We all drift back to Athena once Simon's hovercraft is gone. She's currently staring at Taka, who perches on the rough wall and gazes at the empty spot just beyond him. Her eyes are hardly focused, though, and I don't know if Widget has gone dark because of the electric field or her own emotions.

She murmurs something, but it's so faint and breathy I can only make out "failed again."

"Unnghh...! A... Aaaaaaaaah!"

"A-Athena!" Still wobbly and dizzy, I manage to close the gap between us and kneel next to her with a wince. "Wh-what's wrong?!"

She's shutting down again, just like in the Training Center... Is there some connection, or is this just how she reacts to tragedy?

She pulls her arms in closer against her. "Breathe in... Breathe out... Breathe in..." She can only keep it up for a few moments before her ventilation cuts off again.

I look over her hand, but what little burn I can see is barely distinguishable from her other skin. Her only real shock is psychological.

"Athena..." Trucy slowly and delicately puts a hand on her arm. She doesn't get a response.

"After all I've done—" Athena may not even realize she's speaking aloud when it's at that low a volume—"is this how it ends? Forgive me. I couldn't protect you like I said I would."

She falls silent again, staring slack-jawed and numb at the floor. I can't hear her breathing.

"ATHEEEENAAAA!" Robin's roar finally gets a jolt of motion out of her. "You stop beating yourself up like that!" Although she can't really twirl while she's sitting down, the 11 still swings her arms out and back in. "It was because of you that I could let someone else know my secret—and through you that my friends could know, too. And you've worked hard for the friendship between Hugh, Juniper, and I! I think you're an awesome tribute, Athena. One of the best!"

Athena's breathing a little better now, but focus doesn't return to her eyes and her voice stays low. "B-But, I accused Hugh of murder! And that's not all... I've done some seriously unforgivable things."

Hugh watches her evenly. "Heh. What's the big deal? False charges are nothing to be scared of." He smirks. "And I'm not even mad at you. You were only trying to expose a truth we needed to hear. And Simon?" His expression returns to neutral. "You were only trying to help. Even him stumbling into the lethal trap in the first place wasn't your fault."

I can tell Athena's holding back tears. "But... but what does it matter when I couldn't save him?!"

"Athena. It wasn't your fault or your responsibility, and it's certainly not a reflection of who you are." Juniper positions herself in front of the 3 and smiles. "Even now at this very moment, I still believe in you!"

Cowed over, Athena takes in a breath. "Thank you, Junie. But I feel like I can barely breathe. I don't know what to do. I... I...!"

"Don't worry, Athena, you're doing fine." I try not to cringe as I lean a bit closer to her. "You just have to hold on for now, okay? Here. I bet you could use a little Chords of Steel right now. Just repeat after me, all right? I'm Athena Cykes and I'm fine."

She tilts her head a little to look at me and swallows, but she doesn't say anything.

"I know you can do it. 'I'm Athena Cykes, and I'm fine.' "

"I'm... Athena Cykes..." She drifts off.

I lock gaze with her. "And?"

Her grip on her elbows tenses. "And I'm... fine..."

"Good. Try it again?"

"I'm Athena Cykes, and... I'm fine..."

"Good!" I fist my hands and bring them back a little, trying not to grunt in pain. "Now a little louder!"

"I'm Athena Cykes and I'm fine..."

I suck in a breath. "Keep it up! I'm Apollo Justice and I'm fine!"

"I'm... Athena Cykes and I'm fine...!"

I can't expect her to give everything she's got if I'm not. "I'm Apollo Justice and I'm fine!"

"I'm Athena Cykes and I'm fine...!"

My ribs are aching again, but I can't let up when she's finally getting her voice back. "I'm Apollo Justice and I'm fine!"

She takes a deep breath, leans into it, and shouts, "I'm Athena Cykes and I'm fine!" A teardrop flies off her cheek from the motion, but she pulls her eyelids open again.

Swallowing in an attempt to stop my throat from drying out more, I give her a nod. "That was a good one. See? You're fine."

Still shivering, she lowers her hands to her knees. "Right..."

Trucy and Juniper pull her into a hug that she's now able to reciprocate. They don't pull away for some time.

"So," Athena finally starts, her eyes puffy but her expression neutral. "What do we do now?"

I exchange a look with the others.

"Aura may not have any qualms about launching an attack on us now," Hugh says. "We should be cautious about that once she figures out... what happened."

I prod at my forehead. "Basically, we stay in hiding?"

"Actually, we might have to move." Trucy frowns, folding her arms. "We've been shouting up a storm and all... I don't know how far away she could hear us, but it's best to be safe, right?"

Athena looks down. "R-right..." She has to take a few more deep breaths.

"How much traveling do you think you can handle, Apollo?" Juniper rubs her knuckles.

"Me? I should be fine." I rise to my feet. I'm sweating, and my heartbeat's a little fast, but I'm not in too much pain at the moment. "I guess we'll be taking the obvious exit, so... let's find a good place before sunset." I start stepping toward the door.

"Ooh, maybe we'll have time to disguise it." Robin grins. "Wouldn't that be G-R-E-A-T?"

