Chapter 23: Ebony
When Aonghus opened his eyes, he saw Ava looking down at him, and then he felt pain all over. He tried to sit up, but Ava gently pushed him down. The noon sun shone overhead, and there was a gentle breeze in the air.
"Ava," Aonghus said weakly. "Am I dreaming?"
"You're at Mountain Lab, love," Ava responded, stroking Aonghus' cheek. "I was able to find you with a tracking device I had Helen install in the sash she gave you from me, and then I brought you here."
"I see. You were watching over me like the guardian angel that you are." Aonghus stopped Ava's hand, and held it tightly in his big hand. "But I am needed elsewhere."
"Stay for a little while, love," Ava replied, then she bent over and kissed Aonghus. "At least until you recover."
So the two of them lay together on the platform that was attached to a two-story barn next to a tunnel for what seemed like hours. Then Ava briefly left Aonghus to get some water from the waterfall behind the place where the BLU mercenary clones used to spawn, only to find Saxton standing there. She ignored him as she got into the boat, but Saxton managed to get in before she took off from the dock.
"You can't keep him here forever," Saxton said firmly, picking up the paddles. "There are people who need him."
"I know that, father," Ava replied folding her arms. "But he could've drowned if I hadn't shown up."
"What happens to him is no longer your business." Saxton paddled a few massive strokes, and then they were at the waterfall. "I'm sending you away to Manhattan tonight."
"I'm not going," Ava said as she filled the canteen with water from the waterfall. "I have chosen to stay with Aonghus, and I don't want an Australium-powered body."
Saxton was speechless for a few moments, and then he crushed the paddles he held. "Are you out of your mind, Ava? If you stay here, there's the chance that Gray Mann will destroy this whole country! But even if he doesn't, you will still have to face death! Aonghus may bring you happiness, but there will come a time when he will pass on, and if you're still alive by then, his death will only make the last years of your life miserable."
"How is that any different from your situation?" Ava retorted. "The Australium in this country is all dug up, and that's why you want to move back to Australia. But once there's no more Australium in the world, you too will die."
After that, neither of them spoke as Saxton used was left of the paddles to take Ava back to the dock, and then she left to find Aonghus. But when she got to the platform, Aonghus was no longer there. Shocked, Ava walked up and down the dirt-covered road that ran through Mountain Lab calling his name, and then she found him near the entrance to the RED base, inspecting the orange truck that was parked next to the Control Point.
"Planning to leave soon, love?" Ava asked. When Aonghus didn't respond, she said, "I brought you some water."
"Thanks, Ava," Aonghus said, though he seemed reluctant. "But could you also do something else for me?"
"Anything, love."
"Well, your father talked to be about how he was planning to send you to Manhattan, and I think you should go."
Ava's arms froze, and she accidently dropped the canteen. "Aonghus, how could you ask me to do that? Don't you love me?"
"Of course I love you, and that's why I'm asking you to do this. I don't know if we're going to win or not, but I wouldn't want you around in case we lose."
"Then I'll fight by your side until the very end!"
"Ava, don't say that! I don't want you to get hurt, and you would be much safer in Australia than in America." Aonghus sighed, and climbed into the driver's seat. "I'm sorry."
While Ava picked up the canteen, Aonghus turned the ignition key, and drove the truck out of Mountain Lab at an accelerating pace.
End of Chapter 23