Timeline  -  November 3rd | Next Day

The scalding hot water from the shower was nearly unbearable, but it was precisely what Eko needed after the chaotic past twenty-four hours that Madison's reckless decisions had wrought.

Navigating an unknown planet in search of any clues about their location had been grueling. Eko had tirelessly scoured the area, searching for any form of communication to reach Isadora, after finding a temporary safe place to leave Madison.

This planet, illuminated by its three moons, was situated beyond the sixth district and served primarily as a hub for trade. It lacked stringent regulations, and the locals had readily accepted the currency Madison had with her. Despite being the only humans around, their plight seemed to go unnoticed by the other inhabitants, intensifying Eko's feelings of isolation and urgency.

Now, as the relentless spray of the shower poured down, Eko allowed the scalding water to wash over her, providing a brief reprieve from her exhaustion. The intense heat was almost too much, but she welcomed it, using the time to reflect and regather her strength. Her body ached from the lack of sleep since the previous morning, leaving her both physically and emotionally drained.

Her night had been tumultuous, and even though Ace was districts away, she could feel the surge of his powers, a clear sign of his unrest. In a desperate attempt, she had even tried to harness her own abilities, hoping that somehow, he would sense them—an emergency beacon of sorts. What was the point of having a frenemy if he couldn't come to her rescue once in a blue moon? Yet, the thought of Ace being her savior sent a shiver down her spine; the person she truly longed for, the one she desperately needed by her side, was Matthew.

Her mind continually circled back to him, Matthew occupying her thoughts incessantly. How would she rectify this situation? How could she possibly make her way back to him? The weight of her circumstances pressed down on her, a heavy, ever-growing burden that threatened to overwhelm her.

Eko remained in the shower, letting the scalding water envelop her in a cocoon of warmth, hoping it would melt away the pervasive sense of powerlessness that clung to her. However, her fleeting sanctuary was abruptly disrupted when Madison burst into the bathroom, her voice piercing the steady hum of the shower. "Sera, we need to go," she declared, shattering the fragile bubble of solitude Eko had momentarily sought.

From behind the steamy veil of frosted glass, Eko let out a low groan of frustration.

"I spoke with the front desk and overheard some talk of cargo ships leaving in a few hours. The details were sketchy, but it sounds like our best shot. We should head out soon," Madison pressed on, unaware or indifferent to Eko's growing despair.

Eko sighed deeply as the water continued its relentless descent, the sound filling the confined bathroom.

"I didn't abandoned you," Eko whispered softly to herself, her words barely audible over the sound of the shower. "Please understand, Matthew, I wouldn't have done that." She continued to stare at the broken tiles in the room that shared together with the meter by meter bathroom.

"Sera?" Madison's voice cut through again, insistent.

"Whatever," Eko mumbled, her voice muffled by the cascade of water.

"Stop acting like a child. This decision was made for your own good, to protect us. In a few hours, we'll be on our way to Mein, and everything will be fine," Madison stated firmly, as if trying to convince herself as much as Eko.

Eko didn't respond this time, her silence heavy in the steam-filled room. She continued to stare blankly at the wall, letting the water wash over her, a silent prayer forming in her mind—hoping against hope that somehow, someway, Matthew would find her.

"Try to understand," Madison's voice cut through sharply. "Three months ago, we were living our normal lives. We were preparing for Mein, where you were supposed to meet your future husband, the Prince. I know you were looking forward to it."

"It felt like a vice grip, but okay," Eko murmured under her breath, her tone tinged with sarcasm.

Madison didn't pause, detailing the cascade of events that had upended their lives. The destruction of the moon had been a cataclysm, altering their reality overnight, claiming the lives of loved ones including Eko's mother and Madison's aunt. With Ezra's threats looming and soldiers rallying for war, Madison believed fleeing was their only salvation.

Eko bit her lip, vowing silently not to let tears fall; Madison wouldn't get that satisfaction.

"Ezra wants to kill us," Madison reiterated, her voice steeling with resolve. "We have soldiers ready to fight her, but what will happen to us in that conflict? We'll be right in the middle of it all."

