The trees coating the mountains that surrouhe campsite had begun to turn a myriad of colors. Reds and yellows spread out as far as the eye could see. Sonya took a deep breath of the slightly chilly fall air and tugged her coat up a bit closer around her neck. Behind her, Marta carried the few pieces of luggage that they didn’t just send off with one of her portals. They had to make it look like they were taking something home after all. Ahead of her, the archway had already formed and a small group was waiting for her. The other newly minted heroes had gone a bit earlier. The st group, though it looks like somebody stayed behind.

  “Brigid! What oh are you still doing here?” She called out towards the gathering at the portal.

  The red-head was standing with hua and talking to her. Bluestar had taken up a spot a few paces away and eaking quietly with John. Lillian, Snow, Val, Greg, and Alex made up their own little clump while Otis, Ollie, and Jessica made up the st cluster. She narrowed her eyes briefly at the st group, Where’s Cass? She gowards Marta whed and gave her a lopsided smile. That girl, slept in again, didn't she?

  Brigid turned and waved freically, a big smile on her bubbly face. “Good m!” She called, “Just enjoying the weather! Bck Lotus said she wasn’t ready to go yet!”

  ht. Sonya’s heart skipped a little. I fot.

  She forced a smile onto her face, “Looking forward to the expedition to the Epigeon?” She asked as she drew closer, shoving her hands into her pockets. She gnced briefly at hua who met her gaze before they both looked away. And she tell I fot. Great. Good job, Sonya. Real smooth.

  “Oh it’s going to be so much fun, if you recall, I used to be a Park Ranger for that region. I know that area like the bay hand and with my ability, dealing with the snow will be a snap!” Brigid snapped her fingers for emphasis. She turned her head towards one of the two clusters of new heroes gathered with them. Sonya followed her gaze towards Jessica. “It’s a bit of a shame you ended up on the East side, Jessica, I would make an excelleor for your ability!” She decred and puffed out her chest.

  Jessica’s lips twitched into a half smile, “Guess that’s fate for you,” she chuckled, “It’s okay, I learned a lot here.”

  There’s no light in her eyes, Sonya thought but kept her poker face going. She turowards Euclidia who was leaning against the archway and fiddling with a puzzle cube, “Euclidia, you ready?”

  Euclidia looked up from her puzzle and grinned, “Always, got three destinations already set. Two passeo Seattle, two passeo the Hague, and the rest of y’all to the ASTA Guildhouse in New York. Crowley and is already went oo Seattle.”

  Off to the side, Greg straightened and looked her way, “The Hague?”

  He looks tired. I heard he and Jessica broke up over his decision to study with Euclidia. She shot the girl annce, Did I read her wrong? She hasn’t done anything besides be a bit of a drama queen in the end. Oh well, I’ll keep an eye on her anyway now that she’s hanging out with Otis.

  Euclidia raised an eyebrow at Greg and put her hands on her hips, “Of course, silly!” she huffed, “How am I supposed to get you clearao do the kind of work we’re going to do if you don’t have one of these?” she asked and reached into her jacket to pull out a metal card with a mana crystal embedded in it.

  Greg frow it, “What’s that?”

  “A pass that Pandora Officials carry,” Sonya answered for her and held her hand out. Marta was already approag her from behind and pced Sonya’s in her hand. She held it up while Marta did the same. Bluestar, hua, and Brigid did the same. “Officials, Guild Masters, and Iional Heroes carry them usually. They’re for bypassing an RTE ched other security nonsense,” Sonya expined.

  Greg blinked and poi himself, “I’m getting one of those?”

  Euclidia raised her eyebrow even higher, if that ossible, “Well, doy,” she snarked, “You ’t eve into my offices without going through like, what, four yers of security? You absolutely need oo e and go. On top of that, yonna be doing some important stuff with me so, yeah, Pandora Official Greg, sounds like a ic-book hen,” she barked out a ugh before looking back at her puzzle aing back to it as if she hadn’t just been talking, her i in the versation evaporating.

