{Ishkur | Pantheon}

Chris was overwhelmed. Leadership—Xelan, Korac, Tameka, Kyle, Andrew, and Sagan—weren’t answering their comms. T.a.o. had disappeared. Andrius and Devis were worried to the point of silence. And the Icarean female under that name was also missing. As were her companions.

While he counted off his team, Chris nodded at each of them. “Bones, we’ve got Jack, Ross—she’s unconscious but coming around, Para, Karter, Devis, Andrius—Don’t know where T.a.o. is—Lynn, Echo, Twenty-One, and a good Tritan named Qas. He’s looking for Pablo and Miy, who… may or may not turn up. I’m sorry I don’t have better news to report. Over.”

Karter pulled Para against her and hugged the smaller woman like she was a teddy bear. The little Valkyrie gave in as if accustomed to this. It made Chris smile despite the earlier reminder of his captivity with Celindria.

Poor Ross.

Jack sat on the pale ground and held Ross in his lap, gently brushing his fingers through her mass of brown curls.

But the concern marring Jack, Devis, and Andrius couldn’t compare with the distress in Lynn’s eyes. She paced, staring into nothing with baby Echo cooing in her arms. Twenty-One tried to take the infant from her, but that was a no-go. He didn’t look happy either, with Miy missing. The friendly Tritan, Dr. Qas, also offered to hold the half-Lyriki, half-Aegis, all-perfection baby, but still there was no response from Lynn.

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On top of that, the stricken Chief kept muttering, “‘Never endanger this. Never risk yourself without me. Never leave without coming back.’”

It hurt Chris’ heart to see the young woman so distraught—

“Lynn, this is Miy. I don’t know your private frequency, so I’m interrupting the head count to say, ‘We’re alive, and Pablo’s coming through from Enki now.’ Over.”

Lynn gasped and nearly fainted. The only thing which stopped her from passing out with Echo in her arms was her nacre and Twenty-One’s burly biceps. He steadied her as she started talking.

“Yes, baby. I can hear you. Oh, Pablo. Don’t you ever do that again!”

From the ground, Jack said, “He must be on her private frequency.”

Karter clicked her tongue and folded her arms. “Elden have mercy on him once she comes down from the adrenaline high.”

Para nudged her. “You’d forgive Chris.”

Chris and Karter shared a look over the small woman’s head. They’d spent two months trapped in Hell. Unable to save each other. There was some healing ahead of them. Chris wasn’t sure how long before he’d feel up to the physical, but when he got there, he’d make it the best lovemaking of her long lifetime.

Ross stirred in Jack’s arms. “Where are we… Did we make it?”

The kid smiled down at her. “We did.” He glanced up at Lynn. “We all did.”

Almost all.

Chris got back on the mic. “Bones, I’m happy to report Pablo and Miy turned up on the comms. Still no sign of T.a.o. Over and Out.”

Where was she?