With the Wyre gone, who’s going to protect Val Basec from Pelaris? SAAF has the upper hand. Z3 won’t back me unless I gather another army, but soldiers with rare abilities are hard to come by. Lucas had a unique gift, then one mission with me and he’s crushed inside a laboratory. Jackson could… Maybe he’s still alive. Did Nao make it?

  The Wyre was supposed to protect people from this. Somewhere along the way I forgot what that meant. I hurt so many people. This is on me too. There’s no guarantee Veronica would help me. Chuboki might be able to subdue her, but what can I do?

  Mind reading isn’t my specialty. It’s something I can do in spurts. Nebula must have a similar ability. Veronica’s probably had years to close off her mind. I’m not sure about this. I scolded Melody about poking the bear and seeking a reaction. I've been doing that for years!

  Capturing an Axehead could destroy what’s left.

  Chuboki calls to me. “Let’s go!” He climbs into the truck.

  I know I shouldn't, but I feel like I am responsible for burying these bodies. During the middle of the war, many soldiers were left on the battlefield. Everyone blamed me for diverting troops West. That was when Barthelo was stationed in Sector A. I knew the East was vulnerable to an attack, but the Southern Allied Defense (SAD) was moving.

  Barthelo said they’d plan attack on the West to draw us in, then swoop East and trap us in the middle. Without him, I’d have sent too many troops to the West. Instead, I spread them out over multiple sectors. We held strong. The Wyre became feared by SAD. Nebula saw to it that our strategy and planning was nipped at the base. She took Barthelo. The war councils. Sector leaders. Our best chance of winning.

  After that I… The bodies never stopped piling. More than I can count. In my day, the Wyre had more than 1 million soldiers in the headquarters and roughly 200,000 troops on the ground. We were a force to be reckoned with.

  Chuboki, nicknamed Domino, was our greatest threat. He was the beginning of Nebula’s experiments. A super soldier capable of mass destruction. The twin Axeheads defeated him, but it must’ve been from Nebula perfecting her research. How much of that was Q’an? How much of it was me?

  Chuboki’s right. I know he’s right. I shouldn’t retaliate. We’re too weak. I don’t think I can withstand another fatal blow. I might not ever wake up. Our planet… Heaven… would turn into Hell. But I can’t let this go unpunished.

  Before I left the Wyre, I had become blind to many things and I was selfish. Melvin begged me for help. I thought it would be easy. Just like Sector T. I lost myself in those mines, then I lost Melody at the lab. Maybe I’m not redeemable. Not after this.

  I curl into a ball on the ground. The dirt is cold. Smells like rain.

  The Wyre was supposed to be a beacon of hope for people. A monument of my legacy. Now it’s just a stain. A wrinkle in history. Who’ll tell their stories? Who’ll remember them?

  Me… I will… But…

  This isn’t the future I imagined. I don’t know what I wanted. All I knew is that the war seemed important at the time. Where I sought freedom and real power; Nebula sought formulas and revenge. Why am I afraid of her? Why don’t I just go to her and see… See if she’s as scary as we make her out to be. She’s just a woman! She can be killed!

  ”Zachariah!” Chuboki stomps toward me. “Stop moping!”

  I sit up and look at the mountain range one last time. My office used to be up there. At the top. Looking down on the world. Relishing in the kingdom I built. I have to leave that all behind me.

  My lips quiver, then twist into a smile and I whisper. “Goodbye.”

  Theresa stands at her bed. A suitcase lies open in front of her. She stares at the empty space inside. Greene walks in and watches her.

  He rubs his chest. "You have that look."

  She sways. "I don't want to go yet."

  Greene sighs and shuts the door. He approaches her and holds her. "We have to go. It's not safe here."

  She trembles. "But he needs us."

  Greene kisses her neck. "I need you."

  Theresa looks to Greene's suitcase. He packed everything he could fit into it. She grips her stomach. "We're the only family he has."

  Greene squeezes her. "Remember what we dreamed about? Finding a place to settle down? A second child?"

  Theresa weeps. "He's like my second child!" She covers her face. "I can't leave him!"

  Greene moves her suitcase and sits with her on the bed. He rubs her shoulders. "The truth is... Zachariah had a family before we came around and he was abandoned by them. I think you've always felt close to him because that's what happened to you."

  Theresa sniffles. "But then I found you!" She wipes her eyes. "And we had Michael... Zachariah hasn't settled down with anyone. He's always going. Always rushing into the unknown. We owe our lives to him."

  Their window bursts open. Byrd flicks his lighter and grins. "Glad you feel that way!" He puffs on a cigarette. "Cuz now you're gonna pay for it!"

