love hurt but...FUCK MOIRA WHY?! WHY?!"

I hugged her headstone tightly and wailed loudly, completely losing my mind.

My sister was gone, my sister who never should have existed to begin with and this pain belongs to the UEE, not me.

One of them walks over and put their hand on my shoulder. I don't know your face but I want the worst for you right now.

"We are sorry for your losses, we hope we can help you work past thi-"

"You can fucking go die in a god-damned fire. YOU DID THIS! SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE EXISTED BUT YOU FUCKED THAT UP ANYHOW!"

I try to shrug their hand off but they hold on.

"Calliope, you-"

I slap it away before running off in a direction with people yelling my name and begging me to come back.

//Classified Post-Mortem Report//

We do not know how Moira escaped her restraints, but her body was covered in scratches and claw marks. Under the jacket she lost a lot of blood but it was during the regular changing she managed to get ahold of a free strap and <REDACTED> herself. We left her for barely a minute before we heard <REDACTED> and <REDACTED> and by the time we realized what was happening it was already too late.

Staff were placed on administrative leave and the body was handed over to the coroner for analysis and processing.

Bioticorp has been facing intense scrutiny for their failures with regen, but Moira's sole sister has requested her not being brought back should regeneration be fixed. Her wishes shall be honored and we have offered counciling services, which she has rejected.

//Archived and redacted by Ravi, I pray Callie never finds this, but I'm keeping it so we know we can no longer trust the UEEN for anything, not even protecting people//