{Earth}
The Shadow transformed Matt into a pack mule. Two back packs, three suitcases, and a trunk stuffed to the brim with shit that wasn’t his. He didn’t mind. Things were hectic.
For instance, they arrived in the Ecology’s lobby and… Wow. They missed one hell of a party.
“Do you think they’re all right, Tameka?” Sagan gasped, and cupped a hand to her mouth in that pretty way she did.
Lucy dropped her load of stuff on the pile of rubble they Seamswalked onto. She took a few unsteady steps and bent over to brush something aside. He didn’t notice what it was as obviously distracting assets stole his attention.
Elden, he missed her.
Xelan. Wingmaster. The myth. The resurrected legend with a tiny Progeny on his neck approached her and helped her clear it. Lucy offered him that sweet smile she faked for people she felt warmly toward. It was an honest sign of affection, but Matt knew she forced it for her audience’s benefit.
Korac, who apparently had a shitty day, whistled as if impressed and drew the ginger’s attention back to the rubble.
Iona Medical Ecology.
That slate sign weighed a few tons. Matt remembered because he helped them crane it up there. And yup. It was gone. Someone disconnected the cables on it, and the once-awesome staircase was now a contorted pile of scrap metal.
Xelan looked everyone in the eye before asking softly, “What is this?” His voice shook a little with a ton of emotion swallowed. Every time Pax pulled on his long black hair, the intensity of it softened slightly.
Tameka smiled at both her men. A little sadly, but it suited her gentle expression. “We named the Arsenal after Iona, too.” Her voice broke, and she had to swallow to continue. “We wanted to make you proud.”
He pulled her in for a hug. Pax reached down and pulled her hair. Matt knew endeared was the right way to feel, but it was more than he could manage at the moment. So instead, he turned his back on the scene and faced Tumu and Iuo for instructions. Lucy came back to his side and shoved her hand in the back pocket of his shorts. He went bare-chested since he loaned her his shirt. After all, that clear PVC top might distract the Shadow.
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“A little post-apocalyptic, isn’t it?” Puk asked obvious questions, but Matt liked him for it.
Iuo chuffed and set Triss down gently.
Tumu clapped his hands. “Let’s look for a comms device. Careful in the lower lobby. We’re not sure what happened here. I doubt the arsenal fared much better.”
“Oh, it looks better if you ignore all the bodies.”
“Smith!” Sagan cried and ran over to hug the guy that started with them at Iona-01.
Bethany stirred for the first time since they found her in the prison.
Ross whispered to her, “It’s okay. We’re safe now.”
Matt put himself in Bethany’s line of sight. “Hey. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Her older sister mouthed, “Thank. You.”
He nodded. “Of. Course.”
In that time, Smith explained to leadership that Celindria took control of the Icarean detainees and joined a force of Inanis figures to replace them. He showed off his spent chain as proof to his authenticity.
Smith, looking a little worse for wear, concluded the tale. “Afterward, they let me know they headed for Cinder. I told them I’d grab what I could. I don’t think we want to use these facilities again for a few hundred years. At least that’s my vote.”
Matt offered with two thumbs pointed at his back, “I can haul more, if you need.”
Xelan frowned and asked incredulously, “Cinder? Why there?”
Pehton muttered to Oleen, “You watch for Triss regaining consciousness. I don’t want her irate by waking up in some man’s arms.” She un-cuffed Oleen, who complied and lifted their former leader in her arms.
Tameka stepped back and gazed into Xelan’s eyes. “What did Rayne tell you when she came to you? Where was she?”
He answered, a little puzzled, “A beach. It was a personal discussion, but nothing terribly specific.”
Sagan whispered, “Did the beach have a storm?”
Korac gazed down at her curiously.
Xelan lowered Pax down and knelt to the boy’s eye level. “Was the storm significant?”
The Seamswalker shook her head. “I’m not sure. But that’s not important. Uhm… Xelan. About Rayne…”
Five minutes passed as Tameka and Sagan took turns explaining Rayne’s circumstances. During which Wingmaster sat down and put his head in his hands.
With Pax on her back, Tameka finished, “And she can communicate with us in dreams. I think she did something similar with you.”
The blond offered, “I think she’s happy. She was when I saw her in the Seam.”
When Xelan spoke next, his voice triplicated, and he gazed at them with solid midnight eyes. “Take me to her.”
No hesitation. With nothing left to sort here, everyone gathered and Sagan opened another conduit to Cinder. Upon first sight, before one crowd acknowledged the other, before anyone else noticed his return—
Xelan fell to one knee and roared in grief.