Rayne exhausted all her emotions before 8:00AM. Iona Airlines hosted its first memorial service for all the victims of the Icarean War. When her brother collapsed during the ceremony, she folded with him. Tears surged unbidden, but she refused to sob. Her parents… Nikki… She would make Nox pay for taking them from her.

Xelan gave a beautiful eulogy. Cypher sang a hymnal. Rayne thanked them both as she and her brother left for a private goodbye.

“When?” Jack asked. He leaned against the cinder block exterior wall. All painted gray.

She knew what he meant, but she asked anyway, “When, what?”

“When will you let me fight? I want a chance to kill Nox.”

Here they go. Rayne shook her head, saying, “You’re not getting involved in this. Do you have any idea what he could do to you?”

Jack glanced her over head to toe before saying, “I have a pretty good idea, and I still want to take him out.”

“This isn’t a revenge game. There’s more at stake than what he did to us.” Rayne’s voice cracked. “To me.”

Jack said, “You’ll be too busy killing monsters to miss me.” He crossed his arms over his chest, sulking.

Busy killing monsters. Yeah right. Xelan told Rayne the hand injuries might take four weeks to heal and her arm could take two months. Even after the bone re-knitted, he expected it to never function again.

There had been so much carnage and loss. Nikki came to mind.

Rayne turned her back on Jack, promising, “I won’t go a single moment without worrying about you. The only reason I’m letting you out of my sight is to save you from the target I’ve become.” The raw words clawed from her squeezed throat. Not her baby brother.

Jack walked closer, and she forced back her tears when he said, “Rayne.” His voice sounded younger than his age.

She was his big sister, and he expected her to protect him. She straightened her shoulders back and faced him. Before Jack said another word, Rayne wrapped her good arm around him trying not to flinch at how much her ribs hurt. “I love you,” she whispered to him. She felt it down to her marrow. She would save the world and him with it.

Jack hugged back, careful of Rayne’s injuries. He sniffled, and she tried to ignore the tears squeezing out of her lashes. “I love you, Rayne.”

She stepped back. “Be brave for me.” She gave him a sad smile and mussed his hair. “And do whatever your bodyguard says. Don’t make it difficult on him. Maybe he’ll teach you to be a badass, too.”

“Whatchu talkin about? I got this,” Jack said as they both headed back inside.

Rayne cleared the door to the sound of voices, some were raised but not in anger. “Our parents are alive?!” John shouted.

Caedes spoke next. “We can confirm they are fine. We are waiting for Celindria—”

“General Callahan,” Xelan corrected.

There was a tense pause.

A throat cleared, and Caedes continued, “—General Callahan to return so we can update everyone all at once. Is that reasonable?”

Rayne rounded the next corner. “I think so.” Jack followed in her wake and joined the ranks. She noted Kyle, Matt, and Pablo’s absence and would ask them about it later.

“Did you hear?” Sagan asked, her voice bouncing with excitement. “Our parents are safe!”

A slight twinge sucked the life out of Rayne momentarily. Be happy for them. She smiled. “I’m so relieved. Please report, Caedes.”

Anger rippled in the Icarus’ bizarre deep green eyes. It disappeared as quickly as it came. He’d almost hid it from her as he said, “Frullop’s men met with your parents at the addresses you provided. They took photographic proof, as requested.” He handed her a manila envelope. As she opened it, he continued, “And as promised, the troops escorted them to the State Capitol.”

The envelope contained 5x6 images of the envoys and parents posing together. Folded sheets of paper came next. They were heart-felt notes to their children.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Genuine relief flooded through Rayne, and she smiled. All safe. “This is wonderful!” She approached Sagan with her parents’ picture first. “Pass it on.”

Sagan’s smile radiated warmth even as tears flushed from her eyes. She looked at Caedes and said, “Thank you.”

He honored her with a half bow.

Sagan took her gift and passed the envelope on.

Caedes said, “In addition to your requests, Xelan has asked us to retrieve personal belongings to help your transition into this environment. Although it’s outside the scope of their duties, they respectfully collected your things. Even yours, Cel—General Callahan.”

Caedes gestured to eight duffle bags stuffed in a golf cart.

Rayne gave the bald Icarus a gracious smile. “Where are Frullop and his team? I want to thank them.”

He peered down at her with something close to curiosity on his face. “They’re prepping Iona-02 for the Shadow’s arrival.”

That came across as odd to Rayne. Xelan told her all the bases were manned, so why would they need an advanced team? She held out her hand, anyway. “Good work, soldier, and thank you.”

Caedes shook it. Over his shoulder, Rayne glimpsed her favorite Icarus, Xelan, beaming with pride in a way that reminded Rayne of her dad.

