After all the recent threats and attacks on the group of people who she had come to think of as more than friends, her family, including a very brutal ambush which nearly claimed her life, when her assistant set the humble looking cardboard box on her desk that morning after picking it up from Reception, the Chief of Staff of Riverview Clinic felt the beginnings of a whole family of Tribble-like knots form in her stomach.

Maranya slipped on her pair of platinum wireframed glasses, and closed her hazel eyes to focus on Seeing if there was a threat from the simple package marked BCU with a note attached to its lid.

Unbidden, a horde of memories swirled in her mind. Of the bone creature known as Kita withstanding her most potent attack, and continuing to relentlessly drive its bony claws into her flesh to tear her body into bloody shreds even as its own form was being melted away from the inside by the Death Rote she uttered in desperation. Of how her family tried to stop the monster from attacking her. Of one member in particular who stepped forward to try to intercept Kita with his own body, until another member pulled him away from guarding her because of their fear for his life. Of two very different yet similar men that she treasured dearly in her heart. One whose dark eyes burned with quiet, vengeful fury while he held her close after the medics had repaired her body's grievous injuries. The other who roared like the Lyev she often compared him to, his words of righteous anger colored deeply by the genuine fear he felt when he learned of the attack from her.

The fingertips of Maranya's left hand pressed against her lips to stem the trembles there as her shielded hazels opened finally. No danger was detected from the box, only power. A good deal of it, by her estimation. She removed the note, and perused it slowly.

Then she opened the box, removed one of the timepieces, and fastened the watch around her right wrist. An odd placement for a watch on a right handed person, she wore it there out of habit. About her left wrist, under the cuff of her charcoal gray wool suit jacket sleeve, rested what appeared to be a stylized MedicAlert' bracelet, a gift from The Enforcer after the last attack. She studied the additions to her wardrobe with a faint smile.

Wonder Woman's bracelets. Beyond willing, these will deflect more than bullets, and keep me safe. I have so much to live for.

Her gaze first fell on the emerald set in platinum that resided on her left ring finger. Then she saw her reflection in her flatscreen monitor, and the fifty seven point five carats of flawless teardrop emeralds set in platinum and accented with diamonds that dangled from each earlobe. A warm, dreamy smile curved her lips.

So, so much to live for.

Two of the watches were removed from the box. The remainder, along with the box and note, found their new home in her black leather satchel, and disappeared within without a trace.

Maranya picked up her fountain pen, and wrote two identical notes in a neat, calligraphic handwriting in black ink on her personal letterhead stationery.

These are to keep you safe from harm from our Family's enemy.

Please wear them always.

Maranya

Rising from her chair, she departed from her office, and left one watch and note with Xenia. The other set was left on Chryrie's desk.

Then she returned to her office, to tackle the day's normal course of business as it came in.