Evelyn Gately

The stars had always been full of contradictions.

Civilizations rose and vanished beneath them. Empires stretched across solar systems before collapsing into history.

And somewhere between of it traveled Evelyn Gately.

Evelyn never expected her life to become so strange. Recruited by M.U., the AI assigning missions to Perfect Order, she began with simple duties: protect civilians, investigate anomalies, and handle threats ordinary soldiers couldn't survive.

Then came the Grand Empire.

And Shizune Inari.

The Great Ancient Fox. Ruler of an enormous interplanetary empire, possessing immense spiritual power and the ability to manipulate gravity.

On paper, Shizune should have been one of Evelyn's greatest enemies.

Instead...

They somehow became friends.

Neither could explain when it happened.

At first, Evelyn distrusted the Grand Empire, while Shizune was amused by the stubborn little Pecu who kept appearing wherever their interests crossed.

Then they started talking.

Then meeting intentionally.

Eventually, Evelyn discovered that beneath Shizune's imposing reputation was someone who genuinely enjoyed conversation, teasing, exploration, and spending time with her.

Their factions remained opposed.

Their personal relationship became something else entirely.

And today was another example.

---

The planet below was Elyndra, home to a sprawling metropolis covering an enormous coastal plain, filled with millions of inhabitants and futuristic towers.

Normally, its skyline would have been breathtaking.

Today, it looked tiny.

Two enormous figures stood beyond the city.

Evelyn had grown until the tallest skyscrapers seemed insignificant beneath her. Her black-and-silver outfit shimmered in the sunlight, white hair flowing around her head. She carefully kept her distance from the populated districts; she'd learned that being gigantic came with responsibility.

"Okay..."

She looked down.

"Definitely bigger than I intended."

Her voice rolled across the landscape.

Then she looked toward the other enormous figure.

Shizune.

The Great Ancient Fox stood even more imposingly against the horizon, her enormous tails rising behind her like colossal banners. A smile was present on her face.

Evelyn sighed.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

She folded her arms.

"You always enjoy it when I accidentally end up enormous."

Shizune's laughter carried across the city.

Evelyn tried to look stern.

She failed.

A small smile appeared.

"Don't laugh!"

She paused.

"Okay, you can laugh a little."

Their meetings were supposedly about diplomacy.

Supposedly.

M.U. had sent Evelyn to investigate unusual spiritual fluctuations around Elyndra. Evelyn was meant to determine whether the source posed a threat.

Instead, she found Shizune already there.

Within minutes, they'd abandoned the seriousness of the mission and started talking like "old friends".

Evelyn looked toward the fox again.

"You know, technically, we're supposed to be enemies."

One eyebrow rose.

"Perfect Order and the Grand Empire aren't exactly famous for getting along."

A pause. Then Evelyn smiled.

"But I suppose nobody has to know we're friends."

She glanced down at the tiny city. Millions continued moving below, unaware that two beings of impossible scale stood beyond their skyline.

Evelyn crouched slightly, carefully bringing her face closer to the city below.

"Besides..."

Her expression softened.

"I don't mind when you're around."

For someone representing Perfect Order, Evelyn had become remarkably comfortable around the ancient ruler.

Perhaps too comfortable.

She tilted her head.

"So, Shizune..."

A mischievous glint appeared.

"What exactly were you doing here before I showed up?"

She smiled.

"And don't tell me you came all this way just because you wanted to see me."

There was a brief pause.

Evelyn already suspected the answer.

Somehow, she had the feeling Shizune was about to make her regret asking.