“Pedro has briefed us on everything he knows about the base in Africa,” Les said. “We are still working up a strategy, but I won’t need a full crew—just enough to run the ship, and two teams of Hell Divers.”
X considered the request again. They had no idea what they would find at either location—only that both would be heavily guarded by human warriors and probably machines as well.
He missed the old days of fighting Sirens and bone beasts.
“If you can get the airship ready, she’s yours, Captain,” X said. “And you will have your Hell Divers.”
“I also need an XO now that Ada is deceased and Layla is sitting this mission out,” Les said. He looked down to Eevi. “Ensign Corey, how do you feel about joining me in Africa on—”
“I’d be honored.”
“You understand the risks,” X said.
“All due respect, King Xavier, but I’m well aware, and I’ve got nothing to lose anyway.”
X gave her an empathetic nod.
“There’s a lot of work to do before we depart,” he said, “but I want everyone here to spend time with their families. That’s an order.”
He looked at Michael, then Les.
“All right, dismissed,” X said. He reached down to pet Miles.
The room started to empty, but Les lingered. Ton and Victor remained on guard.
“Sir, a moment of your time,” Les said. “Michael, you too.”
They took seats at the table and waited for everyone to leave the library. When the doors clicked shut in the distance, Les spoke.
“I need Magnolia and Rodger on the mission to Africa,” he said. “I know that Rodger wants to avenge his parents and that Sofia will want to kill Horn, but—”
“I don’t think Magnolia is going anywhere without Rodger,” Michael said.
“We have a dozen divers,” X said. “Can’t you make do without those two?”
“A dozen divers who have either never dived or dived only a few times,” Les said. “I need veterans, not greenhorns to screw things up like Arlo did.”
“I know, and you’re right,” X said. “I’ll talk it over with them.”
“Thank you, sir,” Les said. He stood and nodded at Michael, then started out of the room. He stopped at the twisting stairwell.
“I’ll be at the Shark’s Cage if you need me, sir,” Les said.
“Don’t forget my order, Captain,” X said. “Katherine and Phyl need you, too.”
“I know,” Les replied. “I’m heading up to see them first. For the record, that’s why I’m going to Africa—for them, and for Trey.”
“I know,” X said.
We all have our own missions now.
Les ducked down the spiral staircase and hurried out of the library, his footfalls echoing.
“I better get back to Layla, too,” Michael said. “She’s worried.”
“Hold up a minute.”
Michael brushed his long hair over his shoulder as he stood.
“You ever gonna cut that, or what?” X asked, also getting up.
“I don’t know. You going to trim that unibrow? It looks like an angry caterpillar.”
X laughed. “Grooming isn’t high on my priority list. I’m more concerned about getting myself one of those.”
Michael held up his robotic arm. “I’ll bring one back from Africa.”
The thought of the mission made X tense up. It was almost surely the more dangerous of the two, and he hoped he was making the right decision sending Michael there.
“Don’t worry, X,” Michael said as if sensing his concern.
“I am worried, and I know Layla is, too…” X caught Michael’s gaze. “How does she feel about this?”
“She hates it, but I promised this is the last mission.”
X feared that it would be, but not in the way Michael thought. He feared for Les and the other Hell Divers, too.
The choice he had to make was an impossible one, but he would face it without flinching.
“We dive so humanity survives,” Michael said.
“You know, I always found that a little cheesy. How about ‘We fight so humanity survives’?”
He picked up the spear that Rhino had carried into battle. Somehow, he must learn to use the ungainly weapon before he went out to kill Horn.
“In seriousness, I’m glad we can talk in private,” Michael said, “because I want to have a small gathering to celebrate my union with Layla before I go. Tomorrow night, after we wrap most of the preps.”
“I figured you would do that when we get back.”
A moment of silence passed, with both of them probably thinking the same thing.
“Okay,” X said. “We do it tomorrow night.”
“Now we just need to find someone to marry us.”
“Don’t look at me, kid. I’m no priest.”
“Ain’t that the truth. But you are a king.”
X cracked a half grin and patted Michael on the shoulder. Michael wrapped him in a hug.
“There is another reason I need a new limb,” X said when he pulled away. “I want to be able to hold Bray when he comes.”
Michael smiled wide.
“Although I’m not too good with babies,” X said.
“Me neither.” Michael laughed. “We’ll figure it out together, old man.”
Heading back to his apartment, Les kept a brisk pace through the hallways of the capitol tower, trying to ignore the signs of battle. Despite the best efforts of a cleaning crew, there was still evidence of the Sirens that had ravaged this place.
Blood spatter on walls and overhead. Claw marks on doors. Even a few spent bullet casings had eluded the cleanup crew. But there were far bigger problems to deal with than washing blood off the walls.
He counted his blessings. His family had survived unscathed—physically, anyway, although he worried about the psychological damage, especially for his daughter.
His suspicions were confirmed when he arrived back at his apartment. He unlocked the door to the sound of sobbing.
Les quietly shut the door and slipped into the shadows outside the room Phyl had shared with Trey. A candle burned on the bedside table. She was sitting up in bed, clutching a stuffed animal, with Katherine sitting by her side.
Neither of them had heard him come in, and for a moment he stood in the darkness, watching. He wanted to comfort his daughter, but he felt frozen.
The father he had become over the past few months was an absent one, and he couldn’t bear hearing Phyl beg him not to leave again, or endure the resentful gaze Katherine fired at him every time he walked into the room.
Taking a step back, he considered slipping away and heading back to the Shark’s Cage. That would be easier. But that wasn’t the father he wanted to be, and he wouldn’t be able to live with the guilt later. He would rather watch his child cry her eyes out than abandon her and go back to work.
Les walked into the room, the creaking floor attracting Katherine’s attention. To his surprise, it wasn’t a resentful gaze, probably because she was crying.
He went to the bed as Phyl stretched out her arms.
“Papa,” she cried.
He leaned down and pulled her tight. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?” he said quietly.
“Papa, the monsters,” she whimpered.
Katherine stood and folded her arms over her chest after wiping away the tears. “She had a bad dream about the Sirens,” she said.
Les released his grip on Phyl and sat on the bed next to her. “Sweetheart, the monsters are gone,” he said.
“But what if they come back?”
“They won’t. I’m going to make sure of that.”
“You promise?”
“Cross my heart,” Les said.
Phyl smiled, then frowned. “Does that mean you have to leave again? Because if it does, I won’t be able to sleep.”
Les didn’t reply, the guilt already eating at his insides.