p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" align="center"strongspan style="text-decoration: underline;"Five Years Later/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox barged into the training room, where Beecher had his sniper aimed at targets, firing one by one. Angel stood by his side, watching with wide eyes. She had already learned to stand on her own, and Nox spent most of the years teaching her how to speak./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Both Beecher and Angel had a pair of earmuffs over their heads to block out the loud noise. Nox couldn't care less./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She seized Angel's arm and grabbed Beecher by the shoulder, whirling him around to face her enraged face. "Really?! Really! 'Angel is training with Lloyd.' I just saw Lloyd in the gym, and he had no idea what I was talking about!" Nox had already gotten used to keeping her language under control when she was around Angel. The team, not so much./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Beecher set his sniper down, hooking his earmuffs around his neck. "Nox—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Don't emNox/em me. I told you all from the beginning: Angel is emnot/em going to fire a gun!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel didn't say anything, but only watched in silence. This wasn't the first time she'd seen Nox and the others fighting, but the earmuffs silenced any noise around her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Beecher frowned, his red eyes watching hers. "Nox. We warned you about this. You should've known that her training would come eventually."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""emYou want to give a gun to a five year old/em?!" Nox removed the earmuffs from Angel's head, tossing them aside./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""If she's going to survive in this team, yes!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I've told you already, it's too early! She's still trying to understand her powers, and you want to put deadly weapons in her hands. She'll do just fine with her powers alone."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Before Beecher could say another word, Nox seized Angel's arm and pulled her out of the training room, down the hallway. She risked a glance down at Angel's face, to see that her eyes were red and moist. Nox sighed, kneeling down to her level. "I'm sorry I had to scream like that," She wiped away a fallen tear with her thumb. "But I only want what's best for you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel sniffled. "That's what Uncle Beecher said."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox's eyes darkened. emHe said that, didn't he?/em Only she didn't say it out loud./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel looked to the ground, trying to summon up something else to say. "I don't see Uncle Boomer a lot anymore."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox exhaled sharply. "Uncle Boomer is very busy all the time. But he still tries to see you as much as he can." But on the inside, Nox doubted this. It was obvious that Boomer was purposely avoiding both Nox and Lloyd, and even more so with Angel. He spent most of the year with Grace, and had moved away from the team years ago./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Anytime Nox was wandering the halls, she would always stop and gaze at Boomer's empty dorm for a second before leaving, refusing to remind herself of the past./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Come," She took Angel's hand with a gentle touch, guiding her down the hallway. "Let's go find Daddy."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No training, huh?" Lloyd said, barely above a whisper as Nox left the gymnasium./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Can we use the swords again, Daddy?" Angel asked, looking up to him with her gold eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd pursed his lips, scratching the back of his head. "I don't know. Your mom would get upset at me if she found out you held a sword. Well, she'd be much worse than upset."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Pleeeaaase?" Angel begged. "Or else I'll tell Uncle Beecher you've been smoking his cigars again."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No!" Lloyd paused, then chuckled. "Alright. We'll train, but only for today. And don't smoke like Uncle Beecher. Or Etrius. Or Mullins. Or anyone, for that matter."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd picked up two faux swords from the wall, tossing one to Angel. She caught it with ease. They'd been practicing for the longest time./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd moved into a fighting stance, and Angel tried to copy, bringing a chuckle out of Lloyd./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Now, what's the first thing you do when someone attacks you from the side?" He swiftly moved to the left, swinging the sword./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel laughed gleefully, lashing out with the fake sword. "You block them!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Good. Never move out of the way first, because your opponent can attack again."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel smiled and nodded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Again." Lloyd moved to the right with grace, bringing the sword down in an arc. Angel raised her sword with both hands, the impact sending vibrations through her arms. She dropped the sword./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd raised a brow./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"A flickering white light, like that of a dying candle glowed to life in Angel's eyes. She extended her arms, powering pulsating off her like sonic boom waves./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd lost his footing and slid halfway across the gym, his sword flying out of his hands. He remained on the floor, rubbing the back of his head. His ponytail had become undone./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel rushed over, standing over him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Good," Lloyd grunted. "Your opponent is down. Now what do you do?