This chapter marks the official end of Black Wolf: Three Fates. It's a bit overdue, but hopefully enjoyable nonetheless. Updates of The Last Hunter will resume now that this story is finished. (There may even be a BW4 in the future.) I'd like to do some more short stories, too, so if anyone has suggestions for characters you want to see more of, please let me know. Thanks once again to everyone who has read and reviewed. I truly appreciate it.

Epilogue

Akela smiles as he stepped off the DropShip. It was good to finally be in a place with an aura of familiarity after months of traveling through foreign space. Another Star Captain waved to him in greeting as she passed, and the lower ranking Warriors with her saluted. He returned the other officer’s gesture and smiled. Although this planet was not Strana Mechty, his Clan was here, and he was home. Shouldering his pack again, he continued towards the main complex, casually taking in the sights as he walked.

Feeling firm hand clap down on his shoulder abruptly, he whipped around, bringing up his hands to strike. Instead of a threat, however, he was met with a smile.

"It is good to see that you have returned safely, Star Captain."

Akela sighed, letting his hands drop back to his sides. "Lonan..." He gave the MechWarrior a reproving look, then chuckled. "Trying to keep me on my toes?"

"Always, ovkhan," his subordinate replied, smirking.

"How have things been of late? I trust you have kept everyone in line for me."

Lonan nodded. "As you would have it, sir. I have been trying to keep the new transfers busy with trial scenarios and training. Most of them are doing quite well. MechWarrior Melli, in particular had excellent scores across the board."

"Ah, that is exactly the sort of thing I like to hear. Though there is probably some bad news for me, as well."

"There is. She wants to see you, and she is not happy..."

The Star Captain sighed again and nodded. "Very well... Thank you, Lonan." He turned and trotted off down the hall, turning away from the administrative wing.

Eventually, he came to the gym. Just as he predicted, Helina was alone in the room, clad in a sleeveless jump-suit, literally knocking the stuffing out of a punching bag. She launched one last volley at the target, and then stepped back to check the read out on the force-meter. She gave a little "tch" sound, probably assuring herself that she could increase the score by a couple points, and grabbed her canteen.

"So, 'nephew'..." she began, her voice icy, "how are your wounds?"

"Healing," he replied.

"Good." Helina turned around promptly and, carrying some of the energy from her turn, slapped him hard across the face.

Akela gave no resistance, and instead merely tried not to wince or let the blow prompt a reaction. Though she hardly held back, it was clear that the intent was to insult more than pain him. He resolved to let it do neither.

"You stravag," she hissed, giving him an accusing glare. "Do not think I am blind to your little game. Partnering with a Solaris con artist, falling in with mercenaries, and on top of that, ignoring my communiques for over a month... You just love walking that very fine line between 'unconventional tactics' and dezgra behavior, quiaff?"

Ignoring the tiny needles still bristling in his facial nerves, retrieved a small metal box from his pack and offered it to her. Helina snatched it away and opened it quickly, glowering at him once before examining the contents of the package. "Hmph, all I can say is that you have at least completed your mission. It certainly took you long enough," she grumbled.

"Now, I promised I would retrieve the Black Wolf for you. You doubt my word, quineg?"

Helina pursed her lips and looked back at him critically. "And what of the freebirth who took you to it?"

"I silenced him," Akela replied simply.

"Good." She took a step closer, examining the graze wound on his scalp, and then looked back into his eyes. "And what of your sibkin?" she asked, a pleased if somewhat malicious smile on her face. "You had to have the Timber Wolf to get this, so you must have had her, too."

"Randi Wolf is dead."

The Star Colonel stepped back and gave him a stern look, her electric amber eyes scanning him quickly. Unable to pinpoint any dishonesty, she gave him one last suspicious glance and returned her attention to the box.

'Aff, Randi Wolf is dead... There is only Randi Greene, now,' Akela mused. 'I hope that she is happy.'

"You did complete your mission," Helina interrupted his thoughts. "I will even concede that you have saved us some resources."

"Thank you, ovkhan."

"Do not thank me, Akela," she warned. "I am beginning to regret sponsoring you for your bloodname."

Breaking his hereto reserved expression, he let a sly grin slip over his face. "Come now... We both know that you are far too mission-minded to cut out the asset of a good officer for mere spite. I also doubt that you will find a replacement for me before you kick the bucket, old wolf."