  Sonya huffed out a breath. “The powerful ones are always etric,” she muttered and got a snort from Marta who gnced her way. “Hey! You know what I mean!”

  Marta nodded politely and took Sonya’s badge back, “Of course, ma’am.”

  “You’re making fun of me again,” Sonya grumbled.

  “Of course, ma’am,” Marta agreed with the same polite to with a small smile teasing at her lips.

  Sonya sighed and shook her head before walking over to Lillian’s group, she smiled at Greg, “Good luck over there,” she said and reached out to shake his hand. He returhe gesture with a nod before she turned back to the others. “Well well, look at all these heroes,” She turowards Bluestar, “What’s your standard fireteam size?” She called.

  “Five,” Bluestar called back before turning back to John and murmuring to him.

  “Hoho,” she chuckled before meeting Lillian’s gaze. “You ready?”

  Lillian looked to her friends, Snow who had e so far and had grown into a proud young woman. Val who was just as fiery as ever but was now tempered with self resped genuine fidence. Alex who had evened out his aggression. Greg who was off to his own adventures and had risen to bee one of the most promising of his geion. And then there’s that one, Sonya thought ruefully as she felt a shift in the air behind her, someone rag towards them.

  “Sorry!” Cass called, “I’m ing!”

  Sonya turned around and put her hands on her hips, frowning as the blonde raced towards them, “What have I told you about staying up te, young dy?”

  Cass slid to a stop. The spitting image of her sister if a bit smaller in frame. Liberty, how could you be so cruel to such a beautiful young dy? The girl dipped her head and shoved her hands into her pockets. “Sorry,” She murmured, “ te pying cards with everybody, ma’am.”

  Sonya let out a breath, A grown woman and she still acts like a teehat’s what happens when you live in a repressive household I guess. She shook her head and eased into a smile. At least it really was just oversleeping and not something else. “You are trouble, you know that? I’ve half a mind to keep a close eye on you.”

  “Mom’s mad,” Alex ughed. Greg and Val joined in, snickering behind Sonya.

  Sonya and Cass rounded o the same time;

  “I am not her mother!”“She’s not my mom!”

  That only resulted in Val literally falling to the ground, ughing while Alex and Greg held one another up, wheezing. Even Lillian had to cover her fad turn her head while only Snoerfectly straight faced- wait. She’s got an illusion over her. I bet she’s ughing her ass off. Brat. Sonya cleared her throat as she felt a little heat rise to her fad turned baeet Cass’ eyes. Cass’ flushed face turned brighter and she looked down at her feet. Sonya pursed her lips and looked over at Marta who was doing her best to look anywhere but at Sonya. Traitor.

  “I’m not mad,” Sonya finally said a her hand on her hip.

  Cass looked up, relieved, “So… I still-”

  Sonya raised a hand to wave her question off, “Yes, yes, I have a room ready for you at my pce, you stay there for now.”

  The boys stopped ughing, “Hey!” Alex protested, “What about the Guild dorms? We’re all staying there until we get enough together to buy our own pces, why does she get to stay with you?”

  Sonya turned ba, “Because apparently we’re family,” She quipped at him.

  Alex’s frown ged instantaneously into a grin, “Aight, walked into that, didn’t I?” He g Cass and wi her. Sonya squi him. What was that about?

  “If y’all are done bantering,” Euclidia called, tossing the pleted puzzle up and down in the air, “We should really be going. I’m not a fan of leaving portals open for a long time.”

  Sonya brushed her hair back over her ear, “Fair enough,” she o Lillians group and Bluestar, “Go on ahead.”

  “New York! Here I e!” Val shouted and bolted for the portal, leaping through it with a whoop.

  The hed and grabbed their bags, Greg pig up ara one and tossing it to Alex, “He left it behind.”

  Alex shook his head, “That moron,” he paused and then cpped Greg on the shoulder, “You got this, brother. Don’t let… y’know… get you down. You’re a top hero now.”

  “Not yet, but someday soon,” Greg shot back with a smirk, “Better keep up with me, BLF.”

