Protector of Men – last chapter!!

Sorry for the delay. I needed a break, and it turned out to be a long break.

Before I start, I want to thank everyone that helped me get through this. Thanks to all the reviewers who stuck it out the whole time (I know it was hard – it was hard enough writing it), thanks to all you guys who were so kind and appreciative of the work I've put into this. I don't say that I'm a great writer, but you guys definitely made me feel like it! :) It's been a long time, and I'm glad to be done with it. Thanks again, you guys. It means a lot to me that you responded.

Zion's halls teemed with people: some lay on the ground, wounded, others lay crouched at their sides, still more stood motionless at their feet, hoping they could do something to help. Medics patrolled the halls hurriedly, sporadically checking the vitals of those who were hurt. All those unscathed worked to repair Zion.

Zandra lay in one of the few beds in the medical bay, awake. She insisted she was fine; insisted that she too be a part of the reparations, but the medics had refused her.

"You've just woken up," they told her, "You're too fragile for any exertion."

It had been four days since 'the end', as Zionites were beginning to call it. Zandra had initially regained consciousness on the third day, but still she had not been allowed to even stand.

Once she finally gave up, she instead asked for news of the crew.

"Do you think you're ready to talk to them?" a medic asked, rather timidly. Zandra tried not to reply with obvious annoyance. A minute or so later the crew walked in with varying looks of concern. Shade immediately went to her side, clasping her hand tightly and examining her face.

"Are you alright? It's been four days…"

"I'm fine." He nodded, looking down.

"We all thought…when we saw…" he began, tracing her hand with his fingers, falling silent. Zandra took a look around the small room. Kesia stood closest to Shade, followed by Alias, and Captain Columbus.

"They left?" Zandra asked, looking to those behind Shade. They nodded.

"After you fell," Columbus started, clearing her now quiet voice, "They looked after you for a while and left. We haven't seen them since."

"Has anyone been to broadcast?"

"Not yet," Columbus answered, "Council's waiting for you to okay it."

They were all silent for a few moments.

"I think I can get up," Zandra said, loosening the sheets from her thin bed, Shade moving back to accommodate her. Kesia watched anxiously while Alias moved to prevent any medics seeing. Shade offered a hand, but she refused.

Deftly she swung her legs over the bed and tested the ground; in a moment she was standing, moving her weight experimentally from one foot to the other. The others watched, soon caught by surprise as she flung herself back onto the bed.

"Someone's coming," she whispered.

Within ten minutes she was out of the room and sauntering slowly down a hallway with her crew in tow. They were quiet; the only sound obvious to them was the intermittent clunk of Zandra's foot on the metal floor.

"Everythin' still running smoothly?"

"Better than I had expected, admittedly."

"You gotta admit she handled things well-"

The Architect turned to face the Oracle and paused.

"All that has been accomplished is a testy waiting period."

"That's all they hoped for," she replied slowly. They both said nothing for a few seconds and watched the people sauntering about in front of them.

"May I ask," the Architect began, "How much of your own interference can be attributed to this said 'success'?"

"Not much… I don't think any of us expected this."

"It's a clever game," he replied, "But rest assured the mainframe will be watching your… actions – when the real anomaly arrives."

The Oracle looked to him in disbelief.

"You really think he'll show up, even after all this?"

"He has to. That's how the program works."

"That's gonna be interesting," she sighed, looking at the wandering people again, "We could have a real problem once he shows up."

"But," she continued, looking to the Architect, "If she's still around, we never know, do we?"

"No," he said, shaking his head, "We never know."

"Did you get a look at her X-Rays?" a medic asked, huddled in an empty corner of the crowded med bay. A few people nodded.

"What's on it?" one asked. The medic pulled out a x-ray full of white areas – full of metal.

"Did they-"

"I think so," the medic replied, nodding at the surprised faces on many of the students.

"Her whole spine, her legs – almost everything."

"She wouldn't have made it if they hadn't fixed her up first-"

"Does she know?"

"She has to," the medic answered, "She'd be able to tell; she didn't ask any questions."

They were quiet for a moment, digesting the idea. A few beds down an alarm sounded, and the students went back into action.

The crew stood around the entrance to the mess hall quietly, awkwardly. No one had to ask where they were going – it just seemed the right place to go. After a few minutes of silence they were led to a large table. Zandra ignored the obvious stares as well as she could, while the crew tried not to notice.

"Engineering says the Mayflower can be fixed," said Columbus, breaking the silence. A few of the group nodded, and it was quiet again. Alias motioned to a nearby waiter for some drinks. Zandra began flexing her fingers, experimenting with movement.

"I guess that means we could go back out," Shade said, looking to Zandra. She waited, then nodded slowly.

"I guess we could." She looked to Shade, a smile slowly appearing on his weathered face. She returned the gesture, their hands clasped gently under the table. Zandra looked at Columbus.

"It looks like it's over."

"I think it is," the captain replied. The waiter returned and placed small glasses in front of each of them; Alias tipped him and looked around. She picked up her glass.

"Cheers?" she asked, looking to each of their group in turn.

"Yeah," they said slowly, "Cheers."

This is a hard story to end. :(

But I hope to continue writing!! Harry Potter is nagging at me, so we'll see.