While the two hadn't spent that long in the home, he'd never really been there without Emma for long. It was often the only place he went without the helmet, aside from taking it off at meetings with friends. She hadn't asked for anything. No calls, no emails, no messages. He hadn't had a day without a text from her in over a year now, and it felt a bit strange.

While he disagreed with her choice to leave, he couldn't really fault her for it. The two of them had both wanted to settle down, relax, with the ridiculous wealth they'd gathered. Enjoy life. They'd said as much, at least. But... they kept getting back into it. Eyeball would see an article about some interesting new technology. Ripper would make a bet with outlandish terms. Emerald would fancy a trip to Paris, and want to get into some trouble there. And out they'd go again. Eyeball generally the only public face of whatever happened, often in outfits other than the standard just to avoid attention, while Emerald came in from the rooftops.

He looked at one of her favorite keepsakes. A crossbow bolt, in a polymer case. The faint mark of dried blood on it; from Tai. The doorbell rang, and he glanced up... and sighed, stepping out, sliding the helmet back on. Two men were standing outside, beside a stack of metal cases. "Ahhh... Eyeball. Sir. We're supposed to drop these off, and come back to pick them up for shipping to Japan tomorrow?"

"...Yes. Leave them here." The two practically fled back to their truck, as Eyeball shoved the stack in through the door, locking it behind them. He grabbed the first case, pulling it on into the bedroom. One case for her clothes. One case for her equipment. One case for her shoes and accessories. And one for he keepsakes, jewelry.

He opened the first case, setting it on the bed... and found a simple white envelope inside. He frowned, casually tearing it open. ~Remember, you've still got friends here. Come up to the Family Box and have a few drinks with me when you finish the packing. Or before. And make sure to call Butcher. He thinks you blame him for the missing hand. - Nicky~

Eyeball sighed. He'd been planning on getting drunk alone, but Nicky did have a much better selection of alcohol. And if he wanted to keep up with this training nonsense, it would be better not to be hung over in the morning.

He picked up the bolt, looking at it one more time... and set it in the case, nestled in the corner. Should he reveal that the two of them had killed a Titan together? It might help her reputation... as if she needed it. All hail the Dragon Empress, who slew the previous Dragon Empress in single combat.

After a few hours, each of the cases was neatly packed. He'd added a note that her other equipment was freely available if she wanted it, but couldn't fit in a packing crate... she had a sort-of wind tunnel setup to help her practice her flying.. and looked at the stack. Did he have any contact information on the island, someone other than Emerald he could send things to?

He tapped the side of his helmet. "Contact list. Emerald, Associates."

After a moment, a list popped up... he grimaced. Ripper's name was on top of the list. Drake. He... decided not to delete the name, just yet. There were voicemails stored there from him, and it might be good to listen to his last message again in the future.

He could obviously skip himself, and Ripper. But the name Gabriel. When did he get her father's number? Was she on speaking terms with him? "Call Gabriel."

***

Gabriel was having a.. less than pleasant time. His daughter, understandably, was a bit upset with him. He'd explained his thinking; that he was certain she could defeat the Empress in her current state, that it would be best to get all of this over with. But... she'd attached her anger at the whole situation to him, and didn't want him to join her for her usual meals; usually avoided seeing him at all. This was a bit of a switch for Gabriel; in years past, the powerful, handsome angel had never been short of friends, lovers, allies, and was one of the Dragon Empress's favorites... in part for how readily he'd picked up magic.

He sighed. He'd wanted to start teaching Emerald magic. The fallen Empress had spent years teaching him, decades ago, and here she was ignoring him. Two of the greatest sources of magic on earth, and she had them stuffed into a tomb behind a lead plate. Sure, radioactive. just... don't get them until you need them.

Even worse, she'd rebuilt the whole organization. Now, Dragon Island was back to being part of Japan, really. And the new organization she was building didn't have a place for... well. Him. Some of her decisions about hiring were a bit odd, but it seemed clear she was trying to distance herself from Eyeball and the Family. And of course her own family had all done something to upset her.

He hadn't been banished or kicked out of the tent he was living in, but... he was bored. Not an enforcer, not a leader, not a teacher... just... there.

He blinked... as his phone started ringing. An unknown number. Who cared, not like he was busy. "Hello, this is Gabriel."

"This is Eyeball. I've got your daughter's clothes and belongings and would like to arrange a shipment to her. Should I have someone drop them off on the island, or to somewhere in Japan?"

Stolen story; please report.

Gabriel gave a thoughtful nod. Eyeball. Good kid. Emerald shouldn't have broken up with him. He'd liked the way they looked, and acted, together, clearly supporting each other. "We've got a landing strip now. Your people can just land directly on the island. I'll let my daughter know. But... I was wondering. Are you hiring?"

"You... were part of the team that abducted Emerald to start this nonsense off. And you're asking if I'm hiring?"

Gabriel started pacing back and forth in his tent. "I'm good in a fight, I know magic, and your ex... my daughter... has almost as little to do with me now as she does with you. I don't need a big salary, but... I'm wasted here. There's a new leadership taking over, and it has no place for the old Empress's people."

"...I suppose. I'd been wanting to learn magic, but the only capable sorcerer I know of is Odin, and it seems... I don't know. Not something I should ask him about."

