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Wendy was the first to jump out of the Albatross, followed by the rest of Zero Unit. Earth hadn't changed much, a few permanent towns had grown, and trade between them had become common. Most areas were still abandoned though, due to destruction and a lower population, "Sere, Angel, track his location and keep us updated."

"Right. He's about 400 yards North-Northeast of your current position. Good thing we kept that tracker in his clothes, right?"

Ratchet nodded, "You have no idea..." She scanned ahead with her rifle, "Seems okay, so let's move quickly shall we? Dante isn't good at making friends."

Jill and Wendy led the pack, forcing the rest to keep up with their fast pace. It wasn't a long run before they saw Dante resting on a rectangular stone standing in the ground, "About time." Titus was about to say something, "Not you all, the others, can't you see them?" About ten people dropped from the trees, they wore gold colored armor in the style of amazons in legends, yet there was only one woman, "I'm shocked you waited this long, that's bad strategy." He slowly stood up as they raised their bows and arrows.

"You... who are you to make a mockery of my name, the true Dante!" The woman had apparently took the title, "You act like the commoners, clearly you are a fake."

Dante looked at his crew, "This is the third person claiming to be the real me. I'd be flattered if they weren't all trying to kill me." He only had a knife, but Zero Unit knew that was enough.

"Hey! Do you mind if we wait this out? We sprinted for a long way, I need to catch my breath." Chey was partially joking, but really she felt like being lazy. Dante nodded, "Yay! I'll buy you a drink later."

"Make that a bunch of drinks and I won't make you fight them off for me."

Chey sighed, "Says the rich guy. Fine, you can have as many as you want, but you need to spend time time working with Jill and I. We need more practice."

Titus jumped, "Now's not the time for that talk!"

Dante laughed, "No matter how much time passes, everything stays the same. I wouldn't have it any other way." He drew his simple combat knife, "So, shall we? I don't like to wait for my drinks. Not to mention women who like explosives just have no patience." He looked disappointed, "Titus, if you interfere I'm making you run laps."

"Hey!"

Dante smiled as the amazons attacked. They had underestimated his ability as he quickly danced and slashed through every one of their bodies. It was over in only a few seconds, "Great, I have moron blood on me again."

Zero Unit got closer, "Leave again and I'm tying you to a bed." Wendy was serious.

"I could get in on that action." Ratchet joked, but was also dead serious, "Though it won't be as fun, I'm sure I can do a few things while you can't move."

"Anyways... what's that necklace?" Jill pointed to the jewelry on the stone, "Looks old."

Dante cleaned off his knife and walked in the direction from which Zero Unit entered the clearing, "It belonged to her. I figured it was only right to give her a burial since she wasn't completely evil. Just a little lost."

Cratis looked around, "Well, you do have a lot of honor, just like the super angry gun said."

He cringed, "Right... that's not going to be a fun encounter... Sere is safer than her. At least she doesn't point at me while I sleep and threaten to kill me." He looked up, "This planet... I'm glad I left it. Everyone likes to claim glory, but none like to make their own. Let's head back, I have anxious and/or pissed off women to please."

"You can say that again. I'm not gonna let you out of my sights again." Ratchet stretched her arms, "I am faster than you, a nice tranquilizer and some rope..."

"Why do you have to say such things..."

Dante smirked, "Because that's what Miss Star does, and Ratchet doesn't want to fall behind."

..................................

After Sere's huge hug, the Albatross was off of Earth for the last time. Anima was a bit harder to please, and she took a few shots at Dante, but was otherwise happy to see him again, "Welcome back Dante, our orders are to return to headquarters and rest up."

He sighed, "Right, does anyone have a riot shield? I can sense Miss Star about to pounce."

"How did you know?" She fizzled into view.

"Because it's you."

She crossed her arms and pouted, "Don't worry, he can't be on guard at all times. Trust me, I know."

"Ratchet, I swear if you break into my room again I'm locking you in yours." Dante shook his head, "I'm taking a quick nap. Wake me up when we're close." .....................................

An hour later, Dante rejoined Zero Unit, who were gathered in the lounge, "That girl is all kinds of evil... who let her get that set of lockpicks again?"

They all laughed, but then suddenly got quiet. Dante ducked and Miss Star completely missed her tackle, "Hi! I'm back, did you miss me? I know you did~!"

"It wasn't more than an hour. As for if I miss you, I don't know if it's good or bad that I did. At least you take it easy and wake me up." He looked around and pointed at Chey, "You owe me many, many drinks. Angel, take us to a dock somewhere with a good bar."

