That voice brought Foxglove to her senses. That voice. Her voice. In front of the Vixen stood Her. But, it shouldn’t be possible. She was dead, right? She had been shot. She had been declared dead. Every news source said so, even the official Imperial ones.
“Handler.. Sir, I- I thought..”
“What? That I died? That the fool Engelmann murdered me for improving his ‘daughter’?”
Her voice had that sickly sweet condescending tone. The one She had always used when Foxglove had done something imperfect- when she had failed, or hesitated, or otherwise disappointed Her.
Before Foxglove could even process it, Handler had closed the distance between them in two strides and brought a swift backhand across her face. The Vix flinched away, taking a step back involuntarily.
“My apologies, 204, but you need to understand..”
The gloved hand that had just slapped Foxglove moved up to her face, cupping her cheek with a false comfort. Her hand felt different since the last time She actually touched Foxglove. Her touch felt.. Cold. Cold, distant, and sharp, as if many needles were pricking Foxglove’s cheek.
“So long as you and my other Hounds are still alive, I’ll never truly die. Especially so long as you are alive, 204. You were, after all, my personal eyes and ears among my subordinates.”
“..But- I.. I’m- No longer yours, Handler..?”
False sympathy would appear in a smile across Handler’s lips, pity in Her eyes for Her defiant Vixen.
“Of course I can no longer command you, but don’t let yourself forget everything you did under my orders. Every ounce of trust you took advantage of, to ensure things were right.”
“No- Nonono.. I’ve changed, I’m.. I..”
“Really? Can you really change from what you’ve done, my dear? Let’s not forget, you turned in several of your fellow Hounds during our year together - even pulled the trigger on one. And that’s not to begin with the amount of terrorists and rebels you dispatched, given you’re an ace multiple times over, unofficially of course.”
“..I- Please, Handler.. Stop, please..”
“Let me remember.. Of course, there’s 958 - Doodle, as it called itself, and Fist’s foolish Gator alongside it.”
“I didn’t want to.. She.. I.. You- I didn’t have a choice, I..”
“You’re right, you didn’t have a choice. You wouldn’t sacrifice your own life for something useless, something more broken than yourself, correct?”
“That’s- That isn’t what I-“
Another swift slap would cut off Foxglove, any amusement leaving Handler’s face. She would grab the Vixen by its muzzle, forcing it to look at Her.
“Pathetic. Utterly pathetic. You should be proud, 204. You prevented three mutts from defecting, not counting 958, and stopped so many terrorists from seeing another day of opposing this grand Empire. Being a weapon truly is your calling.”
Foxglove would feel herself involuntarily leaning forward, as if her body wanted Her cold, stinging touch again. The only thing she could do was murmur denial, her voice getting shakier and shakier as she could feel tears welling in her eyes.
“Nononono- I.. Please, no.. I’m not a weapon, I.. Handler, I-”
Foxglove was covered in a cold sweat as she bolted upright, several pillows and a plush shark falling off the crates she had made a makeshift bed on. Her heart was racing, her breathing heavy as she looked around. The sky outside the window was that cold blue that always came before proper daybreak. It was all a dream. Thank the gods, it was all a dream.