  “Race you to the top, Gravitic,” Alex said and walked past him, carrying his and Val’s luggage ahrough the portal, Bluestar and John followed suit, John shooting Sonya a grin that she returned. Finally smiling with a bit more ease, it almost doesn’t look forced. Good. The two of them went through as Lillian hustled over and practically crashed into hua, ing her arms around her and squeezing her in a tight hug.

  “Be safe, Teacher,” Lillian said.

  hua looked down at her student and g Sonya with wide eyes. Sonya rolled her eyes, You never were much of a hugger, were you? Just do it, dummy. hua put her hand on Lillians head and gave her a gentle squeeze around the back before pulling away, holding her shoulders. She looked into Lillian’s eyes, “Work hard.”

  “I will, thank you, for everything,” Lillian said and took two steps back before bowing at the waist, “I’ll reach my goal and fight at your side. I promise.”

  hua smiled, “I’ll hold you to it.”

  Lillian beamed up at her and turned around to grab her things, taking Snow’s hand. The two stopped to shake hands with Greg before the three of them ran through the portal. Just behind them, Jessica made her way through in silence, barely gng back. Otis reached up and flipped his hair out of his face, “Well it’s been fuainly,” he chuckled, “It was nice meeting you, Bck Lotus, I’m looking forward to hunting Ishtar with you iure,” he said with a too-white smile and turned on his heel to stalk towards the portal. “Good luck with your mission!”

  Sonya’s lips thinned just a fra but she kept her thoughts to herself, gng at hua who was doing much of the same though she seemed a bit greener in the face because of it. Her eyes turned back to the st member of Otis’ little trio and it was like… it was like a veil had e off of him. Intellectually she’d known that Ollie was there and that he’d been standing at Otis’ side. Yet it wasn’t until that moment that she internalized his preseis’ ability? Probably. Why was he overshadowing Ollie? She gave a mental shrug, she’d worry about it ter. He was more important in more ways than one.

  She stepped forward and reached out to grab his shoulders, “How are you feeling?”

  “A little tired, excited, nervous, fiherwise,” Ollie admitted and gasped as she pulled him into a hug. She gave him a squeeze and his entire body seemed to rex a little in her grip.

  She pulled bad looked him in the eyes, “Are you sure?” She asked.

  His lips twitched and then rose into a more fortable smile. She held her expression steady as she watched it. “I’m fine, Miss Sonya, really. It’s just taking a bit to sink in.”

  “That you’re a free man?” She asked with a tilt of her head.

  He bli her, “Huh?”

  “Our deal is done, Ollie, don’t you remember?” She asked him, a little surprise toug her voice. “You pleted the program. You graduated. That was the agreement wasn’t it? You do that and your record is wiped .”

  He stared at her, stunned, a look of fusion slipping into dawning realization and then mute arm. “I- I fot!” He gasped.

  She burst into ughter before leaning in and kissing him on the cheek. He jumped a little at the show of affe and touched his face, stammering ily. She ughed again, “Ollie, doesn’t that just mean you went through all that for the right reasons? Rather than just to get off the hook?” She pat him on the shoulder, “That’s good. I’m happy you fot so I could tell you now. As far as the Pandora ittee is ed, while the oute was tragic, it was an act as a result of a power maion. Not your fault. You start your life with the guild with your head held high.”

  Tears welled in his eyes and his gsses fogged a little. He swallowed hard, “Thank you, ma’am. I won't fet what you did for me.”

  She shrugged, “Water uhe bridge,” she paused, “Are you sure about the ame, though?”

  He returned her smile with one of his own, “I’m owning it now. It’ll remio be more careful iure.”

  Her chest swelled with pride, “Good man,” she nodded and theured to the portal, “Go on, I’ll be with you all soon.”

  He nodded brightly and turned, a bit of a spring in his step as he darted through the portal, what little belongings he had boung in a backpack. Euclidia watched him pass and checked her phone, she turowards the portal and started to walk through herself, “You guys got five minutes and then I’m closing it!” The portal master called, “Get on it!”