"It's going to happen one way or another," Eko responded dully, her voice devoid of hope.

"Enough, Sera!" Madison snapped. "Get out of that shower and get dressed!" With a swirl of her coat, she exited, leaving Eko alone in the steam-filled bathroom.

Under the persistent stream of water, Eko gazed down at her hands as they absentmindedly followed the grout lines between the tiles. She despised the life Madison was forcing upon them, yearning instead for the safety and familiarity of her life with him. With a heavy sigh, Eko finally shut off the water and stepped out of the shower. She wrapped a towel around herself and began to dry off, her mind swirling with plans and the longing to return to the one place she truly felt at home.

Eko's sense of isolation deepened with each passing hour away from him, the darkness within her expanding as the separation dragged on. She was resolute in her determination not to endure this separation any longer. Hastily, she grabbed her clothes from the sink and dressed quickly, the sounds of Madison's impatient pacing echoing outside the bathroom door.

Madison was clearly waiting for Sera to be ready so they could make their way to the docks. As soon as she stepped out of the bathroom, they were off, swiftly navigating through the crowded streets.

***** *****

While walking, Eko's mind raced with plans to find a way to communicate back home. She needed a device that could send a signal, something that would let him know she needed him now more than ever.

As they moved through the bustling market, Eko's gaze was drawn to the low-hanging power lines crisscrossing above, providing energy to the area. An idea sparked in her mind: if she could access one of these lines, perhaps she could recharge her dead communication device. She began to scan the surroundings for any possible outlet or connection point where she might discreetly tap into the power grid.

If she could just manage to connect and recharge the device, even briefly, it might be enough to send out a location ping—a beacon to guide him to her.

"Mads," Eko said, tightening her grip on Madison's hand to stop her. Madison turned with a puzzled expression.

"I need money, now. Give me whatever you have," Eko demanded urgently.

"For what purpose?" Madison's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Something small, for defense. Just in case," Eko explained succinctly.

"Sera, I'm not sure that's wise," Madison hesitated, her concern evident.

"This isn't up for discussion," Eko stated firmly. "I'm unarmed, and I don't like it."

"Alright," Madison conceded reluctantly, pulling out her wallet and handing Eko the requested coins she needed.

"Stay here," Eko instructed sharply, leaving Madison as she darted across the vibrant market. Her mission was clear: find a way to power up her dead communication device and send a distress signal to Matthew.

Navigating through the bustling market, Eko's gaze darted sharply from stall to stall. The area buzzed with the lively chatter of shoppers and the calls of vendors, yet her focus remained pinpointed on her mission. Her perseverance was rewarded when she stumbled upon a communication unit nestled away in a quieter part of the market, its exposed wiring hidden from casual view.

Approaching the stall, Eko eyed the makeshift setup. It was crude, but perfectly suited to her needs. The exposed wires and jury-rigged terminals suggested compatibility with her device.

"Can I use this?" she asked the vendor, her voice firm yet tinged with urgency.

The vendor, an old man with a skeptical look, sized her up before responding. "It'll cost you," he said gruffly, his eyes fixated on the money she held.

Without a moment's hesitation, Eko handed over the cash, the gravity of her situation fueling her actions. Once the transaction was complete, she wasted no time in getting to work. She set about connecting her device to the communication unit with practiced hands, her movements swift and sure.

Kneeling beside the unit, the chaos of the market became a distant murmur as she focused intently on her task. With precise movements, she dismantled her device, arranging its components methodically. She then began the delicate task of rewiring, intertwining her device's cables with those of the unit. Each connection was made with meticulous care, a blend of technical skill and intuition guiding her.

She was grateful for the lesson from one of the guys she slept with in teaching her this, while she doesn't remember his name, she knew that he had saved her life today. As she completed the connections, the device flickered to life, displaying Matthew's number. She quickly pressed the call button, her heart racing with anticipation.

But there was no answer. A wave of frustration swept over her as she exhaled deeply.