"Good for survival, if nothing else." Hugh follows Robin, who's just behind me. "You loud people might also want to keep it down a bit."

I assume he's referring to me and Robin.

"Yeah, yeah..." I catch myself slumping a bit and put a hand to the cave wall to keep myself from stumbling.

"Polly?"

"I'm fine." Slowly pulling my arm back, I take a deep breath and keep going. It's kind of warm in here... There should be a good breeze outside, so...

So...

A wave of weakness suddenly sweeps up from my legs to my shoulders, and I collapse.

"Apolloooooooo!"

I can feel the jacket draping back over me as Juniper gasps.

"Apollo!" It's Athena now.

Shoot... I'm fine... just a little tired. "It's all right." I slowly pull myself back to my feet, my weight-bearing shoulder screaming in protest. "I'm fine."

"Fine?!" Trucy grips my wrist, nearly flinging it in my face. "Blood is seeping through your bandages!"

Robin goes for her shoulder bag. "I still have a couple."

"It's... just my arm." I idly flex my right fingers as I lean back against the wall. I really don't feel any blood pooling elsewhere. It's not that much, either. I'm just a little weak, still.

An exchange of bandages confirms that only part of the gash has reopened, and the added pressure is enough to stop it.

"All right." I clench my fist. "Let's get going."

"Apollo, no." Trucy huffs, putting her hands on her hips. "You look terrible. You're in no condition to go climbing mountains."

I gaze out at the sky. "But it's already afternoon. We have to go now if we want to find another hiding place before sundown. And we... we can't stay near here. The Careers already tracked us this far when they set up the explosions. Aura should start looking around here first."

"Ugh..." Robin rubs under her eyes. "What are we supposed to do, then?!"

I breathe in and out a few times. "Here. Everyone else can get going. I'll keep the flashlight and look a little farther in. These tunnels usually branch off some, so I might be able to hide if it's just me. I'm sure I can make it that far."

"You can't be serious." Hugh frowns. "If she does find you, you'll be a sitting duck."

I grip my hilt. "I have a sword."

"And several injuries!" Juniper looks about as close as she's ever going to get to angry. "Not to mention she's a Career. I can't let you stay here alone, Apollo."

"So then I climb along with everyone else. I'm sure I can manage it." I try to ignore the fact that I'm sliding down the tunnel wall just trying to lean against it. "Even if it's slow progress, it's... better than nothing."

"But what if you fall, man? Or if we have to run from mutts?"

"Well, then..." I take another deep breath. "The fact stands that we need to get out of here."

"All right, then!" Athena nudges her way through the others to get next to me. "Let's do this!"

Before I can register what's going on, she seizes me by the shoulders and hauls me up, probably stopping herself just before she can hurl me across the cave.

"Aaaaagh!" I flail in reaction, but it only makes the pain worse.

"If I carry him, we should be fine! Komm schon!" She hurries for the entrance.

"Athena! Athena...!" I squirm. "My back... I think you..."

"Wh-what?" She stops herself and, with Hugh's help, puts me down. "I-I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

"Y... Yeah..." I don't think my expression is helping to convince anyone. "That's a good idea, but... you're going to have to be more gentle with me... Sorry."

"Ah... N-no, it was my fault." She sighs.

"Here, you can try it again once we're sure he's okay." After asking permission, Juniper lifts up my jacket and shirt to inspect my back. After a minute, she confirms that there isn't any more bleeding.

"Okay, good." I look to Athena. "Ready to go?"

She nods before pausing and looking back into the tunnel. "Ah—!" She jogs over before anyone can stop her, but she comes to a halt across from Taka. It takes her a moment to get his attention.

"Taka?" She grips her arm. "You... don't need to stay here. Okay? You don't have to stick around with us, either... You're free. Go on and eat some snakes or something, all right?"

He screeches in response, scrutinizing her before hopping off his perch and soaring towards the entrance with another call. Coming to a stop just outside, he gazes out at the landscape.

I turn back to Athena. Tensed up, she stares out at the sky.

"Athena?" Trucy wrings her hands. "Are you okay?"

Her gaze doesn't shift. "You're free... I-I wanted to tell him that... Even after I'd failed to save him from the charges... Suddenly he had a chance to live despite, a-and I could even help... But n-now it's gone..." She clamps her hands over her ears. "I just... wanted..."

Taking choppy breaths, she forces her eyes shut. Juniper is able to lead her back to the rest of us, but the 3 still looks like she's trying to keep herself from exploding.

"Athena." Even if the rest of me isn't doing so well, my voice is strong enough to reach her. "You... know it's okay to cry."

She opens her eyes. "I... can't do that." With some effort, she straightens herself out. "Let's make sure nothing's about to jump on us, and then we'll get to climbing."

I shuffle my shoulders up the wall a little. "I'll leave that to you guys."

Slowly, the others start to step out of the cave. Athena's bringing up the rear, still shaking. She doesn't make it past me before her face twists. Her shoulders stiffen, and she clamps a hand over her mouth and nose, shaking her head as she sniffles. One more shuddering breath, and she's wailing. Her knees go weak, and Trucy barely keeps her from crashing into the ground as she bawls her heart out.