  Greene shoots up off the bed. The dresser rises into the air and flings itself at Byrd. He catches it with his fist and tilts his head. "You're one of them..." He drops the dresser with a loud thud. "A Mover!"

  Greene growls. "Not like you're used to fighting!"

  Byrd lifts into the air. Objects float to the ceiling. Theresa wails and holds onto Greene. Byrd chuckles. "Wanna see my ability?"

  Smoke fills the room. Items drop. Theresa steadies herself. Greene coughs and covers his mouth. Two purple eyes peer through the haze. The sound of Byrd's lighter flicking. Sparks crackle through the smog.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Byrd hisses. "I'll blow this building up!"

  Theresa chokes. "Stop! Please! I'll do whatever you want!"

  Byrd saunters towards her. His eyes pulsing to the beat of his lighter. "Whatever I want, huh?"

  Theresa releases Greene. "Just spare our son!"

  Michael pounds on the door. "Mom? Dad? Are you okay?"

  Byrd cackles. "Sorry, but my orders are clear. I'll be needing all 3 of you."

  Greene pulls Theresa in and launches them over the bed. He flings the bed at Byrd, then ushers her out the door. They grab Michael and flee.

  Byrd throws the bed off himself and looks around. He glances at his cigarette which is bent in half. He drops it, then pulls out a pack and feels around inside. "Damn! That was my last one!" He stands. "This just got personal."

  Theresa bangs on Zachariah's door. Agnus answers. They rush inside. Greene checks through the window. Theresa hugs Michael and stares at Agnus. "Is he here?"

  Agnus shakes her head. "What happened? I heard a commotion down stairs!"

  Greene backs away from the window. "He's coming!"

  They inch out of the sunroom and wait.

  Byrd eyes the door, then lifts his foot and... Veronica slams into him. He flies down the stairwell and over the railing. He hangs onto the ledge. Veronica leaps onto the railing and grins. "The twins won't like you interfering with their toys!"

  Byrd snarls. "I was told—"

  Veronica holds his lighter and flicks it. She pouts. "You were misinformed."

  Byrd's eye twitches. "You're just protecting them!"

  She snickers. "Who? These nobodies? Please!" She reaches down and grabs Byrd's hand. She pulls him up, then grabs him by the collar and forces him over the edge.

  Byrd clings to her. "What do you think you're doing?"

  Veronica smirks. "Just taking out the trash!" She throws him.

  Byrd smacks into the ground. Veronica drops beside him. She presses her foot onto his chest. "Have you forgotten who gives the orders from now on?"

  Byrd groans and pushes at her foot. "Nebula told me to..."

  Veronica leans down. "She told you to wait until I made contact with him!" She flicks the lighter again, then glares at him. "And he's not here yet, so BEAT IT!"

  Byrd croaks. "Fine!"

  She removes her foot, then tosses the lighter to him. "I'll let you know when the time is right. If you make a move too early, then he won't come and you'll never know my hand in his deal with Nebula."

  Byrd growls and sits up. "Starting to think you want to protect him!"

  Veronica opens her mouth, then clicks her tongue.

  Byrd stands and dusts himself off. "Got any change?"

  She smirks. "Wait for my signal..." She hands him a few fractions. "...or I'll kill you."

  Byrd gulps and takes her money.

  Veronica giggles. "Oh, and one more thing!"

  He flinches.

  She points at her eye. "Punch me!"

  Byrd crinkles the fractions and raises his fist. "Don't gotta ask me twice!" He socks her in the eye.

  Veronica sways. "I said punch me!"

  Byrd grips the lighter and whacks her across the face. He shakes his hand. "That felt good!"

  Veronica holds her nose. "Get lost before I kill you!"

  Byrd jogs away.

  Veronica climbs up the stairs and rings Zachariah's doorbell.

  Greene creeps toward the door and peaks through the peep-hole.

  Theresa shakes. "Is it him?"

  Greene steps back. "No, it's... it's some woman."

  They stare at one another. He cracks the door. "Yes?"

  Veronica barges in. "Are you guys okay?" She wipes her nose. "I saw you running from that guy! Managed to fight him off, but he got me pretty good!"

  Theresa pushes Michael into the dining room. Agnus removes her gloves. "Let me have a look."

  Greene stops her. "We don't know you!"

  Veronica rubs her nose. "I'm a friend of Zachariah."

  Greene looks at Theresa. She shrugs. Agnus smiles and gestures to the sofa. "Please, have a seat."

  Veronica sits. "Nice place!"

  Greene eyes her. "Who are you?"

  Agnus examines Veronica's nose. "It's broken."

  Veronica glances at Greene. "Name's Veronica. I met Zachariah a few months ago. He needed help on a mission, but I turned him down."