Her mind immediately jumped to the possibility that Matthew might be with Toni. Without a second thought, she dialed Toni's number, which she had saved just in case. The phone rang persistently, and on the third ring, a cautious voice answered, "Eko? Is that you?"

***** ******

Toni was caught off guard by the unexpected call and the unfamiliar location ping.

"Yes! Thank God, Toni!" Eko's voice crackled through the device, filled with a mix of relief and urgency. "It worked, holy shit! Listen, I don't have much time with this shitty device. Where's Matthew? I need you to get us out of here!"

Toni, on his way to meet Matthew in the headmaster's office, paused in the elevator, trying to make sense of the situation. It was late afternoon for them, and Matthew had been busy all day with Cid, working on the details of an administrative handover and their strategy for the official takeover of Allegiant and the boards that Cid sat on.

"What the fuck happened, Eko? Where have you been for the last day and a half?" Toni's voice was sharp, laden with concern and irritation. "Do you have any idea what Matt—"

"—Madison found a transportation device!" Eko interrupted sharply before Toni could finish. "Do you idiots just leave that stuff lying around?" Frustration surfaced immediately after that. "She somehow got her hands on one at Allegiant, and when I confronted her, she transported us to this dirt-covered disgusting planet."

"Seriously, Eko, what the fuck?" Toni muttered, his frustration evident as he ran his fingers through his hair. "And no, we don't just leave them lying around. They're locked up with R&D on the sub-levels. What the fuck is your cousin playing at?"

"You think I know?" Eko retorted, her voice rising with irritation. "We're stuck at this godforsaken place, and I have no clue how to get us back home."

Toni exhaled deeply, sensing Eko's distress, which mirrored their own. "Listen, we'll figure out the device issue later. Right now, the most important thing is that you're both okay. Old mate was losing his fucking shit yesterday. Seriously, Eko, losing it. I haven't seen him like that in a long time!"

Eko let out a sigh tinged with guilt. "I can imagine." She knew how deeply this would affect him; he hadn't been in the right state of mind when she last saw him, and the repercussions of Madison's coerced decision would be far-reaching.

"Hang on, I'm on my way to Cid's office. Why didn't you reach out to Matthew first?" Toni asked.

"His device went straight to voicemail," Eko replied, puzzled. "I thought you might be with him."

"Don't forget, Cid's back this week, and they're finalizing the handover," Toni reminded her. "So on top of you disappearing, he's been dealing with the boards."

"Right," Eko said, realization dawning on her. "Great. This is the worst possible timing. I knew how much yesterday and today meant for everything going smoothly. Jesus Christ!"

"Madison sure knows how to pick the worst times to pull these stunts," Toni remarked wryly.

Eko couldn't help but scoff in agreement. "Tell me about it."

As Toni entered Cid's office, he noticed Cid's wary expression, as though he had just walked in on a private conversation.

"Where's Matthew?" Toni asked urgently.

Cid, his pale features almost ethereal, gestured toward the couch. Despite feeling a bit uneasy about the man's odd demeanor, Toni nodded and approached the couch. Leaning over, he discovered Matthew fast asleep.

"He's sleeping," Toni relayed to Eko on the other end of the line. He noticed several missed calls and messages on Matthew's communication device on the coffee table, suggesting that Matthew had been asleep for quite some time. Given everything, Toni suspected he hadn't slept since the previous day.

"Can you wake Sleeping Beauty and come get us?" Eko asked, feeling a surge of hope; everything was going to be alright.

"Piece of cake," Toni assured her, confidence evident in his voice. "I've got your coordinates from when you called. We've got you, Eko. Don't worry."

Eko let out a relieved breath, a small smile finally breaking through as she waited on the other end, listening as Toni roused the man she cared for.

"Your girlfriend," Toni teased, handing Matthew the device with a smirk.

Matthew's eyes snapped open, a sudden rush of awareness coursing through him as he grabbed the phone and sat up abruptly. His hair was tousled, his clothes rumpled, and dark circles under his eyes hinted at a sleepless night. He looked like a man who had been through hell.

