Riley's POV

Z rushed into the room with the child in his hands. "Cut him down from there, we have to go. The insurgents are sending reinforcements!"

Riley rushed over to Zeus and cut him down from his restraints. He hit the ground hard, the knife in his abdomen going deeper into his skin. Riley got out her last can of biofoam and carefully pulled out the knife. When the knife was out, she inserted the biofoam tube and sprayed it, sealing the wound.

Zeus was still knocked out, so she picked him up and put him over her shoulder. Reeva grabbed his armor after arising and the three ran to the Pelican and put the boy and Zeus in seats. Reeva strapped them in and then strapped herself in, and Z went and got the Pelican off the ground. Riley was firing at the insurgents with the mini-gun on the back of the Pelican. 

They barely escaped, but Riley blew up two of their Warthogs and killed about thirty men. The back end of the Pelican 

Midway through the flight, as the Pelican reached the end of the exosphere, Zeus awakened. 

And screamed in pain and terror.

"Where am I? Please, don't stab me anymore!" He cried in anguish.

Riley came and sat in the seat beside him and slapped him. After that, she kissed him gently. "You're safe now," she said, calmly.

"R-Riley? Where am I? Why am I not being tortured by Alicia anymore? Why did you slap me?" He asked, confused.

"That was for leaving me alone and scared. The kiss was to reassure you that I loved you. We rescued you from that witch, Alicia, and you're in a Pelican on the way back."

Zeus's face twisted into one caught between two things- joy and pain.

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Zeus's POV- 5 Hours Later

When they landed, a group of people rushed Zeus, Reeva, and the little boy into the infirmary and they were worked on and operated on.

After Zeus had all of the drugs out of his system, and after the doctors stitched him up, he went back to his room and found the box.

Riley was holding it. She was sitting on his bed. "Well, sweetheart, I believe this was what you went down to the surface for." She said, with a little excitement in her voice.

Zeus walked his stiff body up to her and they hugged. She squeezed him tight. He winced but hugged her tightly back. "I love you, Riley."

"I love you too, Zeus. I'm still mad at you though." she said. 

The box with Zeus's name on it sat on his bed, and he pondered what was inside that he had to get out of it.  He let Riley go after they had squeezed almost the life out of each other. 

"You want to open the box?" Riley asked.

"I'd rather wait for Derek to open it. After all, he got his arm shot off because of me." Zeus said, feeling really guilty.

"ONI gave him a ROBOT arm. You know how happy he is going to be when he can kick Finn's arrogant butt? He's going to love it." She said, enthusiastically.

Derek ran into the room and showed off his new arm. "DUDES, THEY GAVE ME A ROBOT ARM! THIS IS SO COOL!"

Zeus smiled. "Ready to open the box, Derek?" He asked.

Derek walked up to the bed and nodded, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

The team opened the box and found a bunch of things in it- a Bible with Zeus's name on it, a golden cross necklace, their family's last picture together,  and a note from Zeus's mom and dad. It stated:

Son, we have never been more proud of you. If you ever fall short, remember this: A righteous man falls seven times, and gets up eight. Don't ever give up. Don't ever forget that we love you, even if we are away from you. You are an overcomer, son. Don't ever forget that.

Zeus teared up. He cried, and Riley put her arm around him and hugged him. Derek put his hand on his shoulder.

"Zeus, we're here for you," Derek said. 

Zeus sniffled a bit and then closed the box slowly. 

Thank you, Lord. He prayed silently.

"Colonel Makara to the Communications Room," the intercom overhead had stated, and Zeus sighed.