Sunset

As we stood in the remains of Azura, I watched Anya comfort Marcus on the beach. It was the first real moment I'd seen them share. It was too personal and beyond intimate for me. I went back inside the hotel while Gears and Gorasnayans secured the area. Someone would have to point them in the direction of Myrrah's corpse soon, but it wouldn't be me. I'd seen enough of that strangely human face, thanks.

I found Cole with Sam and Dizzy in the makeshift trauma center. The COG might have been disbanded but they still functioned the same way. Establish a small, sanitary area, haul in as many bodies as possible, patch them up, and ship them out to fight. But the only casualties today were the Locust and Lambent. Wherever his ashes were scattered, Adam Fenix was beyond saving.

"So it's really over," Sam said, stealing the thought straight from my head. "I never thought I'd be alive to see it."

Dizzy patted her shoulder. "You and me both, sweetheart, and I'm nearly Hoffman's age. Shoot, I bet that old bastard is pleased as punch to still be alive for this."

"Trescu's already diverted a bird for Anvil Gate," I said, stepping closer to the group. "Hoffman's gonna flip when he sees this place for real."

"Wait, Trescu's giving orders now?" Sam asked.

"He's the highest rank at the moment and he probably doesn't want to run this rescue mission alone. Besides, Hoffman was basically Prescott's lap dog for almost twenty years. He might be able to make sense of this shit."

"A secret facility in the middle of a fucking ocean? No, there's no rationalizing this, Baird. It's a luxury bunker. The bastard really did abandon us when we needed him most. He was going to hide until we were all dead."

I shrugged. "Personally, I was excited about the Stranded pirate king theory. That would've made my year."

Sam's jaw flexed, settling into that gesture that said shit was about to hit the fan. "Can't you be serious for one minute, asshole? People are dead, those of us left are scattered to the wind, and now what do we do? Well, genius?"

Before I had a chance to reply, she knocked her shoulder into mine as she passed, actually forcing me back a step in surprise. I watched her leave then turned to Cole. He was good at deciphering emotions.

"What was that about?" I spat, rubbing my shoulder. "I was being serious. I wanted Prescott to ride back to Vectes in a gold-plated yacht that could fit thirty-thousand people. Not hole up in some facility with the world's greatest minds to ride out the storm."

"Sam's the type to tackle any problem she's afraid of with her bravado," Dizzy replied. "That girl will never let you know she has a heart of gold in there—just like someone else I know." He gave me a pointed glance and I rolled my eyes. Just get to the point. "She's just scared. Hell, I am too. The war's over but what have we got left, fellas? Toppled cities, no technology, nowhere left to run. We have to build everything from scratch."

"We'll it's a good thing we've got my skills, huh?"

"And," he continued as if he didn't hear me, "she's probably still reeling from Dom's sacrifice. I think that hit us all hard, but Sam was…"

"Oh, right. That." It was no secret Sam had a thing for Dom. They were often inseparable in Pelruan or New Jacinto, but I doubted Dom was ready for a relationship so soon. Maybe if Sam had waited—maybe if Dom was still with us now—something could have come of it. I still felt she was pushing her luck on his better days.

Cole touched my shoulder. "Maybe you should go talk to her. Apologize. You remember how to do that, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, use my 'nice' words. I got it. I don't see why I have to apologize but I guess I'm the most qualified psychologist in this little group. Unless"—I motioned to Dizzy—"you have some hillbilly wisdom to share. Don't drink moonshine before bed? A creature on the side of the road isn't roadkill, it's lunch?"

"Just get your ass out there, boy, or else my boot will make it hard for you to sit down for two weeks."

Cole laughed as I dutifully made my way back outside. I took the time to wave to the Gorasnayans that I recognized or called out to me. Yanik must have spread some tales while I was gone; most of them called me Blondie-Baird and they weren't permitted to do so. Strangely, I couldn't bring myself to care.

I found Sam leaning on the patio rail, staring into the vivid sunset. Okay, this was it. I had to prove that I was, as much as I hated it, somewhat human. What the hell was I supposed to say? Sorry Dom died but you didn't deserve him anyway? No, that would get me a black eye. Shit, I wasn't good at these touchy-feely things.

I stood beside her, turning my back to the sun so I could continue watching the other men; Trescu was doing a fine job with organizing. Sam decided not to acknowledge my presence and I scrambled to find a way to break the tension.

"So, uh, you know you're not supposed to stare into the sun, right?" I asked. "Some people think it's okay to look at it even during an eclipse but that'll still blind you. I'm worried about your safety here, Sam. I mean, I could see you doing that."

She sighed and shook her head. "What do you want, Baird?"

"Oh, am I ruining a perfect brooding moment? We just put an end to a seventeen year war. Can't you ever be happy?"

"Can't you ever just shut up?"

"I'm trying to help, actually. There was a reason I came out here."

"What's that, to yell at me for being emotional? That I should suck it up and solider on?"

I rubbed the back of my neck and turned toward the dying sun. It was a brilliant orange, much better than the crappy red we had been getting. I leaned my elbows against the rail as I stared over the water. "Surprisingly, no, but it would be fun. I came out here because, before she left, Granny taught me some manners. So… I'm sorry, Sam, that maybe I insulted your fear. I honestly don't know what we're going to do without Prescott or Michaelson, or even Dom. But we have a lot more work to do now more than ever. We've managed to be self-sufficient this long but Hoffman's coming back. He'll make it all better."

"Yeah, he's amazing. He could motivate anyone to jump into a lake of imulsion and come out the other side. He can help us rebuild."

"And I'm sorry… about Dom. That it didn't work between you two. Shit, I knew the guy for what seemed forever. I thought out of him and Marcus that Dom would be the one to make it. I'm going to tell you something but I want you to forget it immediately, got it?"

She nodded with a small smile on her face. No, she wouldn't forget, but this wasn't the kind of thing just anyone would spread around.

"I always thought Delta was invincible. I mean, Marcus threw us into some serious shit but we always survived, right? It was only after Dom died that I realized all these bastards that I've come to like have always had the chance of dying, and that eventually nature will take its course. And I'm… I really am terrified of that." I cast a glare at her. "But if you tell anyone, I'll deny it. Be prepared to look like a bigger idiot."

"Wow, Bernie was right. You really do have a heart," she said with a grin.

"Whatever. Look, for what it's worth, I think you guys would've been nice together. You're about as ladylike as a baboon in a dress but I think you could've helped him heal."

She punched my shoulder with less force than usual. "Like you're one to talk. You're a worse gentleman than a pig in a tux!"

"Hey, I cut a nice figure in a tuxedo. I'd put any pig to shame."

"Baird, you are a pig."

It was the first laugh we'd shared and for a moment I saw Marcus and Anya in my mind. Is that how we looked to passer-bys? Lovers, or just two enormously relieved idiots able to laugh about something good for once? Shit, I really hoped it was the latter. I didn't need anyone getting the wrong idea.

As the sun set behind the water, I felt a wave of melancholy. I wasn't the sentimental type, but it was almost like watching the story of my life come to a close—nothing neat and tidy, but full of struggle and blood and something that would make a great biopic one day. And with the effort of rebuilding the world I used to know, I knew that soon I'd get to pick a pen and write the sequel.