Saturday, 1st February 2025, 3:38 pm
"Mitchells, I am truly sorry for the delay. I have been begging that damned Martinez for weeks to give you some time off. It is absolutely unacceptable…"
"Doctor, it's fine. I understand. I'm just happy I'm here."
"Ah, yes of course. Of course! My apologies. Please, do not let my ramblings be of your concern. Go ahead, Mitchells. Take your time."
Reyn exists the car that he and Ravinok had arrived in.
He looks over the vast London cemetery, which had been extended after the invasion to house the thousands that perished in those days of unrelenting horror and devastation.
The views are tranquil. White headstones littered vast fields of deep, green grass with the occasional, perfectly placed bouquet, bringing a splash of colour along with the golden rays of sunlight dancing between tree leaves.
Reyn slowly walks along the grassy paths of the facility, taking deep long breaths with each step. He struggles to shake thoughts of Ghazal's death, pushing his mind to focus on the countless memories of brotherhood they had shared instead.
He tries daily to dwell on the things his best friend had taught him, ensuring he never loses sight of what Ghazal has left behind in his head and heart.
It has been two months since the invasion at GAARD HQ. The incident would officially be classified as a training accident involving defective aetheric-based equipment. GAARD would take the fall, officially committing to implementation of a number of safety and security policies to mitigate future training incidents.
All footage of the event would be encrypted and archived or scrubbed from existence, while a special, clandestine task-team is set up to investigate and understand the nature of the two entities that had infiltrated the HQ.
Though GAARD held a formal, and beautifully dignified memorial ceremony to honor Ghazal, Reyn had not had the opportunity to visit his actual gravesite due to his involvement in the new investigative task team, Director Martinez having made him an integral part of the gate defence planning process.
As he walks, he checks his phone for the location of Ghazal's grave. He approaches the marked spot where he finds a man and woman already attending to his friend's headstone.
"Oh, are you a friend of Ghazal?" The woman asks with a warm smile.
The man stares at Reyn, his face half in disgust. "Looks like an archaner. See, see the tattoos!"
"Zufir!" The woman scowls. "Sorry, young man. We are Ghazal's parents. We haven't seen our boy for so long. When was the last time you saw him?"
Reyn hesitates to answer. He feels his emotions start to build into his throat and his eyes burn and quiver.
"What's that? You bring flowers for a man?" Ghazal's father asks abruptly, pointing to the bag in Reyn's hand.
"Oh, um, no. It's his favourite food actually." Reyn responds.
"Oh, how sweet. So you did know my boy. You spend lots of time with him?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that." Reyn snickers, wiping at stray tears.
"Speak properly man. Yes or no. You youths of today, no respect! When you talk to your elders you look them in the eyes, you speak clearly, what sort…" The man scolds.
"Zufir! Leave the man alone. Young man, I'm sorry to ask… but do you know how my little boy died? The people at the agency said it was an accident. But they won't say anything more than this…"
Reyn fights back his tears but relents, he weeps softly as his thoughts fall back onto Ghazal's last moments.
"He died protecting the ones he loved." Reyn says as he wipes his eyes and lifts his head proudly.
Ghazal's parents' eyes stand wide as they watch Reyn's unrestrained emotions play out over their son's grave.
Reyn bends down toward the grave. He removes Ghazal's gifts from its packet, placing down a nondescript styrofoam container and an unlabeled bottle.
"Four seconds in. Four seconds out." Reyn whispers at the headstone with a smile.
"What… is that!" Ghazal's father asks as he bends down towards the styrofoam container. He takes a deep whiff and jumps up, pointing a finger at Reyn. "Is that pork? And beer! You saying this blood boy was a heathen? Oh lord forgive us! What will happen to his soul, Gadijah?"
Reyn chuckles. "I like to think that his soul is inside of us, you know. He lives on in our memories and…" He says as he places his hand to his heart.
"What? So you think you are god? You want my son's soul? Never! Blasphemy! Go! Get out of here at once! You heathen! May the Lord have mercy on your soul!" The man shouts, kicking and clapping as Reyn quickly makes his escape.
As he jogs back toward the cemetery entrance, he chuckles to himself, somehow knowing that if Ghazal were there, they would both be rolling in the grass laughing at the outcomes of Reyn's first meeting with his parents.
He reaches a shaded bench under a large oak tree and sits down to catch his breath. He grabs his phone from his pocket and taps at the screen before placing it at his ear.
"Reyn?"
"Hey, Joze. How you doing?"
"Oh hey! I'm good. Just fucking cold. Holy shit. I mean, it's Siberia, it's cold, I get it. But fuck! Freezing my ass off her. Could really use a good butt rubbing." Jocelyn says with a chuckle. "How about you?"
"I'm good. Director gave me some time off. I'm in London. Finally brought Gaz those steaks."
"Oh, Reyn… I wish I could be there with you. Are you ok?"
"Yeah, yeah! I'm fine. Funny story, I actually met his parents. You'll love hearing about them."
"Oh, that sounds so sweet. I can't wait to hear all about it."
"Yeah, can't wait to tell you. There's so much we need to talk about."
"I know! I can't wait to see you!"
"When's your contract up?"
"Six more weeks. Foreman said we might finish sooner if the snow lets up. The dam wall is pretty much done, just finishing off some final touches. But it's been snowing like crazy here all month."
"Oh, that sucks. Sorry to hear, Joze. Wish I could help."
"I mean… you could. You could probably have the whole project done in an afternoon if you teleported here. Maybe even have some time left over for me…"
"Jocelyn! I made an oath."
"Fine… fine. Just checking." she says giggling. "Kinda unfair though… I mean, I'm your girlfriend. You should be able to make a little exception. I'm sure Gaz wouldn't mind…"
"Jocelyn!"