"Eko?" His voice trembled with anxiety, each word laced with fear and desperation. Over the past 36 hours, his mind had been consumed with worry, leading him to one inevitable, heartbreaking conclusion.

Toni couldn't suppress a smirk as he observed the scene, leaning casually over the back of the couch.

"I thought you left me," Matthew's voice broke slightly, the weight of his emotions evident. The mere thought of losing Eko had torn him apart.

Toni could have decked his best friend for letting his mind spiral to such a conclusion. He remained leaning against the couch, watching as Matthew's hand instinctively moved to cover his heart, rubbing it back and forth in an attempt to soothe the sudden overwhelming pain.

"How many times do I need to tell you that I would never leave!" Eko snapped, her sleep deprivation taking its toll. "That idiot cousin of mine had one of Allegiant's transporting devices... I've been trying to find a way to reach you!"

"You have?" Matthew's voice wavered.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched the phone. "Yes, you idiot!" Eko half-laughed, trying to banish the tears as they fell. "I love you, and I want you to come get me and take me home. Okay?" The raw emotion in her voice cut through Matthew's doubts.

Matthew's expression softened as a wave of relief washed over him, easing the burden that had weighed him down. He smiled gently and ran a hand through his hair, the fear and anxiety of her abandonment slowly fading away.

"I've got her coordinates," Toni interjected, bringing Matthew's attention back to the present. Matthew looked up at his best friend, appearing more vulnerable than usual. His red, bloodshot eyes reflected his lack of sleep and the immense pressure of his recent increased responsibilities.

"We'll get her home," Toni reassured him. Matthew returned to the call with Eko, who was apologizing again for Madison's actions.

"We're on our way to get you, okay?" Matthew's voice was softer than she'd ever heard it before, filled with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with his earlier panic.

"I love you, Matthew, okay? I promise you that. I couldn't stop the transportation. Jesus, I'm just so sorry. I'm so sorry for what you must have thought, after everything."

"It's okay, you're both safe," he reassured her, though his hand moved to his chest again, feeling the strain pounding in his ribcage. He drew in a long, deep breath, hoping to steady himself. "Just keep your head down till I get to you, okay?"

"Oi," Toni tapped his shoulder, causing Matthew to look up. Toni's eyes flicked pointedly to Matthew's hand clutching his chest and his tense, pained posture.

Matthew shook his head, mouthing, "I'm fine." But the tightening of his grip on his chest and the quickening of his breath betrayed him.

"Eko?" Matthew returned his attention to her.

Eko's smile was almost palpable through the phone line. "I'll be waiting here for you," she assured him, her voice steadier now. As the call ended due to her device overheating, Matthew pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at the coordinates displayed on the screen, his expression darkening.

"You've got to be fucking joking me!" Matthew exploded, his frustration evident as his hand clenched over his chest, as if physically grappling with the stress.

"What's wrong?" Toni peered over Matthew's shoulder at the device before his gaze snapped back to his friend's pained expression.

"Seriously you have been doing that a lot these past few days." Toni observed, his brow furrowed with concern. "You didn't skip your check-up, did you? You know Mya will lose her shit, so will Dr. Keaton."

"Yea, no." Matthew shook his head, his hand gesturing dismissively. "Been too caught up with all this shit," he gestured to the chaos of papers and plans strewn about the office, "and now, to add to the chaos, we've got to go rescue dumb and dumber." He pinched the bridge of his nose, a clear sign of his mounting migraine. "Then to top off my fucking day, guess where they are?"

"Do I even want to know?" Toni asked warily, sensing the gravity of the situation that it wasn't going to be a simple "save the girl" type of day.

"Creon," Matthew replied grimly, the name of the location heavy with implication. "Why is she in the one territory and on the one fucking planet we in gods graces should not be fucking going any where near?"

"No! No way, that's not fucking possible. I mean, the odds are—might as well get struck by lightning!" Toni exclaimed, grabbing the device from Matthew's hand to double-check the coordinates. "Oh, great. Looks like we're up for a lightning strike then. Madison's going to get us all killed."