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel opened her mouth, but didn't say anything. She looked to the ground./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd sighed, his brows creasing together. "You keep him in place, and then wait until Mum or Daddy arrive, or the team." Lloyd convinced himself to train her to fight… But he couldn't bring himself to teach her to kill. Not now. But he knew that day would come eventually./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd rose to his feet, brushing himself off. He tied his hair back into a ponytail, then rubbed Angel's head, making her hair into a puffy mess. She giggled. "You did great, Angel. You're getting better. Come on, let's get something to eat." Lloyd guided Angel towards the hallway, his hand on her back./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Then he stopped./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Something dark and sinister lurked in the air, sickening Lloyd to his stomach. Angel seemed unfazed by it, but looked up at Lloyd with confusion. "Daddy?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd ground his teeth and shut his eyes, holding a hand to his head. Flashes of familiar images ran through his mind. A dark, shadowy prison cell, green eyes, blood and war, and The General. Lloyd collapsed to his knees, holding his head in his hands, his fingers scrunching through his hair. He groaned, feeling his heart beat faster and faster, sending waves of agony through his senses with every thump./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Darkness overwhelmed his mind, casting his consciousness into shadows. He collapsed face-down on the floor./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Tears jumped to Angel eyes as she stood over Lloyd. "Daddy…?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd didn't respond, just lying on the floor, lifeless./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Acting quickly, Angel darted out of the gym, looking both left and right down the hallways. A familiar voice sounded from another corridor. Etrius. Angel quickly rushed towards them, navigating the winding hallways. She had memorized every twist and turn, having played and ran through them with Timber./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She ran into Etrius, who was sauntering down the east hallway. She grabbed his hand, pulling him down the hall. "Uncle Etrius! Come quick!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Whoa, whoa, Angel, slow down. Why aren't you in training?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Hurry! Daddy's in the gym!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""And?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel and Etrius reached the gym door, seeing Lloyd lying face-down in the center of the floor, his arm outstretched in a futile attempt to stop himself from falling./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius froze for a second, then rushed to Lloyd's side. "Lloyd!" He pried him onto his back. "Hey, Lloyd! Answer me! What the hell happened here?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd couldn't respond. He lay on his back as Etrius shook his shoulders, and only pried them open ever so slightly with an agonizing groan. Through the haze of pain, Lloyd saw green eyes locking onto his. One word, one name ran through his mind, like a train darting through a dark tunnel, blaring an unsettling noise. emJosiah./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"With a weak breath, Lloyd's consciousness slipped out of his grasp./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd's eyes shot open./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He sat upright in the medical bead, sucking in a sharp breath. The nightmares had faded away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Lloyd!" A familiar voice exclaimed at his side./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox rose from her seat, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. "You were unconscious for days, and I couldn't reach you through mindspeak. You looked like you were in a coma. I thought the worst—I thought—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Ah—hk!" Lloyd pried Nox's arms away from his neck, breathing heavily. "It's alright, angel," He cupped her chin, tipping her head up. He pressed his lips against hers. "I'm okay."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Daddy," Angel stood on her tip toes, her arms grabbing the edge of the bed so she could see Lloyd. "Mum's name isn't Angel. Mine is."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd chuckled, holding her face. Then he leaned over and whispered. "emThe cigar thing is just between you and me./em"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel smiled and nodded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The glass door slid open, and Etrius and Beecher walked inside, Dr. Romanov following close behind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Lloyd. Good to see you're awake. You were training with Angel in the gym, and that's where you lost consciousness." Etrius explained, while Romanov moved to change the IV liquid./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""That reminds me." Nox crossed her arms, glaring at Lloyd. "What were you doing in the gym? I told you to watch Angel while I went on patrol, and you go behind my back and teach her how to fight with swords?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Mum," Angel tugged on Nox's shirt. "It's my fault. I asked Daddy if we could use the swords."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"A muscle in Nox's mouth twitched. "Angel, how many times have I told you how dangerous it is?!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel bowed her head, her eyes glued to the ground. "I'm sorry…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox glared at Lloyd with enraged features. She knew what she wanted to say, but she wouldn't allow herself to voice the words. Not in front of Lloyd and the team, and certainly not in front of Angel./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Your vital signs are normal," Romanov said as he removed the IV needle. "You're ready for active duty again. But I don't know what caused you to lose consciousness. I'm sorry."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius suddenly turned away from everyone, pressing a button on his headset. "Yeah? … emYou're shitting me/em. Bring him in."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""What's the problem, Etrius?" Beecher inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius hesitated. "It's Scott and Ivan. They went on patrol after Nox. While they were outside, they ran into… an old friend."