"Ok, ok… sorry… I miss you!"
"Yeah, right. I can't wait to see you, too, Joze."
"Ugh! I gotta go, time to freeze my ass off some more."
"Stay frosty out there, Joze."
"Oh, ha ha, very funny, Mitchells. Just make sure you're ready to rub butts when I'm back."
"I'm always ready to rub butts with you, Miss Webber."
"Oh, I know, you damn bunny."
"Love you, Joze."
"I love you, Reyn Mitchells!"
Reyn tucks his phone back into his pocket with an accomplished grin across his face. He rises from the bench and struts back toward the car.
Ravinok pokes his head out of the car window, flashing Reun a toothing grin as he approaches.
Reyn smiles back. Ravinok would prove himself as loyal and reliable friend and mentor to Reyn. Ghazal's death had left him in a deep hole of depression and self-doubt. With Jocelyn's departure for her work program along with the other recruits, Reyn would find himself alone at the GAARD HQ's facility, and struggling to deal with the emotional fallout of his best friend's death.
It was Ravinok's comforting and mentorship that would dig Reyn out of his depression. Their work on Reyn's aetherics, as well as their investigation into the Architect and Harbinger, would allow Reyn to focus his thoughts on the tasks at hand, the tasks he and Ghazal would have tackled together.
"Ready to go, Reyn?" Ravinok asks as Reyn enters the car.
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Again, thank you for your patience and dedication, my boy. The Director… he may not show it in the most friendly way, but he truly appreciates what you do for the agency, for humanity."
"Thank you doctor. Don't worry about it, Mr. Martinez and I have a good understanding… I think. I like him, reminds me of grandad. Mom's side. Think he's the reason she was such a hard ass, you know."
Ravinok chuckles.
"You sound like you have an interesting family, Mitchells. I would love to meet them someday."
Reyn smiles.
"Then let's make today that day." Reyn says with a knowing smirk."
"What do you mean?
"Let's go. Now. If you gave me a power-core, we could teleport over in a second. Please, Ravinok. I miss them." Reyn says to Ravinok, tilting his head and pouting his lips playfully.
"Reyn! You know the rules. If Martinez found out."
"Oh come on, he already knows what we're talking about right now. GAIA listens to everything. I'm not stupid, doctor."
"Well…" Ravinok scoffs.
"Oh come on, I deserve this. Please! Just this once. I wanna see my little sister!"
"Ugh, you're incorrigible." Ravinok groans. "Fine. Just this once. For your little sister."
Reyn grins widely as Ravinok digs in his coat pockets for a power-core.
"Are you sure you can get us there without issue?"
"Yes sir, I'll put us in the sky over my house. I know the exact location and got a clear visual."
"Good, then let's go." Ravinok says.
He slips the power-core onto Reyn's nape and an instant later, they disappear, leaving their chauffeur baffled.
They float in the air above a residential area of Pensacola, Florida.
Below them, a man tends to his lawn while a little girl plays with her toys under the shade of a small tree.
Reyn's smile spreads across his face as he soaks in the scene.
As the two of them descend onto the property, Reynold Mitchells notices them first. His eyes widen behind his spectacles as he watches his son, soaked in sunlight, beaming him a wide smile.
"Kayce! He's here! Come! Reyn's here!"
The little girl flicks her head to her father and then to the sky. The sight of her descending brother sends her into a mad flurry as jumps from the ground and starts running in all directions, screaming gibberish as she is overcome with excitement.
As soon as Reyn's feet touch the ground, his father grips in a tight hug. Leaving him little room to breathe. His little sister appears soon after, latching herself to his leg as she vibrates with joy.
"Reyn! I heard about your friend. I'm so sorry! Son, are you ok…" Reynold asks as he lets go of his son.
"Thanks, Dad. I'm ok. Just happy to see you guys. Hey Kayce…"
"Reyn! I missed you so much! Come see, I'm making a tea-party for Lola and Princess Potato."
"Give me a minute Kase, he just got here." A voice yells out from the porch. "Hi, Reyn. Good to see you. You look great. Loved the entrance…"
"Thanks Sarah." Reyn chuckles at his step-mother as she leans on a railing on the porch. "Guys, this is Doctor Ravinok, he's been…"
"It's an honor, sir. What you've done for humanity, for this planet. I really…" Reynold interrupts as he grabs Ravinoks hand to shake it.
"No, no… please. This is only my job. I love the science. Saving humanity, well let's call it a happy byproduct of my research." Ravinok laughs. "You're boy here, he is the saviour. Or, at least, soon he will be. The power he possesses is simply unbelievable. What you and Lunara have given the world through Reyn Mitchells…"
"Doctor… please." Reyn interrupts.
"Ah, apologies. I have a penchant for, um… hyperbole."
"I've got some time off, thought I'd come visit. Doctor Ravinok said he'd like to meet you guys so…"
"Say no more, my boy! Sarah, get those steaks and burgers out the freezer, I'm gonna pop round to the mart for some essentials. We're having a good 'ol barbeque to welcome our boy back!" Reynolds says proudly as he slaps Reyn on the back. "How does that sound?"
Reyn smiles.
"That sounds like home."
"You know it!" Reynolds laughs.
The man quickly sprints around the property to collect bits and pieces of furniture, setting up a hasty table and seats for his guest. Sarah comes out with some snacks and refreshments as she takes a seat next to Ravinok, eager to dig into any and all gossip she can wring out of him about the various well-known archaners he often works with.
Reynold hops in his truck to do a quick store run while Reyn is dragged off by Kayce.
The two go on to indulge in a delectable bounty of pretend tea and sloppy mud-cakes as they enjoy deep conversations with her plushies Lola and the ever regal and very royal, Princess Potato.