  Agnus's palm glows. "This may hurt a little." She grips Veronica's nose, then it pops into place.

  Veronica whines. "Shit! That hurts!"

  Agnus holds her still. "Sorry!" She removes her hand and smiles. "All better!"

  Veronica rubs her nose. "Hey, you're pretty good!"

  Greene walks to the door. "Okay, we helped you. Now leave!"

  Veronica shudders. "But I... Where is Zachariah?"

  Greene stomps his foot. "I said go!"

  Veronica looks at Agnus. Agnus turns to him. "She did help us."

  He looks at Theresa. She nods. "Let her stay until he returns."

  Greene scoffs and slams the door. "How can we even trust her?" He marches into the dining room. "She's a stranger!"

  Theresa barks. "Zachariah trusts her!"

  Veronica looks around the main room. "He has a lot of books."

  Agnus bows. "Yes." She stands and retreats to Zachariah's bedroom.

  Michael pops his head out of the dining room. He stares at Veronica. She moves to a bookshelf and brushes the spines. Michael hums. "Why did Zachariah need your help?"

  Veronica grins. "Because I'm a fighter!"

  Michael bounces to her. "You're a Viscount?"

  Veronica knocks a book off the shelf. She leans down to pick it up and smiles. "No..." She brushes the cover. "I'm not one of those." She replaces the book.

  Michael tilts his head. "So what are you?"

  Veronica stares at him from the side of her eye. "I'm a General."

  Michael rubs his chin. "You lead armies?"

  Veronica nods. "I used to." She scans the shelf. "But that was a long time ago."

  Michael leans in. "Are Generals the same rank as Viscounts?"

  Veronica turns. "You're awfully young to know about Nobility rankings."

  Michael puffs his chest and smiles. "I know all about Kings and Queens!"

  Veronica snickers. "Is that right?"

  Theresa marches in and apprehends Michael. She glares at Veronica, then tugs him into the kitchen. Veronica shrugs and returns to the books.

  Her fingers trail over them. She pauses. "Pluto..." She takes the journal and flips to the back. A message reads, "To the Moon and back, I'll love you forever."

  Greene stands behind her. "I need to know why Zachariah trusts you."

  She snaps the journal closed and sighs. "I fight in clubs." She places the journal on the shelf. "Make a lot of money doing it." She looks at him. "Win every time."

  Greene raises a brow. "Yet you got your nose broke?"

  Veronica scratches her head. "I'm not indomitable if that's what you're asking."

  His shoulders drop. "Why are you looking for him?"

  She saunters to the sofa and plops down. "I wanted to apologize for how I left things. He needed me and I... I wasn't nice to him."

  Greene sits on a recliner. "You're a fighter? Was he recruiting you for his mission to Sector T?"

  Veronica stares at him. "How'd you know?"

  He leans back and rocks. "Zachariah's a very dear friend to us. He tells us these things. Never mentioned you."

  She nods. "I believe that." She glances to his plants. "Seems like he's been gone for some time."

  Greene adjusts in the seat. "He was, but now he's back."

  Veronica frowns. "I'll be honest with you. I don't know what I'm doing here. I thought if I apologized he'd take me on a mission. All I do is fight in an arena for a boss who only sees me as a title. I want something more!"

  Greene holds his chin. "I don't think Zachariah will be going on missions any time soon."

  Her brows scrunch. "Why?"

  He purses his lips. "He's recovering from the last one."

  Veronica leans back. "Oh." She eyes him. "Was it bad?"

  Greene glances to the dining room. Theresa listens at the door. He nods. "Yeah."

  Veronica rests her cheek on her fist. "I used to look up to him when I was a girl. He inspired me. One day he vanished and... I lost hope in the world." She chuckles. "But he came back!"

  Theresa touches her chest.

  Greene gulps. "He isn't the man he once was."

  Veronica laughs. "I gathered that! He lost his spark in the war."

  Theresa steps into the room. "We're free because of him!"

  Veronica sits up. "I'm not criticizing!"

  Greene reaches for Theresa. She walks to him and sits on his lap. He rocks her.

  Veronica smiles. "I'm glad he has a family who cares about him." Her smile fades. "I lost my parents."

  Theresa touches Greene's chest. "How?"

  Veronica bites her lip. "It was like any other day..."

  Michael listens from the kitchen.

  "I got up... Got dressed... Ate breakfast... Then... An explosion..."

  If you can believe that!) He never abandoned the Wyre. The Wyre was supposed to be an online community similar to SAO, but the offline world was still made up of Nobles and other creatures. (Some of which haven't been revealed yet!)

  Boo!