{Earth}

“Twenty-One, do you understand the terms as I’ve recited them?” Lynn stared hard into the slaughter-happy Icarus’ dark eyes.

The prisoner of war ducked his buzzed-cut head and acknowledged, “I understand.”

The perimeter lights in the gray cell illuminated from the ceiling and the floor. A bunk sat into the wall. Same as her facility. The Icarean resident stood in the center, wearing the standard-issued maroon uniform. A cross between scrubs and a prison jumpsuit. He was a big guy with a slightly unassuming presence. It was dangerously disarming.

So, keeping his gaze lowered in deference affected Lynn. Of course it did. She read the same Verses as the rest of the Shadow. But she spent her days learning how to destroy nacre-bearers. The work kept her aware of the threat a man like Twenty-One posed. Not everyone deserved redemption.

Lynn looked down at the paperwork. “Do you have any reason to contest this transfer?”

“No. I won’t let you and Dr. Suarez down.” It was hard to look small at his size, but he managed. Reduced by shame.

“Good. I hope you like your new home.”

Lynn left the lab and took the suspended stairs in the glass atrium. She stopped on a landing to appreciate the ocean made clear below her feet. The Brethren certainly enjoyed their impossible architecture.

Before encircling his arms around her, Pablo gave the warning. He learned after many hilarious incidents of violence not to sneak up behind her. Lynn covered his hands with her own, and he settled his chin on her shoulder.

“Stressful, isn’t it?” His voice was so comforting this close.

Lynn nodded. They did good things. The Shadow all performed well at their task of reconstructing the world. But…

“Does it feel like things are getting hard again?” She moved so she could look in his eyes. “The amnesiac. Andrew’s meetings. Jack. Hell, the Tritans letting Tameka come here must be a fucking portent.”

Pablo squeezed and assured, “Tumu took good care of Jack. Andrew’s being cautious. And we can handle an occasional anomaly from an alien planet.” He paused and searched her eyes. “You’re not just feeling uneasy, are you?”

She shook her head.

“Then trust your instincts. Bring up your concerns at the meeting. We all respect each other. No one will shrug off what you have to say.” He kissed her forehead tenderly.

“My god, you two never work.”

They uncoupled and turned.

Smith leaned on the banister with a shit-eating-grin, and his hands raised in defense. “I know. I know. The time away is hard and all that.” He tossed a nod over his shoulder. “You’re needed at the comms, Mr. and Mrs. Boss. It’s Story Taker and Fury.”

Lynn always suspected Tameka nicknamed herself. “We’d better head up.”

Pablo put his forehead to hers. “If it ever overwhelms you, I can whisk you away from here and all our responsibilities. Just say the word.”

“Banana.”

He laughed, sudden and hard. One of Lynn’s favorite sounds. She only heard him make it for her. Shaking his head, he led them up the stairs.

“Hey, you two. Thanks for joining the call,” Tameka started over the comms. “Kyle’s on King duty with me. Andrew is on the call. Lucas isn’t available. Batman is here. Sagan is… somewhere. We’ll catch her. This phone call is to plan the best meeting place for the Shadow. Andrew, I’ll let you take over.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Wait… wait,” Kyle jumped in.

Andrew gave the go ahead.

“Conscience, if we have the meeting there, can you hook me up with some of that Australian stuff?”

Pablo snickered, and Lynn gently elbowed his ribs.

“Ow. Ow. Fuck, I get it, Tameka. Stop!”

Oh, now they both snickered.

“Please, Andrew. Start.” Tameka’s voice dripped with the glare she no doubt paid Kyle.

Conscience cleared his throat before beginning, “Right. So. There’s been a lot happening. We can chalk it up to coincidence. Or we can be smart and try to be proactive. Does anyone disagree?”

Batman called on the comms, “I came this close to waking Rayne up so she could kill me for the near-miss with Jack. Hell, I wouldn’t blame her if she executed me. I’m all for preventing a tragedy here.”

“You handled the situation well. But you’re right. We don’t want to see anymore of these situations, do we?”

Lynn practically heard Andrew push his fingers through his hair in frustration. She agreed with his points completely, but stress hurt their jobs. Their jobs were important.

“Pablo and Lynn. That transfer you’re planning. Is there any way I can get you to postpone it?”