"Can't Jill and I do other things?"

"Well, you could both buy me drinks."

She sighed, and Jill giggled, "I don't mind that, but if we both buy you have to do something with us."

Miss Star exploded with laughter, "It's like Mira is still on the ship! Or feeding you lines through an ear piece. Hilarious!" Jill scratched her cheek, "You... you're...serious? Is she?"

"No! She just taught me a bit about negotiating. It's come in handy, especially with Isa in charge of things." Jill leaned back and rested her head on Chey's shoulder, "Well, that deal is on the table. I suppose since we are going to a dock Wendy might want to do some shopping for food cause she's the best cook in the known universe and I really want you to make that noodle thing again please please please!" Her words flowed seamlessly from generic comments to begging.

Wendy nodded, "Sure, but only if Miss Star and Cratis go to pick up some wine and other alcohol. I need a Pynog Red for the food, a nice dinner wine, and our bar is running a bit empty."

Sere stumbled into the room with a goofy grin, "I need more welding fuel! Ratchet can join me for that." She was really relaxed.

"I shall oversee maintenance and refueling of the ship Dante." Angel's voice was a welcome change.

Titus shrugged, "That's just plain not fair. Everyone is busy except for me."

"Don't be sad Titus, I'm sure you have personal possessions you need to replace-" Angel was cut off.

"Easy! It's... nothing. Just an accident." He was thoroughly embarrassed, but nobody paid him any mind.

Dante looked out into space, thinking only for a moment, "Alright, better than doing nothing. We have, what... a few minutes? I guess everyone should get into plain clothes, not special armor." The women left, but before Titus left he was stopped, "It's fine to be kinky, but you have a tail, and fire. Maybe get some sturdier things." Titus left, a little frightened that Dante knew.

Anima shivered on his belt, "So, think we're retiring anytime soon?" She stopped, "Ha, didn't think so." She shook some more, "First, you're a little girl. Second, you're a spirit, so it's not possible I think. Well, you did sit in a chair... but the first thing is still relevant. Don't think shooting me will change my mind."

Unfortunately, Angel directed them back to Fallen Sky HQ, as the new residential and commercial areas had everything they needed. The flight took a lot longer than Dante had hoped, but the arrived in one piece, "Before you leave, Dante's presence is requested by Isa. Non-mission related from what I have been told. Chey, you should go with Cratis and Miss Star. He prefers a finely aged single barrel scotch for special occasions. Jill, perhaps a decent white wine would also suffice, maybe an apertif."

Dante looked up at a speaker, "I keep forgetting you were in my brain."

Jill and Chey jumped up and down, as did the other women save for Cratis, "I know what you want for your anniversary of being a captain!"

Chey smiled, "Well, I think that should do. But Jill's deal still stands. You'd better hold up your end."

"I think I was the one holding your end. And then Jill's. Why am I even talking about this..." They all went their separate ways, "Fighting an army has less risk than dealing with the women here."

A passerby young woman stopped, "Hey! I know you!" Dante examined her with his eye and determined it was the young child from years ago, who had tried to give him a flower, "I can't believe it! Can I have your autograph!"

He sighed, "I guess?" He signed a book she had, "How's life?"

"Good! I like living in a real home. Space was too empty."

"Well, I'd like to stay and chat, but I have a meeting. Take care kid." Dante continued on his way, secretly dreading this meeting. There was nothing quite like being surrounded by people you don't like for various reasons, yet this was his life now, "Just a few more decades. Too bad nothing was able to kill me."

Eventually he reached headquarters, and as usual he walked through any door he wanted without question. There were two guards stationed at the entrance to the meeting hall, "Dante, you are expected. Please go inside." The opened the doors and Dante walked into the darkened room. The doors shut behind him, but then they locked.

"Great." He clenched his fists and tried to focus as his eyes slowly adjusted to the lack of light. It was a tense few seconds before a single dim light clicked on over the table, "I'm starting to think I died and went to hell."

Isa was sitting on the table, her legs crossed and her hat covering her body. Marie crawled forward a bit, "You've been ignoring us a lot ,and we decided maybe it's time to enjoy your company."

Isa uncrossed her legs and lowered the hat, "You technically outrank us, but I'm the official head of Fallen Sky. I have a simple mission for you, I guarantee you'll enjoy it."

"I can't just stand in front of a firing squad, can I?" The two women laughed, "Since I don't have a key and I can't attack you, I think I'm stuck here. Why does the universe have to suck so much?"

