TEN

Firestorm

“Ready to go?”

Andrew was surprised to find Sagan waiting for him and Lucas outside the zeppelin. Andrew said, “I thought you were on your honeymoon.” She certainly glowed in wedded bliss, looking radiant in a purple halter dress which brought out her eyes.

Lucas went down the boarding stairs first, arms outstretched.

Sagan welcomed the hug, saying, “When Wingmaster summons the Shadow for a movie night, honeymoons can wait.”

“You couldn’t get work off your mind, could you?” Andrew accused before joining the hug.

When Lucas squeezed them both tightly, Sagan made a warm sound. “I think I just missed everyone, is all. Korac and I can have sex on all the beaches on all the worlds across the next million years—”

“Whoa. Whoa.” Andrew pulled out of the hug with surrender hands. “No offense, but I’m not trying to hear the details.”

Lucas winked at Sagan as he said, “Tell me anytime.”

Her laughter was sweet as she playfully shoved Andrew’s lover. Sagan opened a conduit and looped her arms through both of theirs. She said, “Lions, tigers, and bears. Oh, my! Let’s head down the yellow brick road, gentlemen.”

Andrew stepped over the Seam and into a movie theater he’d never seen in Xelan’s stronghold. The tiered seating was lined with cushions to snuggle on, and the size of the projected screen complimented their night of action movies.

Lucas said, “Thanks for transport, Dorothy,” before kissing Sagan’s temple.

She beamed at him, and the moment warmed Andrew’s heart. Given the golden-eyed Icarus’ shady past, Andrew and Lucas were lucky to have such accepting friends as Sagan. And he didn’t need to check her intentions to know it was genuine.

“Hey, Scarecrow.”

Andrew and Lucas turned to face the only General with such an elegant cadence.

Korac looked serious as he warned, “Any attempts to steal my bride during our designated honeymoon is an automatic withdraw of your right to breathe.”

Andrew and Sagan exchanged a glance as Lucas stepped into Korac’s personal space, looking him over. After a quick assessment, Lucas said, “Nice suit. Double-breasted. Black silk. Sure to make Xelan double take. I think your tailor deserves a raise.”

The trademark smirk spread across Korac’s lips, and he patted Lucas on the shoulder. “If I get the double take, I’ll see to your raise.”

“Wait.” Lucas went through the pockets of his own suit before pulling out a slip of purple cloth. He tucked it into Korac’s breast pocket, and it perfectly complimented Sagan’s dress. “There.”

From behind them came a feminine sigh.

Korac was smirking extra toward the sound before Andrew, Lucas, and Sagan turned to find Pehton on Caedes’ arm.

Pehton clicked her tongue and said to Lucas, “Stop. That man’s head is big enough to shade Iona Pax.”

Andrew chuckled.

Sagan snickered.

Caedes humphed.

It was a grand time.

Lucas bowed to Pehton. “I will endeavor to practice more caution with our General’s ego.” He straightened and set his golden stare on Andrew. “Shall we?”

“Excuse me.” Andrew nodded at the others as he crossed their friend group to his lover.

Lucas pecked him a kiss on the cheek before waving to the others.

As they climbed the tiers of cushions, Andrew heard Korac say, “Besides, General Warden, you love my big head.”

Caedes barked out a laugh which wrecked Sagan’s self-control into a giggle fit.

Pehton must be blushing.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

“Such important noise.” Lucas sounded sad.

Andrew spared him a glance, saying, “It’s the most important noise, Lucas. And you’re a part of it now.”

They picked the third tier and found a corner to nestle into with Lucas down first and holding his arms out for Andrew to sit between his legs.

Andrew hesitated, waiting for Lucas, who peered up at him, ancient and sad. After a few heartbeats of this pause, Lucas said, “This wasn’t the original design. I simply love Silence’s family. You included.”

This was enough. Andrew settled between Lucas’ legs, both of them looking out at the screen. Lucas played with Andrew’s long hair. He was back in the phase the Progeny girls had called ‘Golden God.’ The daytime schedule Xelan had set Ishkur on was long, and Andrew’s complexion appreciated the rays. His hair had lightened with it.

Andrew smirked as he recalled Lucas’ efforts to dress him in teal or green—

“Uncle Andrew! Uncle Lucas!”

Pax had many uncles and aunts. He came tearing up to their spot and jumped into Andrew’s open arms. “Hey, little man! Oof. You’re getting heavy.”

This pleased Pax. “Heh. I work out with daddy every day.”

“I hear you climbed all the way to the ceiling recently.” Lucas ruffled Pax’s red coils. “Nice work, junior stunt man.”

The kiddo climbed onto the cushion beside them and played with Lucas’ hair, saying, “Momma taught me how to braid. Can I braid your hair, Uncle Lucas?”

The sandy blond length went to Lucas’ shoulders, and Pax was already twining it into three strands when Lucas said, “Go for it. You need a hair tie?”

