Minute whirring sounds and clicks and antiseptic smells touch Hektor's senses as he awakes in a room of steel and medical machinery. He noticed fluid being pumped through his hand. As he attempts to sit-up, the pain pulsing behind his eyes and around his temples reminds him of the prior events. He sees Zuria seated next to him. She looks at him with a slight smile.

"Hey there, Hot Shot." Zuria's words are wrapped in a rare softness. "'Bout time you woke up. How you feelin'?"

"Like shit. My left thigh hurts and I have a throbbing headache. And my back? What happened to my limbs? Oh." Hektor sees the arms once on his back hanging on a rack by a corner of the room. The severed halves are glaringly visible. He notices how he is dressed out of his combat gear and is stark naked under the sheets.

"WAAH! Were you the one who undressed me?! Did you see anything?!"

"I saw enough. Qrane saw more though since she was the one who had to treat your wounds."

"Oh. Ow!" Hektor feels a pain in his left thigh. He lifts the sheets slightly and sees gauze and bandages wrapped around the spot of the pain. "I lost, didn't I?"

"Kinda."

"Damn it!"

"Don't feel so bad. I was shocked to see someone match your bolts-not even the instructors and drill sergeants could properly block those. Skullface and the Mummy there were really something else."

"Cut it. Thanks for trying, but I don't need the pep talk. At least I know how to improve Myriad Hydra next time we face those bastards." Hektor looks away, but he feels a soft touch on his shoulder. Zuria's hand is on his shoulder and she throws him a kind smile that she follows with a flick to his forehead.

"We'll get them next time, Hot Shot."

"Yikes. Thanks again, Zuria. Now, where the hell are we?"

"Lucia and Qrane's main ship. We took their shuttle to here. Had to drag your unconscious ass all the way here."

"And undress me afterwards? Ugh. How embarrassing. How'd the others do though?"

"We kinda all lost, Hektor." Zuria crosses her arms as she states a matter of fact.

"How are we still alive then?"

"Not all of us are."

"What? Who?!"

"Hlin. She's..." Zuria's eyes narrow as she looks away.

"Oh. That's...I see." Hektor pauses not knowing the best things to say during events of loss. "How are the they taking it?"

A crash and a bang as well as muffled shouting voices answer his question. Chairs and an assortment of whatever items are closest to Lucia fly across the ship's mess hall. Lucia stands ignoring the pain of her wound as it begins to bleed through her bandages. She cries in an ambiguous pain. Qrane appears in the corridor and the sight of her is calming but burdening.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Qrane. I let it happen again." Lucia falls to her knees as she continues sobbing. Qrane closes the distance and lowers herself. She catches a tear as Lucia looks up.

"You know that's not true."

"But-"

Lips touch a forehead in several spots and a hand runs along the back of Lucia's head. Qrane leans back as Lucia leans in. The latter's weights rests on her lover's chest. The hands are spared no affection as Qrane runs her lips from the point of the fingers to the shoulder. She reaches the neck and she kisses the area lightly and frequently. Lucia feels the tender warmth of lips wrap around all over her neck. Now she stops as the softness stays in the moment. Together they feel the warmth of intimate safety that begins to pervade the space around them.

"We weren't even able to bury her." Those words stop Qrane in her tracks.

"I know, but that's not your fault."

"I... I just want her back."

Qrane lips silence Lucia. "We're here at least. Together."

"We're all that's left."

"Ehem. Ehem." Lucia and Qrane are now looking at Hektor. He briefly tucks his lips in while his gut tightens. "Uh...That guy named Erdin is calling everyone to the meeting room." Hektor pauses although Lucia and Qrane still say nothing. He wishes he hadn't paused. "Guess I'll see you guys there...? Bye."

Qrane sighs and speaks, "I forgot we had visitors."