"No shit," Matthew let out a resigned sigh as he processed their predicament, his frustration evident, a groan escaping him as he rubbed his temples. "I really don't get a fucking choice, do I?" he muttered, pushing himself off the couch with a grimace.

His movements were slow and deliberate, as if the weight of the situation was physically bearing down on him. Just then, Cid approached, his presence adding a new layer of tension to the room. He gave a cursory glance around before meeting their eyes with a solemn nod.

"I'll keep things running here until you're back. Safe travels," Cid said, his tone firm yet underscored with a subtle unease

Toni's eyebrow arched at Cid's peculiar demeanor, but Matthew merely whispered, "Don't ask." He then addressed Cid, "We'll be back late this afternoon."

Cid nodded again, his expression inscrutable as he returned to his work. Matthew and Toni headed for the elevator, their footsteps echoing in the otherwise quiet corridor.

"What's that about?" Toni asked, his voice low and puzzled by Cid's behavior.

"He's been doing it a lot," Matthew murmured, glancing back at Cid with a mix of frustration and confusion. "Disappearing on me and acting nervous and jumpy when he returns."

"Any idea why?"

Matthew shook his head, his mind clearly elsewhere. "I'll deal with one idiotic catastrophe at a time. Right now, I gotta make sure Xero doesn't know I'm on Creon when we get Eko and Madison."

"Not the afternoon either of us planned, huh?" Toni attempted to lighten the mood with a small, supportive smile. Matthew turned to his best friend, a dark shadow crossing his face.

"You gonna tell Jesse where we're headed?" he asked.

Toni's expression soured. "Remember the last time we faced off with Xero? You want to send her through that psychopathic mood again?"

"I wasn't the one who had my kidney cut out," Matthew retorted, his voice tense.

"One time!" Toni rolled his eyes, smirking. "I thought the chick was, you know, not apart of Xero's little mafia group. Anyway, Jesse never let me live it down."

"She also never left your bedside," Matthew reminded, clicking his tongue to the roof of his mouth.

"And she also punched me in the face and broke my nose," Toni added with a shrug. "So it's a no on telling her where we're going. Besides, in and out. Keep your head down and we'll be fine."

Matthew groaned and pressed the elevator button, his shoulders slumping under the weight of the situation. The doors opened with a soft chime, and he stepped inside, running a hand through his disheveled hair. His jaw clenched as he thought of Madison, his eyes hardening with steely resolve. Heaven help Madison when he got his hands on her.

***** *****

As Matthew and Toni departed, Cid slowly turned to face Isis, who had materialized in the corner of the room. Her arms were crossed, a smirk playing on her lips as if she were a predator toying with its prey.

"I could have done it just then, you know," Isis said, her voice taking on a sing-song quality that belied the deadly seriousness of her words. "I could have killed the boy."

Cid's response was immediate and desperate. "Don't, please. Give me a few more weeks. Let me help them, and then I'll be yours. Don't hurt any of them. Please, Isis, you promised."

Isis stepped closer, her arms snaking around his neck, her whisper like a serpent's hiss. "If you make me wait any longer, I'll snap his neck while he sleeps. It would be so easy."

Cid shuddered, feeling a cold dread creep up his spine. The presence of her arms around his neck was like a noose tightening, and he managed to nod in fearful agreement. "I'll keep my end of the bargain."

Isis's voice softened to a dangerous purr, her tone dripping with menace and seduction. "I just want you, darling. It's very simple. Tell your little children what is coming. It won't change the fact that we will save these worlds together."

He watched as Isis's eyes gleamed with a predatory glint, her lips curving into a smile that promised both pleasure and pain. "Remember, darling, I'm always watching. Don't disappoint me."

With that, she stepped back, her presence still looming over him like a dark shadow. Cid took a shaky breath, his mind racing with the implications of their conversation. He had to find a way to protect Matthew and the others, to navigate this treacherous path without losing everything he held dear.

As Isis vanished as mysteriously as she had appeared, Cid felt the weight of his burden settle even heavier on his shoulders. The clock was ticking, and the stakes had never been higher.