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Heavy footsteps resounded from outside the door./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Ivan and Scott dragged a man with a bag over his head, clutching his arms. They forced him to his knees in front of Etrius./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius snarled and kneeled down, yanking the bag away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The General stared back./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox barged into the training room, where Beecher had his sniper aimed at targets, firing one by one. Angel stood by his side, watching with wide eyes. She had already learned to stand on her own, and Nox spent most of the years teaching her how to speak./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Both Beecher and Angel had a pair of earmuffs over their heads to block out the loud noise. Nox couldn't care less./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She seized Angel's arm and grabbed Beecher by the shoulder, whirling him around to face her enraged face. "Really?! Really! 'Angel is training with Lloyd.' I just saw Lloyd in the gym, and he had no idea what I was talking about!" Nox had already gotten used to keeping her language under control when she was around Angel. The team, not so much./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Beecher set his sniper down, hooking his earmuffs around his neck. "Nox—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Don't emNox/em me. I told you all from the beginning: Angel is emnot/em going to fire a gun!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel didn't say anything, but only watched in silence. This wasn't the first time she'd seen Nox and the others fighting, but the earmuffs silenced any noise around her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Beecher frowned, his red eyes watching hers. "Nox. We warned you about this. You should've known that her training would come eventually."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""emYou want to give a gun to a five year old/em?!" Nox removed the earmuffs from Angel's head, tossing them aside./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""If she's going to survive in this team, yes!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I've told you already, it's too early! She's still trying to understand her powers, and you want to put deadly weapons in her hands. She'll do just fine with her powers alone."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Before Beecher could say another word, Nox seized Angel's arm and pulled her out of the training room, down the hallway. She risked a glance down at Angel's face, to see that her eyes were red and moist. Nox sighed, kneeling down to her level. "I'm sorry I had to scream like that," She wiped away a fallen tear with her thumb. "But I only want what's best for you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel sniffled. "That's what Uncle Beecher said."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox's eyes darkened. emHe said that, didn't he?/em Only she didn't say it out loud./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel looked to the ground, trying to summon up something else to say. "I don't see Uncle Boomer a lot anymore."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox exhaled sharply. "Uncle Boomer is very busy all the time. But he still tries to see you as much as he can." But on the inside, Nox doubted this. It was obvious that Boomer was purposely avoiding both Nox and Lloyd, and even more so with Angel. He spent most of the year with Grace, and had moved away from the team years ago./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Anytime Nox was wandering the halls, she would always stop and gaze at Boomer's empty dorm for a second before leaving, refusing to remind herself of the past./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Come," She took Angel's hand with a gentle touch, guiding her down the hallway. "Let's go find Daddy."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No training, huh?" Lloyd said, barely above a whisper as Nox left the gymnasium./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Can we use the swords again, Daddy?" Angel asked, looking up to him with her gold eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd pursed his lips, scratching the back of his head. "I don't know. Your mom would get upset at me if she found out you held a sword. Well, she'd be much worse than upset."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Pleeeaaase?" Angel begged. "Or else I'll tell Uncle Beecher you've been smoking his cigars again."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No!" Lloyd paused, then chuckled. "Alright. We'll train, but only for today. And don't smoke like Uncle Beecher. Or Etrius. Or Mullins. Or anyone, for that matter."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd picked up two faux swords from the wall, tossing one to Angel. She caught it with ease. They'd been practicing for the longest time./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd moved into a fighting stance, and Angel tried to copy, bringing a chuckle out of Lloyd./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Now, what's the first thing you do when someone attacks you from the side?" He swiftly moved to the left, swinging the sword./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel laughed gleefully, lashing out with the fake sword. "You block them!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Good. Never move out of the way first, because your opponent can attack again."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel smiled and nodded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Again." Lloyd moved to the right with grace, bringing the sword down in an arc. Angel raised her sword with both hands, the impact sending vibrations through her arms. She dropped the sword./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd raised a brow./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"A flickering white light, like that of a dying candle glowed to life in Angel's eyes. She extended her arms, powering pulsating off her like sonic boom waves./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd lost his footing and slid halfway across the gym, his sword flying out of his hands. He remained on the floor, rubbing the back of his head. His ponytail had become undone./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel rushed over, standing over him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Good," Lloyd grunted. "Your opponent is down. Now what do you do?