Dobin took a baby and her blanket. Shalt took a baby and her cup. At the door to her room, she turned back to them. "Thank you both. Truly." Then she vanished off to the bathroom, Caser going with her, worry in his eyes and demeanor.
The shower did Lana's nerves a world of good. Her bones warmed up and the crippling panic she experienced finally receded enough to function normally rather than just having such an appearance. She dried off and gave Caser and hug and a kiss on his head. With fresh clothes on, her family fell in at her side to go visit Linda for an update. She refused to call on the mask for this.
It didn't take long before Lana and family were in front of Linda asking if there was an update.
"The only update I have is that Quinn fell down a deep chasm. The guys came back and got ships so they could take a crew down to get him. The rest are still out there waiting on the return of those who went down."
Lana stared at Linda like she had five heads, blinking her eyes, not moving anything else. What is it with this guy liking to fall to such depths? He's got the bone claw. He'll be okay. She was satisfied but shocked at what this poor guy has been forced to go through in his short life.
"You mean to retrieve his corpse?" Lana heard Dobin say from behind her.
Linda looked at Dobin with a cold glare. "He isn't dead."
"How can you be sure?" Dobin responded.
"Because Quinn has resources which would prevent him from dying in such a way." Lana responded.
"Such as?"
"It's not my secret to share." Lana responded.
"That "s" word again…" Dobin sighed.
Ignoring her brother, "Linda, I need to speak to Quinn as soon as I can. It's vitally important. Could you contact me on the mask as soon as anyone is back?"
"May I ask what this is about?"
"Again, I don't know what Quinn has shared with you so you can ask but you won't get an answer."
Linda nodded. "I'll keep you updated."
For the next week, Lana trained the girls, practiced her sword skills and worked on her research. Since it had been a week, Lana decided to go visit Linda once more. She would consider this her weekly check-in. Just after coming out of the teleporter with Shalt, the babies and Caser, Lana noticed Sam, Nate, Paul and Dennis coming from the direction of the hanger bay. Their clothing looked singed as if they had been attacked by fire.
Lana quickly intercepted them, "were you guys on the surface waiting for Quinn?"
Sam nodded, "let's get to the command room and I'll update you."
Lana nodded and fell in to follow them. They all took a seat except Shalt who stood just behind Lana. Lana's eyes bored into Sam's and he felt she had some information but needed him to speak first. Sam started the story.
"We were fighting the demon tier. It was too strong for most of us. We were along the rim of the canyon Oscar created for us. They were hurting it. Then we heard Cia's scream. Quinn ordered everyone to leave, get out of there. The crab broke up the earth and created a hole to get away from them. Quinn went missing. Sil accused Duke of killing Quinn but we knew he wasn't dead."
Lana nodded at this, understanding the connection between master and turned.
"We have been on the surface this whole time. A little bit ago, a man came and landed near us. He asked us about the demon-tier. Mona was very polite. I have never seen a world leader act that way before, subservient. After they talked, he attacked her then attacked us all. Almost everyone was killed. It's a miracle we are alive."
"Mona? Mona Bree was with you?"
They all nodded. "Paul and I were in the back when the attack happened so we think we got shielded in some way. A lot were fatally wounded so we gave them a quick death."
"Was Mona's body there?"
"We didn't look. We wanted to get back here."
"Did you get a description of the man who did this?"
"I didn't," Sam replied.
"Did he look like an older version of Sil in really nice armor?"
It was Nate who responded. "Now that you mention it, yes. He did."
Lana had noticed Nate and Dennis now had the same aura as Paul and Sam so it was clear why they were alive. Lana's heart started to pound in her chest. She thought it was going to explode from her flesh at Nate's words. She knew all the men in the room could hear it, probably Linda as well. Arthur was expected to turn against the humans and now the monster was loose as well. Could they even win this?
Barely audible, "did the Monst…. Did the man take Mona?"
"I heard him say she was weak but we don't know."
Lana nodded. Just then, Linda was informed there was an incoming ship into the ship bay. Lana was running before the words were fully out.
-------------------------------------------------
Sil was sitting on the ship looking at Quinn in Fex's arms. I should have done something. Why do I let him have such control over me? Who was that man who fought him for us. Fex called him Arthur. Where did Hilston, mother and father teleport to? Why did Arthor save us then beat Quinn like this? Was it punishment for asking for his help? Why did he steal the demon-tier crystal we worked so hard for?
I don't deserve to have a friend like Quinn. I froze while everyone else acted. My Lana is going to find me an embarrassment… What do I tell her if Quinn dies? What good is having six abilities if I can't protect the people I care about!!!
Logan landed the ship in the hanger bay. The door slowly opened to show a rather distraught Lana and family as well as Nate, Sam, Paul, and Dennis. Linda stayed by the coms. Lana saw Fex's face first and she started crying. He was holding Quinn who looked like a broken mess.
"Get him help!" Lana turned to the girls. "Escort him." Lana noticed Logan was there as well. There was a corpse on the floor of the ship. Duke had apparently gone down with them and perished. Couldn't have happened to a nicer man. Lana saw Sil with his face in his hands, still sitting, tears could be seen on his hands. She knew Oscar. She guessed this other man was Owen Graylash? He held a fan in front of his face showing only his eyes.
"Oscar, how did you survive an attack by Hilston Blade?"
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