p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "emAnother/em child?" Nox repeated incredulously. "Lloyd, just stop it right there. There's no way this world can handle more than one Hyrbid."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd leaned in to the crook of her neck, his thumb caressing her stomach beneath her shirt, and nearly changing Nox's mind by his close proximity. "We're going to be moving into the city, Nox. To live normal lives. Now that the resource war is over, the laws say we can have another child."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" They had just left the city and were on their way back to the base in a Humvee. Lloyd had parked the car beneath the canopy of trees. The moon was at his back, lighting up strands of his hair like a halo./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "That's not what I'm worried about," Nox pushed away from him, even though her heart was torn apart by the small distance. "emWhat/em normal life? Angel will never be normal. We couldn't even bring her to school - we had to teach her everything at Headquarters. Bringing another child, only to live a life in secret is going to make life worse for them, and us."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd pressed a soft, warm kiss into her forehead, moving down her cheek, then to her jawline. He trailed kisses down the side of her neck./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Their radio crackled to life. Beecher was calling in Etrius, but he wasn't responding. Using one hand, Lloyd turned down the volume, the other clicking the seat recliner so he leaned over Nox's form./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Thunder rolled through the sky, and rain pelted through the leaves and into the Humvee. Nox protested for a moment to stop and for them to close the roof, but Lloyd kissed her hard, changing her mind. He was dominant, holding her close and crushing his mouth to hers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The kiss softened. His mouth slipped and dived against hers, his body shielding hers from the rain. Electricity even stronger than Element Evil crackled through the air. A world opened up between them, one that was frightening as it was familiar. He pressed his hand against hers, caressing the palm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Nox blinked languidly before shutting her eyes and savoring the moment before they'd return to patrol around the base./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Beecher continued trying to contact Etrius over the radio, but he still wasn't responding. Nox pushed any worries into the back of her mind. Etrius could take care of himself. He'd radio in sooner or later./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Nox ran her hands beneath Lloyd's damp shirt that hugged his torso, running her hands up and across his chest. Lloyd sucked a raindrop from her bottom lip, making her giggle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "I love you," He whispered with a soft moan, his voice nearly drowned by the pouring rain. "Nox, I will never let you go. You're mine."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" His hands trailed up and down her arms, leaving behind a hot, delicious ache. Nox's mind lapsed into a state of ecstasy./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Beecher was now shouting for Etrius over the radio. Lloyd groaned in frustration, responding to Beecher when he finally tried contacting them. "What?" He demanded, more forceful than he meant to./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "emLloyd, Nox, answer the fucking receiver before I lose Etrius/emem' pulse!/em"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Nox and Lloyd jolted, picking up the receiver. "What the hell happened!?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Beecher, state your location," Nox tried to keep her voice calm, but her heart was beating right out of her chest. Etrius had lost Element Evil. Everyone did. Death was an imminent as it was before./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Northern forest," Beecher breathed. "Canyon outcropping. God, the entire place is flooding. His lungs are filled with water. emHurry your asses/em!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd had the keys in the ignition and stomped the gas faster than he would've had he still had Element Evil. Nox wiped her hand as dry as she could get it, the rain stinging her skin. She tapped several settings across the keyboard screen, finding Beecher's location on the built-in GPS./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" emTen minutes./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd noticed this, and then set the gear to full speed, expertly navigating his way through the trees. They made it to the outcropping in less than five minutes. By now, Beecher had pulled Etrius out of the cliff, and back onto flat land. Open wounds ran the length of his torso, a dent in his ribcage, a black eye, and huge bruises staining his skin. Lloyd immediately leaped out of the Humvee without opening the door, coming to Beecher's side immediately. "Let's get him in the Humvee. We have medical supplies inside."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius opened his mouth to say something when Lloyd came into sight, but blood gurgled in his throat. He shut his eyes, desperately wanting to reach him through Mindspeak./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Where's Angel?" Nox's breathing grew heavy in panic. "I thought you said she was with you. She can heal you!" She grabbed Etrius' shoulders, pulling him upright. "emWhere is she/em?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius shut his eyes and shook his head. He clenched his teeth at the sudden movement, feeling tiny bones in his neck pop out of place./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "NOX! STOP!" Beecher shoved her away. "What, do you want to fucking kill him?!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd seized the collar of Beecher's shirt, snarling into his face in warning. "You emdon/emem't/em touch her."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "What the fuck has gotten into you!?" Beecher screamed over the crack of thunder. "Our team leader is about to die. emEtrius/em is about to die!