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel opened her mouth, but didn't say anything. She looked to the ground./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd sighed, his brows creasing together. "You keep him in place, and then wait until Mum or Daddy arrive, or the team." Lloyd convinced himself to train her to fight… But he couldn't bring himself to teach her to kill. Not now. But he knew that day would come eventually./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd rose to his feet, brushing himself off. He tied his hair back into a ponytail, then rubbed Angel's head, making her hair into a puffy mess. She giggled. "You did great, Angel. You're getting better. Come on, let's get something to eat." Lloyd guided Angel towards the hallway, his hand on her back./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Then he stopped./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Something dark and sinister lurked in the air, sickening Lloyd to his stomach. Angel seemed unfazed by it, but looked up at Lloyd with confusion. "Daddy?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd ground his teeth and shut his eyes, holding a hand to his head. Flashes of familiar images ran through his mind. A dark, shadowy prison cell, green eyes, blood and war, and The General. Lloyd collapsed to his knees, holding his head in his hands, his fingers scrunching through his hair. He groaned, feeling his heart beat faster and faster, sending waves of agony through his senses with every thump./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Darkness overwhelmed his mind, casting his consciousness into shadows. He collapsed face-down on the floor./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Tears jumped to Angel eyes as she stood over Lloyd. "Daddy…?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd didn't respond, just lying on the floor, lifeless./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Acting quickly, Angel darted out of the gym, looking both left and right down the hallways. A familiar voice sounded from another corridor. Etrius. Angel quickly rushed towards them, navigating the winding hallways. She had memorized every twist and turn, having played and ran through them with Timber./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She ran into Etrius, who was sauntering down the east hallway. She grabbed his hand, pulling him down the hall. "Uncle Etrius! Come quick!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Whoa, whoa, Angel, slow down. Why aren't you in training?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Hurry! Daddy's in the gym!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""And?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel and Etrius reached the gym door, seeing Lloyd lying face-down in the center of the floor, his arm outstretched in a futile attempt to stop himself from falling./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius froze for a second, then rushed to Lloyd's side. "Lloyd!" He pried him onto his back. "Hey, Lloyd! Answer me! What the hell happened here?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd couldn't respond. He lay on his back as Etrius shook his shoulders, and only pried them open ever so slightly with an agonizing groan. Through the haze of pain, Lloyd saw green eyes locking onto his. One word, one name ran through his mind, like a train darting through a dark tunnel, blaring an unsettling noise. emJosiah./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"With a weak breath, Lloyd's consciousness slipped out of his grasp./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd's eyes shot open./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He sat upright in the medical bead, sucking in a sharp breath. The nightmares had faded away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Lloyd!" A familiar voice exclaimed at his side./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox rose from her seat, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. "You were unconscious for days, and I couldn't reach you through mindspeak. You looked like you were in a coma. I thought the worst—I thought—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Ah—hk!" Lloyd pried Nox's arms away from his neck, breathing heavily. "It's alright, angel," He cupped her chin, tipping her head up. He pressed his lips against hers. "I'm okay."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Daddy," Angel stood on her tip toes, her arms grabbing the edge of the bed so she could see Lloyd. "Mum's name isn't Angel. Mine is."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd chuckled, holding her face. Then he leaned over and whispered. "emThe cigar thing is just between you and me./em"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel smiled and nodded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The glass door slid open, and Etrius and Beecher walked inside, Dr. Romanov following close behind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Lloyd. Good to see you're awake. You were training with Angel in the gym, and that's where you lost consciousness." Etrius explained, while Romanov moved to change the IV liquid./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""That reminds me." Nox crossed her arms, glaring at Lloyd. "What were you doing in the gym? I told you to watch Angel while I went on patrol, and you go behind my back and teach her how to fight with swords?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Mum," Angel tugged on Nox's shirt. "It's my fault. I asked Daddy if we could use the swords."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"A muscle in Nox's mouth twitched. "Angel, how many times have I told you how dangerous it is?!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Angel bowed her head, her eyes glued to the ground. "I'm sorry…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox glared at Lloyd with enraged features. She knew what she wanted to say, but she wouldn't allow herself to voice the words. Not in front of Lloyd and the team, and certainly not in front of Angel./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Your vital signs are normal," Romanov said as he removed the IV needle. "You're ready for active duty again. But I don't know what caused you to lose consciousness. I'm sorry."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius suddenly turned away from everyone, pressing a button on his headset. "Yeah? … emYou're shitting me/em. Bring him in."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""What's the problem, Etrius?" Beecher inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius hesitated. "It's Scott and Ivan. They went on patrol after Nox. While they were outside, they ran into… an old friend."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Heavy footsteps resounded from outside the door./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Ivan and Scott dragged a man with a bag over his head, clutching his arms. They forced him to his knees in front of Etrius./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius snarled and kneeled down, yanking the bag away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The General stared back./p