  “Ope!” Brigid gasped, “See you oher side, Bck Lotus!” She said and hustled through as well.

  Sonya watched her go and then turo Marta, “You and Cass go on ahead,” she said.

  Marta met her gaze and then nodded, “Right, e along young miss,” she said gently and picked up the small mass of bags as if they weighed nothing.

  “Young miss?” Cass asked, moving to catch up with her.

  “Well, if you’re my Lady’s daughter, would that not make you the young miss?” She asked with a smirk on her face as they he portal.

  “Not her mother!” Sonya shouted back at them but they’d already gohrough the portal. She groaned, “Oh that’s going to stick isn’t it? Damn that boy.” She rubbed the side of her head before looking up at hua. Dark eyes met hers and she cleared her throat, shifting a bit on her feet. She let out a breath and smiled at her, “So… this is it for a while, isn’t it?”

  hua g the portal and then back at her, “So it seems,” she said and opened her mouth to say more before closing it, she rubbed her ned blushed, “Sonya, I-”

  Sonya reached out and took her free hand, squeezing her fingers, “Don’t, okay? Just. It was a fun night, you don’t o say whatever you were going to say,” she said quickly holding on to that hand as if it were a lifeline. She didn’t want to hear an apology or an excuse for her leaving in the middle of the night and she didn’t want to hear well… she didn’t even want to think about it. “Look,” Sonya felt her chest tighten a little, “You said it yourself, you don’t know what this is, her of us do. That’s… okay,” she smiled, “I want to figure it out. I want to enjoy my life as much as I while I have the ce to.”

  “When I gh that portal, the deal will take effect,” hua said, her strong hands ing around Sonya’s. She gave Sonya’s hand a squeeze. “I don’t know how my mind and the deal will recile it all, but it won’t ge how-”

  Sonya reached up and touched her lips with her fingers, “Shh. That’s bad lud you know it,” she said gently, “Just, be safe ile. Be the hero the world needs you to be, without all that baggage holding you back, okay?”

  “You’re not baggage,” hua grunted.

  Sonya snorted, “hua!” she started to grin but hua’s gre shut it down. “What?”

  “You aren’t still thinking that you o die to make things right, are you?” hua asked.

  Sonya pulled her hand away and crossed her arms, squeezing herself a little, “hua, I’m going to have to pay one way or the other. There’s no avoiding justice, you know that, you of all people know that,” She said, “I still enjoy my life until then! ’t I? What’s wrong with that?”

  hua frowned, “Sonya, god damn it,” She reached up and squeezed the bridge of her nose, “I ’t- seriously-” she stammered before shaking her head, “You o stop thinking like that. Okay? Please, for me.”

  Sonya frowned, “I ’t just turn it off!” she barked before letting out a sigh, “ we- we not- I want to be smiling when I see you go, okay? I’ve accepted that I deserve to be in this timelihat I belong here. Isn’t that enough?”

  hua searched Sonya’s face her worry only deepening, “Sonya…” she sighed, “I’m sorry Sonya. I just- I care.”

  “I know,” Sonya said and reached up to touch her cheek, “I love you, and I know you’re not ready to say it back, but I just want you to know and not ever fet it. Be safe, be strong, and make me proud. Do that, and I’ll have s.”

  hua reached up to take the hand on her cheek and her worried face eased into a fortable smile that made Sonya’s heart ache. “It’s a deal,” she said.

  One chaste kiss, ole reminder, one momeween them, and she was gone. Off to her advehout painful memories of fire and anguish burdening her mind. Free. Sonya watched that ponytail wave left and right as it passed through the portal behind her. Just like that day in Vegas, Sonya thought, she reached up and gripped at her chest. I’m sorry hua, I’m not ready to let that kind of hope in, not yet.

  There, aloanding in front of the waning portal. Sonya took o breath of mountain air and promised herself that if she could just find that hope, just find that proof it ossible, she would try with all her might to take that path.

  If not, then at least I tried to find it. She thought and stepped through as well.