As the two talked for a bit, Andrew basked in the love piling into the room. T.a.o. and Sagan ferried the Shadow into the theater, one couple or family at a time. Pablo and Lynn, glowing with her pregnancy. Karter and Para were next, with baby Echo in tow, properly diverting Korac. Jack and Ross followed shortly thereafter. Chris and Bones were watching a prisoner, unable to join. Iuo brought Twenty-One and Miy. T.a.o. brought Devis and Andrius. Sagan led Kyle, Silence, and Smith in, who exchanged clandestine nods with Lucas, mid-braid. Tumu and Lamassau wandered in from somewhere within the stronghold, followed by the lead couple, Xelan and Tameka, with Aria and Torch flanking their sides.

And, yes, there was a double take. As Korac greeted the Co-Emperors, Xelan took a second look over the General’s suit. After which, Korac nodded up at Lucas.

Andrew muttered, “You know your tailoring.”

“It’s a delicate art form.”

Now here came the reason they were all gathered here today.

Matt and Lucy entered, followed by Bethany, Puk, and Yito. The annihilation squad smiled, nodded, clasped hands, and hugged—Normal stuff—

Fuck.

Andrew owed Kyle money. He’d bet his Progeny brother that he was imagining Bethany’s crush on the murder couple, but there she was making… It wasn’t soft eyes in Matt and Lucy’s direction. Bethany looked straight-up hungry.

Teenage hormones. May any logical reason she had left rest in peace—

And there it was.

Kyle pointed a very rude finger at Andrew from across the room, jerking his head in the squad’s direction.

Andrew mouthed, “I. Know.”

Lucas chuckled beside him, saying, “I hope it wasn’t many credits.”

Fucking three thousand.

Pax said, “Mommy says credits don’t matter anymore cause we live in a self-sustained s’ciety.”

With genuine impress, Lucas doted on the boy. “Pax, you are so smart. Your mom and dad are doing such a good job teaching you…”

Andrew lost track of the conversation because his palm device vibrated. He checked the notification. It pertained to some numbers he’d ran before he’d left the lab earlier in the day. The analysis was complete and…

Without a word of explanation, Andrew bolted out of Lucas’ lap and headed down the tiers to pull Xelan aside. “Excuse me, Tumu. Sorry, Lam. Xelan, I need to talk to you, and I think Korac, too, since he’s here.”

The communication between the two Icari was impressive. Xelan had barely looked up and glanced at Korac before the General kissed Sagan and headed in their direction.

Tameka asked, “Is everything okay?”

While the imperial couple talked it out, Andrew blew a kiss to Lucas, who mouthed, “I’m. Here. If. You. Need. Me.”

On this subject, Andrew was sadly certain Lucas would be more of a hindrance than a help. He nodded to signify he’d gotten the message before following Xelan and Korac out of the theater and into a sitting room.

Korac didn’t hesitate. “Report, Conscience.” After Xelan shot him a glance, Korac sighed and added with a roll of his eyes, “Please.”

“The last few days of activity within the Probability Matrix had me worried. We lose hundreds? Okay. Fine. It happens. Natural fluctuations, or whatever Lucas had said. But over the last twenty-four hours, we’ve lost more than five hundred million.”

Xelan blinked.

Korac’s brows shot up.

Andrew held out his hand for them to see the graph projected in his palm device. He pointed at the plunge. “This came in a few minutes ago on some analysis I ran earlier today. The Eternal Bind is bound. Whoever this mystical couple is, they’ve triggered a pileup. And I get this feeling they don’t even know it.”

Tumu stepped in, followed by Tameka, who asked, “What’s happening?”

Korac offered without looking at her, “The end of the universe.”

“Great. Can we watch the movie now?”

Tumu barked out a laugh and gave Tameka a playful nudge. “Peaches, that’s why you’re my favorite.”

Hands on hips, she stared at everyone’s bewildered expressions. “What do you want me to say? Xelan and Korac will go speak to Cinderken and wring Celindria’s location from him. Tomorrow night, Matt and Lucy’s strike team will infiltrate Night Rayne’s Tomb—What I’m saying is we’re doing everything we can.”

Andrew conceded the point to her with a nod.

Korac exchanged another communicative glance with Xelan, who said, “You’re right. We’ll go tonight.”

Tameka sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “I hate that you’ll miss all the fun for work.”

He kissed her forehead and took her aside for a couple’s chat.

Left alone with Korac and Tumu, the former asked Andrew, “Do you think Lucas will divulge anything useful?”

“Did your dad help any?” Andrew didn’t mean to sound defensive. “I’m sorry—”

“No, you’re right.” Korac shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned against the back of a chair, saying, “With their similarities, one might assume Lucas was an Aegis.”

What a theory. Maybe—

Tumu cleared his throat, muttering, “They’re coming back.”

Tameka looked Korac over as they returned before she teased, “Don’t you own anything normal?”

The General smirked and shook his head.

Xelan turned to Andrew, saying, “Thank you for coming to me. Keep me updated on any changes.”

Andrew asked, “If you find the Eternal Bind, will you try to stop this?”

The entire room looked at Xelan for the answer.

“I’ll do what I can to keep our Shadow safe. Don’t worry. I got you.”