Gabriel grinned. "Great! I can teach you all sorts of things. Tell me. Do you have any weapons that have been around a substantial amount of death? Some livestock you can kill off at need? Or even better, both?"

"How many is substantial?"

For a moment, the Angel looked at the tarp floor of the tent, thinking. "Its... variable. Thousands of deaths will definitely imbue an object if handled properly, but if there's strong emotion involved, it can be fewer."

"...I'll have one of my people bring her belongings over on my jet. You can return with it, and we can talk from there."

***

The party was a fairly big deal. Most of the way through a given season of the Arena, they'd hold a special event up in the Family box, with the rich, famous, elite; and of course, those contenders who'd made it this far. While most of the guests weren't searched too thoroughly, one in particular; a black-armored figure with a deliberately marked streak of dried blood on his helmet; was pulled aside and carefully checked over. He was the only guest forced to give up his weapons at the door, and to be screened for explosives; but he gave them over without complaint.

La Famiglia had dozens of five-star restaurants, and all of them were called upon to cater these parties; supplying just a few of some of the finest dishes in the world to the event. As Harrick entered the party; confused as to why he'd been invited, since they knew full well who he was; he looked around the room and saw... his team, sitting at a table, waving at him. Or, at least, the Human Shield was waving like an idiot.

The other two were talking to Eyeball, who was also sitting at the table; wearing a different version of his helmet, it seemed. Same chrome sheen, same red LED eyes; but a mouth-piece that could retract, letting him eat while wearing it. He'd never seen that one before; and it was... strange.

Harrick slowly walked over to the table; glancing over a dozen feet away at the table of Nicolo Russo; the real leader of the island; sitting between a pair of attractive young women... One of whom was familiar to him. Penelope Russo Swiftblade.

A quick glance further around the room revealed dozens of other meta-humans, some of massive power and fame, others just who were his fellow Arena contestants; there were even a few who had been knocked out of the running, but invited anyway. Harrick settled into his seat at the table; and calmly slid his helmet off, setting it beside him. He'd had plastic surgery before taking this job on, and everyone there but Eyeball had seen his new face anyway.

The Human Shield smiled down at him. "Executioner! You're not gonna believe this. Remember how I told you we had this absolute badass named Viper on the team, had to drop off to go deal with some emergency? It was Eyeball! The goddamned Kamikaze himself!"

Harrick blinked. "Kamikaze?"

"Ohh! This bastard had a reputation before he got kicked out of the service. Always ran into danger, did crazy stuff. I never met him in the service, but my sarge had, said he was a real Leroy Jenkins kind of motherfucker. Sort to get everybody killed if they were dumb enough to follow him."

Eyeball shrugged. "Fair. I've been hospitalized more than most, and for worse injuries. And, well. Following me in would've been damn stupid quite a few times. I'd be dead if some hadn't done it anyway. When I got healed up after that last one in Afghanistan, I felt better than... I ever had. Surprised it took this long to lose anything."

He looked around the table. Kidney still wore his ridiculous labcoat ensemble, but T-Rex and Shield were both dressed more appropriately; actual suits and ties. Shield's looked... a bit tight. But then, the man was built like a truck. Harrick settled his gaze on Eyeball. "So. Should I be expecting anything?"

The chrome helmet swiveled to face him. "Honestly, no. Me and Wayson have come to an understanding. He's given me some potentially useful information, and while he hasn't apologized, I never expected him to. I started things, so I don't blame him for being upset. He does anything again, though, he's dead."

Kidney leaned forward. "Oooh. Wayson? The geneticist?"

Harrick nodded. "A personal friend. Eyeball robbed him a while back, and he tried to send a hitman after him in return. Didn't go well."

Eyeball leaned back in his seat. "He told me you thought it was a stupid idea. It was. By all rights I should have sent you and the hitman to him in bags, and then gone after him for it after giving him enough time to be scared shitless a while."

Kidney nodded. "Exactly. Best way to handle that sort of thing."

A low chuckle. A few waiters approached the table, setting out plates; Harrick nodded at the young woman who settled the steak in front of him as he settled his knife and fork in hand. For just a moment, he considered an errant throw of the knife... but no. Pointless. "So why didn't you?"

"You and your boss might still be useful. Plenty of irons in the fire, things that might need doing. Big things are coming in the days ahead. We need to look to the future."

As one of the waiters filled their glasses, Nicky stood up from his own table, and raised his glass in the air. "To all my friends here, and those enjoying La Famiglia. A toast! To good friends, to good fun.." He looked at the two young women. "And to family!"

Eyeball glanced around the table for a moment, thinking about the potential of the ones around him, the problems they might face... and the ones who had been here last time, but weren't any longer.. and stood up, raising his own glass. "And to the future!"

***

A few miles away, at Eyetech, Jenny was leaning in close, carefully tilting and altering a machine over a remarkably realistic-looking artificial hand; which seemed to have a gaping hole in the palm. She tapped a few buttons. And abruptly the hole stopped revealing the inner workings of the delicate cybernetic fingers; and instead, seemed to lead to a deep, eternal, darkness. She smiled, nodding to herself. "Perfect. I bet I get an even bigger bonus than he gave me for the gun from this one."