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Completely oblivious to the rest of the team, Etrius began drawing into the mud. Just because he couldn't use his vocal chords didn't mean he could tell the rest of them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Doesn't that fucking phase you?!" Beecher ground his teeth, anger clouding his eyes as rain dripping down his hair, which was slightly shaved at the sides./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd and Nox's faces fell in apprehension. Beecher had been with Etrius much longer than the rest of the team, and he had every right to be angry at them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Wait," Lloyd breathed, seeing Etrius running his hand through the dirt. He could only create one letter./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd felt his spirit shatter. Nox brought her hands to her mouth, stifling a sob. Beecher ground his teeth in anger./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" emS./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Nox fell to her knees. "No, no, no…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd's face was impassive. Then, the expression twisted into something dark and angry./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He rose to his feet, and cursed the Superior's name to the howling wind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius squeezed his eyes shut, his lips moving but not forming any words. He mouthed the words, emI/emem'm sorry./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "We need to get him back to base; I'm losing his pulse!" Beecher tugged off his shirt and used the fabric to stop the wounds from bleeding. His skin turned pale and ghastly. His hair was matted with blood and mud, running down his face with the rainwater./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "No," Nox huffed. "We look for Angel. The Superior couldn't have gotten far. We can catch up to him if we just—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' eyes widened at her words. He sat upright, not caring how much it hurt. He managed to utter a few words, extending a hand towards her. "Don't… Superior… Wants… More Hybrids…" He sank back down into the flooded grass./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Beecher's face scrunched with ire. He grabbed the keys from Lloyd's back pocket, dragging Etrius to the Humvee. "I don't give a shit what you do. But I'm taking my comrade back to Headquarters. I'm not leaving him here to die!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Beecher, you emwill/em fucking give me those keys!" Lloyd grabbed Beecher's shoulder to stop him. Beecher swung around, holding a pistol to Lloyd's face./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Nox was at a loss for words. Had they still been immortal, this would've been rough play. But Beecher wasn't fucking around. He was truly a trigger away from taking away the life of the only person in the world who cared./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Beecher," Nox said carefully. "Put the gun down. We have enough dying men as it is! This is emexactly/em what the Superior wants!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Beecher didn't move. His red eyes burned holes into Lloyd. Lloyd glared back at him with as much scorn as he could conjure. Rain dripped off his nose and down his face. Cold wind howled between them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Then, Lloyd threw his hands into the air. "Fine! You know what? Fine. We'll bring him back to base. But then we're taking another Humvee, and emeveryone/em is going out there and searching for the Superior. Are you fucking satisfied? Do we have a fucking deal?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Beecher remained in the same position for a moment before lowering his weapon, holstering it. He laid Etrius in the backseat, pulling the hood over them and blocking out the rainwater. Beecher revved the engine and darted back to Rebel Headquarters./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd leaned in to the crook of her neck, his thumb caressing her stomach beneath her shirt, and nearly changing Nox's mind by his close proximity. "We're going to be moving into the city, Nox. To live normal lives. Now that the resource war is over, the laws say we can have another child."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" They had just left the city and were on their way back to the base in a Humvee. Lloyd had parked the car beneath the canopy of trees. The moon was at his back, lighting up strands of his hair like a halo./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "That's not what I'm worried about," Nox pushed away from him, even though her heart was torn apart by the small distance. "emWhat/em normal life? Angel will never be normal. We couldn't even bring her to school - we had to teach her everything at Headquarters. Bringing another child, only to live a life in secret is going to make life worse for them, and us."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd pressed a soft, warm kiss into her forehead, moving down her cheek, then to her jawline. He trailed kisses down the side of her neck./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Their radio crackled to life. Beecher was calling in Etrius, but he wasn't responding. Using one hand, Lloyd turned down the volume, the other clicking the seat recliner so he leaned over Nox's form./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Thunder rolled through the sky, and rain pelted through the leaves and into the Humvee. Nox protested for a moment to stop and for them to close the roof, but Lloyd kissed her hard, changing her mind. He was dominant, holding her close and crushing his mouth to hers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The kiss softened. His mouth slipped and dived against hers, his body shielding hers from the rain. Electricity even stronger than Element Evil crackled through the air. A world opened up between them, one that was frightening as it was familiar. He pressed his hand against hers, caressing the palm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Nox blinked languidly before shutting her eyes and savoring the moment before they'd return to patrol around the base./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Beecher continued trying to contact Etrius over the radio, but he still wasn't responding. Nox pushed any worries into the back of her mind. Etrius could take care of himself. He'd radio in sooner or later./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Nox ran her hands beneath Lloyd's damp shirt that hugged his torso, running her hands up and across his chest. Lloyd sucked a raindrop from her bottom lip, making her giggle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "I love you," He whispered with a soft moan, his voice nearly drowned by the pouring rain. "Nox, I will never let you go. You're mine."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" His hands trailed up and down her arms, leaving behind a hot, delicious ache. Nox's mind lapsed into a state of ecstasy./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Beecher was now shouting for Etrius over the radio. Lloyd groaned in frustration, responding to Beecher when he finally tried contacting them. "What?" He demanded, more forceful than he meant to./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "emLloyd, Nox, answer the fucking receiver before I lose Etrius/emem' pulse!