"Hey! That's my job, the universe can wait!" Marie seemed offended.

Dante cautiously looked around, "It's just us two. I heard you could handle more than that, but we won't stop til we're done!" Isa was as charismatic and excited as usual. Dante sighed, "Now either you come over here, or we'll jump on you!"

"Any particular reason you want me?"

They stopped and thought for a minute, "Jump!" They both pounced at the same time, but forgot that Dante was more clever than the usual mercenary. He gently grabbed them and carefull pushed them onto the table, "Well then..."

"Nobody can just ask nicely these days..." He began to caress their bodies and undid their belts, the only real piece of clothing they were wearing, "Allow me to get more comfortable." He took a step back, ripped the keys off of the belts, bolted out the door, and locked it.

..............................................

The Goddess approached the bulk of Zero Unit, who were just about overburdened with things, "Excuse me!" She waved her arm, apparently more confident than before, "May I have a word?"

Ratchet was the first to react, "Sure, why not?"

The Goddess looked around, "Oh, he got called into a meeting with Isa. We didn't ask." Titus said as he struggled to carry what the women bought.

"Oh, well. I had an idea that some of you may like as well. I know the final decision is up to him, but if you don't mind." She cleared her throat, "I have decided, that in addition to my Fallen Sky duties, to open a bookstore with stories and information from all over the known universe, and I thought that I could hire Zero Unit to help around and as security. You'd still take on the advanced missions, but at least you'd have a home."

Jill smiled, "It would be nice to have a place where I can see an actual sky for a change."

Sere was deep in thought, "I guess, but can I still live on the ship? I like the stuff in there."

The rest seemed to be in agreement, "Very good! Now all we need is to find Dante."

"It's been about three hours since the meeting, maybe he's already back on the Albatross." Ratchet said, and then the entire group was off. They took the long way, and a nice grassy hill overlooking a field filled with wildflowers caught their eye.

So did Isa and Marie, "Hey! Where's Dante! He stole our keys and locked us in!"

Marie took a few deep breaths, "He was last seen walking... over there!" She pointed at a lone figure lying on the hill. Dante was there, his hands behind his head and his one eye shut, very peaceful.

Titus sighed, "Listen, I'm taking this stuff back to the ship, it's really heavy."

Cratis chimed in, "I'll join you." The two ran off as the others walked towards him.

There was a gentle smile on his face, rare for someone of his reputation, "It's nice, isn't it?"

A breeze ruffled the flowers, "Ah, I had assumed you would enjoy something like this, but I must admit I didn't think you would just be out in the open." The Goddess was rightfully confused.

Dante took a breath, "Peace, quiet, a nice scent in the air, a pleasant breeze, what's not to like?"

Wendy sat down on top of the hill and hugged her knees to her chest, "Better than fighting."

Ratchet looked over at Dante's face, making sure not to block the sunlight, "I don't think I've seen you this happy. That being said, I think I prefer you this way."

Mira and Rachel silently walked over and smiled, "I'm glad to see this. You've been through quite a lot Dante, and even though you go on special missions, perhaps you should settle down."

"Settle down eh... that's up to Anima at this point, she knows me better than most."

A ghostly girl stood next to him with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face, "So, you all think you're good enough? Don't make me laugh!" She went on to insult each and every woman there for over an hour.

Meanwhile, Dante was still relaxing and enjoying the peace. The women tried to argue against what Anima was saying, but the little spirit had counters for every situation, "Why didn't I let Anima do this earlier... so much easier."

The young woman from earlier walked up to the hill, apparently not bothered by the army of women arguing with a ghost, "Hello again Mr. Dante. I see that you are... having a party?"

"Nope, just a normal day for me."

She smiled, "Here, a gift for you." She handed over a tiny cube, "I got good with a piano, so here are a few of my music pieces. Mostly for all the good you've done."

"Thanks." He pocketed the tiny cube, "You're welcome to stay and enjoy the show, I'm pretty sure you won't get shot. Or stabbed." She stood around and watched the arguing for a while, "This will go on for a while."

"I can tell, it's kinda cute."

Dante took a deep breath, "Oh well, as long as they aren't ruining the peace, they can do whatever. It's my time to relax." He took another breath, then whispered to himself, "Stories are just words, legends are nothing more than history, and myths are simply imagination."

Anima smiled very smugly, "Procul terminus, vita persevero."

Dante sighed, "At the end, life continues."