Kyle Smith, the beautiful CG girl formerly known as Shi, wondered about her situation. She had been all but recruited into being the Death to electronic forms of life, and tasked with guarding very important things.
Then, along came the angel. She longed for the freedom to walk the Earth, but did not want to lose all of the things Death gained. Such knowledge.
Ironically, the angel said she'd free her to go back to Earth, and that was precisely what she, in a way, did.
Game over.
Shi smiled sadly. The angel had given her a mixed blessing: The ability to be on Earth again, in exchange for losing all of those possibilities. So much knowledge. Shi had felt time stop. She also felt it resume. In both cases, due to the loss of her station, she was pretty much powerless to help.
Her doorbell rang. She checked the peephole.
A gothic woman.
She reminds me of Neil Gaiman's Death of the Endless... - Thought Shi.
"Good, that's what I was aiming for. I came to talk. No orders, no strings. Can I come in?"
"D-Death?? Is that you??" - said a surprised Shi as she opened the door.
"Yup. I assume you know about the... time incident?" - Said Death as she entered - "I took this form to help ease a certain someone that solved it feel more at ease. And... I discovered I don't mind it, really. Anyways, that someone told me to talk to you in exchange. To offer you your job back, IF you want it."
Shi blinked.
"You're... You want me back???"
"Think of it as a second chance. Plus I'm adding some bonuses. You can get back to Earth when you want it if it won't impede your work. You even have some more autonomy. And, well, an actual paycheck, or some other form of salary, I suppose..." - Said Death, sheepishly.
"Why are you being so, er... nice about this?" - Said Shi - "Not to offend, but you basically drafted me the other time. I liked getting to know things out of this world, but..."
"One, I spent an hour or so with someone that's very much a free spirit. Two, I owe said free spirit a fairly huge favor. Three, I am now in a body that is slowly teaching me what it is to be human. Four... I got to be in a party without anyone kicking me out, so I'm in a good mood." - Death smiled - "But in exchange you also have to meet Lucas to talk about the fate of Lilly Gordon."
"She is fated to die soon... You told me as much." - Said Shi darkly.
"She was fated to live before. Your encounter with Lucas was what changed that fate. And Lucas is now seeing to it that it is changed back, so that Lilly lives. It was also the fate of time to stop. Permanently. And Lucas also changed that fate." - Said Death, evenly.
Shi's eyes widened at the implications.
"The one that can destroy all fates. The one with the sword that is as water... I met her. And... And she saved time? And she was given such power?"
Death nodded.
"To be fair, I don't think she herself grasps the implications. However, she has proven ingenious, if... chaotic. So. Do you take the job back? And will you meet her?"
Shi smiled as she remembered how she said it was not possible for Lucas to enable her to move around freely between the two realms.
She remembered what Lucas said in return.
Chaotic Neutrals disregard impossibilities.
"I'll do it. Yes!" - Said Shi, smiling.
"Good to have you back. Now let's talk salary and hours..." - Said Death, smiling.