/em"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Nox and Lloyd jolted, picking up the receiver. "What the hell happened!?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Beecher, state your location," Nox tried to keep her voice calm, but her heart was beating right out of her chest. Etrius had lost Element Evil. Everyone did. Death was an imminent as it was before./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Northern forest," Beecher breathed. "Canyon outcropping. God, the entire place is flooding. His lungs are filled with water. emHurry your asses/em!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd had the keys in the ignition and stomped the gas faster than he would've had he still had Element Evil. Nox wiped her hand as dry as she could get it, the rain stinging her skin. She tapped several settings across the keyboard screen, finding Beecher's location on the built-in GPS./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" emTen minutes./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd noticed this, and then set the gear to full speed, expertly navigating his way through the trees. They made it to the outcropping in less than five minutes. By now, Beecher had pulled Etrius out of the cliff, and back onto flat land. Open wounds ran the length of his torso, a dent in his ribcage, a black eye, and huge bruises staining his skin. Lloyd immediately leaped out of the Humvee without opening the door, coming to Beecher's side immediately. "Let's get him in the Humvee. We have medical supplies inside."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius opened his mouth to say something when Lloyd came into sight, but blood gurgled in his throat. He shut his eyes, desperately wanting to reach him through Mindspeak./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Where's Angel?" Nox's breathing grew heavy in panic. "I thought you said she was with you. She can heal you!" She grabbed Etrius' shoulders, pulling him upright. "emWhere is she/em?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius shut his eyes and shook his head. He clenched his teeth at the sudden movement, feeling tiny bones in his neck pop out of place./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "NOX! STOP!" Beecher shoved her away. "What, do you want to fucking kill him?!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd seized the collar of Beecher's shirt, snarling into his face in warning. "You emdon/emem't/em touch her."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "What the fuck has gotten into you!?" Beecher screamed over the crack of thunder. "Our team leader is about to die. emEtrius/em is about to die!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Completely oblivious to the rest of the team, Etrius began drawing into the mud. Just because he couldn't use his vocal chords didn't mean he could tell the rest of them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Doesn't that fucking phase you?!" Beecher ground his teeth, anger clouding his eyes as rain dripping down his hair, which was slightly shaved at the sides./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd and Nox's faces fell in apprehension. Beecher had been with Etrius much longer than the rest of the team, and he had every right to be angry at them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Wait," Lloyd breathed, seeing Etrius running his hand through the dirt. He could only create one letter./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd felt his spirit shatter. Nox brought her hands to her mouth, stifling a sob. Beecher ground his teeth in anger./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" emS./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Nox fell to her knees. "No, no, no…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Lloyd's face was impassive. Then, the expression twisted into something dark and angry./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He rose to his feet, and cursed the Superior's name to the howling wind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius squeezed his eyes shut, his lips moving but not forming any words. He mouthed the words, emI/emem'm sorry./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "We need to get him back to base; I'm losing his pulse!" Beecher tugged off his shirt and used the fabric to stop the wounds from bleeding. His skin turned pale and ghastly. His hair was matted with blood and mud, running down his face with the rainwater./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "No," Nox huffed. "We look for Angel. The Superior couldn't have gotten far. We can catch up to him if we just—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' eyes widened at her words. He sat upright, not caring how much it hurt. He managed to utter a few words, extending a hand towards her. "Don't… Superior… Wants… More Hybrids…" He sank back down into the flooded grass./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Beecher's face scrunched with ire. He grabbed the keys from Lloyd's back pocket, dragging Etrius to the Humvee. "I don't give a shit what you do. But I'm taking my comrade back to Headquarters. I'm not leaving him here to die!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Beecher, you emwill/em fucking give me those keys!" Lloyd grabbed Beecher's shoulder to stop him. Beecher swung around, holding a pistol to Lloyd's face./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Nox was at a loss for words. Had they still been immortal, this would've been rough play. But Beecher wasn't fucking around. He was truly a trigger away from taking away the life of the only person in the world who cared./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Beecher," Nox said carefully. "Put the gun down. We have enough dying men as it is! This is emexactly/em what the Superior wants!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Beecher didn't move. His red eyes burned holes into Lloyd. Lloyd glared back at him with as much scorn as he could conjure. Rain dripped off his nose and down his face. Cold wind howled between them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Then, Lloyd threw his hands into the air. "Fine! You know what? Fine. We'll bring him back to base. But then we're taking another Humvee, and emeveryone/em is going out there and searching for the Superior. Are you fucking satisfied? Do we have a fucking deal?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Beecher remained in the same position for a moment before lowering his weapon, holstering it. He laid Etrius in the backseat, pulling the hood over them and blocking out the rainwater. Beecher revved the engine and darted back to Rebel Headquarters./p