“Again.”

For the last three weeks, Rayne trained with Xelan to learn how to control her nacre abilities. In her dreams. “I think I’ve got it.” No one better to teach her than him and she appreciated his company as always.

He peered down at her with open affection in the way only he could manage. “Yea, you do. Now let’s talk about when you wake up.”

Surrounded by their old training grounds in the woods behind her neighborhood, she wanted to talk about anything other than waking up. She plopped on the grass. “I think I still need more training.” They were safe here in the bubble world. Why pop it?

Xelan dropped to his knees in front of her. “General Rayne Callahan!”

She startled and straightened with wide eyes. “Sir.”

“You can’t hide here forever with me. Your people need you.” His soul bared to her in a set of eyes she would never forget. No matter how long she lived.

She shook her head, desperate for a way out. “For once, I’ll do as I damned well please. I’ll stay as long as I need to with you here until I’m ready.”

When Xelan hung his head, Rayne hated the slump of his shoulders. She never once heard him speak in a voice so small. “I’m not really here. I’m gone.”

She reached for him, and her voice cracked, “Please don’t say that. I—”

Korac’s smooth cadence filtered into the space she created. “Nox arrived at Iona-29 today with an advanced version of the Tantamount. They’re installing it at the Caldera.”

Rayne and Xelan exchanged a look. Her heart jumped in her throat. Soundly, he declared, “Rayne, it’s time.”

The Icarean General’s tone changed from uncertain to hopeful. “Disarming it requires blood. At least one Icarus. Possibly two or three humans. Drained. But I know you’ll find a way, General.” Wow. Korac had faith. In her.

A whirring sounded. Her body distantly shuddered with it. There was something about that. Something she let go. “What is that?”

“You know what it is. You’ve asked me every hour, and the answer doesn’t change.” He took her hands and bade her stand with him. “Wake up now.”

“No. Korac is here.”

“He always leaves after the mechanism. This time, you’ll be ready. You must stop that weapon from detonating.” He gave her hands a gentle jerk, as if desperate for this to sink in.

“I’m scared.”

Xelan shook his head. “No, you’re not.”

Heart on the verge of surrender, Rayne blurted, “I mean, I’m scared of losing you.”

“I’m not even here, Rayne. I never was.”

Here it was. The ultimate question. The only question that mattered in current existence. “How do I face a world without you in it?”

He sucked air through his teeth and considered her dilemma. “That’s a tough one. How does the world manage to go on without someone as intelligent and handsome as me?”

She repaid him with an involuntary giggle.

He kissed her forehead, and the first of many tears fell. “It’s time you start saving yourself. Right now. The others need you. This hiding here with me isn’t solving anything. I know, Rayne, I’m scared, too.” He pressed his forehead to hers and whispered hoarsely, “Please, tell Tameka I love her. Tell everyone I miss them. Punch Kyle in the face for me. And Rayne?” He stepped back to examine her.

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She tried to straighten her shoulders and lift her chin for him. Be strong. On a shaky breath, she answered, “Yes?”

“Thank you.”

She sobbed. “For what—”

The mechanism stopped, and she peered up at the storm forming in the sky. Korac muttered something about returning in an hour with more news. Even unconscious, she heard the unfurling of his wings as he took flight.

“He left. We can—” When she looked back, Xelan was gone. Her breath hitched, and her heart spasmed. She closed her eyes and spoke through her breath, “Thank you for everything, Superman. I’ll make you proud.”

Shoulders squared, feet together, jaw clenched. It was time.

Xelan explained to Rayne that her nacre required a reboot. The reboot required taking her systems offline. She must will the nacre to shut down. Concentrate. Deep breath in. Let it out. Shut down.

Let go.

Pulse slowed. Breath shallow.

Unconscious.

Empty. Darkness. No breath. No pulse…

Focus on the fire that made her. Remember what led to here. Hold onto it.

Cells online.

Tameka’s Fierceness and Grace

“We’re gonna save everyone, right?”

“We’re gonna save as many as we can.”

“This is not a pity party. Your dating life is your problem you’ve chosen to ignore. I was wrong to poke fun at you about it. I’m sorry. But god damn it, I am not sitting here preparing you as the virginal sacrifice to the dragon. We’re three besties, hanging out, polishing up the knight’s armor so she looks badass slaying that motherfucker. Now let’s force the boy slaves to make us some virgin daiquiris and get us some music going.”

Systems online.

Sagan’s Resilience and Courage

“You’re right. No time for trauma. No time for tears.”

“No, you’re wrong. There will always be time for those things, but we have to be ready to fight with them, and everything else we’ve got.”

Heartbeat.

Kyle and Andrew’s Insight and Reason

“You’d think in the middle of a war zone they’d have better things to do than leave us all these love notes.”

“They don’t think they’re in a war zone. They think this is a playground.”

Another heartbeat.

The Lesson She Learned

“Cities gleamed in the night. Beaches brimmed in the day. A proud and happy people were we.

Watch us soar.

All that time, Li shared in my loneliness. At my happiness, she grew jealous and bloated. Red.

I spent half my life lonely. My family just made. I asked upon the ten elders to shield the world.

My tears are joyous, not sorrowful. I found a way. We will soar into the sky. May our sacrifice be enough.

Save this world.”

The first breath.

The Promise She Made

“State the name of your enemy.”

“King Nox of Cinder.”

“Not the Icarean race?”

“They can be saved. An entire race of people cannot be punished for the crimes of a few.”

Pulse increased to 40 BPM.

Nox’s Cruelty and Lust for Pain

“You must understand pain to fight in this war.”

She would make him understand.

“Is this enough for you?”

No.

“Destiny is patient.”

Yes.

“It’s just a dream.”

All his lies.

“My brother trained you well.”

And all his schemes.

“First and last. No one else will satisfy. You will always be mine.”

Amounted to dust.

Pulse increased to 270 BPM.

Xelan’s Fathomless Kindness and Love

“You’re going to give me a lot of trouble, aren’t you, young lady?”

As it turned out…

“They’re real, you know?”

He feared her rejection.

“You’re only fifteen. You’re mostly human. We’ve only been training for six months. You aren’t meant to be a badass, yet. No one’s expecting that from you.”

Warm.

“Don’t. Don’t apologize for what he’s done to you. Ever.”

Pure.

“Your unit only works strongest when it’s whole.”

Right.

“I’ve got you.”

Always.

Right fist.

“Callahan, if you keep this up, I may have to stop holding back during our sparring matches. And we need to work on your naming conventions.”

“Anytime you’re ready, Wingmaster.”

Corny.

Left fist.

“What is all this?”

“My legacy.”

“You wrote all of these?”

“We never forget things. Nacre memories are perfect. But I’ve loved people who couldn’t live as long as I and who retain knowledge for even less time. This is for them.”

Perfect.

Calibrated.

Optimized.

Stabilizing…

Unable to stabilize.

Warning: Eighty-four hours until maximum destabilization.

Armed with the light that forged her…

“Rayne, it’s time.”

Let it blind the sun.