They looked at each other before Pablo responded, “Do you mind if we ask why?”

Lynn turned to make sure the door to the soundproof room was closed and caught Pablo’s appreciative nod as Tameka explained, “We’re worried about the timing of it paired with the emergence of this nacre hating-group and—What was her name?”

Kyle answered on an exhale, “Silence.”

“Silence’s arrival,” Tameka finished. Off to the side, they heard her ask him, “Where is she?”

“Cypher’s watching her at the fortress.”

Chris sighed into the comms. “The trouble with all of us working such strategic roles is that we’re indispensable. When would be convenient for all of us? And where is a safe enough place for the entire Shadow to convene?”

“The nacre chamber,” Andrew offered.

Chris muttered, “Wow.”

Pablo’s brows shot up, and Lynn gripped her pendant. They heard about it. Where Rayne ended the war, but they never saw it in person.

Tameka and Kyle answered simultaneously, “Agreed.”

Lynn whistled, impressed. “Well, how will we get the Seamswalker to keep still long enough to transport us all?” She paced around the device with Pablo’s eyes on her.

If the others sensed what she did, then were her concerns validated? Were they unsafe? Was it starting again?

A warm hand slipped into hers. She looked up into rich brown eyes and a warm smile on perfect lips. He squeezed, and she smiled for her husband.

Tameka explained the technical details. With her confidence, she made one hell of a leader. “Does anyone have questions?”

“So, Sagan will bring Silence to Iona Medical after?” Pablo confirmed.

Kyle took the mic, “Yes. She volunteered. Is that good with you, Doc?”

Pablo nodded until Lynn nudged him. He smiled bashfully as he remembered they couldn’t see him. “Yes. Thanks, Story Taker.”

“I’m coming with her, if you don’t mind. Tameka will have King duty for a few more days.”

Lynn and Pablo exchanged a look. While the rest of the shadow went laxer on Kyle, she still resented what happened to their entire unit because of his betrayal. He tried. He did. She knew that. Which was why she nodded after chewing on her lip.

“The light is green. Looking forward to seeing you. Anyone else want to drop in?” Pablo checked.

Chris started, “Well, now that you mention it—Ow.” The rest he muttered, “I’m just messing with him. He knows…”

Andrew’s voice came on the line, “Can I say one last thing?”

Everyone assented.

“I miss you all very much. And I’m so proud of every single one of you—”

“What the fuck did I just call into?”

“Hey, Matt! I don’t know, man. Andrew got all mushy on us out of nowhere,” Kyle answered.

Lynn hopped on the mic, “Where have you been, Ginger?”

“More importantly, where are you?” Andrew asked.

“On my way to rendezvous with Iron Hope, then I guess I’m heading to this super important meeting you called.”

Batman asked, “How is Lucy?”

It got quiet. Like dead air.

Matt’s voice sounded stony when he finally replied, “Working.”

Well, that certainly didn’t invite any prodding questions. Pablo and Lynn exchanged a glance before shaking their heads.

“See you soon, Matt. Lynn, Pablo, Andrew, Chris. Thanks everyone for joining the call.” Tameka killed the line.

Lynn bit her lip some more.

“Tell me what’s on your mind.” Pablo rubbed the back of his neck.

Should she share this? “What should I do? I can’t just stop that transfer. My schedule isn’t the only one affected. We’re testing a new weapon, and we need…”

Pablo crooked his neck to either side, yielding a satisfying pop. He and Lynn rarely fought, but he struggled with the ethics of her mission. And she struggled to explain to him what he couldn’t see.

After a long stretch, he finally came out and said it, “You need someone you’ll care less for hurting. Is that right?”

Lynn looked away and mumbled with less conviction, “They volunteer.”

“They volunteer to avoid Gait. Imagine the hell that place must be? But are we better? Are we sure?”

“I don’t want to fight.” Near tears. Not good. She reached out to him. “Please?”

He crossed the room and chafed her arms. “This isn’t a fight. You asked me what I thought of going through with the transfer. To appease those schedules you spoke of. But, Lynn…” He lifted her chin until she met his gaze. “…Ask yourself what the hell is so important down there that those people would consider ignoring an order from Fury?”

“The future, Pablo. It’s our future.”