“Hey, can we break into these bags or what?” Tameka’s unrestrained directness sparkled right on schedule.

A strange expression crossed Caedes’ face. Did… Did he find Tameka charming? Endearing? He answered, “Yes, Sovereign Ambassador.” Oh, he didn’t have any problem remembering her title.

Rayne opened her mouth to prod him when Xelan stepped around Caedes to approach her. He whispered in her ear, “Jack departs in one hour.”

She glanced at him and said, “I want to meet his bodyguard. What’s his name again?”

“I’ll arrange it with Chris.”

“Thank you, Xelan.” Rayne had said that phrase many times since they’d arrived at Iona, and every time her voice held warmth and love.

Xelan offered her a slight smile and picked up a duffel. He waded into the group and approached Tameka. The two exchanged some words and some looks. This was a wonderful thing.

Rayne’s smile brightened, and her heart became as light as air. Finally. She caught Sagan’s glance as she walked by to collect her duffel. She’d noticed Xelan and Tameka’s chemistry, too. Good.

Jack grabbed two duffel bags and brushed through the menagerie to reach Rayne. “I got yours.” Awkwardly, he added, “It’s heavy.”

She reached out with her able hand and said a silent thanks for the bulky muscles that unfolded with it. Slower than Rayne wanted, Jack handed the bag to her. No. Problem.

She said, “Thanks. Let’s go back to my dorm and open them together.” He nodded, and they started down the hallway. Before she realized what she was doing, she stopped and turned back to Caedes. “You’re dismissed.”

His jewel-toned green, almost black eyes flashed. Caedes did not like the sound of that.

Jack followed Rayne through the hangars and down the hallway, passing the gym, communal showers, and restrooms. All the walls were a soothing gray with black slate tiled floors. In the room, they tossed the bags onto a bed.

Rayne said, “Make sure you have everything you need. Whatever you’re missing, Xelan might have it here and take advantage of that.” She blew out her breath on a heavy exhale. “Jack, I don’t know what it’ll be like for you out there. I know you feel you’re missing out, but you’ll be starting an entire community. People are scared and injured. They need protection and help.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “You’ll get to be a part of that. And I know, whatever happens, I’ll be proud of you.”

With a light touch, Jack patted Rayne’s hand. He opened his things without another word. A knock sounded on the door. “Yes?” she called.

“It’s Xelan.”

Rayne let him in. He scanned the room, paused on the covered lampshade, and checked out the pillows on Sagan’s bed. He never missed a thing.

Xelan nodded at Jack. “Do you have everything you need?”

Jack searched through the bag for another thirty seconds. “It looks like.”

“Would you like to meet your bodyguard?”

“I guess I ought to.” His voice held an absolute wealth of enthusiasm. Not. “Rayne, are you coming?”

She turned to follow Xelan out the door. “Yup, I’m not gonna let some stranger take off with you on the back of his motorcycle.”

Jack stared after her. “Are you serious?!”

“Don’t forget your bag.” It occurred to Rayne: he won’t be returning to the residential area again. Her throat tightened a little. This was best for Jack.

They went deeper into the outbuilding, passing through a garage with mechanics at work on convoy vehicles and even weaponry. Explosives? “Xelan?” she asked.

He promised over his shoulder, “I’ll show you on the way back.”

One narrow corridor later and they reached a gray door. Xelan opened it, and Rayne tried not to snicker. The tiny room bore a striking resemblance to stereotypical interrogation rooms on TV shows. She stopped herself from laughing because a dark-complected man stood inside as tall as most Icari. Rayne couldn’t let everyone know General Callahan was immature. Instead, she said, “Chris,” and reached out her good hand.

The veteran seemed familiar and carried himself with confidence in a sturdy build. There was no way to test his capability in this room, but if Xelan approved…

Chris gave a brief glance over Rayne’s cast. It was almost so slight she didn’t catch it. Should she say something or let it go? When he took her hand in a firm grip, she let it go.

“General Callahan,” Chris said with a curt nod and a good shake.

Rayne gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you for what you’re doing. I’m sure they gave you everything you need. Did you get a codename?”

Chris stared hard at Xelan. Seriously. For like one hundred and twenty-seven seconds. Rayne had counted. After forever, he said with a flat tone, “Batman.”

Rayne’s eyebrows shot up, which disturbed the stitches on her marked cheek.

Jack died laughing in the figurative sense. He let it all out over the codename.

Xelan placed a firm hand on Jack’s shoulder. The hard lines of his face appeared stern, but his eyes glittered with mirth. All of Jack’s humor dried up as he looked up into that ancient gaze.

Xelan said, “If he’s Batman, what do you think your codename is?”