"That is exactly what I was talking about," she said, frustration evident in her voice. "Try as I might to make a proper officer of you, I cannot seem to stamp out your rebellious streak. I think your unconventionality will be your end. It almost was, this time."

"And look what convention has done for us so far," he shot back. "Look what it has done for the Coyotes. They continue to stagnate in 'tradition,' while the other Clans plot to bury them. We will suffer the same fate if we do not continue to adapt."

"You have no idea what you are talking about," Helina chided him, closing the box again. "Hopefully, though, some rest will help you see how foolish you are being. Now go, your mission is over."

He frowned, but did as he was bid, and left the gym for his quarters. 'You are wrong, though, ovkhan. My mission has only begun. I refuse to let my Clan stagnate.'

* * * * *

"A toast! To large bonus awards and finished contracts!" Fred announced, raising his glass.

The others toasted with him, giving a unified reply of, "Cheers!" amidst some good-natured chuckles.

"Well, all things considered," he continued, taking a sip of his beer, "I think we made it through that pretty well."

"It certainly could've been worse," Randi agreed, leaning back in her chair.

"That reminds me..." Fred looked over at Harrison curiously. "How did you manage to do such a number on Akela?"

"I didn't exactly waste my time in the infantry," the older man said, chuckling.

"Wait—infantry?"

He gave a dismissive snort and shook his head, smirking. "I told you I was in the military. What'd ya think I did?"

Fred toyed with his fork a little, nudging a frozen pea across his plate, and shrugged. "Uh, I don't know... Fix 'Mechs? Peel potatoes?"

"Yeah... That's how I got this limp," Harrison said sardonically. "A potato shot me in the leg." He rolled his eyes, and Ned stifled a laugh.

"Well, um..." Fred turned and pointed to Ned, ignoring his other companions. "What did you do before this?"

"I was an exotic dancer," the younger tech replied, deadpan, and took a bite of his pasta. The rest of the table went silent, with a variety of somewhat bemused expressions painted across their faces.

As her partner glanced over at her, Randi simply shrugged. "You already know what I used to do."

"Well, I think we've all learned a valuable lesson today. Always know your employees' history," Fred joked, finally, giving a nod to Harrison.

"Pfft, you're one to talk," he interjected. "You got kicked out of the army!"

"My point exactly. I should have done a background check on myself." Fred grinned and stood, gathering up his plate and silverware. "Anybody finished?"

"Yeah, I think I'm done," Ned replied, handing over his plate, and then Harrison's, as well.

Randi stood also, collecting the leftover food, and followed Fred into the kitchen. "Thanks for dinner."

"Heh, it was carry-out."

"Still." She smiled and started boxing up the remaining food. "So, do we have any contracts lined up now?"

"Not at the moment. First, I think we need to hire on at least one more MechWarrior," he replied, as he began washing the dishes. "Two, if we can. And I really do mean to do some better background checks this time."

"That would be for the best," Randi said, chuckling. "What about the Dragon?"

"Sell it, probably. Prewitt won't be needing it." He glanced over at Randi and frowned. "He'll never be able to pilot again."

She mirrored his expression, and crossed her arms. "I can't say I have any sympathy for him, after all he's done. ...After what he's done to you..." She sighed, remembering the fear she had felt both times that the Solaran had gone after her partner. 'Am I going to keep quiet about this forever?'

He fell silent for a moment, biting his lip lightly in thought. "You know, that reminds me... Before, when I was in the hospital, there was something I wanted to tell you. I should have told you," he continued. He set the dish he was washing back into the sink and turned around, frowning a little. "I just..."

She laid a hand on his shoulder lightly, in reassurance. "Whatever it was, don't worry about it. We made it through that, and through this. That's all that matters, right?"

"I don't think it is. Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"It's about Akela. You and he..."

"Were close," she said slowly.

"Oh." Fred nodded and looked down at the floor.

"But not in the way that I think you mean," Randi continued. "He was—is—my brother. I do care about him in an odd, dysfunctional sort of way. I think he feels the same about me. But, no, we were never involved romantically." Then, she added with a chuckle, "He got on my nerves far too much for that."

"I'm sorry, then, for assuming."

"No, you do not need to apologize. You did not know any differently."

"Alright. I don't mean to pry, asking things like that. I just, well, I wanted to make sure I wasn't interfering."

"What do you...?" Her voice trailed off as he looked back at her.

He paused, then leaned over and kissed her lightly. "I love you, Randi."

Feeling her heart skip a beat, she returned the kiss, a little deeper, and smiled. "I love you, too."